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gently¡¡to¡¡his¡¡lips¡£

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'That¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡I¡¡never¡¡shall¡¡be¡£'

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perhaps¡£'

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dead£»¡¡because¡¡you¡¡think¡¡I¡¡am¡¡old£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡that¡¡is¡¡a¡¡mistakeI¡¡am¡¡not
very¡¡old£¡'

'I¡¡thought¡¡only¡¡of¡¡myselfnothing¡¡of¡¡you¡£'

'Yes£»¡¡I¡¡know¡£¡¡¡¡Dearest£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡dismal¡¡and¡¡chilling¡¡herelet¡¡us¡¡go¡£'

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retreating¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡meantime¡¡the¡¡young¡¡ladykin¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡solemn
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to¡¡enter£»¡¡yet¡¡loth¡¡to¡¡go¡¡away¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡service¡¡terminated£»¡¡the¡¡heavy
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persons¡¡who¡¡had¡¡attended¡¡evensong¡¡began¡¡pattering¡¡down¡¡the¡¡paved
alleys¡£¡¡¡¡Not¡¡wishing¡¡Picotee¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that¡¡the¡¡object¡¡of¡¡her¡¡secret
excursion¡¡had¡¡been¡¡discovered£»¡¡Ethelberta¡¡now¡¡stepped¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the
west¡¡doorway¡¡with¡¡the¡¡viscount¡¡before¡¡Picotee¡¡had¡¡emerged¡¡from¡¡the
other£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡walked¡¡along¡¡the¡¡path¡¡together¡¡until¡¡she¡¡overtook
them¡£

'I¡¡fear¡¡it¡¡becomes¡¡necessary¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡in¡¡Melchester¡¡to¡­night£»'
said¡¡Lord¡¡Mountclere¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡few¡¡matters¡¡to¡¡attend¡¡to¡¡here£»¡¡as
the¡¡result¡¡of¡¡our¡¡arrangements¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡I¡¡will¡¡first¡¡accompany¡¡you¡¡as
far¡¡as¡¡Anglebury£»¡¡and¡¡see¡¡you¡¡safely¡¡into¡¡a¡¡carriage¡¡there¡¡that
shall¡¡take¡¡you¡¡home¡£¡¡¡¡To¡­morrow¡¡I¡¡will¡¡drive¡¡to¡¡Knollsea£»¡¡when¡¡we
will¡¡make¡¡the¡¡final¡¡preparations¡£'

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returned¡¡into¡¡the¡¡town¡¡on¡¡the¡¡special¡¡business¡¡he¡¡had¡¡mentioned£»¡¡for
which¡¡there¡¡remained¡¡only¡¡the¡¡present¡¡evening¡¡and¡¡the¡¡following
morning£»¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡to¡¡call¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡in¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡of¡¡the¡¡next
daythe¡¡day¡¡before¡¡the¡¡weddingnow¡¡so¡¡recklessly¡¡hastened¡¡on¡¡his
part£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡coolly¡¡assented¡¡to¡¡on¡¡hers¡£

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and¡¡plantations¡¡where£»¡¡the¡¡leaf¡­shedding¡¡season¡¡being¡¡now¡¡at¡¡its
height£»¡¡red¡¡and¡¡golden¡¡patches¡¡of¡¡fallen¡¡foliage¡¡lay¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side
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bodies¡¡boiled¡¡up¡¡in¡¡the¡¡whirlwind¡¡created¡¡by¡¡the¡¡velocity£»¡¡and¡¡were
sent¡¡flying¡¡right¡¡and¡¡left¡¡of¡¡them¡¡in¡¡myriads£»¡¡a¡¡clean¡­fanned¡¡track
being¡¡left¡¡behind¡£

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indeed¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡day¡¡after¡¡to¡­morrowif¡¡it¡¡can¡£
Nevertheless¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡believe¡¡in¡¡the¡¡factI¡¡cannot¡£'

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peoplehow¡¡can¡¡they¡¡be¡¡collected¡¡in¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡Berta£¿¡¡¡¡And¡¡so¡¡much
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common¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡O£»¡¡I¡¡can't¡¡think¡¡it¡¡possible¡¡for¡¡a¡¡sister¡¡of¡¡mine¡¡to
marry¡¡a¡¡lord£¡'

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strange¡¡as¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡not¡¡only¡¡a¡¡plain¡¡and
simple¡¡wedding£»¡¡without¡¡any¡¡lofty¡¡appliances£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡secret¡¡oneas
secret¡¡as¡¡if¡¡I¡¡were¡¡some¡¡under¡­age¡¡heiress¡¡to¡¡an¡¡Indian¡¡fortune£»¡¡and
he¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man¡¡of¡¡nothing¡¡a¡¡year¡£'

'Has¡¡Lord¡¡Mountclere¡¡said¡¡it¡¡must¡¡be¡¡so¡¡private£¿¡¡¡¡I¡¡suppose¡¡it¡¡is¡¡on
account¡¡of¡¡his¡¡family¡£'

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might¡¡be¡¡much¡¡disturbed¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡better¡¡that¡¡he¡¡and
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early¡¡visit¡¡to¡¡conclude¡¡necessary¡¡arrangements¡£'

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the¡¡rooms£»¡¡the¡¡pictures£»¡¡the¡¡plate£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡jewels£¡¡¡¡¡Horses¡¡and
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hopping¡¡up¡¡and¡¡hopping¡¡down¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡will¡¡be¡¡glory¡¡then£¡'

'We¡¡might¡¡hire¡¡our¡¡father¡¡as¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡retainers£»¡¡to¡¡increase¡¡it£»'
said¡¡Ethelberta¡¡drily¡£

Picotee's¡¡countenance¡¡fell¡£¡¡¡¡'How¡¡shall¡¡we¡¡manage¡¡all¡¡about¡¡that£¿
'Tis¡¡terrible£»¡¡really£¡'

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Enckworth£»¡¡Picoteequartos£»¡¡folios£»¡¡history£»¡¡verse£»¡¡Elzevirs£»
Caxtonsall¡¡that¡¡has¡¡been¡¡done¡¡in¡¡literature¡¡from¡¡Moses¡¡down¡¡to
Scottwith¡¡such¡¡companions¡¡I¡¡can¡¡do¡¡without¡¡all¡¡other¡¡sorts¡¡of
happiness¡£'

'And¡¡you¡¡will¡¡not¡¡go¡¡to¡¡town¡¡from¡¡Easter¡¡to¡¡Lammastide£»¡¡as¡¡other
noble¡¡ladies¡¡do£¿'¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡younger¡¡girl£»¡¡rather¡¡disappointed¡¡at
this¡¡aspect¡¡of¡¡a¡¡viscountess's¡¡life¡£

'I¡¡don't¡¡know¡£'

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and¡¡have¡¡them¡¡to¡¡see¡¡you£¿'

'I¡¡don't¡¡know¡£'

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any¡¡other¡¡peeress's¡¡sister£¿'

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40¡£¡¡MELCHESTER¡¡£¨continued£©

The¡¡commotion¡¡wrought¡¡in¡¡Julian's¡¡mind¡¡by¡¡the¡¡abrupt¡¡incursion¡¡of
Ethelberta¡¡into¡¡his¡¡quiet¡¡sphere¡¡was¡¡thorough¡¡and¡¡protracted¡£¡¡¡¡The
witchery¡¡of¡¡her¡¡presence¡¡he¡¡had¡¡grown¡¡strong¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡withstand¡¡in
part£»¡¡but¡¡her¡¡composed¡¡announcement¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡intended¡¡to¡¡marry
another£»¡¡and£»¡¡as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡he¡¡could¡¡understand£»¡¡was¡¡intending¡¡it¡¡still£»
added¡¡a¡¡new¡¡chill¡¡to¡¡the¡¡old¡¡shade¡¡of¡¡disappointment¡¡which¡¡custom
was¡¡day¡¡by¡¡day¡¡enabling¡¡him¡¡to¡¡endure¡£¡¡¡¡During¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡interval¡¡in
which¡¡he¡¡had¡¡produced¡¡those¡¡diapason¡¡blasts£»¡¡heard¡¡with¡¡such
inharmonious¡¡feelings¡¡by¡¡the¡¡three¡¡auditors¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡screen£»¡¡his
thoughts¡¡had¡¡wandered¡¡wider¡¡than¡¡his¡¡notes¡¡in¡¡conjectures¡¡on¡¡the
character¡¡and¡¡position¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gentleman¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡Ethelberta's
company¡£¡¡¡¡Owing¡¡to¡¡his¡¡assumption¡¡that¡¡Lord¡¡Mountclere¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a
stranger¡¡who¡¡had¡¡accidentally¡¡come¡¡in¡¡at¡¡the¡¡side¡¡door£»¡¡Christopher
had¡¡barely¡¡cast¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡upon¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡wide¡¡difference¡¡between
the¡¡years¡¡of¡¡the¡¡viscount¡¡and¡¡those¡¡of¡¡his¡¡betrothed¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so
particularly¡¡observed¡¡as¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡that¡¡point¡¡to¡¡an¡¡item¡¡in¡¡his
objections¡¡now¡£¡¡¡¡Lord¡¡Mountclere¡¡was¡¡dressed¡¡with¡¡all¡¡the¡¡cunning
that¡¡could¡¡be¡¡drawn¡¡from¡¡the¡¡metropolis¡¡by¡¡money¡¡and¡¡reiterated
dissatisfaction£»¡¡he¡¡prided¡¡himself¡¡on¡¡his¡¡upright¡¡carriage£»¡¡his
stick¡¡was¡¡so¡¡thin¡¡that¡¡the¡¡most¡¡malevolent¡¡could¡¡not¡¡insinuate¡¡that
it¡¡was¡¡of¡¡any¡¡possible¡¡use¡¡in¡¡walking£»¡¡his¡¡teeth¡¡had¡¡put¡¡on¡¡all¡¡the
vigour¡¡and¡¡freshness¡¡of¡¡a¡¡second¡¡spring¡£¡¡¡¡Hence¡¡his¡¡look¡¡was¡¡the
slowest¡¡of¡¡possible¡¡clocks¡¡in¡¡respect¡¡of¡¡his¡¡age£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡manner¡¡was
equally¡¡as¡¡much¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rear¡¡of¡¡his¡¡appearance¡£

Christopher¡¡was¡¡now¡¡over¡¡five¡­and¡­twenty¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡getting¡¡so¡¡well
accustomed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spectacle¡¡of¡¡a¡¡world¡¡passing¡¡him¡¡by¡¡and¡¡splashing
him¡¡with¡¡its¡¡wheels¡¡that¡¡he¡¡wondered¡¡why¡¡he¡¡had¡¡ever¡¡minded¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡His
habit¡¡of¡¡dreaming¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡doing¡¡had¡¡led¡¡him¡¡up¡¡to¡¡a¡¡curious
discovery¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡no¡¡new¡¡thing¡¡for¡¡a¡¡man¡¡to¡¡fathom¡¡profundities¡¡by
indulging¡¡humours£º¡¡¡¡the¡¡active£»¡¡the¡¡rapid£»¡¡the¡¡people¡¡of¡¡splendid
momentum£»¡¡have¡¡been¡¡surprised¡¡to¡¡behold¡¡what¡¡results¡¡attend¡¡the
lives¡¡of¡¡those¡¡whose¡¡usual¡¡plan¡¡for¡¡discharging¡¡their¡¡active¡¡labours
has¡¡been¡¡to¡¡postpone¡¡them¡¡indefinitely¡£¡¡¡¡Certainly£»¡¡the¡¡immediate
result¡¡in¡¡the¡¡present¡¡case¡¡was£»¡¡to¡¡all¡¡but¡¡himself£»¡¡small¡¡and
invisible£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡highest¡¡things¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡he¡¡had
learnt¡¡was¡¡that¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡has¡¡once¡¡made¡¡a¡¡permanent¡¡impression
upon¡¡a¡¡man¡¡cannot¡¡altogether¡¡deny¡¡him¡¡her¡¡image¡¡by¡¡denying¡¡him¡¡her
company£»¡¡and¡¡that¡¡by¡¡sedulously¡¡cultivating¡¡the¡¡acquaintance¡¡of¡¡this
Creature¡¡of¡¡Contemplation¡¡she¡¡becomes¡¡to¡¡him¡¡almost¡¡a¡¡living¡¡soul¡£
Hence¡¡a¡¡sublimated¡¡Ethelberta¡¡accompanied¡¡him¡¡everywhereone¡¡who
never¡¡teased¡¡him£»¡¡eluded¡¡him£»¡¡or¡¡disappointed¡¡him£º¡¡¡¡when¡¡he¡¡smiled
she¡¡smiled£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sad¡¡she¡¡sorrowed¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡may¡¡be¡¡said¡¡to¡¡have
become¡¡the¡¡literal¡¡duplicate¡¡of¡¡that¡¡whimsical¡¡unknown¡¡rhapsodist
who¡¡wrote¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡similar¡¡situation

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'By¡¡absence¡¡this¡¡good¡¡means¡¡I¡¡gain£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡I¡¡can¡¡catch¡¡her£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Where¡¡none¡¡can¡¡watch¡¡her£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡some¡¡close¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡my¡¡brain£º
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡I¡¡embrace¡¡and¡¡kiss¡¡her£»
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡so¡¡I¡¡both¡¡enjoy¡¡and¡¡miss¡¡her¡£'

This¡¡frame¡¡of¡¡mind¡¡naturally¡¡induced¡¡an¡¡amazing¡¡abstraction¡¡in¡¡the
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batrachians£»¡¡or¡¡pause¡¡by¡¡a¡¡green¡¡bank¡¡to¡¡split¡¡some¡¡tall¡¡blade¡¡of
grass¡¡into¡¡filaments¡¡without¡¡removing¡¡it¡¡from¡¡its¡¡stalk£»¡¡passing¡¡on
ignorant¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡a¡¡cat¡­o'¡­nine¡­tails¡¡of¡¡a¡¡graceful¡¡slip¡¡of
vegetation¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡would¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡cathedral¡¡clock¡¡strike¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡go
the¡¡next¡¡minute¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡time¡¡it¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡'I¡¡never¡¡seed¡¡such¡¡a¡¡man
as¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Julian¡¡is£»'¡¡said¡¡the¡¡head¡¡blower¡£¡¡¡¡'He'll¡¡meet¡¡me¡¡anywhere
out¡­of¡­doors£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡wink¡¡or¡¡nod¡£¡¡¡¡You'd¡¡hardly¡¡expect¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I
don't¡¡find¡¡fault£»¡¡but¡¡you'd¡¡hardly¡¡expect¡¡it£»¡¡seeing¡¡how¡¡I¡¡play¡¡the
same¡¡instrument¡¡as¡¡he¡¡do¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡have¡¡done¡¡it¡¡for¡¡so¡¡many¡¡years
longer¡¡than¡¡he¡£¡¡¡¡How¡¡I¡¡have¡¡indulged¡¡that¡¡man£»¡¡too£¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡'tis¡¡Pedals
for¡¡two¡¡martel¡¡hours¡¡of¡¡practice¡¡I¡¡never¡¡complain£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡has¡¡plenty
of¡¡vagaries¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡'tis¡¡hot¡¡summer¡¡weather¡¡there's¡¡nothing¡¡will¡¡do
for¡¡him¡¡but¡¡Choir£»¡¡Great£»¡¡and¡¡Swell¡¡altogether£»¡¡till¡¡yer¡¡face¡¡is¡¡in
a¡¡vapour£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡a¡¡frosty¡¡winter¡¡night¡¡he'll¡¡keep¡¡me¡¡there¡¡while¡¡he
tweedles¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡Twelfth¡¡and¡¡Sixteenth¡¡till¡¡my¡¡arms¡¡be¡¡scrammed¡¡for
want¡¡of¡¡motion¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡never¡¡speak¡¡a¡¡word¡¡out¡­of¡­doors¡£'¡¡¡¡Somebody
suggested¡¡that¡¡perhaps¡¡Christopher¡¡did¡¡not¡¡notice¡¡his¡¡coadjutor's
presence¡¡in¡¡the¡¡street£»¡¡and¡¡time¡¡proved¡¡to¡¡the¡¡organ¡­blower¡¡that¡¡the
remark¡¡was¡¡just¡£

Whenever¡¡Christopher¡¡caught¡¡himself¡¡at¡¡these¡¡vacuous¡¡tricks¡¡he¡¡would
be¡¡struck¡¡with¡¡admiration¡¡of¡¡Ethelberta's¡¡wisdom£»¡¡foresight£»¡¡and
self¡­command¡¡in¡¡refusing¡¡to¡¡wed¡¡such¡¡an¡¡incapable¡¡man£º¡¡¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡that
he¡¡ought¡¡to¡¡be¡¡thankful¡¡that¡¡a¡¡bright¡¡memory¡¡of¡¡her¡¡was¡¡not¡¡also
denied¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡resolved¡¡to¡¡be¡¡content¡¡with¡¡it¡¡as¡¡a¡¡possession£»
since¡¡

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