david elginbrod-第78章
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〃I was afraid your ring was gone。 I don't know why I thought so；
except that you hadn't it on； when you came to see me。 Or perhaps
it was because I am sometimes forced to think what that wretch is
thinking。 He made me go to him that night you saw me； Hugh。 But I
was so ill； I don't think I should have been able； but that I could
not rest till I had asked him about your ring。 He said he knew
nothing about it。〃
〃I am sure be has it；〃 said Hugh。 And he related to Euphra the
struggle he had had with Funkelstein and its result。 She shuddered。
〃I have been a devil to you； Hugh； I have betrayed you to him。 You
will never see your ring again。 Here； take mine。 It is not so good
as yours； but for the sake of the old way you thought of me； take
it。〃
〃No； no； Euphra； Mr。 Arnold would miss it。 Besides； you know it
would not be my father's ring； and it was not for the value of the
diamond I cared most about it。 And I am not sure that I shall not
find it again。 I am going up to London； where I shall fall in with
him； I hope。〃
〃But do take care of yourself。 He has no conscience。 God knows； I
have had little； but he has none。〃
〃I know he has none； but a conscience is not a bad auxiliary； and
there I shall have some advantage of him。 But what could he want
that ring of Lady Euphrasia's for？〃
〃I don't know。 He never told me。〃
〃It was not worth much。〃
〃Next to nothing。〃
〃I shall be surer to find that than my own。 And I will find it； if
I can； that Mr。 Arnold may believe I was not to blame。〃
〃Do。 But be careful。〃
〃Don't fear。 I will be careful。〃
She held out her hand； as if to take leave of him； but withdrew it
again with the sudden cry：
〃What shall I do？ I thought he had left me to myself； till that
night in the library。〃
She held down her head in silence。 Then she said； slowly； in a tone
of agony：
〃I am a slave； body and soul。Hugh！〃 she added； passionately； and
looking up in his face； 〃do you think there is a God？〃
Her eyes glimmered with the faint reflex from gathered tears； that
silently overflowed。
And now Hugh's own poverty struck him with grief and humiliation。
Here was a soul seeking God； and he had no right to say that there
was a God； for he knew nothing about him。 He had been told so； but
what could that far…off witness do for the need of a desolate heart？
She had been told so a million of times。 He could not say that he
knew it。 That was what she wanted and needed。
He was honest； and so replied：
〃I do not know。 I hope so。〃
He felt that she was already beyond him； for she had begun to cry
into the vague； seemingly heartless void； and say：
〃Is there a God somewhere to hear me when I cry？〃
And with all the teaching he had had； he had no word of comfort to
give。 Yes； he had： he had known David Elginbrod。
Before he had shaped his thought； she said：
〃I think； if there were a God； he would help me； for I am nothing
but a poor slave now。 I have hardly a will of my own。〃
The sigh she heaved told of a hopeless oppression。
〃The best man； and the wisest； and the noblest I ever knew；〃 said
Hugh； 〃believed in God with his whole heart and soul and strength
and mind。 In fact； he cared for nothing but God； or rather； he
cared for everything because it belonged to God。 He was never afraid
of anything； never vexed at anything； never troubled about anything。
He was a good man。〃
Hugh was surprised at the light which broke upon the character of
David； as he held it before his mind's eye； in order to describe it
to Euphra。 He seemed never to have understood him before。
〃Ah！ I wish I knew him。 I would go to that man； and ask him to
save me。 Where does he live？〃
〃Alas！ I do not know whether he is alive or deadthe more to my
shame。 But he lives； if he lives； far away in the north of
Scotland。〃
She paused。
〃No。 I could not go there。 I will write to him。〃
Hugh could not discourage her； though he doubted whether a real
communication could be established between them。
〃I will write down his address for you； when I go in；〃 said he。 〃But
what can he save you from？〃
〃From no God；〃 she answered； solemnly。 〃If there is no God； then I
am sure that there is a devil； and that he has got me in his power。〃
Hugh。 felt her shudder； for she was leaning on his arm； she was
still so lame。 She continued：
〃Oh！ if I had a God； he would right me； I know。〃
Hugh could not reply。 A pause followed。
〃Good…bye。 I feel pretty sure we shall meet again。 My
presentiments are generally true；〃 said Euphra； at length。
Hugh kissed her hand with far more real devotion than he had ever
kissed it with before。
She left him； and hastened to the house 'with feeble speed。' He was
sorry she was gone。 He walked up and down for some time； meditating
on the strange girl and her strange words； till； hearing the dinner
bell； he too must hasten in to dress。
Euphra met him at the dinner…table without any change of her late
manner。 Mr。 Arnold wished him good night more kindly than usual。
When he went up to his room； he found that Harry had already cried
himself to sleep。
CHAPTER XXXII。
DEPARTURE。
I fancy deemed fit guide to lead my way；
And as I deemed I did pursue her track；
Wit lost his aim； and will was fancy's prey；
The rebel won； the ruler went to wrack。
But now sith fancy did with folly end；
Wit； bought with losswill； taught by wit； will mend。
SOUTHWELL。David's Peccavi。
After dinner； Hugh wandered over the well…known places； to bid them
good…bye。 Then he went up to his room； and； with the vanity of a
young author； took his poems out of the fatal old desk； wrote： 〃Take
them； please； such as they are。 Let me be your friend；〃 inclosed
them with the writing； and addressed them to Euphra。 By the time he
saw them again； they were so much waste paper in his eyes。
But what were his plans for the future？
First of all； he would go to London。 There he would do many things。
He would try to find Funkelstein。 He would write。 He would make
acquaintance with London life； for had he not plenty of money in his
pocket？ And who could live more thriftily than he？During his last
session at Aberdeen； he had given some private lessons； and so
contrived to eke out his small means。 These were wretchedly paid
for； namely； not quite at the rate of sevenpence…halfpenny a lesson！
but still that was something； where more could not be had。Now he
would try to do the same in London； where he would be much better
paid。 Or perhaps he might get a situation in a school for a short
time； if he were driven to ultimate necessity。 At all events； he
would see London； and look about him for a little while； before he
settled to anything definite。
With this hopeful prospect before him； he next morning bade adieu to
Arnstead。 I will not describe the parting with poor Harry。 The boy
seemed ready to break his heart； and Hugh himself had enough to do
to refrain from tears。 One of the grooms drove him to the railway
in the dog…cart。 As they came near the station； Hugh gave him
half…a…crown。 Enlivened by the gift； the man began to talk。
〃He's a rum customer； that ere gemman with the foring name。 The
colour of his puss I couldn't swear to now。 Never saw sixpence o'
his'n。 My opinion is； master had better look arter his spoons。 And
for missuswell； it's a pity！ He's a rum un； as I say； anyhow。〃
The man here nodded several times； half compassionately； half
importantly。
Hugh did not choose to inquire what he meant。 They reached the
station； and in a few minutes he was shooting along towards London；
that social vortex； which draws everything towards its central
tumult。
But there is a central repose beyond the motions of the world； and
through the turmoil of London； Hugh was journeying towards that wide
stillnessthat silence of the soul； which is not desolate； but rich
with unutterable harmonies。
END OF THE SECOND BOOK。
BOOK III。
LONDON。
Art thou poor； yet hast thou golden slumbers？
Oh； sweet content！
Art thou rich； yet is thy mind perplexed？
Oh； punishment！
Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexed
To add t
