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〃God is nearer to you than any thought or feeling of yours； Lady
Emily。 Do not be afraid。 If all the evil things in the universe
were around us； they could not come inside the ring that he makes
about us。 He always keeps a place for himself and his child； into
which no other being can enter。〃
〃Oh！ how you must love God； Margaret！〃
〃Indeed I do love him； my lady。 If ever anything looks beautiful or
lovely to me； then I know at once that God is that。〃
〃But； then； what right have we to take the good of that； however
true it is； when we are not beautiful ourselves？〃
〃That only makes God the more beautifulin that he will pour out
the more of his beauty upon us to make us beautiful。 If we care for
his glory； we shall be glad to believe all this about him。 But we
are too anxious about feeling good ourselves； to rejoice in his
perfect goodness。 I think we should find that enough； my lady。
For； if he be good； are not we his children； and sure of having it；
not merely feeling it； some day？〃
Here Margaret repeated a little poem of George Herbert's。 She had
found his poems amongst Mrs。 Elton's books； who； coming upon her
absorbed in it one day； had made her a present of the volume。 Then
indeed Margaret had found a friend。
The poem is called Dialogue：
〃Sweetest Saviour； if my soul
Were but worth the having〃
〃Oh； what a comfort you are to me； Margaret！〃 Lady Emily said；
after a short silence。 Where did you learn such things？〃
〃From my father； and from Jesus Christ； and from God himself；
showing them to me in my heart。〃
〃Ah！ that is why； as often as you come into my room； even if I am
very troubled； I feel as if the sun shone； and the wind blew； and
the birds sang； and the tree…tops went waving in the wind； as they
used to do before I was taken illI mean before they thought I must
go abroad。 You seem to make everything clear； and right； and plain。
I wish I were you； Margaret。〃
〃If I were you； my lady； I would rather be what God chose to make
me； than the most glorious creature that I could think of。 For to
have been thought aboutborn in God's thoughtsand then made by
God； is the dearest； grandest； most precious thing in all thinking。
Is it not； my lady？〃
〃It is；〃 said Lady Emily； and was silent。
The shadows of evening came on。 As soon as it was dark； Margaret
took her place at one of the windows hidden from Lady Emily by a
bed…curtain。 She raised the blind； and pulled aside one curtain； to
let her have a view of the trees outside。 She had placed the one
candle so as not to shine either on the window or on her own eyes。
Lady Emily was asleep。 One hour and another passed； and still she
sat theremotionless； watching。
Margaret did not know； that at another windowthe one； indeed； next
to her ownstood a second watcher。 It was Hugh； in Harry's room：
Harry was asleep in Hugh's。 He had no light。 He stood with his
face close against the windowpane； on which the moon shone brightly。
All below him the woods were half dissolved away in the moonlight。
The Ghost's Walk lay full before him； like a tunnel through the
trees。 He could see a great way down； by the light that fell into
it； at various intervals； from between the boughs overhead。 He
stood thus for a long time； gazing somewhat listlessly。 Suddenly he
became all eyes； as he caught the white glimmer of something passing
up the avenue。 He stole out of the room； down to the library by the
back…stair； and so through the library window into the wood。 He
reached the avenue sideways； at some distance from the house； and
peeped from behind a tree； up and down。 At first he saw nothing。
But； a moment after； while he was looking down the avenue； that is；
away from the house； a veiled figure in white passed him noiselessly
from the other direction。 From the way in which he was looking at
the moment； it had passed him before he saw it。 It made no sound。
Only some early…fallen leaves rustled as they hurried away in
uncertain eddies； startled by the sweep of its trailing garments；
which yet were held up by hands hidden within them。 On it went。
Hugh's eyes were fixed on its course。 He could not move； and his
heart laboured so frightfully that he could hardly breathe。 The
figure had not advanced far； however； before he heard a repressed
cry of agony； and it sank to the earth； and vanished； while from
where it disappeared； down the path； came； silently too； turning
neither to the right nor the left； a second figure； veiled in black
from head to foot。
〃It is the nun in Lady Euphrasia's room；〃 said Hugh to himself。
This passed him too； and； walking slowly towards the house；
disappeared somewhere； near the end of the avenue。 Turning once
more； with reviving couragefor his blood had begun to flow more
equablyHugh ventured to approach the spot where the white figure
had vanished。 He found nothing there but the shadow of a huge tree。
He walked through the avenue to the end； and then back to the
house； but saw nothing； though he often started at fancied
appearances。 Sorely bewildered； he returned to his own room。 After
speculating till thought was weary； he lay down beside Harry； whom
he was thankful to find in a still repose； and fell fast asleep。
Margaret lay on a couch in Lady Emily's room； and slept likewise；
but she started wide awake at every moan of the invalid； who often
moaned in her sleep。
CHAPTER XX。
THE BAD MAN。
She kent he was nae gentle knight；
That she had letten in；
For neither when he gaed nor cam'；
Kissed he her cheek or chin。
He neither kissed her when he cam'
Nor clappit her when he gaed；
And in and out at her bower window；
The moon shone like the gleed。
Glenkindie。Old Scotch Ballad。
When Euphra recovered from the swoon into which she had fallenfor
I need hardly explain to my readers； that it was she who walked the
Ghost's Walk in whiteon seeing Margaret； whom； under the
irresistible influences of the moonlight and a bad conscience； she
took for the very being whom Euphra herself was personatingwhen
she recovered； I say； she found herself lying in the wood； with
Funkelstein； whom she had gone to meet； standing beside her。 Her
first words were of anger； as she tried to rise； and found she could
not。
〃How long； Count Halkar； am I to be your slave？〃
〃Till you have learned to submit。〃
〃Have I not done all I can？〃
〃You have not found it。 You are free from the moment you place that
ring； belonging to me； in right of my family； into my hands。〃
I do not believe that the man really was Count Halkar； although he
had evidently persuaded Euphra that such was his name and title。 I
think it much more probable that； in the course of picking up a mass
of trifling information about various families of distinction； for
which his position of secretary in several of their houses had
afforded him special facilities； he had learned something about the
Halkar family； and this particular ring； of which； for some reason
or other； he wanted to possess himself。
〃What more can I do？〃 moaned Euphra； succeeding at length in raising
herself to a sitting posture； and leaning thus against a tree。