david elginbrod-第49章
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around a definite object； and blending its own shadowy being with
the sorrow he experienced from the loss of his tutor's sympathy。
Should that sorrow ever be cleared away； much besides might be
cleared away along with it。
Meantime； nature found some channels； worn by his grief； through
which her comforts； that； like waters； press on all sides； and enter
at every cranny and fissure in the house of life； might gently flow
into him with their sympathetic soothing。 Often he would creep away
to the nest which Hugh had built and then forsaken； and seated there
in the solitude of the wide…bourgeoned oak； he would sometimes feel
for a moment as if lifted up above the world and its sorrows； to be
visited by an all…healing wind from God； that came to him； through
the wilderness of leaves around him…gently； like all powerful
things。
But I am putting the boy's feelings into forms and words for him。
He had none of either for them。
CHAPTER XIII。
A STORM。
When the mind's free；
The body's delicate： the tempest in my mind
Doth from my senses take all feeling else
Save what beats there。
King Lear。
While Harry took to wandering abroad in the afternoon sun； Hugh； on
the contrary； found the bright weather so distasteful to him； that
he generally trifled away his afternoons with some old romance in
the dark library； or lay on the couch in his study； listless and
suffering。 He could neither read nor write。 What he felt he must
do he did； but nothing more。
One day； about noon； the weather began to change。 In the afternoon
it grew dark； and Hugh； going to the window； perceived with
delightthe first he had experienced for many daysthat a great
thunder…storm was at hand。 Harry was rather frightened； but under
his fear； there evidently lay a deep delight。 The storm came nearer
and nearer； till at length a vivid flash broke from the mass of
darkness over the woods； lasted for one brilliant moment； and
vanished。 The thunder followed； like a pursuing wild beast； close
on the traces of the vanishing light； as if the darkness were
hunting the light from the earth； and bellowing with rage that it
could not overtake and annihilate it。 Without the usual prelude of
a few great drops； the rain poured at once； in continuous streams；
from the dense canopy overhead； and in a few moments there were six
inches of water all round the house； which the force of the falling
streams made to foam； and fume； and flash like a seething torrent。
Harry had crept close to Hugh； who stood looking out of the window；
and as if the convulsion of the elements had begun to clear the
spiritual and moral； as well as the physical atmosphere； Hugh looked
down on the boy kindly； and put his arm round his shoulders。 Harry
nestled closer； and wished it would thunder for ever。 But longing
to hear his tutor's voice； he ventured to speak； looking up to his
face：
〃Euphra says it is only electricity； Mr。 Sutherland。 What is that？〃
A common tutor would have seized the opportunity of explaining what
he knew of the laws and operations of electricity。 But Hugh had
been long enough a pupil of David to feel that to talk at such a
time of anything in nature but God； would be to do the boy a serious
wrong。 One capable of so doing would； in the presence of the
Saviour himself； speculate on the nature of his own faith； or upon
the death of his child； seize the opportunity of lecturing on
anatomy。 But before Hugh could make any reply； a flash； almost
invisible from excess of light； was accompanied rather than followed
by a roar that made the house shake； and in a moment more the room
was filled with the terrified household； which； by an unreasoning
impulse； rushed to the neighbourhood of him who was considered the
strongest。Mr。 Arnold was not at home。
〃Come from the window instantly； Mr。 Sutherland。 How can you be so
imprudent！〃 cried Mrs。 Elton； her usually calm voice elevated in
command； but tremulous with fear。
〃Why； Mrs。 Elton；〃 answered Hugh on whose temper； as well as
conduct； recent events had had their operation； 〃do you think the
devil makes the thunder？〃
Lady Emily gave a faint shriek； whether out of reverence for the
devil； or fear of God； I hesitate to decide； and flitting out of the
room； dived into her bed； and drew the clothes over her headat
least so she was found at a later period of the day。 Euphra walked
up to the window beside Hugh； as if to show her approval of his
rudeness； and stood looking out with eyes that filled their own
night with home…born flashes； though her lip was pale； and quivered
a little。 Mrs。 Elton； confounded at Hugh's reply； and perhaps
fearing the house might in consequence share the fate of Sodom；
notwithstanding the presence of a goodly proportion of the
righteous； fled； accompanied by the housekeeper； to the wine…cellar。
The rest of the household crept into corners； except the coachman；
who； retaining his composure； in virtue of a greater degree of
insensibility from his nearer approximation to the inanimate
creation； emptied the jug of ale intended for the dinner of the
company； and went out to look after his horses。
But there was one in the house who； left alone； threw the window
wide open； and； with gently clasped hands and calm countenance；
looked up into the heavens； and the clearness of whose eye seemed
the prophetic symbol of the clearness that rose all untroubled above
the turmoil of the earthly storm。 Truly God was in the storm； but
there was more of God in the clear heaven beyond； and yet more of
Him in the eye that regarded the whole with a still joy； in which
was mingled no dismay。
Euphra； Hugh； and Harry were left together； looking out upon the
storm。 Hugh could not speak in Harry's presence。 At length the boy
sat down in a dark corner on the floor； concealed from the others by
a window…curtain。 Hugh thought he had left the room。
〃Euphra；〃 he began。
Euphra looked round for Harry； and not seeing him； thought likewise
that he had left the room： she glided away without making any answer
to Hugh's invocation。
He stood for a few moments in motionless despair； then glancing
round the room； and taking in all its desertedness； caught up his
hat； and rushed out into the storm。 It was the best relief his
feelings could have had； for the sullen gloom； alternated with
bursts of flame； invasions of horrid uproar； and long wailing blasts
of tyrannous wind； gave him his own mood to walk in； met his spirit
with its own element； widened； as it were； his microcosm to the
expanse of the macrocosm around him。 All the walls of separation
were thrown down； and he lived； not in his own frame； but in the
universal frame of nature。 The world was for the time； to the
reality of his feeling； what Schleiermacher； in his Monologen；
describes it as being to man； an extension of the body in which he
dwells。 His spirit flashed in the lightning； raved in the thunder；
moaned in the wind； and wept in the rain。
But this could not last long； either without or within him。
He came to himself in the woods。 How far he had wandered； or
whereabout he was； he did not know。 The storm had died away； and
all that remained was the wind and the rain。 The tree…tops swayed
wildly in the irregular blasts； and shook new； fitful； distracted；
and momentary showers upon him。 It was evening； but what hour of
the evening he could not tell。 He was wet to the skin； but that to
a young Scotchman is a matter of little moment。
Although he had no intention of returning home for some time； and
meant especially to avoid the dinner…tablefor； in the mood he was
in； it seemed more than he could endurehe yet felt the weakness to
which we are subject as embodied beings； in a common enough form；
that； namely； of the necessity of knowing the precise portion of
space which at the moment we fill； a conviction of our identity not
being sufficient to make us comfortable； without a knowledge of our
locality。 So； looking all about him； and finding where the wood
seemed thinnest； he went in that direction； and soon； by forcing his
way through obstacles of all salvage kinds； found himself in the
high road； within a quarter
