something ought to be done； but I presume he could never make up his
mind what that something ought to be。 Whether any reasons for not
prosecuting the inquiry had occurred to him upon further reflection；
I am unable to tell。 One thing is certain； that from this time he
ceased to behave to Hugh with that growing cordiality which he had
shown him for weeks past。 It was no great loss to Hugh； but he felt
it； and all the more； because he could not help associating it with
that look of suspicion； the remains of which were still discernible
on Mr。 Arnold's face。 Although he could not determine the exact
direction of Mr。 Arnold's suspicions； he felt that they bore upon
something associated with the crystal ring； and the story of the
phantom lady。 Consequently； there was little more of comfort for
him at Arnstead。
Mr。 Arnold； however； did not reveal his change of feeling so much by
neglect as by ceremony； which； sooner than anything else； builds a
wall of separation between those who meet every day。 For the
oftener they meet； the thicker and the faster are the bricks and
mortar of cold politeness； evidently avoided insults； and subjected
manifestations of dislike； laid together。
CHAPTER XXVIII。
A BIRD'S…EYE VIEW。
O； cocks are crowing a merry midnight；
I wot the wild…fowls are boding day；
Give me my faith and troth again；
And let me fare me on my way。
Sae painfully she clam the wa'；
She clam the wa' up after him；
Hosen nor shoon upon her feet；
She hadna time to put them on。
Scotch Ballad。Clerk Saunders。
Dreary days passed。 The reports of Euphra were as favourable as the
nature of the injury had left room to expect。 Still they were but
reports： Hugh could not see her； and the days passed drearily。 He
heard that the swelling was reduced； and that the ankle was found
not to be dislocated； but that the bones were considerably injured；
and that the final effect upon the use of the parts was doubtful。
The pretty foot lay aching in Hugh's heart。 When Harry went to
bed； he used to walk out and loiter about the grounds； full of
anxious fears and no less anxious hopes。 If the night was at all
obscure； he would pass； as often as he dared； under Euphra's window；
for all he could have of her now was a few rays from the same light
that lighted her chamber。 Then he would steal away down the main
avenue； and thence watch the same light； whose beams； in that
strange play which the intellect will keep up in spite ofyet in
association withthe heart； made a photo…materialist of him。 For
he would now no longer believe in the pulsations of an ethereal
medium； butthat the very material rays which enlightened Euphra's
face； whether she waked or slept； stole and filtered through the
blind and the gathered shadows； and entered in bodily essence into
the mysterious convolutions of his brain； where his soul and heart
sought and found them。
When a week had passed； she was so far recovered as to be able to
see Mr。 Arnold； from whom Hugh heard； in a somewhat reproachful
tone； that she was but the wreck of her former self。 It was all
that Hugh could do to restrain the natural outbreak of his feelings。
A fortnight passed； and she saw Mrs。 Elton and Lady Emily for a few
moments。 They would have left before； but had yielded to Mr。
Arnold's entreaty； and were staying till Euphra should be at least
able to be carried from her room。
One day； when the visitors were out with Mr。 Arnold； Jane brought a
message to Hugh； requesting him to walk into Miss Cameron's room；
for she wanted to see him。 Hugh felt his heart flutter as if
doubting whether to stop at once； or to dash through its confining
bars。 He rose and followed the maid。 He stood over Euphra pale and
speechless。 She lay before him wasted and wan； her eyes twice their
former size； but with half their former light； her fingers long and
transparent； and her voice low and feeble。 She had just raised
herself with difficulty to a sitting posture； and the effort had
left her more weary。
〃Hugh！〃 she said； kindly。
〃Dear Euphra！〃 he answered； kissing the little hand he held in his。
She looked at him for a little while； and the tears rose in her
eyes。
〃Hugh； I am a cripple for life。〃
〃God forbid； Euphra！〃 was all he could reply。
She shook her head mournfully。 Then a strange； wild look came in
her eyes； and grew till it seemed from them to overflow and cover
her whole face with a troubled expression； which increased to a look
of dull agony。
〃What is the matter； dear Euphra？〃 said Hugh； in alarm。 〃Is your
foot very painful？〃
She made no answer。 She was looking fixedly at his hand。
〃Shall I call Jane？〃
She shook her head。
〃Can I do nothing for you？〃
〃No；〃 she answered； almost angrily。
〃Shall I go； Euphra？〃
〃Yesyes。 Go。〃
He left the room instantly。 But a sharp though stifled cry of
despair drew him back at a bound。 Euphra had fainted。
He rang the bell for Jane； and lingered till he saw signs of
returning consciousness。
What could this mean？ He was more perplexed with her than ever he
had been。 Cunning love； however； soon found a way of explaining
itA way？Twenty waysnot one of them the way。
Next day； Lady Emily brought him a message from Euphranot to
distress himself about her； it was not his fault。
This message the bearer of it understood to refer to the original
accident； as the sender of it intended she should： the receiver
interpreted it of the occurrence of the day before； as the sender
likewise intended。 It comforted him。
It had become almost a habit with Hugh； to ascend the oak tree in
the evening； and sit alone； sometimes for hours； in the nest he had
built for Harry。 One time he took a book with him； another he went
without； and now and then Harry accompanied him。 But I have already
said； that often after tea； when the house became oppressive to him
from the longing to see Euphra； he would wander out alone； when；
even in the shadows of the coming night； he would sometimes climb
the nest； and there sit； hearing all that the leaves whispered about
the sleeping birds； without listening to a word of it； or trying to
interpret it by the kindred sounds of his own inner world； and the
tree…talk that went on there in secret。 For the divinity of that
inner world had abandoned it for the present； in pursuit of an
earthly maiden。 So its birds were silent； and its trees trembled
not。
An aging moon was feeling her path somewhere through the heavens；
but a thin veil of cloud was spread like a tent under the hyaline
dome where she walked； so that； instead of a white moon； there was a
great white cloud to enlighten the earth；a cloud soaked full of
her pale rays。 Hugh sat in the oak…nest。 He knew not how long he
had been there。 Light after light was extinguished in the house；
and still he sat there brooding； dreaming； in that state of mind in
which to the good； good things come of themselves； and to the evil；
evil things。 The nearness of the Ghost's Walk did not trouble him；
for he was too much concerned about Euphra to fear ghost or demon。
His mind heeded them not； and so was beyond their influence。
But while he sat； he became aware of human voices。 He looked out
from his leafy screen； and saw once more； at the end of the Ghost's
Walk； a form clothed in white。 But there were voices of two。 He
sent his soul into his ears to listen。 A horrible； incredible；
impossible idea forced itself upon himthat the tones were those of
Euphra and Funkelstein。 The one voice was weak and complaining； the
other firm and strong。
〃It must be some horrible ghost that imitates her；〃 he said to
himself； for he was nearly crazy at the very suggestion。
He would see nearer； if only to get rid of that frightful
insinuation of the tempter。 He descended the tree noiselessly。 He
lost sight of the figure as he did so。 He drew near the place where
he had seen it。 But there was no sound of voices now to guide him。
As he came within sight of the spot； he saw the white figure in the
arms of another； a man。 Her head was lying on his shoulder。 A
moment after； she was lifted in those arms and borne towards the
house；down the Ghost's Avenue。
A burning agony to be satisfied of his doubts seized on Hugh。 He
fled like a deer to the house by another path； tried； in his
suspicion； the library window； found it open； and was at Euphra's
door in a moment。 Here he hesitated。 She must be inside。 How dare
he knock or enter？
If she was there； she would be asleep。 He would not wake her。
There was no time to lose。 He would risk anything； to be rid of
this horrible doubt。
He gently opened the door。 The night…light was burning。 He
thought； at first； that Euphra was in the bed。 He felt like a
thief； but he stole nearer。 She was not there。 She was not on the
couch。 She was not in the room。 Jane was fast asleep in the
dressing…room。 It was enough。
He withdrew。 He would watch at his door to see her return； for she
must pass his door to reach her own。 He waited a time that seemed
hours。 At lengthhorrible； far more horrible to him than the
vision of the ghostEuphra crept past him； appearing in the
darkness