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him and go alone to her own room？She must have felt that she ought
not to be in his； at that hour； and therefore dared not stay。Why
dared not？ Did she think the house was haunted by a ghost of
propriety？ What rational theory could he invent to account for the
strange and repeated sounds？He puzzled himself over it to the
verge of absolute intellectual prostration。
He was generally the first in the breakfast…room； that is； after
Euphra； who was always the first。 She went up to him as he entered；
and said； almost in a whisper：
〃Have you got the poems for me？ Quick！〃
Hugh hesitated。 She looked at him。
〃No；〃 he said at last。〃You never wanted them。〃
〃That is very unkind； when you know I was frightened out of my wits。
Do give me them。〃
〃They are not worth giving you。 Besides； I have not got them。 I
don't carry them in my pocket。 They are in the escritoire。 I
couldn't leave them lying about。 Never mind them。〃
〃I have a right to them；〃 she said； looking up at him slyly and
shyly。
〃Well； I gave you them； and you did not think them worth keeping。 I
kept my part of the bargain。〃
She looked annoyed。
〃Never mind； dear Euphra； you shall have them； or anything else I
have；the brain that made them； if you like。〃
〃Was it only the brain that had to do with the making of them？〃
〃Perhaps the heart too； but you have that already。〃
Her face flushed like a damask rose。
At that moment Mrs。 Elton entered； and looked a little surprised。
Euphra instantly said：
〃I think it is rather too bad of you； Mr。 Sutherland； to keep the
poor boy so hard to his work； when you know he is not strong。 Mrs。
Elton； I have been begging a holiday for poor Harry； to let him go
with us to Wotton House； but he has such a hard task…master！ He
will not hear of it。〃
The flush； which she could not get rid of all at once； was thus made
to do duty as one of displeasure。 Mrs。 Elton was thoroughly
deceived； and united her entreaties to those of Miss Cameron。 Hugh
was compelled to join in the deception； and pretend to yield a slow
consent。 Thus a holiday was extemporised for Harry； subject to the
approbation of his father。 This was readily granted； and Mr。
Arnold； turning to Hugh； said：
〃You will have nothing to do； Mr。 Sutherland： had you not better
join us？〃
〃With pleasure；〃 replied he； 〃but the carriage will be full。〃
〃You can take your horse。〃
〃Thank you very much。 I will。〃
The day was delightful； one of those grey summer…days； that are far
better for an excursion than bright ones。 In the best of spirits；
mounted on a good horse； riding alongside of the carriage in which
was the lady who was all womankind to him； and who； without taking
much notice of him； yet contrived to throw him a glance now and
then； Hugh would have been overflowingly happy； but for an unquiet；
distressed feeling； which all the time made him aware of the
presence of a sick conscience somewhere within。 Mr。 Arnold was
exceedingly pleasant； for he was much taken with the sweetness and
modesty of Lady Emily； who； having no strong opinions upon anything；
received those of Mr。 Arnold with attentive submission。 He saw； or
fancied he saw in her； a great resemblance to his deceased wife； to
whom he had been as sincerely attached as his nature would allow。
In fact； Lady Emily advanced so rapidly in his good graces； that
either Euphra was； or thought fit to appear； rather jealous of her。
She paid her every attention； however； and seemed to gratify Mr。
Arnold by her care of the invalid。 She even joined in the
entreaties which； on their way home； he made with evident
earnestness； for an extension of their visit to a month。 Lady Emily
was already so much better for the change； that Mrs。 Elton made no
objection to the proposal。 Euphra gave Hugh one look of misery；
and； turning again； insisted with increased warmth on their
immediate consent。 It was gained without much difficulty before
they reached home。
Harry； too； was captivated by the gentle kindness of Lady Emily； and
hardly took his eyes off her all the way； while； on the other hand；
his delicate little attentions had already gained the heart of good
Mrs。 Elton； who from the first had remarked and pitied the sad looks
of the boy。
CHAPTER XVI。
A NEW VISITOR AND AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE。
He's enough
To bring a woman to confusion；
More than a wiser man； or a far greater。
MIDDLETON。The Witch。
When they reached the lodge； Lady Emily expressed a wish to walk up
the avenue to the house。 To this Mr。 Arnold gladly consented。 The
carriage was sent round the back way； and Hugh； dismounting； gave
his horse to the footman in attendance。 As they drew near the
house； the rest of the party having stopped to look at an old tree
which was a favourite with its owner； Hugh and Harry were some yards
in advance； when the former spied； approaching them from the house；
the distinguished figure of Herr von Funkelstein。 Saluting as they
met； the visitor informed Hugh that he had just been leaving his
card for him； and would call some other morning soon； for； as he was
rusticating； he had little to occupy him。 Hugh turned with him
towards the rest of the party； who were now close at hand； when
Funkelstein exclaimed； in a tone of surprise；
〃What！ Miss Cameron here！〃 and advanced with a profound obeisance；
holding his hat in his hand。
Hugh thought he saw her look annoyed； but she held out her hand to
him； and； in a voice indicatingstill as it appeared to Hughsome
reluctance； introduced him to her uncle； with the words：
〃We met at Sir Edward Laston's； when I was visiting Mrs。 Elkingham；
two years ago； uncle。〃
Mr。 Arnold lifted his hat and bowed politely to the stranger。 Had
Euphra informed him that； although a person of considerable
influence in Sir Edward's household； Herr von Funkelstein had his
standing there only as Sir Edward's private secretary； Mr。 Arnold's
aversion to foreigners generally would not have been so scrupulously
banished into the background of his behaviour。 Ordinary civilities
passed between them； marked by an air of flattering deference on
Funkelstein's part； which might have been disagreeable to a man less
uninterruptedly conscious of his own importance than Mr。 Arnold； and
the new visitor turned once more； as if forgetful of his previous
direction； and accompanied them towards the house。 Before they
reached it he had； even in that short space； ingratiated himself so
far with Mr。 Arnold； that he asked him to stay and dine with
theman invitation which was accepted with manifest pleasure。
〃Mr。 Sutherland；〃 said Mr。 Arnold； 〃will you show your friend
anything worth note about the place？ He has kindly consented to
dine with us； and in the meantime I have some letters to write。〃
〃With pleasure；〃 answered Hugh。
But all this time he had been inwardly commenting on the appearance
of his friend； as Mr。 Arnold called him； with the jealousy of a
youth in love； for was not Funkelstein an old acquaintance of Miss
Cameron？ What might not have passed between them in that old hidden
time？for love is jealous of the past as well as of the future。
Love； as well as metaphysics； has a lasting quarrel with time and
space： the lower love fears them； while the higher defies them。And
he could not help seeing that Funkelstein was one to win favour in
ladies' eyes。 Very regular features and a dark complexion were
lighted up by eyes as black as Euphra's； and capable of a wonderful
play of light； while his form was remarkable for strength and
symmetry。 Hugh felt that in any company he would attract immediate
attention。 His long dark beard； of which just the centre was
removed to expose a finely…turned chin； blew over each shoulder as
often as they met the wind in going round the house。 From what I
have heard of him from other deponents besides Hugh； I should judge
that he did well to conceal the lines of his mouth in a long
moustache； which flowed into his bifurcated beard。 He had just
enough of the foreign in his dress to add to the appearance of
fashion which it bore。
As they walked； Hugh could not help observing an odd peculiarity in
the carriage of his companion。 It was； that； every few steps； he
gave a backward and downward glance to the right； with a sweeping
bend of his body； as if he were trying to get a view of the calf of
his leg； or as if he fancied he felt something trailing at his foot。
So probable； from his motion； did the latter supposition seem； that
Hugh changed sides to satisfy himself whether or not there was some
dragging briar or straw annoying him； but no follower was to be
discovered。
〃You are a happy man； Mr。 Sutherland；〃 said the guest； 〃to live
under the same roof with that beautiful Miss Cameron。〃
〃Am I？〃 thought Hugh； but he only said； affecting some surprise：
〃Do you think her so beautiful？〃
Funkelstein's eyes were fixed upon him； as if to see the effect of
his remark。 Hugh felt them； and could not conform his face to the
indifference of his words。 But his companion only answered
indifferently：
〃Well； I should say so； but beauty is not； that is not beauty for
us。〃
Whether or not there was poison in the