the hand of ethelberta-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


vexed　that　her　hopefulness　was　not　roused　to　quite　the　pitch　of　his
own。　　As　with　others　of　his　sort；　his　too　general　habit　of　accepting
the　most　clouded　possibility　that　chances　offered　was　only
transcended　by　his　readiness　to　kindle　with　a　fitful　excitement　now
and　then。　　Faith　was　much　more　equable。　　'If　you　were　not　the　most
melancholy　man　God　ever　created；'　she　said；　kindly　looking　at　his
vague　deep　eyes　and　thin　face；　which　was　but　a　few　degrees　too
refined　and　poetical　to　escape　the　epithet　of　lantern…jawed　from　any
one　who　had　quarrelled　with　him；　'you　would　not　mind　my　coolness
about　this。　　It　is　a　good　thing　of　course　to　go；　I　have　always
fancied　that　we　were　mistaken　in　coming　here。　　Mediocrity　stamped
〃London〃　fetches　more　than　talent　marked　〃provincial。〃　　But　I　cannot
feel　so　enthusiastic。'

'Still；　if　we　are　to　go；　we　may　as　well　go　by　enthusiasm　as　by
calculation；　it　is　a　sensation　pleasanter　to　the　nerves；　and　leads
to　just　as　good　a　result　when　there　is　only　one　result　possible。'

'Very　well；'　said　Faith。　　'I　will　not　depress　you。　　If　I　had　to
describe　you　I　should　say　you　were　a　child　in　your　impulses；　and　an
old　man　in　your　reflections。　　Have　you　considered　when　we　shall
start？'

'Yes。'

'What　have　you　thought？'

'That　we　may　very　well　leave　the　place　in　six　weeks　if　we　wish。'

'We　really　may？'

'Yes。　　And　what　is　more；　we　will。'



Christopher　and　Faith　arrived　in　London　on　an　afternoon　at　the　end
of　winter；　and　beheld　from　one　of　the　river　bridges　snow…white
scrolls　of　steam　from　the　tall　chimneys　of　Lambeth；　rising　against
the　livid　sky　behind；　as　if　drawn　in　chalk　on　toned　cardboard。

The　first　thing　he　did　that　evening；　when　settled　in　their
apartments　near　the　British　Museum；　before　applying　himself　to　the
beginning　of　the　means　by　which　success　in　life　might　be　attained；
was　to　go　out　in　the　direction　of　Ethelberta's　door；　leaving　Faith
unpacking　the　things；　and　sniffing　extraordinary　smoke…smells　which
she　discovered　in　all　nooks　and　crannies　of　the　rooms。　　It　was　some
satisfaction　to　see　Ethelberta's　house；　although　the　single　feature
in　which　it　differed　from　the　other　houses　in　the　Crescent　was　that
no　lamp　shone　from　the　fanlight　over　the　entrancea　speciality
which；　if　he　cared　for　omens；　was　hardly　encouraging。　　Fearing　to
linger　near　lest　he　might　be　detected；　Christopher　stole　a　glimpse
at　the　door　and　at　the　steps；　imagined　what　a　trifle　of　the
depression　worn　in　each　step　her　feet　had　tended　to　produce；　and
strolled　home　again。

Feeling　that　his　reasons　for　calling　just　now　were　scarcely
sufficient；　he　went　next　day　about　the　business　that　had　brought　him
to　town；　which　referred　to　a　situation　as　organist　in　a　large　church
in　the　north…west　district。　　The　post　was　half　ensured　already；　and
he　intended　to　make　of　it　the　nucleus　of　a　professional　occupation
and　income。　　Then　he　sat　down　to　think　of　the　preliminary　steps
towards　publishing　the　song　that　had　so　pleased　her；　and　had　also；
as　far　as　he　could　understand　from　her　letter；　hit　the　popular　taste
very　successfully；　a　fact　which；　however　little　it　may　say　for　the
virtues　of　the　song　as　a　composition；　was　a　great　recommendation　to
it　as　a　property。　　Christopher　was　delighted　to　perceive　that　out　of
this　position　he　could　frame　an　admissible；　if　not　an　unimpeachable；
reason　for　calling　upon　Ethelberta。　　He　determined　to　do　so　at　once；
and　obtain　the　required　permission　by　word　of　mouth。

He　was　greatly　surprised；　when　the　front　of　the　house　appeared　in
view　on　this　spring　afternoon；　to　see　what　a　white　and　sightless
aspect　pervaded　all　the　windows。　　He　came　close：　　the　eyeball
blankness　was　caused　by　all　the　shutters　and　blinds　being　shut　tight
from　top　to　bottom。　　Possibly　this　had　been　the　case　for　some　time
he　could　not　tell。　　In　one　of　the　windows　was　a　card　bearing　the
announcement；　'This　House　to　be　let　Furnished。'　　Here　was　a
merciless　clash　between　fancy　and　fact。　　Regretting　now　his　faint…
heartedness　in　not　letting　her　know　beforehand　by　some　means　that　he
was　about　to　make　a　new　start　in　the　world；　and　coming　to　dwell　near
her；　Christopher　rang　the　bell　to　make　inquiries。　　A　gloomy
caretaker　appeared　after　a　while；　and　the　young　man　asked　whither
the　ladies　had　gone　to　live。　　He　was　beyond　measure　depressed　to
learn　that　they　were　in　the　South　of　FranceArles；　the　man　thought
the　place　was　calledthe　time　of　their　return　to　town　being　very
uncertain；　though　one　thing　was　clear；　they　meant　to　miss　the
forthcoming　London　season　altogether。

As　Christopher's　hope　to　see　her　again　had　brought　a　resolve　to　do
so；　so　now　resolve　led　to　dogged　patience。　　Instead　of　attempting
anything　by　letter；　he　decided　to　wait；　and　he　waited　well；
occupying　himself　in　publishing　a　'March'　and　a　'Morning　and　Evening
Service　in　E　flat。'　　Some　four…part　songs；　too；　engaged　his
attention　when　the　heavier　duties　of　the　day　were　overthese　duties
being　the　giving　of　lessons　in　harmony　and　counterpoint；　in　which　he
was　aided　by　the　introductions　of　a　man　well　known　in　the　musical
world；　who　had　been　acquainted　with　young　Julian　as　a　promising
amateur　long　before　he　adopted　music　as　the　staff　of　his　pilgrimage。

It　was　the　end　of　summer　when　he　again　tried　his　fortune　at　the
house　in　Exonbury　Crescent。　　Scarcely　calculating　upon　finding　her
at　this　stagnant　time　of　the　town　year；　and　only　hoping　for
information；　Julian　was　surprised　and　excited　to　see　the　shutters
open；　and　the　house　wearing　altogether　a　living　look；　its　neighbours
having　decidedly　died　off　meanwhile。

'The　family　here；'　said　a　footman　in　answer　to　his　inquiry；　'are
only　temporary　tenants　of　the　house。　　It　is　not　Lady　Petherwin's
people。'

'Do　you　know　the　Petherwins'　present　address？'

'Underground；　sir；　for　the　old　lady。　　She　died　some　time　ago　in
Switzerland；　and　was　buried　there；　I　believe。'

'And　Mrs。　Petherwinthe　young　lady；'　said　Christopher；　starting。

'We　are　not　acquainted　personally　with　the　family；'　the　man　replied。
'My　master　has　only　taken　the　house　for　a　few　months；　whilst
extensive　alterations　are　being　made　in　his　own　on　the　other　side　of
the　park；　which　he　goes　to　look　after　every　day。　　If　you　want　any
further　information　about　Lady　Petherwin；　Mrs。　Petherwin　will
probably　give　it。　　I　can　let　you　have　her　address。'

'Ah；　yes；　thank　you；'　said　Christopher。

The　footman　handed　him　one　of　some　cards　which　appeared　to　have　been
left　for　the　purpose。　　Julian；　though　tremblingly　anxious　to　know
where　Ethelberta　was；　did　not　look　at　it　till　he　could　take　a　cool
survey　in　private。　　The　address　was　'Arrowthorne　Lodge；　Upper
Wessex。'

'Dear　me！'　said　Christopher　to　himself；　'not　far　from　Melchester；
and　not　dreadfully　far　from　Sandbourne。'



12。　ARROWTHORNE　PARK　AND　LODGE

Summer　was　just　over　when　Christopher　Julian　found　himself　rattling
along　in　the　train　to　Sandbourne　on　some　trifling　business
appertaining　to　his　late　father's　affairs；　which　would　afford　him　an
excuse　for　calling　at　Arrowthorne　about　the　song　of　hers　that　he
wished　to　produce。　　He　alighted　in　the　afternoon　at　a　little　station
some　twenty　miles　short　of　Sandbourne；　and　leaving　his　portmanteau
behind　him　there；　decided　to　walk　across　the　fields；　obtain　if
possible　the　interview　with　the　lady；　and　return　then　to　the　station
to　finish　the　journey　to　Sandbourne；　which　he　could　thus　reach　at　a
convenient　hour　in　the　evening；　and；　if　he　chose；　take　leave　of
again　the　next　day。

It　was　an　afternoon　which　had　a　fungous　smell　out　of　doors；　all
being　sunless　and　stagnant　overhead　and　around。　　The　various　species
of　trees　had　begun　to　assume　the　more　distinctive　colours　of　their
decline；　and　where　there　had　been　one　pervasive　green　were　now
twenty　greenish　yellows；　the　air　in　the　vistas　between　them　being
half　opaque　with　blue　exhalation。　　Christopher　in　his　walk　overtook
a　countryman；　and　inquired　if　the　path　they　were　following　would
lead　him　to　Arrowthorne　Lodge。

''Twill　take　'ee　into　Arr'thorne　Park；'　the　man　replied。　'But　you
won't　come　anigh　the　Lodge；　unless　you　bear　round　to　the　left　as
might　be。'

'Mrs。　Petherwin　lives　there；　I　believe？'

'No；　sir。　　Leastwise　unless　she's　but　lately　come。　　I　have　never
heard　of　such　a　woman。'

'She　may　possibly　be　only　visiting　there。'

'Ah；　perhaps　that's　the　shape　o't。　　Well；　now　you　tell　o't；　I　have
seen　a　strange　face　thereabouts　once　or　twice　lately。　　A　young　good…
looking　maid　enough；　seemingly。'

'Yes；　she's　considered　a　very　handsome　lady。'

'I've　heard　the　woodmen　say；　now　that　you　tell　o't；　that　they　meet
her　every　now　and　then；　just　at　the　closing　in　of　the　day；　as　they
come　home　along　with　their　nitches　of　sticks；　ay；　stalking　about
under　the　trees　by　herselfa　tall　black　martel；　so　long…legged　and
awful…like　that　you'd　think　'twas　the　old　feller　himself　a…coming；
they　say。　　Now　a　woman　must　be　a　queer　body　to　my　thinking；　to　roam
about　by　night　so　lonesome　and　that？　　Ay；　now　that　you　tell　o't；
there　is　such　a　woman；　but　'a　never　have　showed　in　the　parish；　sure
I　never　thought　who　the　body　wasno；　not　once　about　her；　nor　where
'a　was　living　and　thatnot　I；　till　you　spoke。　　Well；　there；　sir；
that's　Arr'thorne　Lodge；　do　you　see　they　three　elms？'　　He　pointed
across　the　glade　towards　some　confused　foliage　a　long　way　off。

'I　am　not　sure　about　the　sort　of　tree　you　mean；'　said　Christopher；
'I　see　a　number　of　trees　with　edges　shaped　like　edges　of　clouds。'

'Ay；　ay；　they　be　oaks；　I　mean　the　elms　to　the　left　hand。'

'But　a　man　can　hardly　tell　oaks　from　elms　at　that　distance；　my　good
fellow！'

'That　'a　can　very　wellleastwise；　if　he's　got　the　sense。'

'Well；　I　think　I　see　what　you　mean；'　said　Christopher　　'What　next？'

'When　you　get　there；　you　bear　away　smart　to　nor'…west；　and　you'll
come　straight　as　a　line　to　the　Lodge。'

'How　the　deuce　am　I　to　know　which　is　north…west　in　a　strange　place；
with　no　sun　to　tell　me？'

'What；　not　know　nor…west？　　Well；　I　should　think　a　boy　could　never
live　and　grow　up　to　be　a　man　without　knowing　the　four　quarters。　　I
knowed　'em　when　I　was　a　mossel　of　a　chiel。　　We　be　no　great　scholars
here；　that's　true；　but　there　isn't　a　Tom…rig　or　Jack…straw　in　these
parts　that　don't　know　where　they　lie　as　well　as　I。　　Now　I've　lived；
man　and　boy；　these　eight…and…sixty　years；　and　never　met　a　man　in　my
life　afore　who　hadn't　learnt　such　a　common　thing　as　the　four
quarters。'

Christopher　parted　from　his　companion　and　soon　reached　a　stile；
clambering　over　which　he　entered　a　park。　　Here　he　threaded　his　way；
and　rounding　a　clump　of　aged　trees　the　young　man　came　in　view　of　a
light　and　elegant　country…house　in　the　half…timbered　Gothic　style　of
the　late　revival；　apparently　only　a　few　years　old。　　Surprised　at
finding　himself　so　near；　Christopher's　heart　fluttered　unmanageably
till　he　had　taken　an　abstract　view　of　his　position；　and；　in
impatience　at　his　want　of　nerve；　adopted　a　sombre　train　of　reasoning
to　convince　himself　that；　far　from　indulgence　in　the　passion　of　love
bringing　bliss；　it　was　a　folly；　leading　to　grief　and　disquiet
certainly　one　which　would　do　him　no　good。　　Cooled　down　by　this；　he
stepped　into　the　drive　and　went　up　to　the　house。

'Is　Mrs。　Petherwin　at　home？'　he