the hand of ethelberta-第2章

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widow　lady's　maiden　name；　then；　hostler？　　Folk　have　been　peeping
after　her；　that's　true；　but　they　don't　seem　to　know　much　about　her
family。'

'And　while　I've　tended　horses　fifty　year　that　other　folk　might
straddle　'em；　here　I　be　now　not　a　penny　the　better！　　Often…times；
when　I　see　so　many　good　things　about；　I　feel　inclined　to　help　myself
in　common　justice　to　my　pocket。

　　　　　〃Work　hard　and　be　poor；
　　　　　　Do　nothing　and　get　more。〃

But　I　draw　in　the　horns　of　my　mind　and　think　to　myself；　〃Forbear；
John　Hostler；　forbear！〃Her　maiden　name？　　Faith；　I　don't　know　the
woman's　maiden　name；　though　she　said　to　me；　〃Good　evening；　John；〃
but　I　had　no　memory　of　ever　seeing　her　aforeno；　no　more　than　the
dead　inside　church…hatchwhere　I　shall　soon　be　likewiseI　had　not。
〃Ay；　my　nabs；〃　I　think　to　myself；　〃more　know　Tom　Fool　than　Tom　Fool
knows。〃'

'More　know　Tom　Foolwhat　rambling　old　canticle　is　it　you　say；
hostler？'　inquired　the　milkman；　lifting　his　ear。　　'Let's　have　it
againa　good　saying　well　spit　out　is　a　Christmas　fire　to　my
withered　heart。　　More　know　Tom　Fool'

'Than　Tom　Fool　knows；'　said　the　hostler。

'Ah！　　That's　the　very　feeling　I've　feeled　over　and　over　again；
hostler；　but　not　in　such　gifted　language。　　'Tis　a　thought　I've　had
in　me　for　years；　and　never　could　lick　into　shape！O…ho…ho…ho！
Splendid！　　Say　it　again；　hostler；　say　it　again！　　To　hear　my　own　poor
notion　that　had　no　name　brought　into　form　like　thatI　wouldn't　ha'
lost　it　for　the　world！　　More　know　Tom　Fool　thanthanh…ho…ho…ho…
ho！'

'Don't　let　your　sense　o'　vitness　break　out　in　such　uproar；　for
heaven's　sake；　or　folk　will　surely　think　you've　been　laughing　at　the
lady　and　gentleman。　　Well；　here's　at　it　againNight　t'ee；　Michael。'
And　the　hostler　went　on　with　his　sweeping。

'Night　t'ee；　hostler；　I　must　move　too；'　said　the　milkman；
shouldering　his　yoke；　and　walking　off；　and　there　reached　the　inn　in
a　gradual　diminuendo；　as　he　receded　up　the　street；　shaking　his　head
convulsively；　'More　knowTom　Foolthan　Tom　Foolho…ho…ho…ho…ho！'

The　'Red　Lion；'　as　the　inn　or　hotel　was　called　which　of　late　years
had　become　the　fashion　among　tourists；　because　of　the　absence　from
its　precincts　of　all　that　was　fashionable　and　new；　stood　near　the
middle　of　the　town；　and　formed　a　corner　where　in　winter　the　winds
whistled　and　assembled　their　forces　previous　to　plunging　helter…
skelter　along　the　streets。　　In　summer　it　was　a　fresh　and　pleasant
spot；　convenient　for　such　quiet　characters　as　sojourned　there　to
study　the　geology　and　beautiful　natural　features　of　the　country
round。

The　lady　whose　appearance　had　asserted　a　difference　between　herself
and　the　Anglebury　people；　without　too　clearly　showing　what　that
difference　was；　passed　out　of　the　town　in　a　few　moments　and；
following　the　highway　across　meadows　fed　by　the　Froom；　she　crossed
the　railway　and　soon　got　into　a　lonely　heath。　　She　had　been　watching
the　base　of　a　cloud　as　it　closed　down　upon　the　line　of　a　distant
ridge；　like　an　upper　upon　a　lower　eyelid；　shutting　in　the　gaze　of
the　evening　sun。　　She　was　about　to　return　before　dusk　came　on；　when
she　heard　a　commotion　in　the　air　immediately　behind　and　above　her
head。　　The　saunterer　looked　up　and　saw　a　wild…duck　flying　along　with
the　greatest　violence；　just　in　its　rear　being　another　large　bird；
which　a　countryman　would　have　pronounced　to　be　one　of　the　biggest
duck…hawks　that　he　had　ever　beheld。　　The　hawk　neared　its　intended
victim；　and　the　duck　screamed　and　redoubled　its　efforts。

Ethelberta　impulsively　started　off　in　a　rapid　run　that　would　have
made　a　little　dog　bark　with　delight　and　run　after；　her　object　being；
if　possible；　to　see　the　end　of　this　desperate　struggle　for　a　life　so
small　and　unheard…of。　　Her　stateliness　went　away；　and　it　could　be
forgiven　for　not　remaining；　for　her　feet　suddenly　became　as　quick　as
fingers；　and　she　raced　along　over　the　uneven　ground　with　such　force
of　tread　that；　being　a　woman　slightly　heavier　than　gossamer；　her
patent　heels　punched　little　D's　in　the　soil　with　unerring　accuracy
wherever　it　was　bare；　crippled　the　heather…twigs　where　it　was　not；
and　sucked　the　swampy　places　with　a　sound　of　quick　kisses。

Her　rate　of　advance　was　not　to　be　compared　with　that　of　the　two
birds；　though　she　went　swiftly　enough　to　keep　them　well　in　sight　in
such　an　open　place　as　that　around　her；　having　at　one　point　in　the
journey　been　so　near　that　she　could　hear　the　whisk　of　the　duck's
feathers　against　the　wind　as　it　lifted　and　lowered　its　wings。　　When
the　bird　seemed　to　be　but　a　few　yards　from　its　enemy　she　saw　it
strike　downwards；　and　after　a　level　flight　of　a　quarter　of　a　minute；
vanish。　　The　hawk　swooped　after；　and　Ethelberta　now　perceived　a
whitely　shining　oval　of　still　water；　looking　amid　the　swarthy　level
of　the　heath　like　a　hole　through　to　a　nether　sky。

Into　this　large　pond；　which　the　duck　had　been　making　towards　from
the　beginning　of　its　precipitate　flight；　it　had　dived　out　of　sight。
The　excited　and　breathless　runner　was　in　a　few　moments　close　enough
to　see　the　disappointed　hawk　hovering　and　floating　in　the　air　as　if
waiting　for　the　reappearance　of　its　prey；　upon　which　grim　pastime　it
was　so　intent　that　by　creeping　along　softly　she　was　enabled　to　get
very　near　the　edge　of　the　pool　and　witness　the　conclusion　of　the
episode。　　Whenever　the　duck　was　under　the　necessity　of　showing　its
head　to　breathe；　the　other　bird　would　dart　towards　it；　invariably
too　late；　however；　for　the　diver　was　far　too　experienced　in　the
rough　humour　of　the　buzzard　family　at　this　game　to　come　up　twice
near　the　same　spot；　unaccountably　emerging　from　opposite　sides　of
the　pool　in　succession；　and　bobbing　again　by　the　time　its　adversary
reached　each　place；　so　that　at　length　the　hawk　gave　up　the　contest
and　flew　away；　a　satanic　moodiness　being　almost　perceptible　in　the
motion　of　its　wings。

The　young　lady　now　looked　around　her　for　the　first　time；　and　began
to　perceive　that　she　had　run　a　long　distancevery　much　further　than
she　had　originally　intended　to　come。　　Her　eyes　had　been　so　long
fixed　upon　the　hawk；　as　it　soared　against　the　bright　and　mottled
field　of　sky；　that　on　regarding　the　heather　and　plain　again　it　was
as　if　she　had　returned　to　a　half…forgotten　region　after　an　absence；
and　the　whole　prospect　was　darkened　to　one　uniform　shade　of
approaching　night。　　She　began　at　once　to　retrace　her　steps；　but
having　been　indiscriminately　wheeling　round　the　pond　to　get　a　good
view　of　the　performance；　and　having　followed　no　path　thither；　she
found　the　proper　direction　of　her　journey　to　be　a　matter　of　some
uncertainty。

'Surely；'　she　said　to　herself；　'I　faced　the　north　at　starting：'　and
yet　on　walking　now　with　her　back　where　her　face　had　been　set；　she
did　not　approach　any　marks　on　the　horizon　which　might　seem　to
signify　the　town。　　Thus　dubiously；　but　with　little　real　concern；　she
walked　on　till　the　evening　light　began　to　turn　to　dusk；　and　the
shadows　to　darkness。

Presently　in　front　of　her　Ethelberta　saw　a　white　spot　in　the　shade；
and　it　proved　to　be　in　some　way　attached　to　the　head　of　a　man　who
was　coming　towards　her　out　of　a　slight　depression　in　the　ground。　　It
was　as　yet　too　early　in　the　evening　to　be　afraid；　but　it　was　too
late　to　be　altogether　courageous；　and　with　balanced　sensations
Ethelberta　kept　her　eye　sharply　upon　him　as　he　rose　by　degrees　into
view。　　The　peculiar　arrangement　of　his　hat　and　pugree　soon　struck
her　as　being　that　she　had　casually　noticed　on　a　peg　in　one　of　the
rooms　of　the　'Red　Lion；'　and　when　he　came　close　she　saw　that　his
arms　diminished　to　a　peculiar　smallness　at　their　junction　with　his
shoulders；　like　those　of　a　doll；　which　was　explained　by　their　being
girt　round　at　that　point　with　the　straps　of　a　knapsack　that　he
carried　behind　him。　　Encouraged　by　the　probability　that　he；　like
herself；　was　staying　or　had　been　staying　at　the　'Red　Lion；'　she
said；　'Can　you　tell　me　if　this　is　the　way　back　to　Anglebury？'

'It　is　one　way；　but　the　nearest　is　in　this　direction；'　said　the
touristthe　same　who　had　been　criticized　by　the　two　old　men。

At　hearing　him　speak　all　the　delicate　activities　in　the　young　lady's
person　stood　still：　　she　stopped　like　a　clock。　　When　she　could　again
fence　with　the　perception　which　had　caused　all　this；　she　breathed。

'Mr。　Julian！'　she　exclaimed。　　The　words　were　uttered　in　a　way　which
would　have　told　anybody　in　a　moment　that　here　lay　something
connected　with　the　light　of　other　days。

'Ah；　Mrs。　Petherwin！Yes；　I　am　Mr。　Julianthough　that　can　matter
very　little；　I　should　think；　after　all　these　years；　and　what　has
passed。'

No　remark　was　returned　to　this　rugged　reply；　and　he　continued
unconcernedly；　'Shall　I　put　you　in　the　pathit　is　just　here？'

'If　you　please。'

'Come　with　me；　then。'

She　walked　in　silence　at　his　heels；　not　a　word　passing　between　them
all　the　way：　　the　only　noises　which　came　from　the　two　were　the
brushing　of　her　dress　and　his　gaiters　against　the　heather；　or　the
smart　rap　of　a　stray　flint　against　his　boot。

They　had　now　reached　a　little　knoll；　and　he　turned　abruptly：　　'That
is　Angleburyjust　where　you　see　those　lights。　　The　path　down　there
is　the　one　you　must　follow；　it　leads　round　the　hill　yonder　and
directly　into　the　town。'

'Thank　you；'　she　murmured；　and　found　that　he　had　never　removed　his
eyes　from　her　since　speaking；　keeping　them　fixed　with　mathematical
exactness　upon　one　point　in　her　face。　　She　moved　a　little　to　go　on
her　way；　he　moved　a　little　lessto　go　on　his。

'Good…night；'　said　Mr。　Julian。

The　moment；　upon　the　very　face　of　it；　was　critical；　and　yet　it　was
one　of　those　which　have　to　wait　for　a　future　before　they　acquire　a
definite　character　as　good　or　bad。

Thus　much　would　have　been　obvious　to　any　outsider；　it　may　have　been
doubly　so　to　Ethelberta；　for　she　gave　back　more　than　she　had　got；
replying；　'Good…byeif　you　are　going　to　say　no　more。'

Then　in　struck　Mr。　Julian：　　'What　can　I　say？　　You　are　nothing　to　me。
。　。　。　　I　could　forgive　a　woman　doing　anything　for　spite；　except
marrying　for　spite。'

'The　connection　of　that　with　our　present　meeting　does　not　appear；
unless　it　refers　to　what　you　have　done。　　It　does　not　refer　to　me。'

'I　am　not　married：　　you　are。'

She　did　not　contradict　him；　as　she　might　have　done。　　'Christopher；'
she　said　at　last；　'this　is　how　it　is：　　you　knew　too　much　of　me　to
respect　me；　and　too　little　to　pity　me。　　A　half　knowledge　of
another's　life　mostly　does　injustice　to　the　life　half　known。'

'Then　since　circumstances　forbid　my　knowing　you　more；　I　must　do　my
best　to　know　you　less；　and　elevate　my　opinion　of　your　nature　by
forgetting　what　it　consists　in；'　he　said　in　a　voice　from　which　all
feeling　was　polished　away。

'If　I　did　not　know　that　bitterness　had　more　to　do　with　those　words
than　judgment；　Ishould　bebitter　too！　　You　never　knew　half　about
me；　you　only　knew　me　as　a　governess；　you　little　think　what　my
beginnings　were。'

'I　have　guessed。　　I　have　many　times　told　myself　that　your　early　life
was　superior　to　your　position　when　I　first　met　you。　　I　think　I　may
say　without　presumption　that　I　recognize　a　lady　by　birth　when　I　see
her；　even　under　reverses　of　an　extreme　kind。　　And　certainly　there　is
this　to　be　said；　that　the　fact　of　having　been　bred　in　a　wealthy　home
does　slightly　redeem