the hand of ethelberta-第8章

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

'And　I　see　her　squirrel…coloured　hair；'　said　Christopher。

Both　stood　looking　at　this　apparition；　who　once；　and　only　once；
thought　fit　to　turn　her　head　towards　the　front　of　the　house　they
were　gazing　from。　　Faith　was　one　in　whom　the　meditative　somewhat
overpowered　the　active　faculties；　she　went　on；　with　no　abundance　of
love；　to　theorize　upon　this　gratuitously　charming　woman；　who；
striking　freakishly　into　her　brother's　path；　seemed　likely　to　do　him
no　good　in　her　sisterly　estimation。　　Ethelberta's　bright　and　shapely
form　stood　before　her　critic　now；　smartened　by　the　motes　of　sunlight
from　head　to　heel：　　what　Faith　would　have　given　to　see　her　so
clearly　within！

'Without　doubt　she　is　already　a　lady　of　many　romantic　experiences；'
she　said　dubiously。

'And　on　the　way　to　many　more；'　said　Christopher。　　The　tone　was　just
of　the　kind　which　may　be　imagined　of　a　sombre　man　who　had　been　up
all　night　piping　that　others　might　dance。

Faith　parted　her　lips　as　if　in　consternation　at　possibilities。
Ethelberta；　having　already　become　an　influence　in　Christopher's
system；　might　soon　become　morean　indestructible　fascinationto
drag　him　about；　turn　his　soul　inside　out；　harrow　him；　twist　him；　and
otherwise　torment　him；　according　to　the　stereotyped　form　of　such
processes。

They　were　interrupted　by　the　opening　of　a　door。　　A　servant　entered
and　came　up　to　them。

'This　is　for　you；　I　believe；　sir；'　he　said。　　'Two　guineas；'　and　he
placed　the　money　in　Christopher's　hand。　　'Some　breakfast　will　be
ready　for　you　in　a　moment　if　you　like　to　have　it。　　Would　you　wish　it
brought　in　here；　or　will　you　come　to　the　steward's　room？'

'Yes；　we　will　come。'　　And　the　man　then　began　to　extinguish　the
lights　one　by　one。　　Christopher　dropped　the　two　pounds　and　two
shillings　singly　into　his　pocket；　and　looking　listlessly　at　the
footman　said；　'Can　you　tell　me　the　address　of　that　lady　on　the　lawn？
Ah；　she　has　disappeared！'

'She　wore　a　dress　with　blue　flowers；'　said　Faith。

'And　remarkable　bright　in　her　manner？　　O；　that's　the　young　widow；
Mrswhat's　that　nameI　forget　for　the　moment。'

'Widow？'　said　Christopher；　the　eyes　of　his　understanding　getting
wonderfully　clear；　and　Faith　uttering　a　private　ejaculation　of
thanks　that　after　all　no　commandments　were　likely　to　be　broken　in
this　matter。　　'The　lady　I　mean　is　quite　a　girlish　sort　of　woman。'

'Yes；　yes；　so　she　isthat's　the　one。　　Coachman　says　she　must　have
been　born　a　widow；　for　there　is　not　time　for　her　ever　to　have　been
made　one。　　However；　she's　not　quite　such　a　chicken　as　all　that。
Mrs。　Petherwin；　that's　the　party's　name。'

'Does　she　live　here？'

'No；　she　is　staying　in　the　house　visiting　for　a　few　days　with　her
mother…in…law。　　They　are　a　London　family；　I　don't　know　her　address。'

'Is　she　a　poetess？'

'That　I　cannot　say。　　She　is　very　clever　at　verses；　but　she　don't
lean　over　gates　to　see　the　sun；　and　goes　to　church　as　regular　as　you
or　I；　so　I　should　hardly　be　inclined　to　say　that　she's　the　complete
thing。　　When　she's　up　in　one　of　her　vagaries　she'll　sit　with　the
ladies　and　make　up　pretty　things　out　of　her　head　as　fast　as　sticks
a…breaking。　　They　will　run　off　her　tongue　like　cotton　from　a　reel；
and　if　she　can　ever　be　got　in　the　mind　of　telling　a　story　she　will
bring　it　out　that　serious　and　awful　that　it　makes　your　flesh　creep
upon　your　bones；　if　she's　only　got　to　say　that　she　walked　out　of　one
door　into　another；　she'll　tell　it　so　that　there　seems　something
wonderful　in　it。　　'Tis　a　bother　to　start　her；　so　our　people　say
behind　her　back；　but；　once　set　going；　the　house　is　all　alive　with
her。　　However；　it　will　soon　be　dull　enough；　she　and　Lady　Petherwin
are　off　to…morrow　for　Rookington；　where　I　believe　they　are　going　to
stay　over　New　Year's　Day。'

'Where　do　you　say　they　are　going？'　inquired　Christopher；　as　they
followed　the　footman。

'Rookington　Parkabout　three　miles　out　of　Sandbourne；　in　the
opposite　direction　to　this。'

'A　widow；'　Christopher　murmured。

Faith　overheard　him。　　'That　makes　no　difference　to　us；　does　it？'　she
said　wistfully。

Forty　minutes　later　they　were　driving　along　an　open　road　over　a
ridge　which　commanded　a　view　of　a　small　inlet　below　them；　the　sands
of　this　nook　being　sheltered　by　crumbling　cliffs。　　Here　at　once　they
saw；　in　the　full　light　of　the　sun；　two　women　standing　side　by　side；
their　faces　directed　over　the　sea。

'There　she　is　again！'　said　Faith。　　'She　has　walked　along　the　shore
from　the　lawn　where　we　saw　her　before。'

'Yes；'　said　the　coachman；　'she's　a　curious　woman　seemingly。　　She'll
talk　to　any　poor　body　she　meets。　　You　see　she　had　been　out　for　a
morning　walk　instead　of　going　to　bed；　and　that　is　some　queer　mortal
or　other　she　has　picked　up　with　on　her　way。'

'I　wonder　she　does　not　prefer　some　rest；'　Faith　observed。

The　road　then　dropped　into　a　hollow；　and　the　women　by　the　sea　were
no　longer　within　view　from　the　carriage；　which　rapidly　neared
Sandbourne　with　the　two　musicians。



6。　THE　SHORE　BY　WYNDWAY

The　east　gleamed　upon　Ethelberta's　squirrel…coloured　hair　as　she
said　to　her　companion；　'I　have　come；　Picotee；　but　not；　as　you
imagine；　from　a　night's　sleep。　　We　have　actually　been　dancing　till
daylight　at　Wyndway。'

'Then　you　should　not　have　troubled　to　come！　　I　could　have　borne　the
disappointment　under　such　circumstances；'　said　the　pupil…teacher；
who；　wearing　a　dress　not　so　familiar　to　Christopher's　eyes　as　had
been　the　little　white　jacket；　had　not　been　recognized　by　him　from
the　hill。　　'You　look　so　tired；　Berta。　　I　could　not　stay　up　all　night
for　the　world！'

'One　gets　used　to　these　things；'　said　Ethelberta　quietly。　　'I　should
have　been　in　bed　certainly；　had　I　not　particularly　wished　to　use
this　opportunity　of　meeting　you　before　you　go　home　to…morrow。　　I
could　not　have　come　to　Sandbourne　to…day；　because　we　are　leaving　to
return　again　to　Rookington。　　This　is　all　that　I　wish　you　to　take　to
motheronly　a　few　little　things　which　may　be　useful　to　her；　but　you
will　see　what　it　contains　when　you　open　it。'　　She　handed　to　Picotee
a　small　parcel。　　'This　is　for　yourself；'　she　went　on；　giving　a　small
packet　besides。　　'It　will　pay　your　fare　home　and　back；　and　leave　you
something　to　spare。'

'Thank　you；'　said　Picotee　docilely。

'Now；　Picotee；'　continued　the　elder；　'let　us　talk　for　a　few　minutes
before　I　go　back：　　we　may　not　meet　again　for　some　time。'　　She　put
her　arm　round　the　waist　of　Picotee；　who　did　the　same　by　Ethelberta；
and　thus　interlaced　they　walked　backwards　and　forwards　upon　the　firm
flat　sand　with　the　motion　of　one　body　animated　by　one　will。

'Well；　what　did　you　think　of　my　poems？'

'I　liked　them；　but　naturally；　I　did　not　understand　all　the
experience　you　describe。　　It　is　so　different　from　mine。　　Yet　that
made　them　more　interesting　to　me。　　I　thought　I　should　so　much　like
to　mix　in　the　same　scenes；　but　that　of　course　is　impossible。'

'I　am　afraid　it　is。　　And　you　posted　the　book　as　I　said？'

'Yes。'　　She　added　hurriedly；　as　if　to　change　the　subject；　'I　have
told　nobody　that　we　are　sisters；　or　that　you　are　known　in　any　way　to
me　or　to　mother　or　to　any　of　us。　　I　thought　that　would　be　best；　from
what　you　said。'

'Yes；　perhaps　it　is　best　for　the　present。'

'The　box　of　clothes　came　safely；　and　I　find　very　little　alteration
will　be　necessary　to　make　the　dress　do　beautifully　for　me　on
Sundays。　　It　is　quite　new…fashioned　to　me；　though　I　suppose　it　was
old…fashioned　to　you。　　O；　and　Berta；　will　the　title　of　Lady
Petherwin　descend　to　you　when　your　mother…in…law　dies？'

'No；　of　course　not。　　She　is　only　a　knight's　widow；　and　that's
nothing。'

'The　lady　of　a　knight　looks　as　good　on　paper　as　the　lady　of　a　lord。'

'Yes。　　And　in　other　places　too　sometimes。　　However；　about　your
journey　home。　　Be　very　careful；　and　don't　make　any　inquiries　at　the
stations　of　anybody　but　officials。　　If　any　man　wants　to　be　friendly
with　you；　try　to　find　out　if　it　is　from　a　genuine　wish　to　assist
you；　or　from　admiration　of　your　fresh　face。'

'How　shall　I　know　which？'　said　Picotee。

Ethelberta　laughed。　　'If　Heaven　does　not　tell　you　at　the　moment　I
cannot；'　she　said。　　'But　humanity　looks　with　a　different　eye　from
love；　and　upon　the　whole　it　is　most　to　be　prized　by　all　of　us。　　I
believe　it　ends　oftener　in　marriage　than　do　a　lover's　flying　smiles。
So　that　for　this　and　other　reasons　love　from　a　stranger　is　mostly
worthless　as　a　speculation；　and　it　is　certainly　dangerous　as　a　game。
Well；　Picotee；　has　any　one　paid　you　real　attentions　yet？'

'Nothat　is'

'There　is　something　going　on。'

'Only　a　wee　bit。'

'I　thought　so。　　There　was　a　dishonesty　about　your　dear　eyes　which
has　never　been　there　before；　and　love…making　and　dishonesty　are
inseparable　as　coupled　hounds。　　Up　comes　man；　and　away　goes
innocence。　　Are　you　going　to　tell　me　anything　about　him？'

'I　would　rather　not；　Ethelberta；　because　it　is　hardly　anything。'

'Well；　be　careful。　　And　mind　this；　never　tell　him　what　you　feel。'

'But　then　he　will　never　know　it。'

'Nor　must　he。　　He　must　think　it　only。　　The　difference　between　his
thinking　and　knowing　is　often　the　difference　between　your　winning
and　losing。　　But　general　advice　is　not　of　much　use；　and　I　cannot
give　more　unless　you　tell　more。　　What　is　his　name？'

Picotee　did　not　reply。

'Never　mind：　　keep　your　secret。　　However；　listen　to　this：　　not　a
kissnot　so　much　as　the　shadow；　hint；　or　merest　seedling　of　a
kiss！'

'There　is　no　fear　of　it；'　murmured　Picotee；　'though　not　because　of
me！'

'You　see；　my　dear　Picotee；　a　lover　is　not　a　relative；　and　he　isn't
quite　a　stranger；　but　he　may　end　in　being　either；　and　the　way　to
reduce　him　to　whichever　of　the　two　you　wish　him　to　be　is　to　treat
him　like　the　other。　　Men　who　come　courting　are　just　like　bad　cooks：
if　you　are　kind　to　them；　instead　of　ascribing　it　to　an　exceptional
courtesy　on　your　part；　they　instantly　set　it　down　to　their　own
marvellous　worth。'

'But　I　ought　to　favour　him　just　a　little；　poor　thing？　　Just　the
smallest　glimmer　of　a　gleam！'

'Only　a　very　little　indeedso　that　it　comes　as　a　relief　to　his
misery；　not　as　adding　to　his　happiness。'

'It　is　being　too　clever；　all　this；　and　we　ought　to　be　harmless　as
doves。'

'Ah；　Picotee！　to　continue　harmless　as　a　dove　you　must　be　wise　as　a
serpent；　you'll　finday；　ten　serpents；　for　that　matter。'

'But　if　I　cannot　get　at　him；　how　can　I　manage　him　in　these　ways　you
speak　of？'

'Get　at　him？　　I　suppose　he　gets　at　you　in　some　way；　does　he　not？
tries　to　see　you；　or　to　be　near　you？'

'Nothat's　just　the　pointhe　doesn't　do　any　such　thing；　and
there's　the　worry　of　it！'

'Well；　what　a　silly　girl！　　Then　he　is　not　your　lover　at　all？'

'Perhaps　he's　not。　　But　I　am　his；　at　any　ratetwice　over。'

'That's　no　use。　　Supply　the　love　for　both　sides？　　Why；　it's　worse
than　furnishing　money　for　both。　　You　don't　suppose　a　man　will　give
his　heart　in　exchange　for　a　woman's　when　he　has　already　got　hers　for
nothing？　　That's　not　the　way　old　Adam　does　business　at　all。'

Picotee　sighed。　　'Have　you　got　a　young　man；　too；　Berta？'

'A　young　man？'

'A　lover　I　meanthat's　what　we　call　'em　down　here。'

'It　is　difficult　to　explain；'　said　Ethelberta　evasively。