the hand of ethelberta-第32章

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'But　don't　smoke；　Joeythere's　a　dear！'

'What　can　I　do？　　Society　hev　its　rules；　and　if　a　person　wishes　to
keep　himself　up；　he　must　do　as　the　world　do。　　We　be　all　Fashion's
slaveas　much　a　slave　as　the　meanest　in　the　land！'

They　got　downstairs　again；　and　when　the　dinner　of　the　French　lady
and　gentleman　had　been　sent　up　and　cleared　away；　and　also
Ethelberta's　evening　tea　（which　she　formed　into　a　genuine　meal；
making　a　dinner　of　luncheon；　when　nobody　was　there；　to　give　less
trouble　to　her　servant…sisters）；　they　all　sat　round　the　fire。　　Then
the　rustle　of　a　dress　was　heard　on　the　staircase；　and　squirrel…
haired　Ethelberta　appeared　in　person。　　It　was　her　custom　thus　to
come　down　every　spare　evening；　to　teach　Joey　and　her　sisters
something　or　othermostly　French；　which　she　spoke　fluently；　but　the
cook　and　housemaid　showed　more　ambition　than　intelligence　in
acquiring　that　tongue；　though　Joey　learnt　it　readily　enough。

There　was　consternation　in　the　camp　for　a　moment　or　two；　on　account
of　poor　Picotee；　Ethelberta　being　not　without　firmness　in　matters　of
discipline。　　Her　eye　instantly　lighted　upon　her　disobedient　sister；
now　looking　twice　as　disobedient　as　she　really　was。

'O；　you　are　here；　Picotee？　　I　am　glad　to　see　you；'　said　the　mistress
of　the　house　quietly。

This　was　altogether　to　Picotee's　surprise；　for　she　had　expected　a
round　rating　at　least；　in　her　freshness　hardly　being　aware　that　this
reserve　of　feeling　was　an　acquired　habit　of　Ethelberta's；　and　that
civility　stood　in　town　for　as　much　vexation　as　a　tantrum　represented
in　Wessex。

Picotee　lamely　explained　her　outward　reasons　for　coming；　and　soon
began　to　find　that　Ethelberta's　opinions　on　the　matter　would　not　be
known　by　the　tones　of　her　voice。　　But　innocent　Picotee　was　as　wily
as　a　religionist　in　sly　elusions　of　the　letter　whilst　infringing　the
spirit　of　a　dictum；　and　by　talking　very　softly　and　earnestly　about
the　wondrous　good　she　could　do　by　remaining　in　the　house　as
governess　to　the　children；　and　playing　the　part　of　lady's…maid　to
her　sister　at　show　times；　she　so　far　coaxed　Ethelberta　out　of　her
intentions　that　she　almost　accepted　the　plan　as　a　good　one。　　It　was
agreed　that　for　the　present；　at　any　rate；　Picotee　should　remain。
Then　a　visit　was　made　to　Mrs。　Chickerel's　room；　where　the　remainder
of　the　evening　was　passed；　and　harmony　reigned　in　the　household。



19。　ETHELBERTA'S　DRAWING…ROOM

Picotee's　heart　was　fitfully　glad。　　She　was　near　the　man　who　had
enlarged　her　capacity　from　girl's　to　woman's；　a　little　note　or　two
of　young　feeling　to　a　whole　diapason；　and　though　nearness　was
perhaps　not　in　itself　a　great　reason　for　felicity　when　viewed　beside
the　complete　realization　of　all　that　a　woman　can　desire　in　such
circumstances；　it　was　much　in　comparison　with　the　outer　darkness　of
the　previous　time。

It　became　evident　to　all　the　family　that　some　misunderstanding　had
arisen　between　Ethelberta　and　Mr。　Julian。　　What　Picotee　hoped　in　the
centre　of　her　heart　as　to　the　issue　of　the　affair　it　would　be　too
complex　a　thing　to　say。　　If　Christopher　became　cold　towards　her
sister　he　would　not　come　to　the　house；　if　he　continued　to　come　it
would　really　be　as　Ethelberta's　loveraltogether；　a　pretty　game　of
perpetual　check　for　Picotee。

He　did　not　make　his　appearance　for　several　days。　　Picotee；　being　a
presentable　girl；　and　decidedly　finer…natured　than　her　sisters　below
stairs；　was　allowed　to　sit　occasionally　with　Ethelberta　in　the
afternoon；　when　the　teaching　of　the　little　ones　had　been　done　for
the　day；　and　thus　she　had　an　opportunity　of　observing　Ethelberta's
emotional　condition　with　reference　to　Christopher；　which　Picotee　did
with　an　interest　that　the　elder　sister　was　very　far　from　suspecting。

At　first　Ethelberta　seemed　blithe　enough　without　him。　　One　more　day
went；　and　he　did　not　come；　and　then　her　manner　was　that　of　apathy。
Another　day　passed；　and　from　fanciful　elevations　of　the　eyebrow；　and
long　breathings；　it　became　apparent　that　Ethelberta　had　decidedly
passed　the　indifferent　stage；　and　was　getting　seriously　out　of　sorts
about　him。　　Next　morning　she　looked　all　hope。　　He　did　not　come　that
day　either；　and　Ethelberta　began　to　look　pale　with　fear。

'Why　don't　you　go　out？'　said　Picotee　timidly。

'I　can　hardly　tell：　　I　have　been　expecting　some　one。'

'When　she　comes　I　must　run　up　to　mother　at　once；　must　I　not？'　said
clever　Picotee。

'It　is　not　a　lady；'　said　Ethelberta　blandly。　　She　came　then　and
stood　by　Picotee；　and　looked　musingly　out　of　the　window。　　'I　may　as
well　tell　you；　perhaps；'　she　continued。　　'It　is　Mr。　Julian。　　He　is
I　supposemy　lover；　in　plain　English。'

'Ah！'　said　Picotee。

'Whom　I　am　not　going　to　marry　until　he　gets　rich。'

'Ahhow　strange！　　If　I　had　himsuch　a　lover；　I　meanI　would　marry
him　if　he　continued　poor。'

'I　don't　doubt　it；　Picotee；　just　as　you　come　to　London　without
caring　about　consequences；　or　would　do　any　other　crazy　thing　and　not
mind　in　the　least　what　came　of　it。　　But　somebody　in　the　family　must
take　a　practical　view　of　affairs；　or　we　should　all　go　to　the　dogs。'

Picotee　recovered　from　the　snubbing　which　she　felt　that　she
deserved；　and　charged　gallantly　by　saying；　with　delicate　showings　of
indifference；　'Do　you　love　this　Mr。　What's…his…name　of　yours？'

'Mr。　Julian？　　O；　he's　a　very　gentlemanly　man。　　That　is；　except　when
he　is　rude；　and　ill…uses　me；　and　will　not　come　and　apologize！'

'If　I　had　hima　lover；　I　would　ask　him　to　come　if　I　wanted　him　to。'

Ethelberta　did　not　give　her　mind　to　this　remark；　but；　drawing　a　long
breath；　said；　with　a　pouting　laugh；　which　presaged　unreality；　'The
idea　of　his　getting　indifferent　now！　　I　have　been　intending　to　keep
him　on　until　I　got　tired　of　his　attentions；　and　then　put　an　end　to
them　by　marrying　him；　but　here　is　he；　before　he　has　hardly　declared
himself；　forgetting　my　existence　as　much　as　if　he　had　vowed　to　love
and　cherish　me　for　life。　　'Tis　an　unnatural　inversion　of　the　manners
of　society。'

'When　did　you　first　get　to　care　for　him；　dear　Berta？'

'Owhen　I　had　seen　him　once　or　twice。'

'Goodnesshow　quick　you　were！'

'Yesif　I　am　in　the　mind　for　loving　I　am　not　to　be　hindered　by
shortness　of　acquaintanceship。'

'Nor　I　neither！'　sighed　Picotee。

'Nor　any　other　woman。　　We　don't　need　to　know　a　man　well　in　order　to
love　him。　　That's　only　necessary　when　we　want　to　leave　off。'

'O　Bertayou　don't　believe　that！'

'If　a　woman　did　not　invariably　form　an　opinion　of　her　choice　before
she　has　half　seen　him；　and　love　him　before　she　has　half　formed　an
opinion；　there　would　be　no　tears　and　pining　in　the　whole　feminine
world；　and　poets　would　starve　for　want　of　a　topic。　　I　don't　believe
it；　do　you　say？　　Ah；　well；　we　shall　see。'

Picotee　did　not　know　what　to　say　to　this；　and　Ethelberta　left　the
room　to　see　about　her　duties　as　public　story…teller；　in　which
capacity　she　had　undertaken　to　appear　again　this　very　evening。



20。　THE　NEIGHBOURHOOD　OF　THE　HALL　…　THE　ROAD　HOME

London　was　illuminated　by　the　broad　full　moon。　　The　pavements　looked
white　as　if　mantled　with　snow；　ordinary　houses　were　sublimated　to
the　rank　of　public　buildings；　public　buildings　to　palaces；　and　the
faces　of　women　walking　the　streets　to　those　of　calendared　saints　and
guardian…angels；　by　the　pure　bleaching　light　from　the　sky。

In　the　quiet　little　street　where　opened　the　private　door　of　the　Hall
chosen　by　Ethelberta　for　her　story…telling；　a　brougham　was　waiting。
The　time　was　about　eleven　o'clock；　and　presently　a　lady　came　out
from　the　building；　the　moonbeams　forthwith　flooding　her　face；　which
they　showed　to　be　that　of　the　Story…teller　herself。　　She　hastened
across　to　the　carriage；　when　a　second　thought　arrested　her　motion：
telling　the　man…servant　and　a　woman　inside　the　brougham　to　wait　for
her；　she　wrapped　up　her　features　and　glided　round　to　the　front　of
the　house；　where　she　paused　to　observe　the　carriages　and　cabs
driving　up　to　receive　the　fashionable　crowd　stepping　down　from　the
doors。　　Standing　here　in　the　throng　which　her　own　talent　and
ingenuity　had　drawn　together；　she　appeared　to　enjoy　herself　by
listening　for　a　minute　or　two　to　the　names　of　several　persons　of
more　or　less　distinction　as　they　were　called　out；　and