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abandon everything； that he might see him perfect and all in all and
as he must befor the sake of God himself； he believed in him as
the Saviour of these his sinful and suffering kin。
As early as was at all excusable； the following morning； he called
on Euphra。 The butler said that she had not come down yet； but he
would send up his name。 A message was brought back that Miss
Cameron was sorry not to see him； but she had had a bad night； and
was quite unable to get up。 Irwan replied to his inquiry； that the
count had not called。 Hugh withdrew to the Golden Staff。
A bad night it had been indeed。 As Euphra slept well the first part
of it； and had no attack such as she had had upon both the preceding
nights； Margaret had hoped the worst was over。 Still she laid
herself only within the threshold of sleep ready to wake at the
least motion。
In the middle of the night she felt Euphra move。 She lay still to
see what she would do。 Euphra slipped out of bed； and partly
dressed herself； then went to her wardrobe； and put on a cloak with
a large hood； which she drew over her head。 Margaret lay with a
dreadful aching at her heart。 Euphra went towards the door。
Margaret called her； but she made no answer。 Margaret flew to the
door； and reached it before her。 Then； to her intense delight； she
saw that Euphra's eyes were closed。 Just as she laid her hand on
the door； Margaret took her gently in her arms。
〃Let me go； let me go！〃 Euphra almost screamed。 Then suddenly
opening her eyes； she stared at Margaret in a bewildered fashion；
like one waking from the dead。
〃Euphra！ dear Euphra！〃 said Margaret。
〃Oh； Margaret！ is it really you？〃 exclaimed Euphra； flinging her
arms about her。 〃Oh； I am glad。 Ah！ you see what I must have been
about。 I suppose I knew when I was doing it； but I don't know now。
I have forgotten all about it。 Oh dear！ oh dear！ I thought it
would come to this。〃
〃Come to bed； dear。 You couldn't help it。 It was not yourself。
There is not more than half of you awake； when you walk in your
sleep。〃
They went to bed。 Euphra crept close to Margaret； and cried herself
asleep again。 The next day she had a bad head…ache。 This with her
always followed somnambulation。 She did not get up all that day。
When Hugh called again in the evening； he heard she was better； but
still in bed。
Falconer joined Hugh at the Golden Staff； at night； but they had no
better success than before。 Falconer went out alone； for Hugh
wanted to keep himself fresh。 Though very strong； he was younger
and less hardened than Falconer； who could stand an incredible
amount of labour and lack of sleep。 Hugh would have given way under
the half。
CHAPTER XVIII。
VICTORY
O my admired mistress； quench not out
The holy fires within you； though temptations
Shower down upon you： clasp thine armour on；
Fight well； and thou shalt see； after these wars；
Thy head wear sunbeams； and thy feet touch stars。
MASSINGER。The Virgin Martyr。
But Hugh could sleep no more than if he had been out with Falconer。
He was as restless as a wild beast in a cage。 Something would not
let him be at peace。 So he rose； dressed； and went out。 As soon as
he turned the corner； he could see Mrs。 Elton's house。 It was
visible both by intermittent moonlight above； and by flickering
gaslight below； for the wind blew rather strong。 There was snow in
the air； he knew。 The light they had observed last night； was
burning now。 A moment served to make these observations； and then
Hugh's eyes were arrested by the sight of something elsea man
walking up and down the pavement in front of Mrs。 Elton's house。 He
instantly stepped into the shadow of a porch to watch him。 The
figure might be the count's； it might not； he could not be sure。
Every now and then the man looked up to the windows。 At length he
stopped right under the lighted one； and looked up。 Hugh was on the
point of gliding out； that he might get as near him as possible
before rushing on him； when； at the moment； to his great
mortification； a policeman emerged from some mysterious corner； and
the figure instantly vanished in another。 Hugh did not pursue him；
because it would be to set all on a single chance； and that a poor
one； for if the count； should it be he； succeeded in escaping； he
would not return to a spot which he knew to be watched。 Hugh；
therefore； withdrew once more under a porch； and waited。 But；
whatever might be the cause； the man made his appearance no more。
Hugh contrived to keep watch for two hours； in spite of suspicious
policemen。 He slept late into the following morning。
Calling at Mrs。 Elton's； he learned that the count had not been
there； that Miss Cameron had been very ill all night； but that she
was rather better since the morning。
That night； as the preceding； Margaret had awaked suddenly。 Euphra
was not in the bed beside her。 She started up in an agony of
terror； but it was soon allayed； though not removed。 She saw Euphra
on her knees at the foot of the bed； an old…fashioned four…post one。
She had her arms twined round one of the bed…posts； and her head
thrown back； as if some one were pulling her backwards by her hair；
which fell over her night…dress to the floor in thick； black masses。
Her eyes were closed； her face was death…like； almost livid； and
the cold dews of torture were rolling down from brow to chin。 Her
lips were moving convulsively； with now and then the appearance of
an attempt at articulation； as if they were set in motion by an
agony of inward prayer。 Margaret； unable to move； watched her with
anxious sympathy and fearful expectation。 How long this lasted she
could not tell； but it seemed a long time。 At length Margaret rose；
and longing to have some share in the struggle； however small； went
softly； and stood behind her； shadowing her from a feeble ray of
moonlight which； through a wind…rent cloud； had stolen into the
room； and lay upon her upturned face。 There she lifted up her heart
in prayer。 In a moment after the tension of Euphra's countenance
relaxed a little； composure slowly followed； her head gradually
rose； so that Margaret could see her face no longer； then； as
gradually； drooped forward。 Next her arms untwined themselves from
the bed…post； and her hands clasped themselves together。 She looked
like one praying in the intense silence of absorbing devotion。
Margaret stood still as a statue。
In speaking about it afterwards to Hugh； Margaret told him that she
distinctly remembered hearing； while she stood； the measured steps
of a policeman pass the house on the pavement below。
In a few minutes Euphra bowed her head yet lower； and then rose to
her feet。 She turned round towards Margaret； as if she knew she was
there。 To Margaret's astonishment； her eyes were wide open。 She
smiled a most child…like； peaceful； happy smile； and said：
〃It is over； Margaret； all over at last。 Thank you； with my whole
heart。 God has helped me。〃
At that moment； the moon shone out full； and her face appeared in
its light like the face of an angel。 Margaret looked on her with
awe。 Fear； distress； and doubt had vanished； and she was already
beautiful like the blessed。 Margaret got a handkerchief； and wiped
the cold damps from her face。 Then she helped her into bed； where
she fell asleep almost instantly； and slept like a child。 Now and
then she moaned； but when Margaret looked at her； she saw the smile
still upon her countenance。
She woke weak and worn； but happy。
〃I shall not trouble you to…day； Margaret； dear；〃 said she。 〃I shall
not get up yet； but you will not need to watch me。 A great change
has passed upon me。 I am free。 I have overcome him。 He may do as
he pleases now。 I do not care。 I defy him。 I got up last night in
my sleep； but I remember all about it； and； although I was asleep；
and felt powerless like a corpse； I resisted him； even when I
thought he was dragging me away by bodily force。 And I resisted
him； till he left me alone。 Thank God！〃
It had been a terrible struggle； but she had overcome。 Nor was this
all： she would no more lead two lives； the waking and the sleeping。
Her waking will and conscience had asserted themselves in her
sleeping acts； and the memory of the somnambulist lived still in the
waking woman。 Hence her two lives were blended into one life； and
she was no more two； but one。 This indicated a mighty growth of
individual being。
〃I woke without terror；〃 she went on to say。 〃I always used to wake
from such a sleep in an agony of unknown fear。 I do not think I
shall ever walk in my sleep again。〃
Is not salvation the uniting of all our nature into one harmonious
wholeGod first in us； ourselves last； and all in due order
between？ Something very much analogous to the change in Euphra
takes place in a man when he first learns that his beliefs must
become acts； that his religious life and his human life are one；
that he must do the thing that he admires。 The Ideal is the only
absolute Real； and it must become the Real in the individual life as
well； however impossible they may count it who never try it； or who
do not trust in God to effect it； when