第 98 节
作者:散发弄舟      更新:2021-02-21 16:20      字数:9322
  though; because; of course; you would not have let me go。〃
  〃I hope it did not trouble you much。〃
  〃No; not much; for though I was with the count; I did not seem to be
  there in the body at all; only somehow near him; and seeing him。  I
  can recall the place perfectly。〃
  〃Do you think it really was the place he was in at the time?〃
  〃I should not wonder。  But now I feel so free; so far beyond him and
  all his power; that I don't mind where or when I see him。  He cannot
  hurt me now。〃
  〃Could you describe the place to Mr。 Sutherland?  It might help him
  to find the count。〃
  〃That's a good idea。  Will you send for him?〃
  〃Yes; certainly。  May I tell him for what?〃
  〃By all means。〃
  Margaret wrote to Hugh at once; and sent the note by hand。  He was
  at home when it arrived。  He hurriedly answered it; and went to find
  Falconer。  To his delight he was at homenot out of bed; in fact。
  〃Read that。〃
  〃Who is it from?〃
  〃Miss Cameron's maid。〃
  〃It does not look like a maid's production。〃
  〃It is though。  Will you come with me?  You know London ten thousand
  times better than I do。  I don't think we ought to lose a chance。〃
  〃Certainly not。  I will go with you。  But perhaps she will not see
  me。〃
  〃Oh! yes; she will; when I have told her about you。〃
  〃It will be rather a trial to see a stranger。〃
  〃A man cannot be a stranger with you ten minutes; if he only looks
  at you;still less a woman。〃
  Falconer looked pleased; and smiled。
  〃I am glad you think so。  Let us go。〃
  When they arrived; Margaret came to them。  Hugh told her that
  Falconer was his best friend; and one who knew London perhaps better
  than any other man in it。  Margaret looked at him full in the face
  for a moment。  Falconer smiled at the intensity of her still gaze。
  Margaret returned the smile; and said:
  〃I will ask Miss Cameron to see yet。〃
  〃Thank you;〃 was all Falconer's reply; but the tone was more than
  speech。
  After a little while; they were shown up to Euphra's room。  She had
  wanted to sit up; but Margaret would not let her; so she was lying
  on her couch。  When Falconer was presented to her; he took her hand;
  and held it for a moment。  A kind of indescribable beam broke over
  his face; as if his spirit smiled and the smile shone through
  without moving one of his features as it passed。  The tears stood in
  his eyes。  To understand all this look; one would need to know his
  history as I do。  He laid her hand gently on her bosom; and said:
  〃God bless you!〃
  Euphra felt that God did bless her in the very words。  She had been
  looking at Falconer all the time。  It was only fifteen seconds or
  so; but the outcome of a life was crowded into Falconer's side of
  it; and the confidence of Euphra rose to meet the faithfulness of a
  man of God。What words those are!A man of God!  Have I not
  written a revelation?  Yesto him who can read ityes。
  〃I know enough of your story; Miss Cameron;〃 he said; 〃to understand
  without any preface what you choose to tell me。〃
  Euphra began at once:
  〃I dreamed last night that I found myself outside the street door。
  I did not know where I was going; but my feet seemed to know。  They
  carried me; round two or three corners; into a wide; long street;
  which I think was Oxford…street。  They carried me on into London;
  far beyond any quarter I knew。  All I can tell further is; that I
  turned to the left beside a church; on the steeple of which stood
  what I took for a wandering ghost just lighted there;only I ought
  to tell you; that frequently in my dreamsalways in my peculiar
  dreamsthe more material and solid and ordinary things are; the
  more thin and ghostly they appear to me。  Then I went on and on;
  turning left and right too many times for me to remember; till at
  last I came to a little; old…fashioned court; with two or three
  trees in it。  I had to go up a few steps to enter it。  I was not
  afraid; because I knew I was dreaming; and that my body was not
  there。  It is a great relief to feel that sometimes; for it is often
  very much in the way。  I opened a door; upon which the moon shone
  very bright; and walked up two flights of stairs into a back room。
  And there I found him; doing something at a table by candlelight。
  He had a sheet of paper before him; but what he was doing with it;
  I could not see。  I tried hard; but it was of no use。  The dream
  suddenly faded; and I awoke; and found Margaret。Then I knew I was
  safe;〃 she added; with a loving glance at her maid。
  Falconer rose。
  〃I know the place you mean perfectly;〃 he said。 〃It is too peculiar
  to be mistaken。  Last night; let me see; how did the moon
  shine?Yes。 I shall be able to tell the very door; I think; or
  almost。〃
  〃How kind of you not to laugh at me!〃
  〃I might make a fool of myself if I laughed at any one。  So I
  generally avoid it。  We may as well get the good out of what we do
  not understandor at least try if there be any in it。  Will you
  come; Sutherland?〃
  Hugh rose; and took his leave with Falconer。
  〃How pleased she seemed with you; Falconer!〃 said he; as they left
  the house。
  〃Yes; she touched me。〃
  〃Won't you go and see her again?〃
  〃No; there is no need; except she sends for me。〃
  〃It would please hercomfort her; I am sure。〃
  〃She has got one of God's angels beside her; Sutherland。  She
  doesn't want me。〃
  〃What do you mean?〃
  〃I mean that maid of hers。〃
  A pangof jealousy; was it?shot through Hugh's heart。  How could
  he seewhat right had he to see anything in Margaret?
  Hugh might have kept himself at peace; even if he had loved Margaret
  as much as she deserved; which would have been about ten times as
  much as he did。  Is a man not to recognize an angel when he sees
  her; and to call her by her name?  Had Hugh seen into the core of
  that grand heartwhat form sat there; and howhe would have been
  at peacewould almost have fallen down to do the man homage。  He
  was silent。
  〃My dear fellow!〃 said Falconer; as if he divined his feelingfor
  Falconer's power over men and women came all from sympathy with
  their spirits; and not their nerves〃if you have any hold of that
  woman; do not lose it; for as sure as there's a sun in heaven; she
  is one of the winged ones。  Don't I know a woman when I see her!〃
  He sighed with a kind of involuntary sigh; which yet did not seek to
  hide itself from Hugh。
  〃My dear boy;〃 he added; laying a stress on the word; 〃I am nearly
  twice your agedon't be jealous of me。〃
  〃Mr。 Falconer;〃 said Hugh humbly; 〃forgive me。  The feeling was
  involuntary; and if you have detected in it more than I was aware
  of; you are at least as likely to be right as I am。  But you cannot
  think more highly of Margaret than I do。〃
  And yet Hugh did not know half the good of her then; that the reader
  does now。
  〃Well; we had better part now; and meet again at night。〃
  〃What time shall I come to you?〃
  〃Oh! about nine I think will do。〃
  So Hugh went home; and tried to turn his thoughts to his story; but
  Euphra; Falconer; Funkelstein; and Margaret persisted in sitting to
  him; the one after the other; instead of the heroes and heroines of
  his tale。  He was compelled to lay it aside; and betake himself to a
  stroll and a pipe。
  As he went down stairs; he met Miss Talbot。
  〃You're soon tired of home; Mr。 Sutherland。  You haven't been in
  above half an hour; and you're out again already。〃
  〃Why; you see; Miss Talbot; I want a pipe very much。〃
  〃Well; you ain't going to the public house to smoke it; are you?〃
  〃No;〃 answered Hugh laughing。 〃But you know; Miss Talbot; you made
  it part of the agreement that I shouldn't smoke indoors。  So I'm
  going to smoke in the street。〃
  〃Now; think of being taken that way!〃 retorted Miss Talbot; with an
  injured air。 〃Why; that was before I knew anything about you。  Go up
  stairs directly; and smoke your pipe; and when the room can't hold
  any more; you can open the windows。  Your smoke won't do any harm;
  Mr。 Sutherland。  But I'm very sorry you quarrelled with Mrs。
  Appleditch。  She's a hard woman; and over fond of her money and her
  drawing…room; and for those boys of hersthe Lord have mercy on
  them; for she has none!  But she's a true Christian for all that;
  and does a power of good among the poor people。〃
  〃What does she give them; Miss Talbot?〃
  〃Oh!she gives themhm…mtracts and things。  You know;〃 she
  added; perceiving the weakness of her position; 〃people's souls
  should come first。  And poor Mrs。 Appleditchyou seesome folks is
  made stickier than others; and their money sticks to them; somehow;
  that they can't part with itpoor woman!〃
  To this Hugh had no answer at hand; for though Miss Talbot's logic
  was more than questionable; her charity was perfectly sound; and
  Hugh felt that he had not been forbearing enough with the mother of
  the future pastors。  So he went back to his room; lighted his pipe;
  and smoked till he fell asleep over a small volume of morbid modern
  divinity; which Miss Talbot had lent him。  I do not mention the name
  of the book; lest some of my acquaintance should abuse me; and
  others it; more than either deserves。  Hugh; however; found the best
  refuge from the diseased self…consciousness which it endeavoured to
  rouse; and which is a kind of spiritual somnambulis