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（evidently an older and more retired portion of the house） to the
main staircase itself。 After opening many doors and finding no
thoroughfare； he became convinced that； in place of finding a way
on； he had lost the way back。 At length he came to a small stair；
which led him down to a single door。 This he opened； and
straightway found himself in the library； a long； low；
silent…looking room； every foot of the walls of which was occupied
with books in varied and rich bindings。 The lozenge…paned windows；
with thick stone mullions； were much overgrown with ivy； throwing a
cool green shadowiness into the room。 One of them； however； had
been altered to a more modern taste； and opened with folding…doors
upon a few steps； descending into an old…fashioned； terraced garden。
To approach this window he had to pass a table； lying on which he
saw a paper with verses on it； evidently in a woman's hand； and
apparently just written； for the ink of the corrective scores still
glittered。 Just as he reached the window； which stood open； a lady
had almost gained it from the other side； coming up the steps from
the garden。 She gave a slight start when she saw him； looked away；
and as instantly glanced towards him again。 Then approaching him
through the window； for he had retreated to allow her to enter； she
bowed with a kind of studied ease； and a slight shade of something
French in her manner。 Her voice was very pleasing； almost
bewitching； yet had； at the same time； something assumed； if not
affected； in the tone。 All this was discoverable； or rather
spiritually palpable； in the two words she saidmerely； 〃Mr。
Sutherland？〃 interrogatively。 Hugh bowed； and said：
〃I am very glad you have found me； for I had quite lost myself。 I
doubt whether I should ever have reached the breakfast…room。〃
〃Come this way；〃 she rejoined。
As they passed the table on which the verses lay； she stopped and
slipped them into a writing…case。 Leading him through a succession
of handsome； evidently modern passages； she brought him across the
main hall to the breakfast…room； which looked in the opposite
direction to the library； namely； to the front of the house。 She
rang the bell； the urn was brought in； and she proceeded at once to
make the tea； which she did well； rising in Hugh's estimation
thereby。 Before he had time； however； to make his private remarks
on her exterior； or his conjectures on her position in the family；
Mr。 Arnold entered the room； with a slow； somewhat dignified step；
and a dull outlook of grey eyes from a grey head well…balanced on a
tall； rather slender frame。 The lady rose； and； addressing him as
uncle； bade him good morning； a greeting which he returned
cordially； with a kiss on her forehead。 Then accosting Hugh； with a
manner which seemed the more polite and cold after the tone in which
he had spoken to his niece； he bade him welcome to Arnstead。
〃I trust you were properly attended to last night； Mr。 Sutherland？
Your pupil wanted very much to sit up till you arrived； but he is
altogether too delicate； I am sorry to say； for late hours； though
he has an unfortunate preference for them himself。 Jacob；〃 （to the
man in waiting）； 〃is not Master Harry up yet？〃
Master Harry's entrance at that moment rendered reply unnecessary。
〃Good morning； Euphra；〃 he said to the lady； and kissed her on the
cheek。
〃Good morning； dear；〃 was the reply； accompanied by a pretence of
returning the kiss。 But she smiled with a kind of confectionary
sweetness on him； and； dropping an additional lump of sugar into his
tea at the same moment； placed it for him beside herself； while he
went and shook hands with his father； and then glancing shyly up at
Hugh from a pair of large dark eyes； put his hand in his； and
smiled； revealing teeth of a pearly whiteness。 The lips； however；
did not contrast them sufficiently； being pale and thin； with
indication of suffering in their tremulous lines。 Taking his place
at table； he trifled with his breakfast； and after making pretence
of eating for a while； asked Euphra if he might go。 She giving him
leave； he hastened away。
Mr。 Arnold took advantage of his retreat to explain to Hugh what he
expected of him with regard to the boy。
〃How old would you take Harry to be； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
〃I should say about twelve from his size；〃 replied Hugh； 〃but from
his evident bad health； and intelligent expression〃
〃Ah！ you perceive the state he is in；〃 interrupted Mr。 Arnold； with
some sadness in his voice。 〃You are right； he is nearly fifteen。 He
has not grown half…an…inch in the last twelve months。〃
〃Perhaps that is better than growing too fast；〃 said Hugh。
〃Perhapsperhaps； we will hope so。 But I cannot help being uneasy
about him。 He reads too much； and I have not yet been able to help
it； for he seems miserable； and without any object in life； if I
compel him to leave his books。〃
〃Perhaps we can manage to get over that in a little while。〃
〃Besides；〃 Mr。 Arnold went on； paying no attention to what Hugh
said； 〃I can get him to take no exercise。 He does not even care for
riding。 I bought him a second pony a month ago； and he has not been
twice on its back yet。〃
Hugh could not help thinking that to increase the supply was not
always the best mode of increasing the demand； and that one who
would not ride the first pony； would hardly be likely to ride the
second。 Mr。 Arnold concluded with the words：
〃I don't want to stop the boy's reading； but I can't have him a
milksop。〃
〃Will you let me manage him as I please； Mr。 Arnold？〃 Hugh ventured
to say。
Mr。 Arnold looked full at him； with a very slight but quite manifest
expression of surprise； and Hugh was aware that the eyes of the
lady； called by the boy Euphra； were likewise fixed upon him
penetratingly。 As if he were then for the first time struck by the
manly development of Hugh's frame； Mr。 Arnold answered：
〃I don't want you to overdo it； either。 You cannot make a muscular
Christian of him。〃 （The speaker smiled at his own imagined wit。）
〃The boy has talents； and I want him to use them。〃
〃I will do my best for him both ways；〃 answered Hugh； 〃if you will
trust me。 For my part； I think the only way is to make the
operation of the intellectual tendency on the one side； reveal to
the boy himself his deficiency on the other。 This once done； all
will be well。〃
As he said this； Hugh caught sight of a cloudy； inscrutable
dissatisfaction slightly contracting the eyebrows of the lady。 Mr。
Arnold； however； seemed not to be altogether displeased。
〃Well；〃 he answered； 〃I have my plans； but let us see first what you
can do with yours。 If they fail； perhaps you will oblige me by
trying mine。〃
This was said with the decisive politeness of one who is accustomed
to have his own way； and fully intends to have itevery word as
articulate and deliberate as organs of speech could make it。 But he
seemed at the same time somewhat impressed by Hugh； and not
unwilling to yield。
Throughout the conversation； the lady had said nothing； but had sat
watching； or rather scrutinizing； Hugh's countenance； with a far
keener and more frequent glance than