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and the lady； for； although Euphra was often present during
school…hours； it must be said for Hugh that； during those hours； he
paid almost all his attention to Harry； so much of it； indeed； that
perhaps there was not enough left to please the lady。 But she did
not say so。 She sat beside them in silence； occupied with her work；
and saving up her glances for use。 Now and then she would read；
taking an opportunity sometimes； but not often； when a fitting pause
occurred； to ask him to explain some passage about which she was in
doubt。 It must be conceded that such passages were well chosen for
the purpose； for she was too wise to do her own intellect discredit
by feigning a difficulty where she saw none； intellect being the
only gift in others for which she was conscious of any reverence。
By…and…by she began to discontinue these visits to the schoolroom。
Perhaps she found them dull。 Perhapsbut we shall see。
One morning； in the course of their studyEuphra not presentHugh
had occasion to go from his own room； where； for the most part； they
carried on the severer portion of their labours； down to the library
for a book； to enlighten them upon some point on which they were in
doubt。 As he was passing an open door； Euphra's voice called him。
He entered； and found himself in her private sitting…room。 He had
not known before where it was。
〃I beg your pardon； Mr。 Sutherland； for calling you； but I am at
this moment in a difficulty。 I cannot manage this line in the
Inferno。 Do help me。〃
She moved the book towards him； as he now stood by her side； she
remaining seated at her table。 To his mortification； he was
compelled to confess his utter ignorance of the language。
〃Oh！ I am disappointed；〃 said Euphra。
〃Not so much as I am；〃 replied Hugh。 〃But could you spare me one or
two of your Italian books？〃
〃With pleasure；〃 she answered； rising and going to her bookshelves。
〃I want only a grammar； a dictionary； and a New Testament。〃
〃There they are；〃 she said； taking them down one after the other；
and bringing them to him。 〃I daresay you will soon get up with poor
stupid me。〃
〃I shall do my best to get within hearing of your voice； at least；
in which Italian must be lovely。〃
No reply； but a sudden droop of the head。
〃But；〃 continued Hugh； 〃upon second thoughts； lest I should be
compelled to remain dumb； or else annoy your delicate ear with
discordant sounds； just give me one lesson in the pronunciation。
Let me hear you read a little first。〃
〃With all my heart。〃
Euphra began； and read delightfully； for she was an excellent
Italian scholar。 It was necessary that Hugh should look over the
book。 This was difficult while he remained standing； as she did not
offer to lift it from the table。 Gradually； therefore； and hardly
knowing how； he settled into a chair by her side。 Half…an…hour went
by like a minute； as he listened to the silvery tones of her voice；
breaking into a bell…like sound upon the double consonants of that
sweet lady…tongue。 Then it was his turn to read and be corrected；
and read again and be again corrected。 Another half…hour glided
away； and yet another。 But it must be confessed he made good use of
the timeif only it had been his own to use； for at the end of it
he could pronounce Italian very tolerablywell enough； at least； to
keep him from fixing errors in his pronunciation； while studying the
language alone。 Suddenly he came to himself； and looked up as from
a dream。 Had she been bewitching him？ He was in Euphra's
roomalone with her。 And the door was shuthow or when？ Andhe
looked at his watchpoor little Harry had been waiting his return
from the library； for the last hour and a half。 He was
conscience…stricken。 He gathered up the books hastily； thanked
Euphra in the same hurried manner； and left the room with
considerable disquietude； closing the door very gently； almost
guiltily； behind him。
I am afraid Euphra had been perfectly aware that he knew nothing
about Italian。 Did she see her own eyes shine in the mirror before
her； as he closed the door？ Was she in love with him； then？
When Hugh returned with the Italian books； instead of the
encyclop鎑ia he had gone to seek； he found Harry sitting where he
had left him； with his arms and head on the table； fast asleep。
〃Poor boy！〃 said Hugh to himself； but he could not help feeling glad
he was asleep。 He stole out of the room again； passed the fatal
door with a longing pain； found the volume of his quest in the
library； and； returning with it； sat down beside Harry。 There he
sat till he awoke。
When he did awake at last； it was almost time for luncheon。 The
shame…faced boy was exceedingly penitent for what was no fault；
while Hugh could not relieve him by confessing his。 He could only
say：
〃It was my fault； Harry dear。 I stayed away too long。 You were so
nicely asleep； I would not wake you。 You will not need a siesta；
that is all。〃
He was ashamed of himself； as he uttered the false words to the
true…hearted child。 But this； alas！ was not the end of it all。
Desirous of learning the language； but far more desirous of
commending himself to Euphra； Hugh began in downright earnest。 That
very evening； he felt that he had a little hold of the language。
Harry was left to his own resources。 Nor was there any harm in
this in itself： Hugh had a right to part of every day for his own
uses。 But then； he had been with Harry almost every evening； or a
great part of it； and the boy missed him much； for he was not yet
self…dependent。 He would have gone to Euphrasia； but somehow she
happened to be engaged that evening。 So he took refuge in the
library； where； in the desolation of his spirit； Polexander began；
almost immediately； to exercise its old dreary fascination upon him。
Although he had not opened the book since Hugh had requested him to
put it away； yet he had not given up the intention of finishing it
some day； and now he took it down； and opened it listlessly； with
the intention of doing something towards the gradual redeeming of
the pledge he had given to himself。 But he found it more irksome
than ever。 Still he read on； till at length he could discover no
meaning at all in the sentences。 Then he began to doubt whether he
had read the words。 He fixed his attention by main force on every
individual word； but even then he began to doubt whether he could
say he had read the words； for he might have missed seeing some of
the letters composing each word。 He grew so nervous and miserable
over it； almost counting every letter； that at last he burst into
tears； and threw the book down。
His intellect； which in itself was excellent； was quite of the
parasitic order； requiring to wind itself about a stronger
intellect； to keep itself in the region of fresh air and possible
growth。 Left to itself； its weak stem could not raise it above the
ground： it would grow and mass upon the earth； till it decayed and
corrupted； for lack of room； light； and air。 But； of course； there
was no danger in the meantime。 This was but the passing sadness of
an occasional loneliness。
He crept to Hugh's room； and received an invitation to enter； in
answer to his gentle knock； but Hugh was so absorbed in his new
study； that he hardly took any notice of him； and Harry found it
almost as dreary here as in the study。 He would have gone out； but
a drizzling rain was falling； and he shrank into himself at the
thought of the Ghost's Walk。 The dinner…bell was a welcome summons。
Hugh； inspirited by the reaction from close attention； by the
presence of Euphra； and by the desire to make himself generally
agreeable； which sprung from the consciousness of having done wrong；
talked almost brilliantly； delighting Euphra； overcoming Harry with
reverent astonishment； and even interesting slow Mr。 Arnold。 With
the latter Hugh had been gradually becoming a favourite； partly
because he had discovered in him what he considered high…minded
sentiments； for； however stupid and conventional Mr。 Arnold might
be； he had a foundation of sterling worthiness of character。
Euphra； instead of showing any jealousy of this growing
friendliness； favoured it in every way in her power； and now and
then alluded to it in her conversations with Hugh； as affording her
great satisfaction。
〃I am so glad he likes you！〃 she would say。
〃Why should she be glad？〃 thought Hugh。
This gentle claim of a kind of property in him； added considerably
to the strength of the attraction that drew him towards her； as
towards the centre of his spiritual gravitation； if indeed that
could be called spiritual which had so little of the element of
moral or spiritual admiration； or even approval； mingled with it。
He never felt that Euphra was good。 He only felt that she drew him
with a vague force of feminine sovereigntya charm which he could
no more resist or explain； than the iron could the attraction of the
loadstone。 Neither could he have said； had he really considered the
matter； that she was beautifulonly that she often； very often；
looked beautiful。 I suspect if she had been rather ugly； it would
have been all the same for Hugh。
He pursued his It