the hand of ethelberta-第47章

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towards　her。

Ethelberta　felt　equal　to　him；　or　a　dozen　such；　this　morning。　　The
looming　spectres　raised　by　her　mother's　information；　the　wearing
sense　of　being　over…weighted　in　the　race；　were　driving　her　to　a
Hamlet…like　fantasticism　and　defiance　of　augury；　moreover；　she　was
abroad。

'I　am　about　to　ascend　to　the　parapets　of　the　cathedral；'　said　she；
in　answer　to　a　half　inquiry。

'I　should　be　delighted　to　accompany　you；'　he　rejoined；　in　a　manner
as　capable　of　explanation　by　his　knowledge　of　her　secret　as　was
Ethelberta's　manner　by　her　sense　of　nearing　the　end　of　her　maying。
But　whether　this　frequent　glide　into　her　company　was　meant　as
ephemeral　flirtation；　to　fill　the　half…hours　of　his　journey；　or
whether　it　meant　a　serious　love…suitwhich　were　the　only
alternatives　that　had　occurred　to　her　on　the　subjectdid　not
trouble　her　now。　　'I　am　bound　to　be　civil　to　so　great　a　lord；'　she
lightly　thought；　and　expressing　no　objection　to　his　presence；　she
passed　with　him　through　the　outbuildings；　containing　Gothic　lumber
from　the　shadowy　pile　above；　and　ascended　the　stone　staircase。
Emerging　from　its　windings；　they　duly　came　to　the　long　wooden　ladder
suspended　in　mid…air　that　led　to　the　parapet　of　the　tower。　　This
being　wide　enough　for　two　abreast；　she　could　hardly　do　otherwise
than　wait　a　moment　for　the　viscount；　who　up　to　this　point　had　never
faltered；　and　who　amused　her　as　they　went　by　scraps　of　his
experience　in　various　countries；　which；　to　do　him　justice；　he　told
with　vivacity　and　humour。　　Thus　they　reached　the　end　of　the　flight；
and　entered　behind　a　balustrade。

'The　prospect　will　be　very　lovely　from　this　point　when　the　fog　has
blown　off；'　said　Lord　Mountclere　faintly；　for　climbing　and
chattering　at　the　same　time　had　fairly　taken　away　his　breath。　　He
leant　against　the　masonry　to　rest　himself。　　'The　air　is　clearing
already；　I　fancy　I　saw　a　sunbeam　or　two。'

'It　will　be　lovelier　above；'　said　Ethelberta。　　'Let　us　go　to　the
platform　at　the　base　of　the　fleche；　and　wait　for　a　view　there。'

'With　all　my　heart；'　said　her　attentive　companion。

They　passed　in　at　a　door　and　up　some　more　stone　steps；　which　landed
them　finally　in　the　upper　chamber　of　the　tower。　　Lord　Mountclere
sank　on　a　beam；　and　asked　smilingly　if　her　ambition　was　not
satisfied　with　this　goal。　　'I　recollect　going　to　the　top　some　years
ago；'　he　added；　'and　it　did　not　occur　to　me　as　being　a　thing　worth
doing　a　second　time。　　And　there　was　no　fog　then；　either。'

'O；'　said　Ethelberta；　'it　is　one　of　the　most　splendid　things　a
person　can　do！　　The　fog　is　going　fast；　and　everybody　with　the　least
artistic　feeling　in　the　direction　of　bird's…eye　views　makes　the
ascent　every　time　of　coming　here。'

'Of　course；　of　course；'　said　Lord　Mountclere。　　'And　I　am　only　too
happy　to　go　to　any　height　with　you。'

'Since　you　so　kindly　offer；　we　will　go　to　the　very　top　of　the　spire…
…up　through　the　fog　and　into　the　sunshine；'　said　Ethelberta。

Lord　Mountclere　covered　a　grim　misgiving　by　a　gay　smile；　and　away
they　went　up　a　ladder　admitting　to　the　base　of　the　huge　iron
framework　above；　then　they　entered　upon　the　regular　ascent　of　the
cage；　towards　the　hoped…for　celestial　blue；　and　among　breezes　which
never　descended　so　low　as　the　town。　　The　journey　was　enlivened　with
more　breathless　witticisms　from　Lord　Mountclere；　till　she　stepped
ahead　of　him　again；　when　he　asked　how　many　more　steps　there　were。

She　inquired　of　the　man　in　the　blue　blouse　who　accompanied　them。
'Fifty…five；'　she　returned　to　Lord　Mountclere　a　moment　later。

They　went　round；　and　round；　and　yet　around。

'How　many　are　there　now？'　Lord　Mountclere　demanded　this　time　of　the
man。

'A　hundred　and　ninety；　Monsieur；'　he　said。

'But　there　were　only　fifty…five　ever　so　long　ago！'

'Two　hundred　and　five；　then；'　said　the　man　'Perhaps　the　mist
prevented　Mademoiselle　hearing　me　distinctly？'

'Never　mind：　　I　would　follow　were　there　five　thousand　more；　did
Mademoiselle　bid　me！'　said　the　exhausted　nobleman　gallantly；　in
English。

'Hush！'　said　Ethelberta；　with　displeasure。

'He　doesn't　understand　a　word；'　said　Lord　Mountclere。

They　paced　the　remainder　of　their　spiral　pathway　in　silence；　and
having　at　last　reached　the　summit；　Lord　Mountclere　sank　down　on　one
of　the　steps；　panting　out；　'Dear　me；　dear　me！'

Ethelberta　leaned　and　looked　around；　and　said；　'How　extraordinary
this　is。　　It　is　sky　above；　below；　everywhere。'

He　dragged　himself　together　and　stepped　to　her　side。　　They　formed　as
it　were　a　little　world　to　themselves；　being　completely　ensphered　by
the　fog；　which　here　was　dense　as　a　sea　of　milk。　　Below　was　neither
town；　country；　nor　cathedralsimply　whiteness；　into　which　the　iron
legs　of　their　gigantic　perch　faded　to　nothing。

'We　have　lost　our　labour；　there　is　no　prospect　for　you；　after　all；
Lord　Mountclere；'　said　Ethelberta；　turning　her　eyes　upon　him。　　He
looked　at　her　face　as　if　there　were；　and　she　continued；　'Listen；　I
hear　sounds　from　the　town：　　people's　voices；　and　carts；　and　dogs；
and　the　noise　of　a　railway…train。　　Shall　we　now　descend；　and　own
ourselves　disappointed？'

'Whenever　you　choose。'

Before　they　had　put　their　intention　in　practice　there　appeared　to　be
reasons　for　waiting　awhile。　　Out　of　the　plain　of　fog　beneath；　a
stone　tooth　seemed　to　be　upheaving　itself：　　then　another　showed
forth。　　These　were　the　summits　of　the　St。　Romain　and　the　Butter
Towersat　the　western　end　of　the　building。　　As　the　fog　stratum
collapsed　other　summits　manifested　their　presence　further　offamong
them　the　two　spires　and　lantern　of　St。　Ouen's；　when　to　the　left　the
dome　of　St。　Madeline's　caught　a　first　ray　from　the　peering　sun；
under　which　its　scaly　surface　glittered　like　a　fish。　　Then　the　mist
rolled　off　in　earnest；　and　revealed　far　beneath　them　a　whole　city；
its　red；　blue；　and　grey　roofs　forming　a　variegated　pattern；　small
and　subdued　as　that　of　a　pavement　in　mosaic。　　Eastward　in　the
spacious　outlook　lay　the　hill　of　St。　Catherine；　breaking　intrusively
into　the　large　level　valley　of　the　Seine；　south　was　the　river　which
had　been　the　parent　of　the　mist；　and　the　Ile　Lacroix；　gorgeous　in
scarlet；　purple；　and　green。　　On　the　western　horizon　could　be　dimly
discerned　melancholy　forests；　and　further　to　the　right　stood　the
hill　and　rich　groves　of　Boisguillaume。

Ethelberta　having　now　done　looking　around；　the　descent　was　begun　and
continued　without　intermission　till　they　came　to　the　passage　behind
the　parapet。

Ethelberta　was　about　to　step　airily　forward；　when　there　reached　her
ear　the　voices　of　persons　below。　　She　recognized　as　one　of　them　the
slow　unaccented　tones　of　Neigh。

'Please　wait　a　minute！'　she　said　in　a　peremptory　manner　of　confusion
sufficient　to　attract　Lord　Mountclere's　attention。

A　recollection　had　sprung　to　her　mind　in　a　moment。　　She　had　half
made　an　appointment　with　Neigh　at　her　aunt's　hotel　for　this　very
week；　and　here　was　he　in　Rouen　to　keep　it。　　To　meet　him　while
indulging　in　this　vagary　with　Lord　Mountclerewhich；　now　that　the
mood　it　had　been　engendered　by　was　passing　off；　she　somewhat
regrettedwould　be　the　height　of　imprudence。

'I　should　like　to　go　round　to　the　other　side　of　the　parapet　for　a
few　moments；'　she　said；　with　decisive　quickness。　　'Come　with　me；
Lord　Mountclere。'

They　went　round　to　the　other　side。　　Here　she　kept　the　viscount　and
their　suisse　until　she　deemed　it　probable　that　Neigh　had　passed　by；
when　she　returned　with　her　companions　and　descended　to　the　bottom。
They　emerged　into　the　Rue　Saint…Romain；　whereupon　a　woman　called
from　the　opposite　side　of　the　way　to　their　guide；　stating　that　she
had　told　the　other　English　gentleman　that　the　English　lady　had　gone
into　the　fleche。

Ethelberta　turned　and　looked　up。　　She　could　just　discern　Neigh's
form　upon　the　steps　of　the　fleche　above；　ascending　toilsomely　in
search　of　her。

'What　English　gentleman　could　that　have　been？'　said　Lord　Mountclere；
after　paying　the　man。　　He　spoke　in　a　way　which　showed　he　had　not
overlooked　her　confusion。　　'It　seems　that　he　must　have　been
searching　for　us；　or　rather　for　you？'

'Only　Mr。　Neigh；'　said　Ethelberta。　　'He　told　me　he　was　coming　here。
I　believe　he　is　waiting　for　an　interview　with　me。'

'H'm；'　said　Lord　Mountclere。

'Businessonly　business；'　said　she。

'Shall　I　leave　you？　　Perhaps　the　business　is　importantmost
important。'

'Unfortunately　it　is。'

'You　must　forgive　me　this　once：　　I　cannot　helpwill　you　give　me
permission　to　make　a　difficult　remark？'　said　Lord　Mountclere；　in　an
impatient　voice。

'With　pleasure。'

'Well；　then；　the　business　I　meant　wasan　engagement　to　be　married。'

Had　it　been　possible　for　a　woman　to　be　perpetually　on　the　alert　she
might　now　have　supposed　that　Lord　Mountclere　knew　all　about　her；　a
mechanical　deference　must　have　restrained　such　an　illusion　had　he
seen　her　in　any　other　light　than　that　of　a　distracting　slave。　　But
she　answered　quietly；　'So　did　I。'

'But　how　does　he　knowdear　me；　dear　me！　　I　beg　pardon；'　said　the
viscount。

She　looked　at　him　curiously；　as　if　to　imply　that　he　was　seriously
out　of　his　reckoning　in　respect　of　her　if　he　supposed　that　he　would
be　allowed　to　continue　this　little　play　at　love…making　as　long　as　he
chose；　when　she　was　offered　the　position　of　wife　by　a　man　so　good　as
Neigh。

They　stood　in　silence　side　by　side　till；　much　to　her　ease；　Cornelia
appeared　at　the　corner　waiting。　　At　the　last　moment　he　said；　in
somewhat　agitated　tones；　and　with　what　appeared　to　be　a　renewal　of
the　respect　which　had　been　imperceptibly　dropped　since　they　crossed
the　Channel；　'I　was　not　aware　of　your　engagement　to　Mr。　Neigh。　　I
fear　I　have　been　acting　mistakenly　on　that　account。'

'There　is　no　engagement　as　yet；'　said　she。

Lord　Mountclere　brightened　like　a　child。　　'Then　may　I　have　a　few
words　in　private'

'Not　nownot　to…day；'　said　Ethelberta；　with　a　certain　irritation　at
she　knew　not　what。　　'Believe　me；　Lord　Mountclere；　you　are　mistaken
in　many　things。　　I　mean；　you　think　more　of　me　than　you　ought。　　A
time　will　come　when　you　will　despise　me　for　this　day's　work；　and　it
is　madness　in　you　to　go　further。'

Lord　Mountclere；　knowing　what　he　did　know；　may　have　imagined　what
she　referred　to；　but　Ethelberta　was　without　the　least　proof　that　he
had　the　key　to　her　humour。　　'Well；　well；　I'll　be　responsible　for　the
madness；'　he　said。　　'I　know　you　to　bea　famous　woman；　at　all
events；　and　that's　enough。　　I　would　say　more；　but　I　cannot　here。
May　I　call　upon　you？'

'Not　now。'

'When　shall　I？'

'If　you　must；　let　it　be　a　month　hence　at　my　house　in　town；'　she　said
indifferently；　the　Hamlet　mood　being　still　upon　her。　　'Yes；　call
upon　us　then；　and　I　will　tell　you　everything　that　may　remain　to　be
told；　if　you　should　be　inclined　to　listen。　　A　rumour　is　afloat　which
will　undeceive　you　in　much；　and　depress　me　to　death。　　And　now　I　will
walk　back：　　pray　excuse　me。'　　She　entered　the　street；　and　joined
Cornelia。

Lord　Mountclere　paced　irregularly　along；　turned　the　corner；　and　went
towards　his　inn；　nearing　which　his　tread　grew　lighter；　till　he
scarcely　seemed　to　touch　the　ground。　　He　became　gleeful；　and　said　to
himself；　nervously　palming　his　hip　with　his　left　hand；　as　if
previous　to　plunging　it　into　hot　water　for　some　prize：　　'Upon　my
life　I've　a　good　mind！　　Upon