the hand of ethelberta-第46章

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They　spoke　again　to　each　other。　　'I　find　I　have　to　go　further；'　he
suddenly　said；　when　she　had　chatted　with　him　a　little　time。　　And
beckoning　to　the　man　who　was　attending　to　his　baggage；　he　directed
the　things　to　be　again　placed　in　the　train。

Time　passed；　and　they　changed　at　the　next　junction。　　When　Ethelberta
entered　a　carriage　on　the　branch　line　to　take　her　seat　for　the
remainder　of　the　journey；　there　sat　the　viscount　in　the　same
division。　　He　explained　that　he　was　going　to　Rouen。

Ethelberta　came　to　a　quick　resolution。　　Her　audacity；　like　that　of　a
child　getting　nearer　and　nearer　a　parent's　side；　became　wonderfully
vigorous　as　she　approached　her　destination；　and　though　there　were
three　good　hours　of　travel　to　Rouen　as　yet；　the　heavier　part　of　the
journey　was　past。　　At　her　aunt's　would　be　a　safe　refuge；　play　what
pranks　she　might；　and　there　she　would　to…morrow　meet　those　bravest
of　defenders　Sol　and　Dan；　to　whom　she　had　sent　as　much　money　as　she
could　conveniently　spare　towards　their　expenses；　with　directions
that　they　were　to　come　by　the　most　economical　route；　and　meet　her　at
the　house　of　her　aunt；　Madame　Moulin；　previous　to　their　educational
trip　to　Paris；　their　own　contribution　being　the　value　of　the　week's
work　they　would　have　to　lose。　　Thus　backed　up　by　Sol　and　Dan；　her
aunt；　and　Cornelia；　Ethelberta　felt　quite　the　reverse　of　a　lonely
female　persecuted　by　a　wicked　lord　in　a　foreign　country。　　'He　shall
pay　for　his　weaknesses；　whatever　they　mean；'　she　thought；　'and　what
they　mean　I　will　find　out　at　once。'

'I　am　going　to　Paris；'　she　said。

'You　cannot　to…night；　I　think。'

'To…morrow；　I　mean。'

'I　should　like　to　go　on　to…morrow。　　Perhaps　I　may。　　So　that　there　is
a　chance　of　our　meeting　again。'

'Yes；　but　I　do　not　leave　Rouen　till　the　afternoon。　　I　first　shall　go
to　the　cathedral；　and　drive　round　the　city。'

Lord　Mountclere　smiled　pleasantly。　　There　seemed　a　sort　of
encouragement　in　her　words。　　Ethelberta's　thoughts；　however；　had
flown　at　that　moment　to　the　approaching　situation　at　her　aunt's
hotel：　　it　would　be　extremely　embarrassing　if　he　should　go　there。

'Where　do　you　stay；　Lord　Mountclere？'　she　said。

Thus　directly　asked；　he　could　not　but　commit　himself　to　the　name　of
the　hotel　he　had　been　accustomed　to　patronize；　which　was　one　in　the
upper　part　of　the　city。

'Mine　is　not　that　one；'　said　Ethelberta　frigidly。

No　further　remark　was　made　under　this　head；　and　they　conversed　for
the　remainder　of　the　daylight　on　scenery　and　other　topics；　Lord
Mountclere's　air　of　festivity　lending　him　all　the　qualities　of　an
agreeable　companion。　　But　notwithstanding　her　resolve；　Ethelberta
failed；　for　that　day　at　least；　to　make　her　mind　clear　upon　Lord
Mountclere's　intentions。　　To　that　end　she　would　have　liked　first　to
know　what　were　the　exact　limits　set　by　society　to　conduct　under
present　conditions；　if　society　had　ever　set　any　at　all；　which　was
open　to　question：　　since　experience　had　long　ago　taught　her　that
much　more　freedom　actually　prevails　in　the　communion　of　the　sexes
than　is　put　on　paper　as　etiquette；　or　admitted　in　so　many　words　as
correct　behaviour。　　In　short；　everything　turned　upon　whether　he　had
learnt　of　her　position　when　off　the　platform　at　Mayfair　Hall。

Wearied　with　these　surmises；　and　the　day's　travel；　she　closed　her
eyes。　　And　then　her　enamoured　companion　more　widely　opened　his；　and
traced　the　beautiful　features　opposite　him。　　The　arch　of　the　brows
like　a　slur　in　musicthe　droop　of　the　lashes；　the　meeting　of　the
lips；　and　the　sweet　rotundity　of　the　chinone　by　one；　and　all
together；　they　were　adored；　till　his　heart　was　like　a　retort　full　of
spirits　of　wine。

It　was　a　warm　evening；　and　when　they　arrived　at　their　journey's　end
distant　thunder　rolled　behind　heavy　and　opaque　clouds。　　Ethelberta
bade　adieu　to　her　attentive　satellite；　called　to　Cornelia；　and
entered　a　cab；　but　before　they　reached　the　inn　the　thunder　had
increased。　　Then　a　cloud　cracked　into　flame　behind　the　iron　spire　of
the　cathedral；　showing　in　relief　its　black　ribs　and　stanchions；　as
if　they　were　the　bars　of　a　blazing　cresset　held　on　high。

'Ah；　we　will　clamber　up　there　to…morrow；'　said　Ethelberta。

A　wondrous　stillness　pervaded　the　streets　of　the　city　after　this；
though　it　was　not　late；　and　their　arrival　at　M。　Moulin's　door　was
quite　an　event　for　the　quay。　　No　rain　came；　as　they　had　expected；
and　by　the　time　they　halted　the　western　sky　had　cleared；　so　that　the
newly…lit　lamps　on　the　quay；　and　the　evening　glow　shining　over　the
river；　inwove　their　harmonious　rays　as　the　warp　and　woof　of　one
lustrous　tissue。　　Before　they　had　alighted　there　appeared　from　the
archway　Madame　Moulin　in　person；　followed　by　the　servants　of　the
hotel　in　a　manner　signifying　that　they　did　not　receive　a　visitor
once　a　fortnight；　though　at　that　moment　the　clatter　of　sixty　knives；
forks；　and　tongues　was　audible　through　an　open　window　from　the
adjoining　dining…room；　to　the　great　interest　of　a　group　of　idlers
outside。　　Ethelberta　had　not　seen　her　aunt　since　she　last　passed
through　the　town　with　Lady　Petherwin；　who　then　told　her　that　this
landlady　was　the　only　respectable　relative　she　seemed　to　have　in　the
world。

Aunt　Charlotte's　face　was　an　English　outline　filled　in　with　French
shades　under　the　eyes；　on　the　brows；　and　round　the　mouth；　by　the
natural　effect　of　years；　she　resembled　the　British　hostess　as　little
as　well　could　be；　no　point　in　her　causing　the　slightest　suggestion
of　drops　taken　for　the　stomach's　sake。　　Telling　the　two　young　women
she　would　gladly　have　met　them　at　the　station　had　she　known　the　hour
of　their　arrival；　she　kissed　them　both　without　much　apparent　notice
of　a　difference　in　their　conditions；　indeed；　seeming　rather　to
incline　to　Cornelia；　whose　country　face　and　homely　style　of　clothing
may　have　been　more　to　her　mind　than　Ethelberta's　finished
travelling…dress；　a　class　of　article　to　which　she　appeared　to　be
well　accustomed。　　Her　husband　was　at　this　time　at　the　head　of　the
table…d'hote；　and　mentioning　the　fact　as　an　excuse　for　his　non…
appearance；　she　accompanied　them　upstairs。

After　the　strain　of　keeping　up　smiles　with　Lord　Mountclere；　the
rattle　and　shaking；　and　the　general　excitements　of　the　chase　across
the　water　and　along　the　rail；　a　face　in　which　she　saw　a　dim　reflex
of　her　mother's　was　soothing　in　the　extreme；　and　Ethelberta　went　up
to　the　staircase　with　a　feeling　of　expansive　thankfulness。　　Cornelia
paused　to　admire　the　clean　court　and　the　small　caged　birds　sleeping
on　their　perches；　the　boxes　of　veronica　in　bloom；　of　oleander；　and
of　tamarisk；　which　freshened　the　air　of　the　court　and　lent　a　romance
to　the　lamplight；　the　cooks　in　their　paper　caps　and　white　blouses
appearing　at　odd　moments　from　an　Avernus　behind；　while　the　prompt
'v'la！'　of　teetotums　in　mob　caps；　spinning　down　the　staircase　in
answer　to　the　periodic　clang　of　bells；　filled　her　with　wonder；　and
pricked　her　conscience　with　thoughts　of　how　seldom　such　transcendent
nimbleness　was　attempted　by　herself　in　a　part　so　nearly　similar。



34。　THE　HOTEL　BEAU　SEJOUR　AND　SPOTS　NEAR　IT

The　next　day；　much　to　Ethelberta's　surprise；　there　was　a　letter　for
her　in　her　mother's　up…hill　hand。　　She　neglected　all　the　rest　of　its
contents　for　the　following　engrossing　sentences：

'Menlove　has　wormed　everything　out　of　poor　Joey；　we　find；　and　your
father　is　much　upset　about　it。　　She　had　another　quarrel　with　him；
and　then　declared　she　would　expose　you　and　us　to　Mrs。　Doncastle　and
all　your　friends。　　I　think　that　Menlove　is　the　kind　of　woman　who
will　stick　to　her　word；　and　the　question　for　you　to　consider　is；　how
can　you　best　face　out　any　report　of　the　truth　which　she　will　spread；
and　contradict　the　lies　that　she　will　add　to　it？　　It　appears　to　me
to　be　a　dreadful　thing；　and　so　it　will　probably　appear　to　you。　　The
worst　part　will　be　that　your　sisters　and　brothers　are　your　servants；
and　that　your　father　is　actually　engaged　in　the　house　where　you
dine。　　I　am　dreadful　afraid　that　this　will　be　considered　a　fine　joke
for　gossips；　and　will　cause　no　end　of　laughs　in　society　at　your
expense。　　At　any　rate；　should　Menlove　spread　the　report；　it　would
absolutely　prevent　people　from　attending　your　lectures　next　season；
for　they　would　feel　like　dupes；　and　be　angry　with　theirselves；　and
you；　and　all　of　us。

'The　only　way　out　of　the　muddle　that　I　can　see　for　you　is　to　put
some　scheme　of　marrying　into　effect　as　soon　as　possible；　and　before
these　things　are　known。　　Surely　by　this　time；　with　all　your
opportunities；　you　have　been　able　to　strike　up　an　acquaintance　with
some　gentleman　or　other；　so　as　to　make　a　suitable　match。　　You　see；
my　dear　Berta；　marriage　is　a　thing　which；　once　carried　out；　fixes
you　more　firm　in　a　position　than　any　personal　brains　can　do；　for　as
you　stand　at　present；　every　loose　tooth；　and　every　combed…out　hair；
and　every　new　wrinkle；　and　every　sleepless　night；　is　so　much　took
away　from　your　chance　for　the　future；　depending　as　it　do　upon　your
skill　in　charming。　　I　know　that　you　have　had　some　good　offers；　so　do
listen　to　me；　and　warm　up　the　best　man　of　them　again　a　bit；　and　get
him　to　repeat　his　words　before　your　roundness　shrinks　away；　and　'tis
too　late。

'Mr。　Ladywell　has　called　here　to　see　you；　it　was　just　after　I　had
heard　that　this　Menlove　might　do　harm；　so　I　thought　I　could　do　no
better　than　send　down　word　to　him　that　you　would　much　like　to　see
him；　and　were　wondering　sadly　why　he　had　not　called　lately。　　I　gave
him　your　address　at　Rouen；　that　he　might　find　you；　if　he　chose；　at
once；　and　be　got　to　propose；　since　he　is　better　than　nobody。　　I
believe　he　said；　directly　Joey　gave　him　the　address；　that　he　was
going　abroad；　and　my　opinion　is　that　he　will　come　to　you；　because　of
the　encouragement　I　gave　him。　　If　so；　you　must　thank　me　for　my
foresight　and　care　for　you。

'I　heave　a　sigh　of　relief　sometimes　at　the　thought　that　I；　at　any
rate；　found　a　husband　before　the　present　man…famine　began。　　Don't
refuse　him　this　time；　there's　a　dear；　or；　mark　my　words；　you'll　have
cause　to　rue　itunless　you　have　beforehand　got　engaged　to　somebody
better　than　he。　　You　will　not　if　you　have　not　already；　for　the
exposure　is　sure　to　come　soon。'


'O；　this　false　position！it　is　ruining　your　nature；　my　too
thoughtful　mother！　　But　I　will　not　accept　any　of　themI'll　brazen
it　out！'　said　Ethelberta；　throwing　the　letter　wherever　it　chose　to
fly；　and　picking　it　up　to　read　again。　　She　stood　and　thought　it　all
over。　　'I　must　decide　to　do　something！'　was　her　sigh　again；　and；
feeling　an　irresistible　need　of　motion；　she　put　on　her　things　and
went　out　to　see　what　resolve　the　morning　would　bring。

No　rain　had　fallen　during　the　night；　and　the　air　was　now　quiet　in　a
warm　heavy　fog；　through　which　old　cider…smells；　reminding　her　of
Wessex；　occasionally　came　from　narrow　streets　in　the　background。
Ethelberta　passed　up　the　Rue　Grand…Pont　into　the　little　dusky　Rue
Saint…Romain；　behind　the　cathedral；　being　driven　mechanically　along
by　the　fever　and　fret　of　her　thoughts。　　She　was　about　to　enter　the
building　by　the　transept　door；　when　she　saw　Lord　Mountclere　coming
towards　her。

Ethelberta　felt　equal　to　him；　or　a　dozen　such；　this　morning。　　The
looming　spectres　raised　by　her　mother's　information；