第 38 节
作者:散发弄舟      更新:2021-02-21 16:20      字数:9321
  and the lady; for; although Euphra was often present during
  school…hours; it must be said for Hugh that; during those hours; he
  paid almost all his attention to Harry; so much of it; indeed; that
  perhaps there was not enough left to please the lady。  But she did
  not say so。  She sat beside them in silence; occupied with her work;
  and saving up her glances for use。  Now and then she would read;
  taking an opportunity sometimes; but not often; when a fitting pause
  occurred; to ask him to explain some passage about which she was in
  doubt。  It must be conceded that such passages were well chosen for
  the purpose; for she was too wise to do her own intellect discredit
  by feigning a difficulty where she saw none; intellect being the
  only gift in others for which she was conscious of any reverence。
  By…and…by she began to discontinue these visits to the schoolroom。
  Perhaps she found them dull。  Perhapsbut we shall see。
  One morning; in the course of their studyEuphra not presentHugh
  had occasion to go from his own room; where; for the most part; they
  carried on the severer portion of their labours; down to the library
  for a book; to enlighten them upon some point on which they were in
  doubt。  As he was passing an open door; Euphra's voice called him。
  He entered; and found himself in her private sitting…room。  He had
  not known before where it was。
  〃I beg your pardon; Mr。 Sutherland; for calling you; but I am at
  this moment in a difficulty。  I cannot manage this line in the
  Inferno。  Do help me。〃
  She moved the book towards him; as he now stood by her side; she
  remaining seated at her table。  To his mortification; he was
  compelled to confess his utter ignorance of the language。
  〃Oh!  I am disappointed;〃 said Euphra。
  〃Not so much as I am;〃 replied Hugh。 〃But could you spare me one or
  two of your Italian books?〃
  〃With pleasure;〃 she answered; rising and going to her bookshelves。
  〃I want only a grammar; a dictionary; and a New Testament。〃
  〃There they are;〃 she said; taking them down one after the other;
  and bringing them to him。 〃I daresay you will soon get up with poor
  stupid me。〃
  〃I shall do my best to get within hearing of your voice; at least;
  in which Italian must be lovely。〃
  No reply; but a sudden droop of the head。
  〃But;〃 continued Hugh; 〃upon second thoughts; lest I should be
  compelled to remain dumb; or else annoy your delicate ear with
  discordant sounds; just give me one lesson in the pronunciation。
  Let me hear you read a little first。〃
  〃With all my heart。〃
  Euphra began; and read delightfully; for she was an excellent
  Italian scholar。  It was necessary that Hugh should look over the
  book。  This was difficult while he remained standing; as she did not
  offer to lift it from the table。  Gradually; therefore; and hardly
  knowing how; he settled into a chair by her side。  Half…an…hour went
  by like a minute; as he listened to the silvery tones of her voice;
  breaking into a bell…like sound upon the double consonants of that
  sweet lady…tongue。  Then it was his turn to read and be corrected;
  and read again and be again corrected。  Another half…hour glided
  away; and yet another。  But it must be confessed he made good use of
  the timeif only it had been his own to use; for at the end of it
  he could pronounce Italian very tolerablywell enough; at least; to
  keep him from fixing errors in his pronunciation; while studying the
  language alone。  Suddenly he came to himself; and looked up as from
  a dream。  Had she been bewitching him?  He was in Euphra's
  roomalone with her。  And the door was shuthow or when?  Andhe
  looked at his watchpoor little Harry had been waiting his return
  from the library; for the last hour and a half。  He was
  conscience…stricken。  He gathered up the books hastily; thanked
  Euphra in the same hurried manner; and left the room with
  considerable disquietude; closing the door very gently; almost
  guiltily; behind him。
  I am afraid Euphra had been perfectly aware that he knew nothing
  about Italian。  Did she see her own eyes shine in the mirror before
  her; as he closed the door?  Was she in love with him; then?
  When Hugh returned with the Italian books; instead of the
  encyclop鎑ia he had gone to seek; he found Harry sitting where he
  had left him; with his arms and head on the table; fast asleep。
  〃Poor boy!〃 said Hugh to himself; but he could not help feeling glad
  he was asleep。  He stole out of the room again; passed the fatal
  door with a longing pain; found the volume of his quest in the
  library; and; returning with it; sat down beside Harry。  There he
  sat till he awoke。
  When he did awake at last; it was almost time for luncheon。  The
  shame…faced boy was exceedingly penitent for what was no fault;
  while Hugh could not relieve him by confessing his。  He could only
  say:
  〃It was my fault; Harry dear。  I stayed away too long。  You were so
  nicely asleep; I would not wake you。  You will not need a siesta;
  that is all。〃
  He was ashamed of himself; as he uttered the false words to the
  true…hearted child。  But this; alas! was not the end of it all。
  Desirous of learning the language; but far more desirous of
  commending himself to Euphra; Hugh began in downright earnest。  That
  very evening; he felt that he had a little hold of the language。
  Harry was left to his own resources。  Nor was there any harm in
  this in itself: Hugh had a right to part of every day for his own
  uses。  But then; he had been with Harry almost every evening; or a
  great part of it; and the boy missed him much; for he was not yet
  self…dependent。  He would have gone to Euphrasia; but somehow she
  happened to be engaged that evening。  So he took refuge in the
  library; where; in the desolation of his spirit; Polexander began;
  almost immediately; to exercise its old dreary fascination upon him。
  Although he had not opened the book since Hugh had requested him to
  put it away; yet he had not given up the intention of finishing it
  some day; and now he took it down; and opened it listlessly; with
  the intention of doing something towards the gradual redeeming of
  the pledge he had given to himself。  But he found it more irksome
  than ever。  Still he read on; till at length he could discover no
  meaning at all in the sentences。  Then he began to doubt whether he
  had read the words。  He fixed his attention by main force on every
  individual word; but even then he began to doubt whether he could
  say he had read the words; for he might have missed seeing some of
  the letters composing each word。  He grew so nervous and miserable
  over it; almost counting every letter; that at last he burst into
  tears; and threw the book down。
  His intellect; which in itself was excellent; was quite of the
  parasitic order; requiring to wind itself about a stronger
  intellect; to keep itself in the region of fresh air and possible
  growth。  Left to itself; its weak stem could not raise it above the
  ground: it would grow and mass upon the earth; till it decayed and
  corrupted; for lack of room; light; and air。  But; of course; there
  was no danger in the meantime。  This was but the passing sadness of
  an occasional loneliness。
  He crept to Hugh's room; and received an invitation to enter; in
  answer to his gentle knock; but Hugh was so absorbed in his new
  study; that he hardly took any notice of him; and Harry found it
  almost as dreary here as in the study。  He would have gone out; but
  a drizzling rain was falling; and he shrank into himself at the
  thought of the Ghost's Walk。 The dinner…bell was a welcome summons。
  Hugh; inspirited by the reaction from close attention; by the
  presence of Euphra; and by the desire to make himself generally
  agreeable; which sprung from the consciousness of having done wrong;
  talked almost brilliantly; delighting Euphra; overcoming Harry with
  reverent astonishment; and even interesting slow Mr。 Arnold。  With
  the latter Hugh had been gradually becoming a favourite; partly
  because he had discovered in him what he considered high…minded
  sentiments; for; however stupid and conventional Mr。 Arnold might
  be; he had a foundation of sterling worthiness of character。
  Euphra; instead of showing any jealousy of this growing
  friendliness; favoured it in every way in her power; and now and
  then alluded to it in her conversations with Hugh; as affording her
  great satisfaction。
  〃I am so glad he likes you!〃 she would say。
  〃Why should she be glad?〃 thought Hugh。
  This gentle claim of a kind of property in him; added considerably
  to the strength of the attraction that drew him towards her; as
  towards the centre of his spiritual gravitation; if indeed that
  could be called spiritual which had so little of the element of
  moral or spiritual admiration; or even approval; mingled with it。
  He never felt that Euphra was good。  He only felt that she drew him
  with a vague force of feminine sovereigntya charm which he could
  no more resist or explain; than the iron could the attraction of the
  loadstone。  Neither could he have said; had he really considered the
  matter; that she was beautifulonly that she often; very often;
  looked beautiful。  I suspect if she had been rather ugly; it would
  have been all the same for Hugh。
  He pursued his It