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him at all； and after I had made up my mind to it quite； it did not
hurt me so very much。 But you must have loved him dreadfully。〃
〃Perhaps I did。 But I had no anxiety about it。〃
〃But that you could not leave to a father such as yours even to
settle。〃
〃No。 But I could to God。 I could trust God with what I could not
speak to my father about。 He is my father's father； you know； and
so； more to him and me than we could be to each other。 The more we
love God； the more we love each other； for we find he makes the very
love which sometimes we foolishly fear to do injustice to； by loving
him most。 I love my father ten times more because he loves God； and
because God has secrets with him。〃
〃I wish God were a father to me as he is to you； Margaret。〃
〃But he is your father； whether you wish it or not。 He cannot be
more your father than he is。 You may be more his child than you
are； but not more than he meant you to be； nor more than he made you
for。 You are infinitely more his child than you have grown to yet。
He made you altogether his child； but you have not given in to it
yet。〃
〃Oh！ yes； I know what you mean。 I feel it is true。〃
〃The Prodigal Son was his father's child。 He knew it； and gave in
to it。 He did not say： 'I wish my father loved me enough to treat
me like a child again。' He did not say that； butI will arise and
go to my father。〃
Euphra made no answer； but wept； Margaret said no more。
Euphra was the first to resume。
〃Mr。 Sutherland was very kind； Margaret。 He promisedand I know he
will keep his promiseto do all he could to help me。 I hope he is
finding out where that wicked count is。〃
〃Write to him； and ask him to come and see you。 He does not know
where you are。〃
〃But I don't know where he is。〃
〃I do。〃
〃Do you？〃 rejoined Euphra with some surprise。
〃But he does not know where I am。 I will give you his address； if
you like。〃
Euphra pondered a little。 She would have liked very much to see
him； for she was anxious to know of his success。 The love she had
felt for him was a very small obstacle to their meeting now； for her
thoughts had been occupied with affairs； before the interest of
which the poor love she had then been capable of； had melted away
and vanishedvanished； that is； in all that was restrictive and
engrossing in its character。 But now that she knew the relation
that had existed between Margaret and him； she shrunk from doing
anything that might seem to Margaret to give Euphra an opportunity
of regaining his preference。 Not that she had herself the smallest
hope； even had she had the smallest desire of doing so； but she
would not even suggest the idea of being Margaret's rival。 At
length she answered：
〃No； thank you； Margaret。 As soon as he has anything to report； he
will write to Arnstead； and Mrs。 Horton will forward me the letter。
Noit is quite unnecessary。〃
Euphra's health was improving a little； though still she was far
from strong。
CHAPTER XVI。
FOREBODINGS。
Faust。 If heaven was made for man； 'twas made for me。
Good Angel。 Faustus； repent； yet heaven will pity thee。
Bad Angel。 Thou art a spirit； God cannot pity thee。
Faust。 Be I a devil； yet God may pity me。
Bad Angel。 Too late。
Good Angel。 Never too late if Faustus will repent。
Bad Angel。 If thou repent； devils will tear thee in pieces。
Old Man。 I see an angel hover o'er thy head；
And with a vial full of precious grace；
Offers to pour the same into thy soul。
MARLOWE。Doctor Faustus。
Mr。 Appleditch had had some business…misfortunes； not of a heavy
nature； but sufficient to cast a gloom over the house in Dervish
Town； and especially over the face of his spouse； who had set her
heart on a new carpet for her drawing…room； and feared she ought not
to procure it now。 It is wonderful how conscientious some people
are towards their balance at the banker's。 How the drawing…room；
however； could come to want a new carpet is something mysterious；
except there is a peculiar power of decay inherent in things
deprived of use。 These influences operating； however； she began to
think that the two scions of grocery were not drawing nine
shillings' worth a week of the sap of divinity。 This she hinted to
Mr。 Appleditch。 It was resolved to give Hugh warning。
As it would involve some awkwardness to state reasons； Mrs。
Appleditch resolved to quarrel with him； as the easiest way of
prefacing his discharge。 It was the way she took with her
maids…of…all…work； for it was grand in itself； and always left her
with a comfortable feeling of injured dignity。
As a preliminary course； she began to treat him with still less
politeness than before。 Hugh was so careless of her behaviour； that
this made no impression upon him。 But he came to understand it all
afterwards； from putting together the remarks of the children； and
the partial communications of Mr。 Appleditch to Miss Talbot； which
that good lady innocently imparted to her lodger。
At length； one day； she came into the room where Hugh was more busy
in teaching than his pupils were in learning； and seated herself by
the fire to watch for an opportunity。 This was soon found。 For the
boys； rendered still more inattentive by the presence of their
mother； could not be induced to fix the least thought upon the
matter in hand； so that Hugh was compelled to go over the same thing
again and again； without success。 At last he said：
〃I am afraid； Mrs。 Appleditch； I must ask you to interfere； for I
cannot get any attention from the boys to…day。〃
〃And how could it be otherwise； Mr。 Sutherland； when you keep
wearing them out with going over and over the same thing； till they
are sick of it？ Why don't you go on？〃
〃How can I go on when they have not learned the thing they are at？
That would be to build the chimneys before the walls。〃
〃It is very easy to be witty； sir； but I beg you will behave more
respectfully to me in the presence of my children； innocent lambs！〃
Looking round at the moment； Hugh caught in his face what the elder
lamb had intended for his back； a grimace hideous enough to have
procured him instant promotion in the kingdom of apes。 The mother
saw it too； and added：
〃You see you cannot make them respect you。 Really； Mr。 Sutherland！〃
Hugh was about to reply； to the effect that it was useless； in such
circumstances； to attempt teaching them at all； some utterance of
which sort was watched for as the occasion for his instant
dismission； but at that very moment a carriage and pair pulled
sharply up at the door； with more than the usual amount of
quadrupedation； and mother and sons darted simultaneously to the
window。
〃My！〃 cried Johnnie； 〃what a rum go！ Isn't that a jolly carriage；
Peetie？〃
〃Papa's bought a carriage！〃 shouted Peetie。
〃Be quiet； children；〃 said their mother； as she saw a footman get
down and approach the door。
〃Look at that buffer；〃 said Johnnie。 〃Do come and see this grand
footman； Mr。 Sutherland。 He's such a gentleman！〃
A box on the ear from his mother silenced him。 The servant entering
with some perturbation a moment after； addressed her mis