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tone almost in which she had addressed the flowers。
〃Be quiet； Fatty dear； you're frightening Mr。 Sutherland。〃
But Hugh； seeing the next moment that she was in no danger； sprang
into his saddle。 Away they went； Fatima infusing life and frolic
into the equine as Euphra into the human portion of the cavalcade。
Having reached the common； out of sight of the house； Miss Cameron；
instead of looking after Harry； lest he should have too much
exercise； scampered about like a wild girl； jumping everything that
came in her way； and so exciting Harry's pony； that it was almost
more than he could do to manage it； till at last Hugh had to beg her
to go more quietly； for Harry's sake。 She drew up alongside of them
at once； and made her mare stand as still as she could； while Harry
made his first essay upon a little ditch。 After crossing it two or
three times； he gathered courage； and setting his pony at a larger
one beyond； bounded across it beautifully。
〃Bravo！ Harry！〃 cried both Euphra and Hugh。 Harry galloped back；
and over it again； then came up to them with a glow of proud
confidence on his pale face。
〃You'll be a horseman yet； Harry；〃 said Hugh。
〃I hope so；〃 said Harry； in an aspiring tone； which greatly
satisfied his tutor。 The boy's spirit was evidently reviving。
Euphra must have managed him ill。 Yet she was not in the least
effeminate herself。 It puzzled Hugh a good deal。 But he did not
think about it long； for Harry cantering away in front； he had an
opportunity of saying to Euphra：
〃Are you offended with me； Miss Cameron？〃
〃Offended with you！ What do you mean？ A girl like me offended with
a man like you？〃
She looked two and twenty as she spoke； but even at that she was
older than Hugh。 He； however； certainly looked considerably older
than he really was。
〃What makes you think so？〃 she added； turning her face towards him。
〃You would not speak to me when we came home yesterday。〃
〃Not speak to you？I had a little headacheand perhaps I was a
little sullen； from having been in such bad company all the
morning。〃
〃What company had you？〃 asked Hugh； gazing at her in some surprise。
〃My own；〃 answered she； with a lovely laugh； thrown full in his
face。 Then after a pause： 〃Let me advise you； if you want to live
in peace； not to embark on that ocean of discovery。〃
〃What ocean？ what discovery？〃 asked Hugh； bewildered； and still
gazing。
〃The troubled ocean of ladies' looks；〃 she replied。 〃You will never
be able to live in the same house with one of our kind； if it be
necessary to your peace to find out what every expression that
puzzles you may mean。〃
〃I did not intend to be inquisitiveit really troubled me。〃
〃There it is。 You must never mind us。 We show so much sooner than
menbut； take warning； there is no making out what it is we do
show。 Your faces are legible； ours are so scratched and interlined；
that you had best give up at once the idea of deciphering them。〃
Hugh could not help looking once more at the smooth； simple； na飗e
countenance shining upon him。
〃There you are at it again；〃 she said； blushing a little； and
turning her head away。 〃Well； to comfort you； I will confess I was
rather cross yesterdaybecausebecause you seemed to have been
quite happy with only one of your pupils。〃
As she spoke the words； she gave Fatima the rein； and bounded off；
overtaking Harry's pony in a moment。 Nor did she leave her cousin
during all the rest of their ride。
Most women in whom the soul has anything like a chance of reaching
the windows； are more or less beautiful in their best moments。
Euphra's best was when she was trying to fascinate。 Then she
wasfascinating。 During the first morning that Hugh spent at
Arnstead； she had probably been making up her mind whether； between
her and Hugh； it was to be war to the knife； or fascination。 The
latter had carried the day； and was now carrying him。 But had she
calculated that fascination may re…act as well？
Hugh's heart bounded； like her Arab steed； as she uttered the words
last recorded。 He gave his chestnut the rein in his turn； to
overtake her； but Fatima's canter quickened into a gallop； and；
inspirited by her companionship； and the fact that their heads were
turned stablewards； Harry's pony； one of the quickest of its race；
laid itself to the ground； and kept up； taking three strides for
Fatty's two； so that Hugh never got within three lengths of them
till they drew rein at the hall…door； where the grooms were waiting
them。 Euphra was off her mare in a moment； and had almost reached
her own room before Hugh and Harry had crossed the hall。 She came
down to luncheon in a white muslin dress； with the smallest possible
red spot in it； and； taking her place at the table； seemed to Hugh
to have put off not only her riding habit； but the self that was in
it as well； for she chatted away in the most unconcerned and easy
manner possible； as if she had not been out of her room all the
morning。 She had ridden so hard； that she had left her last speech
in the middle of the common； and its mood with it； and there seemed
now no likelihood of either finding its way home。
CHAPTER VII。
THE PICTURE GALLERY。
the house is crencled to and fro；
And hath so queint waies for to go；
For it is shapen as the mase is wrought。
CHAUCERLegend of Ariadne。
Luncheon over； and Harry dismissed as usual to lie down； Miss
Cameron said to Hugh：
〃You have never been over the old house yet； I believe； Mr。
Sutherland。 Would you not like to see it？〃
〃I should indeed；〃 said Hugh。 〃It is what I have long hoped for； and
have often been on the point of begging。〃
〃Come； then； I will be your guideif you will trust yourself with a
madcap like me； in the solitudes of the old hive。〃
〃Lead on to the family vaults； if you will；〃 said Hugh。
〃That might be possible； too； from below。 We are not so very far
from them。 Even within the house there is an old chapel； and some
monuments worth looking at。 Shall we take it last？〃
〃As you think best；〃 answered Hugh。
She rose and rang the bell。 When it was answered；
〃Jacob；〃 she said； 〃get me the keys of the house from Mrs。 Horton。〃
Jacob vanished； and reappeared with a huge bunch of keys。 She took
them。
〃Thank you。 They should not be allowed to get quite rusty； Jacob。〃
〃Please； Miss； Mrs。 Horton desired me to say； she would have seen to
them； if she had known you wanted them。〃
〃Oh！ never mind。 Just tell my maid to bring me an old pair of
gloves。〃
Jacob went； and the maid came with the required armour。
〃Now； Mr。 Sutherland。 Jane； you will come with us。 No； you need
not take the keys。 I will find those I want as we go。〃
She unlocked a door in the corner of the hall； which Hugh had never
seen open。 Passing through a long low passage； they came to a
spiral staircase of stone； up which they went； arriving at another
wide hall； very dusty； but in perfect repair。 Hugh asked if there
was not some communication between this hall and the great oak
staircase。
〃Yes；〃 answered Euphra； 〃but this is the more direct way。〃
As she said this； he felt somehow as if she cast on him one of her
keenest glances； but the place was very dusky； and he stood in a
spot where the light fell upon him from an opening in a shutter；
while she stood in deep shadow。
〃Jane； open that shutter。〃
The girl obeyed； and the entering light revealed the walls covered
with paintings； many of them apparently of no value； yet adding much
to the effect of the place。 Seeing that Hugh was at once attracted
by the pictures； Euphra said：
〃Perhaps you would like to see the picture gallery first？〃
Hugh assented。 Euphra chose key after key； and opened door after
door； till they came into a long gallery； well lighted from each
end。 The windows were soon opened。
〃Mr。 Arnold is very proud of his pictures； especially of his family
portraits； but he is content with knowing he has them； and never
visits them except to show them； or perhaps once or twice a year；
when something or other keeps him at home for a day； without
anything particular to do。〃
In glancing over the portraits； some of them by famous masters；
Hugh's eyes were arrested by a blonde beauty in the dress of the
time of Charles II。 There was such a reality of self…willed
boldness as well as something worse in her face； that； though
arrested by the picture； Hugh felt ashamed of looking at it in the
presence of Euphra and her maid。 The pictured woman almost put him
out of countenance； and yet at the same time fascinated him。
Dragging his eyes from it； he saw that Jane had turned her back
upon it； while Euphra regarded it steadily。
〃Open that opposite window； Jane；〃 said she； 〃there is not light
enough on this portrait。〃
Jane obeyed。 While she did so； Hugh caught a glimpse of her face；
and saw that the formerly rosy girl was deadly pale。 He said to
Euphra：
〃Your maid seems ill； Miss Cameron。〃
〃Jane； what is the matter with you？〃
She did not reply； but； leaning against the wall； seemed ready to
faint。
〃The place is close；〃 said her mistress。 〃Go into the next room
there；〃she pointed to a door〃and open the window