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much the same wherever he was； took care to give him all that he
seemed to look for； as far at least as was consistent with his own
self…respect。 He soon discovered that he was one of those men； who；
if you will only grant their position； and acknowledge their
authority； will allow you to have much your own way in everything。
His servants had found this out long ago； and almost everything
about the house was managed as they pleased； but as the oldest of
them were respectable family servants； nothing went very far wrong。
They all； however； waited on Euphra with an assiduity that showed
she was； or could be； quite mistress when and where she pleased。
Perhaps they had found out that she had great influence with Mr。
Arnold； and certainly he seemed very fond of her indeed； after a
stately fashion。 She spoke to the servants with peculiar
gentleness； never said； if you please； but always； thank you。 Harry
never asked for anything； but always looked to Euphra； who gave the
necessary order。 Hugh saw that the boy was quite dependent upon
her； seeming of himself scarcely capable of originating the simplest
action。 Mr。 Arnold； however； dull as he was； could not help seeing
that Harry's manner was livelier than usual； and seemed pleased at
the slight change already visible for the better。 Turning to Hugh
he said：
〃Do you find Harry very much behind with his studies； Mr。
Sutherland？〃
〃I have not yet attempted to find out；〃 replied Hugh。
〃Not？〃 said Mr。 Arnold； with surprise。
〃No。 If he be behind； I feel confident it will not be for long。〃
〃But；〃 began Mr。 Arnold； pompously； and then he paused。
〃You were kind enough to say； Mr。 Arnold； that I might try my own
plans with him first。 I have been doing so。〃
〃Yescertainly。 But〃
Here Harry broke in with some animation：
〃Mr。 Sutherland has been my horse； carrying me about on his back all
the morningno； not all the morningbut an hour； or an hour and a
halfor was it two hours； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
〃I really don't know； Harry；〃 answered Hugh； 〃I don't think it
matters much。〃
Harry seemed relieved； and went on：
〃He has been reading Gulliver's Travels to meoh； such fall！ And
we have been to see the cows and the pigs； and Mr。 Sutherland has
been teaching me to jump。 Do you know； papa； he jumped right over
the pony's back without touching it。〃
Mr。 Arnold stared at the boy with lustreless eyes and hanging
checks。 These grew red； as if he were going to choke。 Such
behaviour was quite inconsistent with the dignity of Arnstead and
its tutor； who had been recommended to him as a thorough gentleman。
But for the present he said nothing； probably because he could
think of nothing to say。
〃Certainly Harry seems better already；〃 interposed Euphra。
〃I cannot help thinking Mr。 Sutherland has made a good beginning。〃
Mr。 Arnold did not reply； but the cloud wore away from his face by
degrees； and at length he asked Hugh to take a glass of wine with
him。
When Euphra rose from the table； and Harry followed her example；
Hugh thought it better to rise as well。 Mr。 Arnold seemed to
hesitate whether or not to ask him to resume his seat and have a
glass of claret。 Had he been a little wizened pedagogue； no doubt
he would have insisted on his company； sure of acquiescence from him
in every sentiment he might happen to utter。 But Hugh really looked
so very much like a gentleman； and stated his own views； or adopted
his own plans； with so much independence； that Mr。 Arnold judged it
safer to keep him at arm's length for a season at least； till he
should thoroughly understand his positionnot that of a guest； but
that of his son's tutor； belonging to the household of Arnstead only
on approval。
On leaving the dining…room； Hugh hesitated； in his turn； whether to
betake himself to his own room； or to accompany Euphra to the
drawing…room； the door of which stood open on the opposite side of
the hall； revealing a brightness and warmth； which the chill of the
evening； and the lowness of the fire in the dining…room； rendered
quite enticing。 But Euphra； who was half…across the hall； seeming
to divine his thoughts； turned； and said； 〃Are you not going to
favour us with your company； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
〃With pleasure；〃 replied Hugh； but； to cover his hesitation； added；
〃I will be with you presently；〃 and ran up stairs to his own room。
〃The old gentleman sits on his dignitycan hardly be said to stand
on it；〃 thought he； as he went。 〃The poor relation； as she calls
herself； treats me like a guest。 She is mistress here； however；
that is clear enough。〃
As he descended the stairs to the drawing…room； a voice rose through
the house； like the voice of an angel。 At least so thought Hugh；
hearing it for the first time。 It seemed to take his breath away；
as he stood for a moment on the stairs； listening。 It was only
Euphra singing The Flowers of the Forest。 The drawing…room door was
still open； and her voice rang through the wide lofty hall。 He
entered almost on tip…toe； that he might lose no thread of the fine
tones。Had she chosen the song of Scotland out of compliment to
him？She saw him enter； but went on without hesitating even。 In
the high notes； her voice had that peculiar vibratory richness which
belongs to the nightingale's； but he could not help thinking that
the low tones were deficient both in quality and volume。 The
expression and execution； however； would have made up for a thousand
defects。 Her very soul seemed brooding over the dead upon Flodden
field； as she sang this most wailful of melodiesthis embodiment of
a nation's grief。 The song died away as if the last breath had gone
with it； failing as it failed； and ceasing with its inspiration； as
if the voice that sang lived only for and in the song。 A moment of
intense silence followed。 Then； before Hugh had half recovered from
the former； with an almost grand dramatic recoil； as if the second
sprang out of the first； like an eagle of might out of an ocean of
weeping； she burst into Scots wha hae。 She might have been a new
Deborah； heralding her nation to battle。 Hugh was transfixed；
turned icy cold； with the excitement of his favourite song so
sung。Was that a glance of satisfied triumph with which Euphra
looked at him for a single moment？She sang the rest of the song as
if the battle were already gained； but looked no more at Hugh。
The excellence of her tones； and the lambent fluidity of her
transitions； if I may be allowed the phrase； were made by her art
quite subservient to the expression； and owed their chief value to
the share they bore in producing it。 Possibly there was a little
too much of the dramatic in her singing； but it was all in good
taste； and； in a word； Hugh had never heard such singing before。 As
soon as she had finished； she rose； and shut the piano。
〃Do not； do not；〃 faltered Hugh； seeking to arrest her hand； as she
closed the instrument。
〃I can sing nothing after that；〃 she said with emotion； or perhaps
excitement； for the trembling of her voice might be attributed to
either cause。 〃Do not ask me。〃
Hugh respectfully desisted； but after a few minutes' pause ventured
to remark：
〃I