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her way to repeat a visit she had already paid the same morning； and
to make several other calls； with the express object of finding
pupils for Hugh。 But in this she was not so successful as she had
expected。 In fact； no one whom she could think of； wanted such
services at present。 She returned home quite down…hearted； and all
but convinced that nothing could be done before the approach of the
London season。
CHAPTER XVII。
STRIFE。
They'll turn me in your arms； Janet；
An adder and a snake；
But haud me fast； let me not pass；
Gin ye would be my maik。
They'll turn me in your arms； Janet；
An adder and an aske；
They'll turn me in your arms； Janet；
A bale that burns fast。
They'll shape me in your arms； Janet；
A dove； but and a swan；
And last； they'll shape me in your arms
A mother…naked man：
Cast your green mantle over me
And sae shall I be wan。
Scotch Ballad： Tamlane。
As soon as Hugh had left the house； Margaret hastened to Euphra。
She found her in her own room； a little more cheerful； but still
strangely depressed。 This appearance increased towards the evening；
till her looks became quite haggard； revealing an inward conflict of
growing agony。 Margaret remained with her。
Just before dinner； the upstairs bell； whose summons Margaret was
accustomed to obey； rang； and she went down。 Mrs。 Elton detained
her for a few minutes。 The moment she was at liberty； she flew to
Euphra's room by the back staircase。 But； as she ascended； she was
horrified to meet Euphra； in a cloak and thick veil； creeping down
the stairs like a thief。 Without saying a word； the strong girl
lifted her in her arms as if she had been a child； and carried her
back to her room。 Euphra neither struggled nor spoke。 Margaret
laid her on her couch； and sat down beside her。 She lay without
moving； and； although wide awake； gave no other sign of existence
than an occasional low moan； that seemed to come from a heart
pressed almost to death。
Having lain thus for an hour； she broke the silence。
〃Margaret； do you despise me dreadfully？〃
〃No； not in the least。〃
〃Yet you found me going to do what I knew was wrong。〃
〃You had not made yourself strong by thinking about the will of God。
Had you； dear？〃
〃No。 I will tell you how it was。 I had been tormented with the
inclination to go to him； and had been resisting it till I was worn
out； and could hardly bear it more。 Suddenly all grew calm within
me； and I seemed to hate Count Halkar no longer。 I thought with
myself how easy it would be to put a stop to this dreadful torment；
just by yielding to itonly this once。 I thought I should then be
stronger to resist the next time； for this was wearing me out so；
that I must yield the next time； if I persisted now。 But what
seemed to justify me； was the thought that so I should find out
where he was； and be able to tell Hugh； and then he would get the
ring for me； and； perhaps that would deliver me。 But it was very
wrong of me。 I forgot all about the will of God。 I will not go
again； Margaret。 Do you think I may try again to fight him？〃
〃That is just what you must do。 All that God requires of you is； to
try again。 God's child must be free。 Do try； dear Miss Cameron。〃
〃I think I could； if you would call me Euphra。 You are so strong；
and pure； and good； Margaret！ I wish I had never had any thoughts
but such as you have； you beautiful creature！ Oh； how glad I am
that you found me！ Do watch me always。〃
〃I will call you Euphra。 I will be your sister…servantanything
you like； if you will only try again。〃
〃Thank you； with all my troubled heart； dear Margaret。 I will
indeed try again。〃
She sprang from the couch in a sudden agony； and grasping Margaret
by the arm； looked at her with such a terror…stricken face； that she
began to fear she was losing her reason。
〃Margaret；〃 she said； as if with the voice as of one just raised
from the dead； speaking with all the charnel damps in her throat；
〃could it be that I am in love with him still？〃
Margaret shuddered； but did not lose her self…possession。
〃No； no； Euphra； darling。 You were haunted with him； and so tired
that you were not able to hate him any longer。 Then you began to
give way to him。 That was all。 There was no love in that。〃
Euphra's grasp relaxed。
〃Do you think so？〃
〃Yes。〃
A pause followed。
〃Do you think God cares to have me do his will？ Is it anything to
him？〃
〃I am sure of it。 Why did he make you else？ But it is not for the
sake of being obeyed that he cares for it； but for the sake of
serving you and making you blessed with his blessedness。 He does
not think about himself； but about you。〃
〃Oh； dear！ oh； dear！ I must not go。〃
〃Let me read to you again； Eupra。〃
〃Yes； please do； Margaret。〃
She read the fortieth chapter of Isaiah； one of her father's
favourite chapters； where all the strength and knowledge of God are
urged to a height； that they may fall in overwhelming profusion upon
the wants and fears and unbelief of his children。 How should he
that calleth the stars by their names forget his people？
While she read； the cloud melted away from Euphra's face； a sweet
sleep followed； and the paroxysm was over for the time。
Was Euphra insane？ and were these the first accesses of daily fits
of madness； which had been growing and approaching for who could
tell how long？
Even if she were mad； or going mad； was not this the right way to
treat her？ I wonder how often the spiritual cure of faith in the
Son of Man； the Great Healer； has been tried on those possessed with
our modern demons。 Is it proved that insanity has its origin in the
physical disorder which； it is now said； can be shown to accompany
it invariably？ Let it be so： it yet appears to me that if the
physician would； like the Son of Man himself； descend as it were
into the disorganized world in which the consciousness of his
patient exists； and receiving as fact all that he reveals to him of
its conditionfor fact it is； of a very real sortintroduce； by
all the means that sympathy can suggest； the one central cure for
evil； spiritual and material； namely； the truth of the Son of Man；
the vision of the perfect friend and helper； with the revelation of
the promised liberty of obedienceif he did this； it seems to me
that cures might still be wrought as marvellous as those of the
ancient time。
It seems to me； too； that that can be but an imperfect religion； as
it would be a poor salvation； from which one corner of darkness may
hide us； from whose blessed health and freedom a disordered brain
may snatch us； making us hopeless outcasts； till first the
physician； the student of physical laws； shall interfere and restore
us to a sound mind； or the great God's…angel Death crumble the
soul…oppressing brain； with its thousand phantoms of pain and fear
and horror； into a film of dust in the hollow of the deserted skull。
Hugh repaired immediately to Falconer's chambers； where he was more
likely to find him during the day than in the evening。 He was at
home。 He told him of his interview with Euphra； and her feeling
that the count was not far off。
〃Do you think there can be anything in it？〃 asked he； when he had
finished his relation。
〃I think very likely；〃 answered his friend。 〃I will be more on the
outlook than ever。 It may； after all； be through the lady herself
that we shall find the villain。 If she were to fall into one of her
trances； now； I think it almost certain she would go to him。 She
ought to be carefully watched and followed； if that should take
place。 Let me know all that you learn about her。 Go and see her
again to…morrow； that we may be kept informed of her experiences； so
far as she thinks proper to tell them。〃
〃I will；〃 said Hugh； and took his leave。
But Margaret； who knew Euphra's condition； both spiritual and
physical； better than any other； had far different objects for her；
through means of the unholy attraction which the count exercised
over her； than the discovery of the stolen ring。 She was determined
that neither sleeping nor waking should she follow his call； or
dance to his piping。 She should resist to the last； in the name of
God； and so redeem her lost will from the power of this devil； to
whom she had foolishly sold it。
The next day； the struggle evidently continued； and it had such an
effect on Euphra； that Margaret could not help feeling very anxious
about the result as regarded her health； even if she should be
victorious in the contest。 But not for one moment did Margaret
quail； for she felt convinced； come of it what might； that the only
hope for Euphra lay in resistance。 Death； to her mind； was simply
nothing in the balance with slavery of such a sort。
Oncebut evidently in a fit of absenceEuphra rose； went to the
door； and opened it。 But she instantly dashed it to again； and
walking slowly back； resumed her seat on the couch。 Margaret came
to her from the other side of the bed； where she had been working by
the window； for the last quarter of an hour； for the sake of the
waning light。
〃What is it； dear？〃 she said。
〃Oh； Margaret！ are you there？ I did not know