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david elginbrod-第92节

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taking which; she felt able to get up。  She rose looking more bright
and hopeful than Margaret had seen her before。

But Margaret; who watched her intently through the day; saw a change
come over her cheer。  Her face grew pale and troubled。  Now and then
her eyes were fixed on vacancy; and again she would look at Margaret
with a woebegone expression of countenance; but presently; as if
recollecting herself; would smile and look cheerful for a moment。
Margaret saw that the conflict was coming on; if not already
begunthat at least its shadow was upon her; and thinking that if
she could have a talk with Hugh about what he had been doing; it
would comfort her a little; and divert her thoughts from herself;
even if no farther or more pleasantly than to the count; she let
Harry know Hugh's address; as given in the letter to her father。
She was certain that; if Harry succeeded in finding him; nothing
more was necessary to insure his being brought to Mrs。 Elton's。  As
we have seen; Harry had traced him to Buccleuch Terrace。

Hugh re…entered the house in the same mind in which he had gone out;
namely; that after Mrs。 Appleditch's behaviour to him before his
pupils; he could not remain their tutor any longer; however great
his need might be of the pittance he received for his services。

But although Mrs。 Appleditch's first feeling had been jealousy of
Hugh's acquaintance with 〃carriage…people;〃 the toadyism which is so
essential an element of such jealousy; had by this time revived; and
when Hugh was proceeding to finish the lesson he had begun;
intending it to be his last; she said:

〃Why didn't you ask your friend into the drawing…room; Mr。
Sutherland?〃

〃Good gracious!  The drawing…room!〃 thought Hughbut answered: 〃He
will fetch me when the lesson is over。〃

〃I am sure; sir; any friends of yours that like to call upon you
here; will be very welcome。  It will be more agreeable to you to
receive them here; of course; for your accommodation at poor Miss
Talbot's is hardly suitable for such visitors。〃

〃I am sorry to say; however;〃 answered Hugh; 〃that after the way you
have spoken to me to…day; in the presence of my pupils; I cannot
continue my relation to them any longer。〃

〃Ho! ho!〃 resnorted the lady; indignation and scorn mingling with
mortification; 〃our grand visitors have set our backs up。  Very
well; Mr。 Sutherland; you will oblige me by leaving the house at
once。  Don't trouble yourself; pray; to finish the lesson。  I will
pay you for it all the same。  Anything to get rid of a man who
insults me before the very faces of my innocent lambs!  And please
to remember;〃 she added; as she pulled out her purse; while Hugh was
collecting some books he had lent the boys; 〃that when you were
starving; my husband and I took you in and gave you employment out
of charitypure charity; Mr。 Sutherland。  Here is your money。〃

〃Good morning; Mrs。 Appleditch;〃 said Hugh; and walked out with his
books under his arm; leaving her with the money in her hand。

He had to knock his feet on the pavement in front of the house; to
keep them from freezing; for half…an…hour; before the carriage
arrived to take him away。  As soon as it came up; he jumped into it;
and was carried off in triumph by Harry。

Mrs。 Elton received him kindly。  Euphra held out her hand with a
slight blush; and the quiet familiarity of an old friend。  Hugh
could almost have fallen in love with her again; from compassion for
her pale; worn face; and subdued expression。

Mrs。 Elton went out in the carriage almost directly; and Euphra
begged Harry to leave them alone; as she had something to talk to
Mr。 Sutherland about。

〃Have you found any trace of Count Halkar; Hugh?〃 she said; the
moment they were by themselves。

〃I am very sorry to say I have not。  I have done my best。〃

〃I am quite sure of that。I just wanted to tell you; that; from
certain indications which no one could understand so well as myself;
I think you will have more chance of finding him now。〃

〃I am delighted to hear it;〃 responded Hugh。 〃If I only had him!〃

Euphra sighed; paused; and then said:

〃But I am not sure of it。  I think he is in London; but he may be in
Bohemia; for anything I know。  I shall; however; in all probability;
know more about him within a few days。〃

Hugh resolved to go at once to Falconer; and communicate to him what
Euphra had told him。  But he said nothing to her as to the means by
which he had tried to discover the count; for although he felt sure
that he had done right in telling Falconer all about it; he was
afraid lest Euphra; not knowing what sort of a man he was; might not
like it。  Euphra; on her part; did not mention Margaret's name; for
she had begged her not to do so。

〃You will tell me when you know yourself?〃

〃Perhaps。I will; if I can。  I do wish you could get the ring。  I
have a painful feeling that it gives him power over me。〃

〃That can only be a nervous fancy; surely;〃 Hugh ventured to say。

〃Perhaps it is。  I don't know。  But; still; without that; there are
plenty of reasons for wishing to recover it。  He will put it to a
bad use; if he can。  But for your sake; especially; I wish we could
get it。〃

〃Thank you。  You were always kind。〃

〃No;〃 she replied; without lifting her eyes; 〃I brought it all upon
you。〃

〃But you could not help it。〃

〃Not at the moment。  But all that led to it was my fault。〃

She paused; then suddenly resumed:

〃I will confess。Do you know what gave rise to the reports of the
house being haunted?〃

〃No。〃

〃It was me wandering about it at night; looking for that very ring;
to give to the count。  It was shameful。  But I did。  Those reports
prevented me from being found out。  But I hope not many ghosts are
so miserable as I was。You remember my speaking to you of Mr。
Arnold's jewels?〃

〃Yes; perfectly。〃

〃I wanted to find out; through you; where the ring was。  But I had
no intention of involving you。〃

〃I am sure you had not。〃

〃Don't be too sure of anything about me。  I don't know what I might
have been led to do。  But I am very sorry。  Do forgive me。〃

〃I cannot allow that I have anything to forgive。  But tell me;
Euphra; were you the creature; in white that I saw in the Ghost's
Walk one night?  I don't mean the last time。〃

〃Very likely;〃 she answered; bending her head yet lower; with a
sigh。

〃Then who was the creature in black that met you?  And what became
of you then?〃

〃Did you see her?〃 rejoined Euphra; turning paler still。 〃I fainted
at sight of her。  I took her for the nun that hangs in that horrid
room。〃

〃So did I;〃 said Hugh。 〃But you could not have lain long; for I went
up to the spot where you vanished; and found nothing。〃

〃I suppose I got into the shrubbery before I fell。  Or the count
dragged me in。But was that really a ghost?  I feel now as if it
was a good messenger; whether ghost or not; come to warn me; if I
had had the courage to listen。  I wish I had taken the warning。〃

They talked about these and other things; till Mrs。 Elton; who had
made Hugh promise to stay to lunch; returned。  When they were seated
at table; the kind…hearted woman said:

〃Now; Mr。 Sutherland; when will you begin again with Harry?〃

〃I do not quite understand you;〃 answered Hugh。

〃Of course you will come and give him lessons; poor boy。  He will be
broken…hearted if you don't。〃

〃I wish I could。  But I cannotat least yet; for I know his father
was dissatisfied with me。  That was one of the reasons that made him
send Harry to London。〃

Harry looked wretchedly disappointed; but said nothing。

〃I never heard him say anything of the sort。〃

〃I am sure of it; though。  I am very sorry he has mistaken me; but
he will know me better some day。〃

〃I will take all the responsibility;〃 persisted Mrs。 Elton。

〃But unfortunately the responsibility sticks too fast for you to
take it。  I cannot get rid of my share if I would。〃

〃You are too particular。  I am sure Mr。 Arnold never could have
meant that。  This is my house too。〃

〃But Harry is his boy。  If you will let me come and see him
sometimes; I shall be very thankful; though。  I may be useful to him
without giving him lessons。〃

〃Thank you;〃 said Harry with delight。

〃Well; well!  I suppose you are so much in request in London that
you won't miss him for a pupil。〃

〃On the contrary; I have not a single engagement。  If you could find
me one; I should be exceedingly obliged to you。〃

〃Dear! dear! dear!〃 said Mrs。 Elton。 〃Then you shall have Harry。〃

〃Oh! yes; please take me;〃 said Harry; beseechingly。

〃No; I cannot。  I must not。〃

Mrs。 Elton rang the bell。

〃James; tell the coachman I want the carriage in an hour。〃

Mrs。 Elton was as submissive to her coachman as ladies who have
carriages generally are; and would not have dreamed of ordering the
horses out so soon again for herself; but she forgot everything else
when a friend was in need of help; and became perfectly
pachydermatous to the offended looks or indignant hints of that
important functionary。

Within a few minutes after Hugh took his leave; Mrs。 Elton was on
her way to repeat a visit she had already paid the same morning; and
to make several other calls; with t

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