david elginbrod-第93章
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〃But it could hardly be deception。〃
〃Not deception？ A man like him could not get through them without
being recognised。〃
〃I don't understand you。 By whom？〃
〃By swarms of low miserable creatures that so lament the loss of
their beggarly bodies that they would brood upon them in the shape
of flesh…flies； rather than forsake the putrifying remnants。 After
that； chair or table or anything that they can come into contact
with； possesses quite sufficient organization for such。 Don't you
remember that once； rather than have no body to go into； they crept
into the very swine？ There was a fine passion for self…embodiment
and sympathy！ But the swine themselves could not stand it； and
preferred drowning。〃
〃Then you do think there was something supernatural in it？〃
〃Nothing in the least。 It required no supernatural powers to be
aware that a great man was dead； and that you had known him well。
It annoys me； Sutherland； that able men； ay； and good men too；
should consult with ghosts whose only possible superiority consists
in their being out of the body。 Why should they be the wiser for
that？ I should as soon expect to gain wisdom by taking off my
clothes； and to lose it by getting into bed； or to rise into the
seventh heaven of spirituality by having my hair cut。 An impudent
forgery of that good man's name！ If I were you； Sutherland； I would
have nothing to do with such a low set。 They are the canaille of
the other world。 It's of no use to lay hold on their skirts； for
they can't fly。 They're just like the vultureseasy to catch；
because they're full of garbage。 I doubt if they have more
intellect left than just enough to lie with。I have been compelled
to think a good deal about these things of late。〃
Falconer put a good many questions to Hugh； about Euphra and her
relation to the count； and such was the confidence with which he had
inspired him； that Hugh felt at perfect liberty to answer them all
fully； not avoiding even the exposure of his own feelings； where
that was involved by the story。
〃Now；〃 said Falconer； 〃I have material out of which to construct a
theory。 The count is at present like a law of nature concerning
which a prudent question is the first half of the answer； as Lord
Bacon says； and you can put no question without having first formed
a theory； however slight or temporary； for otherwise no question
will suggest itself。 But； in the meantime； as I said before； I will
make inquiry upon the theory that he is somewhere in London；
although I doubt it。〃
〃Then I will not occupy your time any longer at present；〃 said Hugh。
〃Could you say； without fettering yourself in the least； when I
might be able to see you again？〃
〃Let me see。 I will make an appointment with you。Next Sunday；
here； at ten o'clock in the morning。 Make a note of it。〃
〃There is no fear of my forgetting it。 My consolations are not so
numerous that I can afford to forget my sole pleasure。 You； I
should think； have more need to make a note of it than I； though I
am quite willing to be forgotten； if necessary。〃
〃I never forget my engagements；〃 said Falconer。
They parted； and Hugh went home to his novel。
CHAPTER XI。
QUESTIONS AND DREAMS。
On a certain time the Lady St。 Mary had commanded the Lord Jesus to
fetch her some water out of the well。 And when he had gone to fetch
the water； the pitcher； when it was brought up full； brake。 But
Jesus； spreading his mantle； gathered up the water again； and
brought it in that to his mother。The First （apocryphal） Gospel of
the INFANCY of JESUS CHRIST。
Mrs。 Elton read prayers morning and evening；very elaborate
compositions； which would have instructed the apostles themselves in
many things they had never anticipated。 But； unfortunately； Mrs。
Elton must likewise read certain remarks； in the form of a homily；
intended to impress the scripture which preceded it upon the minds
of the listeners。 Between the mortar of the homilist's faith； and
the dull blows of the pestle of his arrogance； the fair form of
truth was ground into the powder of pious small talk。 This result
was not pleasant either to Harry or to Euphra。 Euphra； with her
life threatening to go to ruin about her； was crying out for him who
made the soul of man； 〃who loved us into being；〃2 and who alone can
renew the life of his children； and in such words as those a
scoffing demon seemed to mock at her needs。 Harry had the natural
dislike of all childlike natures to everything formal； exclusive；
and unjust。 But； having received nothing of what is commonly called
a religious training； this advantage resulted from his new
experiences in Mrs。 Elton's family； that a good direction was given
to his thoughts by the dislike which he felt to such utterances。
More than this： a horror fell upon him lest these things should be
true； lest the mighty All of nature should be only a mechanism；
without expression and without beauty； lest the God who made us
should be like us only in this； that he too was selfish and mean and
proud； lest his ideas should resemble those that inhabit the brain
of a retired money…maker； or of an arbitrary monarch claiming a
divine rightinstead of towering as the heavens over the earth；
above the loftiest moods of highest poet； most generous child； or
most devoted mother。 I do not mean that these thoughts took these
shapes in Harry's mind； but that his feelings were such as might
have been condensed into such thoughts； had his intellect been more
mature。
One morning； the passage of scripture which Mrs。 Elton read was the
story of the young man who came to Jesus； and went away sorrowful；
because the Lord thought so well of him； and loved him so heartily；
that he wanted to set him free from his riches。 A great portion of
the homily was occupied with proving that the evangelist could not
possibly mean that Jesus loved the young man in any pregnant sense
of the word； but merely meant that Jesus 〃felt kindly disposed
towards him〃felt a poor little human interest in him； in fact； and
did not love him divinely at all。
Harry's face was in a flame all the time she was reading。 When the
service was overand a bond service it was for Euphra and himthey
left the room together。 As soon as the door was shut； he burst out：
〃I say； Euphra！ Wasn't that a shame？ They would have Jesus as bad
as themselves。 We shall have somebody writing a book next to prove
that after all Jesus was a Pharisee。〃
〃Never mind；〃 said the heart…sore； sceptical Euphra； 〃never mind；
Harry； it's all nonsense。〃
〃No； it's not all nonsense。 Jesus did love the young man。 I
believe the story itself before all the Doctors of Divinity in the
world。 He loves all of us； he doeswith all his heart； too。〃
〃I hope so；〃 was all she could reply； but she was comforted by
Harry's vehement confession of faith。
Euphra was so far softened； or perhaps weakened； by suffering； that
she yielded many things which would have seemed impossible before。
One of these was that she went to church with Mrs。 Elton； where
that lady hoped she would get good to her soul。 Harry of course was
not left behind。 The church she frequented was a fashionable one；
with a vicar more fashionable still； for had he left that church；
more than half his congregation； which consisted mostly of ladies；
would have left it also； and followed him to the ends of London。 He
was a middle…aged man； with a rubicund countenance； and a gentle
familiarity of manner； that was exceedingly pleasing to the
fashionable sheep who； conscious that they had wandered from the
fold； were waiting with exemplary patience for the barouches and
mail…phaetons of the skies to carry them back without the trouble of
walking。 Alas for them！ they have to learn that the chariots of
heaven are chariots of fire。
The Sunday morning following the conversation I have just recorded；
the clergyman's sermon was devoted to the illustration of the
greatness and condescension of the Saviour。 After a certain amount
of tame excitement expended upon the consideration of his power and
kingdom； one passage was wound up in this fashion：
〃Yes； my friends； even her most gracious Majesty；
