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not too attentive； jolly with Davie； distant with Donal； polite to
all。 Donal could hardly receive the evidence of his senses： he would
have wondered more had he known every factor in the change。 All
about him seemed to say it should not be his fault if the follies of
his youth remained unforgotten； and his airy carriage sat well upon
him。 None the less Donal felt there was no restoration of the charm
which had at first attracted him； that was utterly vanished。 He felt
certain he had been going down hill； and was now； instead of
negatively； consciously and positively untrue。
With gradations undefined； but not unmarked of Donal； as if the man
found himself under influences of which the youth had been unaware；
he began to show himself not indifferent to the attractions of his
cousin。 He expressed concern that her health was not what it had
been； sought her in her room when she did not appear； professed an
interest in knowing what books she was reading； and what were her
studies with Donal； behaved like a good brother…cousin； who would
not be sorry to be something more。
And now the earl； to the astonishment of the household； began to
appear at table； and； apparently as a consequence of this； Donal was
requested rather than invited to take his meals with the familynot
altogether to his satisfaction； seeing he could not only read while
he ate alone； but could get through more quickly； and have the time
thus saved； for things of greater consequence。 His presence made it
easier for lord Forgue to act his part； and the manners he brought
to the front left little to be desired。 He bowed to the judgment of
Arctura； and seemed to welcome that of his father； to whom he was
now as respectful as moralist could desire。 Yet he sometimes faced a
card he did not mean to show： who that is not absolutely true can
escape the mishap！there was condescension in his politeness to
Donal！ and this； had there been nothing else； would have been enough
to revolt Arctura。 But in truth he impressed her altogether as a man
of outsides； she felt that she did not see the man he was； but the
nearest approach he could make to the man he would be taken for。 He
was gracious； dignified； responsive； kind； amusing； accurate；
readyeverything but true。 He would make of his outer man all but
what it was meant fora revelation of the inner。 It was that
notwithstanding。 He was a man dressed in a man； and his dress was a
revelation of much that he was； while he intended it only to show
much that he was not。 No man can help unveiling himself； however
long he may escape even his own detection。 There is nothing covered
that shall not be revealed。 Things were meant to come out； and be
read； and understood； in the face of the universe。 The soul of every
man is as a secret book； whose content is yet written on its cover
for the reading of the wise。 How differently is it read by the fool；
whose very understanding is a misunderstanding！ He takes a man for a
God when on the point of being eaten up of worms！ he buys for thirty
pieces of silver him whom the sepulchre cannot hold！ Well for those
in the world of revelation； who give their sins no quarter in this！
Forgue had been in Edinburgh a part of the time； in England another
part。 He had many things to tell of the people he had seen； and the
sports he had shared in。 He had developed and enlarged a vein of
gentlemanly satire； which he kept supplied by the observation and
analysis of the peculiarities； generally weaknesses； of others。
These； as a matter of course； he judged merely by the poor standard
of society： questioned concerning any upon the larger human scale；
he could give no account of them。 To Donal's eyes； the man was a
shallow pool whose surface brightness concealed the muddy bottom。
CHAPTER LXVII。
THE BREAKFAST…ROOM。
Two years before； lady Arctura had been in the habit of riding a
good deal； but after an accident to a favourite horse for which she
blamed herself； she had scarcely ridden at all。 It was quite as
much； however； from the influence of Miss Carmichael upon her
spirits； that she had forsaken the exercise。 Partly because her
uncle was neither much respected nor much liked； she had visited
very little； and after mental trouble assailed her； growing under
the false prescriptions of the soul…doctor she had called in； she
withdrew more and more； avoiding even company she would have
enjoyed； and which would before now have led her to resume it。
For a time she persisted in refusing to ride with Forgue。 In vain he
offered his horse； assuring her that Davie's pony was quite able to
carry him； she had no inclination to ride； she said。 But at last one
day； lest she should be guilty of unkindness； she consented； and so
enjoyed the ridefelt； indeed； so much the better for it； that she
did not thereafter so positively as before decline to allow her
cousin to look out for a horse fit to carry her； and Forgue； taking
her consent for granted； succeeded； with the help of the factor； in
finding for her a beautiful creature； just of the sort to please
her。 Almost at sight of him she agreed to his purchase。
This put Forgue in great spirits； and much contentment with himself。
He did not doubt that； gaining thus opportunity so excellent； he
would quickly succeed in withdrawing her from the absurd influence
which； to his dismay； he discovered his enemy had in his absence
gained over her。 He ought not to have been such a fool； he said to
himself； as to leave the poor child to the temptations naturally
arising in such a dreary solitude！ He noted with satisfaction；
however； that the parson's daughter seemed to have forsaken the
house。 And now at last； having got rid of the folly that a while
possessed him； he was prepared to do his duty by the family； and； to
that end； would make unfaltering use of the fascinations experience
had taught him he was； in a most exceptional degree； gifted with！ He
would at once take Arctura's education in his own hands； and give
his full energy to it！ She should speedily learn the difference
between the assistance of a gentleman and that of a clotpoll！
He had in England improved in his riding as well as his manners； and
knew at least how a gentleman； if not how a man； ought to behave to
the beast that carried him。 Also； having ridden a good deal with
ladies； he was now able to give Arctura not a few hints to the
improvement of her seat； her hand； her courage； nor was there any
nearer road； he judged from what he knew of his cousin； to her
confidence and gratitude； than showing her a better way in a thing。
But thinking that in teaching her to ride he could make her forget
the man who had been teaching her to live； he was not a little
mistaken in the woman he desired to captivate。
He did not yet love her even in the way he called loving； else he
might have been less confident； but he found her very pleasing。
Invigorated by the bright frosty air； the life of the animal under
her； and the exultation of rapid motion； she seemed better in
health； more merry and full of life； than he had ever seen her： he
put all down to his success with her。 He was incapable of suspecting
how little of it was owing to him； incapable of believing how much
to the fact that she now turned to the father of spirits without
fear； almost without doubt； thought of him as the root of every
delight of the worldat the heart of the horse she rode； in the
wind that blew joy into hers as she swept through its yielding
bosom； knew him as altogether loving and true； the father of Jesus
Christ； as like him as like could be likemore like him than any
one else in the universe could be like anotherlike him as only
eternal son can be like eternal father。
It was no wonder that with such a well of living water in her heart
she should be gladmerry even； and ready for anything her horse
could do！ Flying across a field in the very wildness of pleasure；
her hair streaming behind her； and her pale face glowing； she would
now and then take a jump Forgue declared he could not face in cold
blood： he did not know how far from cold her blood was！ He began to
wonder he had been such a fool as neglect her forwell； never
mind！and to feel something that was like love； and was indeed
admiration。 But for the searing brand of his past； he might have
loved her trulyas a man may； without being the most exalted of
mortals； for in love we are beyond our ordinary selves； the deep
thing in us peers up into the human air； and is of Godtherefore
cannot live long in the mephitic air of a selfish and low nature；
but sinks again out of sight。
He was not at his ease with Arctura； he was afraid of her。 When a
man is conscious of wrong； knows in his history what would draw a
hideous smudge over the portrait he would present to the eyes of her
he would please； he may well be afraid of her。 He makes liberal
allowance for himself； but is not sure she will！ And before Forgue
lay a social gulf which he could pass only on the narrow plank of
her favour！ The more he was with her； the more he admired her； the
more he desired to marry her； the more satisfied he grew with his
own improvement； the more determined he became that for no po