because he had been her lover。
How glad she would have been of Harry now！ The days crawled one
after the other like weary snakes。 She tried to read the New
Testament： it was to her like a mouldy chamber of worm…eaten
parchments； whose windows had not been opened to the sun or the wind
for centuries； and in which the dust of the decaying leaves choked
the few beams that found their way through the age…blinded panes。
This state of things could not have lasted long； for Euphra would
have died。 It lasted； however； until she felt that she had been
leading a false； worthless life； that she had been casting from her
every day the few remaining fragments of truth and reality that yet
kept her nature from falling in a heap of helpless ruin； that she
had never been a true friend to any one； that she was of no
valuefit for no one's admiration； no one's love。 She must leave
her former self； like a dead body； behind her； and rise into a purer
air of life and reality； else she would perish with that everlasting
death which is the disease and corruption of the soul itself。
To those who know anything of such experiences； it will not be
surprising that such feelings as these should be alternated with
fierce bursts of passion。 The old self then started up with
feverish energy； and writhed for life。 Never any one tried to be
better； without； for a time； seeming to himself； perhaps to others；
to be worse。 For the suffering of the spirit weakens the brain
itself； and the whole physical nature groans under it； while the
energy spent in the effort to awake； and arise from the dust； leaves
the regions previously guarded by prudence naked to the wild inroads
of the sudden destroying impulses born of suffering； self…sickness；
and hatred。 As in the delirious patient； they would dash to the
earth whatever comes first within reach； as if the thing first
perceived； and so （by perception alone） brought into contact with
the suffering； were the cause of all the distress。
One day a letter arrived for her。 She had had no letter from any
one for weeks。 Yet； when she saw the direction； she flung it from
her。 It was from Mrs。 Elton； whom she disliked； because she found
her utterly uninteresting and very stupid。
Poor Mrs。 Elton laid no claim to the contraries of these epithets。
But in proportion as she abjured thought； she claimed speech； both
by word of mouth and by letter。 Why not？ There was nothing in it。
She considered reason as an awful enemy to the soul； and obnoxious
to God； especially when applied to find out what he means when he
addresses us as reasonable creatures。 But speech？ There was no
harm in that。 Perhaps it was some latent conviction that this power
of speech was the chief distinction between herself and the lower
animals； that made her use it so freely； and at the same time open
her purse so liberally to the Hospital for Orphan Dogs and Cats。 Had
it not been for her own dire necessity； the fact that Mrs。 Elton was
religious would have been enough to convince Euphra that there could
not possibly be anything in religion。
The letter lay unopened till next daya fact easy to account for；
improbable as it may seem； for besides writing as largely as she
talked； and less amusingly because more correctly； Mrs。 Elton wrote
such an indistinct though punctiliously neat hand； that the reading
of a letter of hers involved no small amount of labour。 But the sun
shining out next morning； Euphra took courage to read it； while
drinking her coffee； although she could not expect to make that
ceremony more pleasant thereby。 It contained an invitation to visit
Mrs。 Elton at her house in … Street； Hyde Park； with the assurance
that； now that everything was arranged； they had plenty of room for
her。 Mrs。 Elton was sure she must be lonely at Arnstead； and Mrs。
Horton could； no doubt； be trustedand so on。
Had this letter arrived a few weeks earlier； Euphra would have
infused into her answer a skilful concoction of delicate contempt；
not for the amusement of knowing that Mrs。 Elton would never
discover a trace of it； but simply for a relief to her own dislike。
Now she would have written a plain letter； containing as brief and
as true an excuse as she could find； had it not been； that； inclosed
in Mrs。 Elton's note she found another； which ran thus：
〃DEAR EUPHRA；Do come and see us。 I do not like London at all
without you。 There are no happy days here like those we had at
Arnstead with Mr。 Sutherland。 Mrs。 Elton and Margaret are very kind
to me。 But I wish you would come。 Do； do； do。 Please do。
〃Your affectionate cousin；
〃HARRY ARNOLD。〃
〃The dear boy！〃 said Euphra； with a gush of pure and grateful
affection； 〃I will go and see him。〃
Harry had begun to work with his masters； and was doing his best；
which was very good。 If his heart was not so much in it as when he
was studying with his big brother； he gained a great benefit from
the increase of exercise to his will； in the doing of what was less
pleasant。 Ever since Hugh had given his faculties a right
direction； and aided him by healthful manly sympathy； he had been
making up for the period during which childhood had been protracted
into boyhood； and now he was making rapid progress。
When Euphra arrived； Harry rushed to the hall to meet her。 She took
him in her arms； and burst into tears。 Her tears drew forth his。
He stroked her pale face； and said：
〃Dear Euphra； how ill you look！〃
〃I shall soon be better now； Harry。〃
〃I was afraid you did not love me； Euphra； but now I am sure you
do。〃
〃Indeed I do。 I am very sorry for everything that made you think I
did not love you。〃
〃No； no。 It was all my fancy。 Now we shall be very happy。〃
And so Harry was。 And Euphra； through means of Harry； began to gain
a little of what is better than most kinds of happiness； because it
is nearest to the best happinessI mean peace。 This foretaste of
rest came to her from the devotedness with which she now applied
herself to aid the intellect； which she had unconsciously repressed
and stunted before。 She took Harry's books when he had gone to bed；
and read over all his lessons； that she might be able to assist him
in preparing them； venturing thus into some regions of labour into
which ladies are too seldom conducted by those who instruct them。
This produced in her quite new experiences。 One of these was； that
in proportion as she laboured for Harry； hope grew for herself。 It
was likewise of the greatest immediate benefit that the intervals of
thought； instead of lying vacant to melancholy； or the vapours that
sprung from the foregoing strife of the spiritual elements； should
be occupied by healthy mental exercise。
Still； however； she was subject to great vicissitudes of feeling。 A
kind of peevishness； to which she had formerly been a stranger； was
but too ready to appear； even when she was most anxious； in her
converse with Harry； to behave well to him。 But the pure
forgiveness of the boy was wonderful。 Instead of plaguing himself
to find out the cause of her behaviour； or resenting it in the
least； he only laboured； by increased attention and submission； to
remove it； and seemed perfectly satisfied when it was followed by a
kind word； which to him was repentance； apology； amends； and
betterment； all in one。 When he had thus driven away the evil
spirit； there was Euphra her own self。 So perfectly did she see；
and so thoroughly appreciate this kindness and love of Harry； that
he began to look to her like an angel of forgiveness come to live a
boy's life； that he might do an angel's work。
Her health continued very poor。 She suffered constantly from more
or less headache； and at times from faintings。 But she had not for
some time discovered any signs of somnambulism。
Of this peculiarity her friends were entirely ignorant。 The
occasions； indeed； on which it had manifested itself to an excessive
degree； had been but few。
CHAPTER IX。
THE NEW PUPILS。
Think you a little din can daunt mine ears？
Have I not in my time heard lions roar？
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue；
That gives not half so great a blow to hear；
As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire？
Tush！ tush！ fear boys with bugs。
Taming of the Shrew。
During the whole of his first interview with Falconer； which lasted
so long that he had been glad to make a bed of Falconer's sofa； Hugh
never once referred to the object for which he had accepted
MacPherson's proffered introduction； nor did Falconer ask him any
questions。 Hugh was too much interested and saddened by the scenes
through which Falconer led him； not to shrink from speaking of
anything less important； and with Falconer it was a rule； a
principle almost； never to expedite utterance of any sort。
In the morning； feeling a little good…natured anxiety as to his
landlady's reception of him； Hugh made some allusion to it； as he
sat at his new friend's breakfast…table。
Falconer said：
〃What is your landlady's name？〃
〃Miss Talbot。〃
〃Oh！ little Miss Talbot？ You are in good quarterstoo good to
lose； I can tell you。 Just say to Miss Talbot that you were with
me。〃
〃You know her； then？〃
〃Oh