david elginbrod-第26章
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candles on the table； failed to show the outlines of the room； it
was so large and dark。 The ceiling was rather low in proportion；
and a huge beam crossed it。 At one end； an open door revealed a
room beyond； likewise lighted with fire and candles。 Entering； he
found this to be an equally old…fashioned bedroom； to which his
luggage had been already conveyed。
〃As far as creature comforts go；〃 thought Hugh； 〃I have fallen on my
feet。〃 He rang the bell； had the tray removed； and then proceeded
to examine the book…cases。 He found them to contain much of the
literature with which he was most desirous of making an
acquaintance。 A few books of the day were interspersed。 The sense
of having good companions in the authors around him； added greatly
to his feeling of comfort； and he retired for the night filled with
pleasant anticipations of his sojourn at Arnstead。 All the night；
however； his dreams were of wind and snow； and Margaret out in them
alone。 Janet was waiting in the cottage for him to bring her home。
He had found her； but could not move her； for the spirit of the
storm had frozen her to ice； and she was heavy as a marble statue。
When he awoke； the shadows of boughs and budding twigs were waving
in changeful network…tracery； across the bright sunshine on his
window…curtains。 Before he was called he was ready to go down； and
to amuse himself till breakfast…time； he proceeded to make another
survey of the books。 He concluded that these must be a colony from
the mother…library； and also that the room must； notwithstanding； be
intended for his especial occupation； seeing his bedroom opened out
of it。 Next； he looked from all the windows； to discover into what
kind of a furrow on the face of the old earth he had fallen。 All he
could see was trees and trees。 But oh！ how different from the
sombre； dark； changeless fir…wood at Turriepuffit！ whose trees
looked small and shrunken in his memory； beside this glory of
boughs； breaking out into their prophecy of an infinite greenery at
hand。 His rooms seemed to occupy the end of a small wing at the
back of the house； as well as he could judge。 His sitting…room
windows looked across a small space to another wing； and the windows
of his bedroom； which were at right…angles to those of the former；
looked full into what seemed an ordered ancient forest of gracious
trees of all kinds； coming almost close to the very windows。 They
were the trees which had been throwing their shadows on these
windows for two or three hours of the silent spring sunlight； at
once so liquid and so dazzling。 Then he resolved to test his
faculty for discovery； by seeing whether he could find his way to
the breakfast…room without a guide。 In this he would have succeeded
without much difficulty； for it opened from the main…entrance hall；
to which the huge square…turned oak staircase； by which he had
ascended； led； had it not been for the somewhat intricate nature of
the passages leading from the wing in which his rooms were
（evidently an older and more retired portion of the house） to the
main staircase itself。 After opening many doors and finding no
thoroughfare； he became convinced that； in place of finding a way
on； he had lost the way back。 At length he came to a small stair；
which led him down to a single door。 This he opened； and
straightway found himself in the library； a long； low；
silent…looking room； every foot of the walls of which was occupied
with books in varied and rich bindings。 The lozenge…paned windows；
with thick stone mullions； were much overgrown with ivy； throwing a
cool green shadowiness into the room。 One of them； however； had
been altered to a more modern taste； and opened with folding…doors
upon a few steps； descending into an old…fashioned； terraced garden。
To approach this window he had to pass a table； lying on which he
saw a paper with verses on it； evidently in a woman's hand； and
apparently just written； for the ink of the corrective scores still
glittered。 Just as he reached the window； which stood open； a lady
had almost gained it from the other side； coming up the steps from
the garden。 She gave a slight start when she saw him； looked away；
and as instantly glanced towards him again。 Then approaching him
through the window； for he had retreated to allow her to enter； she
bowed with a kind of studied ease； and a slight shade of something
French in her manner。 Her voice was very pleasing； almost
bewitching； yet had； at the same time； something assumed； if not
affected； in the tone。 All this was discoverable； or rather
spiritually palpable； in the two words she saidmerely； 〃Mr。
Sutherland？〃 interrogatively。 Hugh bowed； and said：
〃I am very glad you have found me； for I had quite lost myself。 I
doubt whether I should ever have reached the breakfast…room。〃
〃Come this way；〃 she rejoined。
As they passed the table on which the verses lay； she stopped and
slipped them into a writing…case。 Leading him through a succession
of handsome； evidently modern passages； she brought him across the
main hall to the breakfast…room； which looked in the opposite
direction to the library； namely； to the front of the house。 She
rang the bell； the urn was brought in； and she proceeded at once to
make the tea； which she did well； rising in Hugh's estimation
thereby。 Before he had time； however； to make his private remarks
on her exterior； or his conjectures on her position in the family；
Mr。 Arnold entered the room； with a slow； somewhat dignified step；
and a dull outlook of grey eyes from a grey head well…balanced on a
tall； rather slender frame。 The lady rose； and； addressing him as
uncle； bade him good morning； a greeting which he returned
cordially； with a kiss on her forehead。 Then accosting Hugh； with a
manner which seemed the more polite and cold after the tone in which
he had spoken to his niece； he bade him welcome to Arnstead。
〃I trust you were properly attended to last night； Mr。 Sutherland？
Your pupil wanted very much to sit up till you arrived； but he is
altogether too delicate； I am sorry to say； for late hours； though
he has an unfortunate preference for them himself。 Jacob；〃 （to the
man in waiting）； 〃is not Master Harry up yet？〃
Master Harry's entrance at that moment rendered reply unnecessary。
〃Good morning； Euphra；〃 he said to the lady； and kissed her on the
cheek。
〃Good morning； dear；〃 was the reply； accompanied by a pretence of
returning the kiss。 But she smiled with a kind of confectionary
sweetness on him； and； dropping an additional lump of sugar into his
tea at the same moment； placed it for him beside herself； while he
went and shook hands with his father； and then glancing shyly up at
Hugh from a pair of large dark eyes； put his hand in his； and
smiled； revealing teeth of a pearly whiteness。 The lips； however；
did not contrast them sufficiently； being pale and thin； with
indication of suffering in their tremulous lines。 Taking his place
at table； he trifled with his breakfast； and after making pretence
of eating for a while； asked Euphra if he might go。 She giving him
leave； he hastened away。
Mr。 Arnold took advantage of his retreat to explain to Hugh what he
expected of him with regard to the boy。
〃How old would you take Harry to be； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
〃I should say about twelve from his size；〃 replied Hugh； 〃but from
his evident bad health； and intelligent expression〃
〃Ah！ you perceive the state he is in；〃 interrupted Mr。 Arnold； with
some sadness in his voice。 〃You are right； he is nearly fifteen。 He
has not grown half…an…inch in the last twelve months。〃
〃Perhaps that is better than growing too fast；〃 said Hugh。
〃Perhapsperhaps； we will hope so。 But I cannot help being uneasy
about him。 He reads too much； and I have not yet been able to help
it； for he seems miserable； and without any object in life； if I
compel him to leave his books。〃
〃Perhaps we can manage to get over that in a little while。〃
〃Besides；〃 Mr。 Arnold went on； paying no attention to what Hugh
said； 〃I can get him to take no exercise。 He does not even care for
riding。 I bought him a second pony a month ago； and he has not been
