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not possibly be anything in religion。
The letter lay unopened till next daya fact easy to account for；
improbable as it may seem； for besides writing as largely as she
talked； and less amusingly because more correctly； Mrs。 Elton wrote
such an indistinct though punctiliously neat hand； that the reading
of a letter of hers involved no small amount of labour。 But the sun
shining out next morning； Euphra took courage to read it； while
drinking her coffee； although she could not expect to make that
ceremony more pleasant thereby。 It contained an invitation to visit
Mrs。 Elton at her house in … Street； Hyde Park； with the assurance
that； now that everything was arranged； they had plenty of room for
her。 Mrs。 Elton was sure she must be lonely at Arnstead； and Mrs。
Horton could； no doubt； be trustedand so on。
Had this letter arrived a few weeks earlier； Euphra would have
infused into her answer a skilful concoction of delicate contempt；
not for the amusement of knowing that Mrs。 Elton would never
discover a trace of it； but simply for a relief to her own dislike。
Now she would have written a plain letter； containing as brief and
as true an excuse as she could find； had it not been； that； inclosed
in Mrs。 Elton's note she found another； which ran thus：
〃DEAR EUPHRA；Do come and see us。 I do not like London at all
without you。 There are no happy days here like those we had at
Arnstead with Mr。 Sutherland。 Mrs。 Elton and Margaret are very kind
to me。 But I wish you would come。 Do； do； do。 Please do。
〃Your affectionate cousin；
〃HARRY ARNOLD。〃
〃The dear boy！〃 said Euphra； with a gush of pure and grateful
affection； 〃I will go and see him。〃
Harry had begun to work with his masters； and was doing his best；
which was very good。 If his heart was not so much in it as when he
was studying with his big brother； he gained a great benefit from
the increase of exercise to his will； in the doing of what was less
pleasant。 Ever since Hugh had given his faculties a right
direction； and aided him by healthful manly sympathy； he had been
making up for the period during which childhood had been protracted
into boyhood； and now he was making rapid progress。
When Euphra arrived； Harry rushed to the hall to meet her。 She took
him in her arms； and burst into tears。 Her tears drew forth his。
He stroked her pale face； and said：
〃Dear Euphra； how ill you look！〃
〃I shall soon be better now； Harry。〃
〃I was afraid you did not love me； Euphra； but now I am sure you
do。〃
〃Indeed I do。 I am very sorry for everything that made you think I
did not love you。〃
〃No； no。 It was all my fancy。 Now we shall be very happy。〃
And so Harry was。 And Euphra； through means of Harry； began to gain
a little of what is better than most kinds of happiness； because it
is nearest to the best happinessI mean peace。 This foretaste of
rest came to her from the devotedness with which she now applied
herself to aid the intellect； which she had unconsciously repressed
and stunted before。 She took Harry's books when he had gone to bed；
and read over all his lessons； that she might be able to assist him
in preparing them； venturing thus into some regions of labour into
which ladies are too seldom conducted by those who instruct them。
This produced in her quite new experiences。 One of these was； that
in proportion as she laboured for Harry； hope grew for herself。 It
was likewise of the greatest immediate benefit that the intervals of
thought； instead of lying vacant to melancholy； or the vapours that
sprung from the foregoing strife of the spiritual elements； should
be occupied by healthy mental exercise。
Still； however； she was subject to great vicissitudes of feeling。 A
kind of peevishness； to which she had formerly been a stranger； was
but too ready to appear； even when she was most anxious； in her
converse with Harry； to behave well to him。 But the pure
forgiveness of the boy was wonderful。 Instead of plaguing himself
to find out the cause of her behaviour； or resenting it in the
least； he only laboured； by increased attention and submission； to
remove it； and seemed perfectly satisfied when it was followed by a
kind word； which to him was repentance； apology； amends； and
betterment； all in one。 When he had thus driven away the evil
spirit； there was Euphra her own self。 So perfectly did she see；
and so thoroughly appreciate this kindness and love of Harry； that
he began to look to her like an angel of forgiveness come to live a
boy's life； that he might do an angel's work。
Her health continued very poor。 She suffered constantly from more
or less headache； and at times from faintings。 But she had not for
some time discovered any signs of somnambulism。
Of this peculiarity her friends were entirely ignorant。 The
occasions； indeed； on which it had manifested itself to an excessive
degree； had been but few。
CHAPTER IX。
THE NEW PUPILS。
Think you a little din can daunt mine ears？
Have I not in my time heard lions roar？
And do you tell me of a woman's tongue；
That gives not half so great a blow to hear；
As will a chestnut in a farmer's fire？
Tush！ tush！ fear boys with bugs。
Taming of the Shrew。
During the whole of his first interview with Falconer； which lasted
so long that he had been glad to make a bed of Falconer's sofa； Hugh
never once referred to the object for which he had accepted
MacPherson's proffered introduction； nor did Falconer ask him any
questions。 Hugh was too much interested and saddened by the scenes
through which Falconer led him； not to shrink from speaking of
anything less important； and with Falconer it was a rule； a
principle almost； never to expedite utterance of any sort。
In the morning； feeling a little good…natured anxiety as to his
landlady's reception of him； Hugh made some allusion to it； as he
sat at his new friend's breakfast…table。
Falconer said：
〃What is your landlady's name？〃
〃Miss Talbot。〃
〃Oh！ little Miss Talbot？ You are in good quarterstoo good to
lose； I can tell you。 Just say to Miss Talbot that you were with
me。〃
〃You know her； then？〃
〃Oh； yes。〃
〃You seem to know everybody。〃
〃If I have spoken to a person once； I never forget him。〃
〃That seems to me very strange。〃
〃It is simple enough。 The secret of it is； that； as far as I can
help it； I never have any merely business relations with any one。 I
try always not to forget that there is a deeper relation between us。
I commonly succeed worst in a drawing…room； yet even there； for the
time we are together； I try to recognise the present humanity；
however much distorted or concealed。 The consequence is； I never
forget anybody； and I generally find that others remember meat
least those with whom I have had any real relations； springing from
my need or from theirs。 The man who mends a broken chair for you；
or a rent in your coat； renders you a human service； and； in virtue
of that； comes nearer to your inner self； than nine…tenths of the
ladies and gentlemen whom you meet only in what is called society；
are likely to do。〃
〃But do you not find it awkward sometimes？〃
〃Not in the least。 I