the hand of ethelberta-第23章

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inquired。　　There　had　been　bliss　and　misery　mingled　in　those　tidings；
and　she　scarcely　knew　for　a　moment　which　way　they　affected　her。
What　she　did　know　was　that　she　had　run　her　dear　fox　to　earth；　and　a
sense　of　satisfaction　at　that　feat　prevented　her　just　now　from
counting　the　cost　of　the　performance。

'Does　Mr。　Julian　come　to　see　her　very　often？'　said　she。

'O　yeshe's　always　a…cominga　regular　bore　to　me。'

'A　regular　what？'

'Bore！Ah；　I　forgot；　you　don't　know　our　town　words。　　However；　come
along。'

They　passed　by　the　doors　on　tiptoe；　and　their　mother　upstairs　being；
according　to　Joey's　account；　in　the　midst　of　a　nap；　Picotee　was
unwilling　to　disturb　her；　so　they　went　down　at　once　to　the　kitchen；
when　forward　rushed　Gwendoline　the　cook；　flourishing　her　floury
hands；　and　Cornelia　the　housemaid；　dancing　over　her　brush；　and　these
having　welcomed　and　made　Picotee　comfortable；　who　should　ring　the
area…bell；　and　be　admitted　down　the　steps；　but　Sol　and　Dan。　　The
workman…brothers；　their　day's　duties　being　over；　had　called　to　see
their　relations；　first；　as　usual；　going　home　to　their　lodgings　in
Marylebone　and　making　themselves　as　spruce　as　bridegrooms；　according
to　the　rules　of　their　newly…acquired　town　experience。　　For　the
London　mechanic　is　only　nine　hours　a　mechanic；　though　the　country
mechanic　works；　eats；　drinks；　and　sleeps　a　mechanic　throughout　the
whole　twenty…four。

'God　bless　my　soulPicotee！'　said　Dan；　standing　fixed。　　'WellI
say；　this　is　splendid！　ha…ha！'

'Picoteewhat　brought　you　here？'　said　Sol；　expanding　the
circumference　of　his　face　in　satisfaction。　　'Well；　come　alongnever
mind　so　long　as　you　be　here。'

Picotee　explained　circumstances　as　well　as　she　could　without　stating
them；　and；　after　a　general　conversation　of　a　few　minutes；　Sol
interrupted　with'Anybody　upstairs　with　Mrs。　Petherwin？'

'Mr。　Julian　was　there　just　now；'　said　Joey；　'but　he　may　be　gone。
Berta　always　lets　him　slip　out　how　he　can；　the　form　of　ringing　me　up
not　being　necessary　with　him。　　Wait　a　minuteI'll　see。'

Joseph　vanished　up　the　stairs；　and；　the　question　whether　Christopher
were　gone　or　not　being　an　uninteresting　one　to　the　majority；　the
talking　went　on　upon　other　matters。　　When　Joey　crept　down　again　a
minute　later；　Picotee　was　sitting　aloof　and　silent；　and　he
accordingly　singled　her　out　to　speak　to。

'Such　a　lark；　Picotee！'　he　whispered。　　'Berta's　a…courting　of　her
young　man。　　Would　you　like　to　see　how　they　carries　on　a　bit？'

'Dearly　I　should！'　said　Picotee；　the　pupils　of　her　eyes　dilating。

Joey　conducted　her　to　the　top　of　the　basement　stairs；　and　told　her
to　listen。　　Within　a　few　yards　of　them　was　the　morning…room　door；
now　standing　ajar；　and　an　intermittent　flirtation　in　soft　male　and
female　tones　could　be　heard　going　on　inside。　　Picotee's　lips　parted
at　thus　learning　the　condition　of　things；　and　she　leant　against　the
stair…newel。

'My？　　What's　the　matter？'　said　Joey。

'If　this　is　London；　I　don't　like　it　at　all！'　moaned　Picotee。

'WellI　never　see　such　a　girlfainting　all　over　the　stairs　for
nothing　in　the　world。'

'Oit　will　soon　be　goneit　isit　is　only　indigestion。'

'Indigestion？　　Much　you　simple　country　people　can　know　about　that！
You　should　see　what　devils　of　indigestions　we　get　in　high　life
eating　'normous　great　dinners　and　suppers　that　require　clever
physicians　to　carry　'em　off；　or　else　they'd　carry　us　off　with　gout
next　day；　and　waking　in　the　morning　with　such　a　splitting　headache；
and　dry　throat；　and　inward　cusses　about　human　nature；　that　you　feel
all　the　world　like　some　great　lord。　　However；　now　let's　go　down
again。'

'No；　no；　no！'　said　the　unhappy　maiden　imploringly。　　'Hark！'

They　listened　again。　　The　voices　of　the　musician　and　poetess　had
changed：　　there　was　a　decided　frigidity　in　their　tonethen　came　a
louder　expressionthen　a　silence。

'You　needn't　be　afeard；'　said　Joey。　　'They　won't　fight；　bless　you；
they　busts　out　quarrelling　like　this　times　and　times　when　they've
been　over…friendly；　but　it　soon　gets　straight　with　'em　again。'

There　was　now　a　quick　walk　across　the　room；　and　Joey　and　his　sister
drew　down　their　heads　out　of　sight。　　Then　the　room　door　was　slammed；
quick　footsteps　went　along　the　hall；　the　front　door　closed　just　as
loudly；　and　Christopher's　tread　passed　into　nothing　along　the
pavement。

'That's　rather　a　wuss　one　than　they　mostly　have；　but　Lord；　'tis
nothing　at　all。'

'I　don't　much　like　biding　here　listening！'　said　Picotee。

'O；　'tis　how　we　do　all　over　the　West　End；'　said　Joey。　　''Tis　yer
ignorance　of　town　life　that　makes　it　seem　a　good　deal　to　'ee。'

'You　can't　make　much　boast　about　town　life；　for　you　haven't　left　off
talking　just　as　they　do　down　in　Wessex。'

'Well；　I　own　to　thatwhat's　fair　is　fair；　and　'tis　a　true　charge；
but　if　I　talk　the　Wessex　way　'tisn't　for　want　of　knowing　better；
'tis　because　my　staunch　nater　makes　me　bide　faithful　to　our　old
ancient　institutions。　　You'd　soon　own　'twasn't　ignorance　in　me；　if
you　knowed　what　large　quantities　of　noblemen　I　gets　mixed　up　with
every　day。　　In　fact　'tis　thoughted　here　and　there　that　I　shall　do
very　well　in　the　world。'

'Well；　let　us　go　down；'　said　Picotee。　　'Everything　seems　so
overpowering　here。'

'O；　you'll　get　broke　in　soon　enough。　　I　felt　just　the　same　when　I
first　entered　into　society。'

'Do　you　think　Berta　will　be　angry　with　me？　　How　does　she　treat　you？'

'Well；　I　can't　complain。　　You　see　she's　my　own　flesh　and　blood；　and
what　can　I　say？　　But；　in　secret　truth；　the　wages　is　terrible　low；
and　barely　pays　for　the　tobacco　I　consooms。'

'O　Joey；　you　wicked　boy！　　If　mother　only　knew　that　you　smoked！'

'I　don't　mind　the　wickedness　so　much　as　the　smell。　　And　Mrs。
Petherwin　has　got　such　a　nose　for　a　fellow's　clothes。　　'Tis　one　of
the　greatest　knots　in　servicethe　smoke　question。　　'Tis　thoughted
that　we　shall　make　a　great　stir　about　it　in　the　mansions　of　the
nobility　soon。'

'How　much　more　you　know　of　life　than　I　doyou　only　fourteen　and　me
seventeen！'

'Yes；　that's　true。　　You　see；　age　is　nothing'tis　opportunity。　　And
even　I　can't　boast；　for　many　a　younger　man　knows　more。'

'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
de