the hand of ethelberta-第7章

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here　with　the　carriage　sometimes；　I　think　how　many　more　get　killed
at　the　moment　of　victory　than　at　the　moment　of　defeat。　　This　is　the
entrance　for　you；　sir。'　　And　he　turned　the　corner　and　pulled　up
before　a　side　door。

They　alighted　and　went　in；　Christopher　shouldering　Faith's　harp；　and
she　marching　modestly　behind；　with　curly…eared　music…books　under　her
arm。　　They　were　shown　into　the　house…steward's　room；　and　ushered
thence　along　a　badly…lit　passage　and　past　a　door　within　which　a　hum
and　laughter　were　audible。　　The　door　next　to　this　was　then　opened
for　them；　and　they　entered。



Scarcely　had　Faith；　or　Christopher　either；　ever　beheld　a　more
shining　scene　than　was　presented　by　the　saloon　in　which　they　now
found　themselves。　　Coming　direct　from　the　gloomy　park；　and　led　to
the　room　by　that　back　passage　from　the　servants'　quarter；　the　light
from　the　chandelier　and　branches　against　the　walls；　striking　on
gilding　at　all　points；　quite　dazzled　their　sight　for　a　minute　or
two；　it　caused　Faith　to　move　forward　with　her　eyes　on　the　floor；　and
filled　Christopher　with　an　impulse　to　turn　back　again　into　some
dusky　corner　where　every　thread　of　his　not　over…new　dress　suit
rather　moth…eaten　through　lack　of　feasts　for　airing　itcould　be
counted　less　easily。

He　was　soon　seated　before　a　grand　piano；　and　Faith　sat　down　under
the　shadow　of　her　harp；　both　being　arranged　on　a　dais　within　an
alcove　at　one　end　of　the　room。　　A　screen　of　ivy　and　holly　had　been
constructed　across　the　front　of　this　recess　for　the　games　of　the
children　on　Christmas　Eve；　and　it　still　remained　there；　a　small
creep…hole　being　left　for　entrance　and　exit。

Then　the　merry　guests　tumbled　through　doors　at　the　further　end；　and
dancing　began。　　The　mingling　of　black…coated　men　and　bright　ladies
gave　a　charming　appearance　to　the　groups　as　seen　by　Faith　and　her
brother；　the　whole　spectacle　deriving　an　unexpected　novelty　from　the
accident　of　reaching　their　eyes　through　interstices　in　the　tracery
of　green　leaves；　which　added　to　the　picture　a　softness　that　it　would
not　otherwise　have　possessed。　　On　the　other　hand；　the　musicians；
having　a　much　weaker　light；　could　hardly　be　discerned　by　the
performers　in　the　dance。

The　music　was　now　rattling　on；　and　the　ladies　in　their　foam…like
dresses　were　busily　threading　and　spinning　about　the　floor；　when
Faith；　casually　looking　up　into　her　brother's　face；　was　surprised　to
see　that　a　change　had　come　over　it。　　At　the　end　of　the　quadrille　he
leant　across　to　her　before　she　had　time　to　speak；　and　said　quietly；
'She's　here！'

'Who？'　said　Faith；　for　she　had　not　heard　the　words　of　the　coachman。

'Ethelberta。'

'Which　is　she？'　asked　Faith；　peeping　through　with　the　keenest
interest。

'The　one　who　has　the　skirts　of　her　dress　looped　up　with　convolvulus
flowersthe　one　with　her　hair　fastened　in　a　sort　of　Venus　knot
behind；　she　has　just　been　dancing　with　that　perfumed　piece　of　a　man
they　call　Mr。　Ladywellit　is　he　with　the　high　eyebrows　arched　like
a　girl's。'　　He　added；　with　a　wrinkled　smile；　'I　cannot　for　my　life
see　anybody　answering　to　the　character　of　husband　to　her；　for　every
man　takes　notice　of　her。'

They　were　interrupted　by　another　dance　being　called　for；　and　then；
his　fingers　tapping　about　upon　the　keys　as　mechanically　as　fowls
pecking　at　barleycorns；　Christopher　gave　himself　up　with　a　curious
and　far　from　unalloyed　pleasure　to　the　occupation　of　watching
Ethelberta；　now　again　crossing　the　field　of　his　vision　like　a
returned　comet　whose　characteristics　were　becoming　purely
historical。　　She　was　a　plump…armed　creature；　with　a　white　round　neck
as　firm　as　a　fortaltogether　a　vigorous　shape；　as　refreshing　to　the
eye　as　the　green　leaves　through　which　he　beheld　her。　　She　danced
freely；　and　with　a　zest　that　was　apparently　irrespective　of
partners。　　He　had　been　waiting　long　to　hear　her　speak；　and　when　at
length　her　voice　did　reach　his　ears；　it　was　the　revelation　of　a
strange　matter　to　find　how　great　a　thing　that　small　event　had　become
to　him。　　He　knew　the　old　utterancerapid　but　not　frequent；　an
obstructive　thought　causing　sometimes　a　sudden　halt　in　the　midst　of
a　stream　of　words。　　But　the　features　by　which　a　cool　observer　would
have　singled　her　out　from　others　in　his　memory　when　asking　himself
what　she　was　like；　was　a　peculiar　gaze　into　imaginary　far…away
distance　when　making　a　quiet　remark　to　a　partnernot　with
contracted　eyes　like　a　seafaring　man；　but　with　an　open　full　looka
remark　in　which　little　words　in　a　low　tone　were　made　to　express　a
great　deal；　as　several　single　gentlemen　afterwards　found。

The　production　of　dance…music　when　the　criticizing　stage　among　the
dancers　has　passed；　and　they　have　grown　full　of　excitement　and
animal　spirits；　does　not　require　much　concentration　of　thought　in
the　producers　thereof；　and　desultory　conversation　accordingly　went
on　between　Faith　and　her　brother　from　time　to　time。

'Kit；'　she　said　on　one　occasion；　'are　you　looking　at　the　way　in
which　the　flowers　are　fastened　to　the　leaves？taking　a　mean
advantage　of　being　at　the　back　of　the　tapestry？　　You　cannot　think
how　you　stare　at　them。'

'I　was　looking　through　themcertainly　not　at　them。　　I　have　a
feeling　of　being　moved　about　like　a　puppet　in　the　hands　of　a　person
who　legally　can　be　nothing　to　me。'

'That　charming　woman　with　the　shining　bunch　of　hair　and
convolvuluses？'

'Yes：　　it　is　through　her　that　we　are　brought　here；　and　through　her
writing　that　poem；　〃Cancelled　Words；〃　that　the　book　was　sent　me；　and
through　the　accidental　renewal　of　acquaintance　between　us　on
Anglebury　Heath；　that　she　wrote　the　poem。　　I　was；　however；　at　the
moment　you　spoke；　thinking　more　particularly　of　the　little　teacher
whom　Ethelberta　must　have　commissioned　to　send　the　book　to　me；　and
why　that　girl　was　chosen　to　do　it。'

'There　may　be　a　hundred　reasons。　　Kit；　I　have　never　yet　seen　her
look　once　this　way。'

Christopher　had　certainly　not　yet　received　look　or　gesture　from　her；
but　his　time　came。　　It　was　while　he　was　for　a　moment　outside　the
recess；　and　he　caught　her　in　the　act。　　She　became　slightly　confused；
turned　aside；　and　entered　into　conversation　with　a　neighbour。

It　was　only　a　look；　and　yet　what　a　look　it　was！　　One　may　say　of　a
look　that　it　is　capable　of　division　into　as　many　species；　genera；
orders；　and　classes；　as　the　animal　world　itself。　　Christopher　saw
Ethelberta　Petherwin's　performance　in　this　kindthe　well…known
spark　of　light　upon　the　well…known　depths　of　mysteryand　felt
something　going　out　of　him　which　had　gone　out　of　him　once　before。

Thus　continually　beholding　her　and　her　companions　in　the　giddy
whirl；　the　night　wore　on　with　the　musicians；　last　dances　and　more
last　dances　being　added；　till　the　intentions　of　the　old　on　the
matter　were　thrice　exceeded　in　the　interests　of　the　young。　　Watching
the　couples　whirl　and　turn；　advance　and　recede　as　gently　as　spirits；
knot　themselves　like　house…flies　and　part　again；　and　lullabied　by
the　faint　regular　beat　of　their　footsteps　to　the　tune；　the　players
sank　into　the　peculiar　mesmeric　quiet　which　comes　over
impressionable　people　who　play　for　a　great　length　of　time　in　the
midst　of　such　scenes；　and　at　last　the　only　noises　that　Christopher
took　cognizance　of　were　those　of　the　exceptional　kind；　breaking
above　the　general　sea　of　sounda　casual　smart　rustle　of　silk；　a
laugh；　a　stumble；　the　monosyllabic　talk　of　those　who　happened　to
linger　for　a　moment　close　to　the　leafy　screenall　coming　to　his
ears　like　voices　from　those　old　times　when　he　had　mingled　in　similar
scenes；　not　as　servant　but　as　guest。



5。　AT　THE　WINDOW　…　THE　ROAD　HOME

The　dancing　was　over　at　last；　and　the　radiant　company　had　left　the
room。　　A　long　and　weary　night　it　had　been　for　the　two　players；
though　a　stimulated　interest　had　hindered　physical　exhaustion　in　one
of　them　for　a　while。　　With　tingling　fingers　and　aching　arms　they
came　out　of　the　alcove　into　the　long　and　deserted　apartment；　now
pervaded　by　a　dry　haze。　　The　lights　had　burnt　low；　and　Faith　and　her
brother　were　waiting　by　request　till　the　wagonette　was　ready　to　take
them　home；　a　breakfast　being　in　course　of　preparation　for　them
meanwhile。

Christopher　had　crossed　the　room　to　relieve　his　cramped　limbs；　and
now；　peeping　through　a　crevice　in　the　window　curtains；　he　said
suddenly；　'Who's　for　a　transformation　scene？　　Faith；　look　here！'

He　touched　the　blind；　up　it　flew；　and　a　gorgeous　scene　presented
itself　to　her　eyes。　　A　huge　inflamed　sun　was　breasting　the　horizon
of　a　wide　sheet　of　sea　which；　to　her　surprise　and　delight；　the
mansion　overlooked。　　The　brilliant　disc　fired　all　the　waves　that　lay
between　it　and　the　shore　at　the　bottom　of　the　grounds；　where　the
water　tossed　the　ruddy　light　from　one　undulation　to　another　in
glares　as　large　and　clear　as　mirrors；　incessantly　altering　them；
destroying　them；　and　creating　them　again；　while　further　off　they
multiplied；　thickened；　and　ran　into　one　another　like　struggling
armies；　till　they　met　the　fiery　source　of　them　all。

'O；　how　wonderful　it　is！'　said　Faith；　putting　her　hand　on
Christopher's　arm。　　'Who　knew　that　whilst　we　were　all　shut　in　here
with　our　puny　illumination　such　an　exhibition　as　this　was　going　on
outside！　　How　sorry　and　mean　the　grand　and　stately　room　looks　now！'

Christopher　turned　his　back　upon　the　window；　and　there　were　the
hitherto　beaming　candle…flames　shining　no　more　radiantly　than
tarnished　javelin…heads；　while　the　snow…white　lengths　of　wax　showed
themselves　clammy　and　cadaverous　as　the　fingers　of　a　corpse。　　The
leaves　and　flowers　which　had　appeared　so　very　green　and　blooming　by
the　artificial　light　were　now　seen　to　be　faded　and　dusty。　　Only　the
gilding　of　the　room　in　some　degree　brought　itself　into　keeping　with
the　splendours　outside；　stray　darts　of　light　seizing　upon　it　and
lengthening　themselves　out　along　fillet；　quirk；　arris；　and　moulding；
till　wasted　away。

'It　seems；'　said　Faith；　'as　if　all　the　people　who　were　lately　so
merry　here　had　died：　　we　ourselves　look　no　more　than　ghosts。'　　She
turned　up　her　weary　face　to　her　brother's；　which　the　incoming　rays
smote　aslant；　making　little　furrows　of　every　wrinkle　thereon；　and
shady　ravines　of　every　little　furrow。

'You　are　very　tired；　Faith；'　he　said。　　'Such　a　heavy　night's　work
has　been　almost　too　much　for　you。'

'O；　I　don't　mind　that；'　said　Faith。　　'But　I　could　not　have　played　so
long　by　myself。'

'We　filled　up　one　another's　gaps；　and　there　were　plenty　of　them
towards　the　morning；　but；　luckily；　people　don't　notice　those　things
when　the　small　hours　draw　on。'

'What　troubles　me　most；'　said　Faith；　'is　not　that　I　have　worked；　but
that　you　should　be　so　situated　as　to　need　such　miserable　assistance
as　mine。　　We　are　poor；　are　we　not；　Kit？'

'Yes；　we　know　a　little　about　poverty；'　he　replied。

While　thus　lingering

　　　　　'In　shadowy　thoroughfares　of　thought；'

Faith　interrupted　with；　'I　believe　there　is　one　of　the　dancers　now！…
…why；　I　should　have　thought　they　had　all　gone　to　bed；　and　wouldn't
get　up　again　for　days。'　　She　indicated　to　him　a　figure　on　the　lawn
towards　the　left；　looking　upon　the　same　flashing　scene　as　that　they
themselves　beheld。

'It　is　your　own　particular　one；'　continued　Faith。　　'Yes；　I　see　the
blue　flowers　under　the　edge　of　her　cloak。'