the hand of ethelberta-第66章

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back　early　in　the　afternoon。'

'Thank　you；'　said　Sol。　　'I　will　endeavour　to　meet　you　at　Corvsgate。'

Thus　it　was　arranged。　　Chickerel　could　have　wished　to　search　for
Picotee；　and　learn　from　her　the　details　of　this　mysterious　matter。
But　it　was　particularly　painful　to　him　to　make　himself　busy　after
the　event；　and　to　appear　suddenly　and　uselessly　where　he　was　plainly
not　wanted　to　appear　would　be　an　awkwardness　which　the　pleasure　of
seeing　either　daughter　could　scarcely　counterbalance。　　Hence　he　had
resolved　to　return　at　once　to　town；　and　there　await　the　news；
together　with　the　detailed　directions　as　to　his　own　future
movements；　carefully　considered　and　laid　down；　which　were　sure　to　be
given　by　the　far…seeing　Ethelberta。

Sol　and　his　father　walked　on　together；　Chickerel　to　meet　the　carrier
just　beyond　Enckworth；　Sol　to　wait　for　Christopher　at　Corvsgate。
His　wish　to　see；　in　company　with　his　father；　the　outline　of　the　seat
to　which　Ethelberta　had　been　advanced　that　day；　was　the　triumph　of
youthful　curiosity　and　interest　over　dogged　objection。　　His　father's
wish　was　based　on　calmer　reasons。

Christopher；　lone　and　out　of　place；　remained　in　the　church　yet　a
little　longer。　　He　desultorily　walked　round。　　Reaching　the　organ
chamber；　he　looked　at　the　instrument；　and　was　surprised　to　find
behind　it　a　young　man。　　Julian　first　thought　him　to　be　the　organist；
on　second　inspection；　however；　he　proved　to　be　a　person　Christopher
had　met　before；　under　far　different　circumstances；　it　was　our　young
friend　Ladywell；　looking　as　sick　and　sorry　as　a　lily　with　a　slug　in
its　stalk。

The　occasion；　the　place；　and　their　own　condition；　made　them　kin。
Christopher　had　despised　Ladywell；　Ladywell　had　disliked
Christopher；　but　a　third　item　neutralized　the　other　twoit　was
their　common　lot。

Christopher　just　nodded；　for　they　had　only　met　on　Ethelberta's
stairs。　　Ladywell　nodded　more；　and　spoke。　　'The　church　appears　to　be
interesting；'　he　said。

'Yes。　　Such　a　tower　is　rare　in　England；'　said　Christopher。

They　then　dwelt　on　other　features　of　the　building；　thence　enlarging
to　the　village；　and　then　to　the　rocks　and　marine　scenery；　both
avoiding　the　malady　they　suffered　fromthe　marriage　of　Ethelberta。

'The　village　streets　are　very　picturesque；　and　the　cliff　scenery　is
good　of　its　kind；'　rejoined　Ladywell。　　'The　rocks　represent　the
feminine　side　of　grandeur。　　Here　they　are　white；　with　delicate　tops。
On　the　west　coast　they　are　higher；　black；　and　with　angular　summits。
Those　represent　grandeur　in　its　masculine　aspect。　　It　is　merely　my
own　idea；　and　not　very　bright；　perhaps。'

'It　is　very　ingenious；'　said　Christopher；　'and　perfectly　true。'

Ladywell　was　pleased。　　'I　am　here　at　present　making　sketches　for　my
next　subjecta　winter　sea。　　Otherwise　I　should　not　havehappened
to　be　in　the　church。'

'You　are　acquainted　with　Mrs。　PetherwinI　think　you　are　Mr。
Ladywell；　who　painted　her　portrait　last　season？'

'Yes；'　said　Ladywell；　colouring。

'You　may　have　heard　her　speak　of　Mr。　Julian？'

'O　yes；'　said　Ladywell；　offering　his　hand。　　Then　by　degrees　their
tongues　wound　closer　round　the　subject　of　their　sadness；　each
tacitly　owning　to　what　he　would　not　tell。

'I　saw　it；'　said　Ladywell　heavily。

'Did　she　look　troubled？'

'Not　in　the　leastbright　and　fresh　as　a　May　morning。　　She　has
played　me　many　a　bitter　trick；　and　poor　Neigh　too；　a　friend　of　mine。
But　I　cannot　help　forgiving　her。　。　。　。　　I　saw　a　carriage　at　the
door；　and　strolled　in。　　The　ceremony　was　just　proceeding；　so　I　sat
down　here。　　Well；　I　have　done　with　Knollsea。　　The　place　has　no
further　interest　for　me　now。　　I　may　own　to　you　as　a　friend；　that　if
she　had　not　been　living　here　I　should　have　studied　at　some　other
coastof　course　that's　in　confidence。'

'I　understand；　quite。'

'I　only　arrived　in　the　neighbourhood　two　days　ago；　and　did　not　set
eyes　upon　her　till　this　morning；　she　has　kept　so　entirely　indoors。'

Then　the　young　men　parted；　and　half…an…hour　later　the　ingenuous
Ladywell　came　from　the　visitors'　inn　by　the　shore；　a　man　walking
behind　him　with　a　quantity　of　artists'　materials　and　appliances。　　He
went　on　board　the　steamer；　which　this　morning　had　performed　the
passage　in　safety。　　Ethelberta　single　having　been　the　loadstone　in
the　cliffs　that　had　attracted　Ladywell　hither；　Ethelberta　married
was　the　negative　pole　of　the　same；　sending　him　away。　　And　thus　did　a
woman　put　an　end　to　the　only　opportunity　of　distinction；　on　Art…
exhibition　walls；　that　ever　offered　itself　to　the　tortuous　ways；
quaint　alleys；　and　marbled　bluffs　of　Knollsea；　as　accessories　in　the
picture　of　a　winter　sea。

Christopher's　interest　in　the　village　was　of　the　same　evaporating
nature。　　He　looked　upon　the　sea；　and　the　great　swell；　and　the　waves
sending　up　a　sound　like　the　huzzas　of　multitudes；　but　all　the　wild
scene　was　irksome　now。　　The　ocean…bound　steamers　far　away　on　the
horizon　inspired　him　with　no　curiosity　as　to　their　destination；　the
house　Ethelberta　had　occupied　was　positively　hateful；　and　he　turned
away　to　wait　impatiently　for　the　hour　at　which　he　had　promised　to
drive　on　to　meet　Sol　at　Corvsgate。

Sol　and　Chickerel　plodded　along　the　road；　in　order　to　skirt
Enckworth　before　the　carrier　came　up。　　Reaching　the　top　of　a　hill　on
their　way；　they　paused　to　look　down　on　a　peaceful　scene。　　It　was　a
park　and　wood；　glowing　in　all　the　matchless　colours　of　late　autumn；
parapets　and　pediments　peering　out　from　a　central　position　afar。　　At
the　bottom　of　the　descent　before　them　was　a　lodge；　to　which　they　now
descended。　　The　gate　stood　invitingly　open。　　Exclusiveness　was　no
part　of　the　owner's　instincts：　　one　could　see　that　at　a　glance。　　No
appearance　of　a　well…rolled　garden…path　attached　to　the　park…drive；
as　is　the　case　with　many；　betokening　by　the　perfection　of　their
surfaces　their　proprietor's　deficiency　in　hospitality。　　The　approach
was　like　a　turnpike　road　full　of　great　ruts；　clumsy　mendings；
bordered　by　trampled　edges　and　incursions　upon　the　grass　at
pleasure。　　Butchers　and　bakers　drove　as　freely　herein　as　peers　and
peeresses。　　Christening　parties；　wedding　companies；　and　funeral
trains　passed　along　by　the　doors　of　the　mansion　without　check　or
question。　　A　wild　untidiness　in　this　particular　has　its
recommendations；　for　guarded　grounds　ever　convey　a　suspicion　that
their　owner　is　young　to　landed　possessions；　as　religious
earnestnesss　implies　newness　of　conversion；　and　conjugal　tenderness
recent　marriage。

Half…an…hour　being　wanting　as　yet　to　Chickerel's　time　with　the
carrier；　Sol　and　himself；　like　the　rest　of　the　world　when　at
leisure；　walked　into　the　extensive　stretch　of　grass　and　grove。　　It
formed　a　park　so　large　that　not　one　of　its　owners　had　ever　wished　it
larger；　not　one　of　its　owner's　rivals　had　ever　failed　to　wish　it
smaller；　and　not　one　of　its　owner's　satellites　had　ever　seen　it
without　praise。　　They　somewhat　avoided　the　roadway　passing　under　the
huge；　misshapen；　ragged　trees；　and　through　fern　brakes；　ruddy　and
crisp　in　their　decay。　　On　reaching　a　suitable　eminence；　the　father
and　son　stood　still　to　look　upon　the　many…chimneyed　building；　or
rather　conglomeration　of　buildings；　to　which　these　groves　and　glades
formed　a　setting。

'We　will　just　give　a　glance；'　said　Chickerel；　'and　then　go　away。　　It
don't　seem　well　to　me　that　Ethelberta　should　have　this；　it　is　too
much。　　The　sudden　change　will　do　her　no　good。　　I　never　believe　in
anything　that　comes　in　the　shape　of　wonderful　luck。　　As　it　comes；　so
it　goes。　　Had　she　been　brought　home　today　to　one　of　those　tenant…
farms　instead　of　these　woods　and　walls；　I　could　have　called　it　good
fortune。　　What　she　should　have　done　was　glorify　herself　by
glorifying　her　own　line　of　life；　not　by　forsaking　that　line　for
another。　　Better　have　been　admired　as　a　governess　than　shunned　as　a
peeress；　which　is　what　she　will　be。　　But　it　is　just　the　same
everywhere　in　these　days。　　Young　men　will　rather　wear　a　black　coat
and　starve　than　wear　fustian　and　do　well。'

'One　man　to　want　such　a　monstrous　house　as　that！　　Well；　'tis　a　fine
place。　　See；　there's　the　carpenters'　shops；　the　timber…yard；　and
everything；　as　if　it　were　a　little　town。　　Perhaps　Berta　may　hire　me
for　a　job　now　and　then。'

'I　always　knew　she　would　cut　herself　off　from　us。　　She　marked　for　it
from　childhood；　and　she　has　finished　the　business　thoroughly。'

'Well；　it　is　no　matter；　father；　for　why　should　we　want　to　trouble
her？　　She　may　write；　and　I　shall　answer；　but　if　she　calls　to　see　me；
I　shall　not　return　the　visit；　and　if　she　meets　me　with　her　husband
or　any　of　her　new　society　about　her；　I　shall　behave　as　a　stranger。'

'It　will　be　best；'　said　Chickerel。　　'Well；　now　I　must　move。'

However；　by　the　sorcery　of　accident；　before　they　had　very　far
retraced　their　steps　an　open　carriage　became　visible　round　a　bend　in
the　drive。　　Chickerel；　with　a　servant's　instinct；　was　for　beating　a
retreat。

'No；'　said　Sol。　　'Let　us　stand　our　ground。　　We　have　already　been
seen；　and　we　do　no　harm。'

So　they　stood　still　on　the　edge　of　the　drive；　and　the　carriage　drew
near。　　It　was　a　landau；　and　the　sun　shone　in　upon　Lord　Mountclere；
with　Lady　Mountclere　sitting　beside　him；　like　Abishag　beside　King
David。

Very　blithe　looked　the　viscount；　for　he　rode　upon　a　cherub　to…day。
She　appeared　fresh；　rosy；　and　strong；　but　dubious；　though　if　mien
was　anything；　she　was　a　viscountess　twice　over。　　Her　dress　was　of　a
dove…coloured　material；　with　a　bonnet　to　match；　a　little　tufted
white　feather　resting　on　the　top；　like　a　truce…flag　between　the
blood　of　noble　and　vassal。　　Upon　the　cool　grey　of　her　shoulders　hung
a　few　locks　of　hair；　toned　warm　as　fire　by　the　sunshiny　addition　to
its　natural　hue。

Chickerel　instinctively　took　off　his　hat；　Sol　did　the　same。

For　only　a　moment　did　Ethelberta　seem　uncertain　how　to　act。　　But　a
solution　to　her　difficulty　was　given　by　the　face　of　her　brother。
There　she　saw　plainly　at　one　glance　more　than　a　dozen　speeches　would
have　toldfor　Sol's　features　thoroughly　expressed　his　intention
that　to　him　she　was　to　be　a　stranger。　　Her　eyes　flew　to　Chickerel；
and　he　slightly　shook　his　head。　　She　understood　them　now。　　With　a
tear　in　her　eye　for　her　father；　and　a　sigh　in　her　bosom　for　Sol；　she
bowed　in　answer　to　their　salute；　her　husband　moved　his　hat　and
nodded；　and　the　carriage　rolled　on。　　Lord　Mountclere　might　possibly
be　making　use　of　the　fine　morning　in　showing　her　the　park　and
premises。　　Chickerel；　with　a　moist　eye；　now　went　on　with　his　son
towards　the　highroad。　　When　they　reached　the　lodge；　the　lodge…keeper
was　walking　in　the　sun；　smoking　his　pipe。　　'Good　morning；'　he　said
to　Chickerel。

'Any　rejoicings　at　the　Court　to…day？'　the　butler　inquired。

'Quite　the　reverse。　　Not　a　soul　there。　　'Tisn't　knowed　anywhere　at
all。　　I　had　no　idea　of　such　a　thing　till　he　brought　my　lady　here。
Not　going　off；　neither。　　They've　come　home　like　the　commonest　couple
in　the　land；　and　not　even　the　bells　allowed　to　ring。'

They　walked　along　the　public　road；　and　the　carrier　came　in　view。

'Father；'　said　Sol；　'I　don't　think　I'll　go　further　with　you。　　She's
gone　into　the　house；　and　suppose　she　should　run　back　without　him　to
try　to　find　us？　　It　would　be　cruel　to　disappoint　her。　　I'll　bide
about　here　for　a　quarter　of　an　hou