the hand of ethelberta-第38章

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well　aware　that；　whatever　scrape　I　find　her　out　in；　I　shall　not　have
the　conscience　to　report　her；　because　I　am　a　man；　and　she　is　a
defenceless　woman；　and　so　she　takes　advantage　of　one's　feeling　by
making　me；　or　either　of　the　menservants；　her　bottle…holder；　as　you
see　she　has　done　now。'

'This　is　all　simply　dreadful；'　said　Ethelberta。　　'Joey　is　shrewd　and
trustworthy；　but　in　the　hands　of　such　a　woman　as　that！　　I　suppose
she　did　not　recognize　me。'

'There　was　no　chance　of　that　in　the　dark。'

'Well；　I　cannot　do　anything　in　it；'　said　she。　　'I　cannot　manage　Joey
at　all。'

'I　will　see　if　I　can；'　said　Mr。　Chickerel。　　'Courting　at　his　age；
indeedwhat　shall　we　hear　next！'

Chickerel　then　accompanied　his　daughter　along　the　street　till　an
empty　cab　passed　them；　and　putting　her　into　it　he　returned　to　the
house　again。



29。　ETHELBERTA'S　DRESSING…ROOM　…　MR。　DONCASTLE'S　HOUSE

The　dressing　of　Ethelberta　for　the　dinner…party　was　an　undertaking
into　which　Picotee　threw　her　whole　skill　as　tirewoman。　　Her　energies
were　brisker　that　day　than　they　had　been　at　any　time　since　the
Julians　first　made　preparations　for　departure　from　town；　for　a
letter　had　come　to　her　from　Faith；　telling　of　their　arrival　at　the
old　cathedral　city；　which　was　found　to　suit　their　inclinations　and
habits　infinitely　better　than　London；　and　that　she　would　like
Picotee　to　visit　them　there　some　day。　　Picotee　felt；　and　so　probably
felt　the　writer　of　the　letter；　that　such　a　visit　would　not　be　very
practicable　just　now；　but　it　was　a　pleasant　idea；　and　for　fastening
dreams　upon　was　better　than　nothing。

Such　musings　were　encouraged　also　by　Ethelberta's　remarks　as　the
dressing　went　on。

'We　will　have　a　change　soon；'　she　said；　'we　will　go　out　of　town　for
a　few　days。　　It　will　do　good　in　many　ways。　　I　am　getting　so　alarmed
about　the　health　of　the　children；　their　faces　are　becoming　so　white
and　thin　and　pinched　that　an　old　acquaintance　would　hardly　know
them；　and　they　were　so　plump　when　they　came。　　You　are　looking　as
pale　as　a　ghost；　and　I　daresay　I　am　too。　　A　week　or　two　at　Knollsea
will　see　us　right。'

'O；　how　charming！'　said　Picotee　gladly。

Knollsea　was　a　village　on　the　coast；　not　very　far　from　Melchester；
the　new　home　of　Christopher；　not　very　far；　that　is　to　say；　in　the
eye　of　a　sweetheart；　but　seeing　that　there　was；　as　the　crow　flies；　a
stretch　of　thirty…five　miles　between　the　two　places；　and　that　more
than　one…third　the　distance　was　without　a　railway；　an　elderly
gentleman　might　have　considered　their　situations　somewhat　remote
from　each　other。

'Why　have　you　chosen　Knollsea？'　inquired　Picotee。

'Because　of　aunt's　letter　from　Rouenhave　you　seen　it？'

'I　did　not　read　it　through。'

'She　wants　us　to　get　a　copy　of　the　register　of　her　baptism；　and　she
is　not　absolutely　certain　which　of　the　parishes　in　and　about
Knollsea　they　were　living　in　when　she　was　born。　　Mother；　being　a
year　younger；　cannot　tell　of　course。　　First　I　thought　of　writing　to
the　clergyman　of　each　parish；　but　that　would　be　troublesome；　and
might　reveal　the　secret　of　my　birth；　but　if　we　go　down　there　for　a
few　days；　and　take　some　lodgings；　we　shall　be　able　to　find　out　all
about　it　at　leisure。　　Gwendoline　and　Joey　can　attend　to　mother　and
the　people　downstairs；　especially　as　father　will　look　in　every
evening　until　he　goes　out　of　town；　to　see　if　they　are　getting　on
properly。　　It　will　be　such　a　weight　off　my　soul　to　slip　away　from
acquaintances　here。'

'Will　it？'

'Yes。　　At　the　same　time　I　ought　not　to　speak　so；　for　they　have　been
very　kind。　　I　wish　we　could　go　to　Rouen　afterwards；　aunt　repeats　her
invitation　as　usual。　　However；　there　is　time　enough　to　think　of
that。'

Ethelberta　was　dressed　at　last；　and；　beholding　the　lonely　look　of
poor　Picotee　when　about　to　leave　the　room；　she　could　not　help　having
a　sympathetic　feeling　that　it　was　rather　hard　for　her　sister　to　be
denied　so　small　an　enjoyment　as　a　menial　peep　at　a　feast　when　she
herself　was　to　sit　down　to　it　as　guest。

'If　you　still　want　to　go　and　see　the　procession　downstairs　you　may
do　so；'　she　said　reluctantly；　'provided　that　you　take　care　of　your
tongue　when　you　come　in　contact　with　Menlove；　and　adhere　to　father's
instructions　as　to　how　long　you　may　stay。　　It　may　be　in　the　highest
degree　unwise；　but　never　mind；　go。'

Then　Ethelberta　departed　for　the　scene　of　action；　just　at　the　hour
of　the　sun's　lowest　decline；　when　it　was　fading　away；　yellow　and
mild　as　candle…light；　and　when　upper　windows　facing　north…west
reflected　to　persons　in　the　street　dissolving　views　of　tawny　cloud
with　brazen　edges；　the　original　picture　of　the　same　being　hidden
from　sight　by　soiled　walls　and　slaty　slopes。

Before　entering　the　presence　of　host　and　hostess；　Ethelberta
contrived　to　exchange　a　few　words　with　her　father。

'In　excellent　time；'　he　whispered；　full　of　paternal　pride　at　the
superb　audacity　of　her　situation　here　in　relation　to　his。　　'About
half　of　them　are　come。'

'Mr。　Neigh？'

'Not　yet；　he's　coming。'

'Lord　Mountclere？'

'Yes。　　He　came　absurdly　early；　ten　minutes　before　anybody　else；　so
that　Mrs。　D。　could　hardly　get　on　her　bracelets　and　things　soon
enough　to　scramble　downstairs　and　receive　him；　and　he's　as　nervous
as　a　boy。　　Keep　up　your　spirits；　dear；　and　don't　mind　me。'

'I　will；　father。　　And　let　Picotee　see　me　at　dinner　if　you　can。　　She
is　very　anxious　to　look　at　me。　　She　will　be　here　directly。'

And　Ethelberta；　having　been　announced；　joined　the　chamberful　of
assembled　guests；　among　whom　for　the　present　we　lose　sight　of　her。



Meanwhile　the　evening　outside　the　house　was　deepening　in　tone；　and
the　lamps　began　to　blink　up。　　Her　sister　having　departed；　Picotee
hastily　arrayed　herself　in　a　little　black　jacket　and　chip　hat；　and
tripped　across　the　park　to　the　same　point。　　Chickerel　had　directed　a
maid…servant　known　as　Jane　to　receive　his　humbler　daughter　and　make
her　comfortable；　and　that　friendly　person；　who　spoke　as　if　she　had
known　Picotee　five…and…twenty　years；　took　her　to　the　housekeeper's
room；　where　the　visitor　deposited　her　jacket　and　hat；　and　rested
awhile。

A　quick…eyed；　light…haired；　slight…built　woman　came　in　when　Jane　had
gone。　　'Are　you　Miss　Chickerel？'　she　said　to　Picotee。

'Yes；'　said　Picotee；　guessing　that　this　was　Menlove；　and　fearing　her
a　little。

'Jane　tells　me　that　you　have　come　to　visit　your　father；　and　would
like　to　look　at　the　company　going　to　dinner。　　Well；　they　are　not
much　to　see；　you　know；　but　such　as　they　are　you　are　welcome　to　the
sight　of。　　Come　along　with　me。'

'I　think　I　would　rather　wait　for　father；　if　you　will　excuse　me；
please。'

'Your　father　is　busy　now；　it　is　no　use　for　you　to　think　of　saying
anything　to　him。'

Picotee　followed　her　guide　up　a　back　staircase　to　the　height　of
several　flights；　and　then；　crossing　a　landing；　they　descended　to　the
upper　part　of　the　front　stairs。

'Now　look　over　the　balustrade；　and　you　will　see　them　all　in　a
minute；'　said　Mrs。　Menlove。　　'O；　you　need　not　be　timid；　you　can　look
out　as　far　as　you　like。　　We　are　all　independent　here；　no　slavery　for
us：　　it　is　not　as　it　is　in　the　country；　where　servants　are
considered　to　be　of　different　blood　and　bone　from　their　employers；
and　to　have　no　eyes　for　anything　but　their　work。　　Here　they　are
coming。'

Picotee　then　had　the　pleasure　of　looking　down　upon　a　series　of　human
crownssome　black；　some　white；　some　strangely　built　upon；　some
smooth　and　shiningdescending　the　staircase　in　disordered　column
and　great　discomfort；　their　owners　trying　to　talk；　but　breaking　off
in　the　midst　of　syllables　to　look　to　their　footing。　　The　young
girl's　eyes　had　not　drooped　over　the　handrail　more　than　a　few
moments　when　she　softly　exclaimed；　'There　she　is；　there　she　is！　　How
lovely　she　looks；　does　she　not？'

'Who？'　said　Mrs。　Menlove。

Picotee　recollected　herself；　and　hastily　drew　in　her　impulses。　　'My
dear　mistress；'　she　said　blandly。　　'That　is　she　on　Mr。　Doncastle's
arm。　　And　look；　who　is　that　funny　old　man　the　elderly　lady　is
helping　downstairs？'

'He　is　our　honoured　guest；　Lord　Mountclere。　　Mrs。　Doncastle　will
have　him　all　through　the　dinner；　and　after　that　he　will　devote
himself　to　Mrs。　Petherwin；　your　〃dear　mistress。〃　　He　keeps　looking
towards　her　now；　and　no　doubt　thinks　it　a　nuisance　that　she　is　not
with　him。　　Well；　it　is　useless　to　stay　here。　　Come　a　little　further…
…we'll　follow　them。'　　Menlove　began　to　lead　the　way　downstairs；　but
Picotee　held　back。

'Won't　they　see　us？'　she　said。

'No。　　And　if　they　do；　it　doesn't　matter。　　Mrs。　Doncastle　would　not
object　in　the　least　to　the　daughter　of　her　respected　head　man　being
accidentally　seen　in　the　hall。'

They　descended　to　the　bottom　and　stood　in　the　hall。　　'O；　there's
father！'　whispered　Picotee；　with　childlike　gladness；　as　Chickerel
became　visible　to　her　by　the　door。　　The　butler　nodded　to　his
daughter；　and　became　again　engrossed　in　his　duties。

'I　wish　I　could　see　hermy　mistressagain；'　said　Picotee。

'You　seem　mightily　concerned　about　your　mistress；'　said　Menlove。
'Do　you　want　to　see　if　you　have　dressed　her　properly？'

'Yes；　partly；　and　I　like　her；　too。　　She　is　very　kind　to　me。'

'You　will　have　a　chance　of　seeing　her　soon。　　When　the　door　is　nicely
open　you　can　look　in　for　a　moment。　　I　must　leave　you　now　for　a　few
minutes；　but　I　will　come　again。'

Menlove　departed；　and　Picotee　stood　waiting。　　She　wondered　how
Ethelberta　was　getting　on；　and　whether　she　enjoyed　herself　as　much
as　it　seemed　her　duty　to　do　in　such　a　superbly　hospitable　place。
Picotee　then　turned　her　attention　to　the　hall；　every　article　of
furniture　therein　appearing　worthy　of　scrutiny　to　her　unaccustomed
eyes。　　Here　she　walked　and　looked　about　for　a　long　time　till　an
excellent　opportunity　offered　itself　of　seeing　how　affairs
progressed　in　the　dining…room。

Through　the　partly…opened　door　there　became　visible　a　sideboard
which　first　attracted　her　attention　by　its　richness。　　It　was；
indeed；　a　noticeable　example　of　modern　art…workmanship；　in　being
exceptionally　large；　with　curious　ebony　mouldings　at　different
stages；　and；　while　the　heavy　cupboard　doors　at　the　bottom　were
enriched　with　inlays　of　paler　wood；　other　panels　were　decorated　with
tiles；　as　if　the　massive　composition　had　been　erected　on　the　spot　as
part　of　the　solid　building。　　However；　it　was　on　a　space　higher　up
that　Picotee's　eyes　and　thoughts　were　fixed。　　In　the　great　mirror
above　the　middle　ledge　she　could　see　reflected　the　upper　part　of　the
dining…room；　and　this　suggested　to　her　that　she　might　see　Ethelberta
and　the　other　guests　reflected　in　the　same　way　by　standing　on　a
chair；　which；　quick　as　thought；　she　did。

To　Picotee's　dazed　young　vision　her　beautiful　sister　appeared　as　the
chief　figure　of　a　glorious　pleasure…parliament　of　both　sexes；
surrounded　by　whole　regiments　of　candles　grouped　here　and　there
about　the　room。　　She　and　her　companions　were　seated　before　a　large
flowerbed；　or　small　hanging　garden；　fixed　at　about　the　level　of　the
elbow；　the　attention　of　all　being　concentrated　rather　upon　the
uninteresting　margin　of　the　bed；　and　upon　each　other；　than　on　the
beautiful　natural　objects　growing　in　the　middle；　as　it　seemed　to
Picotee。　　In　the　ripple　of　conversation　Ethelberta's　clear　voice
could　occasionally　be