david elginbrod-第47章
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haunted by a vague mystery of worshipfulness； and drew him towards
it with wonder and trembling。 When they parted for the night； she
shook hands with him with a cool frankness； that put him nearly
beside himself with despair； and when he found himself in his own
room； it was some time before he could collect his thoughts。 Having
succeeded； however； he resolved； in spite of growing fears； to go to
the library； and see whether it were not possible she might be
there。 He took up a candle； and went down the back stair。 But when
he opened the library door； a gust of wind blew his candle out； all
was darkness within； a sudden horror seized him； and； afraid of
yielding to the inclination to bound up the stair； lest he should go
wild with the terror of pursuit； he crept slowly back； feeling his
way to his own room with a determined deliberateness。Could the
library window have been left open？ Else whence the gust of wind？
Next day； and the next； and the next； he fared no better： her
behaviour continued the same； and she allowed him no opportunity of
requesting an explanation。
CHAPTER XII。
A SUNDAY。
A man may be a heretic in the truth； and if he believe things only
because his pastor says so； or the assembly so determines； without
knowing other reason； though his belief be true； yet the very truth
he holds becomes his heresy。MILTON。Areopagitica。
At length the expected visitors arrived。 Hugh saw nothing of them
till they assembled for dinner。 Mrs。 Elton was a benevolent old
ladynot old enough to give in to being oldrather tall； and
rather stout； in rich widow…costume； whose depth had been moderated
by time。 Her kindly grey eyes looked out from a calm face； which
seemed to have taken comfort from loving everybody in a mild and
moderate fashion。 Lady Emily was a slender girl； rather shy； with
fair hair； and a pale innocent face。 She wore a violet dress； which
put out her blue eyes。 She showed to no advantage beside the
suppressed glow of life which made Euphra look like a tropical
twilightI am aware there is no such thing； but if there were； it
would be just like her。
Mrs。 Elton seemed to have concentrated the motherhood of her nature；
which was her most prominent characteristic； notwithstandingor
perhaps in virtue ofher childlessness； upon Lady Emily。 To her
Mrs。 Elton was solicitously attentive； and she； on her part；
received it all sweetly and gratefully； taking no umbrage at being
treated as more of an invalid than she was。
Lady Emily ate nothing but chicken； and custard…pudding or rice； all
the time she was at Arnstead。
The richer and more seasoned any dish； the more grateful it was to
Euphra。
Mr。 Arnold was a saddle…of…mutton man。
Hugh preferred roast…beef； but ate anything。
〃What sort of a clergyman have you now； Mr。 Arnold？〃 asked Mrs。
Elton； at the dinner…table。
〃Oh！ a very respectable young gentleman； brother to Sir Richard； who
has the gift； you know。 A very moderate； excellent clergyman he
makes； too！〃
〃All！ but you know； Lady Emily and I〃here she looked at Lady
Emily； who smiled and blushed faintly； 〃are very dependent on our
Sundays； and〃
〃We all go to church regularly； I assure you； Mrs。 Elton； and of
course my carriage shall be always at your disposal。〃
〃I was in no doubt about either of those things； indeed； Mr。 Arnold。
But what sort of a preacher is he？〃
〃Ah； well！ let me see。What was the subject of his sermon last
Sunday； Euphra； my dear？〃
〃The devil and all his angels；〃 answered Euphra； with a wicked flash
in her eyes。
〃Yes； yes； so it was。 Oh！ I assure you； Mrs。 Elton； he is quite a
respectable preacher； as well as clergyman。 He is an honour to the
cloth。〃
Hugh could not help thinking that the tailor should have his due；
and that Mr。 Arnold gave it him。
〃He is no Puseyite either；〃 added Mr。 Arnold； seeing but not
understanding Mrs。 Elton's baffled expression； 〃though he does
preach once a month in his surplice。〃
〃I am afraid you will not find him very original； though；〃 said
Hugh； wishing to help the old lady。
〃Original！〃 interposed Mr。 Arnold。 〃Really； I am bound to say I
don't know how the remark applies。 How is a man to be original on a
subject that is all laid down in plain printto use a vulgar
expressionand has been commented upon for eighteen hundred years
and more？〃
〃Very true； Mr。 Arnold；〃 responded Mrs。 Elton。 〃We don't want
originality； do we？ It is only the gospel we want。 Does he preach
the gospel？〃
〃How can he preach anything else？ His text is always out of some
part of the Bible。〃
〃I am glad to see you hold by the Inspiration of the Scriptures； Mr。
Arnold；〃 said Mrs。 Elton； chaotically bewildered。
〃Good heavens！ Madam； what do you mean？ Could you for a moment
suppose me to be an atheist？ Surely you have not become a student
of German Neology？〃 And Mr。 Arnold smiled a grim smile。
〃Not I； indeed！〃 protested poor Mrs。 Elton； moving uneasily in her
seat；〃I quite agree with you； Mr。 Arnold。〃
〃Then you may take my word for it； that you will hear nothing but
what is highly orthodox； and perfectly worthy of a gentleman and a
clergyman； from the pulpit of Mr。 Penfold。 He dined with us only
last week。〃
This last assertion was made in an injured tone； just sufficient to
curl the tail of the sentence。 After which； what was to be said？
Several vain attempts followed； before a new subject was started；
sufficiently uninteresting to cause； neither from warmth nor
stupidity； any danger of dissension； and quite worthy of being here
omitted。
Dinner over； and the ceremony of teain Lady Emily's case； milk and
waterhaving been observed； the visitors withdrew。
The next day was Sunday。 Lady Emily came down stairs in black；
which suited her better。 She was a pretty； gentle creature；
interesting from her illness； and good； because she knew no evil；
except what she heard of from the pulpit。 They walked to church；
which was at no great distance； along a meadow…path paved with
flags； some of them worn through by the heavy shoes of country
generations。 The church was one of those which are； in some
measure； typical of the Church itself； for it was very old； and
would have been very beautiful； had it not been all plastered over；
and whitened to a smooth uniformity of uglinessthe attempt having
been more successful in the case of the type。 The open roof had had
a French heaven added to itI mean a ceiling； and the pillars；
which； even if they were not carvedthough it was impossible to
come to a conclusion on that pointmust yet have been worn into the
beauty of age； had been filled up； and stained with yellow ochre。
Even the remnants of stained glass in some of the windows； were
half concealed by modern appliances for the partial exclusion of the
light。 The church had fared as Chaucer in the hands of Dryden。 So
had the truth； that flickered through the sermon； fared in the hands
of the clergyman； or of the sermon…wright whose manuscript he had
bought for eighteen penceI am told that sermons are to be procured
at that priceon his last visit to London。 Having； although a
Scotchman； had an episcopalian education； Hugh could not help
rejoicing that not merely the Bible； but the Church…service as well；
had been fixed beyond the reach of such degenerating influences as
those which had operated on the more material embodiments of
religion； for otherwise such would certainly have been the first to
operate； and would have found the greatest scope in any alteration。
We may hope that nothing but a true growth in such religion as
needs and seeks new expression for new depth and breadth of feeling；
will ever be permitted to lay the hand of change upon ita hand；
otherwise； of desecration and ruin。
The sermon was chiefly occupied with proving that God is no
respecter of persons； a mark of indubitable condescension in the
clergyman； the rank in society which he could claim for himself duly
considered。 But； unfortunately； the church was so constructed； that
its area contained three platforms of position； actually of
differing level； the loftiest； in the chancel； on the right hand of
the pulpit； occupied by the gentry；
