 CHAPTER 33 MORE MATERIALISM AND SOME SPIRITUALISM Godwisheth none should wreck on a strange shelf, to him men's dear than to himself. Ben Johnson, the forest, to Sir Robert Roth. At breakfast the following morning the influences of the past day on the family were evident. There was a good deal of excitement, alternated with listlessness. The moral atmosphere seemed unhealthy, and Harry, although he had fortunately for him had nothing to do with the manifestations of the previous evening, was affected by the condition of those around him. Hugh was still careful enough of him to try to divert the conversation entirely from what he knew would have a very injurious effect upon him, and Mr. Arnold, seeing the anxious way in which he glanced now and then at his pupil, and dividing the reason by the instinct of his affection, with far more than his usual acuteness, tried likewise to turn it aside, as often it as it inclined that way. Still a few words were let fall by the visitors which made Harry stare. Hugh took him away as soon as breakfast was over. In the afternoon Funkl Stein called to inquire after the ladies, and hoped he had no injury to their health to lay on his conscience. Mr. Arnold, who had a full allowance of curiosity, its amount being frequently in an inverse ratio to that of higher intellectual gifts, begged him to spend the rest of the day with them, but not to say a word of what had passed the day before until after Harry had retired for the night. Renewed conversation led to renewed experiments in the library. Hugh however refused to have anything more to do with the plate writing, for he dreaded its influence on his physical nature, attributing, as I have said, the vision of Margaret to a cerebral affection. And the plate did not seem to work satisfactorily with anyone else, except Funkl Stein, who, for his part, had no great wish to operate. Recourse was had to a more vulgar method, that of expectant solicitation of those noises whereby the prisoners in the aerial vaults are supposed capable of communicating with those in this earthly cell. Certainly wraps were heard from some quarter or another, and when the lights were extinguished and the crescent moon only allowed to shine in the room, some commotion was discernible amongst the furniture. Several light articles flew about, a pen wiper alighted on Euphra's lap, and a sofa pillow gently disarranged Mrs. Elton's cap. Most of the artillery however was directed against Lady Emily, and she it was who saw, in a faint stream of moonlight, a female arm uplifted towards her from under a table with a threatening motion. It was bare to the elbow and draped above. It showed first a clenched fist, and next an open hand, palm outwards, making a repellent gesture. Then the back of the hand was turned, and it motioned her away, as if she had been an importionate beggar. But at this moment one of the doors opened, and a dark figure passed through the room towards the opposite door. Everything that could be called ghostly ceased instantaneously. The arm vanished, the company breathed more freely. Lady Emily, who had been on the point of going into hysterics, recovered herself, and overcame the still lingering impulse. She felt as if she had awaked from a momentary aberration of the intellect. Mr. Arnold proceeded to light the candle, saying in a righteous tone, I think we have had enough of this nonsense. When the candles were lighted, there was no one to be seen in the room besides themselves. All hew amongst them had observed the figure, but all had taken it for part of the elusive Phantasmagoria. He would have concluded it a variety of his vision of the former night, but others had seen it as well as he. There was no renewal of the experiments that night, but all were in a very unhealthy state of excitement. Vague fear, vague wonder, and a certain indescribable oppression had dimmed for the time all the clear vision and benumbed all the nobler faculties of the soul. Lady Emily was affected the most. Her eyes looked scared. There was a bright spot on one cheek amidst deathly paleness, and she seemed very unhappy. Mrs. Elton became alarmed, and this brought her back to a more rational condition. She persuaded Lady Emily to go to bed. But the contagion spread, and indistinct tears were no longer confined to the upper portions of the family. The brute revived, which had broken out a year before that the house was haunted. It was whispered that the very night after these occurrences, the ghost walk had been in use as the name signified. A figure in death garments had been seen gliding along the deserted avenue by one of the maid servants. The truth of whose story was corroborated by the fact that, to support it, she did not hesitate to confess that she had escaped from the house nearly at midnight to meet one of the grooms in a part of the wood contiguous to the avenue in question. Mr. Arnold instantly dismissed her. Not on the ground of the intrigue, he took care to let her know, although that was bad enough, but because she was a fool and spread absurd and annoying reports about the house. Mr. Arnold's usual hatred of what he called superstition was rendered yet more spiteful by the fact that the occurrences of the week had had such an effect on his own mind that he was mortally afraid, lest he should himself sink into the same limbo of vanity. The girl, however, was, or pretended to be, quite satisfied with her discharge, protesting she would not have stayed for the world, and as the groom, whose wages happened to have been paid the day before, took himself off the same evening, it may be hoped her satisfaction was not altogether counterfeit. If all tales be true, said Mrs. Elton, Lady Euphrasia is where she can't get out. But if she repented before she died, said Euphra, with the muffles scored in her tone, my dear Mrs. Cameron, do you call becoming a nun repentance? We Protestants know very well what that means. Besides, your uncle does not believe it. Haven't you found out yet, dear Mrs. Elton, what my uncle's favorite phrase is? No, what is it? I don't believe it. You naughty girl. I'm not naughty, answered Euphra, affecting to imitate the simplicity of a shitting child. My uncle is so fond of casting doubt upon everything. If salvation goes by quantities, faith won't save him. Euphra knew well enough that Mrs. Elton was no tell tale. The good lady had hopes of her from this moment, because she all but quoted Scripture to condemn her uncle, the verdict corresponding with her own judgment of Mr. Arnold, founded on the clearest assertions of Scripture, strengthened somewhat, it must be confessed, by the fact that the spirits on the preceding evening but one had wrapped out the sentence, without faith it is impossible to please him. Lady Emily was still in bed, but apparently more sick in mind than in body. She said she had tossed about all the previous night without once falling asleep, and her maid, who had slept in the dressing room without waking once, corroborated the assertion. In the morning Mrs. Elton, wishing to relieve the maid, sent Margaret to Lady Emily. Margaret arranged the bedclothes and pillows, which were in a very uncomfortable condition, sat down behind the curtain, and knowing that it would please Lady Emily, began to sing in what the French call a veiled voice, the land of the leal. Now the air of this lovely song is the same as that of Scott's Wahey, but it is the pit-brock of onset changed into the coronak of repose, singing of the land beyond the battle of the entering in of those who have fought the good fight, and fallen in the field. It is the silence after the thunder. Before she had finished, Lady Emily was fast asleep. A sweet, peaceful, half-smile, lighted her troubled face graciously, like the sunshine that creeps out when it can amidst the rain of an autumn day, saying, I am with you still, though we are all troubled. Finding her thus at rest, Margaret left the room for a minute to fetch some work. When she returned, she found her tossing and moaning, and apparently on the point of waking. As soon as she sat down by her, her trouble diminished by degrees, till she lay in the same peaceful sleep as before. In this state she continued for two or three hours and awoke much refreshed. She held out her little hand to Margaret and said, thank you, thank you, what a sweet creature you are. And Lady Emily lay engaged in loving admiration at the face of the lady's maid. Shall I send Sarah to you now, my lady, said Margaret, or would you like me to stay with you? Oh, you please, if Mrs. Elton can spare you, she will only think of your comfort. I know, my lady. That recalls me to my duty and makes me think of her. But your comfort will be more to her than anything else. In that case, you must stay, Margaret. With pleasure, my lady. Mrs. Elton entered and quite confirmed what Margaret had said. But, she added, it is time Lady Emily had something to eat. Go to the Coke, Margaret, and see if the beef tea Miss Cameron ordered is ready. Margaret went. What a comfort it is, said Mrs. Elton, wishing to interest Lady Emily, that nowadays, when infidelity is so rampant, such corroborations of sacred writ are springing up on all sides, there are the discoveries at Nineveh, and now these spiritual manifestations, which bear witness so clearly to another world. But Lady Emily made no reply. She began to toss about as before and show signs of inexplicable discomfort. Margaret had hardly been gone two minutes when the invalid moaned out. What a time, Margaret, is gone. When will she be back? I am here, my love, said Mrs. Elton. Yes, yes, thank you, but I want Margaret. She will be here presently. Have patience, my dear. Please, don't let Miss Cameron come near me. I am afraid I am very wicked, but I can't bear her to come near me. No, no, dear. We will keep you to ourselves. Is Mr. The Foreign Gentleman, I mean, below? No, he is gone. Are you sure? I can hardly believe it. What do you mean, dear? I am sure he is gone. Lady Emily did not answer. Margaret returned. She took the beef tea and grew quiet again. You must not leave her ladyship, Margaret, whispered her mistress. She has taken it into her head to like no one but you, and you must just stay with her. Very well, ma'am. I shall be most happy. Mrs. Elton left the room. Lady Emily said, Read something to me, Margaret. What shall I read? Anything you like. Margaret got a Bible and read to her one of her father's favorite chapters, the 40th of Isaiah. I have no right to trust in God, Margaret. Why, my lady? Because I do not feel any faith in him, and you know we cannot be accepted without faith. That is to make God as changeable as we are, my lady. But the Bible says so. I don't think it does, but if an angel from heaven said so, I would not believe it. Margaret, my lady, I love God with all my heart, and I cannot bear you should think so of him. You might as well say that a mother would go away from her little child, lying, moaning in the dark, because it could not see her and was afraid to put its hand out into the dark to feel for her. Then you think he does care for us, even when we are very wicked, but he cannot bear wicked people. Who dares to say that, cried Margaret? Has he not been making the world go on and on with all the wickedness that is in it, yes, making new babies to be born of thieves and murderers and sad women, and all for hundreds of years? God help us, lady Emily. If he cannot bear wicked people, then this world is hell itself, and the Bible is all a lie, and the Savior did never die for sinners. It is only the holy Pharisees that can't bear wicked people. Oh, how happy I should be if that were true. I should not be afraid now. You are not wicked, dear lady Emily. But if you were, God would bend over you, trying to get you back like a father over his sick child. Will people never believe about the lost sheep? Oh, yes, I believe that, but then you can't trust it quite. Trusting God then, the very Father of you, and never mind the words, you have been taught to turn the very words of God against himself. Lady Emily was weeping. Lady Emily, Margaret went on, if I felt my heart as hard as a stone, if I did not love God or man or woman or little child, I would yet say to God in my heart, oh, God, see how I trust thee, because thou art perfect and not changeable like me. I do not love thee, I love nobody. I am not even sorry for it. Thou seest how much I need thee to come close to me, to put thy arm round me, to say to me my child. For the worse my state, the greater my need of my Father who loves me. Come to me, and my day will dawn. My beauty and my love will come back, and oh, how I shall love thee, my God and know that my love is thy love, my blessedness thy being. As Margaret spoke, she seemed to have forgotten Lady Emily's presence, and to be actually praying. Those who cannot receive such words from the lips of a lady's maid must be reminded what her Father was, and that she had lost him. She had had advantages at least equal to those which David the Shepherd had, and he wrote the Psalms. She ended with, I do not even desire thee to come, yet come now. She seemed to pray entirely as Lady Emily, not as Margaret. When she had ceased, Lady Emily said sobbing, You will not leave me, Margaret. I will tell you why another time. I will not leave you, my dear lady. Margaret stooped and kissed her forehead. Lady Emily threw her arms round her neck, and offered her mouth to be kissed by the maid. In another minute she was fast asleep, with Margaret seated by her side, every now and then glancing up at her from her work with a calm face, over which brooded the midst of tears. That night, as Hugh paced up and down the floor of his study about midnight, he was awfully startled by the sudden opening of the door, and the apparition of Harry in his night shirt pale as death, and scarcely able to articulate the words, The Ghost! The Ghost! He took the poor boy in his arms, held him fast, and comforted him. When he was a little soothed, oh, Harry, he said lightly, you've been dreaming. Where's the Ghost? In the Ghost's walk, cried Harry, almost shrieking and new with terror. How do you know it is there? I saw it from my window. I couldn't sleep. I got up and looked out. I don't know why, and I saw it. I saw it. The words were followed by a long cry of terror. Come and show it to me, said Hugh, wanting to make light of it. No, no, Mr. Sutherland, please not. I couldn't go back into that room. Very well, dear Harry, you shan't go back. You shall sleep with me tonight. Oh, thank you, thank you, dear Mr. Sutherland. You will love me again, won't you? This touched Hugh's heart. He could hardly refrain from tears. His old love buried before it was dead, revogged. He clasped the boy to his heart, and carried him to his own bed. Then to comfort him, undressed, and lay down beside him, without even going to look, if he too might not see the Ghost. She had brought about one good thing, at least that night, though I fear she had no merit in it. Lady Emily's room, likewise, looked out upon the Ghostwalk. Margaret heard the cry as she sat by the sleeping Emily, and not knowing whence it came, went naturally enough in her perplexity to the window. From it she could see distinctly, for it was clear moonlight, a white figure went gliding away along the deserted avenue. She immediately guessed what the cry had meant, but as she had heard a door bang directly after, as Harry shut his behind him with a terrified instinct to keep the awful window in, she was not very uneasy about him. She felt besides that she must remain where she was, according to her promise to Lady Emily. But she resolved to be prepared for the possible recurrence of the same event, and accordingly revolved it in her mind. She was sure that any report of it coming to Lady Emily's ears would greatly impede her recovery, for she instinctively felt that her illness had something to do with the questionable occupations in the library. She watched by her bedside all the night, slumbering at times, but roused in a moment by any restlessness of the patient. When she found that, simply by laying her hand on hers, or kissing her forehead, she could restore her at once to quiet sleep. And Chapter 33 34 of David Elginprod This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. David Elginprod by George MacDonald Chapter 34 of The Ghost's Walk Theory Tis full of fearful shadows Ordella So is sleep, sir, or anything that's merely ours and mortal. We were begotten gods else, but those fears feeling but once the fires of noble thoughts fly, like the shapes of clouds we form, to nothing. Beaumont and Fletcher Theory and Thandoret Margaret sat watching the waking of Lady Emily, knowing how much the first thought colors the feeling of the whole day. She wished that Lady Emily should at once be aware that she was by her side. She opened her eyes and a smile broke over her face when she perceived her nurse, but Margaret did not yet speak to her. Every nurse should remember that waking not always to be a gradual operation, and, except in the most triumphant health, is never complete on the opening of the eyes. Margaret, I am better, said Lady Emily at last. I am very glad, my lady. I have been lying awake for some time and I am sure I am better. I don't see strange colored figures floating about the room as I did yesterday. Were you not out of the room a few minutes ago? Just for one moment, my lady. I knew it, but I did not mind it. Yesterday, when you left me, those figures grew ten times as many, the moment you were gone. But you will stay with me today, too, Margaret, she added, with some anxiety. I will if you find you need me, but I may be forced to leave you a little while. This evening, you must try to allow me this, dear Lady Emily. Of course I will. I will be quite patient, I promise you, whatever comes to me. When Harry woke after a very troubled sleep from which he had often started with sudden cries of terror, he made him promise not to increase the confusion of the household by speaking of what he had seen. Harry promised at once, but begged in his turn, that he would not leave him all day. It did not need the pale, scared face of his pupil to enforce the request, for he was already anxious lest the fright the boy had had should exercise a permanently deleterious effect on his constitution. Therefore, he hardly let him out of his sight. But although Harry kept his word, the cloud of perturbation gathered thicker in the kitchen and the servant's hall. Nothing came to the ears of their master and mistress, but gloomy looks, sudden starts and sidelong glances of fear indicated the prevailing character of the feelings of the household. And although Lady Emily was not so ill, she had not yet taken a decided turn for the better, but appeared to suffer from some kind of low fever. The medical man who was called in confessed to Mrs. Elton, that is yet he could say nothing very decided about her condition, but recommended great quiet and careful nursing. Margaret scarcely left her room and the invalid showed far more than the ordinary degree of dependence upon her nurse. In her relation to her, she was more like a child than an invalid. About noon she was better. She called Margaret and said to her, Margaret dear, I should like to tell you one thing that annoys me very much. What is it, dear Lady Emily? That man haunts me. I cannot bear the thought of him, and yet I cannot get rid of him. I am sure he is a bad man. Are you certain he is not here? Yes indeed, my lady. He has not been here since the day before yesterday. And yet when you leave me for an instant, I always feel as if you were sitting in the very seat where you were the moment before. We're just coming to the door and about to open it. That is why I cannot bear you to leave me. Margaret might have confessed to some slighter sensations of the same kind, but they did not oppress her as they did Lady Emily. 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 it wants 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 beautiful, in 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 someday. 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 Savior, 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 treetops went waving in the wind, as they used to do before I was taken ill. I 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, it would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of. For to have been thought about, born in God's thoughts, and 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 the 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 there, motionless, watching. Margaret did not know that at another window, the one indeed next to her own, stood a second watcher. It was Hugh in Harry's room. Harry was asleep in Hughes. He had no light. He stood with his face close against the window pane, on which the moon shone brightly. All below him the woods were half dissolved away in the moonlight. The ghosts 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 labored 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 two turning neither to the right nor the left a second figure veiled in black from head to foot. It is the nun in Lady Euphratesia'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 courage for his blood had begun to flow more equibly. Hugh ventured to approach the spot where the white figure had vanished. He found nothing there but the shadow of a large tree. He walked through the avenue to the end and then back to the house, but saw nothing though he often started at fancy appearances. Surly 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 the 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 34 Chapter 35 of David Elginbrod This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org David Elginbrod by George McDonald Chapter 35 The Bad Man She can't he was nigg gentle knight that she had letten in for neither when he gade nor came kissed he her cheek or chin. He neither kissed her when he came nor clapped at her when he gade and in and out at her bower window the moon shone like the glade. Glen kindy old scotch ballad When Euphra recovered from the swoon into which she had fallen for I need hardly explained to my readers that it was she who walked the ghost's walk in white unseen Margaret whom under the irresistible influences of the moonlight and a bad conscience she took for the very being whom Euphra herself was personating. When 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 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 massive 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 the tree. I shall be found out some day. I have been already seen wandering through the house at midnight with the heart of a thief. I hate you count Halkar. The low laugh was the count's only reply. And now Lady Euphrasia herself dogs my steps to keep me from the ring. She gave a low cry of agony at the remembrance. Miss Cameron, Euphra, are you going to give way to such folly? Folly? Is it not worth folly to torture a poor girl as you do me all for a worthless ring? What can you want with the ring? I do not know that he has it even. You lie. You know he has. You need not think to take me in. You baseman. You dare not give the lie to any but a woman. Why? Because you are a coward. You are afraid of Lady Euphrasia yourself. See there. Von Funkelstein glanced around him uneasily. It was only the moonlight on the bark of a silver birch. Conscience of having betrayed weakness, he grew spiteful. If you do not behave to me better I will compel you. Rise up. After a moment's hesitation she rose. Put your arms around me. She seemed to grow to the earth and to drag herself from it one foot after another. But she came close up to the Bohemian and put one arm half around him looking to the earth all the time. Kiss me. Count Halkar. Her voice sounded hollow and harsh as if from a dead throat. I will do what you please. Only release me. Go then. But mind you resist me no more. I do not care for your kisses. You were ready enough once. But that idiot of a tutor has taken my place I see. What to God I had never seen you. Never yielded to your influence over me. Swear that I shall be free if I find you the ring. You find the ring first. Why should I swear? I can compel you. You know you laid yourself out to entrap me first with your arts and I only turned upon you with mine. And you are in my power. But you shall be free notwithstanding and I will torture you till you free yourself. Find the ring. Cruel. Cruel. You are doing all you can to ruin me. On the contrary I am doing all I can to save myself. If you had loved me as you allowed me to think once I should never have made you my tool. You would all the same. Take care. I am irritable tonight. For a few moments you for made no reply. To what will you drive me she said at last. I will not go too far. I should lose my power over you if I did. I prefer to keep it. Inexorable man. Yes. Another despairing pause. What am I to do? Nothing. But keep yourself ready to carry out any plan that I may propose. Something will turn up now that I have got into the house myself. Leave me to find out the means. I can expect no invention from your brains. You can go home. You've returned without another word and went, murmuring, as if in excuse to herself. It is for my freedom. It is for my freedom. Of course this account must have come originally from Euphra herself. For there was no one else to tell it. She at least believed herself compelled to do what the man pleased. Some of my readers will put her down as insane. She may have been. But for my part I believe there is such a power of one being over another. Though perhaps only in a rare contact of psychologically peculiar natures. I have testimony enough for that. She had yielded to his will once. Had she not done so he could not have compelled her. But having once yielded she had not strength sufficient to free herself again. Whether even he could free her further than by merely abstaining from the exercise of the power he had gained I doubt much. It is evident that he had come to the neighborhood of Arnstead for the sake of finding her and exercising his power over her for his own ends. That he had made her come to him once if not often her before he met Hugh and by means of his acquaintance obtained admission into Arnstead. Once admitted he had easily succeeded by his efforts to please. In so far ingratiating himself with Mr. Arnold that now the house door stood open to him and he had even his recognized seat at the dinner table. Chapter thirty-five. Chapter thirty-six of David Elginbrod. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org. David Elginbrod by George McDonald. Chapter thirty-six. Spirit versus materialism. Next this marble venom seat smeared with gums of glutinous heat. I touched with chase palms moist and cold. Now the spell hath lost his hold. Milton. Comus. Next morning Lady Emily felt better and wanted to get up but her eyes were still too bright and her hands too hot and Margaret would not hear of it. Fonda's Lady Emily was in general of Mrs. Elton's society. She did not care to have her with her now and got tired of her when Margaret was absent. They had taken care not to allow Ms. Cameron to enter the room but today there was not much likelihood of her making the attempt for she did not appear at breakfast sending a message to her uncle that she had a bad headache but hoped to take her place at the dinner table. During the day Lady Emily was better but restless by fits. Were you not out of the room for a little while last night Margaret? She said rather suddenly. Yes my lady I told you I should have to go perhaps. I remember I thought you had gone but I was not in the least afraid and that dreadful man never came near me. I do not know when you returned. Perhaps I had fallen asleep but when I thought about you next there you were by my bedside. I shall not have to leave you tonight was all Margaret's answer. As for Hugh when first he woke the extraordinary experiences of the previous night appeared to him to belong only to the night and to have no real relation to the daylight world but a little reflection soon convinced him of the contrary and then he went through the duties of the day like one who had nothing to do with them. The phantoms he had seen even occupied some of the thinking space formerly appropriated by the image of Euphra though he knew to his concern that she was ill and confined to her room. He had heard the message sent to Mr. Arnold however and so kept hoping for the dinner hour. With it came Euphra very pale. Her eyes had an unsettled look and there were dark hollows under them. She would start and look sideways without any visible cause and was thus very different from her usual self. Ordinarily remarkable for self-possession almost a coolness of manner and speech. Hugh saw it and became both distressed and speculative in consequence. It did not diminish his discomfort that about the middle of dinner Funkelstein was announced. Was it then that Euphra had been tremulously expectant of him? This is an unforeseen pleasure Herr von Funkelstein said Mr. Arnold. It is very good of you to call it a pleasure Mr. Arnold said he. Miss Cameron but good heavens how ill you look. Don't be alarmed I have only caught the plague. Only was all Funkelstein said in reply yet Hugh thought he had no right to be so solicitous about Euphra's health. As the gentlemen sat at their wine Mr. Arnold said I am anxious to have one more trial of those strange things you have brought to our knowledge I have been thinking about them ever since. Of course I am at your service Mr. Arnold but don't you think for the lady's sake we have had enough of it. You are very considerate Herr von Funkelstein but they need not be present if they do not like it. Very well Mr. Arnold. They adjourned once more to the library instead of the drawing room. Hugh went and told Euphra who was alone in the drawing room what they were about. She declined going but insisted on his leaving her and joining the other gentlemen. Hugh left her with much reluctance. Margaret said Lady Emily I am certain that man is in the house. He is my lady answered Margaret. They are about some more of those horrid experiments as they called them. I do not know. Mrs. Elton entering the room at that moment Margaret said do you know ma'am whether the gentlemen are in the library again. I don't know Margaret I hope not we have had enough of that I will go and find out though. Will you take my place for a few minutes first please ma'am. Margaret had felt a growing oppression for some time she had scarcely left a sick room that day. Don't leave me dear Margaret said Lady Emily imploringly. Only for a little while my lady I shall be back in less than a quarter of an hour. Very well Margaret she answered dolefully. Margaret went out into the moonlight and walked for 10 minutes. She sought the more open parts where the winds were. She then returned to the sick chamber refreshed and strong. Now I will go and see what the gentlemen are about said Mrs. Elton. The good lady did not like these proceedings but she was irresistibly attracted by them not withstanding. Having gone to see for Lady Emily she remained to see for herself. After she had left Lady Emily grew more uneasy. Not even Margaret's presence could make her comfortable. Mrs. Elton did not return. Many minutes elapsed Lady Emily said it last. Margaret I am terrified at the idea of being left alone I confess but not so terrified as at the idea of what is going on in that library. Mrs. Elton will not come back. Would you mind just running down to ask her to come to me? I would go with pleasure said Margaret but I don't want to be seen. Margaret did not want to be seen by Hugh. Lady Emily with her dislike to Funkelstein thought Margaret did not want to be seen by him. You will find a black veil of mine she said in that wardrobe just throw it over your head and hold a handkerchief to your face. They will be so busy that they will never see you. Margaret yielded to the request of Lady Emily who herself arranged her headdress for her. Now I must go back a little. When Mrs. Elton reached the room she found it darkened and the gentlemen seated at the table. A running fire of knocks was going on all around. She sat down in a corner. In a minute or two she fancied she saw strange figures moving about generally near the floor and very imperfectly developed. Sometimes only a hand sometimes only a foot shattered itself out of the dim obscurity. She tried to persuade herself that it was all done somehow or other by Funkelstein yet she could not help watching with a curious dread. She was not a very excitable woman and her nerves were safe enough. In a minute or two more the table at which they were seated began to move up and down with a kind of vertical oscillation and several things in the room began to slide about by short apparently purposeless jerks. Everything threatened to assume motion and turned the library into a domestic chaos. Mrs. Elton declared afterwards that several books were thrown about the room but suddenly everything was as still as the moonlight. Every chair and table was at rest looking perfectly incapable of motion. Mrs. Elton felt that she dared not say they had moved at all so utterly ordinary was their appearance. Not a sound was to be heard from corner or ceiling. After a moment's silence Mrs. Elton was quite restored to her sound mind as she said and left the room. Some adverse influence is at work said Funkelstein with some vexation. What is in that closet? So sane he approached the door of the private staircase and opened it. They saw him start aside in a veiled dark figure pass him across the library and go out by another door. I have my suspicions said Funkelstein with a rather tremulous voice and your fears too I think. Grant it now said Mr. Arnold. Granted Mr. Arnold let us go to the drawing room. Just as Margaret had reached the library door at the bottom of the private stair either a puff of wind from an open loophole window or some other cause destroyed the arrangement of the veil and made it fall quite over her face. She stopped for a moment to readjust it. She had not quite succeeded when Funkelstein opened the door. Without an instant hesitation she let the veil fall and walked forward. Mrs. Elton had gone to her own room on her way to Lady Emily's. When she reached the ladder she found Margaret seated as she had left her by the bedside Lady Emily said I did not miss you Margaret have so much as I expected but indeed you were not many moments gone I do not care for that man now he can't hurt me can he? Certainly not I hope you will give you no more trouble either dear Lady Emily but if I might presume to advise you I would say get well as soon as you can and leave this place why should I you frighten me Mr. Arnold is very kind to me the place quite suits Lady Emily I am sure Margaret but Lady Emily is not so well as when she came no but that is not the fault of the place said Lady Emily I am sure it is all that horrid man's doing how else will you get rid of him then what if he wants to get rid of you what harm can I be doing a poor girl like me I don't know but I fear there is something not right going on we will tell Mr. Arnold at once said Mrs. Elton but what could you tell him ma'am Mr. Arnold is hardly one to listen to your maid's suspicions dear Lady Emily you must get well and go I will try said Lady Emily submissive as a child I think you will be able to get up for a little while tomorrow a tap came to the door it was Euphratesia inquiring after Lady Emily ask Miss Cameron to come in said the invalid she entered her manner was much changed was subdued and suffering dear Miss Cameron you and I ought to change places I'm sorry to see you looking so ill said Lady Emily I have had a headache all day so be quite well tomorrow thank you I intend to be so too said Lady Emily cheerfully after some little talk you for went holding her hand to her forehead Margaret did not look up all the time she was in the room but went on busily with her needle that night was a peaceful one chapter 36 chapter 37 of David Elginbrod this is a Libra Vox recording all Libra Vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Libra Vox.org David Elginbrod by George McDonald chapter 37 The Ring Shining Crystal Witch out of her womb a thousand rayons through Belay translated by Spencer the next day Lady Emily was very nearly as well as she had proposed being she did not however make her appearance below Mr Arnold hearing at luncheon that she was out of bed immediately sent up his compliments with the request that he might be permitted to see her on his return from the neighboring village where he had some business to this lady Emily gladly consented he sat with her a long time talking about various things for the presence of the girl reminding him of his young wife brought out the best of the man lying yet alive under the incrustation of self-importance and its inevitable stupidity at length subject of further conversation failing I wonder what we can do to amuse you Lady Emily thank you Mr Arnold I'm not at all dull with my kind friend Mrs Alton and she would have said Margaret but became instinctively aware that the mention of her would make Mr Arnold open his eyes for he did not even know her name and that he would stare yet wider when he learned that the valued companion referred to was Mrs Elton's maid Mr Arnold left the room and presently returned with his arms filled with all the drawing room books he could find with grand bindings outside and equally grand plates inside these he heaped on the table beside Lady Emily who tried to look interested but scarcely succeeded the Mr Arnold satisfaction for he presently said you don't seem to care much about these dear Lady Emily I dare say you have looked at them already in this dull house of ours this was a wonderful admission from Mr Arnold he pondered then exclaimed as if he had just made a grand discovery I have it I know something that will interest you do not trouble yourself pray Mr Arnold said Lady Emily but he was already halfway to the door he went to his own room and his own strong closet there in returning toward the imbued quarters with an ebony box of considerable size he found it rather heavy and meeting you for by the way requested her to take one of the silver handles and help him to carry it to Lady Emily's room she started when she saw it but merely said with pleasure uncle now Lady Emily said he as setting down the box he took out a curious antique enameled key we shall be able to amuse you for a little while he opened the box and displayed such a glitter and show as would have delighted the eyes of any lady all kinds of strange ornaments ancient watches one of them a death's head in gold cameo necklaces pearls abundant diamonds rubies and all the colors of precious stones every one of them having some history whether known to the owner or not gems that had flashed on many a fair finger and many a shiny neck lay before Lady Emily's delighted eyes but you phrase his eyes shown as she gazed on them with a very different expression from that which sparkled in Lady Emily's they seem to search them with fingers of lightning Mr. Arnold chose two or three and gave Lady Emily her choice of them I could not think of depriving you there of no use to me said Mr. Arnold making light of the handsome offer you are too kind I should like this ring take it then dear lady Emily you for his eyes were not on the speakers nor was any envy to be seen in her face she still gazed at the jewels in the box the chosen gem was put aside and then one after another the various articles were taken out and examined at length a large gold chain set with emeralds was lifted from where it lay coiled up in a corner a low cry like a muffled moan escaped from you phrasey as lips and she turned her head away from the box what is the matter you fra said Mr. Arnold a sudden shoot of pain I beg your pardon dear uncle I fear I'm not quite so well yet as I thought I was how stupid of me do sit down I fear the weight of the box was too much for you not in the least I want to see the pretty things but you have seen them before no uncle you promised to show them to me but you never did you see what I get by being ill said lady Emily the chain was examined admired and laid aside where it had lain they now observed in the corner a huge stone like a diamond what is this said lady Emily taking it up oh I see it is a ring but such a ring for size I never saw do look miss Cameron for miss Cameron was not looking she was leaning her head on her hand and her face was ashy pale lady Emily tried the ring on any two of her fingers would go into the broad gold circlet beyond which the stone projected far in every direction indeed the ring was attached to the stone rather than the stone set in the ring that is a curious thing is it not said mr. Arnold it is of no value in itself I believe it is nothing but a crystal but it seems to have been always thought something of in this family I presume from its being evidently the very ring painted by Sir Peter Lully in that portrait of Lady Euphratesia which I showed you the other day it is a clumsy affair is it not it might have occurred to mr. Arnold that such a thing must have been thought something of before its owner would have chosen to wear it when sitting for her portrait lady Emily was just going to lay it down when she spied something that made her look at it more closely what curious engraving is this upon the gold she asked I do not know indeed answered mr. Arnold I have never observed it look at it then all over the gold what it first looks only like chasing is I do believe words the character looks to me like German I wish I could read it I am but a poor German scholar do look at it please dear miss Cameron Euphra glanced slightly at it without touching it and said I am sure I could make nothing of it but she added as if struck by a sudden thought as Lady Emily seems interested in it suppose we send for mr. Sutherland I have no doubt he will be able to decipher it she rose as if she would go for him herself but apparently on second thoughts went to the bell and rang it oh do not trouble yourself interposed Lady Emily in a tone that showed she would like it not withstanding no trouble at all answered Euphra and her uncle in a breath Jacob said mr. Arnold take my compliments to mr. Sutherland and ask him to step this way the man went and he came there's a puzzle for you mr. Sutherland said mr. Arnold as he entered decipher that inscription and gain the favor of Lady Emily forever as he spoke he put the ring in Hugh's hand he recognized it at once ah this is Lady Euphrasia's wonderful ring said he Euphra cast on him one of her sudden glances what do you know about it said mr. Arnold hastily Euphra flashed at him once more covertly I only know that this is the ring in her portrait anyone may see that it is a very wonderful ring indeed by only looking at it answered Hugh smiling I hope it is not too wonderful for you to get at the mystery of it though mr. Sutherland said Lady Emily Lady Emily is dying to understand the inscription said Euphrasia by this time Hugh was turning it round and round trying to get a beginning to the legend but in this he met with the difficulty the fact was that the initial letter of the inscription could only be found by looking into the crystal held close to the eye the words seemed not altogether unknown to him though the characters were a little strange and the words themselves were undivided the dinner bell rang dear me how the time goes in your room Lady Emily said mr. Arnold he was never known to keep dinner waiting a moment will you venture to go down with us today I fear I must not today tomorrow I hope but do put up these beauties before you go I dare not touch them without you and it is so much more pleasure seeing them when I have you to tell me about them well throw them in said mr. Arnold pretending in indifference he did not feel the reality of dinner must not be postponed to the fancy of jewels all this time Hugh had stood pouring over the ring at the window whether he had taken it for better light as the shadows were falling you for a busy yourself replacing everything in the box when all were in she hastily shut the lid well mr. Sutherland said mr. Arnold I seem on the point of making it out mr. Arnold but I certainly have not succeeded yet confess yourself vanquished then and come to dinner I am very unwilling to give in for I feel convinced that if I had leisure to copy the inscription as far as I can read it I should with the help of my dictionary soon supply the rest I am very unwilling as well to lose a chance of the favor of lady Emily yes do read it if you can I too am dying to hear it said you fra will you trust me with it mr. Arnold I will take the greatest care of it oh certainly replied mr. Arnold with a little hesitation in his tone however of which he was too eager to take any notice he carried it to his room immediately and laid it beside his manuscript verses in the hiding place of the old escortoir he was in the drawing room a moment after there he found you fra and the bohemian alone one funkelstein had in an incredibly short space of time established himself as house front and came and went as he pleased they looked as if they had been interrupted in a hurried and earnest conversation their faces were so impassive yet you fra's war considerably heightened color a more articulate indication she could school her features but not her complexion and chapter 37 of David Elgin Broad this is a Libra box recording all Libra box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit Libra box dot org David Elgin Broad by George McDonald chapter 38 the wager he stakes this ring and would so had it been a carbuncle of Phoebus's wheel and might so safely had it been all the worth of his car symboling Hugh of course had an immediate attack of jealousy wishing to show it in one quarter and hide it in every other he carefully abstained from looking once in the direction of you fra while throughout the dinner he spoke to everyone else as often as there was the smallest pretext for doing so to enable himself to keep this up he drank wine freely as he was in general very moderate by the time the ladies rose it had begun to affect his brain it was not half so potent however in its influences as the parting glance which you fra succeeded at last as she left the room in sending through his eyes to his heart he sat down to the table again with a quieter tongue but a busier brain he drank still without thinking of the consequences a strong will kept him from showing any signs of intoxication but he was certainly nearer to that state than he had ever been in his life before the bohemian started the new subject which generally followed the lady's departure how long is it since arnstead was first said to be haunted mr arnold haunted her von funkelstein i'm at a loss to understand you replied mr arnold who resented any such illusion being subversive of the honor of his house almost as much as if it had been depreciative of his own i beg your pardon mr arnold i thought it was an open subject of remark so it is said you everyone knows that mr arnold was struck dumb with indignation before he had recovered himself sufficiently to know what to say the conversation between the other two had assumed a form to which his late experiences inclined him to listen with some degree of interest but his pride sternly forbidding him to join in it he sat sipping his wine in careless sublimity you have seen it yourself then said the bohemian i did not say that answered you but i heard one of the maids say once when he paused this hesitation of his witnessed against him afterwards in mr arnold's judgment but he took no notice now he ended tamely enough why it is commonly reported amongst the servants with the blue light such as we saw that night from the library window i suppose i did not say that answered you besides it was nothing of the sort you saw from the library it was only the moon but he paused again von funkelstein saw the condition he was in and pressed him you know something more mr southerland he hesitated again but only for a moment well then he said i have seen the specter myself walking in her white grave clothes in the ghost avenue ha ha funkelstein looked anxious were you not frightened said he frightened repeated you in a tone of the greatest contempt i am of danjuan's opinion with regard to such gentry what is that that's soul and body on the whole are odds against the disembodied soul provo cried the count you despise all these tales about lady eufrasia wandering about the house with the death candle in her hand looking everywhere about as if she had lost something and couldn't find it it poo poo i wish i could meet her then you don't believe a word of it i don't say that there would be less of courage than boasting and talking so if i did not believe a word of it then you do believe it but he was too much of a scotchman to give a hasty opinion or rather a direct answer even when half tipsy especially when such was evidently desired he only shook and nodded his head at the same moment but you really mean you would meet her if you could i do then if all tales are true you may without much difficulty for the coachman told me only today that you may see her light in the window of that room almost any night towards midnight he told me too for i made quite a friend of him today on purpose to hear his tales that one of the maids who left the other day told the groom and he told the coachman that she had once her talking and peeping through the keyhole of a door that led into that part of the old house saw a figure dressed exactly like the picture of lady eufrasia wandering up and down wringing her hands and beating her breast as if she were in terrible trouble she had a light in her hand which burned awfully blue and her face was the face of a corpse with pale green spots you think to frighten me funkelstein and make me tremble at what i said a minute ago instead of repeating that i say now i will sleep in lady eufrasia's room this night if you like i lay you a hundred guineas you won't cry the bohemian don said you offering his hand funkelstein took it and so the bet was committed to the decision of courage well gentlemen interpose mr. arnold at last you might have left a corner for me somewhere without my permission you will hardly settle your wager i beg your pardon mr. arnold said funkelstein we got rather excited over it and forgot our manners but i am quite willing to give it up if mr. sutherland will not i said you that is of course if mr. arnold has no objection of course not my house ghost and all is at your service gentlemen responded mr. arnold rising they went to the drawing room mr. arnold strange to say was in a good humor you walked up to mrs. elton and said these wicked men have been betting mrs. elton i am surprised they should be so silly said she with a smile taking it as a joke what have they been betting about said yufra coming up to her uncle harvon funkelstein has laid a hundred guineas that mr. sutherland will not sleep in lady yufrasia's room tonight yufra turned pale by sleep i suppose you mean spend the night said you to funkelstein i cannot be certain of sleeping you know of course i mean that answered the other and turning to yufrasia continued i must say i consider it rather courageous of him to dare the specter as he does for he cannot say he disbelieves in her but come and sing me one of the old songs he added in an undertone yufra allowed him to lead her to the piano but instead of singing a song to him she played some noisy music through which he and she contrived to talk for some time without being overheard after which he left the room yufra then looked around to hue and begged him with her eyes to come to her he could not resist burning with jealousy as he was are you sure you have nerve enough for this hue she said still playing i have had nerve enough to sit still and look at you for the last half hour answered hue rudely she turned pale and glanced up at him with a troubled look then without responding to his answer said i dare say the count is not over anxious to hold you to your vet they intercede for me with the count madame answered you sarcastically he would not wish the young fool to be frightened i dare say but perhaps he wishes to have an interview with the ghost himself and grudges me the privilege she turned deadly pale this time and gave him one terrified glance but made no other reply to his words still she played on you will arm yourself against the ghost yes with a stout heart but don't forget the secret door through which we came that night hue i distrust the count the last words are spoken in a whisper emphasized into almost a hiss tell him i shall be armed i tell you i shall meet him barehanded betray me if you like hue had taken his revenge and now came the reaction he gazed at you from but instead of the injured look which was the best he could hope to see an expression of pity and ruth grew slowly in her face making it more lovely than ever in his eyes at last she seemed on the point of bursting into tears and suddenly changing the music she began playing a dead march she kept her eyes on the keys once more only she glanced around to see whether he was still by her side and he saw that her face was pale as death and wet with silent tears he had never seen her week before he would have fallen at her feet had he been alone with her to hide his feelings he left the room and then the house he wandered into the ghostwalk and finding himself there walked up and down in it this was certainly throwing the lady a bold challenge seeing he was going to spend the night in her room the excitement into which jealousy had thrown him had been suddenly checked by the side of you for his tears the reaction to after his partial intoxication had already begun to set in to be accounted for partly by the fact that its source had been chiefly champagne and partly by the other fact that he had bound himself in honor to dare specter in her own favorite haunt on the other hand the side of you for his emotion had given him a far better courage than jealousy or one could afford yet after ten minutes passed in the shadows of the ghostwalk he would not have taken the bed at ten times its amount but to lose it now would have been a serious affair for him the disgrace of failure unconsidered if he could have lost a hundred guineas it would have been comparatively a slight matter but to lose a bet and be utterly unable to pay it would be disgraceful no better than positive cheating he had not thought of this at the time nor even now was it more than a passing thought for he had not the smallest desire to recede the ambition of proving his courage to yufra and far more the strength just afforded him by the side of her tears were quite sufficient to carry him on to the ordeal whether they would carry him through it with dignity he did not ask himself and after all would the ghost appear at the best she might not come at the very worst she would be but a ghost and he could say with hamlet for my soul what can it do to that being a thing immortal as itself but then his jealousy having for the moment intermitted he was not able to say with hamlet i do not set my life a pins fee and that had much to do with hamlet's courage in the affair of the ghost he walked up and down the avenue till beginning to feel the night chilly he began to feel the avenue eerie for cold is very antagonistic to physical courage but what refuge would he find in the ghost's room he returned to the drawing room on funkelstein and yufra were there alone but in no proximity mr arnold soon entered shall i have the bed prepared for you mr southerland said yufra which of your maids will you persuade to that office said mr arnold with a facetious expression i must do it myself answered yufra if mr southerland persists he saw or thought he saw the bohemian dart and angry glance at yufra who shrank under it but before he could speak mr arnold rejoined you can make a bed then that is the housemaid's phrase is it not i can do anything another can uncle bravo can you see the ghost yes she answered with a low lingering on the sibilant looking round at the same time with an expression that implied a hope that he would hurt it as indeed he did what yufra too said mr arnold in a tone of gentle contempt do not disturb the ghost's bed for me said he would be a pity to disarrange it after it is lain so for an age besides i need not rouse the wrath of the poor specter more than can't be helped if i must sleep in a room i need not sleep in her bed i will lie on the old couch have on funkelstein what proof shall i give you your word mr southerland replied funkelstein with the bow thank you at what hour must i be there oh i don't know by 11 i should think oh anytime before midnight that's the ghost's own is it not it is now let me see almost 10 then i will go at once said he thinking it better to meet the gradual approach of the phantom hour in the room itself than to walk there through the desolate house and enter the room just as the fear would be gathering thickest within it besides he was afraid that his courage might have broken down a little by that time and that he would not be able to conceal entirely the anticipative dread whose inroad he had reason to apprehend i have one good cup of tea yet mr southerland said you fro will you not strengthen your nerves with that before we lead you to the tomb and then she will go with me thought you i will thank you miss cameron he approached the table at which he stood pouring out the cup of tea she said low and hurriedly without raising her head don't go dear hugh you don't know what may happen i will go you fro not even you shall prevent me i will pay the wager for you lend you the money you fro the tone implied many things mr arnold approached other conversation followed as half past ten chime from the clock on the chimney piece hugh rose to go i will just get a book from my room he said and then perhaps harvon funkelstein will be kind enough to see me make a beginning at least certainly i will i advise you to let the book be edgar poe's tales no i shall need all the courage i have i assure you i shall find you here yes he went to his room and washed his face in hands before doing so he pulled off his finger a ring of considerable value which had belonged to his father as he was leaving the room to return to the company he remembered that he had left the ring on the wash handstand he generally left it there at night but now he but thought himself that as he was not going to sleep in the room it might be as well to place it in the escrow to our he opened the secret place and laid the diamond beside his poems and the crystal ring belonging to mr arnold this done he took up his book again and returning to the drawing room found the whole party prepared to accompany him mr arnold had the keys von funkelstein and he went first and he followed with yufra we will not contribute to your disconfiture by locking the doors on the way mr southerland said mr arnold that is you will not compel me to win the wager in spite of my fears said you but you will let the ghost loose on the household said the bohemian laughing i will be responsible for that replied mr arnold yufra drooped a little behind with you remember the secret passage said she you can get out when you will whether they locked the door or not don't carry it too far you the ghost you mean yufra i don't think i shall set you laughing but as he laughed an involuntary shutter passed through him have i stepped over my own grave thought he they reached the room and entered he would have begged them to lock him in had he not felt that his knowledge of the secret door would although he intended no use of it render such a proposal dishonorable they gave him the key of the door to lock it on the inside and bait him good night they were just leaving him when hu on whom i knew light had broken at last in the gradual restoration of his faculties said to the bohemian one word with you herobon funkelstein if you please funkelstein followed him into the room when hu half closing the door said i trust to your sympathy as a gentleman not to misunderstand me i wagered a hundred guineas with you in the heat of after-dinner talk i am not at present worth a hundred shillings oh began funkelstein with the sneer if you wish to get off on that ground herobon funkelstein interrupted you in a very decided tone i pointed to your sympathy as a gentleman as the ground on which i had hoped to meet you now if you have difficulty in finding that ground another may be found tomorrow without much seeking he paused for a moment after making this grand speech but funkelstein did not seem to understand him he stood in a waiting attitude he therefore went on meantime what i wanted to say is this i have just left a ring in my room which though in value considerably below the some mention between us may yet be a pledge of my good faith in as far as it is of infinitely more value to me than can be reckoned in money it was the property of one who by birth and perhaps by social position as well was here on funkelstein's equal the ring is a diamond and belonged to my father von funkelstein merely replied i beg your pardon mr. southerland for misunderstanding you the ring is quite an equivalent and making him a respectful bow he turned and left him after 38 after 39 of david elgin broad this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org david elgin broad by george mcdonald chapter 39 the lady ephrasia the black jades of swart knight trot foggy rings about heavens brow is now stark dead knight john marston second part of antonio and melida as soon as he was alone his first action was to lock the door by which he had entered the next was to take the key from the lock and put it in his pocket he then looked if there were any other fastenings and finding an old tarnished brass bolt as well succeeded in making it do its duty for the first time that century which required some persuasion is maybe suspected he then turned towards the other door as he crossed the room he found four candles a decanter of port and some biscuits on a table placed there no doubt by the kind hand of yufra he vowed to himself that he would not touch the wine i've had enough of that for one night said he but he lighted the candles and then saw that the couch was provided with plenty of wraps for the night one of them he recognized who is the light was a camera in tartan often worn by yufra he buried his face in it for a moment and drew from it fresh courage he then went into the furthest recess lifted the tapestry and proceeded to fasten the concealed door but to his disconfiture he could find no fastening upon it no doubt thought he it does fasten in some secret way or other but he could discover none there was no mark of bolt or socket to show whence one had been removed nor sign of friction to indicate that the door had ever been made secure in such fashion it closed with the spring then said heu apostrophizing the door i must watch you as however it was not yet near the time when ghosts are to be expected and as he felt very tired he drank one glass of the wine and throwing himself on the couch crew yufra shawl over him opened his book and began to read but the words soon vanished into bewildering dance and he slept he started awake in that agony of fear in which i suppose most people have awaked in the night once or twice in their lives he felt that he was not alone but the feeling seemed when he recalled it to have been altogether different from that with which we recognize the presence of the most unwelcome bodily visitor the whole of his nervous skeleton seemed to shudder and contract every sense was intensified to the acme of its acuteness while the powers of volition were inoperative he could not move a finger the moment in which he first saw the object i am about to describe he could not recall the impression made seemed to have been too strong for the object receiving it destroying us its own traces as an overheated brand iron wood in dry timber or it may be that after such a presentation the cause of it could not surprise him he saw a few paces off bending as if looking down upon him a face which if described as he described it would be pronounced as far past the most liberal boundary line of art as itself had passed beyond that degree of change at which a human countenance is fit for the upper world no longer and must be hidden away out of sight the lips were dark and drawn back from the closed teeth which were white as those of a skull there were spots in fact the face corresponded exactly to the description given by funkels von of the reported ghost of lady eufrasia the dress was point for point corresponded to that in the picture had the portrait of lady eufrasia been hanging on the wall above instead of the portrait of the unknown nun he would have thought as far as dress was concerned that it had come alive and stepped from its frame except for one thing there was no ring on the thumb it was wonderful to himself afterwards that he should have observed all these particulars but the fact was that they rather burnt themselves in upon his brain than were taken notice of by him they returned upon him afterwards by degrees as one becomes sensible of the pain of a wound but there was one sign of life though the eyes were closed tears flowed from them and seemed to have worn channels for their constant flow down the face of death which ought to have been lying still in the grave returning to its dust and was weeping above ground instead the figure stood for a moment as the one who would gaze could she but open her heavy death rusted eyelids then as if in hopeless defeat she turned away and then to crown the horror literally as well as figuratively he saw that her hair sparkled and gleamed goldenly as the hair of a saint might if the Oreo were combed down into it she moved towards the door with a fettered pace such as one might attribute to the dead if they walked to the dead body I say not to the living ghost to that which has lain in the prison hall till the joints are decayed with the grave dams and the muscles are stiff with more than deathly cold she dragged one limb after the other slowly into appearance painfully as she moved towards the door which he would lock when she had gone halfway to the door he lying as he was on a couch could see her feet for her dress did not reach the ground they were bare as the feet of the dead ought to be which are about to tread softly in the realm of Hades but how stained and moldy and iron spotted as if the rain had been soaking through the sponging coffin did the dress show beside the pure whiteness of those exquisite feet not a sign of the tomb was upon them small living delicately formed who could he have forgotten the face they bore above might have envied the floor which in their nakedness they seemed to caress so lingeringly did they move from it in their noiseless progress she reached the door put out her hand and touched it he saw it open outwards and let her through nor did this strike him as in the smallest degree marvelous it closed again behind her noiseless as her footfall the moment she vanished the power of motion returned to him and he sprang to his feet he leaped to the door with trembling handy inserted the key and the locked creek as he turned it in proof of his being intolerable possession of his faculties at the moment and that what he was relating to me actually occurred told me that he remembered at once that he had heard that peculiar creek a few moments before euphora and he discovered that they were left alone in this very chamber he had never thought of it before still the door would not open it was bolted as well and the bolt was very stiff to withdraw but at length he succeeded when he reached the passage outside he thought he saw the glimmer of a light perhaps in the picture gallery beyond towards this he groped his way he could never account for the fact that he left the candles burning in the room behind him and went forward into the darkness except by supposing that his wits had gone astray in consequence of the shock the apparition had occasioned them when he reached the gallery there was no light there but somewhere in the distance he saw or fancied a faint shimmer the impulse to go towards it was too strong to be disputed with he advanced without stretched arms groping after a few steps he had lost all idea of where he was or how we ought to proceed in order to reach any known quarter the light had vanished he stood was that a stealthy step he heard beside him in the dark he had no time to speculate for the next moment he fell senseless end chapter 39 chapter 40 of David Elginbrod this is a LibraVox recording all LibraVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibraVox.org David Elginbrod by George McDonald chapter 40 next morning darkness is fled look infant moon hath drawn bright silver curtains about the couch of night and now Aurora's horse trots as your rings breathing fair light about the firmament stand what's that John Marston second part of Antonio and Melida when he came to himself it was with a slow flowing of the tide of consciousness his head ached had he fallen downstairs or had he struck his head against some projection and so stunned himself the last he remembered was standing quite still in the dark and hearing something had he been knocked down he could not tell where was he could the ghost have been all a dream and his headache be nature's revenge upon last night's wine for he lay on the couch in the haunted chamber and on his bosom lay the book over which he had dropped asleep mingled with all this doubt there was another for he remembered that when consciousness first returned he felt as if he had seen Euphra's face bending down close over his could it be possible had Euphra herself come to see how he had fared the room laying the gray light of the dawn the Euphra was nowhere visible could she have vanished ashamed through the secret door or had she been only a fantasy a projection outwards of the form that dwelt in his brain a phenomenon often occurring when the last of sleeping and the first of waking are indistinguishably blended in a vague consciousness but if it was so then the ghost what of it had not his brain by the events of the preceding evening been similarly prepared with regard to it was it not more likely after all that she too was the offspring of his own imagination the power that makes images especially when considered that she exactly corresponded to the description given by the bohemian but had he not observed many points at which the count had not even hinted still it was as natural to expect that an excited imagination should supply the details of a wholly imaginary spectacle is that given the idea of euphra's presence it should present the detail of her countenance for the creation of that which is not belongs as much to the realm of the imagination as the reproduction of that which is it seemed very strange to you himself that he should be able thus to theorize before even he had raised himself from the couch on which perhaps after all he had lain without moving throughout that terrible night swarming with the horrors of the dead that would not sleep but the long unconsciousness in which he had himself visited the regions of death seemed to have restored him in spite of his aching head to perfect mental equilibrium or at least his brain was quite enough to let his mind work still he felt very ghastly within he raised himself on his elbow and looked into the room everything was the same as it had been the night before only with an altered aspect in the dawn light the dawn has a peculiar terror of its own sometimes perhaps even more real in character but very different from the terrors of the night and of candlelight the room looked as if no ghost could have passed through its still old musty atmosphere so perfectly reposeful did it appear and yet it seemed as if some umbra some temporary and now cast off body of the ghost must be lying or lingering somewhere about it he rose and peeped into the recesses where the cabinet stood nothing was there but the well remembered carving and the blackness having once yielded to the impulse he could not keep from peering every moment now into one and now into another of the many hidden corners the next suggesting itself for examination was always one he could not see from where he stood after all even in the daylight there might be some dead thing there who could tell but he remained manfully at his post till the sun rose till bell after bell rang from the turret till in short funkelstein came to fetch him good morning mr. Sutherland said he how have you slept like a somnambulous answered you choosing the word for its intensity i slept so sound that i woke quite early i'm glad to hear it but it is nearly time for breakfast for which ceremony i am myself hardly in trim yet so sane funkelstein turned and walked away with some precipitation what occasioned you a little surprise was that he did not ask him one question more as to how he had passed the night he had of course slept in the house seeing he presented himself in dishevel he hastened to his own room where under the antique ghostile influences of the bath he made up his mind not to say a word about the apparition to anyone well mr. Sutherland how have you spent the night said mr. Arnold greeting him i slept with profound stupidity answered you a stupidity in fact quite worthy of the folly of the preceding wager this was true as relating to the time during which he had slept but was of course false in the impression it gave bravo exclaimed mr. Arnold with an unwanted impulsiveness the best mood i consider in which to meet such creations of other people's brains and you positively pass the pleasant night in the awful chamber that is something to tell you from but she is not down yet you have restored the character of my house mr. Sutherland and next to his own character a man ought to care for that of his house i'm greatly in your debt sir at this moment you for his maid brought the message that her mistress was sorry she was unable to appear at breakfast mrs. Elton took her place the day is so warm and still mr. Arnold that i think lady emily might have a drive today perhaps miss cameron may be able to join us by that time i cannot think what is the matter with you for us said mr. Arnold she never used to be affected in this way should you not seek some medical opinion said mrs. Elton these constant headaches must indicate something wrong the constant headache had occurred just once before since mrs. Elton had formed one of the family after a pause mr. Arnold reverted to the former subject you are most welcome to the carriage mrs. Elton i am sorry i cannot accompany you myself but i must go to town today you can take mr. Sutherland with you if you like he will take care of you i shall be most happy said you so shall we all responded mrs. Elton kindly thank you mr. Arnold though i am sorry you can't go with us what hours shall i order the carriage about one i think we'll have on funkelstein favor us with his company i am sorry replied funkelstein but i too must leave for london today shall i have the pleasure of accompanying you mr. Arnold with all my heart if you can leave so early i must go at once to catch the express train i shall be ready in 10 minutes very well pray mrs. Elton make my aduse to miss cameron i am concerned to hear of her in disposition with pleasure i am going to her now goodbye as soon as mrs. Elton left the breakfast room mr. Arnold rose saying i will walk around to the stable and order the carriage myself i shall then be able through your means mr. Sutherland to put a stop to these absurd rumors in person not that i mean to say anything direct as if i had placed any importance upon it but the coachman being an old servant i shall be able through him to send the report of your courage and its result all over the house this was a very gracious explanation of his measures as he concluded it he left the room without allowing time for a reply hue had not expected such an immediate consequence of his policy and felt rather uncomfortable but he soon consoled himself by thinking at least it will do no harm while mr. Arnold was speaking funkelstein had been riding at a side table he now handed hue a check on a london banking house for a hundred guineas hue and his innocence could not help feeling ashamed of gaining such a sum by such means forbidding like tobacco smoking needs a special training before it can be carried out quite comfortably especially by the winner if he be at all of a generous nature but he felt that to show the least reluctance would place him at great disadvantage with the man of the world like the count he therefore thanked him slightly and thrust the check into his trousers pocket as if a greater sum of money than he had ever handled before were nothing more for him to win than the count would choose it to be considered for him to lose he thought with himself oh well i need not make use of it and repaired to the school room here he found harry waiting for him looking tolerably well and tolerably happy this was a great relief to hue for he had not seen him at the breakfast table harry having risen early and breakfast did it before and he had felt very uneasy lest the boys should have missed him in the night for they were still bedfellows and should in consequence have had one of his dreadful attacks of fear it was evident that this had not taken place and chapter 40 chapter 41 of david elgin broad this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org david elgin broad by george mcdonald chapter 41 an accident there's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow hamlet when mrs elton left the breakfast table she went straight to miss kameron's room to inquire after her expecting to find her maid with her but when she knocked at the door there was no reply she went therefore to her own room and sent her maid to find euphra's maid she came is your mr. is going to get up today jane asked mrs elton i don't know ma'am she has not rung yet have you not been to see how she is no ma'am how was it you brought that message at breakfast then jane looked confused and did not reply jane said mrs elton in a tone of objugation well ma'am she told me to so say so answer jane how did she tell you jane paused again through the door ma'am she answered at length and then muttered that they would make her tell laws by asking her questions she couldn't answer and she wished she was out of the house that she did mrs elton heard this and of course felt considerably puzzled will you go now please and inquire after your mistress with my compliments i darent ma'am darent what do you mean well ma'am there is something about my mistress here she stopped abruptly but as mrs elton stood expecting she tried to go on all she could add however was no ma'am i darent but there is no harm in going to her room oh no ma'am i go to her room summer and winter at seven o'clock every morning answer jane apparently glad to be able to say something why won't you go now then why why because she told me here the girl stammered and turned pale at length she forced out the words she won't let me tell you why and burst into tears won't let you tell me repeated mrs elton beginning to think the girl must be out of her mind jane looked hurriedly over her shoulder as if she expected to see her mistress standing behind her and then said almost defiantly no she won't and i can't with these words she hurried out of the room while mrs elton turned with baffled bewilderment to see counsel from the face of margaret as to what all this meant i am in doubt i have recorded it as margaret told it to hu afterwards because it seems to indicate something it shows evidently enough that if yufra had more than an unusual influence over servants in general she had a great deal more over this made in particular was this in virtue of a power similar to that of count how car over herself and was this or something very different or both combined the art which he had accused her of first exercising upon him might the fact that her defeat had resulted in such absolute subjection be connected with her possession of a power similar to his which she had matched with his in vain of course i only suggest these questions i cannot answer them at one o'clock the carriage came around to the door and hu in the hope of seeing yufra alone was the first in the hall mrs elton and lady emily presently came and proceeded to take their places without seeming to expect miss cameron hu helped them into the carriage but instead of getting in lingered hoping that yufra was yet going to make her appearance i fear miss cameron is unable to join us said mrs elton dividing his delay shall i run upstairs and knock at her door said hu do said mrs elton who after the unsatisfactory conversation she had held with her maid had felt both uneasy and curious all the morning he bounded upstairs but just as he was going to knock the door opened and yufra appeared dear yufra how ill you look exclaimed to you she was pale as death and dark under the eyes and had evidently been weeping hush hush she answered never mind it is only a bad headache don't take any notice of it the carriage is at the door will you not come with us with whom lady emily and mrs elton i am sick of them i am going yufra stay with me i must go i promise to take care of them oh nonsense what should happen to them stay with me no i'm very sorry i wish i could then i must go with you i suppose yet her tone expressed annoyance oh thank you cried hu and delight make haste i will run down and tell them to wait he bounded away and told the ladies that yufra would join them in a few minutes that yufra was cool enough to inflict on them quite 20 minutes of waiting by which time she was able to behave with tolerable propriety when she did appear at last she was closely veiled and stepped into the carriage without once showing her face but she made a very pretty apology for the delay she had occasioned which was certainly due seeing it had been perfectly intentional she made room for you he took his place beside her in a way they drove yufra scarcely spoke with big indulgence on the ground of her headache lady emily enjoyed the drive very much and said a great many pleasant little nothings would you like a glass of milk said mrs elton to her as they passed the farmhouse on the estate i should very much answered lady emily the carriage was stopped and the servant sent to beg a glass of milk yufra who from riding backward with the headache had been feeling very uncomfortable for some time wished to get out while the carriage was waiting he jumped out and assisted her she walked a little way leaning on his arm up to the house where she had a glass of water after which she said she felt better and returned with him to the carriage in getting in again either from the carelessness or the weakness occasioned by suffering her foot slipped from the step and she fell with a cry of alarm he caught her as she fell and she would not have been much injured had not the horses started and sprung forward at that moment so that the hind wheel of the carriage passed over her ankle hue raising her in his arms found she was insensible he laid her down upon the grass by the roadside water was procured but she showed no sign of recovering what was to be done mrs. Elton thought she had better be carried to the farmhouse he judged it better to take her home at once to this after a little argument mrs. Elton agreed they lifted her into the carriage and made what arrangements they best could to allow her to recline blood was flowing from her foot and it was so much swollen that it was impossible to guess at the amount of the injury the foot was already twice the size of the other in which you for the first time recognized such a delicacy of form as to his fastidious eye and already ensnared heart would have been perfectly enchanting but for the agony he suffered from the injury to the other yet he could not help the thought crossing his mind that her habit of never lifting her dress was a very strange one and that it must have had something to do with the present accident i cannot account for this habit but on one of two suppositions that of an affected delicacy or that of the desire that the beauty of her feet should have its full power from being rarely seen but it was dreadful to think how far the effects of this accident might permanently injure the beauty of one of them he would have walked home that she might have more room but he knew he could be useful when they arrived he seated himself so as to support the injured foot and prevent in some measure the torturing effects of the motion of the carriage when they had gone about halfway she opened her eyes feebly glanced at him and closed them again with a moan of pain he carried her in his arms up to her own room and later on a couch she thanked him by a pitiful attempt at a smile he mounted his horse and galloped for a surgeon the injury was a serious one but until the swelling could be a little reduced it was impossible to tell how serious the surgeon however feared that some of the bones of the ankle might be crushed the ankle seemed to be dislocated and the suffering was frightful she endured it well however so far as absolute silence constitutes endurance he's misery was extreme the surgeon had required his assistance but a suitable nurse soon arrived and there was no pretext for his further presence in the sick chamber he wandered about the grounds harry haunted his steps like a spaniel the poor boy felt it much and the suffering abstraction of hugh sealed up his chief well of comfort at length he went to mrs. alton who did her best to console him by the surgeon's express orders everyone but the nurse was excluded from you for his room