david elginbrod-第80部分

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〃Kiss　me；　Margaret；〃　she　said。

Margaret　stooped；　kissed　her　forehead　and　her　lips；　and　left　her。

Euphra　cried　herself　to　sleep。　　They　were　the　first　tears　she　had
ever　shed　that　were　not　painful　tears。　　She　slept　as　she　had　not
slept　for　months。

In　order　to　understand　this　change　in　Euphrasia's　behaviour　to
Margaretin　order；　in　fact；　to　represent　it　to　our　minds　as　at　all
crediblewe　must　remember　that　she　had　been　trying　to　do　right　for
some　time；　that　Margaret；　as　the　daughter　of　David；　seemed　the　only
attainable　source　of　the　knowledge　she　sought；　that　long　illness　had
greatly　weakened　her　obstinacy；　that　her　soul　hungered；　without
knowing　it；　for　love；　and　that　she　was　naturally　gifted　with　a
strong　will；　the　position　in　which　she　stood　in　relation　to　the
count　proving　only　that　it　was　not　strong　enough；　and　not　that　it
was　weak。　　Such　a　character　must；　for　any　good；　be　ruled　by　itself；
and　not　by　circumstances。　　To　have　been　overcome　in　the　process　of
time　by　the　persistent　goodness　of　Margaret；　might　have　been　the
blessed　fate　of　a　weaker　and　worse　woman；　but　if　Euphra　did　not
overcome　herself；　there　was　no　hope　of　further　victory。　　If　Margaret
could　even　wither　the　power　of　her　oppressor；　it　would　be　but　to
transfer　the　lordship　from　a　bad　man　to　a　good　woman；　and　that　would
not　be　enough。　　It　would　not　be　freedom。　　And　indeed；　the　aid　that
Margaret　had　to　give　her；　could　only　be　bestowed　on　one　who　already
had　freedom　enough　to　act　in　some　degree　from　duty。　　She　knew　she
ought　to　go　and　apologize　to　Margaret。　　She　went。

In　Margaret's　presence；　and　in　such　a　mood；　she　was　subjected　at
once　to　the　holy　enchantment　of　her　loving…kindness。　　She　had　never
received　any　tenderness　from　a　woman　before。　　Perhaps　she　had　never
been　in　the　right　mood　to　profit　by　it　if　she　had。　　Nor　had　she　ever
before　seen　what　Margaret　was。　　It　was　only　when　servicedivine
serviceflowed　from　her　in　full　outgoing；　that　she　reached　the
height　of　her　loveliness。　　Then　her　whole　form　was　beautiful。　　So
was　it　interpenetrated　by；　and　respondent　to；　the　uprising　soul
within；　that　it　radiated　thought　and　feeling　as　if　it　had　been　all
spirit。　　This　beauty　rose　to　its　best　in　her　eyes。　　When　she　was
ministering　to　any　one　in　need；　her　eyes　seemed　to　worship　the
object　of　her　faithfulness；　as　if　all　the　time　she　felt　that　she　was
doing　it　unto　Him。　Her　deeds　were　devotion。　　She　was　the　receiver
and　not　the　giver。　　Before　this；　Euphra　had　seen　only　the　still
waiting　face；　and；　as　I　have　said；　she　had　been　repelled　by　it。
Once　within　the　sphere　of　the　radiation　of　her　attraction；　she　was
drawn　towards　her；　as　towards　the　haven　of　her　peace：　she　loved　her。

To　this；　it　length；　had　her　struggle　with　herself　in　the　silence　of
her　own　room；　and　her　meditations　on　her　couch；　conducted　her。
Shall　we　say　that　these　alone　had　been　and　were　leading　her？　　Or
that　to　all　these　there　was　a　hidden　root；　and　an　informing　spirit？
Who　would　not　rather　believe　that　his　thoughts　come　from　an
infinite；　self…sphered；　self…constituting　thought；　than　that　they
rise　somehow　out　of　a　blank　abyss　of　darkness；　and　are　only　thought
when　he　thinks　them；　which　thinking　he　cannot　pre…determine　or　even
foresee？

When　Euphra　woke；　her　first　breath　was　like　a　deep　draught　of
spiritual　water。　　She　felt　as　if　some　sorrow　had　passed　from　her；
and　some　gladness　come　in　its　stead。　　She　thought　and　thought；　and
found　that　the　gladness　was　Margaret。　　She　had　scarcely　made　the
discovery；　when　the　door　gently　opened；　and　Margaret　peeped　in　to
see　if　she　were　awake。

〃May　I　come　in？〃　she　said。

〃Yes；　please；　Margaret。〃

〃How　do　you　feel　to…day？〃

〃Oh；　so　much　better；　dear　Margaret！　　Your　kindness　will　make　me
well。〃

〃I　am　so　glad！　　Do　lie　still　awhile；　and　I　will　bring　you　some
breakfast。　　Mrs。　Elton　will　be　so　pleased　to　find　you　let　me　wait　on
you！〃

〃She　asked　me；　Margaret；　if　you　should；　but　I　was　too　miserableand
too　naughty；　for　I　did　not　like　you。〃

〃I　knew　that；　but　I　felt　sure　you　would　not　dislike　me　always。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because　I　could　not　help　loving　you。〃

〃Why　did　you　love　me？〃

〃I　will　tell　you　half　the　reason。Because　you　looked　unhappy。〃

〃What　was　the　other　half？〃

〃That　I　cannotI　mean　I　will　not　tell　you。〃

〃Never？〃

〃Perhaps　never。　　But　I　don't　know。Not　now。〃

〃Then　I　must　not　ask　you？〃

〃Noplease。〃

〃Very　well；　I　won't。〃

〃Thank　you。　　I　will　go　and　get　your　breakfast。〃

〃What　can　she　mean？〃　said　Euphra　to　herself。

But　she　would　never　have　found　out。




CHAPTER　XIV。

DAVID　ELGINBROD。

He　being　dead　yet　speaketh。

HEB。；　xi。　4。


　　　　　In　all　'he'　did
Some　figure　of　the　golden　times　was　hid。

DR。　DONNE。


》From　this　time；　Margaret　waited　upon　Euphra；　as　if　she　had　been　her
own　maid。　　Nor　had　Mrs。　Elton　any　cause　of　complaint；　for　Margaret
was　always　at　hand　when　she　was　wanted。　　Indeed；　her　mistress　was
full　of　her　praises。　　Euphra　said　little。

Many　and　long　were　the　conversations　between　the　two　girls；　when　all
but　themselves　were　asleep。　　Sometimes　Harry　made　one　of　the
company；　but　they　could　always　send　him　away　when　they　wished　to　be
alone。　　And　now　the　teaching　for　which　Euphra　had　longed；　sprang　in
a　fountain　at　her　own　door。　　It　had　been　nigh　her　long；　and　she　had
not　known　it；　for　its　hour　had　not　come。　　Now　she　drank　as　only　the
thirsty　drink；as　they　drink　whose　very　souls　are　fainting　within
them　for　drought。

But　how　did　Margaret　embody　her　lessons？

The　second　night；　she　came　to　Euphra's　room；　and　said：

〃Shall　I　tell　you　about　my　father　to…night？　　Are；　you　able？〃

Euphra　was　delighted。　　It　was　what　she　had　been　hoping　for　all　day。

〃Do　tell　me。　　I　long　to　hear　about　him。〃

So　they　sat　down；　and　Margaret　began　to　talk　about　her　childhood；
the　cottage　she　lived　in；　the　fir…wood　all　around　it；　the　work　she
used　to　do；her　side；　in　short；　of　the　story　which；　in　the
commencement　of　this　book；　I　have　partly　related　from　Hugh's　side。
Summer　and　winter；　spring…time　and　harvest；　storm　and　sunshine；　all
came　into　the　tale。　　Her　mother　came　into　it　often；　and　often　too；
though　not　so　often；　the　grand　form　of　her　father　appeared；　remained
for　a　little　while；　and　then　passed　away。　　Every　time　Euphra　saw　him
thus　in　the　mirror　of　Margaret's　memory；　she　saw　him　more　clearly
than　before：　she　felt　as　if；　soon；　she　should　know　him　quite　well。
Sometimes　she　asked　a　question　or　two；　but　generally　she　allowed
Margaret's　words　to　flow　unchecked；　for　she　painted　her　pictures
better　when　the　colours　did　not　dry　between。　　They　talked　on；　or
rather；　Margaret　talked　and　Euphra　listened；　far　into　the　night。　　At
length；　Margaret　stopped　suddenly；　for　she　became　aware　that　a　long
time　had　passed。　　Looking　at　the　clock　on　the　chimney…piece；　she
said：

〃I　have　done　wrong　to　keep　you　up　so　late。　　ComeI　must　get　you　to
bed。　　You　are　an　invalid；　you　know；　and　I　am　your　nurse　as　well　as
your　maid。〃

〃You　will　come　to…morrow　night；　then？〃

〃Yes；　I　will。〃

〃Then　I　will　go　to　bed　like　a　good　child。〃

Margaret　undressed　her；　and　left　her　to　the　healing　of　sleep。

The　next　night　she　spoke　again　of　her　father；　and　what　he　taught
her。　　Euphra　had　thought　much　about　him；　and　at　every　fresh　touch
which　the　story　gave　to　the　portrait；　she　knew　him　better；　till　at
last；　even　when　circumstances　not　mentioned　before　came　up；　she
seemed　to　have　known　them　from　the　beginning。

〃What　was　your　father　like；　Margaret？〃

Margaret　described　him　very　nearly　as　I　have　done；　from　Hugh's
account；　in　the　former　part　of　the　story。　　Euphra　said：

〃Ah！　yes。　　That　is　almost　exactly　as　I　had　fancied　him。　　Is　it　not
strange？〃

〃It　is　very　natural；　I　think；〃　answered　Margaret。

〃I　seem　now　to　have　known　him　for　years。〃

But　what　is　most　worthy　of　record　is；　that　ever　as　the　picture　of
David　grew　on　the　vision　of　Euphra；　the　idea　of　God　was　growing
unawares　upon　her　inward　sight。　　She　was　learning　more　and　more
about　God　all　the　time。　　The　sight　of　human　excellence　awoke　a　faint
Ideal　of　the　divine　perfection。　　Faith　came　of　itself；　and　abode；
and　grew；　for　it　needs　but　a　vision　of　the　Divine；　and　faith　in　God
is　straightway　born　in　the　soul　that　beholds　it。　　Thus；　faith　and
sight　are　one。　　The　being　of　her　father　in　heaven　was　no　more
strange　and　far　off　from　her；　when　she　had　seen　such　a　father　on
earth　as　Margaret's　was。　　It　was　not　alone　David's　faith　that　begot
hers；　but　the　man　himself　was　a　faith…begetting　presence。　　He　was
the　evidence　of　God　with　them。Thus　he；　being　dead；　yet　spoke；　and
the　departed　man　was　a　present　power。

Euphra　began　to　read　the　story　of　the　Gospel。　　So　did　Harry。　　They
found　much　on　which　to　desire　enlightenment；　and　they　always　applied
to　Margaret　for　the　light　they　needed。　　It　was　long　before　she
ventured　to　say　I　think。　　She　always　said：

〃My　father　used　to　say〃　or

〃I　think　my　father　would　have　said〃

It　was　not　until　Euphra　was　in　great　trouble　some　time　after　this；
and　required　the　immediate　consolation　of　personal　testimony；　that
Margaret　spoke　as　from　herself；　and　then　she　spoke　with　positive
assurance　of　faith。　　She　did　not　then　even　say　I　think；　but；　I　am
sure；　I　know；　I　have　seen。

Many　interviews　of　this　sort　did　not　take　place　between　them　before
Euphra；　in　her　turn；　began　to　confide　her　history　to　Margaret。

It　was　a　strangely　different　onefull　of　outward　event　and　physical
trouble；　but；　till　it　approached　the　last　stages；　wonderfully　barren
as　to　inward　production　or　development。　　It　was　a　history　of
Euphra's　circumstances　and　peculiarities；　not　of　Euphra　herself。
Till　of　late；　she　had　scarcely　had　any　history。　　Margaret's；　on　the
contrary；　was　a　true　history；　for；　with　much　of　the　monotonous　in
circumstance；　it　described　individual　growth；　and　the　change　of
progress。　　Where　there　is　no　change　there　can　be　no　history；　and　as
all　change　is　either　growth　or　decay；　all　history　must　describe
progress　or　retrogression。　　The　former　had　now　begun　for　Euphra　as
well；　and　it　was　one　proof　of　it　that　she　told　Margaret　all　I　have
already　recorded　for　my　readers；　at　least　as　far　as　it　bore　against
herself。　　How　much　more　she　told　her　I　am　unable　to　say；　but　after
she　had　tol