david elginbrod-第59部分

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left　her　more　weary。

〃Hugh！〃　she　said；　kindly。

〃Dear　Euphra！〃　he　answered；　kissing　the　little　hand　he　held　in　his。

She　looked　at　him　for　a　little　while；　and　the　tears　rose　in　her
eyes。

〃Hugh；　I　am　a　cripple　for　life。〃

〃God　forbid；　Euphra！〃　was　all　he　could　reply。

She　shook　her　head　mournfully。　　Then　a　strange；　wild　look　came　in
her　eyes；　and　grew　till　it　seemed　from　them　to　overflow　and　cover
her　whole　face　with　a　troubled　expression；　which　increased　to　a　look
of　dull　agony。

〃What　is　the　matter；　dear　Euphra？〃　said　Hugh；　in　alarm。　〃Is　your
foot　very　painful？〃

She　made　no　answer。　　She　was　looking　fixedly　at　his　hand。

〃Shall　I　call　Jane？〃

She　shook　her　head。

〃Can　I　do　nothing　for　you？〃

〃No；〃　she　answered；　almost　angrily。

〃Shall　I　go；　Euphra？〃

〃Yesyes。　　Go。〃

He　left　the　room　instantly。　　But　a　sharp　though　stifled　cry　of
despair　drew　him　back　at　a　bound。　　Euphra　had　fainted。

He　rang　the　bell　for　Jane；　and　lingered　till　he　saw　signs　of
returning　consciousness。

What　could　this　mean？　　He　was　more　perplexed　with　her　than　ever　he
had　been。　　Cunning　love；　however；　soon　found　a　way　of　explaining
itA　way？Twenty　waysnot　one　of　them　the　way。

Next　day；　Lady　Emily　brought　him　a　message　from　Euphranot　to
distress　himself　about　her；　it　was　not　his　fault。

This　message　the　bearer　of　it　understood　to　refer　to　the　original
accident；　as　the　sender　of　it　intended　she　should：　the　receiver
interpreted　it　of　the　occurrence　of　the　day　before；　as　the　sender
likewise　intended。　　It　comforted　him。

It　had　become　almost　a　habit　with　Hugh；　to　ascend　the　oak　tree　in
the　evening；　and　sit　alone；　sometimes　for　hours；　in　the　nest　he　had
built　for　Harry。　　One　time　he　took　a　book　with　him；　another　he　went
without；　and　now　and　then　Harry　accompanied　him。　　But　I　have　already
said；　that　often　after　tea；　when　the　house　became　oppressive　to　him
from　the　longing　to　see　Euphra；　he　would　wander　out　alone；　when；
even　in　the　shadows　of　the　coming　night；　he　would　sometimes　climb
the　nest；　and　there　sit；　hearing　all　that　the　leaves　whispered　about
the　sleeping　birds；　without　listening　to　a　word　of　it；　or　trying　to
interpret　it　by　the　kindred　sounds　of　his　own　inner　world；　and　the
tree…talk　that　went　on　there　in　secret。　　For　the　divinity　of　that
inner　world　had　abandoned　it　for　the　present；　in　pursuit　of　an
earthly　maiden。　　So　its　birds　were　silent；　and　its　trees　trembled
not。

An　aging　moon　was　feeling　her　path　somewhere　through　the　heavens；
but　a　thin　veil　of　cloud　was　spread　like　a　tent　under　the　hyaline
dome　where　she　walked；　so　that；　instead　of　a　white　moon；　there　was　a
great　white　cloud　to　enlighten　the　earth；a　cloud　soaked　full　of
her　pale　rays。　　Hugh　sat　in　the　oak…nest。　　He　knew　not　how　long　he
had　been　there。　　Light　after　light　was　extinguished　in　the　house；
and　still　he　sat　there　brooding；　dreaming；　in　that　state　of　mind　in
which　to　the　good；　good　things　come　of　themselves；　and　to　the　evil；
evil　things。　　The　nearness　of　the　Ghost's　Walk　did　not　trouble　him；
for　he　was　too　much　concerned　about　Euphra　to　fear　ghost　or　demon。
His　mind　heeded　them　not；　and　so　was　beyond　their　influence。

But　while　he　sat；　he　became　aware　of　human　voices。　　He　looked　out
from　his　leafy　screen；　and　saw　once　more；　at　the　end　of　the　Ghost's
Walk；　a　form　clothed　in　white。　　But　there　were　voices　of　two。　　He
sent　his　soul　into　his　ears　to　listen。　　A　horrible；　incredible；
impossible　idea　forced　itself　upon　himthat　the　tones　were　those　of
Euphra　and　Funkelstein。　　The　one　voice　was　weak　and　complaining；　the
other　firm　and　strong。

〃It　must　be　some　horrible　ghost　that　imitates　her；〃　he　said　to
himself；　for　he　was　nearly　crazy　at　the　very　suggestion。

He　would　see　nearer；　if　only　to　get　rid　of　that　frightful
insinuation　of　the　tempter。　　He　descended　the　tree　noiselessly。　　He
lost　sight　of　the　figure　as　he　did　so。　　He　drew　near　the　place　where
he　had　seen　it。　　But　there　was　no　sound　of　voices　now　to　guide　him。
As　he　came　within　sight　of　the　spot；　he　saw　the　white　figure　in　the
arms　of　another；　a　man。　　Her　head　was　lying　on　his　shoulder。　　A
moment　after；　she　was　lifted　in　those　arms　and　borne　towards　the
house；down　the　Ghost's　Avenue。

A　burning　agony　to　be　satisfied　of　his　doubts　seized　on　Hugh。　He
fled　like　a　deer　to　the　house　by　another　path；　tried；　in　his
suspicion；　the　library　window；　found　it　open；　and　was　at　Euphra's
door　in　a　moment。　　Here　he　hesitated。　　She　must　be　inside。　　How　dare
he　knock　or　enter？

If　she　was　there；　she　would　be　asleep。　　He　would　not　wake　her。
There　was　no　time　to　lose。　　He　would　risk　anything；　to　be　rid　of
this　horrible　doubt。

He　gently　opened　the　door。　　The　night…light　was　burning。　　He
thought；　at　first；　that　Euphra　was　in　the　bed。　　He　felt　like　a
thief；　but　he　stole　nearer。　　She　was　not　there。　　She　was　not　on　the
couch。　　She　was　not　in　the　room。　　Jane　was　fast　asleep　in　the
dressing…room。　　It　was　enough。

He　withdrew。　　He　would　watch　at　his　door　to　see　her　return；　for　she
must　pass　his　door　to　reach　her　own。　　He　waited　a　time　that　seemed
hours。　　At　lengthhorrible；　far　more　horrible　to　him　than　the
vision　of　the　ghostEuphra　crept　past　him；　appearing　in　the
darkness　to　crawl　along　the　wall　against　which　she　supported
herself；　and　scarcely　suppressing　her　groans　of　pain。　　She　reached
her　own　room；　and　entering；　closed　the　door。

Hugh　was　nearly　mad。　　He　rushed　down　the　stair　to　the　library；　and
out　into　the　wood。　　Why　or　whither　he　knew　not。

Suddenly　he　received　a　blow　on　the　head。　　It　did　not　stun　him；　but
he　staggered　under　it。　　Had　he　run　against　a　tree？　　No。　There　was
the　dim　bulk　of　a　man　disappearing　through　the　boles。　　He　darted
after　him。　　The　man　heard　his　footsteps；　stopped；　and　waited　in
silence。　　As　Hugh　came　up　to　him；　he　made　a　thrust　at　him　with　some
weapon。　　He　missed　his　aim。　　The　weapon　passed　through　his　coat　and
under　his　arm。　　The　next　moment；　Hugh　had　wrenched　the　sword…stick
from　him；　thrown　it　away；　and　grappled　withFunkelstein。　　But
strong　as　Hugh　was；　the　Bohemian　was　as　strong；　and　the　contest　was
doubtful。　　Strange　as　it　may　seemin　the　midst　of　it；　while　each
held　the　other　unable　to　move；　the　conviction　flashed　upon　Hugh's
mind；　that；　whoever　might　have　taken　Lady　Euphrasia's　ring；　he　was
grappling　with　the　thief　of　his　father's。

〃Give　me　my　ring；〃　gasped　he。

An　imprecation　of　a　sufficiently　emphatic　character　was　the　only
reply。　　The　Bohemian　got　one　hand　loose；　and　Hugh　heard　a　sound　like
the　breaking　of　glass。　　Before　he　could　gain　any　advantagefor　his
antagonist　seemed　for　the　moment　to　have　concentrated　all　his　force
in　the　other　handa　wet　handkerchief　was　held　firmly　to　his　face。
His　fierceness　died　away；　he　was　lapt　in　the　vapour　of　dreams；　and
his　senses　departed。




CHAPTER　XXIX。

HUGH'S　AWAKING。

But　ah！　believe　me；　there　is　more　than　so；
That　works　such　wonders　in　the　minds　of　men；
I；　that　have　often　proved；　too　well　it　know；
And　whoso　list　the　like　assays　to　ken；
Shall　find　by　trial；　and　confess　it　then；
That　beauty　is　not；　as　fond　men　misdeem；
An　outward　show　of　things　that　only　seem！

But　ye；　fair　dames；　the　world's　dear　ornaments；
And　lively　images　of　heaven's　light；
Let　not　your　beams　with　such　disparagements
Be　dimmed；　and　your　bright　glory　darkened　quite；
But；　mindful　still　of　your　first　country's　sight；
Do　still　preserve　your　first　informed　grace；
Whose　shadow　yet　shines　in　your　beauteous　face。

SPENSER。Hymn　in　Honour　of　Beauty。


When　Hugh　came　to　himself；　he　was　lying；　in　the　first　grey　of　the
dawn；　amidst　the　dews　and　vapours　of　the　morning　woods。　　He　rose　and
looked　around　him。　　The　Ghost's　Walk　lay　in　long　silence　before　him。
Here　and　there　a　little　bird　moved　and　peeped。　　The　glory　of　a　new
day　was　climbing　up　the　eastern　coast　of　heaven。　　It　would　be　a　day
of　late　summer；　crowned　with　flame；　and　throbbing　with　ripening
life。　　But　for　him　the　spirit　was　gone　out　of　the　world；　and　it　was
nought　but　a　mass　of　blind；　heartless　forces。

Possibly；　had　he　overheard　the　conversation；　the　motions　only　of
which　he　had　overseen　the　preceding　night；　he　would；　although
equally　perplexed；　have　thought　more　gently　of　Euphra；　but；　in　the
mood　into　which　even　then　he　must　have　been　thrown；　his　deeper
feelings　towards　her　could　hardly　have　been　different　from　what　they
were　now。　　Although　he　had　often　felt　that　Euphra　was　not　very　good；
not　a　suspicion　had　crossed　his　mind　as　to　what　he　would　have　called
the　purity　of　her　nature。　　Like　many　youths；　even　of　character
inferior　to　his　own；　he　had　the　loftiest　notions　of　feminine　grace；
and　unspottedness　in　thought　and　feeling；　not　to　say　action　and　aim。
Now　he　found　that　he　had　loved　a　woman　who　would　creep　from　her
chamber；　at　the　cost　of　great　suffering；　and　almost　at　the　risk　of
her　life；　to　meet；　in　the　night　and　the　woods；　a　man　no　better　than
an　assassinprobably　a　thief。　　Had　he　been　more　versed　in　the　ways
of　women；　or　in　the　probabilities　of　things；　he　would　have　judged
that　the　very　extravagance　of　the　action　demanded　a　deeper
explanation　than　what　seemed　to　lie　on　the　surface。　　Yet；　although
he　judged　Euphra　very　hardly　upon　those　grounds；　would　he　have
judged　her　differently　had　he　actually　known　all？　　About　this　I　am
left　to　conjecture　alone。

But　the　effect　on　Hugh　was　different　from　what　the　ordinary　reader
of　human　nature　might　anticipate。　　Instead　of　being　torn　in　pieces
by　storms　of　jealousy；　all　the　summer　growths　of　his　love　were
chilled　by　an　absolute　frost　of　death。　　A　kind　of　annihilation　sank
upon　the　image　of　Euphra。　　There　had　been　no　such　Euphra。　　She　had
been　but　a　creation　of　his　own　brain。　　It　was　not　so　much　that　he
ceased　to　love；　as　that　the　being　belovednot　died；　butceased　to
exist。　　There　were　moments　in　which　he　seemed　to　love　her　still　with
a　wild　outcry　of　passion；　but　the　frenzy　soon　vanished　in　the
selfish　feeling　of　his　own　loss。　　His　love　was　not　a　high　onenot
such　as　thine；　my　Falconer。　　Thine　was　love　indeed；　though　its　tale
is　too　good　to　tell；　simply　because　it　is　too　good　to　be　believed；
and　we　do　men　a　wrong　sometimes　when　we　tell　them　more　than　they　can
receive。

Thought；　Speculation；　Suggestion；　crowded　upon　each　other