association of ideas is！ There is not a very obvious connexion
here； is there？〃
〃No。 One cannot account for such things。 The links in the chain of
ideas are sometimes slender enough。 Yet the slenderest is
sufficient to enable the electric flash of thought to pass along the
line。〃
She seemed pondering for a moment。
〃That strikes me as a fine simile；〃 she said。 〃You ought to be a
poet yourself。〃
Hugh made no reply。
〃I daresay you have hundreds of poems in that old desk； now？〃
〃I think they might be counted by tens。〃
〃Do let me see them。〃
〃You would not care for them。〃
〃Wouldn't I； Hugh？〃
〃I will； on one conditiontwo conditions； I mean。〃
〃What are they？〃
〃One is； that you show me yours。〃
〃Mine？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Who told you I wrote verses？ That silly boy？〃
〃NoI saw your verses before I saw you。 You remember？〃
〃It was very dishonourable in you to read them。〃
〃I only saw they were verses。 I did not read a word。〃
〃I forgive you； then。 You must show me yours first； till I see
whether I could venture to let you see mine。 If yours were very bad
indeed； then I might risk showing mine。〃
And much more of this sort； with which I will not weary my readers。
It ended in Hugh's taking from the old escritoire a bundle of
papers； and handing them to Euphra。 But the reader need not fear
that I am going to print any of these verses。 I have more respect
for my honest prose page than to break it up so。 Indeed； the whole
of this interview might have been omitted； but for two
circumstances。 One of them was； that in getting these papers； Hugh
had to open a concealed portion of the escritoire； which his
mathematical knowledge had enabled him to discover。 It had
evidently not been opened for many years before he found it。 He had
made use of it to hold the only treasures he hadpoor enough
treasures； certainly！ Not a loving note； not a lock of hair even
had henothing but the few cobwebs spun from his own brain。 It is
true； we are rich or poor according to what we are； not what we
have。 But what a man has produced； is not what he is。 He may even
impoverish his true self by production。
When Euphra saw him open this place； she uttered a suppressed cry of
astonishment。
〃Ah！〃 said Hugh； 〃you did not know of this hidie…hole； did you？〃
〃Indeed； I did not。 I had used the desk myself； for this was a
favourite room of mine before you came； but I never found that。
Dear me！ Let me look。〃
She put her hand on his shoulder and leaned over him； as he pointed
out the way of opening it。
〃Did you find nothing in it？〃 she said； with a slight tremour in her
voice。
〃Nothing whatever。〃
〃There may be more places。〃
〃No。 I have accounted for the whole bulk； I believe。〃
〃How strange！〃
〃But now you must give me my guerdon；〃 said Hugh timidly。
The fact was； the poor youth had bargained； in a playful manner； and
yet with an earnest； covetous heart； for one； the first kiss； in
return for the poems she begged to see。
She turned her face towards him。
The second circumstance which makes the interview worth recording
is； that； at this moment； three distinct knocks were heard on the
window。 They sprang asunder； and saw each other's face pale as
death。 In Euphra's； the expression of fright was mingled with one
of annoyance。 Hugh； though his heart trembled like a bird； leaped
to the window。 Nothing was to be seen but the trees that 〃stretched
their dark arms〃 within a few feet of the oriel。 Turning again
towards Euphra； he found； to his mortification； that she had
vanishedand had left the packet of poems behind her。
He replaced them in their old quarters in the escritoire； and his
vague dismay at the unaccountable noises； was drowned in the bitter
waters of miserable humiliation。 He slept at last； from the
exhaustion of disappointment。
When he awoke； however； he tried to persuade himself that he had
made far too much of the trifling circumstance of her leaving the
verses behind。 For was she not terrified？Why； then； did she leave
him and go alone to her own room？She must have felt that she ought
not to be in his； at that hour； and therefore dared not stay。Why
dared not？ Did she think the house was haunted by a ghost of
propriety？ What rational theory could he invent to account for the
strange and repeated sounds？He puzzled himself over it to the
verge of absolute intellectual prostration。
He was generally the first in the breakfast…room； that is； after
Euphra； who was always the first。 She went up to him as he entered；
and said； almost in a whisper：
〃Have you got the poems for me？ Quick！〃
Hugh hesitated。 She looked at him。
〃No；〃 he said at last。〃You never wanted them。〃
〃That is very unkind； when you know I was frightened out of my wits。
Do give me them。〃
〃They are not worth giving you。 Besides； I have not got them。 I
don't carry them in my pocket。 They are in the escritoire。 I
couldn't leave them lying about。 Never mind them。〃
〃I have a right to them；〃 she said； looking up at him slyly and
shyly。
〃Well； I gave you them； and you did not think them worth keeping。 I
kept my part of the bargain。〃
She looked annoyed。
〃Never mind； dear Euphra； you shall have them； or anything else I
have；the brain that made them； if you like。〃
〃Was it only the brain that had to do with the making of them？〃
〃Perhaps the heart too； but you have that already。〃
Her face flushed like a damask rose。
At that moment Mrs。 Elton entered； and looked a little surprised。
Euphra instantly said：
〃I think it is rather too bad of you； Mr。 Sutherland； to keep the
poor boy so hard to his work； when you know he is not strong。 Mrs。
Elton； I have been begging a holiday for poor Harry； to let him go
with us to Wotton House； but he has such a hard task…master！ He
will not hear of it。〃
The flush； which she could not get rid of all at once； was thus made
to do duty as one of displeasure。 Mrs。 Elton was thoroughly
deceived； and united her entreaties to those of Miss Cameron。 Hugh
was compelled to join in the deception； and pretend to yield a slow
consent。 Thus a holiday was extemporised for Harry； subject to the
approbation of his father。 This was readily granted； and Mr。
Arnold； turning to Hugh； said：
〃You will have nothing to do； Mr。 Sutherland： had you not better
join us？〃
〃With pleasure；〃 replied he； 〃but the carriage will be full。〃
〃You can take your horse。〃
〃Thank you very much。 I will。〃
The day was delightful； one of those grey summer…days； that are far
better for an excursion than bright ones。 In the best of spirits；
mounted on a good horse； riding alongside of the carriage in which
was the lady who was all womankind to him； and who； without taking
much notice of him； yet contrived to throw him a glance now and
then； Hugh would have been overflowingly happy； but for an unquiet；
distressed feeling； which all the time made him aware of the
presence of a sick conscience somewhere within。 Mr。 Arnold was
exceedingly pleasant； for he was much taken with the sweetness and
modesty of Lady Emily； who； having no strong opinions upon anything；
received those of Mr。 Arnold with attentive submission。 He saw； or
fancied he saw in her； a great resemblance to his deceased wife； to
whom he had been as sincerely attached as his nature would allow。
In fact； Lady Emily advanced so rapidly in his good graces； that
either Euphra was； or thought fit to appear； rather jealous of her。
She paid her every attention； however； and seemed to gratify Mr。
Arnold by her care of the invalid。 She even joined in the
entreaties which； on their way home； he made with evident
earnestness； for an extension of their visit to a month。 Lady Emily
was already so much better for the change； that Mrs。 Elton made no
objection to the proposal。 Euphra gave Hugh one look of misery；
and； turning again； insisted with increased warmth on their
immediate consent。 It was gained without much difficulty before
they reached home。
Harry； too； was captivated by the gentle kindness of Lady Emily； and
hardly took his eyes off her all the way； while； on the other hand；
his delicate little attentions had already gained the heart of good
Mrs。 Elton； who from the first had remarked and pitied the sad looks
of the boy。
CHAPTER XVI。
A NEW VISITOR AND AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE。
He's enough
To bring a woman to confusion；
More than a wiser man； or a far greater。
MIDDLETON。The Witch。
When they reached the lodge； Lady Emily expressed a wish to walk up
the avenue to the house。 To this Mr。 Arnold gladly consented。 The
carriage was sent round the back way； and Hugh； dismounting； gave
his horse to the footman in attendance。 As they drew near the
house； the rest of the party having stopped to look at an old tree
which was a favourite with its owner； Hugh and Harry were some yards
in advance； when the former spied； approaching them from the house；
the distinguished figure of Herr von Funkelstein。 Saluting as they
met； the visitor informed Hugh that he had just been leaving his
card for him； and would call some other morning soon； for； as he was
rusticating； he had little to occupy him。 Hugh turned with him
towards the rest of the party； who were now close at hand； when
Funkelstein exclaimed； in a tone of surprise；
〃What！ Miss Cameron here！〃 and advanced with a profound obeisance；
holding his hat in his hand。
Hugh thought he saw her look annoyed； but she held out her hand to
him； and； in a voice indicatingstill as it appeared to Hughsome
reluctance； introduced him to her uncle； with the words：
〃We met at Sir Edward Laston's； when I was visiting Mrs。 Elkingham；
two years ago； uncle。〃
Mr。 Arnold lifted his hat and bowed politely to the stranger。 Had
Euphra informed him that； although a person of considerable
influence in Sir Edward's household； Herr von Funkelstein had his
standing there only as Sir Edward's private secretary； Mr。 Arnold's
aversion to foreigners generally would not have been so scrupulously
banished into the background of his behaviour。 Ordinary civilities
passed between them； marked by an air of flattering deference on
Funkelstein's part； which