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Hugh respectfully desisted； but after a few minutes' pause ventured
to remark：
〃I cannot understand how you should be able to sing Scotch songs so
well。 I never heard any but Scotch women sing them； even endurably；
before： your singing of them is perfect。〃
〃It seems to me；〃 said Euphra； speaking as if she would rather have
remained silent； 〃that a true musical penetration is independent of
styles and nationalities。 It can perceive； or rather feel； and
reproduce； at the same moment。 If the music speaks Scotch； the
musical nature hears Scotch。 It can take any shape； indeed cannot
help taking any shape； presented to it。〃
Hugh was yet further astonished by this criticism from one whom he
had been criticising with so much carelessness that very day。
〃You think； then；〃 said he； modestly； not as if he would bring her
to book； but as really seeking to learn from her； 〃that a true
musical nature can pour itself into the mould of any song； in entire
independence of association and education？〃
〃Yes； in independence of any but what it may provide for itself。〃
Euphrasia； however； had left one important element unrepresented in
the construction of her theorynamely； the degree of capability
which a mind may possess of sympathy with any given class of
feelings。 The blossom of the mind； whether it flower in poetry；
music； or any other art； must be the exponent of the nature and
condition of that whose blossom it is。 No mind； therefore；
incapable of sympathising with the feelings whence it springs； can
interpret the music of another。 And Euphra herself was rather a
remarkable instance of this forgotten fact。
Further conversation on the subject was interrupted by the entrance
of Mr。 Arnold； who looked rather annoyed at finding Hugh in the
drawing…room； and ordered Harry off to bed； with some little
asperity of tone。 The boy rose at once； rang the bell； bade them
all good night； and went。 A servant met him at the door with a
candle； and accompanied him。
Thought Hugh： 〃Here are several things to be righted at once。 The
boy must not have wine； and he must have only one dinner
a…dayespecially if he is ordered to bed so early。 I must make a
man of him if I can。〃
He made inquiries； and； with some difficulty； found out where the
boy slept。 During the night he was several times in Harry's room；
and once in happy time to wake him from a nightmare dream。 The boy
was so overcome with terror； that Hugh got into bed beside him and
comforted him to sleep in his arms。 Nor did he leave him till it
was time to get up； when he stole back to his own quarters； which；
happily； were at no very great distance。
I may mention here； that it was not long before Hugh succeeded in
stopping the wine； and reducing the dinner to a mouthful of supper。
Harry； as far as he was concerned； yielded at once； and his father
only held out long enough to satisfy his own sense of dignity。
CHAPTER IV。
THE CAVE IN THE STRAW。
All knowledge and wonder （which is the seed of knowledge） is an
impression of pleasure in itself。
LORD BACON。Advancement of Learning。
The following morning dawned in a cloud； which； swathed about the
trees； wetted them down to the roots； without having time to become
rain。 They drank it in like sorrow； the only material out of which
true joy can be fashioned。 This cloud of mist would yet glimmer in
a new heaven； namely； in the cloud of blooms which would clothe the
limes and the chestnuts and the beeches along the ghost's walk。 But
there was gloomy weather within doors as well； for poor Harry was
especially sensitive to variations of the barometer； without being
in the least aware of the fact himself。 Again Hugh found him in the
library； seated in his usual corner； with Polexander on his knees。
He half dropped the book when Hugh entered； and murmured with a
sigh：
〃It's no use； I can't read it。〃
〃What's the matter； Harry？〃 said his tutor。
〃I should like to tell you； but you will laugh at me。〃
〃I shall never laugh at you； Harry。〃
〃Never？〃
〃No； never。〃
〃Then tell me how I can be sure that I have read this book。〃
〃I do not quite understand you。〃
〃All！ I was sure nobody could be so stupid as I am。 Do you know；
Mr。 Sutherland； I seem to have read a page from top to bottom
sometimes； and when I come to the bottom I know nothing about it；
and doubt whether I have read it at all； and then I stare at it all
over again； till I grow so queer； and sometimes nearly scream。 You
see I must be able to say I have read the book。〃
〃Why？ Nobody will ever ask you。〃
〃Perhaps not； but you know that is nothing。 I want to know that I
have read the bookreally and truly read it。〃
Hugh thought for a moment； and seemed to see that the boy； not being
strong enough to be a law to himself； just needed a benign law from
without； to lift him from the chaos of feeble and conflicting
notions and impulses within； which generated a false law of slavery。
So he said：
〃Harry； am I your big brother？〃
〃Yes； Mr。 Sutherland。〃
〃Then； ought you to do what I wish； or what you wish yourself？〃
〃What you wish； sir。〃
〃Then I want you to put away that book for a month at least。〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Sutherland！ I promised。〃
〃To whom？〃
〃To myself。〃
〃But I am above you； and I want you to do as I tell you。 Will you；
Harry？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Put away the book； then。〃
Harry sprang to his feet； put the book on its shelf； and； going up
to Hugh； said；
〃You have done it； not me。〃
〃Certainly； Harry。〃
The notions of a hypochondriacal child will hardly be interesting to
the greater part of my readers； but Hugh learned from this a little
lesson about divine law which he never forgot。
〃Now； Harry；〃 added he； 〃you must not open a book till I allow you。〃
〃No poetry； either？〃 said poor Harry； and his face fell。
〃I don't mind poetry so much； but of prose I will read as much to
you as will be good for you。 Come； let us have a bit of Gulliver
again。〃
〃Oh； how delightful！〃 cried Harry。 〃I am so glad you made me put
away that tiresome book。 I wonder why it insisted so on being
read。〃
Hugh read for an hour； and then made Harry put on his cloak；
notwithstanding the rain； which fell in a slow thoughtful spring
shower。 Taking the boy again on his back； he carried him into the
woods。 There he told him how the drops of wet sank into the ground；
and then went running about through it in every direction； looking
for seeds： which were all thirsty little things； that wanted to
grow； and could not； till a drop came and gave them drink。 And he
told him how the rain…drops were made up in the skies； and then came
down； like millions of angels； to do what they were told in the dark
earth。 The good drops went into all the cellars and dungeons of the
earth； to let out the imprisoned flowers。 And he told him how the
seeds； when they had drunk the rain…drops； wanted another kind of
drink next； which was much thinner and much stronger； but could not
do them any good till they had drunk the rain first。
〃What is that？〃 said Harry。 〃I feel as if you were reading out of
the Bible； Mr。 Sutherland。〃
〃It is the sunlight；〃 answered