"Perhaps it is. I don't know. But, still, without that, there are plenty of reasons for wishing to recover it. He will put it to a bad use, if he can. But for your sake, especially, I wish we could get it.""Thank you. You were always kind."
"No," she replied, without lifting her eyes; "I brought it all upon you.""But you could not help it."
"Not at the moment. But all that led to it was my fault."She paused; then suddenly resumed:
"I will confess.--Do you know what gave rise to the reports of the house being haunted?""No."
"It was me wandering about it at night, looking for that very ring, to give to the count. It was shameful. But I did. Those reports prevented me from being found out. But I hope not many ghosts are so miserable as I was.--You remember my speaking to you of Mr. Arnold's jewels?"
"Yes, perfectly."
"I wanted to find out, through you, where the ring was. But I had no intention of involving you.""I am sure you had not."
"Don't be too sure of anything about me. I don't know what I might have been led to do. But I am very sorry. Do forgive me.""I cannot allow that I have anything to forgive. But tell me, Euphra, were you the creature, in white that I saw in the Ghost's Walk one night? I don't mean the last time.""Very likely," she answered, bending her head yet lower, with a sigh.
"Then who was the creature in black that met you? And what became of you then?""Did you see her?" rejoined Euphra, turning paler still. "I fainted at sight of her. I took her for the nun that hangs in that horrid room.""So did I," said Hugh. "But you could not have lain long; for I went up to the spot where you vanished, and found nothing.""I suppose I got into the shrubbery before I fell. Or the count dragged me in.--But was that really a ghost? I feel now as if it was a good messenger, whether ghost or not, come to warn me, if Ihad had the courage to listen. I wish I had taken the warning."They talked about these and other things, till Mrs. Elton, who had made Hugh promise to stay to lunch, returned. When they were seated at table, the kind-hearted woman said:
"Now, Mr. Sutherland, when will you begin again with Harry?""I do not quite understand you," answered Hugh.
"Of course you will come and give him lessons, poor boy. He will be broken-hearted if you don't.""I wish I could. But I cannot--at least yet; for I know his father was dissatisfied with me. That was one of the reasons that made him send Harry to London."Harry looked wretchedly disappointed, but said nothing.
"I never heard him say anything of the sort.""I am sure of it, though. I am very sorry he has mistaken me; but he will know me better some day.""I will take all the responsibility," persisted Mrs. Elton.
"But unfortunately the responsibility sticks too fast for you to take it. I cannot get rid of my share if I would.""You are too particular. I am sure Mr. Arnold never could have meant that. This is my house too.""But Harry is his boy. If you will let me come and see him sometimes, I shall be very thankful, though. I may be useful to him without giving him lessons.""Thank you," said Harry with delight.
"Well, well! I suppose you are so much in request in London that you won't miss him for a pupil.""On the contrary, I have not a single engagement. If you could find me one, I should be exceedingly obliged to you.""Dear! dear! dear!" said Mrs. Elton. "Then you shall have Harry.""Oh! yes; please take me," said Harry, beseechingly.
"No, I cannot. I must not."
Mrs. Elton rang the bell.
"James, tell the coachman I want the carriage in an hour."Mrs. Elton was as submissive to her coachman as ladies who have carriages generally are, and would not have dreamed of ordering the horses out so soon again for herself; but she forgot everything else when a friend was in need of help, and became perfectly pachydermatous to the offended looks or indignant hints of that important functionary.
Within a few minutes after Hugh took his leave, Mrs. Elton was on her way to repeat a visit she had already paid the same morning, and to make several other calls, with the express object of finding pupils for Hugh. But in this she was not so successful as she had expected. In fact, no one whom she could think of, wanted such services at present. She returned home quite down-hearted, and all but convinced that nothing could be done before the approach of the London season.