to do with the questionable occupations in the library。 She watched
by her bedside all the night； slumbering at times； but roused in a
moment by any restlessness of the patient； when she found that；
simply by laying her hand on hers； or kissing her forehead； she
could restore her at once to quiet sleep。
CHAPTER XIX。
THE GHOST'S WALK。
Thierry。'Tis full of fearful shadows。
Ordella。 So is sleep； sir；
Or anything that's merely ours； and mortal；
We were begotten gods else。 But those fears
Feeling but once the fires of nobler thoughts；
Fly； like the shapes of clouds we form； to nothing。
BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER。Thierry and Theodoret。
Margaret sat watching the waking of Lady Emily。 Knowing how much
the first thought colours the feeling of the whole day； she wished
that Lady Emily should at once be aware that she was by her side。
She opened her eyes； and a smile broke over her face when she
perceived her nurse。 But Margaret did not yet speak to her。
Every nurse should remember that waking ought always to be a gradual
operation； and； except in the most triumphant health； is never
complete on the opening of the eyes。
〃Margaret； I am better；〃 said Lady Emily； at last。
〃I am very glad； my lady。〃
〃I have been lying awake for some time； and I am sure I am better。
I don't see strange…coloured figures floating about the room as I
did yesterday。 Were you not out of the room a few minutes ago？〃
〃Just for one moment； my lady。〃
〃I knew it。 But I did not mind it。 Yesterday； when you left me；
those figures grew ten times as many； the moment you were gone。 But
you will stay with me to…day； too； Margaret？〃 she added； with some
anxiety。
〃I will； if you find you need me。 But I may be forced to leave you
a little while this eveningyou must try to allow me this； dear
Lady Emily。〃
〃Of course I will。 I will be quite patient； I promise you； whatever
comes to me。〃
When Harry woke； after a very troubled sleep； from which he had
often started with sudden cries of terror； Hugh made him promise not
to increase the confusion of the household； by speaking of what he
had seen。 Harry promised at once； but begged in his turn that Hugh
would not leave him all day。 It did not need the pale scared face
of his pupil to enforce the request； for Hugh was already anxious
lest the fright the boy had had； should exercise a permanently
deleterious effect on his constitution。 Therefore he hardly let him
out of his sight。
But although Harry kept his word； the cloud of perturbation gathered
thicker in the kitchen and the servants' hall。 Nothing came to the
ears of their master and mistress； but gloomy looks； sudden starts；
and sidelong glances of fear； indicated the prevailing character of
the feelings of the household。
And although Lady Emily was not so ill； she had not yet taken a
decided turn for the better； but appeared to suffer from some kind
of low fever。 The medical man who was called in； confessed to Mrs。
Elton； that as yet he could say nothing very decided about her
condition； but recommended great quiet and careful nursing。
Margaret scarcely left her room； and the invalid showed far more
than the ordinary degree of dependence upon her nurse。 In her
relation to her； she was more like a child than an invalid。
About noon she was better。 She called Margaret and said to her：
〃Margaret； dear； I should like to tell you one thing that annoys me
very much。〃
〃What is it； dear Lady Emily？〃
〃That man haunts me。 I cannot bear the thought of him； and yet I
cannot get rid of him。 I am sure he is a bad man。 Are you certain
he is not here？〃
〃Yes； indeed； my lady。 He has not been here since the day before
yesterday。〃
〃And yet when you leave me for an instant； I always feel as if he
were sitting in the very seat where you were the moment before； or
just coming to the door and about to open it。 That is why I cannot
bear you to leave me。〃
Margaret might have confessed to some slighter sensations of the
same kind； but they did not oppress her as they did Lady Emily。
〃God is nearer to you than any thought or feeling of yours； Lady
Emily。 Do not be afraid。 If all the evil things in the universe
were around us； they could not come inside the ring that he makes
about us。 He always keeps a place for himself and his child； into
which no other being can enter。〃
〃Oh！ how you must love God； Margaret！〃
〃Indeed I do love him； my lady。 If ever anything looks beautiful or
lovely to me； then I know at once that God is that。〃
〃But； then； what right have we to take the good of that； however
true it is； when we are not beautiful ourselves？〃
〃That only makes God the more beautifulin that he will pour out
the more of his beauty upon us to make us beautiful。 If we care for
his glory； we shall be glad to believe all this about him。 But we
are too anxious about feeling good ourselves； to rejoice in his
perfect goodness。 I think we should find that enough； my lady。
For； if he be good； are not we his children； and sure of having it；
not merely feeling it； some day？〃
Here Margaret repeated a little poem of George Herbert's。 She had
found his poems amongst Mrs。 Elton's books； who； coming upon her
absorbed in it one day； had made her a present of the volume。 Then
indeed Margaret had found a friend。
The poem is called Dialogue：
〃Sweetest Saviour； if my soul
Were but worth the having〃
〃Oh； what a comfort you are to me； Margaret！〃 Lady Emily said；
after a short silence。 Where did you learn such things？〃
〃From my father； and from Jesus Christ； and from God himself；
showing them to me in my heart。〃
〃Ah！ that is why； as often as you come into my room； even if I am
very troubled； I feel as if the sun shone； and the wind blew； and
the birds sang； and the tree…tops went waving in the wind； as they
used to do before I was taken illI mean before they thought I must
go abroad。 You seem to make everything clear； and right； and plain。
I wish I were you； Margaret。〃
〃If I were you； my lady； I would rather be what God chose to make
me； than the most glorious creature that I could think of。 For to
have been thought aboutborn in God's thoughtsand then made by
God； is the dearest； grandest； most precious thing in all thinking。
Is it not； my lady？〃
〃It is；〃 said Lady Emily； and was silent。
The shadows of evening came on。 As soon as it was dark； Margaret
took her place at one of the windows hidden from Lady Emily by a
bed…curtain。 She raised the blind； and pulled aside one curtain； to
let her have a view of the trees outside。 She had placed the one
candle so as not to shine either on the window or on her own eyes。
Lady Emily was asleep。 One hour and another passed； and still she
sat theremotionless； watching。
Margaret did not know； that at another windowthe one； indeed； next
to her ownstood a second watcher。 It was Hugh； in Harry's room：
Harry was asleep in Hugh's。 He had no light。 He stood with his
face close against the windowpane； on which the moon shone brightly。
All below him the woods were half dissolved away in the moonlight。
The Ghost's Walk lay full before him； like a tunnel through the
trees。 He could see a great way down； by the light that fell into
it； at various intervals； from between the boughs overhead。 He
stood thus for a long time； gazing somewhat listlessly。 Suddenly he
became all eyes； as he caught the white glimmer of something passing
up the avenue。 He stole out of the room； down to the library by the
back…stair； and so through the library window into the wood。 He
reached the avenue sideways； at some distance from the house； and
peeped from behind a tree； up and down。 At first he saw nothing。
But； a moment after； while he was looking down the avenue； that is；
away from the house； a veiled figure in white passed him noiselessly
from the other direction。 From the way in which he was looking at
the moment； it had passed him before he saw it。 It made no sound。
Only some early…fallen leaves rustled as they hurried away in
uncertain eddies； startled by the sweep of its trailing garments；
which yet were held up by hands hidden within them。 On it went。
Hugh's eyes were fixed on its course。 He could not move； and his
heart laboured so frightfully that he could hardly breathe。 The
figure had not advanced far； however； before he heard a repressed
cry of agony； and it sank to the earth； and vanished； while from
where it disappeared； down the path； came； silently too； turning
neither to the right nor the left； a second figure； veiled in black
from head to foot。
〃It is the nun in Lady Euphrasia's room；〃 said Hugh to himself。
This passed him too； and； walking slowly towards the house；
disappeared somewhere； near the end of the avenue。 Turning once
more； with reviving couragefor his blood had begun to flow more
equablyHugh ventured to approach the spot where the white figure
had vanished。 He found nothing there but the shadow of a huge tree。
He walked through the avenue to the end； and then back to the
house； but saw nothing； though he often started at fancied
appearances。 Sorely bewildered； he returned to his own room。 Af