he knew of the laws and operations of electricity。 But Hugh had
been long enough a pupil of David to feel that to talk at such a
time of anything in nature but God； would be to do the boy a serious
wrong。 One capable of so doing would； in the presence of the
Saviour himself； speculate on the nature of his own faith； or upon
the death of his child； seize the opportunity of lecturing on
anatomy。 But before Hugh could make any reply； a flash； almost
invisible from excess of light； was accompanied rather than followed
by a roar that made the house shake； and in a moment more the room
was filled with the terrified household； which； by an unreasoning
impulse； rushed to the neighbourhood of him who was considered the
strongest。Mr。 Arnold was not at home。
〃Come from the window instantly； Mr。 Sutherland。 How can you be so
imprudent！〃 cried Mrs。 Elton； her usually calm voice elevated in
command； but tremulous with fear。
〃Why； Mrs。 Elton；〃 answered Hugh on whose temper； as well as
conduct； recent events had had their operation； 〃do you think the
devil makes the thunder？〃
Lady Emily gave a faint shriek； whether out of reverence for the
devil； or fear of God； I hesitate to decide； and flitting out of the
room； dived into her bed； and drew the clothes over her headat
least so she was found at a later period of the day。 Euphra walked
up to the window beside Hugh； as if to show her approval of his
rudeness； and stood looking out with eyes that filled their own
night with home…born flashes； though her lip was pale； and quivered
a little。 Mrs。 Elton； confounded at Hugh's reply； and perhaps
fearing the house might in consequence share the fate of Sodom；
notwithstanding the presence of a goodly proportion of the
righteous； fled； accompanied by the housekeeper； to the wine…cellar。
The rest of the household crept into corners； except the coachman；
who； retaining his composure； in virtue of a greater degree of
insensibility from his nearer approximation to the inanimate
creation； emptied the jug of ale intended for the dinner of the
company； and went out to look after his horses。
But there was one in the house who； left alone； threw the window
wide open； and； with gently clasped hands and calm countenance；
looked up into the heavens； and the clearness of whose eye seemed
the prophetic symbol of the clearness that rose all untroubled above
the turmoil of the earthly storm。 Truly God was in the storm； but
there was more of God in the clear heaven beyond； and yet more of
Him in the eye that regarded the whole with a still joy； in which
was mingled no dismay。
Euphra； Hugh； and Harry were left together； looking out upon the
storm。 Hugh could not speak in Harry's presence。 At length the boy
sat down in a dark corner on the floor； concealed from the others by
a window…curtain。 Hugh thought he had left the room。
〃Euphra；〃 he began。
Euphra looked round for Harry； and not seeing him； thought likewise
that he had left the room： she glided away without making any answer
to Hugh's invocation。
He stood for a few moments in motionless despair； then glancing
round the room； and taking in all its desertedness； caught up his
hat； and rushed out into the storm。 It was the best relief his
feelings could have had； for the sullen gloom； alternated with
bursts of flame； invasions of horrid uproar； and long wailing blasts
of tyrannous wind； gave him his own mood to walk in； met his spirit
with its own element； widened； as it were； his microcosm to the
expanse of the macrocosm around him。 All the walls of separation
were thrown down； and he lived； not in his own frame； but in the
universal frame of nature。 The world was for the time； to the
reality of his feeling； what Schleiermacher； in his Monologen；
describes it as being to man； an extension of the body in which he
dwells。 His spirit flashed in the lightning； raved in the thunder；
moaned in the wind； and wept in the rain。
But this could not last long； either without or within him。
He came to himself in the woods。 How far he had wandered； or
whereabout he was； he did not know。 The storm had died away； and
all that remained was the wind and the rain。 The tree…tops swayed
wildly in the irregular blasts； and shook new； fitful； distracted；
and momentary showers upon him。 It was evening； but what hour of
the evening he could not tell。 He was wet to the skin； but that to
a young Scotchman is a matter of little moment。
Although he had no intention of returning home for some time； and
meant especially to avoid the dinner…tablefor； in the mood he was
in； it seemed more than he could endurehe yet felt the weakness to
which we are subject as embodied beings； in a common enough form；
that； namely； of the necessity of knowing the precise portion of
space which at the moment we fill； a conviction of our identity not
being sufficient to make us comfortable； without a knowledge of our
locality。 So； looking all about him； and finding where the wood
seemed thinnest； he went in that direction； and soon； by forcing his
way through obstacles of all salvage kinds； found himself in the
high road； within a quarter of a mile of the country town next to
Arnstead； removed from it about three miles。 This little town he
knew pretty well； and； beginning to feel exhausted； resolved to go
to an inn there； dry his clothes； and then walk back in the
moonlight； for he felt sure the storm would be quite over in an hour
or so。 The fatigue he now felt was proof enough in itself； that the
inward storm had； for the time； raved itself off； and nowmust it
be confessed？he wished very much for something to eat and drink。
He was soon seated by a blazing fire； with a chop and a jug of ale
before him。
CHAPTER XIV。
AN EVENING LECTURE。
The Nightmare
Shall call thee when it walks。
MIDDLETON。The Witch。
The inn to which Hugh had betaken himself； though not the first in
the town； was yet what is called a respectable house； and was
possessed of a room of considerable size； in which the farmers of
the neighbourhood were accustomed to hold their gatherings。 While
eating his dinner； Hugh learned from the conversation around
himfor he sat in the kitchen for the sake of the firethat this
room was being got ready for a lecture on Bilology； as the landlady
called it。 Bills in red and blue had been posted all over the town；
and before he had finished his dinner； the audience had begun to
arrive。 Partly from curiosity about a subject of which he knew
nothing； and partly because it still rained； and； having got nearly
dry； he did not care about a second wetting if he could help it；
Hugh resolved to make one of them。 So he stood by the fire till he
was informed that the lecturer had made his appearance； when he went
up…stairs； paid his shilling； and was admitted to one of the front
seats。 The room was tolerably lighted with gas； and a platform had
been constructed for the lecturer and his subjects。 When the place
was about half…filled； he came from another room alonea little；
thick…set； bull…necked man； with vulgar face and rusty black
clothes； and； mounting the platform； commenced his lecture； if
lecture it could be called； in which there seemed to be no order；
and scarcely any sequence。 No attempt even at a theory； showed
itself in the mass of what he called facts and scientific truths；
and he perpeturated the most awful blunders in his English。 It will
not be desired that I should give any further account of such a
lecture。 The lecturer himself seemed to depend chiefly for his
success； upon the manifestations of his art which he proceeded to
bring forward。 He called his familiar by the name of Willi…am； and
a stunted； pale…faced； dull…looking youth started up from somewhere；
and scrambled upon the platform beside his master。 Upon this
tutored slave a number of experiments was performed。 He was first
cast into whatever abnormal condition is necessary for the
operations of biology； and then compelled to make a fool of himself
by exhibiting actions the most inconsistent with his real
circumstances and necessities。 But； aware that all this was open to
the most palpable objection of collusion； the operator next invited
any of the company that pleased； to submit themselves to his
influences。 After a pause of a few moments； a stout country fellow；
florid and healthy； got up and slouched to the platform。 Certainly；
whatever might be the nature of the influence that was brought to
bear； its operative power could not； with the least probability； be
attributed to an over…activity of imagination in either of the
subjects submitted to its exercise。 In the latter； as well as in
the former case； the operator was eminently successful； and the
clown returned to his seat； looking remarkably foolish and conscious
of disgracea sufficient voucher to most present； that in this case
at least there had been no collusion。 Several others volunteered
their negative services； but with no one of them did he succeed so
well； and in one case the failure was evident。 The lecturer
pretended to account for this； in making some confused and
unintelligible remarks about the state of the weather； the