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第98节

david elginbrod-第98节

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though; because; of course; you would not have let me go。〃

〃I hope it did not trouble you much。〃

〃No; not much; for though I was with the count; I did not seem to be
there in the body at all; only somehow near him; and seeing him。  I
can recall the place perfectly。〃

〃Do you think it really was the place he was in at the time?〃

〃I should not wonder。  But now I feel so free; so far beyond him and
all his power; that I don't mind where or when I see him。  He cannot
hurt me now。〃

〃Could you describe the place to Mr。 Sutherland?  It might help him
to find the count。〃

〃That's a good idea。  Will you send for him?〃

〃Yes; certainly。  May I tell him for what?〃

〃By all means。〃

Margaret wrote to Hugh at once; and sent the note by hand。  He was
at home when it arrived。  He hurriedly answered it; and went to find
Falconer。  To his delight he was at homenot out of bed; in fact。

〃Read that。〃

〃Who is it from?〃

〃Miss Cameron's maid。〃

〃It does not look like a maid's production。〃

〃It is though。  Will you come with me?  You know London ten thousand
times better than I do。  I don't think we ought to lose a chance。〃

〃Certainly not。  I will go with you。  But perhaps she will not see
me。〃

〃Oh! yes; she will; when I have told her about you。〃

〃It will be rather a trial to see a stranger。〃

〃A man cannot be a stranger with you ten minutes; if he only looks
at you;still less a woman。〃

Falconer looked pleased; and smiled。

〃I am glad you think so。  Let us go。〃

When they arrived; Margaret came to them。  Hugh told her that
Falconer was his best friend; and one who knew London perhaps better
than any other man in it。  Margaret looked at him full in the face
for a moment。  Falconer smiled at the intensity of her still gaze。
Margaret returned the smile; and said:

〃I will ask Miss Cameron to see yet。〃

〃Thank you;〃 was all Falconer's reply; but the tone was more than
speech。

After a little while; they were shown up to Euphra's room。  She had
wanted to sit up; but Margaret would not let her; so she was lying
on her couch。  When Falconer was presented to her; he took her hand;
and held it for a moment。  A kind of indescribable beam broke over
his face; as if his spirit smiled and the smile shone through
without moving one of his features as it passed。  The tears stood in
his eyes。  To understand all this look; one would need to know his
history as I do。  He laid her hand gently on her bosom; and said:
〃God bless you!〃

Euphra felt that God did bless her in the very words。  She had been
looking at Falconer all the time。  It was only fifteen seconds or
so; but the outcome of a life was crowded into Falconer's side of
it; and the confidence of Euphra rose to meet the faithfulness of a
man of God。What words those are!A man of God!  Have I not
written a revelation?  Yesto him who can read ityes。

〃I know enough of your story; Miss Cameron;〃 he said; 〃to understand
without any preface what you choose to tell me。〃

Euphra began at once:

〃I dreamed last night that I found myself outside the street door。
I did not know where I was going; but my feet seemed to know。  They
carried me; round two or three corners; into a wide; long street;
which I think was Oxford…street。  They carried me on into London;
far beyond any quarter I knew。  All I can tell further is; that I
turned to the left beside a church; on the steeple of which stood
what I took for a wandering ghost just lighted there;only I ought
to tell you; that frequently in my dreamsalways in my peculiar
dreamsthe more material and solid and ordinary things are; the
more thin and ghostly they appear to me。  Then I went on and on;
turning left and right too many times for me to remember; till at
last I came to a little; old…fashioned court; with two or three
trees in it。  I had to go up a few steps to enter it。  I was not
afraid; because I knew I was dreaming; and that my body was not
there。  It is a great relief to feel that sometimes; for it is often
very much in the way。  I opened a door; upon which the moon shone
very bright; and walked up two flights of stairs into a back room。
And there I found him; doing something at a table by candlelight。
He had a sheet of paper before him; but what he was doing with it;
I could not see。  I tried hard; but it was of no use。  The dream
suddenly faded; and I awoke; and found Margaret。Then I knew I was
safe;〃 she added; with a loving glance at her maid。

Falconer rose。

〃I know the place you mean perfectly;〃 he said。 〃It is too peculiar
to be mistaken。  Last night; let me see; how did the moon
shine?Yes。 I shall be able to tell the very door; I think; or
almost。〃

〃How kind of you not to laugh at me!〃

〃I might make a fool of myself if I laughed at any one。  So I
generally avoid it。  We may as well get the good out of what we do
not understandor at least try if there be any in it。  Will you
come; Sutherland?〃

Hugh rose; and took his leave with Falconer。

〃How pleased she seemed with you; Falconer!〃 said he; as they left
the house。

〃Yes; she touched me。〃

〃Won't you go and see her again?〃

〃No; there is no need; except she sends for me。〃

〃It would please hercomfort her; I am sure。〃

〃She has got one of God's angels beside her; Sutherland。  She
doesn't want me。〃

〃What do you mean?〃

〃I mean that maid of hers。〃

A pangof jealousy; was it?shot through Hugh's heart。  How could
he seewhat right had he to see anything in Margaret?

Hugh might have kept himself at peace; even if he had loved Margaret
as much as she deserved; which would have been about ten times as
much as he did。  Is a man not to recognize an angel when he sees
her; and to call her by her name?  Had Hugh seen into the core of
that grand heartwhat form sat there; and howhe would have been
at peacewould almost have fallen down to do the man homage。  He
was silent。

〃My dear fellow!〃 said Falconer; as if he divined his feelingfor
Falconer's power over men and women came all from sympathy with
their spirits; and not their nerves〃if you have any hold of that
woman; do not lose it; for as sure as there's a sun in heaven; she
is one of the winged ones。  Don't I know a woman when I see her!〃

He sighed with a kind of involuntary sigh; which yet did not seek to
hide itself from Hugh。

〃My dear boy;〃 he added; laying a stress on the word; 〃I am nearly
twice your agedon't be jealous of me。〃

〃Mr。 Falconer;〃 said Hugh humbly; 〃forgive me。  The feeling was
involuntary; and if you have detected in it more than I was aware
of; you are at least as likely to be right as I am。  But you cannot
think more highly of Margaret than I do。〃

And yet Hugh did not know half the good of her then; that the reader
does now。

〃Well; we had better part now; and meet again at night。〃

〃What time shall I come to you?〃

〃Oh! about nine I think will do。〃

So Hugh went home; and tried to turn his thoughts to his story; but
Euphra; Falconer; Funkelstein; and Margaret persisted in sitting to
him; the one after the other; instead of the heroes and heroines of
his tale。  He was compelled to lay it aside; and betake himself to a
stroll and a pipe。

As he went down stairs; he met Miss Talbot。

〃You're soon tired of home; Mr。 Sutherland。  You haven't been in
above half an hour; and you're out again already。〃

〃Why; you see; Miss Talbot; I want a pipe very much。〃

〃Well; you ain't going to the public house to smoke it; are you?〃

〃No;〃 answered Hugh laughing。 〃But you know; Miss Talbot; you made
it part of the agreement that I shouldn't smoke indoors。  So I'm
going to smoke in the street。〃

〃Now; think of being taken that way!〃 retorted Miss Talbot; with an
injured air。 〃Why; that was before I knew anything about you。  Go up
stairs directly; and smoke your pipe; and when the room can't hold
any more; you can open the windows。  Your smoke won't do any harm;
Mr。 Sutherland。  But I'm very sorry you quarrelled with Mrs。
Appleditch。  She's a hard woman; and over fond of her money and her
drawing…room; and for those boys of hersthe Lord have mercy on
them; for she has none!  But she's a true Christian for all that;
and does a power of good among the poor people。〃

〃What does she give them; Miss Talbot?〃

〃Oh!she gives themhm…mtracts and things。  You know;〃 she
added; perceiving the weakness of her position; 〃people's souls
should come first。  And poor Mrs。 Appleditchyou seesome folks is
made stickier than others; and their money sticks to them; somehow;
that they can't part with itpoor woman!〃

To this Hugh had no answer at hand; for though Miss Talbot's logic
was more than questionable; her charity was perfectly sound; and
Hugh felt that he had not been forbearing enough with the mother of
the future pastors。  So he went back to his room; lighted his pipe;
and smoked till he fell asleep over a small volume of morbid modern
divinity; which Miss Talbot had lent him。  I do not mention the name
of the book; lest some of my acquaintance should abuse me; and
others it; more than either deserves。  Hugh; however; found the best
refuge from the diseased self…consciousness which it endeavoured to
rouse; and which is a kind of spiritual somnambulis

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