按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Hugh thought it better to rise as well。 Mr。 Arnold seemed to
hesitate whether or not to ask him to resume his seat and have a
glass of claret。 Had he been a little wizened pedagogue； no doubt
he would have insisted on his company； sure of acquiescence from him
in every sentiment he might happen to utter。 But Hugh really looked
so very much like a gentleman； and stated his own views； or adopted
his own plans； with so much independence； that Mr。 Arnold judged it
safer to keep him at arm's length for a season at least； till he
should thoroughly understand his positionnot that of a guest； but
that of his son's tutor； belonging to the household of Arnstead only
on approval。
On leaving the dining…room； Hugh hesitated； in his turn； whether to
betake himself to his own room； or to accompany Euphra to the
drawing…room； the door of which stood open on the opposite side of
the hall； revealing a brightness and warmth； which the chill of the
evening； and the lowness of the fire in the dining…room； rendered
quite enticing。 But Euphra； who was half…across the hall； seeming
to divine his thoughts； turned； and said； 〃Are you not going to
favour us with your company； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
〃With pleasure；〃 replied Hugh； but； to cover his hesitation； added；
〃I will be with you presently；〃 and ran up stairs to his own room。
〃The old gentleman sits on his dignitycan hardly be said to stand
on it；〃 thought he； as he went。 〃The poor relation； as she calls
herself； treats me like a guest。 She is mistress here； however；
that is clear enough。〃
As he descended the stairs to the drawing…room； a voice rose through
the house； like the voice of an angel。 At least so thought Hugh；
hearing it for the first time。 It seemed to take his breath away；
as he stood for a moment on the stairs； listening。 It was only
Euphra singing The Flowers of the Forest。 The drawing…room door was
still open； and her voice rang through the wide lofty hall。 He
entered almost on tip…toe； that he might lose no thread of the fine
tones。Had she chosen the song of Scotland out of compliment to
him？She saw him enter； but went on without hesitating even。 In
the high notes； her voice had that peculiar vibratory richness which
belongs to the nightingale's； but he could not help thinking that
the low tones were deficient both in quality and volume。 The
expression and execution； however； would have made up for a thousand
defects。 Her very soul seemed brooding over the dead upon Flodden
field； as she sang this most wailful of melodiesthis embodiment of
a nation's grief。 The song died away as if the last breath had gone
with it； failing as it failed； and ceasing with its inspiration； as
if the voice that sang lived only for and in the song。 A moment of
intense silence followed。 Then； before Hugh had half recovered from
the former； with an almost grand dramatic recoil； as if the second
sprang out of the first； like an eagle of might out of an ocean of
weeping； she burst into Scots wha hae。 She might have been a new
Deborah； heralding her nation to battle。 Hugh was transfixed；
turned icy cold； with the excitement of his favourite song so
sung。Was that a glance of satisfied triumph with which Euphra
looked at him for a single moment？She sang the rest of the song as
if the battle were already gained； but looked no more at Hugh。
The excellence of her tones； and the lambent fluidity of her
transitions； if I may be allowed the phrase； were made by her art
quite subservient to the expression； and owed their chief value to
the share they bore in producing it。 Possibly there was a little
too much of the dramatic in her singing； but it was all in good
taste； and； in a word； Hugh had never heard such singing before。 As
soon as she had finished； she rose； and shut the piano。
〃Do not； do not；〃 faltered Hugh； seeking to arrest her hand； as she
closed the instrument。
〃I can sing nothing after that；〃 she said with emotion； or perhaps
excitement； for the trembling of her voice might be attributed to
either cause。 〃Do not ask me。〃
Hugh respectfully desisted； but after a few minutes' pause ventured
to remark：
〃I cannot understand how you should be able to sing Scotch songs so
well。 I never heard any but Scotch women sing them； even endurably；
before： your singing of them is perfect。〃
〃It seems to me；〃 said Euphra； speaking as if she would rather have
remained silent； 〃that a true musical penetration is independent of
styles and nationalities。 It can perceive； or rather feel； and
reproduce； at the same moment。 If the music speaks Scotch； the
musical nature hears Scotch。 It can take any shape； indeed cannot
help taking any shape； presented to it。〃
Hugh was yet further astonished by this criticism from one whom he
had been criticising with so much carelessness that very day。
〃You think； then；〃 said he； modestly； not as if he would bring her
to book； but as really seeking to learn from her； 〃that a true
musical nature can pour itself into the mould of any song； in entire
independence of association and education？〃
〃Yes； in independence of any but what it may provide for itself。〃
Euphrasia； however； had left one important element unrepresented in
the construction of her theorynamely； the degree of capability
which a mind may possess of sympathy with any given class of
feelings。 The blossom of the mind； whether it flower in poetry；
music； or any other art； must be the exponent of the nature and
condition of that whose blossom it is。 No mind； therefore；
incapable of sympathising with the feelings whence it springs； can
interpret the music of another。 And Euphra herself was rather a
remarkable instance of this forgotten fact。
Further conversation on the subject was interrupted by the entrance
of Mr。 Arnold； who looked rather annoyed at finding Hugh in the
drawing…room； and ordered Harry off to bed； with some little
asperity of tone。 The boy rose at once； rang the bell； bade them
all good night； and went。 A servant met him at the door with a
candle； and accompanied him。
Thought Hugh： 〃Here are several things to be righted at once。 The
boy must not have wine； and he must have only one dinner
a…dayespecially if he is ordered to bed so early。 I must make a
man of him if I can。〃
He made inquiries； and； with some difficulty； found out where the
boy slept。 During the night he was several times in Harry's room；
and once in happy time to wake him from a nightmare dream。 The boy
was so overcome with terror； that Hugh got into bed beside him and
comforted him to sleep in his arms。 Nor did he leave him till it
was time to get up； when he stole back to his own quarters； which；
happily； were at no very great distance。
I may mention here； that it was not long before Hugh succeeded in
stopping the wine； and reducing the dinner to a mouthful of supper。
Harry； as far as he was concerned； yielded at once； and his father
only held out long enough to satisfy his own sense of dignity。
CHAPTER IV。
THE CAVE IN THE STRAW。
All knowledge and wonder （which is the seed of knowledge） is an
impression of pleasure in itself。
LORD BACON。Advancement of Learning。
The following morning dawned in a cloud； which； swathed about the
trees； wetted them down to the roots； without having time to become
rain。 They drank it in like sorrow； the only material out of which
true joy can be fashioned。 This cloud of mist would yet glimmer in
a new heaven； namely； in the cloud of blooms which would clothe the
limes and the chestnuts and the beeches along the ghost's walk。 But
there was gloomy weather within doors as well； for poor Harry was
especially sensitive to variations of the barometer； without being
in the least aware of the fact himself。 Again Hugh found him in the
library； seated in his usual corner； with Polexander on his knees。
He half dropped the book when Hugh entered； and murmured with a
sigh：
〃It's no use； I can't read it。〃
〃What's the matter； Harry？〃 said his tutor。
〃I should like to tell you； but you will laugh at me。〃
〃I shall never laugh at you； Harry。〃
〃Never？〃
〃No； never。〃
〃Then tell me how I can be sure that I have read this book。〃
〃I do not quite understand you。〃
〃All！ I was sure nobody could be so stupid as I am。 Do you know；
Mr。 Sutherland； I seem to have read a page from top to bottom
sometimes； and when I come to the bottom I know nothing about it；
and doubt whether I have read it at all； and then I stare at it all
over again； till I grow so queer； and sometimes nearly scream。 You
see I must be able to say I have read the book。〃
〃Why？ Nobody will ever ask you。〃
〃Perhaps not； but you know that is nothing。 I want to know that I
have read the bookreally and truly read it。〃
Hugh thought for a moment； and seemed to see that the boy； not being
strong enough to be a law to himself； just needed a benign law from
without； to lift him from the chaos of feeble and conflicting
notions and impulses within； which generated a false law of slavery。
So he said：
〃Harry； am I your big brother？〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Sutherland。〃
〃Then； ought you to do what I wish； or what you wish yourself？〃
〃What you wish； sir。〃
〃Th