the hand of ethelberta-第18章

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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　London。'

'Ha…ha…ha！'　said　Dan；　striking　at　a　stone　in　the　road　with　the　stout
green　hazel　he　carried。　　'A　wink　is　as　good　as　a　nod：　　thank'ee
we'll　mind　all　that　now。'

'If　we　do　come；'　said　Sol；　'we　shall　not　mix　up　with　Mrs。　Petherwin
at　all。'

'O　indeed！'

'O　no。　　（Perhaps　you　think　it　odd　that　we　call　her　〃Mrs。　Petherwin；〃
but　that's　by　agreement　as　safer　and　better　than　Berta；　because　we
be　such　rough　chaps　you　see；　and　she's　so　lofty。）　　'Twould　demean
her　to　claim　kin　wi'　her　in　Londontwo　journeymen　like　we；　that
know　nothing　besides　our　trades。'

'Not　at　all；'　said　Christopher；　by　way　of　chiming　in　in　the
friendliest　manner。　　'She　would　be　pleased　to　see　any
straightforward　honest　man　and　brother；　I　should　think；
notwithstanding　that　she　has　moved　in　other　society　for　a　time。'

'Ah；　you　don't　know　Berta！'　said　Dan；　looking　as　if　he　did。

'Howin　what　way　do　you　mean？'　said　Christopher　uneasily。

'So　loftyso　very　lofty！　　Isn't　she；　Sol？　　Why　she'll　never　stir
out　from　mother's　till　after　dark；　and　then　her　day　begins；　and
she'll　traipse　about　under　the　trees；　and　never　go　into　the　high…
road；　so　that　nobody　in　the　way　of　gentle…people　shall　run　up
against　her　and　know　her　living　in　such　a　little　small　hut　after
biding　in　a　big　mansion…place。　　There；　we　don't　find　fault　wi'　her
about　it：　　we　like　her　just　the　same；　though　she　don't　speak　to　us
in　the　street；　for　a　feller　must　be　a　fool　to　make　a　piece　of　work
about　a　woman's　pride；　when　'tis　his　own　sister；　and　hang　upon　her
and　bother　her　when　he　knows　'tis　for　her　good　that　he　should　not。
Yes；　her　life　has　been　quare　enough。　　I　hope　she　enjoys　it；　but　for
my　part　I　like　plain　sailing。　　None　of　your　ups　and　downs　for　me。
There；　I　suppose　'twas　her　nater　to　want　to　look　into　the　world　a
bit。'

'Father　and　mother　kept　Berta　to　school；　you　understand；　sir；'
explained　the　more　thoughtful　Sol；　'because　she　was　such　a　quick
child；　and　they　always　had　a　notion　of　making　a　governess　of　her。
Sums？　　If　you　said　to　that　child；　〃Berta；　'levenpence…three…
farthings　a　day；　how　much　a　year？〃　she　would　tell　'ee　in　three
seconds　out　of　her　own　little　head。　　And　that　hard　sum　about　the
herrings　she　had　done　afore　she　was　nine。'

'True；　she　had；'　said　Dan。　　'And　we　all　know　that　to　do　that　is　to
do　something　that's　no　nonsense。'

'What　is　the　sum？'　Christopher　inquired。

'Whatnot　know　the　sum　about　the　herrings？'　said　Dan；　spreading　his
gaze　all　over　Christopher　in　amazement。

'Never　heard　of　it；'　said　Christopher。

'Why　down　in　these　parts　just　as　you　try　a　man's　soul　by　the　Ten
Commandments；　you　try　his　head　by　that　there　sumhey；　Sol？'

'Ay；　that　we　do。'

'A　herring　and　a　half　for　three…halfpence；　how　many　can　ye　get　for
'levenpence：　　that's　the　feller；　and　a　mortal　teaser　he　is；　I　assure
'ee。　　Our　parson；　who's　not　altogether　without　sense　o'　week　days；
said　one　afternoon；　〃If　cunning　can　be　found　in　the　multiplication
table　at　all；　Chickerel；　'tis　in　connection　with　that　sum。〃　　Well；
Berta　was　so　clever　in　arithmetic　that　she　was　asked　to　teach
summing　at　Miss　Courtley's；　and　there　she　got　to　like　foreign
tongues　more　than　ciphering；　and　at　last　she　hated　ciphering；　and
took　to　books　entirely。　　Mother　and　we　were　very　proud　of　her　at
that　time：　　not　that　we　be　stuck…up　people　at　allbe　we；　Sol？'

'Not　at　all；　nobody　can　say　that　we　be　that；　though　there's　more　of
it　in　the　country　than　there　should　be　by　all　account。'

'You'd　be　surprised　to　see　how　vain　the　girls　about　here　be　getting。
Little　rascals；　why　they　won't　curtsey　to　the　loftiest　lady　in　the
land；　no；　not　if　you　were　to　pay　'em　to　do　it。　　Now；　the　men　be
different。　　Any　man　will　touch　his　hat　for　a　pint　of　beer。　　But
then；　of　course；　there's　some　difference　between　the　two。　　Touching
your　hat　is　a　good　deal　less　to　do　than　bending　your　knees；　as　Berta
used　to　say；　when　she　was　blowed　up　for　not　doing　it。　　She　was
always　one　of　the　independent　sortyou　never　seed　such　a　maid　as
she　was！　　Now；　Picotee　was　quite　the　other　way。'

'Has　Picotee　left　Sandbourne　entirely？'

'O　no；　she　is　home　for　the　holidays。　　Well；　Mr。　Julian；　our　road
parts　from　yours　just　here；　unless　you　walk　into　the　next　town　along
with　us。　　But　I　suppose　you　get　across　to　this　station　and　go　by
rail？'

'I　am　obliged　to　go　that　way　for　my　portmanteau；'　said　Christopher；
'or　I　should　have　been　pleased　to　walk　further。　　Shall　I　see　you　in
Sandbourne　to…morrow？　　I　hope　so。'

'Well；　no。　　'Tis　hardly　likely　that　you　will　see　ushardly。　　We
know　how　unpleasant　it　is　for　a　high　sort　of　man　to　have　rough　chaps
like　us　hailing　him；　so　we　think　it　best　not　to　meet　youthank　you
all　the　same。　　So　if　you　should　run　up　against　us　in　the　street；　we
should　be　just　as　well　pleased　by　your　taking　no　notice；　if　you
wouldn't　mind。　　'Twill　save　so　much　awkwardnessbeing　in　our
working　clothes。　　'Tis　always　the　plan　that　Mrs。　Petherwin　and　we
agree　to　act　upon；　and　we　find　it　best　for　both。　　I　hope　you　take
our　meaning　right；　and　as　no　offence；　Mr。　Julian。'

'And　do　you　do　the　same　with　Picotee？'

'O　Lord；　no'tisn't　a　bit　of　use　to　try。　　That's　the　worst　of
Picoteethere's　no　getting　rid　of　her。　　The　more　in　the　rough　we　be
the　more　she'll　stick　to　us；　and　if　we　say　she　shan't　come；　she'll
bide　and　fret　about　it　till　we　be　forced　to　let　her。'

Christopher　laughed；　and　promised；　on　condition　that　they　would
retract　the　statement　about　their　not　being　proud；　and　then　he
wished　his　friends　good…night。



15。　AN　INNER　ROOM　AT　THE　LODGE

At　the　Lodge　at　this　time　a　discussion　of　some　importance　was　in
progress。　　The　scene　was　Mrs。　Chickerel's　bedroom；　to　which；
unfortunately；　she　was　confined　by　some　spinal　complaint；　and　here
she　now　appeared　as　an　interesting　woman　of　five…and…forty；　properly
dressed　as　far　as　visible；　and　propped　up　in　a　bed　covered　with　a
quilt　which　presented　a　field　of　little　squares　in　many　tints；
looking　altogether　like　a　bird's…eye　view　of　a　market　garden。

Mrs。　Chickerel　had　been　nurse　in　a　nobleman's　family　until　her
marriage