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always fell before hers。 She walked softly like Ahab； as if； now
that Hugh knew； she； too； was ever conscious。
Her behaviour to Mrs。 Elton and Lady Emily was likewise improved；
but apparently only from an increase of indifference。 When the time
came； and they departed； she did not even appear to be much
relieved。
Once she asked Hugh to help her with a passage of Dante； but
betrayed no memory of the past。 His pleased haste to assist her；
showed that he at least； if fancy…free； was not memory…clear。 She
thanked him very gently and truly； took up her book like a
school…girl； and limped away。 Hugh was smitten to the heart。 〃If I
could but do something for her！〃 thought he； but there was nothing
to be done。 Although she had deserved it； somehow her behaviour
made him feel as if he had wronged her in ceasing to love her。
One day； in the end of September； Mr。 Arnold and Hugh were alone
after breakfast。 Mr。 Arnold spoke：
〃Mr。 Sutherland； I have altered my plans with regard to Harry。 I
wish him to spend the winter in London。〃
Hugh listened and waited。 Mr。 Arnold went on； after a slight pause：
〃There I wish him to reap such advantages as are to be gained in the
metropolis。 He has improved wonderfully under your instruction； and
is now； I think； to be benefited principally by a variety of
teachers。 I therefore intend that he shall have masters for the
different branches which it is desirable he should study。
Consequently I shall be compelled to deny him your services；
valuable as they have hitherto been。〃
〃Very well； Mr。 Arnold；〃 said Mr。 Sutherland； with the indifference
of one who feels himself ill…used。 〃When shall I take my leave of
him？〃
〃Not before the middle of the next month； at the earliest。 But I
will write you a cheque for your salary at once。〃
So saying； Mr。 Arnold left the room for a moment； and returning；
handed Hugh a cheque for a year's salary。 Hugh glanced at it； and
offering it again to Mr。 Arnold； said：
〃No； Mr。 Arnold； I can claim scarcely more than half a year's
salary。〃
〃Mr。 Sutherland； your engagement was at so much a year； and if I
prevent you from fulfilling your part of it； I am bound to fulfil
mine。 Indeed； you might claim further provision。〃
〃You are very kind； Mr。 Arnold。〃
〃Only just；〃 rejoined Mr。 Arnold； with conscious dignity。 〃I am
under great obligation to you for the way in which you have devoted
yourself to Harry。〃
Hugh's conscience gave him a pang。 Is anything more painful than
undeserved praise？
〃I have hardly done my duty by him；〃 said he。
〃I can only say that the boy is wonderfully altered for the better；
and I thank you。 I am obliged to you： oblige me by putting the
cheque in your pocket。〃
Hugh persisted no longer in his refusal； and indeed it had been far
more a feeling of pride than of justice that made him decline
accepting it at first。 Nor was there any generosity in Mr。 Arnold's
cheque； for Hugh； as he admitted； might have claimed board and
lodging as well。 But Mr。 Arnold was one of the ordinarily
honourable； who； with perfect characters for uprightness； always
contrive to err on the safe side of the purse； and the doubtful side
of a severely interpreted obligation。 Such people； in so doing； not
unfrequently secure for themselves； at the same time； the reputation
of generosity。
Hugh could not doubt that his dismissal was somehow or other
connected with the loss of the ring； but he would not stoop to
inquire into the matter。 He hoped that time would set all right；
and； in fact； felt considerable indifference to the opinion of Mr。
Arnold； or of any one in the house； except Harry。
The boy burst into tears when informed of his father's decision with
regard to his winter studies； and could only be consoled by the hope
which Hugh held out to himcertainly upon a very slight
foundationthat they might meet sometimes in London。 For the
little time that remained； Hugh devoted himself unceasingly to his
pupil； not merely studying with him； but walking； riding； reading
stories； and going through all sorts of exercises for the
strengthening of his person and constitution。 The best results
followed both for Harry and his tutor。
CHAPTER XXXI。
EXPLANATIONS。
I have done nothing good to win belief；
My life hath been so faithless； all the creatures
Made for heaven's honours； have their ends； and good ones；
All but。。。false women。。。When they die； like tales
Ill…told； and unbelieved； they pass away。
I will redeem one minute of my age；
Or； like another Niobe； I'll weep
Till I am water。
BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER。The Maid's Tragedy。
The days passed quickly by； and the last evening that Hugh was to
spend at Arnstead arrived。 He wandered out alone。 He had been with
Harry all day； and now he wished for a few moments of solitude。 It
was a lovely autumn evening。 He went into the woods behind the
house。 The leaves were still thick upon the trees； but most of them
had changed to gold； and brown； and red； and the sweet faint odours
of those that had fallen； and lay thick underfoot； ascended like a
voice from the grave； saying： 〃Here dwelleth some sadness； but no
despair。〃 As he strolled about among them； the whole history of his
past life arose before him。 This often happens before any change in
our history； and is surest to take place at the approach of the
greatest change of all； when we are about to pass into the unknown；
whence we came。
In this mood； it was natural that his sins should rise before him。
They came as the shadows of his best pleasures。 For now； in
looking back； he could fix on no period of his history； around which
the aureole； which glorifies the sacred things of the past； had
gathered in so golden a hue； as around the memory of the holy
cottage； the temple in which abode David； and Janet； and Margaret。
All the story glided past； as the necromantic Will called up the
sleeping dead in the mausoleum of the brain。 And that solemn；
kingly； gracious old man； who had been to him a father； he had
forgotten； the homely tenderness which； from fear of its own force；
concealed itself behind a humorous roughness of manner； he hadno；
not despisedbut forgotten； too； and if the dim pearly loveliness
of the trustful； grateful maiden had not been quite forgotten； yet
she too had been neglected； had died； as it were； and been buried in
the churchyard of the past； where the grass grows long over the
graves； and the moss soon begins to fill up the chiselled records。
He was ungrateful。 He dared not allow to himself that he was
unloving； but he must confess himself ungrateful。
Musing sorrowfully and self…reproachfully； he came to the Ghost's
Avenue。 Up and down its aisle he walked； a fit place for
remembering the past； and the sins of the present。 Yielding himself
to what thoughts might arise； the strange sight he had seen here on
that moonlit night； of two silent wandering figuresor could it be
that they were one and the same； suddenly changed in hue？returned
upon him。 This vision had been so speedily followed by the second
and more alarming apparition of Lady Euphrasia； that he had hardly
had time to speculate on what the former could have been。 He was
meditating upon all these strange events； and remarking to himself
that； since his midnight encounter with Lady Euphrasia； the house
had been as quiet as a church…yard at noon； when all suddenly； he
saw before him； at some little distance； a dark figure approaching
him。 His heart seemed to bound into his throat and choke him； as he
said to himself： 〃It is the nun again！〃 But the next moment he saw
that it was Euphra。 I do not know which he would have preferred not
meeting alone； and in the deepening twilight： Euphra； too； had
become like a ghost to him。 His first impulse was to turn aside
into the wood； but she had seen him； and was evidently going to
address him。 He therefore advanced to meet her。 She spoke first；
approaching him with painful steps。
〃I have been looking for you； Mr。 Sutherland。 I wanted very much to
have a little conversation with you before you go。 Will you allow
me？〃
Hugh felt like a culprit directly。 Euphra's manner was quite
collected and kind； yet through it all a consciousness showed
itself； that the relation which had once existed between them had
passed away for ever。 In her voice there was something like the
tone of wind blowing through a ruin。
〃I shall be most happy；〃 said he。
She smiled sadly。 A great change had passed upon her。
〃I am going to be quite open with you；〃 she said。 〃I am perfectly
aware； as well as you are； that the boyish fancy you had for me is
gone。 Do not be offended。 You are manly enough； but your love for
me was boyish。 Most first loves are childish； quite irrespective of
age。 I do not blame you in the least。〃
This seemed to Hugh rather a strange style to assume； if all was
true that his own eyes had reported。 She went on：
〃Nor must you think it has cost me much to lose it。〃
Hugh felt hurt； at which no one who understands will be surprised。
〃But I cannot afford to lose you； the only friend I have；〃 she
added。
Hugh turned towards her with a face full of manhood a