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Elton； and Mr。 Arnold followed with Lady Emily； who would never
precede her older friend。 Hugh tried to talk to Mrs。 Elton； but
with meagre success。 He was suddenly a nobody； and felt more than
he had felt for a long time what； in his present deteriorated moral
state； he considered the degradation of his position。 A gulf seemed
to have suddenly yawned between himself and Euphra； and the loudest
voice of his despairing agony could not reach across that gulf。 An
awful conviction awoke within him； that the woman he worshipped
would scarcely receive his worship at the worth of incense now； and
yet in spirit he fell down grovelling before his idol。 The words
〃euphrasy and rue〃 kept ringing in his brain； coming over and over
with an awful mingling of chime and toll。 When he thought about it
afterwards； he seemed to have been a year in crossing the hall with
Mrs。 Elton on his arm。 But as if divining his thoughtsjust as
they passed through the dining…room door； Euphra looked round at
him； almost over Funkelstein's shoulder； and； without putting into
her face the least expression discernible by either of the others
following； contrived to banish for the time all Hugh's despair； and
to convince him that he had nothing to fear from Funkelstein。 How
it was done Hugh himself could not tell。 He could not even recall
the look。 He only knew that he had been as miserable as one waking
in his coffin； and that now he was out in the sunny air。
During dinner； Funkelstein paid no very particular attention to
Euphrasia； but was remarkably polite to Lady Emily。 She seemed
hardly to know how to receive his attentions； but to regard him as a
strange animal； which she did not know how to treat； and of which
she was a little afraid。 Mrs。 Elton； on the contrary； appeared to
be delighted with his behaviour and conversation； for； without
showing the least originality； he yet had seen so much； and knew so
well how to bring out what he had seen； that he was a most
interesting companion。 Hugh took little share in the conversation
beyond listening as well as he could； to prevent himself from gazing
too much at Euphra。
〃Had Mr。 Sutherland and you been old acquaintances then； Herr von
Funkelstein？〃 asked Mr。 Arnold； reverting to the conversation which
had been interrupted by the announcement of dinner。
〃Not at all。 We met quite accidentally； and introduced ourselves。
I believe a thunderstorm and a lecture on biology were the
mediating parties between us。 Was it not so； Mr。 Sutherland？〃
〃I beg your pardon；〃 stammered Hugh。 But Mr。 Arnold interposed：
〃A lecture on what； did you say？〃
〃On biology。〃
Mr。 Arnold looked posed。 He did not like to say he did not know
what the word meant； for； like many more ignorant men； he thought
such a confession humiliating。 Von Funkelstein hastened to his
relief。
〃It would be rather surprising if you were acquainted with the
subject； Mr。 Arnold。 I fear to explain it to you； lest both Mr。
Sutherland and myself should sink irrecoverably in your estimation。
But young men want to know all that is going on。〃
Herr Funkelstein was not exactly what one would call a young man；
but； as he chose to do so himself； there was no one to dispute the
classification。
〃Oh！ of course；〃 replied Mr。 Arnold； 〃quite right。 What； then；
pray； is biology？〃
〃A science； falsely so called；〃 said Hugh； who； waking up a little；
wanted to join in the conversation。
〃What does the word mean？〃 said Mr。 Arnold。
Von Funkelstein answered at once：
〃The science of life。 But I must say； the name； as now applied； is
no indication of the thing signified。〃
〃How； then； is a gentleman to know what it is？〃 said Mr。 Arnold；
half pettishly； and forgetting that his knowledge had not extended
even to the interpretation of the name。
〃It is one of the sciences； true or false； connected with animal
magnetism。〃
〃Bah！〃 exclaimed Mr。 Arnold； rather rudely。
〃You would have said so； if you had heard the lecture；〃 said
Funkelstein。
The conversation had not taken this turn till quite late in the
dining ceremony。 Euphra rose to go； and Hugh remarked that her face
was dreadfully pale。 But she walked steadily out of the room。
This interrupted the course of the talk； and the subject was not
resumed。 Immediately after tea； which was served very soon；
Funkelstein took his leave of the ladies。
〃We shall be glad to see you often while in this neighbourhood；〃
said Mr。 Arnold； as he bade him good night。
〃I shall； without fail； do myself the honour of calling again soon；〃
replied he； and bowed himself out。
Lady Emily； evidently relieved by his departure； rose； and；
approaching Euphra； said； in a sweet coaxing tone； which even she
could hardly have resisted：
〃Dear Miss Cameron； you promised to sing； for me in particular； some
evening。 May I claim the fulfilment of your promise？〃
Euphra had recovered her complexion； and she too seemed to Hugh to
be relieved by the departure of Funkelstein。
〃Certainly；〃 she answered； rising at once。 〃What shall I sing？〃
Hugh was all ear now。
〃Something sacred； if you please。〃
Euphra hesitated； but not long。
〃Shall I sing Mozart's Agnus Dei； then？〃
Lady Emily hesitated in her turn。
〃I should prefer something else。 I don't approve of singing popish
music； however beautiful it may be。〃
〃Well； what shall it be？〃
〃Something of Handel or Mendelssohn； please。 Do you sing； 'I know
that my Redeemer liveth？'〃
〃I daresay I can sing it；〃 replied Euphra； with some petulance； and
went to the piano。
This was a favourite air with Hugh； and he placed himself so as to
see the singer without being seen himself； and to lose no slightest
modulation of her voice。 But what was his disappointment to find
that oratorio…music was just what Euphra was incapable of！ No doubt
she sang it quite correctly； but there was no religion in it。 Not a
single tone worshipped or rejoiced。 The quality of sound necessary
to express the feeling and thought of the composer was lacking： the
palace of sound was all right constructed； but of wrong material。
Euphra； however； was quite unconscious of failure。 She did not
care for the music； but she attributed her lack of interest in it to
the music itself； never dreaming that； in fact； she had never really
heard it； having no inner ear for its deeper harmonies。 As soon as
she had finished； Lady Emily thanked her； but did not praise her
more than by saying：
〃I wish I had a voice like yours； Miss Cameron。〃
〃I daresay you have a better of your own；〃 said Euphra； falsely。
Lady Emily laughed。
〃It is the poorest little voice you ever heard； yet I confess I am
glad； for my own sake； that I have even that。 What should I do if I
never heard Handel！〃
Every simple mind has a little well of beauty somewhere in its
precincts； which flows and warbles； even when the owner is
unheedful。 The religion of Lady Emily had led her into a region far
beyond the reach of her intellect； in which there sprang a constant
fountain of sacred song。 To it she owed her highest moods。
〃Then Handel is your musician？〃 said Euphra。 〃You should not have
put me to such a test