the hand of ethelberta-第70章

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little　used；　the　lane　outside　it　was　covered　with　trees；　and　all
around　was　silent　as　the　grave。　　After　this　hasty　survey　by　the　wan
starlight；　he　hastened　on　to　Little　Enckworth。

An　hour　and　a　quarter　later　a　little　brougham　without　lamps　was
creeping　along　by　the　park　wall　towards　this　spot。　　The　leaves　were
so　thick　upon　the　unfrequented　road　that　the　wheels　could　not　be
heard；　and　the　horse's　pacing　made　scarcely　more　noise　than　a　rabbit
would　have　done　in　limping　along。　　The　vehicle　progressed　slowly；
for　they　were　in　good　time。　　About　ten　yards　from　the　park　entrance
it　stopped；　and　Christopher　stepped　out。

'We　may　have　to　wait　here　ten　minutes；'　he　said　to　the　driver。　　'And
then　shall　we　be　able　to　reach　Anglebury　in　time　for　the　up　mail…
train　to　Southampton？'

'Half…past　seven；　half…past　eight；　half…past　ninetwo　hours。　　O
yes；　sir；　easily。　　A　young　lady　in　the　case　perhaps；　sir？'

'Yes。'

'Well；　I　hope　she'll　be　done　honestly　by；　even　if　she　is　of　humble
station。　　'Tis　best；　and　cheapest　too；　in　the　long　run。'　　The
coachman　was　apparently　imagining　the　dove　about　to　flit　away　to　be
one　of　the　pretty　maid…servants　that　abounded　in　Enckworth　Court；
such　escapades　as　these　were　not　unfrequent　among　them；　a　fair　face
having　been　deemed　a　sufficient　recommendation　to　service　in　that
house；　without　too　close　an　inquiry　into　character；　since　the　death
of　the　first　viscountess。

'Now　then；　silence；　and　listen　for　a　footstep　at　the　gate。'

Such　calmness　as　there　was　in　the　musician's　voice　had　been　produced
by　considerable　effort。　　For　his　heart　had　begun　to　beat　fast　and
loud　as　he　strained　his　attentive　ear　to　catch　the　footfall　of　a
woman　who　could　only　be　his　illegally。

The　obscurity　was　as　great　as　a　starry　sky　would　permit　it　to　be。
Beneath　the　trees　where　the　carriage　stood　the　darkness　was　total。



47。　ENCKWORTH　AND　ITS　PRECINCTS　…　MELCHESTER

To　be　wise　after　the　event　is　often　to　act　foolishly　with　regard　to
it；　and　to　preserve　the　illusion　which　has　led　to　the　event　would
frequently　be　a　course　that　omniscience　itself　could　not　find　fault
with。　　Reaction　with　Ethelberta　was　complete；　and　the　more　violent
in　that　it　threatened　to　be　useless。　　Sol's　bitter　chiding　had　been
the　first　thing　to　discompose　her　fortitude。　　It　reduced　her　to　a
consciousness　that　she　had　allowed　herself　to　be　coerced　in　her
instincts；　and　yet　had　not　triumphed　in　her　duty。　　She　might　have
pleased　her　family　better　by　pleasing　her　tastes；　and　have　entirely
avoided　the　grim　irony　of　the　situation　disclosed　later　in　the　day。

After　the　second　interview　with　Sol　she　was　to　some　extent　composed
in　mind　by　being　able　to　nurse　a　definite　intention。　　As　momentum
causes　the　narrowest　wheel　to　stand　upright；　a　scheme；　fairly
imbibed；　will　give　the　weakest　some　power　to　maintain　a　position
stoically。

In　the　temporary　absence　of　Lord　Mountclere；　about　six　o'clock；　she
slipped　out　upon　the　balcony　and　handed　down　a　note。　　To　her　relief；
a　hand　received　it　instantly。

The　hour　and　a　half　wanting　to　half…past　seven　she　passed　with　great
effort。　　The　main　part　of　the　time　was　occupied　by　dinner；　during
which　she　attempted　to　devise　some　scheme　for　leaving　him　without
suspicion　just　before　the　appointed　moment。

Happily；　and　as　if　by　a　Providence；　there　was　no　necessity　for　any
such　thing。

A　little　while　before　the　half…hour；　when　she　moved　to　rise　from
dinner；　he　also　arose；　tenderly　begging　her　to　excuse　him　for　a　few
minutes；　that　he　might　go　and　write　an　important　note　to　his　lawyer；
until　that　moment　forgotten；　though　the　postman　was　nearly　due。　　She
heard　him　retire　along　the　corridor　and　shut　himself　into　his　study；
his　promised　time　of　return　being　a　quarter　of　an　hour　thence。

Five　minutes　after　that　memorable　parting　Ethelberta　came　from　the
little　door　by　the　bush　of　yew；　well　and　thickly　wrapped　up　from
head　to　heels。　　She　skimmed　across　the　park　and　under　the　boughs
like　a　shade；　mounting　then　the　stone　steps　for　pedestrians　which
were　fixed　beside　the　park　gates　here　as　at　all　the　lodges。　　Outside
and　below　her　she　saw　an　oblong　shapeit　was　a　brougham；　and　it　had
been　drawn　forward　close　to　the　bottom　of　the　steps　that　she　might
not　have　an　inch　further　to　go　on　foot　than　to　this　barrier。　　The
whole　precinct　was　thronged　with　trees；　half　their　foliage　being
overhead；　the　other　half　under　foot；　for　the　gardeners　had　not　yet
begun　to　rake　and　collect　the　leaves；　thus　it　was　that　her　dress
rustled　as　she　descended　the　steps。

The　carriage　door　was　held　open　by　the　driver；　and　she　entered
instantly。　　He　shut　her　in；　and　mounted　to　his　seat。　　As　they　drove
away　she　became　conscious　of　another　person　inside。

'O！　Solit　is　done！'　she　whispered；　believing　the　man　to　be　her
brother。　　Her　companion　made　no　reply。

Ethelberta；　familiar　with　Sol's　moods　of　troubled　silence；　did　not
press　for　an　answer。　　It　was；　indeed；　certain　that　Sol's　assistance
would　have　been　given　under　a　sullen　protest；　even　if　unwilling　to
disappoint　her；　he　might　well　have　been　taciturn　and　angry　at　her
course。

They　sat　in　silence；　and　in　total　darkness。　　The　road　ascended　an
incline；　the　horse's　tramp　being　still　deadened　by　the　carpet　of
leaves。　　Then　the　large　trees　on　either　hand　became　interspersed　by
a　low　brushwood　of　varied　sorts；　from　which　a　large　bird
occasionally　flew；　in　its　fright　at　their　presence　beating　its　wings
recklessly　against　the　hard　stems　with　force　enough　to　cripple　the
delicate　quills。　　It　showed　how　deserted　was　the　spot　after
nightfall。

'Sol？'　said　Ethelberta　again。　　'Why　not　talk　to　me？'

She　now　noticed　that　her　fellow…traveller　kept　his　head　and　his
whole　person　as　snugly　back　in　the　corner；　out　of　her　way；　as　it　was
possible　to　do。　　She　was　not　exactly　frightened；　but　she　could　not
understand　the　reason。　　The　carriage　gave　a　quick　turn；　and　stopped。

'Where　are　we　now？'　she　said。　　'Shall　we　get　to　Anglebury　by　nine？
What　is　the　time；　Sol？'

'I　will　see；'　replied　her　companion。　　They　were　the　first　words　he
had　uttered。

The　voice　was　so　different　from　her　brother's　that　she　was
terrified；　her　limbs　quivered。　　In　another　instant　the　speaker　had
struck　a　wax　vesta；　and　holding　it　erect　in　his　fingers　he　looked
her　in　the　face。

'Hee…hee…hee！'　　The　laugher　was　her　husband　the　viscount。

He　laughed　again；　and　his　eyes　gleamed　like　a　couple　of　tarnished
brass　buttons　in　the　light　of　the　wax　match。

Ethelberta　might　have　fallen　dead　with　the　shock；　so　terrible　and
hideous　was　it。　　Yet　she　did　not。　　She　neither　shrieked　nor　fainted；
but　no　poor　January　fieldfare　was　ever　colder；　no　ice…house　more
dank　with　perspiration；　than　she　was　then。

'A　very　pleasant　joke；　my　dearhee…hee！　　And　no　more　than　was　to　be
expected　on　this　merry；　happy　day　of　our　lives。　　Nobody　enjoys　a
good　jest　more　than　I　do：　　I　always　enjoyed　a　jesthee…hee！　　Now　we
are　in　the　dark　again；　and　we　will　alight　and　walk。　　The　path　is　too
narrow　for　the　carriage；　but　it　will　not　be　far　for　you。　　Take　your
husband's　arm。'

While　he　had　been　speaking　a　defiant　pride　had　sprung　up　in　her；
instigating　her　to　conceal　every　weakness。　　He　had　opened　the
carriage　door　and　stepped　out。　　She　followed；　taking　the　offered
arm。

'Take　the　horse　and　carriage　to　the　stables；'　said　the　viscount　to
the　coachman；　who　was　his　own　servant；　the　vehicle　and　horse　being
also　his。　　The　coachman　turned　the　horse's　head　and　vanished　down
the　woodland　track　by　which　they　had　ascended。

The　viscount　moved　on；　uttering　private　chuckles　as　numerous　as　a
woodpecker's　taps；　and　Ethelberta　with　him。　　She　walked　as　by　a
miracle；　but　she　would　walk。　　She　would　have　died　rather　than　not
have　walked　then。

She　perceived　now　that　they　were　somewhere　in　Enckworth　wood。　　As
they　went；　she　noticed　a　faint　shine　upon　the　ground　on　the　other
side　of　the　viscount；　which　showed　her　that　they　were　walking　beside
a　wet　ditch。　　She　remembered　having　seen　it　in　the　morning：　　it　was
a　shallow　ditch　of　mud。　　She　might　push　him　in；　and　run；　and　so
escape　before　he　could　extricate　himself。　　It　would　not　hurt　him。
It　was　her　last　chance。　　She　waited　a　moment　for　the　opportunity。

'We　are　one　to　one；　and　I　am　the　stronger！'　she　at　last　exclaimed
triumphantly；　and　lifted　her　hand　for　a　thrust。

'On　the　contrary；　darling；　we　are　one　to　half…a…dozen；　and　you
considerably　the　weaker；'　he　tenderly　replied；　stepping　back
adroitly；　and　blowing　a　whistle。　　At　once　the　bushes　seemed　to　be
animated　in　four　or　five　places。

'John？'　he　said；　in　the　direction　of　one　of　them。

'Yes；　my　lord；'　replied　a　voice　from　the　bush；　and　a　keeper　came
forward。

'William？'

Another　man　advanced　from　another　bush。

'Quite　right。　　Remain　where　you　are　for　the　present。　　Is　Tomkins
there？'

'Yes；　my　lord；'　said　a　man　from　another　part　of　the　thicket。

'You　go　and　keep　watch　by　the　further　lodge：　　there　are　poachers
about。　　Where　is　Strongway？'

'Just　below；　my　lord。'

'Tell　him　and　his　brother　to　go　to　the　west　gate；　and　walk　up　and
down。　　Let　them　search　round　it；　among　the　trees　inside。　　Anybody
there　who　cannot　give　a　good　account　of　himself　to　be　brought　before
me　to…morrow　morning。　　I　am　living　at　the　cottage　at　present。
That's　all　I　have　to　say　to　you。'　　And；　turning　round　to　Ethelberta：
'Now；　dearest；　we　will　walk　a　little　further　if　you　are　able。　　I
have　provided　that　your　friends　shall　be　taken　care　of。'　　He　tried
to　pull　her　hand　towards　him；　gently；　like　a　cat　opening　a　door。

They　walked　a　little　onward；　and　Lord　Mountclere　spoke　again；　with
imperturbable　good…humour：

'I　will　tell　you　a　story；　to　pass　the　time　away。　　I　have　learnt　the
art　from　youyour　mantle　has　fallen　upon　me；　and　all　your
inspiration　with　it。　　Listen；　dearest。　　I　saw　a　young　man　come　to
the　house　to…day。　　Afterwards　I　saw　him　cross　a　passage　in　your
company。　　You　entered　the　ball…room　with　him。　　That　room　is　a
treacherous　place。　　It　is　panelled　with　wood；　and　between　the　panels
and　the　walls　are　passages　for　the　servants；　opening　from　the　room
by　doors　hidden　in　the　woodwork。　　Lady　Mountclere　knew　of　one　of
these；　and　made　use　of　it　to　let　out　her　conspirator；　Lord
Mountclere　knew　of　another；　and　made　use　of　it　to　let　in　himself。
His　sight　is　not　good；　but　his　ears　are　unimpaired。　　A　meeting　was
arranged　to　take　place　at　the　west　gate　at　half…past　seven；　unless　a
note　handed　from　the　balcony　mentioned　another　time　and　place。　　He
heard　it　allhee…hee！

'When　Lady　Mountclere's　confederate　came　for　the　note；　I　was　in
waiting　above；　and　handed　one　down　a　few　minutes　before　the　hour
struck；　confirming　the　time；　but　changing　the　place。　　When　Lady
Mountclere　handed　down　her　note；　just　as　the　clock　was　striking；　her
confederate　had　gone；　and　I　was　standing　beneath　the　balcony　to
receive　it。　　She　dropped　it　into　her　husband's　handsho…ho…ho…ho！

'Lord　Mountclere　ordered　a　brougham　to　be　at　the　west　lodge；　as
fixed　by　Lady　Mountclere's　note。　　Probably　Lady　Mountclere's　friend
ordered　a　brougham　to　be　at　the　north　gate；　as　fixed　by　my　note；
written　in　imitation　of　Lady　Mountclere's　hand。　　Lady　Mountclere
came　to　the　spot　she　had　mentioned；　and　like　a　good　wife　rushed　into
the　arms　of