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the hand of ethelberta-µÚ28ÕÂ

С˵£º the hand of ethelberta ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ3500×Ö

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¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡



myself£»¡¡though¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡want¡¡to¡¡do¡¡it£»¡¡either£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡come¡¡to¡¡me£¡
And¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡know¡¡he¡¡belonged¡¡to¡¡you¡¡when¡¡I¡¡began¡¡it£»¡¡or¡¡I¡¡would¡¡not
have¡¡let¡¡him¡¡meet¡¡me¡¡at¡¡all£»¡¡no¡¡I¡¡wouldn't£¡'

'Meet¡¡you£¿¡¡You¡¡don't¡¡mean¡¡to¡¡say¡¡he¡¡used¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡you£¿'¡¡whispered
Ethelberta¡£

'Yes£»'¡¡said¡¡Picotee£»¡¡'but¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡help¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡used¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡on
the¡¡road£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡other¡¡road¡¡unless¡¡I¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡ever¡¡so¡¡far
round¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡worse¡¡than¡¡that£»¡¡Berta£¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡was¡¡why¡¡I¡¡couldn't
bide¡¡in¡¡Sandbourne£»¡¡andand¡¡ran¡¡away¡¡to¡¡you¡¡up¡¡here£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not
because¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡see¡¡you£»¡¡Berta£»¡¡but¡¡because¡¡II¡¡wanted'

'Yes£»¡¡yes£»¡¡I¡¡know£»'¡¡said¡¡Ethelberta¡¡hurriedly¡£

'And¡¡then¡¡when¡¡I¡¡went¡¡downstairs¡¡he¡¡mistook¡¡me¡¡for¡¡you¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment£»
and¡¡that¡¡causeda¡¡confusion£¡'

'O£»¡¡well£»¡¡it¡¡does¡¡not¡¡much¡¡matter£»'¡¡said¡¡Ethelberta£»¡¡kissing¡¡Picotee
soothingly¡£¡¡¡¡'You¡¡ought¡¡not¡¡of¡¡course¡¡to¡¡have¡¡come¡¡to¡¡London¡¡in¡¡such
a¡¡manner£»¡¡but£»¡¡since¡¡you¡¡have¡¡come£»¡¡we¡¡will¡¡make¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡it¡£
Perhaps¡¡it¡¡may¡¡end¡¡happily¡¡for¡¡you¡¡and¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡Who¡¡knows£¿'

'Then¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡want¡¡him£»¡¡Berta£¿'

'O¡¡no£»¡¡not¡¡at¡¡all£¡'

'Whatand¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡REALLY¡¡want¡¡him£»¡¡Berta£¿'¡¡repeated¡¡Picotee£»
starting¡¡up¡£

'I¡¡would¡¡much¡¡rather¡¡he¡¡paid¡¡his¡¡addresses¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡not¡¡the
sort¡¡of¡¡man¡¡I¡¡should¡¡wish¡¡tothink¡¡it¡¡best¡¡to¡¡marry£»¡¡even¡¡if¡¡I¡¡were
to¡¡marry£»¡¡which¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡at¡¡present¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡calls
to¡¡see¡¡me¡¡because¡¡we¡¡are¡¡old¡¡friends£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡calls¡¡do¡¡not¡¡mean
anything¡¡more¡¡than¡¡that¡¡he¡¡takes¡¡an¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡at
all¡¡likely¡¡that¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡see¡¡him¡¡again£¡¡¡and¡¡I¡¡certainly¡¡never¡¡shall
see¡¡him¡¡unless¡¡you¡¡are¡¡present¡£'

'That¡¡will¡¡be¡¡very¡¡nice¡£'

'Yes¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡always¡¡distant¡¡towards¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡go¡¡to¡¡leave
the¡¡room¡¡when¡¡he¡¡comes£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡will¡¡call¡¡you¡¡back£»¡¡but¡¡suppose¡¡we
continue¡¡this¡¡to¡­morrow£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡can¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡better¡¡then¡¡what¡¡to¡¡do¡£'

When¡¡Picotee¡¡had¡¡left¡¡her¡¡the¡¡second¡¡time£»¡¡Ethelberta¡¡turned¡¡over
upon¡¡her¡¡breast¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡in¡¡convulsive¡¡sobs¡¡which¡¡had¡¡little
relationship¡¡with¡¡tears¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡abandonment¡¡ended¡¡as¡¡suddenly¡¡as¡¡it
had¡¡begunnot¡¡lasting¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡altogetherand
she¡¡got¡¡up¡¡in¡¡an¡¡unconsidered¡¡and¡¡unusual¡¡impulse¡¡to¡¡seek¡¡relief
from¡¡the¡¡stinging¡¡sarcasm¡¡of¡¡this¡¡eventthe¡¡unhappy¡¡love¡¡of
Picoteeby¡¡mentioning¡¡something¡¡of¡¡it¡¡to¡¡another¡¡member¡¡of¡¡the
family£»¡¡her¡¡eldest¡¡sister¡¡Gwendoline£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡full¡¡of
sympathy¡£

Ethelberta¡¡descended¡¡to¡¡the¡¡kitchen£»¡¡it¡¡being¡¡now¡¡about¡¡ten¡¡o'clock¡£
The¡¡room¡¡was¡¡empty£»¡¡Gwendoline¡¡not¡¡having¡¡yet¡¡returned£»¡¡and
Cornelia£»¡¡being¡¡busy¡¡about¡¡her¡¡own¡¡affairs¡¡upstairs¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡French
family¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡theatre£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡house¡¡on¡¡that¡¡account¡¡was
very¡¡quiet¡¡to¡­night¡£¡¡¡¡Ethelberta¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dismal¡¡place
without¡¡turning¡¡up¡¡the¡¡gas£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡admitted
Gwendoline¡£

The¡¡round¡­faced¡¡country¡¡cook¡¡floundered¡¡in£»¡¡untying¡¡her¡¡bonnet¡¡as
she¡¡came£»¡¡laying¡¡it¡¡down¡¡on¡¡a¡¡chair£»¡¡and¡¡talking¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡£
'Such¡¡a¡¡place¡¡as¡¡this¡¡London¡¡is£»¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sure£¡'¡¡she¡¡exclaimed£»¡¡turning
on¡¡the¡¡gas¡¡till¡¡it¡¡whistled¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡wish¡¡I¡¡was¡¡down¡¡in¡¡Wessex¡¡again¡£
Lord¡­a¡­mercy£»¡¡Berta£»¡¡I¡¡didn't¡¡see¡¡it¡¡was¡¡you£¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡was
Cornelia¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡I¡¡was¡¡saying£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡that£»¡¡after¡¡biding¡¡in¡¡this
underground¡¡cellar¡¡all¡¡the¡¡week£»¡¡making¡¡up¡¡messes¡¡for¡¡them¡¡French
folk£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡pleasing¡¡'em£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡shall£»¡¡because¡¡I¡¡don't
understand¡¡that¡¡line£»¡¡I¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡would¡¡go¡¡out¡¡and¡¡see¡¡father£»¡¡you
know¡£'

'Is¡¡he¡¡very¡¡well£¿'¡¡said¡¡Ethelberta¡£

'Yes£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡is¡¡going¡¡to¡¡call¡¡round¡¡when¡¡he¡¡has¡¡time¡£¡¡¡¡Well£»¡¡as¡¡I
was¡¡a¡­coming¡¡home¡­along¡¡I¡¡thought£»¡¡¡¨Please¡¡the¡¡Lord¡¡I'll¡¡have¡¡some
chippols¡¡for¡¡supper¡¡just¡¡for¡¡a¡¡plain¡¡trate£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡I¡¡went¡¡round¡¡to¡¡the
late¡¡greengrocer's¡¡for¡¡'em£»¡¡and¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡they¡¡sweared¡¡me¡¡down
that¡¡they¡¡hadn't¡¡got¡¡such¡¡things¡¡as¡¡chippols¡¡in¡¡the¡¡shop£»¡¡and¡¡had
never¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡'em¡¡in¡¡their¡¡lives¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡last¡¡I¡¡said£»¡¡¡¨Why£»¡¡how¡¡can
you¡¡tell¡¡me¡¡such¡¡a¡¡brazen¡¡story£¿here¡¡they¡¡be£»¡¡heaps¡¡of¡¡'em£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡It
made¡¡me¡¡so¡¡vexed¡¡that¡¡I¡¡came¡¡away¡¡there¡¡and¡¡then£»¡¡and¡¡wouldn't¡¡have
oneno£»¡¡not¡¡at¡¡a¡¡gift¡£'

'They¡¡call¡¡them¡¡young¡¡onions¡¡here£»'¡¡said¡¡Ethelberta¡¡quietly£»¡¡'you
must¡¡always¡¡remember¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡But£»¡¡Gwendoline£»¡¡I¡¡wanted'

Ethelberta¡¡felt¡¡sick¡¡at¡¡heart£»¡¡and¡¡stopped¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡had¡¡come¡¡down¡¡on
the¡¡wings¡¡of¡¡an¡¡impulse¡¡to¡¡unfold¡¡her¡¡trouble¡¡about¡¡Picotee¡¡to¡¡her
hard¡­headed¡¡and¡¡much¡¡older¡¡sister£»¡¡less¡¡for¡¡advice¡¡than¡¡to¡¡get¡¡some
heart¡­ease¡¡by¡¡interchange¡¡of¡¡words£»¡¡but¡¡alas£»¡¡she¡¡could¡¡proceed¡¡no
further¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡wretched¡¡homeliness¡¡of¡¡Gwendoline's¡¡mind¡¡seemed¡¡at
this¡¡particular¡¡juncture¡¡to¡¡be¡¡absolutely¡¡intolerable£»¡¡and
Ethelberta¡¡was¡¡suddenly¡¡convinced¡¡that¡¡to¡¡involve¡¡Gwendoline¡¡in¡¡any
such¡¡discussion¡¡would¡¡simply¡¡be¡¡increasing¡¡her¡¡own¡¡burden£»¡¡and
adding¡¡worse¡¡confusion¡¡to¡¡her¡¡sister's¡¡already¡¡confused¡¡existence¡£

'What¡¡were¡¡you¡¡going¡¡to¡¡say£¿'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡honest¡¡and¡¡unsuspecting
Gwendoline¡£

'I¡¡will¡¡put¡¡it¡¡off¡¡until¡¡to¡­morrow£»'¡¡Ethelberta¡¡murmured¡¡gloomily£»
'I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡bad¡¡headache£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡stay¡¡with¡¡you¡¡after
all¡£'

As¡¡she¡¡ascended¡¡the¡¡stairs£»¡¡Ethelberta¡¡ached¡¡with¡¡an¡¡added¡¡pain¡¡not
much¡¡less¡¡than¡¡the¡¡primary¡¡one¡¡which¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡her¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was
that¡¡old¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡disloyalty¡¡to¡¡her¡¡class¡¡and¡¡kin¡¡by¡¡feeling¡¡as¡¡she
felt¡¡now¡¡which¡¡caused¡¡the¡¡pain£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡escaping¡¡it¡£
Gwendoline¡¡would¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ends¡¡of¡¡the¡¡earth¡¡for¡¡her£º¡¡¡¡she
could¡¡not¡¡confide¡¡a¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡Gwendoline£¡

'If¡¡she¡¡only¡¡knew¡¡of¡¡that¡¡unworthy¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡mine£»¡¡how¡¡she¡¡would
grieve£»'¡¡said¡¡Ethelberta¡¡miserably¡£

She¡¡next¡¡went¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡servants'¡¡bedrooms£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡where¡¡Cornelia
slept¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡Ethelberta's¡¡entrance¡¡Cornelia¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡from¡¡a¡¡perfect
wonder¡¡of¡¡a¡¡bonnet£»¡¡which¡¡she¡¡held¡¡in¡¡her¡¡hands¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡sight¡¡of
Ethelberta¡¡the¡¡look¡¡of¡¡keen¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡her¡¡work¡¡changed¡¡to¡¡one¡¡of
gaiety¡£

'I¡¡am¡¡so¡¡gladI¡¡was¡¡just¡¡coming¡¡down£»'¡¡Cornelia¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡whisper£»
whenever¡¡they¡¡spoke¡¡as¡¡relations¡¡in¡¡this¡¡house¡¡it¡¡was¡¡in¡¡whispers¡£
'Now£»¡¡how¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡this¡¡bonnet¡¡will¡¡do£¿¡¡¡¡May¡¡I¡¡come¡¡down£»¡¡and
see¡¡how¡¡I¡¡look¡¡in¡¡your¡¡big¡¡glass£¿'¡¡¡¡She¡¡clapped¡¡the¡¡bonnet¡¡upon¡¡her
head¡£¡¡¡¡'Won't¡¡it¡¡do¡¡beautiful¡¡for¡¡Sunday¡¡afternoon£¿'

'It¡¡looks¡¡very¡¡attractive£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡by¡¡this¡¡light£»'¡¡said
Ethelberta¡£¡¡¡¡'But¡¡is¡¡it¡¡not¡¡rather¡¡too¡¡brilliant¡¡in¡¡colourblue¡¡and
red¡¡together£»¡¡like¡¡that£¿¡¡¡¡Remember£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡often¡¡tell¡¡you£»¡¡people¡¡in
town¡¡never¡¡wear¡¡such¡¡bright¡¡contrasts¡¡as¡¡they¡¡do¡¡in¡¡the¡¡country¡£'

'O¡¡Berta£¡'¡¡said¡¡Cornelia£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡deprecating¡¡tone£»¡¡'don't¡¡object¡£¡¡¡¡If
there's¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡I¡¡do¡¡glory¡¡in¡¡it¡¡is¡¡a¡¡nice¡¡flare¡­up¡¡about¡¡my¡¡head
o'¡¡Sundaysof¡¡course¡¡if¡¡the¡¡family's¡¡not¡¡in¡¡mourning£»¡¡I¡¡mean¡£'
But£»¡¡seeing¡¡that¡¡Ethelberta¡¡did¡¡not¡¡smile£»¡¡she¡¡turned¡¡the¡¡subject£»
and¡¡added¡¡docilely£º¡¡¡¡'Did¡¡you¡¡come¡¡up¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡do¡¡anything£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡will
put¡¡off¡¡finishing¡¡my¡¡bonnet¡¡if¡¡I¡¡am¡¡wanted¡£'

'I¡¡was¡¡going¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡you¡¡about¡¡family¡¡matters£»¡¡and¡¡Picotee£»'¡¡said
Ethelberta¡£¡¡¡¡'But£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡are¡¡busy£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡headache£»¡¡I¡¡will
put¡¡it¡¡off¡¡till¡¡to¡­morrow¡£'

Cornelia¡¡seemed¡¡decidedly¡¡relieved£»¡¡for¡¡family¡¡matters¡¡were¡¡far¡¡from
attractive¡¡at¡¡the¡¡best¡¡of¡¡times£»¡¡and¡¡Ethelberta¡¡went¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the
next¡¡floor£»¡¡and¡¡entered¡¡her¡¡mother's¡¡room¡£

After¡¡a¡¡short¡¡conversation¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Chickerel¡¡said£»¡¡'You¡¡say¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to
ask¡¡me¡¡something£¿'

'Yes£º¡¡¡¡but¡¡nothing¡¡of¡¡importance£»¡¡mother¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡was¡¡thinking¡¡about
Picotee£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡best¡¡thing¡¡to¡¡do'

'Ah£»¡¡well¡¡you¡¡may£»¡¡Berta¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡so¡¡uneasy¡¡about¡¡this¡¡life¡¡you¡¡have
led¡¡us¡¡into£»¡¡and¡¡full¡¡of¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡your¡¡plans¡¡may¡¡break¡¡down£»¡¡if
they¡¡do£»¡¡whatever¡¡will¡¡become¡¡of¡¡us£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡know¡¡you¡¡are¡¡doing¡¡your
best£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡help¡¡thinking¡¡that¡¡the¡¡coming¡¡to¡¡London¡¡and
living¡¡with¡¡you¡¡was¡¡wild¡¡and¡¡rash£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡well¡¡weighed¡¡afore¡¡we¡¡set
about¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡should¡¡have¡¡counted¡¡the¡¡cost¡¡first£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡advised
it¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡break¡¡down£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡are¡¡all¡¡discovered¡¡living¡¡so¡¡queer
and¡¡unnatural£»¡¡right¡¡in¡¡the¡¡heart¡¡of¡¡the¡¡aristocracy£»¡¡we¡¡should¡¡be
the¡¡laughing¡­stock¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£º¡¡¡¡it¡¡would¡¡kill¡¡me£»¡¡and¡¡ruin¡¡us
allutterly¡¡ruin¡¡us£¡'

'O¡¡mother£»¡¡I¡¡know¡¡all¡¡that¡¡so¡¡well£¡'¡¡exclaimed¡¡Ethelberta£»¡¡tears¡¡of
anguish¡¡filling¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡'Don't¡¡depress¡¡me¡¡more¡¡than¡¡I¡¡depress
myself¡¡by¡¡such¡¡fears£»¡¡or¡¡you¡¡will¡¡bring¡¡about¡¡the¡¡very¡¡thing¡¡we
strive¡¡to¡¡avoid£¡¡¡¡¡My¡¡only¡¡chance¡¡is¡¡in¡¡keeping¡¡in¡¡good¡¡spirits£»¡¡and
why¡¡don't¡¡you¡¡try¡¡to¡¡help¡¡me¡¡a¡¡little¡¡by¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡brighter¡¡view¡¡of
things£¿'

'I¡¡know¡¡I¡¡ought¡¡to£»¡¡my¡¡dear¡¡girl£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡cannot¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡do¡¡so¡¡wish¡¡that¡¡I
never¡¡let¡¡you¡¡tempt¡¡me¡¡and¡¡the¡¡children¡¡away¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Lodge¡£¡¡¡¡I
cannot¡¡think¡¡why¡¡I¡¡allowed¡¡myself¡¡to¡¡be¡¡so¡¡persuadedcannot¡¡think£¡
You¡¡are¡¡not¡¡to¡¡blameit¡¡is¡¡I¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡am¡¡much¡¡older¡¡than¡¡you£»¡¡and¡¡ought
to¡¡have¡¡known¡¡better¡¡than¡¡listen¡¡to¡¡such¡¡a¡¡scheme¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡undertaking
seems¡¡too¡¡bigthe¡¡bills¡¡frighten¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡been¡¡used¡¡to
such¡¡wild¡¡adventure£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡sleep¡¡at¡¡night¡¡for¡¡fear¡¡that¡¡your
tale¡­telling¡¡will¡¡go¡¡wrong£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡shall¡¡all¡¡be¡¡exposed¡¡and¡¡shamed¡£
A¡¡story¡­teller¡¡seems¡¡such¡¡an¡¡impossible¡¡castle¡­in¡­the¡­air¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡a
trade¡¡for¡¡getting¡¡a¡¡living¡¡byI¡¡cannot¡¡think¡¡how¡¡ever¡¡you¡¡came¡¡to
dream¡¡of¡¡such¡¡an¡¡unheard¡­of¡¡thing¡£'

'But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡NOT¡¡a¡¡castle¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡DOES¡¡get¡¡a¡¡living£¡'¡¡said
Ethelberta£»¡¡her¡¡lip¡¡quivering¡£

'Well£»¡¡yes£»¡¡while¡¡it¡¡is¡¡just¡¡a¡¡new¡¡thing£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡am¡¡afraid¡¡it¡¡cannot
lastthat's¡¡what¡¡I¡¡fear¡£¡¡¡¡People¡¡will¡¡find¡¡you¡¡out¡¡as¡¡one¡¡of¡¡a
family¡¡of¡¡servants£»¡¡and¡¡their¡¡pride¡¡will¡¡be¡¡stung¡¡at¡¡having¡¡gone¡¡to
hear¡¡your¡¡romancing£»¡¡then¡¡they¡¡will¡¡go¡¡no¡¡more£»¡¡and¡¡what¡¡will¡¡happen
to¡¡us¡¡and¡¡the¡¡poor¡¡little¡¡ones£¿'

'We¡¡must¡¡all¡¡scatter¡¡again£¡'

'If¡¡we¡¡could¡¡get¡¡as¡¡we¡¡were¡¡once£»¡¡I¡¡wouldn't¡¡mind¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡we
shall¡¡have¡¡lost¡¡our¡¡character¡¡as¡¡simple¡¡country¡¡folk¡¡who¡¡know
nothing£»¡¡which¡¡are¡¡the¡¡only¡¡class¡¡of¡¡poor¡¡people¡¡that¡¡squires¡¡will
give¡¡any¡¡help¡¡to£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡much¡¡doubt¡¡if¡¡the¡¡girls¡¡would¡¡get¡¡places
after¡¡such¡¡a¡¡discoveryit¡¡would¡¡be¡¡so¡¡awkward¡¡and¡¡unheard¡­of¡£'

'Well£»¡¡all¡¡I¡¡can¡¡say¡¡is£»'¡¡replied¡¡Ethelberta£»¡¡'that¡¡I¡¡will¡¡do¡¡my
best¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡is¡¡theirs¡¡and¡¡yours¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡mine£»¡¡and
these¡¡arrangements¡¡are¡¡simply¡¡on¡¡their¡¡account¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡like¡¡my
relations¡¡being¡¡my¡¡servants£»¡¡but¡¡if¡¡they¡¡did¡¡not¡¡work¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡they
would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡work¡¡for¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡my¡¡service¡¡is¡¡much¡¡lighter¡¡and
pleasanter¡¡than¡¡any¡¡other¡¡lady's¡¡would¡¡be¡¡for¡¡them£»¡¡so¡¡the
advantages¡¡are¡¡worth¡¡the¡¡risk¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡alone£»¡¡I¡¡would¡¡go¡¡and
hide¡¡my¡¡head¡¡in¡¡any¡¡hole£»¡¡and¡¡care¡¡no¡¡more¡¡about¡¡the¡¡world¡¡and¡¡its
ways¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡wish¡¡I¡¡was¡¡well¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡a¡¡quiet
graveanybody¡¡might¡¡have¡¡the¡¡world¡¡for¡¡me¡¡then£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡don't¡¡let¡¡me
disturb¡¡you¡¡longer£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡getting¡¡late¡£'

Ethelberta¡¡then¡¡wished¡¡her¡¡mother¡¡good¡­night£»¡¡and¡¡went¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡To
attempt¡¡confidences¡¡on¡¡such¡¡an¡¡ethereal¡¡matter¡¡as¡¡love¡¡was¡¡now
absurd£»¡¡her¡¡hermit¡¡spirit¡¡was¡¡doomed¡¡to¡¡dwell¡¡apart¡¡as¡¡usual£»¡¡and
she¡¡applied¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡deep¡¡thinking¡¡without¡¡aid¡¡and¡¡alone¡£¡¡¡¡Not
only¡¡was¡¡there¡¡Picotee's¡¡misery¡¡to¡¡disperse£»¡¡it¡¡became¡¡imperative¡¡to
consider¡¡how¡¡best¡¡to¡¡overpass¡¡a¡¡more¡¡general¡¡catastrophe¡£



24¡£¡¡ETHELBERTA'S¡¡HOUSE¡¡£¨continued£©¡¡¡­¡¡THE¡¡BRITISH¡¡MUSEUM

Mrs¡£¡¡Chickerel£»¡¡in¡¡deploring¡¡the¡¡risks¡¡of¡¡their¡¡present¡¡speculative
mode¡¡of¡¡life£»¡¡was¡¡far¡¡from¡¡imagining¡¡that¡¡signs¡¡of¡¡the¡¡foul¡¡future
so¡¡much¡¡dreaded¡¡were¡¡actually¡¡apparent¡¡to¡¡Ethelberta¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡the
lament¡¡was¡¡spoken¡£¡¡¡¡Hence¡¡the¡¡daughter's¡¡uncommon¡¡sensitiveness¡¡to
prophecy¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡as¡¡if¡¡a¡¡dead¡­reckoner¡¡poring¡¡over¡¡his¡¡chart¡¡should
predict¡¡breakers¡¡ahead¡¡to¡¡one¡¡who¡¡already¡¡beheld¡¡them¡£

That¡¡her¡¡story¡­telling¡¡would¡¡prove¡¡so¡¡attractive¡¡Ethelberta¡¡had¡¡not
ventured¡¡to¡¡expect¡¡for¡¡a¡¡mome

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