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taking which； she felt able to get up。 She rose looking more bright
and hopeful than Margaret had seen her before。
But Margaret； who watched her intently through the day； saw a change
come over her cheer。 Her face grew pale and troubled。 Now and then
her eyes were fixed on vacancy； and again she would look at Margaret
with a woebegone expression of countenance； but presently； as if
recollecting herself； would smile and look cheerful for a moment。
Margaret saw that the conflict was coming on； if not already
begunthat at least its shadow was upon her； and thinking that if
she could have a talk with Hugh about what he had been doing； it
would comfort her a little； and divert her thoughts from herself；
even if no farther or more pleasantly than to the count； she let
Harry know Hugh's address； as given in the letter to her father。
She was certain that； if Harry succeeded in finding him； nothing
more was necessary to insure his being brought to Mrs。 Elton's。 As
we have seen； Harry had traced him to Buccleuch Terrace。
Hugh re…entered the house in the same mind in which he had gone out；
namely； that after Mrs。 Appleditch's behaviour to him before his
pupils； he could not remain their tutor any longer； however great
his need might be of the pittance he received for his services。
But although Mrs。 Appleditch's first feeling had been jealousy of
Hugh's acquaintance with 〃carriage…people；〃 the toadyism which is so
essential an element of such jealousy； had by this time revived； and
when Hugh was proceeding to finish the lesson he had begun；
intending it to be his last； she said：
〃Why didn't you ask your friend into the drawing…room； Mr。
Sutherland？〃
〃Good gracious！ The drawing…room！〃 thought Hughbut answered： 〃He
will fetch me when the lesson is over。〃
〃I am sure； sir； any friends of yours that like to call upon you
here； will be very welcome。 It will be more agreeable to you to
receive them here； of course； for your accommodation at poor Miss
Talbot's is hardly suitable for such visitors。〃
〃I am sorry to say； however；〃 answered Hugh； 〃that after the way you
have spoken to me to…day； in the presence of my pupils； I cannot
continue my relation to them any longer。〃
〃Ho！ ho！〃 resnorted the lady； indignation and scorn mingling with
mortification； 〃our grand visitors have set our backs up。 Very
well； Mr。 Sutherland； you will oblige me by leaving the house at
once。 Don't trouble yourself； pray； to finish the lesson。 I will
pay you for it all the same。 Anything to get rid of a man who
insults me before the very faces of my innocent lambs！ And please
to remember；〃 she added； as she pulled out her purse； while Hugh was
collecting some books he had lent the boys； 〃that when you were
starving； my husband and I took you in and gave you employment out
of charitypure charity； Mr。 Sutherland。 Here is your money。〃
〃Good morning； Mrs。 Appleditch；〃 said Hugh； and walked out with his
books under his arm； leaving her with the money in her hand。
He had to knock his feet on the pavement in front of the house； to
keep them from freezing； for half…an…hour； before the carriage
arrived to take him away。 As soon as it came up； he jumped into it；
and was carried off in triumph by Harry。
Mrs。 Elton received him kindly。 Euphra held out her hand with a
slight blush； and the quiet familiarity of an old friend。 Hugh
could almost have fallen in love with her again； from compassion for
her pale； worn face； and subdued expression。
Mrs。 Elton went out in the carriage almost directly； and Euphra
begged Harry to leave them alone； as she had something to talk to
Mr。 Sutherland about。
〃Have you found any trace of Count Halkar； Hugh？〃 she said； the
moment they were by themselves。
〃I am very sorry to say I have not。 I have done my best。〃
〃I am quite sure of that。I just wanted to tell you； that； from
certain indications which no one could understand so well as myself；
I think you will have more chance of finding him now。〃
〃I am delighted to hear it；〃 responded Hugh。 〃If I only had him！〃
Euphra sighed； paused； and then said：
〃But I am not sure of it。 I think he is in London； but he may be in
Bohemia； for anything I know。 I shall； however； in all probability；
know more about him within a few days。〃
Hugh resolved to go at once to Falconer； and communicate to him what
Euphra had told him。 But he said nothing to her as to the means by
which he had tried to discover the count； for although he felt sure
that he had done right in telling Falconer all about it； he was
afraid lest Euphra； not knowing what sort of a man he was； might not
like it。 Euphra； on her part； did not mention Margaret's name； for
she had begged her not to do so。
〃You will tell me when you know yourself？〃
〃Perhaps。I will； if I can。 I do wish you could get the ring。 I
have a painful feeling that it gives him power over me。〃
〃That can only be a nervous fancy； surely；〃 Hugh ventured to say。
〃Perhaps it is。 I don't know。 But； still； without that； there are
plenty of reasons for wishing to recover it。 He will put it to a
bad use； if he can。 But for your sake； especially； I wish we could
get it。〃
〃Thank you。 You were always kind。〃
〃No；〃 she replied； without lifting her eyes； 〃I brought it all upon
you。〃
〃But you could not help it。〃
〃Not at the moment。 But all that led to it was my fault。〃
She paused； then suddenly resumed：
〃I will confess。Do you know what gave rise to the reports of the
house being haunted？〃
〃No。〃
〃It was me wandering about it at night； looking for that very ring；
to give to the count。 It was shameful。 But I did。 Those reports
prevented me from being found out。 But I hope not many ghosts are
so miserable as I was。You remember my speaking to you of Mr。
Arnold's jewels？〃
〃Yes； perfectly。〃
〃I wanted to find out； through you； where the ring was。 But I had
no intention of involving you。〃
〃I am sure you had not。〃
〃Don't be too sure of anything about me。 I don't know what I might
have been led to do。 But I am very sorry。 Do forgive me。〃
〃I cannot allow that I have anything to forgive。 But tell me；
Euphra； were you the creature； in white that I saw in the Ghost's
Walk one night？ I don't mean the last time。〃
〃Very likely；〃 she answered； bending her head yet lower； with a
sigh。
〃Then who was the creature in black that met you？ And what became
of you then？〃
〃Did you see her？〃 rejoined Euphra； turning paler still。 〃I fainted
at sight of her。 I took her for the nun that hangs in that horrid
room。〃
〃So did I；〃 said Hugh。 〃But you could not have lain long； for I went
up to the spot where you vanished； and found nothing。〃
〃I suppose I got into the shrubbery before I fell。 Or the count
dragged me in。But was that really a ghost？ I feel now as if it
was a good messenger； whether ghost or not； come to warn me； if I
had had the courage to listen。 I wish I had taken the warning。〃
They talked about these and other things； till Mrs。 Elton； who had
made Hugh promise to stay to lunch； returned。 When they were seated
at table； the kind…hearted woman said：
〃Now； Mr。 Sutherland； when will you begin again with Harry？〃
〃I do not quite understand you；〃 answered Hugh。
〃Of course you will come and give him lessons； poor boy。 He will be
broken…hearted if you don't。〃
〃I wish I could。 But I cannotat least yet； for I know his father
was dissatisfied with me。 That was one of the reasons that made him
send Harry to London。〃
Harry looked wretchedly disappointed； but said nothing。
〃I never heard him say anything of the sort。〃
〃I am sure of it； though。 I am very sorry he has mistaken me； but
he will know me better some day。〃
〃I will take all the responsibility；〃 persisted Mrs。 Elton。
〃But unfortunately the responsibility sticks too fast for you to
take it。 I cannot get rid of my share if I would。〃
〃You are too particular。 I am sure Mr。 Arnold never could have
meant that。 This is my house too。〃
〃But Harry is his boy。 If you will let me come and see him
sometimes； I shall be very thankful； though。 I may be useful to him
without giving him lessons。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Harry with delight。
〃Well； well！ I suppose you are so much in request in London that
you won't miss him for a pupil。〃
〃On the contrary； I have not a single engagement。 If you could find
me one； I should be exceedingly obliged to you。〃
〃Dear！ dear！ dear！〃 said Mrs。 Elton。 〃Then you shall have Harry。〃
〃Oh！ yes； please take me；〃 said Harry； beseechingly。
〃No； I cannot。 I must not。〃
Mrs。 Elton rang the bell。
〃James； tell the coachman I want the carriage in an hour。〃
Mrs。 Elton was as submissive to her coachman as ladies who have
carriages generally are； and would not have dreamed of ordering the
horses out so soon again for herself； but she forgot everything else
when a friend was in need of help； and became perfectly
pachydermatous to the offended looks or indignant hints of that
important functionary。
Within a few minutes after Hugh took his leave； Mrs。 Elton was on
her way to repeat a visit she had already paid the same morning； and
to make several other calls； with t