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say； and she died when I was born。〃
The tears came in the poor boy's eyes。 Hugh thought of his own
father； and put his hand on Harry's shoulder。 Harry laid his head
on Hugh's shoulder。
〃But；〃 he went on； 〃Euphra is so kind to me！ And she is so clever
too！ She knows everything。〃
〃Have you no brothers or sisters？〃
〃No； none。 I wish I had。〃
〃Well； I'll be your big brother。 Only you must mind what I say to
you； else I shall stop being him。 Is it a bargain？〃
〃Yes； to be sure！〃 cried Harry in delight； and； springing from the
couch； he began hopping feebly about the room on one foot； to
express his pleasure。
〃Well； then； that's settled。 Now； you must come and show me the
horsesyour ponies； you knowand the pigs〃
〃I don't like the pigsI don't know where they are。〃
〃Well； we must find out。 Perhaps I shall make some discoveries for
you。 Have you any rabbits？〃
〃No。〃
〃A dog though； surely？〃
〃No。 I had a canary； but the cat killed it； and I have never had a
pet since。〃
〃Well； get your cap； and come out with me。 I will wait for you
here。〃
Harry walked awayhe seldom ran。 He soon returned with his cap；
and they sallied out together。
Happening to look back at the house； when a few paces from it； Hugh
thought he saw Euphra standing at the window of a back staircase。
They made the round of the stables； and the cow…house； and the
poultry…yard； and even the pigs； as proposed； came in for a share of
their attention。 As they approached the stye； Harry turned away his
head with a look of disgust。 They were eating out of the trough。
〃They make such a nasty noise！〃 he said。
〃Yes； but just look： don't they enjoy it？〃 said Hugh。
Harry looked at them。 The notion of their enjoyment seemed to dawn
upon him as something quite new。 He went nearer and nearer to the
stye。 At last a smile broke out over his countenance。
〃How tight that one curls his tail！〃 said he； and burst out
laughing。
〃How dreadfully this boy must have been mismanaged！〃 thought Hugh to
himself。 〃But there is no fear of him now； I hope。〃
By this time they had been wandering about for more than an hour；
and Hugh saw； by Harry's increased paleness； that he was getting
tired。
〃Here； Harry； get on my back； my boy； and have a ride。 You're
tired。〃
And Hugh knelt down。
Harry shrunk back。
〃I shall spoil your coat with my shoes。〃
〃Nonsense！ Rub them well on the grass there。 And then get on my
back directly。〃
Harry did as he was bid； and found his tutor's broad back and strong
arms a very comfortable saddle。 So away they went； wandering about
for a long time； in their new relation of horse and his rider。 At
length they got into the middle of a long narrow avenue； quite
neglected； overgrown with weeds； and obstructed with rubbish。 But
the trees were fine beeches； of great growth and considerable age。
One end led far into a wood； and the other towards the house； a
small portion of which could be seen at the end； the avenue
appearing to reach close up to it。
〃Don't go down this；〃 said Harry。
〃Well； it's not a very good road for a horse certainly； but I think
I can go it。 What a beautiful avenue！ Why is it so neglected？〃
〃Don't go down there； please； dear horse。〃
Harry was getting wonderfully at home with Hugh already。
〃Why？〃 asked Hugh。
〃They call it the Ghost's Walk； and I don't much like it。 It has a
strange distracted look！〃
〃That's a long word； and a descriptive one too；〃 thought Hugh； but；
considering that there would come many a better opportunity of
combating the boy's fears than now； he simply said： 〃Very well；
Harry；〃and proceeded to leave the avenue by the other side。 But
Harry was not yet satisfied。
〃Please； Mr。 Sutherland； don't go on that side； just now。 Ride me
back； please。 It is not safe； they say； to cross her path。 She
always follows any one who crosses her path。〃
Hugh laughed； but again said； 〃Very well； my boy；〃 and； returning；
left the avenue by the side by which he had entered it。
〃Shall we go home to luncheon now？〃 said Harry。
〃Yes；〃 replied Hugh。 〃Could we not go by the front of the house？ I
should like very much to see it。〃
〃Oh； certainly；〃 said Harry； and proceeded to direct Hugh how to go；
but evidently did not know quite to his own satisfaction。 There
being； however； but little foliage yet； Hugh could discover his way
pretty well。 He promised himself many a delightful wander in the
woody regions in the evenings。
They managed to get round to the front of the house； not without
some difficulty； and then Hugh saw to his surprise that； although
not imposing in appearance； it was in extent more like a baronial
residence than that of a simple gentleman。 The front was very long；
apparently of all ages； and of all possible styles of architecture；
the result being somewhat mysterious and eminently picturesque。 All
kinds of windows； all kinds of projections and recesses； a house
here； joined to a hall there； here a pointed gable； the very bell on
the top overgrown and apparently choked with ivy； there a wide front
with large bay windows； and next a turret of old stone； with not a
shred of ivy upon it； but crowded over with grey…green lichens；
which looked as if the stone itself had taken to growing； multitudes
of roofs； of all shapes and materials； so that one might very easily
be lost amongst the chimneys and gutters and dormer windows and
pinnaclesmade up the appearance of the house on the outside to
Hugh's first inquiring glance； as he paused at a little distance
with Harry on his back； and scanned the wonderful pile before him。
But as he looked at the house of Arnstead； Euphra was looking at
him with the boy on his back； from one of the smaller windows。 Was
she making up her mind？
〃You are as kind to me as Euphra；〃 said Harry； as Hugh set him down
in the hall。 〃I've enjoyed my ride very much； thank you； Mr。
Sutherland。 I am sure Euphra will like you very muchshe likes
everybody。〃
CHAPTER III。
EUPHRASIA。
then purged with Euphrasy and Rue
The visual nerve； for he had much to see。
Paradise Lost； b。 xi。
Soft music came to mine ear。 It was like the rising breeze； that
whirls； at first； the thistle's beard； then flies； dark…shadowy；
over the grass。 It was the maid of Fu鋜fed wild： she raised the
nightly song； for she knew that my soul was a stream； that flowed at
pleasant sounds。
Ossian。Oina…Morul。
Harry led Hugh by the hand to the dining…room； a large oak hall with
Gothic windows； and an open roof supported by richly carved
woodwork； in the squares amidst which were painted many escutcheons
parted by fanciful devices。 Over the high stone carving above the
chimney hung an old piece of tapestry； occupying the whole space
between that and the roof。 It represented a hunting…party of ladies
and gentlemen； just setting out。 The table looked very small in the
centre of the room； though it would have seated twelve or fourteen。
It was already covered for luncheon； and in a minute Euphra entered
and took her place without a word。 Hugh sat on one side and Harry
on the other。 Euphra； having helped both to soup； turned to Harry
and said； 〃Well； Harry； I hope you have enjoyed your first lesson。〃
〃Very much；〃 answered Harry with a smile。 〃I have learned pigs and
horseback。〃
〃The boy is positively clever；〃 thought Hugh。
〃Mr。 Sutherland〃he continued； 〃has begun to teach me to like
creatures。〃
〃But I thought you were very fond of your wild…beast book； Harry。〃
〃Oh！ yes； but that was only in the book； you know。 I like the
stories about them； of course。 But to like pigs； you know； is quite
different。 They are so ugly and ill…bred。 I like them though。〃
〃You seem to have quite gained Harry already；〃 said Euphra； glancing
at Hugh； and looking away as quickly。
〃We are very good friends； and shall be； I think；〃 replied he。
Harry looked at him affectionately； and said to him； not to Euphra；
〃Oh！ yes； that we shall； I am sure。〃 Then turning to the lady〃Do
you know； Euphra； he is my big brother？〃
〃You must mind how you make new relations； though； Harry； for you
know that would make him my cousin。〃
〃Well； you will be a kind cousin to him； won't you？〃
〃I will try；〃 replied Euphra； looking up at Hugh with a na飗e
expression of shyness； and the slightest possible blush。
Hugh began to think her pretty； almost handsome。 His next thought
was to wonder how old she was。 But about this he could not at once
make up his mind。 She might be four…and…twenty； she might be
two…and…thirty。 She had black； lustreless hair； and eyes to match；
as far as colour was concernedbut they could sparkle； and probably
flash upon occasion； a low forehead； but very finely developed in
the faculties that dwell above the eyes； slender but very dark
eyebrowsjust black arched lines in her rather sallow complexion；
nose straight； and nothing remarkable〃an excellent thing in
woman；〃 a mouth indifferent when at rest； but capable of a beautiful
laugh。 She was rather tall； and of a pretty enough figure； hands
good； feet invisible。 Hugh came to these conclusions rapidly
enough； now that his attention was directed to her； for；