the hand of ethelberta-第64章

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containing　Sol　and　Mountclere　slackened　pace；　and　drew　rein　before
the　inn。

Fresh　horses　were　immediately　called　for；　and　while　they　were　being
put　in　the　two　travellers　walked　up　and　down。

'It　is　now　a　quarter　to　seven　o'clock；'　said　Mountclere；　'and　the
question　arises；　shall　I　go　on　to　Knollsea；　or　branch　off　at
Corvsgate　Castle　for　Enckworth？　　I　think　the　best　plan　will　be　to
drive　first　to　Enckworth；　set　me　down；　and　then　get　him　to　take　you
on　at　once　to　Knollsea。　　What　do　you　say？'

'When　shall　I　reach　Knollsea　by　that　arrangement？'

'By　half…past　eight　o'clock。　　We　shall　be　at　Enckworth　before　eight；
which　is　excellent　time。'

'Very　well；　sir；　I　agree　to　that；'　said　Sol；　feeling　that　as　soon　as
one　of　the　two　birds　had　been　caught；　the　other　could　not　mate
without　their　knowledge。

The　carriage　and　horses　being　again　ready；　away　they　drove　at　once；
both　having　by　this　time　grown　too　restless　to　spend　in　Anglebury　a
minute　more　than　was　necessary。

The　hostler　and　his　lad　had　taken　the　jaded　Sandbourne　horses　to　the
stable；　rubbed　them　down；　and　fed　them；　when　another　noise　was　heard
outside　the　yard；　the　omnibus　had　returned　from　meeting　the　train。
Relinquishing　the　horses　to　the　small　stable…lad；　the　old　hostler
again　looked　out　from　the　arch。

A　young　man　had　stepped　from　the　omnibus；　and　he　came　forward。　　'I
want　a　conveyance　of　some　sort　to　take　me　to　Knollsea；　at　once。　　Can
you　get　a　horse　harnessed　in　five　minutes？'

'I'll　make　shift　to　do　what　I　can　master；　not　promising　about　the
minutes。　　The　truest　man　can　say　no　more。　　Won't　ye　step　into　the
bar；　sir；　and　give　your　order？　　I'll　let　ye　know　as　soon　as　'tis
ready。'

Christopher　turned　into　a　room　smelling　strongly　of　the　night
before；　and　stood　by　the　newly…kindled　fire　to　wait。　　He　had　just
come　in　haste　from　Melchester。　　The　upshot　of　his　excitement　about
the　wedding；　which；　as　the　possible　hour　of　its　solemnization　drew
near；　had　increased　till　it　bore　him　on　like　a　wind；　was　this
unpremeditated　journey。　　Lying　awake　the　previous　night；　the
hangings　of　his　bed　pulsing　to　every　beat　of　his　heart；　he　decided
that　there　was　one　last　and　great　service　which　it　behoved　him；　as
an　honest　man　and　friend；　to　say　nothing　of　lover；　to　render　to
Ethelberta　at　this　juncture。　　It　was　to　ask　her　by　some　means
whether　or　not　she　had　engaged　with　open　eyes　to　marry　Lord
Mountclere；　and　if　not；　to　give　her　a　word　or　two　of　enlightenment。
That　done；　she　might　be　left　to　take　care　of　herself。

His　plan　was　to　obtain　an　interview　with　Picotee；　and　learn　from　her
accurately　the　state　of　things。　　Should　he；　by　any　possibility；　be
mistaken　in　his　belief　as　to　the　contracting　parties；　a　knowledge　of
the　mistake　would　be　cheaply　purchased　by　the　journey。　　Should　he
not；　he　would　send　up　to　Ethelberta　the　strong　note　of　expostulation
which　was　already　written；　and　waiting　in　his　pocket。　　To　intrude
upon　her　at　such　a　time　was　unseemly；　and　to　despatch　a　letter　by　a
messenger　before　evidence　of　its　necessity　had　been　received　was
most　undesirable。　　The　whole　proceeding　at　best　was　clumsy；　yet
earnestness　is　mostly　clumsy；　and　how　could　he　let　the　event　pass
without　a　protest？　　Before　daylight　on　that　autumn　morning　he　had
risen；　told　Faith　of　his　intention；　and　started　off。

As　soon　as　the　vehicle　was　ready；　Christopher　hastened　to　the　door
and　stepped　up。　　The　little　stable…boy　led　the　horse　a　few　paces　on
the　way　before　relinquishing　his　hold；　at　the　same　moment　a
respectably　dressed　man　on　foot；　with　a　small　black　bag　in　his　hand；
came　up　from　the　opposite　direction；　along　the　street　leading　from
the　railway。　　He　was　a　thin；　elderly　man；　with　grey　hair；　that　a
great　anxiety　pervaded　him　was　as　plainly　visible　as　were　his
features。　　Without　entering　the　inn；　he　came　up　at　once　to　old　John。

'Have　you　anything　going　to　Knollsea　this　morning　that　I　can　get　a
lift　in？'　said　the　pedestrianno　other　than　Ethelberta's　father。

'Nothing　empty；　that　I　know　of。'

'Or　carrier？'

'No。'

'A　matter　of　fifteen　shillings；　then；　I　suppose？'

'Yesno　doubt。　　But　yond　there's　a　young　man　just　now　starting；　he
might　not　take　it　ill　if　ye　were　to　ask　him　for　a　seat；　and　go
halves　in　the　hire　of　the　trap。　　Shall　I　call　out？'

'Ah；　do。'

The　hostler　bawled　to　the　stable…boy；　who　put　the　question　to
Christopher。　　There　was　room　for　two　in　the　dogcart；　and　Julian　had
no　objection　to　save　the　shillings　of　a　fellow…traveller　who　was
evidently　not　rich。　　When　Chickerel　mounted　to　his　seat；　Christopher
paused　to　look　at　him　as　we　pause　in　some　enactment　that　seems　to
have　been　already　before　us　in　a　dream　long　ago。　　Ethelberta's　face
was　there；　as　the　landscape　is　in　the　map；　the　romance　in　the
history；　the　aim　in　the　deed：　　denuded；　rayless；　and　sorry；　but
discernible。

For　the　moment；　however；　this　did　not　occur　to　Julian。　　He　took　the
whip；　the　boy　loosed　his　hold　upon　the　horse；　and　they　proceeded　on
their　way。

'What　slap…dash　jinks　may　there　be　going　on　at　Knollsea；　then；　my
sonny？'　said　the　hostler　to　the　lad；　as　the　dogcart　and　the　backs　of
the　two　men　diminished　on　the　road。　　'You　be　a　Knollsea　boy：　　have
anything　reached　your　young　ears　about　what's　in　the　wind　there；
David　Straw？'

'No；　nothing：　　except　that　'tis　going　to　be　Christmas　day　in　five
weeks：　　and　then　a　hide…bound　bull　is　going　to　be　killed　if　he　don't
die　afore　the　time；　and　gi'ed　away　by　my　lord　in　three…pound　junks；
as　a　reward　to　good　people　who　never　curse　and　sing　bad　songs；
except　when　they　be　drunk；　mother　says　perhaps　she　will　have　some；
and　'tis　excellent　if　well　stewed；　mother　says。'

'A　very　fair　chronicle　for　a　boy　to　give；　but　not　what　I　asked　for。
When　you　try　to　answer　a　old　man's　question；　always　bear　in　mind
what　it　was　that　old　man　asked。　　A　hide…bound　bull　is　good　when　well
stewed；　I　make　no　doubtfor　they　who　like　it；　but　that's　not　it。
What　I　said　was；　do　you　know　why　three　fokes；　a　rich　man；　a　middling
man；　and　a　poor　man；　should　want　horses　for　Knollsea　afore　seven
o'clock　in　the　morning　on　a　blinking　day　in　Fall；　when　everything　is
as　wet　as　a　dishclout；　whereas　that's　more　than　often　happens　in
fine　summer　weather？'

'NoI　don't　know；　John　hostler。'

'Then　go　home　and　tell　your　mother　that　ye　be　no　wide…awake　boy；　and
that　old　John；　who　went　to　school　with　her　father　afore　she　was　born
or　thought　o'；　says　so。　。　。　。　　Chok'　it　all；　why　should　I　think
there's　sommat　going　on　at　Knollsea？　　Honest　travelling　have　been　so
rascally　abused　since　I　was　a　boy　in　pinners；　by　tribes　of　nobodies
tearing　from　one　end　of　the　country　to　t'other；　to　see　the　sun　go
down　in　salt　water；　or　the　moon　play　jack…lantern　behind　some　rotten
tower　or　other；　that；　upon　my　song；　when　life　and　death's　in　the
wind　there's　no　telling　the　difference！'

'I　like　their　sixpences　ever　so　much。'

'Young　sonny；　don't　you　answer　up　to　me　when　you　baint　in　the　story…
…stopping　my　words　in　that　fashion。　　I　won't　have　it；　David。　　Now　up
in　the　tallet　with　ye；　there's　a　good　boy；　and　down　with　another
lock　or　two　of　hayas　fast　as　you　can　do　it　for　me。'

The　boy　vanished　under　the　archway；　and　the　hostler　followed　at　his
heels。　　Meanwhile　the　carriage　bearing　Mr。　Mountclere　and　Sol　was
speeding　on　its　way　to　Enckworth。　　When　they　reached　the　spot　at
which　the　road　forked　into　two；　they　left　the　Knollsea　route；　and
keeping　thence　under　the　hills　for　the　distance　of　five　or　six
miles；　drove　into　Lord　Mountclere's　park。　　In　ten　minutes　the　house
was　before　them；　framed　in　by　dripping　trees。

Mountclere　jumped　out；　and　entered　without　ceremony。　　Sol；　being
anxious　to　know　if　Lord　Mountclere　was　there；　ordered　the　coachman
to　wait　a　few　moments。　　It　was　now　nearly　eight　o'clock；　and　the
smoke　which　ascended　from　the　newly…lit　fires　of　the　Court　painted
soft　blue　tints　upon　the　brown　and　golden　leaves　of　lofty　boughs
adjoining。

'O；　Ethelberta！'　said　Sol；　as　he　regarded　the　fair　prospect。

The　gravel　of　the　drive　had　been　washed　clean　and　smooth　by　the
night's　rain；　but　there　were　fresh　wheelmarks　other　than　their　own
upon　the　track。　　Yet　the　mansion　seemed　scarcely　awake；　and
stillness　reigned　everywhere　around。

Not　more　than　three　or　four　minutes　had　passed　when　the　door　was
opened　for　Mountclere；　and　he　came　hastily　from　the　doorsteps。

'I　must　go　on　with　you；'　he　said；　getting　into　the　vehicle。　　'He's
gone。'

'Whereto　Knollsea？'　said　Sol。

'Yes；'　said　Mountclere。　　'Now；　go　ahead　to　Knollsea！'　he　shouted　to
the　man。　　'To　think　I　should　be　fooled　like　this！　　I　had　no　idea
that　he　would　be　leaving　so　soon！　　We　might　perhaps　have　been　here
an　hour　earlier　by　hard　striving。　　But　who　was　to　dream　that　he
would　arrange　to　leave　it　at　such　an　unearthly　time　of　the　morning
at　this　dark　season　of　the　year？　　Drivedrive！'　he　called　again　out
of　the　window；　and　the　pace　was　increased。

'I　have　come　two　or　three　miles　out　of　my　way　on　account　of　you；'
said　Sol　sullenly。　　'And　all　this　time　lost。　　I　don't　see　why　you
wanted　to　come　here　at　all。　　I　knew　it　would　be　a　waste　of　time。'

'Damn　it　all；　man；'　said　Mountclere；　'it　is　no　use　for　you　to　be
angry　with　me！'

'I　think　it　is；　for　'tis　you　have　brought　me　into　this　muddle；'　said
Sol；　in　no　sweeter　tone。　　'Ha；　ha！　　Upon　my　life　I　should　be
inclined　to　laugh；　if　I　were　not　so　much　inclined　to　do　the　other
thing；　at　Berta's　trick　of　trying　to　make　close　family　allies　of
such　a　cantankerous　pair　as　you　and　I！　　So　much　of　one　mind　as　we
be；　so　alike　in　our　ways　of　living；　so　close　connected　in　our
callings　and　principles；　so　matched　in　manners　and　customs！　'twould
be　a　thousand　pities　to　part　ushey；　Mr。　Mountclere！'

Mountclere　faintly　laughed　with　the　same　hideous　merriment　at　the
same　idea；　and　then　both　remained　in　a　withering　silence；　meant　to
express　the　utter　contempt　of　each　for　the　other；　both　in　family　and
in　person。　　They　passed　the　Lodge；　and　again　swept　into　the
highroad。

'Drive　on！'　said　Mountclere；　putting　his　head　again　out　of　the
window；　and　shouting　to　the　man。　　'Drive　like　the　devil！'　he　roared
again　a　few　minutes　afterwards；　in　fuming　dissatisfaction　with　their
rate　of　progress。

'Baint　I　doing　of　it？'　said　the　driver；　turning　angrily　round。　　'I
ain't　going　to　ruin　my　governor's　horses　for　strangers　who　won't　pay
double　for　'emnot　I。　　I　am　driving　as　fast　as　I　can。　　If　other
folks　get　in　the　way　with　their　traps　I　suppose　I　must　drive　round
'em；　sir？'

There　was　a　slight　crash。

'There！'　continued　the　coachman。　　'That's　what　comes　of　my　turning
round！'

Sol　looked　out　on　the　other　side；　and　found　that　the　forewheel　of
their　carriage　had　become　locked　in　the　wheel　of　a　dogcart　they　had
overtaken；　the　road　here　being　very　narrow。　　Their　coachman；　who
knew　he　was　to　blame　for　this　mishap；　felt　the　advantage　of　taking
time　by　the　forelock　in　a　case　of　accusation；　and　began　swearing　at
his　victim　as　if　he　were　the　sinner。　　Sol　jumped　out；　and　looking　up
at　the　occupants　of　the　other　conveyance；　saw　against　the　sky　the
back　elevation　of　his　father　and　Christopher　Julian；　sitting　upon　a
little　seat　which　they　overhung；　like　two　big　puddings　upon　a　small
dish。

'Fatherwhat；　you　going？'　said　Sol。　　'Is　i