donal grant-第22章
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lessons。〃
CHAPTER XVII。
LADY ARCTURA。
It was now almost three weeks since Donal had become an inmate of
the castle； and he had scarcely set his eyes on the lady of the
house。 Once he had seen her back； and more than once had caught a
glimpse of her profile； but he had never really seen her face； and
they had never spoken to each other。
One afternoon he was sauntering along under the overhanging boughs
of an avenue of beeches； formerly the approach to a house in which
the family had once lived； but which had now another entrance。 He
had in his hand a copy of the Apocrypha； which he had never seen
till he found this in the library。 In his usual fashion he had
begun to read it through； and was now in the book called the Wisdom
of Solomon； at the 17th chapter； narrating the discomfiture of
certain magicians。 Taken with the beauty of the passage； he sat
down on an old stone…roller； and read aloud。 Parts of the passage
were thesethey will enrich my page：
〃For they； that promised to drive away terrors and troubles from a
sick soul； were sick themselves of fear； worthy to be laughed at。
〃。。。For wickedness； condemned by her own witness； is very timorous；
and being pressed with conscience； always forecasteth grievous
things。
〃。。。But they sleeping the same sleep that night； which was indeed
intolerable； and which came upon them out of the bottoms of
inevitable hell；
〃Were partly vexed with monstrous apparitions； and partly fainted；
their heart failing them： for a sudden fear； and not looked for；
came upon them。
〃So then whosoever there fell down was straitly kept； shut up in a
prison without iron bars。
〃For whether he were husbandman； or shepherd； or a labourer in the
field； he was overtaken； and endured that necessity； which could not
be avoided： for they were all bound with one chain of darkness。
〃Whether it were a whistling wind； or a melodious noise of birds
among the spreading branches； or a pleasing fall of water running
violently；
〃Or a terrible sound of stones cast down； or a running that could
not be seen of skipping beasts； or a roaring voice of most savage
wild beasts； or a rebounding echo from the hollow mountains； these
things made them to swoon for fear。
〃For the whole world shined with clear light； and none were hindered
in their labour：
〃Over them only was spread an heavy night； an image of that darkness
which should afterward receive them： but yet were they unto
themselves more grievous than the darkness。〃
He had read so much； and stopped to think a little； for through the
incongruity of it； which he did not doubt arose from poverty of
imagination in the translator； rendering him unable to see what the
poet meant； ran yet an indubitable vein of awful truth； whether
fully intended by the writer or not mattered little to such a reader
as Donalwhen； lifting his eyes； he saw lady Arctura standing
before him with a strange listening look。 A spell seemed upon her；
her face was white； her lips white and a little parted。
Attracted； as she was about to pass him； by the sound of what was
none the less like the Bible from the solemn crooning way in which
Donal read it to the congregation of his listening thoughts； yet was
certainly not the Bible； she was presently fascinated by the vague
terror of what she heard； and stood absorbed： without much
originative power； she had an imagination prompt and delicate and
strong in response。
Donal had but a glance of her； his eyes returned again at once to
his book； and he sat silent and motionless； though not seeing a
word。 For one instant she stood still； then he heard the soft sound
of her dress as； with noiseless foot； she stole back； and took
another way。
I must give my reader a shadow of her。 She was rather tall；
slender； and fair。 But her hair was dark； and so crinkly that； when
merely parted； it did all the rest itself。 Her forehead was rather
low。 Her eyes were softly dark； and her features very regularher
nose perhaps hardly large enough； or her chin。 Her mouth was rather
thin…lipped； but would have been sweet except for a seemingly
habitual expression of pain。 A pair of dark brows overhung her
sweet eyes； and gave a look of doubtful temper； yet restored
something of the strength lacking a little in nose and chin。 It was
an interestingnot a quite harmonious face； and in happiness might；
Donal thought； be beautiful even。 Her figure was eminently
gracefulas Donal saw when he raised his eyes at the sound of her
retreat。 He thought she needed not have run away as from something
dangerous： why did she not pass him like any other servant of the
house？ But what seemed to him like contempt did not hurt him。 He
was too full of realities to be much affected by opinion however
shown。 Besides； he had had his sorrow and had learned his lesson。
He was a poetbut one of the few without any weak longing after
listening ears。 The poet whose poetry needs an audience； can be but
little of a poet； neither can the poetry that is of no good to the
man himself； be of much good to anybody else。 There are the
song…poets and the life…poets； or rather the God…poems。 Sympathy is
lovely and dearchiefly when it comes unsought； but the fame after
which so many would…be； yea； so many real poets sigh； is poorest
froth。 Donal could sing his songs like the birds； content with the
blue heaven or the sheep for an audienceor any passing angel that
cared to listen。 On the hill…sides he would sing them aloud； but it
was of the merest natural necessity。 A look of estrangement on the
face of a friend； a look of suffering on that of any animal； would
at once and sorely affect him； but not a disparaging expression on
the face of a comparative stranger； were she the loveliest woman he
had ever seen。 He was little troubled about the world； because
little troubled about himself。
Lady Arctura and lord Forgue lived together like brother and sister；
apparently without much in common； and still less of
misunderstanding。 There would have been more chance of their taking
a fancy to each other if they had not been brought up together； they
were now little together； and never alone together。
Very few visitors came to the castle； and then only to call。 Lord
Morven seldom saw any one； his excuse being his health。
But lady Arctura was on terms of intimacy with Sophia Carmichael；
the minister's daughterto whom her father had communicated his
dissatisfaction with the character of Donal； and poured out his
indignation at his conduct。 He ought to have left the parish at
once！ whereas he had instead secured for himself the best； the only
situation in it； without giving him a chance of warning his
lordship！ The more injustice her father spoke against him； the more
Miss Carmichael condemned him； for she was a good daughter； and
looked up to her father as the wisest and best man in the parish。
Very naturally therefore she repeated his words to lady Arctura。
She in her turn conveyed them to her uncle。 He would not； however；
pay much attention to them。 The thing was done； he said。 He had
himself seen and talked with Donal； and liked him！ The young man
had himself told him of the clergyman's disapprobation！ He would
request him to avoid all reference to religious subjects！ Therewith
he dismissed the matter； and forgot all about it。 Anything
requiring an effort of the will； an arrangement of ideas； or thought
as to mode； his lordship would not encounter。 Nor was anything to
him of such moment that he must do it at once。 Lady Arctura did not
again refer to the matter： her uncle was not one to take liberties
withleast of all to press to action。 But she continued painfully
doubtful whether she was not neglecting her duty； trying to persuade
herself that she was waiting only till she should have something
definite to say of her own knowledge against him。
And now what was she to conclude from his reading the Apocrypha？
The fact was not to be interpreted to his advantage： was he not
reading what was not the Bible as if it were the Bible； and when he
might have been reading the Bible itself？ Besides； the Apocrypha
came so near the Bible when it wa
