the hand of ethelberta-第41章

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eyes　to　the　outlook　from　the　window；　which　presented　a　happy
combination　of　grange　scenery　with　marine。　　Upon　the　irregular　slope
between　the　house　and　the　quay　was　an　orchard　of　aged　trees　wherein
every　apple　ripening　on　the　boughs　presented　its　rubicund　side
towards　the　cottage；　because　that　building　chanced　to　lie　upwards　in
the　same　direction　as　the　sun。　　Under　the　trees　were　a　few　Cape
sheep；　and　over　them　the　stone　chimneys　of　the　village　below：
outside　these　lay　the　tanned　sails　of　a　ketch　or　smack；　and　the
violet　waters　of　the　bay；　seamed　and　creased　by　breezes　insufficient
to　raise　waves；　beyond　all　a　curved　wall　of　cliff；　terminating　in　a
promontory；　which　was　flanked　by　tall　and　shining　obelisks　of　chalk
rising　sheer　from　the　trembling　blue　race　beneath。

By　one　sitting　in　the　room　that　commanded　this　prospect；　a　white
butterfly　among　the　apple…trees　might　be　mistaken　for　the　sails　of　a
yacht　far　away　on　the　sea；　and　in　the　evening　when　the　light　was
dim；　what　seemed　like　a　fly　crawling　upon　the　window…pane　would　turn
out　to　be　a　boat　in　the　bay。

When　breakfast　was　over；　Ethelberta　sat　leaning　on　the　window…sill
considering　her　movements　for　the　day。　　It　was　the　time　fixed　for
the　meeting　of　the　Imperial　Association　at　Corvsgate　Castle；　the
celebrated　ruin　five　miles　off；　and　the　meeting　had　some
fascinations　for　her。　　For　one　thing；　she　had　never　been　present　at
a　gathering　of　the　kind；　although　what　was　left　in　any　shape　from
the　past　was　her　constant　interest；　because　it　recalled　her　to
herself　and　fortified　her　mind。　　Persons　waging　a　harassing　social
fight　are　apt　in　the　interest　of　the　combat　to　forget　the　smallness
of　the　end　in　view；　and　the　hints　that　perishing　historical　remnants
afforded　her　of　the　attenuating　effects　of　time　even　upon　great
struggles　corrected　the　apparent　scale　of　her　own。　　She　was　reminded
that　in　a　strife　for　such　a　ludicrously　small　object　as　the　entry　of
drawing…rooms；　winning；　equally　with　losing；　is　below　the　zero　of
the　true　philosopher's　concern。

There　could　never　be　a　more　excellent　reason　than　this　for　going　to
view　the　meagre　stumps　remaining　from　flourishing　bygone　centuries；
and　it　had　weight　with　Ethelberta　this　very　day；　but　it　would　be
difficult　to　state　the　whole　composition　of　her　motive。　　The
approaching　meeting　had　been　one　of　the　great　themes　at　Mr。
Doncastle's　dinner…party；　and　Lord　Mountclere；　on　learning　that　she
was　to　be　at　Knollsea；　had　recommended　her　attendance　at　some；　if
not　all　of　the　meetings；　as　a　desirable　and　exhilarating　change
after　her　laborious　season's　work　in　town。　　It　was　pleasant　to　have
won　her　way　so　far　in　high　places　that　her　health　of　body　and　mind
should　be　thus　consideredpleasant；　less　as　personal　gratification；
than　that　it　casually　reflected　a　proof　of　her　good　judgment　in　a
course　which　everybody　among　her　kindred　had　condemned　by　calling　a
foolhardy　undertaking。

And　she　might　go　without　the　restraint　of　ceremony。
Unconventionalityalmost　eccentricity…was　de　rigueur　for　one　who
had　been　first　heard　of　as　a　poetess；　from　whose　red　lips　magic
romance　had　since　trilled　for　weeks　to　crowds　of　listeners；　as　from
a　perennial　spring。

So　Ethelberta　went；　after　a　considerable　pondering　how　to　get　there
without　the　needless　sacrifice　either　of　dignity　or　cash。　　It　would
be　inconsiderate　to　the　children　to　spend　a　pound　on　a　brougham　when
as　much　as　she　could　spare　was　wanted　for　their　holiday。　　It　was
almost　too　far　too　walk。　　She　had；　however；　decided　to　walk；　when
she　met　a　boy　with　a　donkey；　who　offered　to　lend　it　to　her　for　three
shillings。　　The　animal　was　rather　sad…looking；　but　Ethelberta　found
she　could　sit　upon　the　pad　without　discomfort。　　Considering　that　she
might　pull　up　some　distance　short　of　the　castle；　and　leave　the　ass
at　a　cottage　before　joining　her　four…wheeled　friends；　she　struck　the
bargain　and　rode　on　her　way。

This　was；　first　by　a　path　on　the　shore　where　the　tide　dragged
huskily　up　and　down　the　shingle　without　disturbing　it；　and　thence　up
the　steep　crest　of　land　opposite；　whereon　she　lingered　awhile　to　let
the　ass　breathe。　　On　one　of　the　spires　of　chalk　into　which　the　hill
here　had　been　split　was　perched　a　cormorant；　silent　and　motionless；
with　wings　spread　out　to　dry　in　the　sun　after　his　morning's　fishing；
their　white　surface　shining　like　mail。　　Retiring　without　disturbing
him　and　turning　to　the　left　along　the　lofty　ridge　which　ran　inland；
the　country　on　each　side　lay　beneath　her　like　a　map；　domains　behind
domains；　parishes　by　the　score；　harbours；　fir…woods；　and　little
inland　seas　mixing　curiously　together。　　Thence　she　ambled　along
through　a　huge　cemetery　of　barrows；　containing　human　dust　from
prehistoric　times。

Standing　on　the　top　of　a　giant's　grave　in　this　antique　land；
Ethelberta　lifted　her　eyes　to　behold　two　sorts　of　weather　pervading
Nature　at　the　same　time。　　Far　below　on　the　right　hand　it　was　a　fine
day；　and　the　silver　sunbeams　lighted　up　a　many…armed　inland　sea
which　stretched　round　an　island　with　fir…trees　and　gorse；　and　amid
brilliant　crimson　heaths　wherein　white　paths　and　roads　occasionally
met　the　eye　in　dashes　and　zigzags　like　flashes　of　lightning。
Outside；　where　the　broad　Channel　appeared；　a　berylline　and　opalized
variegation　of　ripples；　currents；　deeps；　and　shallows；　lay　as　fair
under　the　sun　as　a　New　Jerusalem；　the　shores　being　of　gleaming　sand。
Upon　the　radiant　heather　bees　and　butterflies　were　busy；　she　knew；
and　the　birds　on　that　side　were　just　beginning　their　autumn　songs。

On　the　left；　quite　up　to　her　position；　was　dark　and　cloudy　weather；
shading　a　valley　of　heavy　greens　and　browns；　which　at　its　further
side　rose　to　meet　the　sea　in　tall　cliffs；　suggesting　even　here　at
their　back　how　terrible　were　their　aspects　seaward　in　a　growling
southwest　gale。　　Here　grassed　hills　rose　like　knuckles　gloved　in
dark　olive；　and　little　plantations　between　them　formed　a　still
deeper　and　sadder　monochrome。　　A　zinc　sky　met　a　leaden　sea　on　this
hand；　the　low　wind　groaned　and　whined；　and　not　a　bird　sang。

The　ridge　along　which　Ethelberta　rode　divided　these　two　climates
like　a　wall；　it　soon　became　apparent　that　they　were　wrestling　for
mastery　immediately　in　her　pathway。　　The　issue　long　remained
doubtful；　and　this　being　an　imaginative　hour　with　her；　she　watched
as　typical　of　her　own　fortunes　how　the　front　of　battle　swayednow
to　the　west；　flooding　her　with　sun；　now　to　the　east；　covering　her
with　shade：　　then　the　wind　moved　round　to　the　north；　a　blue　hole
appeared　in　the　overhanging　cloud；　at　about　the　place　of　the　north
star；　and　the　sunlight　spread　on　both　sides　of　her。

The　towers　of　the　notable　ruin　to　be　visited　rose　out　of　the
furthermost　shoulder　of　the　upland　as　she　advanced；　its　site　being
the　slope　and　crest　of　a　smoothly　nibbled　mount　at　the　toe　of　the
ridge　she　had　followed。　　When　observing　the　previous　uncertainty　of
the　weather　on　this　side　Ethelberta　had　been　led　to　doubt　if　the
meeting　would　be　held　here　to…day；　and　she　was　now　strengthened　in
her　opinion　that　it　would　not　by　the　total　absence　of　human　figures
amid　the　ruins；　though　the　time　of　appointment　was　past。　　This
disposed　of　another　question　which　had　perplexed　her：　　where　to　find
a　stable　for　the　ass　during　the　meeting；　for　she　had　scarcely　liked
the　idea　of　facing　the　whole　body　of　lords　and　gentlemen　upon　the
animal's　back。　　She　now　decided　to　retain　her　seat；　ride　round　the
ruin；　and　go　home　again；　without　troubling　further　about　the
movements　of　the　Association　or　acquaintance　with　the　members
composing　it。

Accordingly　Ethelberta　crossed　the　bridge　over　the　moat；　and　rode
under　the　first　archway　into　the　outer　ward。　　As　she　had　expected；
not　a　soul　was　here。　　The　arrow…slits；　portcullis…grooves；　and
staircases　met　her　eye　as　familiar　friends；　for　in　her　childhood　she
had　once　paid　a　visit　to　the　spot。　　Ascending　the　green　incline　and
through　another　arch　into　the　second　ward；　she　still　pressed　on；
till　at　last　the　ass　was　unable　to　clamber　an　inch　further。　　Here
she　dismounted；　and　tying　him　to　a　stone　which　projected　like　a　fang
from　a　raw　edge　of　wall；　performed　the　remainder　of　the　ascent　on
foot。　　Once　among　the　towers　above；　she　became　so　interested　in　the
windy　corridors；　mildewed　dungeons；　and　the　tribe　of　daws　peering
invidiously　upon　her　from　overhead；　that　she　forgot　the　flight　of
time。

Nearly　three…quarters　of　an　hour　passed　before　she　came　out　from　the
immense　walls；　and　looked　from　an　opening　to　the　front　over　the　wide
expanse　of　the　outer　ward；　by　which　she　had　ascended。

Ethelberta　was　taken　aback　to　see　there　a　file　of　shining　carriages；
which　had　arrived　during　her　seclusion　in　the　keep。　　From　these
began　to　burst　a　miscellany　of　many…coloured　draperies；　blue；　buff；
pied；　and　black；　they　united　into　one；　and　crept　up　the　incline　like
a　cloud；　which　then　parted　into　fragments；　dived　into　old　doorways；
and　lost　substance　behind　projecting　piles。　　Recognizing　in　this　the
ladies　and　gentlemen　of　the　meeting；　her　first　thought　was　how　to
escape；　for　she　was　suddenly　overcome　with　dread　to　meet　them　all
single…handed　as　she　stood。　　She　drew　back　and　hurried　round　to　the
side；　as　the　laughter　and　voices　of　the　assembly　began　to　be
audible；　and；　more　than　ever　vexed　that　she　could　not　have　fallen　in
with　them　in　some　unobtrusive　way；　Ethelberta　found　that　they　were
immediately　beneath　her。

Venturing　to　peep　forward　again；　what　was　her　mortification　at
finding　them　gathered　in　a　ring；　round　no　object　of　interest
belonging　to　the　ruin；　but　round　her　faithful　beast；　who　had
loosened　himself　in　some　way　from　the　stone；　and　stood　in　the　middle
of　a　plat　of　grass；　placidly　regarding　them。

Being　now　in　the　teeth　of　the　Association；　there　was　nothing　to　do
but　to　go　on；　since；　if　she　did　not；　the　next　few　steps　of　their
advance　would　disclose　her。　　She　made　the　best　of　it；　and　began　to
descend　in　the　broad　view　of　the　assembly；　from　the　midst　of　which
proceeded　a　laugh'Hee…hee…hee！'　　Ethelberta　knew　that　Lord
Mountclere　was　there。

'The　poor　thing　has　strayed　from　its　owner；'　said　one　lady；　as　they
all　stood　eyeing　the　apparition　of　the　ass。

'It　may　belong　to　some　of　the　villagers；'　said　the　President　in　a
historical　voice：　　'and　it　may　be　appropriate　to　mention　that　many
were　kept　here　in　olden　times：　　they　were　largely　used　as　beasts　of
burden　in　victualling　the　castle　previous　to　the　last　siege；　in　the
year　sixteen　hundred　and　forty…five。'

'It　is　very　weary；　and　has　come　a　long　way；　I　think；'　said　a　lady；
adding；　in　an　imaginative　tone；　'the　humble　creature　looks　so　aged
and　is　so　quaintly　saddled　that　we　may　suppose　it　to　be　only　an
animated　relic；　of　the　same　date　as　the　other　remains。'

By　this　time　Lord　Mountclere　had　noticed　Ethelberta's　presence；　and
straightening　himself　to　ten　years　younger；　he　lifted　his　hat　in
answer　to　her　smile；　and　came　up　jauntily。　　It　was　a　good　time　now
to　see　what　the　viscount　was　really　like。　　He　appeared　to　be　about
sixty…five；　and　the　dignified　aspect　which　he　wore　to　a　gazer　at　a
distance　became　depreciated　to　jocund　slyness　upon　nearer　view；　when
the　small　type　could　be　read　between　the　leading　lines。　　Then　it
could　be　seen