Is not salvation the uniting of all our nature into one harmonious whole--God first in us, ourselves last, and all in due order between? Something very much analogous to the change in Euphra takes place in a man when he first learns that his beliefs must become acts; that his religious life and his human life are one;that he must do the thing that he admires. The Ideal is the only absolute Real; and it must become the Real in the individual life as well, however impossible they may count it who never try it, or who do not trust in God to effect it, when they find themselves baffled in the attempt.
In the afternoon, Euphra fell asleep, and when she woke, seemed better. She said to Margaret:
"Can it be that it was all a dream, Margaret? I mean my association with that dreadful man. I feel as if it were only some horrid dream, and that I could never have had anything to do with him. Imay have been out of my mind, you know, and have told you things which I believed firmly enough then, but which never really took place. It could not have been me, Margaret, could it?""Not your real, true, best self, dear."
"I have been a dreadful creature, Margaret. But I feel that all that has melted away from me, and gone behind the sunset, which will for ever stand, in all its glory and loveliness, between me and it, an impassable rampart of defence."Her words sounded strange and excited, but her eye and her pulse were calm.
"How could he ever have had that hateful power over me?""Don't think any more about him, dear, but enjoy the rest God has given you.""I will, I will."
At that moment, a maid came to the door, with Funkelstein's card for Miss Cameron.
"Very well," said Margaret; "ask him to wait. I will tell Miss Cameron. She may wish to send him a message. You may go."She told Euphra that the count was in the house. Euphra showed no surprise, no fear, no annoyance.
"Will you see him for me, Margaret, if you don't mind; and tell him from me, that I defy him; that I do not hate him, only because Idespise and forget him; that I challenge him to do his worst."She had forgotten all about the ring. But Margaret had not.
"I will," said she, and left the room.
On her way down, she went into the drawing-room, and rang the bell.
"Send Mr. Irwan to me here, please. It is for Miss Cameron."The man went, but presently returned, saying that the butler had just stepped out.
"Very well. You will do just as well. When the gentleman leaves who is calling now, you must follow him. Take a cab, if necessary, and follow him everywhere, till you find where he stops for the night. Watch the place, and send me word where you are. But don't let him know. Put on plain clothes, please, as fast as you can.""Yes, Miss, directly."
The servants all called Margaret, Miss.
She lingered yet a little, to give the man time. She was not at all satisfied with her plan, but she could think of nothing better.
Happily, it was not necessary. Irwan had run as fast as his old legs would carry him to the Golden Staff. Hugh received the news with delight. His heart seemed to leap into his throat, and he felt just as he did, when, deer-stalking for the first time, he tried to take aim at a great red stag.
"I shall wait for him outside the door. We must have no noise in the house. He is a thief, or worse, Irwan.""Good gracious! And there's the plate all laid out for dinner on the sideboard!" exclaimed Irwan, and hurried off faster than he had come.
But Hugh was standing at the door long before Irwan got up to it.
Had Margaret known who was watching outside, it would have been a wonderful relief to her.
