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desire to see him。
Mrs。 Elton was amusingly bewildered by the occurrences of the
evening。 Her theories were something astounding； and followed one
another with such alarming rapidity； that had they been in
themselves such as to imply the smallest exercise of the thinking
faculty； she might well have been considered in danger of an attack
of brain…fever。 As it was； none such supervened。 Lady Emily said
nothing； but seemed unhappy。 As for Hugh； he simply could not tell
what to make of the writing。 But he did not for a moment doubt that
the vision he had seen was only a visiona home…made ghost； sent
out from his own creative brain。 Still he felt that Margaret's
face； come whence it might； was a living reproof to him； for he was
losing his life in passion； sinking deeper in it day by day。 His
powers were deserting him。 Poetry； usually supposed to be the
attendant of love； had deserted him。 Only by fits could he see
anything beautiful； and then it was but in closest association of
thought with the one image which was burning itself deeper and
deeper into his mental sensorium。 Come what might； he could not
tear it away。 It had become a part of himselfof his inner
lifeeven while it seemed to be working the death of life。 Deeper
and deeper it would burn； till it reached the innermost chamber of
life。 Let it burn。
Yet he felt that he could not trust her。 Vague hopes he had； that；
by trusting； she might be made trustworthy； but he feared they were
vain as well as vague。 And yet he would not cast them away； for he
could not cast her away。
CHAPTER XVIII。
MORE MATERIALISM AND SOME SPIRITUALISM。
God wisheth none should wreck on a strange shelf：
To Him man's dearer than to himself。
BEN Jonson。The Forest： To Sir Robert Wroth。
At breakfast the following morning； the influences of the past day
on the family were evident。 There was a good deal of excitement；
alternated with listlessness。 The moral atmosphere seemed
unhealthy； and Harry； although he had； fortunately for him； had
nothing to do with the manifestations of the previous evening； was
affected by the condition of those around him。 Hugh was still
careful enough of him to try to divert the conversation entirely
from what he knew would have a very injurious effect upon him； and
Mr。 Arnold； seeing the anxious way in which he glanced now and then
at his pupil； and divining the reason； by the instinct of his
affection； with far more than his usual acuteness； tried likewise to
turn it aside； as often as it inclined that way。 Still a few words
were let fall by the visitors； which made Harry stare。 Hugh took
him away as soon as breakfast was over。
In the afternoon； Funkelstein called to inquire after the ladies；
and hoped he had no injury to their health to lay on his conscience。
Mr。 Arnold； who had a full allowance of curiosity； its amount being
frequently in an inverse ratio to that of higher intellectual gifts；
begged him to spend the rest of the day with them； but not to say a
word of what had passed the day before； till after Harry had retired
for the night。
Renewed conversation led to renewed experiments in the library。
Hugh； however； refused to have anything more to do with the
plate…writing； for he dreaded its influence on his physical nature；
attributing； as I have said； the vision of Margaret to a cerebral
affection。 And the plate did not seem to work satisfactorily with
any one else； except Funkelstein； who； for his part； had no great
wish to operate。 Recourse was had to a more vulgar methodthat of
expectant solicitation of those noises whereby the prisoners in the
a雛ial vaults are supposed capable of communicating with those in
this earthly cell。 Certainly； raps were heard from some quarter or
another； and when the lights were extinguished； and the crescent
moon only allowed to shine in the room； some commotion was
discernible amongst the furniture。 Several light articles flew
about。 A pen…wiper alighted on Euphra's lap； and a sofa…pillow
gently disarranged Mrs。 Elton's cap。 Most of the artillery；
however； was directed against Lady Emily； and she it was who saw； in
a faint stream of moonlight； a female arm uplifted towards her； from
under a table； with a threatening motion。 It was bare to the elbow；
and draped above。 It showed first a clenched fist； and next an open
hand； palm outwards； making a repellent gesture。 Then the back of
the hand was turned； and it motioned her away； as if she had been an
importunate beggar。 But at this moment； one of the doors opened；
and a dark figure passed through the room towards the opposite door。
Everything that could be called ghostly； ceased instantaneously。
The arm vanished。 The company breathed more freely。
Lady Emily； who had been on the point of going into hysterics；
recovered herself； and overcame the still lingering impulse： she
felt as if she had awaked from a momentary aberration of the
intellect。 Mr。 Arnold proceeded to light the candles； saying； in a
righteous tone：
〃I think we have had enough of this nonsense。〃
When the candles were lighted； there was no one to be seen in the
room besides themselves。 Several； Hugh amongst them； had observed
the figure； but all had taken it for part of the illusive
phantasmagoria。 Hugh would have concluded it a variety of his
vision of the former night； but others had seen it as well as he。
There was no renewal of the experiments that night。 But all were in
a very unhealthy state of excitement。 Vague fear； vague wonder； and
a certain indescribable oppression； had dimmed for the time all the
clearer vision； and benumbed all the nobler faculties of the soul。
Lady Emily was affected the most。 Her eyes looked scared； there
was a bright spot on one cheek amidst deathly paleness； and she
seemed very unhappy。 Mrs。 Elton became alarmed； and this brought
her back to a more rational condition。 She persuaded Lady Emily to
go to bed。
But the contagion spread； and indistinct terrors were no longer
confined to the upper portions of the family。 The bruit revived；
which had broken out a year beforethat the house was haunted。 It
was whispered that； the very night after these occurrences； the
Ghost's Walk had been in use as the name signified： a figure in
death…garments had been seen gliding along the deserted avenue； by
one of the maid…servants； the truth of whose story was corroborated
by the fact that； to support it； she did not hesitate to confess
that she had escaped from the house； nearly at midnight； to meet one
of the grooms in a part of the wood contiguous to the avenue in
question。 Mr。 Arnold instantly dismissed hernot on the ground of
the intrigue； he took care to let her know； although that was bad
enough； but because she was a fool； and spread absurd and annoying
reports about the house。 Mr。 Arnold's usual hatred of what he
called superstition； was rendered yet more spiteful by the fact；
that the occurrences of the week had had such an effect on his own
mind； that he was mortally afraid lest he should himself sink into
the same limbo of vanity。 The girl； however； was； or pretended to
be； quite satisfied with her discharge； protesting she would not
have staid for the world； and as the groom； whose wages happened to
have been paid the day before； took himself off the same evening； it
may be hoped her satisfaction was not altogether counterfeit。
〃If all tales be true；〃 said Mrs。 Elton； 〃Lady Euphrasia is where
she can't get out。〃
〃But if she repented before she died？〃 said Euphra； with a muffled
scorn in her tone。
〃My dear Miss Cameron； do you call becoming a nunrepentance？ We
Protestants know very well what that means。 Besides； your uncle
does not believe it。〃
〃Haven't you found out yet； dear Mrs。 Elton； what my uncle's
favourite phrase is？〃
〃No。 What is it？〃
〃I don't believe it。〃
〃You naughty girl！〃
〃I'm not naughty；〃 answered Euphra； affecting to imitate the
simplicity of a chidden child。 〃My uncle is so fond of casting doubt
upon everything！ If salvation goes by quantity； his faith won't
save him。〃
Euphra knew well enough that Mrs。 Elton was no tell…tale。 The good
lady had hopes of her from this moment； because she all but quoted
Scripture to condemn her uncle； the verdict corresponding with her
own judgment of Mr。 Arnold； founded on the clearest assertions of
Scripture； strengthened somewhat； it must be confessed； by the fact
that the spirits； on the preceding evening but one； had rapped out
the sentence： 〃Without faith it is impossible to please him。〃
Lady Emily was still in bed； but apparently more sick in mind than
in body。 She said she had tossed about all the previous night
without once falling asleep； and her maid； who had slept in the
dressing…room without waking once； corroborated the assertion。 In
the morning； Mrs。 Elton； wishing to relieve the maid； sent Margaret
to Lady Emily。 Margaret arranged the bedclothes and pillows； which
were in a very uncomfortable condition； sat down behind the curtain；
and； knowing that it would please Lady Emily； began to sing； in what
the French call a； veiled voice； The Land o' the Leal。 Now the air
of this lovely song is t