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consequent admiration of a beauty which everyone who beheld it must
recognize and admire； but mingled； in his case； with old and
precious memories； doubly dear now in the increased earnestness of
his nature and aspirations； and with a deep personal interest from
the fact that； however little； he had yet contributed a portion of
the vital food whereby the gracious creature had become what she
was。
In the so…called morning he went to Mrs。 Elton's。 Euphra was
expecting his visit； and he was shown up into her room； where she
was lying on a couch by the fire。 She received him with the warmth
of gratitude added to that of friendship。 Her face was pale and
thin； but her eyes were brilliant。 She did not appear at first
sight to be very ill： but the depth and reality of her sickness grew
upon him。 Behind her couch stood Margaret； like a guardian angel。
Margaret could bear the day； for she belonged to it； and therefore
she looked more beautiful still than by the lamp…light。 Euphra held
out a pale little hand to Hugh； and before she withdrew it； led
Hugh's towards Margaret。 Their hands joined。 How different to Hugh
was the touch of the two hands！ Life； strength； persistency in the
one： languor； feebleness； and fading in the other。
〃I can never thank you enough；〃 said Euphra； 〃therefore I will not
try。 It is no bondage to remain your debtor。〃
〃That would be thanks indeed； if I had done anything。〃
〃I have found out another mystery；〃 Euphra resumed； after a pause。
〃I am sorry to hear it；〃 answered he。 〃I fear there will be no
mysteries left by…and…by。〃
〃No fear of that；〃 she rejoined； 〃so long as the angels come down to
men。〃 And she turned towards Margaret as she spoke。
Margaret smiled。 In the compliment she felt only the kindness。
Hugh looked at her。 She turned away； and found something to do at
the other side of the room。
〃What mystery； then； have you destroyed？〃
〃Not destroyed it； for the mystery of courage remains。 I was the
wicked ghost that night in the Ghost's Walk； you knowthe white
one： there is the good ghost； the nun； the black one。〃
〃Who？ Margaret？〃
〃Yes； indeed。 She has just been confessing it to me。 I had my two
angels； as one whose fate was undetermined； my evil angel in the
countmy good angel in Margaret。 Little did I think then that the
holy powers were watching me in her。 I knew the evil one； I knew
nothing of the good。 I suppose it is so with a great many people。〃
Hugh sat silent in astonishment。 Margaret； then； had been at
Arnstead with Mrs。 Elton all the time。 It was herself he had seen
in the study。
〃Did you suspect me； Margaret？〃 resumed Euphra； turning towards her
where she sat at the window。
〃Not in the least。 I only knew that something was wrong about the
house； that some being was terrifying the servants； and poor Harry；
and I resolved to do my best to meet it； especially if it should be
anything of a ghostly kind。〃
〃Then you do believe in such appearances？〃 said Hugh。
〃I have never met anything of the sort yet。 I don't know。〃
〃And you were not afraid？〃
〃Not much。 I am never really afraid of anything。 Why should I be？〃
No justification of fear was suggested either by Hugh or by Euphra。
They felt the dignity of nature that lifted Margaret above the
region of fear。
〃Come and see me again soon；〃 said Euphra； as Hugh rose to go。
He promised。
Next day he dined by invitation with Mrs。 Elton and Harry。 Euphra
was unable to see him； but sent a kind message by Margaret as he was
taking his leave。 He had been fearing that he should not see
Margaret； and when she did appear he was the more delighted； but the
interview was necessarily short。
He called the next day； and saw neither Euphra nor Margaret。 She
was no better。 Mrs。 Elton said the physicians could discover no
definite disease either of the lungs or of any other organ。 Yet
life seemed sinking。 Margaret thought that the conflict which she
had passed through； had exhausted her vitality； that； had she
yielded； she might have lived a slave； but that now； perhaps； she
must die a free woman。
Her continued illness made Hugh still more anxious to find the ring；
for he knew it would please her much。 Falconer would have applied
to the police； but he feared that the man would vanish from London；
upon the least suspicion that he was watched。 They held many
consultations on the subject。
CHAPTER XX。
A NEW GUIDE。
Das Denken ist nur ein Traum des F黨lens； ein erstorbenes F黨len；
ein blass…graues； schwaches Leben。
Thinking is only a dream of feeling； a dead feeling； a pale…grey；
feeble life。
NOVALIS。Die Lehrlinge zu Sais。
For where's no courage； there's no ruth nor mone。
Faerie Queene： vi。 7； 18。
One morning； as soon as she waked； Euphra said：
〃Have I been still all the night； Margaret？〃
〃Quite still。 Why do you ask？〃
〃Because I have had such a strange and vivid dream； that I feel as
if I must have been to the place。 It was a foolish question；
though； because； of course； you would not have let me go。〃
〃I hope it did not trouble you much。〃
〃No； not much； for though I was with the count； I did not seem to be
there in the body at all； only somehow near him； and seeing him。 I
can recall the place perfectly。〃
〃Do you think it really was the place he was in at the time？〃
〃I should not wonder。 But now I feel so free； so far beyond him and
all his power； that I don't mind where or when I see him。 He cannot
hurt me now。〃
〃Could you describe the place to Mr。 Sutherland？ It might help him
to find the count。〃
〃That's a good idea。 Will you send for him？〃
〃Yes； certainly。 May I tell him for what？〃
〃By all means。〃
Margaret wrote to Hugh at once； and sent the note by hand。 He was
at home when it arrived。 He hurriedly answered it； and went to find
Falconer。 To his delight he was at homenot out of bed； in fact。
〃Read that。〃
〃Who is it from？〃
〃Miss Cameron's maid。〃
〃It does not look like a maid's production。〃
〃It is though。 Will you come with me？ You know London ten thousand
times better than I do。 I don't think we ought to lose a chance。〃
〃Certainly not。 I will go with you。 But perhaps she will not see
me。〃
〃Oh！ yes； she will； when I have told her about you。〃
〃It will be rather a trial to see a stranger。〃
〃A man cannot be a stranger with you ten minutes； if he only looks
at you；still less a woman。〃
Falconer looked pleased； and smiled。
〃I am glad you think so。 Let us go。〃
When they arrived； Margaret came to them。 Hugh told her that
Falconer was his best friend； and one who knew London perhaps better
than any other man in it。 Margaret looked at him full in the face
for a moment。 Falconer smiled at the intensity of her still gaze。
Margaret returned the smile； and said：
〃I will ask Miss Cameron to see yet。〃
〃Thank you；〃 was all Falconer's reply； but the tone was more than
speech。
After a little while； they were shown up to Euphra's room。 She had
wanted to sit up； but Margaret would not let her； so she was lying
on her couch。 When Falconer was presented to her； he took her hand；
and held it for a m