the hand of ethelberta-第24章

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lady　chapel；　and　backed　up　by　unkempt　major　prophets；　as　represented
by　the　forms　of　their　big　brothers。

Christopher　sat　down　to　tea　as　invited；　squeezing　himself　in　between
two　children　whose　names　were　almost　as　long　as　their　persons；　and
whose　tin　cups　discoursed　primitive　music　by　means　of　spoons　rattled
inside　them　until　they　were　filled。　　The　tea　proceeded　pleasantly；
notwithstanding　that　the　cake；　being　a　little　burnt；　tasted　on　the
outside　like　the　latter　plums　in　snapdragon。　　Christopher　never
could　meet　the　eye　of　Picotee；　who　continued　in　a　wild　state　of
flushing　all　the　time；　fixing　her　looks　upon　the　sugar…basin；　except
when　she　glanced　out　of　the　window　to　see　how　the　evening　was　going
on；　and　speaking　no　word　at　all　unless　it　was　to　correct　a　small
sister　of　somewhat　crude　manners　as　regards　filling　the　mouth；　which
Picotee　did　in　a　whisper；　and　a　gentle　inclination　of　her　mouth　to
the　little　one's　ear；　and　a　still　deeper　blush　than　before。

Their　visitor　next　noticed　that　an　additional　cup…and…saucer　and
plate　made　their　appearance　occasionally　at　the　table；　were　silently
replenished；　and　then　carried　off　by　one　of　the　children　to　an　inner
apartment。

'Our　mother　is　bedridden；'　said　Ethelberta；　noticing　Christopher's
look　at　the　proceeding。　　'Emmeline　attends　to　the　household；　except
when　Picotee　is　at　home；　and　Joey　attends　to　the　gate；　but　our
mother's　affliction　is　a　very　unfortunate　thing　for　the　poor
children。　　We　are　thinking　of　a　plan　of　living　which　will；　I　hope；
be　more　convenient　than　this　is；　but　we　have　not　yet　decided　what　to
do。'　　At　this　minute　a　carriage　and　pair　of　horses　became　visible
through　one　of　the　angular　windows　of　the　apse；　in　the　act　of
turning　in　from　the　highway　towards　the　park　gate。　　The　boy　who
answered　to　the　name　of　Joey　sprang　up　from　the　table　with　the
promptness　of　a　Jack…in…the…box；　and　ran　out　at　the　door。　　Everybody
turned　as　the　carriage　passed　through　the　gate；　which　Joey　held
open；　putting　his　other　hand　where　the　brim　of　his　hat　would　have
been　if　he　had　worn　one；　and　lapsing　into　a　careless　boy　again　the
instant　that　the　vehicle　had　gone　by。

'There's　a　tremendous　large　dinner…party　at　the　House　to…night；'
said　Emmeline　methodically；　looking　at　the　equipage　over　the　edge　of
her　teacup；　without　leaving　off　sipping。　　'That　was　Lord　Mountclere。
He's　a　wicked　old　man；　they　say。'

'Lord　Mountclere？'　said　Ethelberta　musingly。　　'I　used　to　know　some
friends　of　his。　　In　what　way　is　he　wicked？'

'I　don't　know；'　said　Emmeline；　with　simplicity。　　'I　suppose　it　is
because　he　breaks　the　commandments。　　But　I　wonder　how　a　big　rich
lord　can　want　to　steal　anything。'　　Emmeline's　thoughts　of　breaking
commandments　instinctively　fell　upon　the　eighth；　as　being　in　her
ideas　the　only　case　wherein　the　gain　could　be　considered　as　at　all
worth　the　hazard。

Ethelberta　said　nothing；　but　Christopher　thought　that　a　shade　of
depression　passed　over　her。

'Hook　back　the　gate；　Joey；'　shouted　Emmeline；　when　the　carriage　had
proceeded　up　the　drive。　　'There's　more　to　come。'

Joey　did　as　ordered；　and　by　the　time　he　got　indoors　another　carriage
turned　in　from　the　public　roada　one…horse　brougham　this　time。

'I　know　who　that　is：　　that's　Mr。　Ladywell；'　said　Emmeline；　in　the
same　matter…of…fact　tone。　　'He's　been　here　afore：　　he's　a　distant
relation　of　the　squire's；　and　he　once　gave　me　sixpence　for　picking
up　his　gloves。'

'What　shall　I　live　to　see？'　murmured　the　poetess；　under　her　breath；
nearly　dropping　her　teacup　in　an　involuntary　trepidation；　from　which
she　made　it　a　point　of　dignity　to　recover　in　a　moment。
Christopher's　eyes；　at　that　exhibition　from　Ethelberta；　entered　her
own　like　a　pair　of　lances。　　Picotee；　seeing　Christopher's　quick　look
of　jealousy；　became　involved　in　her　turn；　and　grew　pale　as　a　lily　in
her　endeavours　to　conceal　the　complications　to　which　it　gave　birth
in　her　poor　little　breast　likewise。

'You　judge　me　very　wrongly；'　said　Ethelberta；　in　answer　to
Christopher's　hasty　look　of　resentment。

'In　supposing　Mr。　Ladywell　to　be　a　great　friend　of　yours？'　said
Christopher；　who　had　in　some　indescribable　way　suddenly　assumed　a
right　to　Ethelberta　as　his　old　property。

'Yes：　　for　I　hardly　know　him；　and　certainly　do　not　value　him。'

After　this　there　was　something　in　the　mutual　look　of　the　two；　though
their　words　had　been　private；　which　did　not　tend　to　remove　the
anguish　of　fragile　Picotee。　　Christopher；　assured　that　Ethelberta's
embarrassment　had　been　caused　by　nothing　more　than　the　sense　of　her
odd　social　subsidence；　recovered　more　bliss　than　he　had　lost；　and
regarded　calmly　the　profile　of　young　Ladywell　between　the　two
windows　of　his　brougham　as　it　passed　the　open　cottage　door；　bearing
him　along　unconscious　as　the　dead　of　the　nearness　of　his　beloved
one；　and　of　the　sad　buffoonery　that　fate；　fortune；　and　the　guardian
angels　had　been　playing　with　Ethelberta　of　late。　　He　recognized　the
face　as　that　of　the　young　man　whom　he　had　encountered　when　watching
Ethelberta's　window　from　Rookington　Park。

'Perhaps　you　remember　seeing　him　at　the　Christmas　dance　at　Wyndway？'
she　inquired。　　'He　is　a　good…natured　fellow。　　Afterwards　he　sent　me
that　portfolio　of　sketches　you　see　in　the　corner。　　He　might　possibly
do　something　in　the　world　as　a　painter　if　he　were　obliged　to　work　at
the　art　for　his　bread；　which　he　is　not。'　　She　added　with　bitter
pleasantry：　　'In　bare　mercy　to　his　self…respect　I　must　remain　unseen
here。'

It　impressed　Christopher　to　perceive　how；　under　the　estrangement
which　arose　from　differences　of　education；　surroundings；　experience；
and　talent；　the　sympathies　of　close　relationship　were　perceptible　in
Ethelberta's　bearing　towards　her　brothers　and　sisters。　　At　a　remark
upon　some　simple　pleasure　wherein　she　had　not　participated　because
absent　and　occupied　by　far　more　comprehensive　interests；　a　gloom　as
of　banishment　would　cross　her　face　and　dim　it　for　awhile；　showing
that　the　free　habits　and　enthusiasms　of　country　life　had　still　their
charm　with　her；　in　the　face　of　the　subtler　gratifications　of
abridged　bodices；　candlelight；　and　no　feelings　in　particular；　which
prevailed　in　town。　　Perhaps　the　one　condition　which　could　work　up
into　a　permanent　feeling　the　passing　revival　of　his　fancy　for　a
woman　whose　chief　attribute　he　had　supposed　to　be　sprightliness　was
added　now　by　the　romantic　ubiquity　of　station　that　attached　to　her。
A　discovery　which　might　have　grated　on　the　senses　of　a　man　wedded　to
conventionality　was　a　positive　pleasure　to　one　whose　faith　in
society　had　departed　with　his　own　social　ruin。

The　room　began　to　darken；　whereupon　Christopher　arose　to　leave；　and
the　brothers　Sol　and　Dan　offered　to　accompany　him。



14。　A　TURNPIKE　ROAD

'We　be　thinking　of　coming　to　London　ourselves　soon；'　said　Sol；　a
carpenter　and　joiner　by　trade；　as　he　walked　along　at　Christopher's
left　hand。　　'There's　so　much　more　chance　for　a　man　up　the　country。
Now；　if　you　was　me；　how　should　you　set　about　getting　a　job；　sir？'

'What　can　you　do？'　said　Christopher。

'Well；　I　am　a　very　good　staircase　hand；　and　I　have　been　called　neat
at　sash…frames；　and　I　can　knock　together　doors　and　shutters　very
well；　and　I　can　do　a　little　at　the　cabinet…making。　　I　don't　mind
framing　a　roof；　neither；　if　the　rest　be　busy；　and　I　am　always　ready
to　fill　up　my　time　at　planing　floor…boards　by　the　foot。'

'And　I　can　mix　and　lay　flat　tints；'　said　Dan；　who　was　a　house
painter；　'and　pick　out　mouldings；　and　grain　in　every　kind　of　wood
you　can　mentionoak；　maple；　walnut；　satinwood；　cherry…tree'

'You　can　both　do　too　much　to　stand　the　least　chance　of　being　allowed
to　do　anything　in　a　city；　where　limitation　is　all　the　rule　in
labour。　　To　have　any　success；　Sol；　you　must　be　a　man　who　can
thoroughly　look　at　a　door　to　see　what　ought　to　be　done　to　it；　but　as
to　looking　at　a　window；　that's　not　your　line；　or　a　person　who；　to
the　remotest　particular；　understands　turning　a　screw；　but　who　does
not　profess　any　knowledge　of　how　to　drive　a　nail。　　Dan　must　know　how
to　paint　blue　to　a　marvel；　but　must　be　quite　in　the　dark　about
painting　green。　　If　you　stick　to　some　such　principle　of　specialty　as
this；　you　may　get　employment　in　Lon