david elginbrod-第42章
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before we really know what sort of a place we are living in； and we
shall have ever so many things to learn that will surprise us。〃
〃Oh！ it will be nice！〃 cried Harry。
After a little more geographical talk； they put up their
instruments； and began to descend the hill。 Harry was in no need of
Hugh's back now； but Euphra was in need of his hand。 In fact； she
spelled for its support。
〃How awkward of me！ I am stumbling over the heather shamefully！〃
She was； in fact； stumbling over her own dress； which she would not
hold up。 Hugh offered his hand； and her small one seemed quite
content to be swallowed up in his large one。
〃Why do you never let me put you on your horse？〃 said Hugh。 〃You
always manage to prevent me somehow or other。 The last time； I just
turned my head； and； behold！ when I looked； you were gathering your
reins。〃
〃It is only a trick of independence； HughMr。 SutherlandI beg
your pardon。〃
I can make no excuse for Euphra； for she had positively never heard
him called Hugh： there was no one to do so。 But； the slip had not；
therefore； the less effect； for it sounded as if she had been saying
his name over and over again to herself。
〃I beg your pardon；〃 repeated Euphra； hastily； for； as Hugh did not
reply； she feared her arrow had swerved from its mark。
〃For a sweet fault； EuphraI beg your pardonMiss Cameron。〃
〃You punish me with forgiveness；〃 returned she； with one of her
sweetest looks。
Hugh could not help pressing the little hand。
Was the pressure returned？ So slight； so airy was the touch； that
it might have been only the throb of his own pulses； all consciously
vital about the wonderful woman…hand that rested in his。 If he had
claimed it； she might easily have denied it； so ethereal and
uncertain was it。 Yet he believed in it。 He never dreamed that she
was exercising her skill upon him。 What could be her object in
bewitching a poor tutor？ Ah！ what indeed？
Meantime this much is certain； that she was drawing Hugh closer and
closer to her side； that a soothing dream of delight had begun to
steal over his spirit； soon to make it toss in feverous unrestas
the first effects of some poisons are like a dawn of tenfold
strength。 The mountain wind blew from her to him； sometimes
sweeping her garments about him； and bathing him in their faint
sweet odoursodours which somehow seemed to belong to her whom they
had only last visited； sometimes； so kindly strong did it blow；
compelling her； or at least giving her excuse enough； to leave his
hand and cling closely to his arm。 A fresh spring began to burst
from the very bosom of what had seemed before a perfect summer。 A
spring to summer！ What would the following summer be？ Ah！ and what
the autumn？ And what the winter？ For if the summer be tenfold
summer； then must the winter be tenfold winter。
But though knowledge is good for man； foreknowledge is not so good。
And； though Love be good； a tempest of it in the brain will not
ripen the fruits like a soft steady wind； or waft the ships home to
their desired haven。
Perhaps； what enslaved Hugh most； was the feeling that the damsel
stooped to him； without knowing that she stooped。 She seemed to him
in every way above him。 She knew so many things of which he was
ignorant； could say such lovely things； could； he did not doubt；
write lovely verses； could sing like an angel； （though Scotch songs
are not of essentially angelic strain； nor Italian songs either； in
general； and they were all that she could do）； was mistress of a
great rich wonderful house； with a history； and； more than all； was；
or appeared to him to bea beautiful woman。 It was true that his
family was as good as hers； but he had disowned his familyso his
pride declared； and the same pride made him despise his present
position； and look upon a tutor's employment asaswell； as other
people look upon it； as a rather contemptible one in fact；
especially for a young； powerful； six…foot fellow。
The influence of Euphrasia was not of the best upon him from the
first； for it had greatly increased this feeling about his
occupation。 It could not affect his feelings towards Harry； so the
boy did not suffer as yet。 But it set him upon a very unprofitable
kind of castle…building： he would be a soldier like his father； he
would leave Arnstead； to revisit it with a sword by his side； and a
Sir before his name。 Sir Hugh Sutherland would be somebody even in
the eyes of the master of Arnstead。 Yes； a six…foot fellow； though
he may be sensible in the main； is not； therefore； free from small
vanities； especially if he be in love。 But how leave Euphra？
Again I outrun my story。
CHAPTER X。
ITALIAN。
Per me si va nella citt？dolente。
DANTE
Through me thou goest into the city of grief。
Of necessity； with so many shafts opened into the mountain of
knowledge； a far greater amount of time must be devoted by Harry and
his tutor to the working of the mine； than they had given hitherto。
This made a considerable alteration in the intercourse of the youth
and the lady； for； although Euphra was often present during
school…hours； it must be said for Hugh that； during those hours； he
paid almost all his attention to Harry； so much of it； indeed； that
perhaps there was not enough left to please the lady。 But she did
not say so。 She sat beside them in silence； occupied with her work；
and saving up her glances for use。 Now and then she would read；
taking an opportunity sometimes； but not often； when a fitting pause
occurred； to ask him to explain some passage about which she was in
doubt。 It must be conceded that such passages were well chosen for
the purpose； for she was too wise to do her own intellect discredit
by feigning a difficulty where she saw none； intellect being the
only gift in others for which she was conscious of any reverence。
By…and…by she began to discontinue these visits to the schoolroom。
Perhaps she found them dull。 Perhapsbut we shall see。
One morning； in the course of their studyEuphra not presentHugh
had occasion to go from his own room； where； for the most part； they
carried on the severer portion of their labours； down to the library
for a book； to enlighten them upon some point on which they were in
doubt。 As he was passing an open door； Euphra's voice called him。
He entered； and found himself in her private sitting…room。 He had
not known before where it was。
〃I beg your pardon； Mr。 Sutherland； for calling you； but I am at
this moment in a difficulty。 I cannot manage this line in the
Inferno。 Do help me。〃
She moved the book towards him； as he now stood by her side； she
remaining seated at her table。 To his mortification； he was
compelled to confess his utter ignorance of the language。
〃Oh！ I am disappointed；〃 said Euphra。
〃Not so much as I am；〃 replied Hugh。 〃But could you spare me one or
two of your Italian books？〃
〃With pleasure；〃 she answered； rising and going to her bookshelves。
〃I want only a grammar； a dictionary； and a New Testament。〃
〃There they are；〃 she said； taking them down one after the other；
and bringing them to him。 〃I daresay you will soon get up with poor
stupid me。〃
〃I shall do my best to get within hearing of your voice； at least；
in which Italian must be lovely。〃
No reply； but a sudden droop of the head。
〃But；〃 continued Hugh； 〃upon second thoughts； lest I should be
compelled to remain dumb； or else annoy your delicate ear with
discordant sounds； just give me one lesson in the pronunciation。
Let me hear you read a little first。〃
〃With all my heart。〃
Euphra began； and read delightfully； for she was an excellent
Italian scholar。 It was necessary that Hugh should look over the
book。 This was difficult while he remained standing； as she did not
offer to lift it from the table。 Gradually； therefore； and hardly
knowing how； he settled into a chair by her side。 Half…an…hour went
by like a minute； as he listened to the silvery tones of her voice；
breaking into a bell…like sound upon the double consonants of that
sweet lady…tongue。 Then it was his turn to read and be corrected；
and read again and be again corrected。 Another half…ho
