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and read again and be again corrected。 Another half…hour glided
away； and yet another。 But it must be confessed he made good use of
the timeif only it had been his own to use； for at the end of it
he could pronounce Italian very tolerablywell enough； at least； to
keep him from fixing errors in his pronunciation； while studying the
language alone。 Suddenly he came to himself； and looked up as from
a dream。 Had she been bewitching him？ He was in Euphra's
roomalone with her。 And the door was shuthow or when？ Andhe
looked at his watchpoor little Harry had been waiting his return
from the library； for the last hour and a half。 He was
conscience…stricken。 He gathered up the books hastily； thanked
Euphra in the same hurried manner； and left the room with
considerable disquietude； closing the door very gently； almost
guiltily； behind him。
I am afraid Euphra had been perfectly aware that he knew nothing
about Italian。 Did she see her own eyes shine in the mirror before
her； as he closed the door？ Was she in love with him； then？
When Hugh returned with the Italian books； instead of the
encyclop鎑ia he had gone to seek； he found Harry sitting where he
had left him； with his arms and head on the table； fast asleep。
〃Poor boy！〃 said Hugh to himself； but he could not help feeling glad
he was asleep。 He stole out of the room again； passed the fatal
door with a longing pain； found the volume of his quest in the
library； and； returning with it； sat down beside Harry。 There he
sat till he awoke。
When he did awake at last； it was almost time for luncheon。 The
shame…faced boy was exceedingly penitent for what was no fault；
while Hugh could not relieve him by confessing his。 He could only
say：
〃It was my fault； Harry dear。 I stayed away too long。 You were so
nicely asleep； I would not wake you。 You will not need a siesta；
that is all。〃
He was ashamed of himself； as he uttered the false words to the
true…hearted child。 But this； alas！ was not the end of it all。
Desirous of learning the language； but far more desirous of
commending himself to Euphra； Hugh began in downright earnest。 That
very evening； he felt that he had a little hold of the language。
Harry was left to his own resources。 Nor was there any harm in
this in itself： Hugh had a right to part of every day for his own
uses。 But then； he had been with Harry almost every evening； or a
great part of it； and the boy missed him much； for he was not yet
self…dependent。 He would have gone to Euphrasia； but somehow she
happened to be engaged that evening。 So he took refuge in the
library； where； in the desolation of his spirit； Polexander began；
almost immediately； to exercise its old dreary fascination upon him。
Although he had not opened the book since Hugh had requested him to
put it away； yet he had not given up the intention of finishing it
some day； and now he took it down； and opened it listlessly； with
the intention of doing something towards the gradual redeeming of
the pledge he had given to himself。 But he found it more irksome
than ever。 Still he read on； till at length he could discover no
meaning at all in the sentences。 Then he began to doubt whether he
had read the words。 He fixed his attention by main force on every
individual word； but even then he began to doubt whether he could
say he had read the words； for he might have missed seeing some of
the letters composing each word。 He grew so nervous and miserable
over it； almost counting every letter； that at last he burst into
tears； and threw the book down。
His intellect； which in itself was excellent； was quite of the
parasitic order； requiring to wind itself about a stronger
intellect； to keep itself in the region of fresh air and possible
growth。 Left to itself； its weak stem could not raise it above the
ground： it would grow and mass upon the earth； till it decayed and
corrupted； for lack of room； light； and air。 But； of course； there
was no danger in the meantime。 This was but the passing sadness of
an occasional loneliness。
He crept to Hugh's room； and received an invitation to enter； in
answer to his gentle knock； but Hugh was so absorbed in his new
study； that he hardly took any notice of him； and Harry found it
almost as dreary here as in the study。 He would have gone out； but
a drizzling rain was falling； and he shrank into himself at the
thought of the Ghost's Walk。 The dinner…bell was a welcome summons。
Hugh； inspirited by the reaction from close attention； by the
presence of Euphra； and by the desire to make himself generally
agreeable； which sprung from the consciousness of having done wrong；
talked almost brilliantly； delighting Euphra； overcoming Harry with
reverent astonishment； and even interesting slow Mr。 Arnold。 With
the latter Hugh had been gradually becoming a favourite； partly
because he had discovered in him what he considered high…minded
sentiments； for； however stupid and conventional Mr。 Arnold might
be； he had a foundation of sterling worthiness of character。
Euphra； instead of showing any jealousy of this growing
friendliness； favoured it in every way in her power； and now and
then alluded to it in her conversations with Hugh； as affording her
great satisfaction。
〃I am so glad he likes you！〃 she would say。
〃Why should she be glad？〃 thought Hugh。
This gentle claim of a kind of property in him； added considerably
to the strength of the attraction that drew him towards her； as
towards the centre of his spiritual gravitation； if indeed that
could be called spiritual which had so little of the element of
moral or spiritual admiration； or even approval； mingled with it。
He never felt that Euphra was good。 He only felt that she drew him
with a vague force of feminine sovereigntya charm which he could
no more resist or explain； than the iron could the attraction of the
loadstone。 Neither could he have said； had he really considered the
matter； that she was beautifulonly that she often； very often；
looked beautiful。 I suspect if she had been rather ugly； it would
have been all the same for Hugh。
He pursued his Italian studies with a singleness of aim and effort
that carried him on rapidly。 He asked no assistance from Euphra；
and said nothing to her about his progress。 But he was so absorbed
in it； that it drew him still further from his pupil。 Of course he
went out with him； walking or riding every day that the weather
would permit； and he had regular school hours with him within doors。
But during the latter； while Harry was doing something on his
slate； or writing； or learning some lesson （which kind of work
happened oftener now than he could have approved of）； he would take
up his Italian； and； notwithstanding Harry's quiet hints that he had
finished what had been set him； remain buried in it for a long time。
When he woke at last to the necessity of taking some notice of the
boy； he would only appoint him something else to occupy him again；
so as to leave himself free to follow his new bent。 Now and then he
would become aware of his blameable neglect； and make a feeble
struggle to rectify what seemed to be growing into a habitand on