the hand of ethelberta-第58章

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see　how　it　isshe　is　doing　this　to　benefit　her　brothers　and
sisters；　if　possible；　but　she　ought　to　know　that　if　she　is　miserable
they　will　never　be　happy。　　That's　the　nature　of　womenthey　take　the
form　for　the　essence；　and　that's　what　she　is　doing　now。　　I　should
think　her　guardian　angel　must　have　quitted　her　when　she　agreed　to　a
marriage　which　may　tear　her　heart　out　like　a　claw。'

'You　are　too　warm　about　it；　Kitit　cannot　be　so　bad　as　that。　　It　is
not　the　thing；　but　the　sensitiveness　to　the　thing；　which　is　the　true
measure　of　its　pain。　　Perhaps　what　seems　so　bad　to　you　falls　lightly
on　her　mind。　　A　campaigner　in　a　heavy　rain　is　not　more　uncomfortable
than　we　are　in　a　slight　draught；　and　Ethelberta；　fortified　by　her
sapphires　and　gold　cups　and　wax　candles；　will　not　mind　facts　which
look　like　spectres　to　us　outside。　　A　title　will　turn　troubles　into
romances；　and　she　will　shine　as　an　interesting　viscountess　in　spite
of　them。'

The　discussion　with　Faith　was　not　continued；　Christopher　stopping
the　argument　by　saying　that　he　had　a　good　mind　to　go　off　at　once　to
Knollsea；　and　show　her　her　danger。　　But　till　the　next　morning
Ethelberta　was　certainly　safe；　no　marriage　was　possible　anywhere
before　then。　　He　passed　the　afternoon　in　a　state　of　great
indecision；　constantly　reiterating；　'I　will　go！'



41。　WORKSHOPS　…　AN　INN　…　THE　STREET

On　an　extensive　plot　of　ground；　lying　somewhere　between　the　Thames
and　the　Kensington　squares；　stood　the　premises　of　Messrs。　Nockett
and　Perch；　builders　and　contractors。　　The　yard　with　its　workshops
formed　part　of　one　of　those　frontier　lines　between　mangy　business
and　garnished　domesticity　that　occur　in　what　are　called　improving
neighbourhoods。　　We　are　accustomed　to　regard　increase　as　the　chief
feature　in　a　great　city's　progress；　its　well…known　signs　greeting
our　eyes　on　every　outskirt。　　Slush…ponds　may　be　seen　turning　into
basement…kitchens；　a　broad　causeway　of　shattered　earthenware
smothers　plots　of　budding　gooseberry…bushes　and　vegetable　trenches；
foundations　following　so　closely　upon　gardens　that　the　householder
may　be　expected　to　find　cadaverous　sprouts　from　overlooked　potatoes
rising　through　the　chinks　of　his　cellar　floor。　　But　the　other　great
process；　that　of　internal　transmutation；　is　not　less　curious　than
this　encroachment　of　grey　upon　green。　　Its　first　erections　are　often
only　the　milk…teeth　of　a　suburb；　and　as　the　district　rises　in
dignity　they　are　dislodged　by　those　which　are　to　endure。　　Slightness
becomes　supplanted　by　comparative　solidity；　commonness　by　novelty；
lowness　and　irregularity　by　symmetry　and　height。

An　observer　of　the　precinct　which　has　been　named　as　an　instance　in
point　might　have　stood　under　a　lamp…post　and　heard　simultaneously
the　peal　of　the　visitor's　bell　from　the　new　terrace　on　the　right
hand；　and　the　stroke　of　tools　from　the　musty　workshops　on　the　left。
Waggons　laden　with　deals　came　up　on　this　side；　and　landaus　came　down
on　the　otherthe　former　to　lumber　heavily　through　the　old…
established　contractors'　gates；　the　latter　to　sweep　fashionably　into
the　square。

About　twelve　o'clock　on　the　day　following　Lord　Mountclere's
exhibition　of　himself　to　Christopher　in　the　jeweller's　shop　at
Melchester；　and　almost　at　the　identical　time　when　the　viscount　was
seen　to　come　from　the　office　for　marriage…licences　in　the　same
place；　a　carriage　drove　nearly　up　to　the　gates　of　Messrs。　Nockett
and　Co。's　yard。　　A　gentleman　stepped　out　and　looked　around。　　He　was
a　man　whose　years　would　have　been　pronounced　as　five…and…forty　by
the　friendly；　fifty　by　the　candid；　fifty…two　or　three　by　the　grim。
He　was　as　handsome　a　study　in　grey　as　could　be　seen　in　town；　there
being　far　more　of　the　raven's　plumage　than　of　the　gull's　in　the
mixture　as　yet；　and　he　had　a　glance　of　that　practised　sort　which　can
measure　people；　weigh　them；　repress　them；　encourage　them　to　sprout
and　blossom　as　a　March　sun　encourages　crocuses；　ask　them　questions；
give　them　answersin　short；　a　glance　that　could　do　as　many　things
as　an　American　cooking…stove　or　a　multum…in…parvo　pocket…knife。
But；　as　with　most　men　of　the　world；　this　was　mere　mechanism：　　his
actual　emotions　were　kept　so　far　within　his　person　that　they　were
rarely　heard　or　seen　near　his　features。

On　reading　the　builders'　names　over　the　gateway　he　entered　the　yard；
and　asked　at　the　office　if　Solomon　Chickerel　was　engaged　on　the
premises。　　The　clerk　was　going　to　be　very　attentive；　but　finding　the
visitor　had　come　only　to　speak　to　a　workman；　his　tense　attitude
slackened　a　little；　and　he　merely　signified　the　foot　of　a　Flemish
ladder　on　the　other　side　of　the　yard；　saying；　'You　will　find　him；
sir；　up　there　in　the　joiner's　shop。'

When　the　man　in　the　black　coat　reached　the　top　he　found　himself　at
the　end　of　a　long　apartment　as　large　as　a　chapel　and　as　low　as　a
malt…room；　across　which　ran　parallel　carpenters'　benches　to　the
number　of　twenty　or　more；　a　gangway　being　left　at　the　side　for
access　throughout。　　Behind　every　bench　there　stood　a　man　or　two；
planing；　fitting；　or　chiselling；　as　the　case　might　be。　　The　visitor
paused　for　a　moment；　as　if　waiting　for　some　cessation　of　their
violent　motions　and　uproar　till　he　could　make　his　errand　known。　　He
waited　ten　seconds；　he　waited　twenty；　but；　beyond　that　a　quick　look
had　been　thrown　upon　him　by　every　pair　of　eyes；　the　muscular
performances　were　in　no　way　interrupted：　　every　one　seemed　oblivious
of　his　presence；　and　absolutely　regardless　of　his　wish。　　In　truth；
the　texture　of　that　salmon…coloured　skin　could　be　seen　to　be
aristocratic　without　a　microscope；　and　the　exceptious　artizan　has　an
offhand　way　when　contrasts　are　made　painfully　strong　by　an　idler　of
this　kind　coming；　gloved　and　brushed；　into　the　very　den　where　he　is
sweating　and　muddling　in　his　shirt…sleeves。

The　gentleman　from　the　carriage　then　proceeded　down　the　workshop；
wading　up　to　his　knees　in　a　sea　of　shavings；　and　bruising　his　ankles
against　corners　of　board　and　sawn…off　blocks；　that　lay　hidden　like
reefs　beneath。　　At　the　ninth　bench　he　made　another　venture。

'Sol　Chickerel？'　said　the　man　addressed；　as　he　touched　his　plane…
iron　upon　the　oilstone。　　'He's　one　of　them　just　behind。'

'Damn　it　all；　can't　one　of　you　show　me？'　the　visitor　angrily
observed；　for　he　had　been　used　to　more　attention　than　this。　　'Here；
point　him　out。'　　He　handed　the　man　a　shilling。

'No　trouble　to　do　that；'　said　the　workman；　and　he　turned　and
signified　Sol　by　a　nod　without　moving　from　his　place。

The　stranger　entered　Sol's　division；　and；　nailing　him　with　his　eye；
said　at　once：　　'I　want　to　speak　a　few　words　with　you　in　private。　　Is
not　a　Mrs。　Petherwin　your　sister？'

Sol　started　suspiciously。　　'Has　anything　happened　to　her？'　he　at
length　said　hurriedly。

'O　no。　　It　is　on　a　business　matter　that　I　have　called。　　You　need　not
mind　owning　the　relationship　to　methe　secret　will　be　kept。　　I　am
the　brother　of　one　whom　you　may　have　heard　of　from　herLord
Mountclere。'

'I　have　not。　　But　if　you　will　wait　a　minute；　sir'　　He　went　to　a
little　glazed　box　at　the　end　of　the　shop；　where　the　foreman　was
sitting；　and；　after　speaking　a　few　words　to　this　person；　Sol　led
Mountclere　to　the　door；　and　down　the　ladder。

'I　suppose　we　cannot　very　well　talk　here；　after　all？'　said　the
gentleman；　when　they　reached　the　yard；　and　found　several　men　moving
about　therein。

'Perhaps　we　had　better　go　to　some　roomthe　nearest　inn　will　answer
the　purpose；　won't　it？'

'Excellently。'

'There's　the　〃Green　Bushes〃　over　the　way。　　They　have　a　very　nice
private　room　upstairs。'

'Yes；　that　will　do。'　　And　passing　out　of　the　yard；　the　man　with　the
glance　entered　the　inn　with　Sol；　where　they　were　shown　to　the
parlour　as　requested。

While　the　waiter　was　gone　for　some　wine；　which　Mountclere　ordered；
the　more　ingenuous　of　the　two　resumed　the　conversation　by　saying；
awkwardly：　　'Yes；　Mrs。　Petherwin　is　my　sister；　as　you　supposed；　sir；
but　on　her　account　I　do　not　let　it　be　known。'

'Indeed；'　said　Mountclere。　　'Well；　I　came　to　see　you　in　order　to
speak　of　a　matter　which　I　thought　you　might　know　more　about　than　I
do；　for　it　has　taken　me　quite　by　surprise。　　My　brother；　Lord
Mountclere；　is；　it　seems；　to　be　privately　married　to　Mrs。　Petherwin
to…morrow。'

'Is　that　really　the　fact？'　said　Sol；　becoming　quite　shaken。　　'I　had
no　thought　that　such　a　thing　could　be　possible！'

'It　is　imminent。'

'Father　has　told　me　that　she　has　lately　got　to　know　some　nobleman；
but　I　never　supposed　there　could　be　any　meaning　in　that。'

'You　were　altogether　wrong；'　said　Mountclere；　leaning　back　in　his
chair　and　looking　at　Sol　steadily。　　'Do　you　feel　it　to　be　a　matter
upon　which　you　will　congratulate　her？'

'A　very　different　thing！'　said　Sol　vehemently。　　'Though　he　is　your
brother；　sir；　I　must　say　this；　that　I　would　rather　she　married　the
poorest　man　I　know。'

'Why？'

'From　what　my　father　has　told　me　of　him；　he　is　nota　more　desirable
brother…in…law　to　me　than　I　shall　be　in　all　likelihood　to　him。　　What
business　has　a　man　of　that　character　to　marry　Berta；　I　should　like
to　ask？'

'That's　what　I　say；'　returned　Mountclere；　revealing　his　satisfaction
at　Sol's　estimate　of　his　noble　brother：　　it　showed　that　he　had
calculated　well　in　coming　here。　　'My　brother　is　getting　old；　and　he
has　lived　strangely：　　your　sister　is　a　highly　respectable　young
lady。'

'And　he　is　not　respectable；　you　mean？　　I　know　he　is　not。　　I　worked
near　Enckworth　once。'

'I　cannot　say　that；'　returned　Mountclere。　　Possibly　a　certain
fraternal　feeling　repressed　a　direct　assent：　　and　yet　this　was　the
only　representation　which　could　be　expected　to　prejudice　the　young
man　against　the　wedding；　if　he　were　such　an　one　as　the　visitor
supposed　Sol　to　bea　man　vulgar　in　sentiment　and　ambition；　but　pure
in　his　anxiety　for　his　sister's　happiness。　　'At　any　rate；　we　are
agreed　in　thinking　that　this　would　be　an　unfortunate　marriage　for
both；'　added　Mountclere。

'About　both　I　don't　know。　　It　may　be　a　good　thing　for　him。　　When　do
you　say　it　is　to　be；　sirto…morrow？'

'Yes。'

'I　don't　know　what　to　do！'　said　Sol；　walking　up　and　down。　　'If　half
what　I　have　heard　is　true；　I　would　lose　a　winter's　work　to　prevent
her　marrying　him。　　What　does　she　want　to　go　mixing　in　with　people
who　despise　her　for？　　Now　look　here；　Mr。　Mountclere；　since　you　have
been　and　called　me　out　to　talk　this　over；　it　is　only　fair　that　you
should　tell　me　the　exact　truth　about　your　brother。　　Is　it　a　lie；　or
is　it　true；　that　he　is　not　fit　to　be　the　husband　of　a　decent　woman？'

'That　is　a　curious　inquiry；'　said　Mountclere；　whose　manner　and
aspect；　neutral　as　a　winter　landscape；　had　little　in　common　with
Sol's　warm　and　unrestrained　bearing。　　'There　are　reasons　why　I　think
your　sister　will　not　be　happy　with　him。'

'Then　it　is　true　what　they　say；'　said　Sol；　bringing　down　his　fist
upon　the　table。　　'I　know　your　meaning　well　enough。　　What's　to　be
done？　　If　I　could　only　see　her　this　minute；　she　might　be　kept　out　of
it。'

'You　think　your　presence　would　influence　your　sisterif　you　could
see　her　before　the　wedding？'

'I　think　it　would。　　But　who's　to　get　at　her？'

'I　am　going；　so　you　had　better　come　on　with　meunless　it　would　be
best　for　your　father　to　come。'

'Perhaps　it　might；'　said　the　bewildered