’Youaremysterious，’hesaidlightly；’andperhapsifIdisentangleyourmysteryIshallfindittocover——indifference。Ihopeitdoes——foryoursake。’
’Howcanyousayso！’sheexclaimedreproachfully。’YetIwishitdidtoo——Iwishitdidcoverindifference——foryours。Butyouhaveallofmethatyoucaretohave，andmaykeepitforlifeifyouwishto。Listen，surelytherewasaknockatthedoor？Letusgoinsidetheroom:Iamalwaysuneasywhenanybodycomes，lestanyawkwarddiscoveryshouldbemadebyavisitorofmymiserablecontrivancesforkeepinguptheestablishment。’
Joeymetthembeforetheyhadleftthelanding。
’Please，Berta，’hewhispered，’Mr。Ladywellhascalled，andI’veshowedhimintotheliberry。Youknow，Berta，thisishowitwas，youknow:IthoughtyouandMr。Julianwereinthedrawing-room，andwouldn’twanthimtoseeyetogether，andsoIaskedhimtostepintotheliberryaminute。’
’Youmustimproveyourwayofspeaking，’shesaid，withquickembarrassment，whetheratthementionofLadywell’snamebeforeJulian，oratthewayJoeycoupledherselfwithChristopher，wasquiteuncertain。’Willyouexcusemeforafewmoments？’shesaid，turningtoChristopher。’Praysitdown；Ishallnotbelong。’Andsheglideddownstairs。
Theyhadbeenstandingjustbythedrawing-roomdoor，andChristopherturnedbackintotheroomwithnoverysatisfactorycountenance。Itwasveryodd，hethought，thatsheshouldgodowntoLadywellinthatmysteriousmanner，whenhemighthavebeenadmittedtowheretheyweretalkingwithoutanytroubleatall。
WhatcouldLadywellhavetosay，asanacquaintancecallinguponherforafewminutes，thathewasnottohear？Indeed，ifitcametothat，whatrighthadLadywelltocalluponheratall，eventhoughshewereawidow，andtosomeextentcharteredtoliveinawaywhichmightbeconsideredatriflefreeifindulgedinbyotheryoungwomen。Thiswasthefirsttimethathehimselfhadventuredintoherhouseonthatveryaccount——adoubtwhetheritwasquitepropertocall，consideringheryouth，andthefertilityofherpositionasgroundforscandal。ButnosoonerdidhearrivethanherewasLadywellblunderingin，and，sincethisconjunctionhadoccurredonhisfirstvisit，thechanceswerethatLadywellcameveryoften。
Julianwalkedupanddowntheroom，everymomentexpandingitselftoaminuteinhisimpatienceatthedelayandvexationatthecause。
Afterscrutinizingforthefifthtimeeveryobjectonthewallsasifafflictedwithmicroscopicclosenessofsight，hishandsunderhiscoat-tails，andhispersonjiggingupanddownuponhistoes，heheardhercomingupthestairs。Whensheenteredtheapartmentherappearancewasdecidedlythatofapersonsubsidingaftersomelittleexcitement。
’Ididnotcalculateuponbeingsolong，’shesaidsweetly，atthesametimethrowingbackherfaceandsmiling。’ButI——waslongerthanIexpected。’
’Itseemedratherlong，’saidChristophergloomily，’butIdon’tmindit。’
’Iamgladofthat，’saidEthelberta。
’Asyouaskedmetostay，Iwasverypleasedtodoso，andalwaysshouldbe；butIthinkthatnowIwillwishyougood-bye。’
’Youarenotvexedwithme？’shesaid，lookingquiteintohisface。
’Mr。Ladywellisnobody，youknow。’
’Nobody？’
’Well，heisnotmuch，Imean。Thecaseis，thatIamsittingtohimforasubjectinwhichmyfaceistobeused——otherwisethanasaportrait——andhecalledaboutit。’
’MayIsay，’saidChristopher，’thatifyouwantyourselfpainted，youareill-advisednottoletitbedonebyamanwhoknowshowtousethebrushalittle？’
’O，hecanpaint！’saidEthelberta，ratherwarmly。’Hislastpicturewasexcellent，Ithink。Itwasgreatlytalkedabout。’
’Iimaginedyoutosaythathewasamerenobody！’
’Yes，but——howprovokingyouare！——nobody，Imean，totalkto。Heisatrueartist，nevertheless。’
Christophermadenoreply。Thewarmunderstandingbetweenthemhadquiteendednow，andtherewasnofanningitupagain。Suddentiffshadbeentheconstantmisfortuneoftheircourtshipindaysgoneby，hadbeentheremotecauseofhermarriagetoanother；andthefamiliarshadowsseemedtoberisingagaintocloudthemwiththesamepersistencyasever。Christopherwentdownstairswithwell-
behavedmoodiness，andleftthehouseforthwith。Thepostmancametothedooratthesametime。
EthelbertaopenedaletterfromPicotee——nowatSandbourneagain；
and，stoopingtothefire-light，shebegantoread:——
’MYDEARETHELBERTA，——IhavetriedtolikestayingatSandbournebecauseyouwishedit，butIcan’tendurethetownatall，dearBerta；everythingissowretchedanddull！O，Ionlywishyouknewhowdismalitishere，andhowmuchIwouldgivetocometoLondon！
IcannothelpthinkingthatIcoulddobetterintown。Yousee，I
shouldbeclosetoyou，andshouldhavethebenefitofyourexperience。IwouldnotmindwhatIdidforalivingcouldIbetherewhereyouallare。Itissolikebanishmenttobehere。IfI
couldnotgetapupil-teachershipinsomeLondonschool(andI
believeIcouldbyadvertising)Icouldstaywithyou，andbegovernesstoGeorginaandMyrtle，forIamsureyoucannotsparetimeenoughtoteachthemastheyoughttobetaught，andEmmelineisnotoldenoughtohaveanycommandoverthem。Icouldalsoassistatyourdressmaking，andyoumustrequireagreatdealofthattobedoneifyoucontinuetoappearinpublic。Mr。Longreadinthepaperstheaccountofyourfirstevening，andafterwardsI
heardtwoladiesofourcommitteetalkingaboutit；butofcoursenotoneofthemknewmypersonalinterestinthediscussion。Nowwillyou，Ethelberta，thinkifImaynotcome:Do，there’sadearsister！IwilldoanythingyousetmeaboutifImayonlycome——
Youreveraffectionate，PICOTEE。’
’Greatpowersabove——whatworriesdobesetme！’criedEthelberta，jumpingup。’Whatcanpossessthechildsosuddenly？——sheusedtolikeSandbournewellenough！’Shesatdown，andhastilyscribbledthefollowingreply:——
’MYDEARPICOTEE——Thereisonlyalittletimetosparebeforethepostgoes，butIwilltrytoansweryourletteratonce。WhateveristhereasonofthisextraordinarydisliketoSandbourne？Itisanicehealthyplace，andyouarelikelytodomuchbetterthaneitherofoureldersisters，ifyoufollowstraightoninthepathyouhavechosen。Ofcourse，ifsuchgoodfortuneshouldattendmethatIgetrichbymycontrivancesofpublicstory-tellingandsoon，Ishallshareeverythingwithyouandtherestofus，inwhichcaseyoushallnotworkatall。But(althoughIhavebeenunexpectedlysuccessfulsofar)thisisproblematical；anditwouldberashtocalculateuponallofusbeingabletolive，orevenussevengirlsonly，uponthefortuneIamgoingtomakethatway。So，thoughI
don’tmeantobeharsh，Imustimpressuponyouthenecessityofgoingonasyouaregoingjustatpresent。Iknowtheplacemustbedull，butwemustallputupwithdulnesssometimes。You，beingnexttomeinage，mustaidmeaswellasyoucanindoingsomethingfortheyoungerones；andifanybodyatallcomesandliveshereotherwisethanasaservant，itmustbeourfather——whowillnot，however，atpresenthearofsuchathingwhenImentionittohim。
Dothinkofallthis，Picotee，andbearup！Perhapsweshallallbehappyandunitedsomeday。Joeyiswaitingtoruntothepost-
officewiththisatonce。Allarewell。SolandDanhavenearlyfinishedtherepairsanddecorationsofmyhouse——butIwilltellyouofthatanothertime——Youraffectionatesister，BERTA。’
18。NEARSANDBOURNE-LONDONSTREETS-ETHELBERTA’S
Whenthisletterreacheditsdestinationthenextmorning，Picotee，inherover-anxiety，couldnotbringherselftoreaditinanybody’spresence，andputitinherpockettillshewasonherwalkacrossthemoor。Shestilllivedatthecottageoutofthetown，thoughatsomeinconveniencetoherself，inordertoteachatasmallvillagenight-schoolwhilststillcarryingonherlargeroccupationofpupil-teacherinSandbourne。
Soshewalkedandread，andwassoonintears。Moreover，whenshethoughtofwhatEthelbertawouldhaverepliedhadthatkeensisterknownthewildnessofhertruereasoninwishingtogo，sheshudderedwithmisery。Towishtogetnearamanonlybecausehehadbeenkindtoher，andhadadmiredherprettyface，andhadgivenherflowers，tonourishapassionallthemorebecauseofitshopelessimpracticability，werethingstodreamof，nottotell。
Picoteewasquiteanunreasoninganimal。Hersisterarrangedsituationsforher，toldherhowtoconductherselfinthem，howtomakeupanew，inunobtrusiveshapes，thevaluablewearingapparelshesentfromtimetotime——soastoprovokeneitherexasperationinthelittlegentry，norsuperciliousnessinthegreat。Ethelbertadideverythingforher，inshort；andPicoteeobeyedorderswiththeabstractedeaseofmindwhichpeopleshowwhohavetheirthinkingdoneforthem，andputouttheirtroublesastheydotheirwashing。
Shewasquitewillingnottobecleverherself，sinceitwasunnecessarywhileshehadamuch-admiredsister，whowascleverenoughfortwopeopleandtospare。
Thisarrangement，bywhichshegainedanuntroubledexistenceinexchangeforfreedomofwill，hadworkedverypleasantlyforPicoteeuntiltheanomalyoffallinginloveonherownaccountcreatedajarinthemachinery。Thenshebegantoknowhowwearingweremiserabledays，andhowmuchmorewearingweremiserablenights。
ShepicturedChristopherinLondoncallinguponherdignifiedsister(forEthelbertainnocentlymentionedhisnamesometimesinwriting)
andimaginedoverandoveragainthemutualsignsofwarmfeelingbetweenthem。AndnowPicoteeresolveduponanoblecourse。LikeJuliet，shehadbeentroubledwithaconsciousnessthatperhapsherloveforChristopherwasatrifleforwardandunmaidenly，eventhoughshehaddeterminednevertolethimoranybodyinthewholeworldknowofit。Tosetherselftopraythatshemighthavestrengthtoseehimwithoutapangtheloverofhersister，whodeservedhimsomuchmorethanherself，wouldbeagrandpenanceandcorrective。
Afterutteringpetitionstothiseffectforseveraldays，shestillfeltverybad；indeed，inthepsychologicaldifficultyofstrivingforwhatinhersoulshedidnotdesire，ratherworse，ifanything。
Atlast，wearyofwalkingtheoldroadandnevermeetinghim，andblankinageneralpowerlessness，shewrotethelettertoEthelberta，whichwasonlythelastoneofaseriesthathadpreviouslybeenwrittenandtornup。
Nowthishopehadbeenwhirledawaylikethistledown，andthecasewasgrievousenoughtodistractagreaterstoicthanPicotee。Theendofitwasthatshelefttheschooloninsufficientnotice，gaveuphercottagehomeontheplea——trueintheletter——thatshewasgoingtojoinarelativeinLondon，andwentoffthitherbyamorningtrain，leavingherthingspackedreadytobesentonwhensheshouldwriteforthem。
PicoteearrivedintownlateonacoldFebruaryafternoon，bearingasmallbaginherhand。ShecrossedWestminsterBridgeonfoot，justafterdusk，andsawaluminoushazehangingovereachwell-lightedstreetasitwithdrewintodistancebehindthenearerhouses，showingitsdirectionasatrainofmorningmistshowsthecourseofadistantstreamwhenthestreamitselfishidden。ThelightsalongtheriversidetowardsCharingCrosssentaninvertedpalisadeofgleamingswordsdownintotheshakingwater，andthepavementtickedtothetouchofpedestrians’feet，mostofwhomtrippedalongasifwalkingonlytopractiseafavouritequickstep，andheldhandkerchiefstotheirmouthstostrainofftherivermistfromtheirlungs。SheinquiredherwaytoExonburyCrescent，andbetweenfiveandsixo’clockreachedhersister’sdoor。
Twoorthreeminuteswerepassedinaccumulatingresolutionsufficienttoringthebell，whichwhenatlastshedid，wasnotperformedinawayatallcalculatedtomaketheyoungmanJoeyhastentothedoor。Afterthelapseofacertaintimehedid，however，findleisuretostrollandseewhatthecallermightwant，outofcuriositytoknowwhotherecouldbeinLondonafraidtoringabelltwice。
Joey’sdelightexceededevenhissurprise，therulingmaximofhislifebeingthemorethemerrier，underallcircumstances。Thebeamingyoungmanwasabouttorunoffandannounceherupstairsanddownstairs，leftandright，whenPicoteecalledhimhastilytoher。
Inthehallherquickyoungeyehadcaughtsightofanumbrellawithapeculiarhornhandle——anumbrellashehadbeenaccustomedtomeetonSandbourneMooronmanyhappyafternoons。Christopherwasevidentlyinthehouse。
’Joey，’shesaid，asifshewerereadytofaint，’don’ttellBertaI
amcome。Shehascompany，hasshenot？’
’Ono——onlyMr。Julian！’saidthebrother。’He’squiteoneofthefamily！’
’Nevermind——can’tIgodownintothekitchenwithyou？’sheinquired。Therehadbeenblissandmiserymingledinthosetidings，andshescarcelyknewforamomentwhichwaytheyaffectedher。
Whatshedidknowwasthatshehadrunherdearfoxtoearth，andasenseofsatisfactionatthatfeatpreventedherjustnowfromcountingthecostoftheperformance。
’DoesMr。Juliancometoseeherveryoften？’saidshe。
’Oyes——he’salwaysa-coming——aregularboretome。’
’Aregularwhat？’
’Bore！——Ah，Iforgot，youdon’tknowourtownwords。However，comealong。’
Theypassedbythedoorsontiptoe，andtheirmotherupstairsbeing，accordingtoJoey’saccount，inthemidstofanap，Picoteewasunwillingtodisturbher；sotheywentdownatoncetothekitchen，whenforwardrushedGwendolinethecook，flourishingherflouryhands，andCorneliathehousemaid，dancingoverherbrush；andthesehavingwelcomedandmadePicoteecomfortable，whoshouldringthearea-bell，andbeadmitteddownthesteps，butSolandDan。Theworkman-brothers，theirday’sdutiesbeingover，hadcalledtoseetheirrelations，first，asusual，goinghometotheirlodgingsinMaryleboneandmakingthemselvesasspruceasbridegrooms，accordingtotherulesoftheirnewly-acquiredtownexperience。FortheLondonmechanicisonlyninehoursamechanic，thoughthecountrymechanicworks，eats，drinks，andsleepsamechanicthroughoutthewholetwenty-four。
’Godblessmysoul——Picotee！’saidDan，standingfixed。’Well——I
say，thisissplendid！ha-ha！’
’Picotee——whatbroughtyouhere？’saidSol，expandingthecircumferenceofhisfaceinsatisfaction。’Well，comealong——nevermindsolongasyoubehere。’
Picoteeexplainedcircumstancesaswellasshecouldwithoutstatingthem，and，afterageneralconversationofafewminutes，Solinterruptedwith——’AnybodyupstairswithMrs。Petherwin？’
’Mr。Julianwastherejustnow，’saidJoey；’buthemaybegone。
Bertaalwaysletshimslipouthowhecan，theformofringingmeupnotbeingnecessarywithhim。Waitaminute——I’llsee。’
Josephvanishedupthestairs；and，thequestionwhetherChristopherweregoneornotbeinganuninterestingonetothemajority，thetalkingwentonuponothermatters。WhenJoeycreptdownagainaminutelater，Picoteewassittingaloofandsilent，andheaccordinglysingledherouttospeakto。
’Suchalark，Picotee！’hewhispered。’Berta’sa-courtingofheryoungman。Wouldyouliketoseehowtheycarriesonabit？’
’DearlyIshould！’saidPicotee，thepupilsofhereyesdilating。
Joeyconductedhertothetopofthebasementstairs，andtoldhertolisten。Withinafewyardsofthemwasthemorning-roomdoor，nowstandingajar；andanintermittentflirtationinsoftmaleandfemaletonescouldbeheardgoingoninside。Picotee’slipspartedatthuslearningtheconditionofthings，andsheleantagainstthestair-newel。
’My？What’sthematter？’saidJoey。
’IfthisisLondon，Idon’tlikeitatall！’moanedPicotee。
’Well——Ineverseesuchagirl——faintingalloverthestairsfornothingintheworld。’
’O——itwillsoonbegone——itis——itisonlyindigestion。’
’Indigestion？Muchyousimplecountrypeoplecanknowaboutthat！
Youshouldseewhatdevilsofindigestionswegetinhighlife——
eating’normousgreatdinnersandsuppersthatrequirecleverphysicianstocarry’emoff，orelsethey’dcarryusoffwithgoutnextday；andwakinginthemorningwithsuchasplittingheadache，anddrythroat，andinwardcussesabouthumannature，thatyoufeelalltheworldlikesomegreatlord。However，nowlet’sgodownagain。’
’No，no，no！’saidtheunhappymaidenimploringly。’Hark！’
Theylistenedagain。Thevoicesofthemusicianandpoetesshadchanged:therewasadecidedfrigidityintheirtone——thencamealouderexpression——thenasilence。
’Youneedn’tbeafeard，’saidJoey。’Theywon’tfight；blessyou，theybustsoutquarrellinglikethistimesandtimeswhenthey’vebeenover-friendly，butitsoongetsstraightwith’emagain。’
Therewasnowaquickwalkacrosstheroom，andJoeyandhissisterdrewdowntheirheadsoutofsight。Thentheroomdoorwasslammed，quickfootstepswentalongthehall，thefrontdoorclosedjustasloudly，andChristopher’streadpassedintonothingalongthepavement。
’That’sratherawussonethantheymostlyhave；butLord，’tisnothingatall。’
’Idon’tmuchlikebidingherelistening！’saidPicotee。
’O，’tishowwedoallovertheWestEnd，’saidJoey。’’Tisyerignoranceoftownlifethatmakesitseemagooddealto’ee。’
’Youcan’tmakemuchboastabouttownlife；foryouhaven’tleftofftalkingjustastheydodowninWessex。’
’Well，Iowntothat——what’sfairisfair，and’tisatruecharge；
butifItalktheWessexway’tisn’tforwantofknowingbetter；
’tisbecausemystaunchnatermakesmebidefaithfultoouroldancientinstitutions。You’dsoonown’twasn’tignoranceinme，ifyouknowedwhatlargequantitiesofnoblemenIgetsmixedupwitheveryday。Infact’tisthoughtedhereandtherethatIshalldoverywellintheworld。’
’Well，letusgodown，’saidPicotee。’Everythingseemssooverpoweringhere。’
’O，you’llgetbrokeinsoonenough。IfeltjustthesamewhenI
firstenteredintosociety。’
’DoyouthinkBertawillbeangrywithme？Howdoesshetreatyou？’
’Well，Ican’tcomplain。Youseeshe’smyownfleshandblood，andwhatcanIsay？But，insecrettruth，thewagesisterriblelow，andbarelypaysforthetobaccoIconsooms。’
’OJoey，youwickedboy！Ifmotheronlyknewthatyousmoked！’
’Idon’tmindthewickednesssomuchasthesmell。AndMrs。
Petherwinhasgotsuchanoseforafellow’sclothes。’Tisoneofthegreatestknotsinservice——thesmokequestion。’Tisthoughtedthatweshallmakeagreatstiraboutitinthemansionsofthenobilitysoon。’
’HowmuchmoreyouknowoflifethanIdo——youonlyfourteenandmeseventeen！’
’Yes，that’strue。Yousee，ageisnothing——’tisopportunity。AndevenIcan’tboast，formanyayoungermanknowsmore。’
’Butdon’tsmoke，Joey——there’sadear！’
’WhatcanIdo？Societyhevitsrules，andifapersonwishestokeephimselfup，hemustdoastheworlddo。WebeallFashion’sslave——asmuchaslaveasthemeanestintheland！’
Theygotdownstairsagain；andwhenthedinneroftheFrenchladyandgentlemanhadbeensentupandclearedaway，andalsoEthelberta’seveningtea(whichsheformedintoagenuinemeal，makingadinnerofluncheon，whennobodywasthere，togivelesstroubletoherservant-sisters)，theyallsatroundthefire。Thentherustleofadresswasheardonthestaircase，andsquirrel-
hairedEthelbertaappearedinperson。Itwashercustomthustocomedowneveryspareevening，toteachJoeyandhersisterssomethingorother——mostlyFrench，whichshespokefluently；butthecookandhousemaidshowedmoreambitionthanintelligenceinacquiringthattongue，thoughJoeylearntitreadilyenough。
Therewasconsternationinthecampforamomentortwo，onaccountofpoorPicotee，Ethelbertabeingnotwithoutfirmnessinmattersofdiscipline。Hereyeinstantlylighteduponherdisobedientsister，nowlookingtwiceasdisobedientasshereallywas。
’O，youarehere，Picotee？Iamgladtoseeyou，’saidthemistressofthehousequietly。
ThiswasaltogethertoPicotee’ssurprise，forshehadexpectedaroundratingatleast，inherfreshnesshardlybeingawarethatthisreserveoffeelingwasanacquiredhabitofEthelberta’s，andthatcivilitystoodintownforasmuchvexationasatantrumrepresentedinWessex。
Picoteelamelyexplainedheroutwardreasonsforcoming，andsoonbegantofindthatEthelberta’sopinionsonthematterwouldnotbeknownbythetonesofhervoice。ButinnocentPicoteewasaswilyasareligionistinslyelusionsoftheletterwhilstinfringingthespiritofadictum；andbytalkingverysoftlyandearnestlyaboutthewondrousgoodshecoulddobyremaininginthehouseasgovernesstothechildren，andplayingthepartoflady’s-maidtohersisteratshowtimes，shesofarcoaxedEthelbertaoutofherintentionsthatshealmostacceptedtheplanasagoodone。Itwasagreedthatforthepresent，atanyrate，Picoteeshouldremain。
ThenavisitwasmadetoMrs。Chickerel’sroom，wheretheremainderoftheeveningwaspassed；andharmonyreignedinthehousehold。
19。ETHELBERTA’SDRAWING-ROOM
Picotee’sheartwasfitfullyglad。Shewasnearthemanwhohadenlargedhercapacityfromgirl’stowoman’s，alittlenoteortwoofyoungfeelingtoawholediapason；andthoughnearnesswasperhapsnotinitselfagreatreasonforfelicitywhenviewedbesidethecompleterealizationofallthatawomancandesireinsuchcircumstances，itwasmuchincomparisonwiththeouterdarknessoftheprevioustime。
ItbecameevidenttoallthefamilythatsomemisunderstandinghadarisenbetweenEthelbertaandMr。Julian。WhatPicoteehopedinthecentreofherheartastotheissueoftheaffairitwouldbetoocomplexathingtosay。IfChristopherbecamecoldtowardshersisterhewouldnotcometothehouse；ifhecontinuedtocomeitwouldreallybeasEthelberta’slover——altogether，aprettygameofperpetualcheckforPicotee。
Hedidnotmakehisappearanceforseveraldays。Picotee，beingapresentablegirl，anddecidedlyfiner-naturedthanhersistersbelowstairs，wasallowedtositoccasionallywithEthelbertaintheafternoon，whentheteachingofthelittleoneshadbeendonefortheday；andthusshehadanopportunityofobservingEthelberta’semotionalconditionwithreferencetoChristopher，whichPicoteedidwithaninterestthattheeldersisterwasveryfarfromsuspecting。
AtfirstEthelbertaseemedblitheenoughwithouthim。Onemoredaywent，andhedidnotcome，andthenhermannerwasthatofapathy。
Anotherdaypassed，andfromfancifulelevationsoftheeyebrow，andlongbreathings，itbecameapparentthatEthelbertahaddecidedlypassedtheindifferentstage，andwasgettingseriouslyoutofsortsabouthim。Nextmorningshelookedallhope。Hedidnotcomethatdayeither，andEthelbertabegantolookpalewithfear。
’Whydon’tyougoout？’saidPicoteetimidly。
’Icanhardlytell:Ihavebeenexpectingsomeone。’
’WhenshecomesImustrunuptomotheratonce，mustInot？’saidcleverPicotee。
’Itisnotalady，’saidEthelbertablandly。ShecamethenandstoodbyPicotee，andlookedmusinglyoutofthewindow。’Imayaswelltellyou，perhaps，’shecontinued。’ItisMr。Julian。Heis——
Isuppose——mylover，inplainEnglish。’
’Ah！’saidPicotee。
’WhomIamnotgoingtomarryuntilhegetsrich。’
’Ah——howstrange！IfIhadhim——suchalover，Imean——Iwouldmarryhimifhecontinuedpoor。’
’Idon’tdoubtit，Picotee；justasyoucometoLondonwithoutcaringaboutconsequences，orwoulddoanyothercrazythingandnotmindintheleastwhatcameofit。Butsomebodyinthefamilymusttakeapracticalviewofaffairs，orweshouldallgotothedogs。’
Picoteerecoveredfromthesnubbingwhichshefeltthatshedeserved，andchargedgallantlybysaying，withdelicateshowingsofindifference，’DoyoulovethisMr。What’s-his-nameofyours？’
’Mr。Julian？O，he’saverygentlemanlyman。Thatis，exceptwhenheisrude，andill-usesme，andwillnotcomeandapologize！’
’IfIhadhim——alover，IwouldaskhimtocomeifIwantedhimto。’
Ethelbertadidnotgivehermindtothisremark；but，drawingalongbreath，said，withapoutinglaugh，whichpresagedunreality，’Theideaofhisgettingindifferentnow！IhavebeenintendingtokeephimonuntilIgottiredofhisattentions，andthenputanendtothembymarryinghim；buthereishe，beforehehashardlydeclaredhimself，forgettingmyexistenceasmuchasifhehadvowedtoloveandcherishmeforlife。’Tisanunnaturalinversionofthemannersofsociety。’
’Whendidyoufirstgettocareforhim，dearBerta？’
’O——whenIhadseenhimonceortwice。’
’Goodness——howquickyouwere！’
’Yes——ifIaminthemindforlovingIamnottobehinderedbyshortnessofacquaintanceship。’
’NorIneither！’sighedPicotee。
’Noranyotherwoman。Wedon’tneedtoknowamanwellinordertolovehim。That’sonlynecessarywhenwewanttoleaveoff。’
’OBerta——youdon’tbelievethat！’
’Ifawomandidnotinvariablyformanopinionofherchoicebeforeshehashalfseenhim，andlovehimbeforeshehashalfformedanopinion，therewouldbenotearsandpininginthewholefeminineworld，andpoetswouldstarveforwantofatopic。Idon’tbelieveit，doyousay？Ah，well，weshallsee。’
Picoteedidnotknowwhattosaytothis；andEthelbertalefttheroomtoseeaboutherdutiesaspublicstory-teller，inwhichcapacityshehadundertakentoappearagainthisveryevening。
20。THENEIGHBOURHOODOFTHEHALL-THEROADHOME
Londonwasilluminatedbythebroadfullmoon。Thepavementslookedwhiteasifmantledwithsnow；ordinaryhousesweresublimatedtotherankofpublicbuildings，publicbuildingstopalaces，andthefacesofwomenwalkingthestreetstothoseofcalendaredsaintsandguardian-angels，bythepurebleachinglightfromthesky。
InthequietlittlestreetwhereopenedtheprivatedooroftheHallchosenbyEthelbertaforherstory-telling，abroughamwaswaiting。
Thetimewasabouteleveno’clock；andpresentlyaladycameoutfromthebuilding，themoonbeamsforthwithfloodingherface，whichtheyshowedtobethatoftheStory-tellerherself。Shehastenedacrosstothecarriage，whenasecondthoughtarrestedhermotion:
tellingtheman-servantandawomaninsidethebroughamtowaitforher，shewrappedupherfeaturesandglidedroundtothefrontofthehouse，whereshepausedtoobservethecarriagesandcabsdrivinguptoreceivethefashionablecrowdsteppingdownfromthedoors。Standinghereinthethrongwhichherowntalentandingenuityhaddrawntogether，sheappearedtoenjoyherselfbylisteningforaminuteortwotothenamesofseveralpersonsofmoreorlessdistinctionastheywerecalledout，andthenregardedattentivelythefacesofothersoflesserdegree:toscrutinizethelatterwas，astheeventproved，therealobjectofthejourneyfromroundthecorner。Whennearlyeveryonehadleftthedoors，sheturnedbackdisappointed。EthelbertahadbeenfancyingthatheralienatedloverChristopherwasinthebackrowsto-night，but，asfarascouldnowbeobserved，thehopefulsuppositionwasafalseone。
Whenshegotroundtothebackagain，amancameforward。ItwasLadywell，whomshehadspokentoalreadythatevening。’Allowmetobringyouyournote-book，Mrs。Petherwin:Ithinkyouhadforgottenit，’hesaid。’Iassureyouthatnobodyhashandleditbutmyself。’
Ethelbertathankedhim，andtookthebook。’Iuseittolookintobetweentheparts，incasemymemoryshouldfailme，’sheexplained。
’IrememberthatIdidlayitdown，nowyouremindme。’
Ladywellhadapparentlymoretosay，andmovedbyhersidetowardsthecarriage；butshedeclinedthearmheoffered，andsaidnotanotherwordtillhewenton，haltingly:
’Yourtriumphto-nightwasverygreat，anditwasasmuchatriumphtomeastoyou；Icannotexpressmyfeeling——IcannotsayhalfthatIwould。IfImightonly——’
’Thankyoumuch，’saidEthelberta，withdignity。’Thankyouforbringingmybook，butImustgohomenow。Iknowthatyouwillseethatitisnotnecessaryforustobetalkinghere。’
’Yes——youarequiteright，’saidtherepressedyoungpainter，struckbyherseriousness。’Blameme；Ioughttohaveknownbetter。Butperhapsaman——well，Iwillsayit——aloverwithoutindiscretionisnoloveratall。Circumspectionanddevotionareacontradictioninterms。Isawthat，andhopedthatImightspeakwithoutrealharm。’
’Youcalculatedhowtobeuncalculating，andarenaturalbyart！’
shesaid，withtheslightestaccentofsarcasm。’Butpraydonotattendmefurther——itisnotatallnecessaryordesirable。Mymaidisinthecarriage。’Shebowed，turned，andenteredthevehicle，seatingherselfbesidePicotee。
’Itwasharsh！’saidLadywelltohimself，ashelookedaftertheretreatingcarriage。’Iwasafool；butitwasharsh。Yetwhatmanonearthlikesawomantoshowtoogreatareadinessatfirst？Sheisright:shewouldbenothingwithoutrepulse！’Andhemovedawayinanoppositedirection。
’Whatmanwasthat？’saidPicotee，astheydrovealong。
’O——amereMr。Ladywell:apainterofgoodfamily，towhomIhavebeensittingforwhathecallsanIdealization。Heisadreadfulsimpleton。’
’Whydidyouchoosehim？’
’Ididnot:hechoseme。Buthissillinessofbehaviourisahopefulsignforthepicture。Ihaveseldomknownamancunningwithhisbrushwhowasnotsimplewithhistongue；or，indeed，anyskillinparticularthatwasnotalliedtogeneralstupidity。’
’Yourownskillisnotlikethat，isit，Berta？’
’Inmen——inmen。Idon’tmeaninwomen。Howchildishyouare！’
TheslightdepressionatfindingthatChristopherwasnotpresent，whichhadfollowedEthelberta’spublictriumphthatevening，wascoveredover，ifnotremoved，byLadywell’sdeclaration，andshereachedhomesereneinspirit。Thatshehadnottheslightestnotionofacceptingtheimpulsivepaintermadelittledifference；alover’sargumentsbeingapttoaffectalady’smoodasmuchbymeasureasbyweight。Auselessdeclarationlikeararechinateacupwithaholeinit，hasitsornamentalvalueinenlargingacollection。
NosoonerhadtheyenteredthehousethanMr。Julian’scardwasdiscovered；andJoeyinformedthemthathehadcomeparticularlytospeakwithEthelberta，quiteforgettingthatitwashereveningfortale-telling。
Thiswasrealdelight，forbetweenherexcitementsEthelbertahadbeenseriouslysick-heartedatthehorriblepossibilityofhisnevercallingagain。Butalas！forChristopher。Therebeingnothinglikeadeadsilenceforgettingone’soff-handsweetheartintoacorner，thereisnothinglikeprematurelyendingitforgettingintothatcornerone’sself。
’Nowwon’tIpunishhimfordaringtostayawaysolong！’sheexclaimedassoonasshegotupstairs。’Itisasbadtoshowconstancyinyourmannersasficklenessinyourheartatsuchatimeasthis。’
’ButIthoughthonestywasthebestpolicy？’saidPicotee。
’Soitis，fortheman’spurpose。Butdon’tyougobelievinginsayings，Picotee:theyareallmadebymen，fortheirownadvantages。Womenwhousepublicproverbsasaguidethrougheventsarethosewhohavenotingenuityenoughtomakeprivateonesaseacheventoccurs。’
Shesatdown，andrapidlywrotealinetoMr。Julian:——
’EXONBURYCRESCENT。
’IreturnfromMayfairHalltofindyouhavecalled。Youwill，I
know，begoodenoughtoforgivemysayingwhatseemsanunfriendlything，whenIassureyouthatthecircumstancesofmypeculiarsituationmakeitdesirable，ifnotnecessary。ItisthatIbegyounottogivemethepleasureofavisitfromyouforsomelittletime，forunhappilythefrequencyofyourkindcallshasbeennoticed；andIamnowinfearthatwemaybetalkedabout——
invidiously——totheinjuryofusboth。Thetown，orasectionofit，hasturneditsbull’s-eyeuponmewithabrightnesswhichIdidnotintheleastanticipate；andyouwill，Iamsure，perceivehowindispensableitisthatIshouldbecircumspect——Yourssincerely，E。PETHERWIN。’
21。ASTREET-NEIGH’SROOMS-CHRISTOPHER’SROOMS
AssoonasEthelbertahaddrivenofffromtheHall，Ladywellturnedbackagain；and，passingthefrontentrance，overtookhisacquaintanceMr。Neigh，whohadbeenoneofthelasttoemerge。Thetwoweregoinginthesamedirection，andtheywalkedashortdistancetogether。
’Hasanythingserioushappened？’saidNeigh，noticinganabstractioninhiscompanion。’Youdon’tseeminyourusualmoodto-night。’
’O，itisonlythataffairbetweenus，’saidLadywell。
’Affair？Betweenyouandwhom？’
’Herandmyself，ofcourse。Itwillbeineveryfellow’smouthnow，Isuppose！’
’But——notanythingbetweenyourselfandMrs。Petherwin？’
’Amerenothing。Butsurelyyoustarted，Neigh，whenyoususpecteditjustthismoment？’
’No——youmerelyfanciedthat。’
’Didshenotspeakwellto-night！Youwereintheroom，Ibelieve？’
’Yes，Ijustturnedinforhalf-an-hour:itseemsthateverybodydoes，soIthoughtImust。ButIhadnoideathatyouwerefeeblethatway。’
’Itisverykindofyou，Neigh——uponmyworditis——verykind；andofcourseIappreciatethedelicacywhich——which——’
’What’skind？’
’Imeanyourwell-intentionedplanformakingmebelievethatnothingisknownofthis。Butstorieswillofcoursegetwind；andifourattachmenthasmademorenoiseintheworldthanIintendeditshould，andcausesanypublicinterest，why——ha-ha！——itmust。
Thereissomelittleromanceinitperhaps，andpeoplewilltalkofmattersofthatsortbetweenindividualsofanyrepute——littleasthatiswithoneofthepair。’
’Ofcoursetheywill——ofcourse。Youarearisingman，remember，whomsomedaytheworldwilldelighttohonour。’
’Thankyouforthat，Neigh。Thankyousincerely。’
’Notatall。Itismerelyjusticetosayit，andonemusthegeneroustodeservethanks。’
’Ha-ha！——that’sverynicelyput，andundeservedIamsure。AndyetIneedawordofthatsortsometimes！’
’Geniusisproverbiallymodest。’
’Praydon’t，Neigh——Idon’tdeserveit，indeed。Ofcourseitiswellmeantinyoutorecognizeanyslightpowers，butIdon’tdeserveit。Certainly，myself-assurancewasnevertoogreat。’Tisthemisfortuneofallchildrenofartthattheyshouldbesodependentuponanyscrapsofpraisetheycanpickuptohelpthemalong。’
’Andwhenthatchildgetssodeepinlovethatyoucanonlyseethewhitesofhiseyes——’
’Ah——now，Neigh——don’t，Isay！’
’Butwhydid——’
’WhydidIloveher？’
’Yes，whydidyouloveher？’
’Ah，ifIcouldonlyturnself-vivisector，andwatchtheoperationofmyheart，Ishouldknow！’
’Mydearfellow，youmustbeverybadindeedtotalklikethat。A
poethimselfcouldn’tbecleanergone。’
’Now，don’tchaff，Neigh；doanything，butdon’tchaff。YouknowthatIamtheeasiestmanintheworldfortakingitatmosttimes。
ButIcan’tstanditnow；Idon’tfeeluptoit。Aglimpseofparadise，andthenperdition。Whatwouldyoudo，Neigh？’
’Shehasrefusedyou，then？’
’Well——notpositivelyrefusedme；butitissonearitthatadullmancouldn’ttellthedifference。Ihardlycanmyself。’
’Howdoyoureallystandwithher？’saidNeigh，withananxietyill-
concealed。
’Offandon——neitheronethingnortheother。Iwasdeterminedtomakeaneffortthelasttimeshesattome，andsoImetherquitecoolly，andspokeonlyoftechnicalitieswithaforcedsmile——youknowthatwayofminefordrawingpeopleout，eh，Neigh？’
’Quite，quite。’
’Aforcedsmile，asmuchastosay，\"Iamobligedtoentertainyou，butasameremodelforartpurposes。\"Butthedeuceabitdidshecare。AndthenIfrequentlylookedtoseewhattimeitwas，astheendofthesittingdrewnear——ratherarudethingtodo，asarule。’
’Ofcourse。Butthatwasyourfinesse。Ha-ha！——capital！Yetwhynotstruggleagainstsuchslavery？Itisregularlypullingyoudown。What’sawoman’sbeauty，afterall？’
’Wellyoumaysayso！Athingeasiertofeelthandefine，’murmuredLadywell。’Butit’snouse，Neigh——Ican’thelpitaslongassherepulsesmesoexquisitely！Ifshewouldonlycareformealittle，Imightgettotroublelessabouther。’
’Andlovehernomorethanoneordinarilydoesagirlbythetimeonegetsirrevocablyengagedtoher。ButIsupposeshekeepsyoubacksothoroughlythatyoucarryontheoldadorationwithasmuchvigourasifitwereanewfancyeverytime？’
’Partlyyes，andpartlyno！It’sverytrue，andit’snottrue！’
’’Tistobehopedshewon’thateyououtright，forthenyouwouldabsolutelydieofidolizingher。’
’Don’t，Neigh！——Stillthere’ssometruthinit——suchistheperversityofourhearts。Fancymarryingsuchawoman！’
’Weshouldfeelaseternallyunitedtoherafteryearsandyearsofmarriageastoadearnewangelmetatlastnight’sdance。’
’Exactly——justwhatIshouldhavesaid。ButdidIhearyousay\"We，\"Neigh？Youdidn’tsay\"WEshouldfeel？\"’
’Say\"we\"？——yes——ofcourse——puttingmyselfinyourplacejustinthewayofspeaking，youknow。’
’Ofcourse，ofcourse；butoneissuchafoolatthesetimesthatoneseemstodetectrivalryineverytrumperysound！Wereyouneveralittletouched？’
’NotI。Myheartisinthehappypositionofacountrywhichhasnohistoryordebt。’
’IsupposeIshouldrejoicetohearit，’saidLadywell。’Buttheconsciousnessofafellow-suffererbeinginjustsuchanotherholeissuchareliefalways，andsoftensthesenseofone’sfollysoverymuch。’
’There’slessChristianityinthatsentimentthaninyourconfessingtoit，oldfellow。Iknowthetruthofitnevertheless，andthat’swhymarriedmenadviseotherstomarry。Werealltheworldtiedup，thepleasantlytiedoneswouldbeequivalenttothoseatpresentfree。Butwhatifyourfellow-suffererisnotonlyinanothersuchahole，butinthesameone？’
’No，Neigh——never！Don’ttriflewithafriendwho——’
’Thatis，refusedlikeyourself，aswellasinlove。’
’Ah，thanks，thanks！Itsuddenlyoccurredtomethatwemightbedeadagainstoneanotherasrivals，andafriendshipofmanylong——
daysbesnappedlikea——likeareed。’
’No——no——onlyajest，’saidNeigh，withastrangelyacceleratedspeech。’Love-makingisanornamentalpursuitthatmatter-of-factfellowslikemearequiteunfitfor。Amanmusthavecourtedatleasthalf-a-dozenwomenbeforehe’samatchforone；andsincetriumphliessofarahead，Ishallkeepoutofthecontestaltogether。’
’Yourlifewouldbepleasanterifyouwereengaged。Itisanicething，afterall。’
’Itis。Theworstofitwouldbethat，whenthetimecameforbreakingitoff，afellowmightgetintoanactionforbreach——womenaresofondofthatsortofthingnow；andIhatelove-affairsthatdon’tendpeaceably！’
’Butenditbypeaceablymarrying，mydearfellow！’
’Itwouldseemsosingular。Besides，Ihaveahorrorofantiquity:
andyousee，aslongasamankeepssingle，hebelongsinameasuretotherisinggeneration，howeveroldhemaybe；butassoonashemarriesandhaschildren，hebelongstothelastgeneration，howeveryounghemaybe。OldJones’ssonisadealyoungerthanyoungBrown’sfather，thoughtheyareboththesameage。’
’Atanyrate，honestcourtshipcuresamanofmanyevilshehadnopowertostembefore。’
’Bysubstitutinganincurablematrimony！’
’Ah——twopersonsmusthaveamindforthatbeforeitcanhappen！’
saidLadywell，sorrowfullyshakinghishead。
’Ithinkyou’llfindthatifonehasamindforit，itwillbequitesufficient。Buthereweareatmyrooms。Comeinforhalf-an-
hour？’
’Notto-night，thanks！’
Theyparted，andNeighwentin。Whenhegotupstairshemurmuredinhisdeepestchestnote，’O，lords，thatIshouldcometothis！ButIshallneverbesuchafoolastomarryher！Whataflatthatpooryoungdevilwasnottodiscoverthatweweretarredwiththesamebrush。O，thedeuce，thedeuce！’hecontinued，walkingabouttheroomasifpassionatelystamping，butnotquitedoingitbecauseanothermanhadroomsbelow。
Neighdrewfromhispocket-bookanenvelopeembossedwiththenameofafashionablephotographer，andoutofthispulledaportraitoftheladywhohad，infact，enslavedhissecretselfequallywithhisfrankyoungfriendthepainter。Aftercontemplatingitawhilewithafaceofcynicaladoration，hemurmured，shakinghishead，’Ah，mylady；ifyouonlyknewthis，Ishouldbesnappeduplikeasnail！
Notaminute’speaceformetillIhadmarriedyou。IwonderifI
shall！——Iwonder。’
Neighwasamanoffive-and-thirty——Ladywell’sseniorbytenyears；
and，beingofaphlegmatictemperament，hehadglidedthusfarthroughtheperiodofeligibilitywithimpunity。Heknewaswellasanymanhowfarhecouldgowithawomanandyetkeepclearofhavingtomeetherinchurchwithoutherbonnet；butitisdoubtfulifhismindthatnightwerelessdisturbedwiththequestionhowtoguidehimselfoutofthenaturalcoursewhichhispassionforEthelbertamighttempthiminto，thanwasLadywell’sbyhisardentwishtosecureher。
AboutthetimeatwhichNeighandLadywellpartedcompany，ChristopherJulianwasenteringhislittleplaceinBloomsbury。ThequaintfigureofFaith，inherbonnetandcloak，waskneelingonthehearth-rugendeavouringtostiradullfireintoabrightone。
’What——Faith！youhaveneverbeenoutalone？’hesaid。
Faith’ssoft，quick-shuttingeyeslookedunutterablethings，andshereplied，’IhavebeentohearMrs。Petherwin’sstory-tellingagain。’
’Andwalkedallthewayhomethroughthestreetsatthistimeofnight，Isuppose！’
’Well，nobodymolestedme，eithergoingorcomingback。’
’Faith，Igaveyoustrictordersnottogointothestreetsaftertwoo’clockintheday，andnowhereyouaretakingnonoticeofwhatIsayatall！’
’Thetruthis，Kit，Iwantedtoseewithmyspectacleswhatthiswomanwasreallylike，andIwentwithoutthemlasttime。Islippedinbehind，andnobodysawme。’
’Idon’tthinkmuchofherafterwhatIhaveseentonight，’saidChristopher，moodilyrecurringtoapreviousthought。
’Why？Whatisthematter？’
’IthoughtIwouldcallonherthisafternoon，butwhenIgotthereIfoundshehadleftearlyfortheperformance。Sointheevening，whenIthoughtitwouldbeallover，IwenttotheprivatedooroftheHalltospeaktoherasshecameout，andaskherflatlyaquestionortwowhichIwasfoolenoughtothinkImustaskherbeforeIwenttobed。JustasIwasdrawingnearshecameout，and，insteadofgettingintothebroughamthatwaswaitingforher，shewentroundthecorner。Whenshecamebackamanmetherandgavehersomething，andtheystayedtalkingtogethertwoorthreeminutes。Themeetingmaycertainlynothavebeenintentionalonherpart；butshehasnobusinesstobegoingonsocoollywhen——when——
infact，Ihavecometotheconclusionthatawoman’saffectionisnotworthhaving。Theonlyfeelingwhichhasanydignityorpermanenceorworthisfamilyaffectionbetweencloseblood-
relations。’
’Andyetyousnubmesometimes，Mr。Kit。’
’And，forthematterofthat，yousnubme。Still，youknowwhatI
mean——there’snoneofthatoff-and-onhumbugbetweenus。Ifwegrumblewithoneanotherweareunitedjustthesame:ifwedon’twritewhenweareparted，wearejustthesamewhenwemeet——therehasbeensomerationalreasonforsilence；butasforloversandsweethearts，thereisnothingwortharushinwhattheyfeel！’
Faithsaidnothinginreplytothis。Theopinionsshehadformeduponthewisdomofherbrother’spursuitofEthelbertawouldhavecomejustthenwithanillgrace。Itmust，however，havebeenevidenttoChristopher，hadhenotbeentoopreoccupiedforobservation，thatFaith’simpressionsofEthelbertawerenotquitefavourableasregardedherwomanhood，notwithstandingthatshegreatlyadmiredhertalents。
22。ETHELBERTA’SHOUSE
EthelbertacameindoorsonedayfromtheUniversityboat-race，andsatdown，withoutspeaking，besidePicotee，asiflostinthought。
’Didyouenjoythesight？’saidPicotee。
’Iscarcelyknow。Wecouldn’tseeatallfromMrs。Belmaine’scarriage，sotwoofus——veryrashly——agreedtogetoutandberowedacrosstotheothersidewherethepeoplewerequitefew。Butwhentheboatmanhadusinthemiddleoftheriverhedeclaredhecouldn’tlandusontheothersidebecauseofthebarges，sotherewewereinadreadfulstate——tossedupanddownlikecorksupongreatwavesmadebysteamerstillImadeupmymindforadrowning。
Well，atlastwegotbackagain，butcouldn’treachthecarriageforthecrowd；andIdon’tknowwhatweshouldhavedoneifagentlemanhadn’tcome——sentbyMrs。Belmaine，whowasinagreatfrightaboutus；thenhewasintroducedtome，and——Iwonderhowitwillend！’
’Wasthereanythingsowonderfulinthebeginning，then？’
’Yes。OneofthecoolestandmostpractisedmeninLondonwasill-
manneredtowardsmefromsheerabsenceofmind——andcouldtherebehigherflattery？Whenamanofthatsortdoesnotgiveyouthepolitenessyoudeserve，itmeansthatinhisheartheisrebellingagainstanotherfeelingwhichhispridesuggeststhatyoudonotdeserve。O，IforgottosaythatheisaMr。Neigh，anephewofMr。
Doncastle’s，wholivesateaseaboutPiccadillyandPallMall，andhasafewacressomewhere——butIdon’tknowmuchofhim。TheworstofmypositionnowisthatIexcitethissuperficialinterestinmanypeopleandadeepfriendshipinnobody。Ifwhatallmysupportersfeelcouldbecollectedintotheheartsoftwoorthreetheywouldlovemebetterthantheylovethemselves；butnowitpervadesallandoperatesinnone。’
’Butitmustoperateinthisgentleman？’
’Well，yes——justforthepresent。Butmenintownhavesomanycontrivancesforgettingoutoflovethatyoucan’tcalculateuponkeepingtheminfortwodaystogether。However，itisallthesametome。There’sonly——butletthatbe。’
’Whatisthereonly？’saidPicoteecoaxingly。
’Onlyoneman，’murmuredEthelberta，inmuchlowertones。’Imean，whosewifeIshouldcaretobe；andtheveryqualitiesIlikeinhimwill，Ifear，preventhiseverbeinginapositiontoaskme。’
’Ishethemanyoupunishedtheweekbeforelastbyforbiddinghimtocome？’
’Perhapsheis:buthedoesnotwantcivilityfromme。Wherethere’smuchfeelingthere’slittleceremony。’
’Itcertainlyseemsthathedoesnotwantcivilityfromyoutomakehimattentivetoyou，’saidPicotee，stiflingasigh；’forhereisaletterinhishandwriting，Ibelieve。’
’Youmighthavegivenittomeatonce，’saidEthelberta，openingtheenvelopehastily。Itcontainedveryfewsentences:theyweretotheeffectthatChristopherhadreceivedherletterforbiddinghimtocall；thathehadthereforeatfirstresolvednottocallorevenseehermore，sincehehadbecomesuchashadowinherpath。
Still，asitwasalwaysbesttodonothinghastily，hehadonsecondthoughtsdecidedtoaskhertogranthimalastspecialfavour，andseehimagainjustonce，forafewminutesonlythatafternoon，inwhichhemightatleastsayFarewell。Toavoidallpossibilityofcompromisingherinanybody’seyes，hewouldcallathalf-pastsix，whenothercallerswerelikelytobegone，knowingthatfromthepeculiarconstitutionofthehouseholdthehourwouldnotinterferewithherarrangements。Therebeingnotimeforananswer，hewouldassumethatshewouldseehim，andkeeptheengagement；therequestbeingonewhichcouldnotrationallybeobjectedto。
’There——readit！’saidEthelberta，withgladdispleasure。’Didyoueverhearsuchaudacity？FixingatimesosoonthatIcannotreply，andthusmakingcapitaloutofapretendednecessity，whenitisreallyanarbitraryarrangementofhisown。That’srealrebellion——
forcinghimselfintomyhousewhenIsaidstrictlyhewasnottocome；andthen，thatitcannotrationallybeobjectedto——Idon’tlikehis\"rationally。\"’
’Wherethere’smuchlovethere’slittleceremony，didn’tyousayjustnow？’observedinnocentPicotee。
’Andwherethere’slittlelove，noceremonyatall。Thesemannersofhisaredreadful，andIbelievehewillneverimprove。’
’Itmakesyoucarenotabitabouthim，doesitnot，Berta？’saidPicoteehopefully。
’Idon’tanswerforthat，’saidEthelberta。’Ifeel，asmanyothersdo，thatawantofceremonywhichisproducedbyabstractionofmindisnodefectinapoetormusician，fatalasitmaybetoanordinaryman。’
’Mightyme！Yousoonforgivehim。’
’Picotee，don’tyoubesoquicktospeak。BeforeIhavefinished，howdoyouknowwhatIamgoingtosay？I’llnevertellyouanythingagain，ifyoutakemeupso。OfcourseIamgoingtopunishhimatonce，andmakehimrememberthatIamalady，evenifIdolikehimalittle。’
’Howdoyoumeantopunishhim？’saidPicotee，withinterest。
’Bywritingandtellinghimthatonnoaccountishetocome。’
’Butthereisnottimeforaletter——’
’Thatdoesn’tmatter。ItwillshowhimthatIdidnotMEANhimtocome。’
Athearingtheverymercifulnatureofthepunishment，Picoteesighedwithoutreplying；andEthelbertadespatchedhernote。Thehourofappointmentdrewnear，andEthelbertashowedsymptomsofunrest。Sixo’clockstruckandpassed。Shewalkedhereandtherefornothing，anditwasplainthatadreadwasfillingher:herlettermightaccidentallyhavehad，inadditiontothemoraleffectwhichshehadintended，thepracticaleffectwhichshedidnotintend，byarrivingbefore，insteadofafter，hispurposedvisittoher，therebystoppinghiminspiteofallhercare。
’HowlongarelettersgoingtoBloomsbury？’shesaidsuddenly。
’Twohours，Joeytellsme，’repliedPicotee，whohadalreadyinquiredonherownprivateaccount。
’There！’exclaimedEthelbertapetulantly。’HowIdislikeamantomisrepresentthings！Hesaidtherewasnottimeforareply！’
’Perhapshedidn’tknow，’saidPicotee，inangeltones；’andsoithappensallright，andhehasgotit，andhewillnotcomeafterall。’
Theywaitedandwaited，butChristopherdidnotappearthatnight；
thetruecasebeingthathisdeclarationaboutinsufficienttimeforareplywasmerelyaningenioussuggestiontohernottobesocruelastoforbidhim。Hewasfarfromsuspectingwhentheletterofdenialdidreachhim——aboutanhourbeforethetimeofappointment——
thatitwassentbyarefinementofart，ofwhichtherealintentionwasfutility，andthatbutforhisownmisstatementitwouldhavebeencarefullydelayed。
Thenextdayanotherlettercamefromthemusician，decidedlyshortandtothepoint。Theirateloverstatedthathewouldnotbemadeafoolofanylonger:underanycircumstanceshemeanttocomethatself-sameafternoon，andshoulddecidedlyexpecthertoseehim。
’Iwillnotseehim！’saidEthelberta。’Whydidhenotcalllastnight？’
’Becauseyoutoldhimnotto，’saidPicotee。
’Goodgracious，asifawoman’swordsaretobetranslatedasliterallyasHomer！Surelyheisawarethatmoreoftenthannot\"No\"issaidtoaman’simportunitiesbecauseitistraditionallythecorrectmodestreply，andfornothingelseintheworld。Ifallmentookwordsassuperficiallyashedoes，weshoulddieofdecoruminshoals。’
’Ah，Berta！howcouldyouwritealetterthatyoudidnotmeanshouldbeobeyed？’
’Ididinameasuremeanit，althoughIcouldhaveshownChristianforgivenessifithadnotbeen。Nevermind；Iwillnotseehim。
I’llplaguemyheartforthecreditofmysex。’
Toensurethefulfilmentofthisresolve，Ethelbertadeterminedtogivewaytoaheadachethatshewasbeginningtobeawareof，gotoherroom，disorganizeherdress，andruinherhairbylyingdown；soputtingitoutofherpowertodescendandmeetChristopheronanymomentaryimpulse。
Picoteesatintheroomwithher，reading，orpretendingtoread，andEthelbertapretendedtosleep。Christopher’sknockcameupthestairs，andwithittheendofthefarce。
’I’lltellyouwhat，’saidEthelbertainthepromptandbroadly-
awaketoneofonewhohadbeenconcentratedontheexpectationofthatsoundforalengthoftime，’itwasamistakeinmetodothis！
Joeywillbesuretomakeamuddleofit。’
Joeywasheardcomingupthestairs。Picoteeopenedthedoor，andsaid，withananxietytranscendingEthelberta’s，’Well？’
’O，willyoutellMrs。PetherwinthatMr。Juliansayshe’llwait。’
’Youwerenottoaskhimtowait，’saidEthelberta，within。
’Iknowthat，’saidJoey，’andIdidn’t。He’sdoingthatoutofhisownhead。’
’ThenletMr。Julianwait，byallmeans，’saidEthelberta。’Allowhimtowaitifhelikes，buttellhimitisuncertainifIshallbeabletocomedown。’
Joeythenretired，andthetwosistersremainedinsilence。
’Iwonderifhe’sgone，’Ethelbertasaid，attheendofalongtime。
’Ithoughtyouwereasleep，’saidPicotee。’ShallweaskJoey？I
havenotheardthedoorclose。’
Joeywassummoned，andafteraleisurelyascent，interspersedbyvariousgymnasticperformancesoverthehandrailhereandthere，appearedagain。
’He’stherejestthesame:hedon’tseemtobeinnohurryatall，’
saidJoey。
’Whatishedoing？’inquiredPicoteesolicitously。
’O，onlylookingathiswatchsometimes，andhummingtunes，andplayingrat-a-tat-tatuponthetable。Hesayshedon’tmindwaitingabit。’
’Youmusthavemadeamistakeinthemessage，’saidEthelberta，within。
’Well，no。Iamcorrectasajineralthing。Ijestsaidperhapsyouwouldbeengagedalltheevening，andperhapsyouwouldn’t。’
WhenJoeyhadagainretired，andtheyhadwaitedanothertenminutes，Ethelbertasaid，’Picotee，doyougodownandspeakafewwordstohim。Iamdeterminedheshallnotseeme。Youknowhimalittle；yourememberwhenhecametotheLodge？’
’WhatmustIsaytohim？’
Ethelbertapausedbeforereplying。’Trytofindoutif——ifheismuchgrievedatnotseeingme，andsay——givehimtounderstandthatIwillforgivehim，Picotee。’
’Verywell。’
’AndPicotee——’
’Yes。’
’IfhesaysheMUSTseeme——IthinkIwillgetup。ButonlyifhesaysMUST:yourememberthat。’
Picoteedepartedonhererrand。Shepausedonthestaircasetrembling，andthinkingbetweenthethrillshowveryfarwouldhavebeentheconductofherpoorslightedselffromproudrecalcitrationhadMr。Julian’sgentlerequestbeenaddressedtoherinsteadoftoEthelberta；andshewentsomewayinthepainfuldiscoveryofhowmuchmoretantalizingitwastowatchanenviedsituationthatwasheldbyanotherthantobeoutofsightofitaltogether。HerewasChristopherwaitingtobestowlove，andEthelbertanotgoingdowntoreceiveit:acommodityunequalledinvaluebyanyotherinthewholewideworldwasbeingwantonlywastedwithinthatveryhouse。
Ifshecouldonlyhavestoodto-nightasthebelovedEthelberta，andnotasthedespisedPicotee，howdifferentwouldbethisgoingdown！
Thusshewentalong，redandpalemovinginhercheeksasintheNorthernLightsattheirstrongesttime。
MeanwhileChristopherhadsatwaitingminutebyminutetilltheeveningshadesgrewbrowner，andthefiresanklow。Joey，findinghimselfnotparticularlywanteduponthepremisesafterthesecondinquiry，hadslippedouttowitnessaniggerperformanceroundthecorner，andJulianbegantothinkhimselfforgottenbyallthehousehold。Theperceptiongraduallycooledhisemotionsandenabledhimtoholdhishatquitesteadily。
WhenPicoteegentlythrustopenthedoorshewassurprisedtofindtheroomindarkness，thefiregonecompletelyout，andtheformofChristopheronlyvisiblebyafaintpatchoflight，which，comingfromalampontheoppositesideofthewayandfallinguponthemirror，wasthrownasapalenebulosityuponhisshoulder。Picoteewastooflurriedatsightofthefamiliaroutlinetoknowwhattodo，and，insteadofgoingorcallingforalight，shemechanicallyadvancedintotheroom。Christopherdidnotturnormoveinanyway，andthensheperceivedthathehadbeguntodozeinhischair。
Instantly，withtheprecipitancyofthetimorous，shesaid，’Mr。
Julian！’andtouchedhimontheshoulder——murmuringthen，’O，Ibegpardon，I——Iwillgetalight。’
Christopher’sconsciousnessreturned，andhisfirstact，beforerising，wastoexclaim，inaconfusedmanner，’Ah——youhavecome——
thankyou，Berta！’thenimpulsivelytoseizeherhand，asithungbesidehishead，andkissitpassionately。Hestoodup，stillholdingherfingers。
Picoteegaspedoutsomething，butwascompletelydeprivedofarticulateutterance，andinanothermomentbeingunabletocontrolherselfatthissortoffirstmeetingwiththemanshehadgonethroughfireandwatertobenear，andmoreparticularlybytheoverpoweringkissuponherhand，burstintohystericalsobbing。
Julian，inhisinabilitytoimaginesomuchemotion——oratleasttheexhibitionofit——inEthelberta，gentlydrewPicoteefurtherforwardbythehandheheld，andutilizedthesolitaryspotoflightfromthemirrorbymakingitfalluponherface。Recognizingthechildishfeatures，heatonce，withanexclamation，droppedherhandandstartedback。Beinginpointoffactacompletebundleofnervesandnothingelse，histhinfigureshooklikeaharp-stringinpainfulexcitementatacontretempswhichwouldscarcelyhavequickenedthepulseofanordinaryman。
PoorPicotee，feelingherselfinthewindofacivild——，startedbackalso，sobbingmorethanever。Itwasalittletoomuchthatthefirstresultofhisdiscoveryofthemistakeshouldbeabsoluterepulse。Sheleantagainstthemantelpiece，whenJulian，muchbewilderedathersuperfluityofemotion，assistedhertoaseatinsheerhumanity。ButChristopherwasbynomeanspleasedwhenheagainthoughtroundthecircleofcircumstances。
’Howcouldyouallowsuchanabsurdthingtohappen？’hesaid，inastern，thoughtremblingvoice。’YouknewImightmistake。Ihadnoideayouwereinthehouse:Ithoughtyouweremilesaway，atSandbourneorsomewhere！ButIsee:itisjustdoneforajoke，ha-ha！’
ThismadePicoteeratherworsestill。’O-O-O-O！’shereplied，inthetoneofpouringfromabottle。’WhatshallIdo-o-o-o！Itis——
notdonefora——jokeatall-l-l-l！’
’Notdoneforajoke？Thennevermind——don’tcry，Picotee。Whatwasitdonefor，Iwonder？’
Picotee，mistakingthepurportofhisinquiry，imaginedhimtorefertoherarrivalinthehouse，quiteforgetting，inherguiltysenseofhavingcomeonhisaccount，thathewouldhavenorightorthoughtofaskingquestionsaboutanaturalvisittoasister，andshesaid:’Whenyou——wentawayfrom——Sandbourne，I——I——Ididn’tknowwhattodo，andthenIranaway，andcamehere，andthenEthelberta——wasangrywithme；butshesaysImaystay；butshedoesn’tknowthatIknowyou，andhowweusedtomeetalongtheroadeverymorning——andIamafraidtotellher——O，whatshallIdo！’
’Nevermindit，’saidChristopher，asenseofthetruestateofhercasedawninguponhimwithunpleasantdistinctness，andbringingsomeirritationathisawkwardposition；thoughitwasimpossibletobelongangrywithagirlwhohadnotreasoningforesightenoughtoperceivethatdoubtfulpleasureandcertainpainmustbetheresultofanymeetingwhilstheartswereatcrosspurposesinthisway。
’Whereisyoursister？’heasked。
’Shewouldn’tcomedown，unlesssheMUST，’saidPicotee。’Youhavevexedher，andshehasaheadachebesidesthat，andIcameinstead。’
’SothatImightn’tbewastedaltogether。Well，it’sastrangebusinessbetweenthethreeofus。Ihaveheardofone-sidedlove，andreciprocallove，andallsorts，butthisismyfirstexperienceofaconcatenatedaffection。Youfollowme，IfollowEthelberta，andshefollows——Heavenknowswho！’
’Mr。Ladywell！’saidthemortifiedPicotee。
’GoodGod，ifIdidn’tthinkso！’saidChristopher，feelingtothesolesofhisfeetlikeamaninalegitimatedrama。
’No，no，no！’saidthefrightenedgirlhastily。’IamnotsureitisMr。Ladywell。That’saltogetheramistakeofmine！’
’Ah，yes，youwanttoscreenher，’saidChristopher，withawitheringsmileatthespotoflight。’Verysisterly，doubtless；
butnoneofthatwilldoforme。Iamtoooldabirdbyfar——byveryfar！NowareyousureshedoesnotloveLadywell？’
’Yes！’
’Well，perhapsIblameherwrongly。Shemayhavesomelittlegoodfaith——awomanhas，hereandthere。HowdoyouknowshedoesnotloveLadywell？’
’BecauseshewouldpreferMr。Neightohim，anyday。’
’Ha！’
’No，no——youmistake，sir——shedoesn’tloveeitheratall——
Ethelbertadoesn’t。ImeantthatshecannotloveMr。LadywellbecausehestandslowerinheropinionthanMr。Neigh，andhimshecertainlydoesnotcarefor。Sheonlylovesyou。Ifyouonlyknewhowtruesheisyouwouldn’tbesosuspiciousabouther，andIwishIhadnotcomehere——yes，Ido！’
’Icannottellwhattothinkofit。PerhapsIdon’tknowmuchofthisworldafterall，orwhatgirlswilldo。Butyoudon’texcusehertome，Picotee。’
BeforethistimePicoteehadbeensimulatinghasteingettingalight；butinherdreadofappearingvisiblytoChristopher’seyes，andshowinghimthepreciseconditionofhertear-stainedface，sheputitoffmomentaftermoment，andstirredthefire，inhopethatthefaintilluminationthusproducedwouldbesufficienttosaveherfromthechargeofstupidconductasentertainer。
Flutteringaboutonthehornsofthisdilemma，shewasgreatlyrelievedwhenChristopher，whoreadherdifficulty，andthegeneralpainfulnessofthesituation，saidthatsinceEthelbertawasreallysufferingfromaheadachehewouldnotwishtodisturbhertillto-
morrow，andwentoffdownstairsandintothestreetwithoutfurtherceremony。
Meanwhileotherthingshadhappenedupstairs。NosoonerhadPicoteelefthersister’sroom，thanEthelbertathoughtitwouldafterallhavebeenmuchbetterifshehadgonedownherselftospeaktothisadmirablypersistentlover。Wasshenotdriftingsomewhatintothecharacterofcoquette，evenifhergroundofoffence——awordofChristopher’saboutsomebodyelse’smeanparentage，whichwasspokeninutterforgetfulnessofherownposition，buthadwoundedhertothequicknevertheless——wastosomeextentatenableone？SheknewwhatfacilitiesinsufferingChristopheralwaysshowed；howatouchtootherpeoplewasablowtohim，ablowtothemhisdeepwound，althoughhetooksuchpainstolookstolidandunconcernedunderthoseinflictions，andtriedtosmileasifhehadnofeelingswhatever。Itwouldbemoregeneroustogodowntohim，andbekind。
Shejumpedupwiththatalertnesswhichcomessospontaneouslyatthosesweetbrighttimeswhendesireanddutyrunhandinhand。
Shehastilysetherhairanddressinorder——notsuchmatchlessorderasshecouldhavewishedthemtobein，buttimewasprecious——
anddescendedthestairs。Whenonthepointofpushingopenthedrawing-roomdoor，whichwantedaboutaninchofbeingclosed，shewasastoundedtodiscoverthattheroomwasintotaldarkness，andstillmoretohearPicoteesobbinginside。Toretreatagainwastheonlyactionshewascapableofatthatmoment:theclashbetweenthispictureandtheanticipatedsceneofPicoteeandChristophersittinginfrigidproprietyatoppositesidesofawell-lightedroomwastoogreat。Sheflittedupstairsagainwiththeleastpossiblerustle，andflungherselfdownonthecouchasbefore，pantingwithexcitementatthenewknowledgethathadcometoher。
TherewasonlyonepossibleconstructiontobeputuponthisinEthelberta’srapidmind，andthatapproximatedtothetrueone。ShehadknownforsometimethatPicoteeoncehadalover，orsomethingakintoit，andthathehaddisappointedherinawaywhichhadneverbeentold。Nostranger，saveinthecapacityoftheonebeloved，couldwoundawomansufficientlytomakeherweep，anditfollowedthatChristopherwasthemanofPicotee’schoice。AsEthelbertarecalledtheconversations，conclusionafterconclusioncamelikepulsationsinanachinghead。’O，howdidithappen，andwhoistoblame？’sheexclaimed。’Icannotdoubthisfaith，andI
cannotdoubthers；andyethowcanIkeepdoubtingthemboth？’
ItwascharacteristicofEthelberta’sjealousmotherlyguardoverheryoungsistersthat，amidthesecontendinginquiries，herforemostfeelingwaslessoneofhopeforherownlovethanofchampionshipforPicotee’s。
23。ETHELBERTA’SHOUSE(continued)
Picoteewasheardonthestairs:Ethelbertacoveredherface。
’Ishewaiting？’shesaidfaintly，onfindingthatPicoteedidnotbegintospeak。
’No；heisgone，’saidPicotee。
’Ah，whyisthat？’camequicklyfromunderthehandkerchief。’Hehasforgottenme——that’swhatitis！’
’Ono，hehasnot！’saidPicotee，justasbitterly。
Ethelbertahadfartoomuchheroismtoletmuchinthisstrainescapeher，thoughhersisterwaspreparedtogoanylengthsinthesame。’Isuppose，’continuedEthelberta，inthequietwayofonewhohadonlyaheadachethematterwithher，’thatherememberedyouafterthemeetingatAnglebury？’
’Yes，herememberedme。’
’Didyoutellmeyouhadseenhimbeforethattime？’
’IhadseenhimatSandbourne。Idon’tthinkItoldyou。’
’Atwhosehousedidyoumeethim？’
’Atnobody’s。Ionlysawhimsometimes，’repliedPicotee，ingreatdistress。
Ethelberta，thoughofallwomenmostmiserable，wasbrimmingwithcompassionforthethrobbinggirlsonearlyrelatedtoher，inwhomshecontinuallysawherownweakpointswithoutthecounterpoiseofherstrongones。Butitwasnecessarytorepressherselfawhile:
theintendedwaysofherlifewereblockedandbrokenupbythisjarofinterests，andshewantedtimetopondernewplans。’Picotee，I
wouldratherbealonenow，ifyoudon’tmind，’shesaid。’Youneednotleavemeanylight；itmakesmyeyesache，Ithink。’
Picoteelefttheroom。ButEthelbertahadnotlongbeenaloneandindarknesswhensomebodygentlyopenedthedoor，andenteredwithoutacandle。
’Berta，’saidthesoftvoiceofPicoteeagain，’mayIcomein？’
’Oyes，’saidEthelberta。’Haseverythinggonerightwiththehousethisevening？’
’Yes；andGwendolinewentoutjustnowtobuyafewthings，andsheisgoingtocallrounduponfatherwhenhehasgothisdinnerclearedaway。’
’Ihopeshewillnotstayandtalktotheotherservants。Somedayshewillletdropsomethingorotherbeforefathercanstopher。’
’OBerta！’saidPicotee，closebesideher。Shewaskneelinginfrontofthecouch，andnowflingingherarmacrossEthelberta’sshoulderandshakingviolently，shepressedherforeheadagainsthersister’stemple，andbreathedoutuponhercheek:
’IcameinagaintotellyousomethingwhichIoughttohavetoldyoujustnow，andIhavecometosayitatoncebecauseIamafraidIshan’tbeabletoto-morrow。Mr。JulianwastheyoungmanIspoketoyouofalongtimeago，andIshouldhavetoldyouallabouthim，butyousaidhewasyouryoungmantoo，and——andIdidn’tknowwhattodothen，becauseIthoughtitwaswronginmetoloveyouryoungman；andBerta，hedidn’tmeanmetolovehimatall，butIdiditmyself，thoughIdidnotwanttodoit，either；itwouldcometome！
AndIdidn’tknowhebelongedtoyouwhenIbeganit，orIwouldnothavelethimmeetmeatall；noIwouldn’t！’
’Meetyou？Youdon’tmeantosayheusedtomeetyou？’whisperedEthelberta。
’Yes，’saidPicotee；’buthecouldnothelpit。Weusedtomeetontheroad，andtherewasnootherroadunlessIhadgoneeversofarround。Butitisworsethanthat，Berta！ThatwaswhyIcouldn’tbideinSandbourne，and——andranawaytoyouuphere；itwasnotbecauseIwantedtoseeyou，Berta，butbecauseI——Iwanted——’
’Yes，yes，Iknow，’saidEthelbertahurriedly。
’AndthenwhenIwentdownstairshemistookmeforyouforamoment，andthatcaused——aconfusion！’
’O，well，itdoesnotmuchmatter，’saidEthelberta，kissingPicoteesoothingly。’YououghtnotofcoursetohavecometoLondoninsuchamanner；but，sinceyouhavecome，wewillmakethebestofit。
Perhapsitmayendhappilyforyouandforhim。Whoknows？’
’Thendon’tyouwanthim，Berta？’
’Ono；notatall！’
’What——anddon’tyouREALLYwanthim，Berta？’repeatedPicotee，startingup。
’Iwouldmuchratherhepaidhisaddressestoyou。HeisnotthesortofmanIshouldwishto——thinkitbesttomarry，evenifIweretomarry，whichIhavenointentionofdoingatpresent。Hecallstoseemebecauseweareoldfriends，buthiscallsdonotmeananythingmorethanthathetakesaninterestinme。ItisnotatalllikelythatIshallseehimagain！andIcertainlynevershallseehimunlessyouarepresent。’
’Thatwillbeverynice。’
’Yes。Andyouwillbealwaysdistanttowardshim，andgotoleavetheroomwhenhecomes，whenIwillcallyouback；butsupposewecontinuethisto-morrow？Icantellyoubetterthenwhattodo。’
WhenPicoteehadleftherthesecondtime，Ethelbertaturnedoveruponherbreastandshookinconvulsivesobswhichhadlittlerelationshipwithtears。Thisabandonmentendedassuddenlyasithadbegun——notlastingmorethanaminuteandahalfaltogether——andshegotupinanunconsideredandunusualimpulsetoseekrelieffromthestingingsarcasmofthisevent——theunhappyloveofPicotee——bymentioningsomethingofittoanothermemberofthefamily，hereldestsisterGwendoline，whowasawomanfullofsympathy。
Ethelbertadescendedtothekitchen，itbeingnowaboutteno’clock。
Theroomwasempty，Gwendolinenothavingyetreturned，andCornelia，beingbusyaboutherownaffairsupstairs。TheFrenchfamilyhadgonetothetheatre，andthehouseonthataccountwasveryquietto-night。Ethelbertasatdowninthedismalplacewithoutturningupthegas，andinafewminutesadmittedGwendoline。
Theround-facedcountrycookflounderedin，untyingherbonnetasshecame，layingitdownonachair，andtalkingatthesametime。
’SuchaplaceasthisLondonis，tobesure！’sheexclaimed，turningonthegastillitwhistled。’IwishIwasdowninWessexagain。
Lord-a-mercy，Berta，Ididn’tseeitwasyou！IthoughtitwasCornelia。AsIwassaying，Ithoughtthat，afterbidinginthisundergroundcellaralltheweek，makingupmessesforthemFrenchfolk，andneverpleasing’em，andnevershall，becauseIdon’tunderstandthatline，IthoughtIwouldgooutandseefather，youknow。’
’Isheverywell？’saidEthelberta。
’Yes；andheisgoingtocallroundwhenhehastime。Well，asI
wasa-cominghome-alongIthought，\"PleasetheLordI’llhavesomechippolsforsupperjustforaplaintrate，\"andIwentroundtothelategreengrocer’sfor’em；anddoyouknowtheyswearedmedownthattheyhadn’tgotsuchthingsaschippolsintheshop，andhadneverheardof’emintheirlives。AtlastIsaid，\"Why，howcanyoutellmesuchabrazenstory？——heretheybe，heapsof’em！\"ItmademesovexedthatIcameawaythereandthen，andwouldn’thaveone——no，notatagift。’
’Theycallthemyoungonionshere，’saidEthelbertaquietly；’youmustalwaysrememberthat。But，Gwendoline，Iwanted——’
Ethelbertafeltsickatheart，andstopped。ShehadcomedownonthewingsofanimpulsetounfoldhertroubleaboutPicoteetoherhard-headedandmucholdersister，lessforadvicethantogetsomeheart-easebyinterchangeofwords；butalas，shecouldproceednofurther。ThewretchedhomelinessofGwendoline’smindseemedatthisparticularjuncturetobeabsolutelyintolerable，andEthelbertawassuddenlyconvincedthattoinvolveGwendolineinanysuchdiscussionwouldsimplybeincreasingherownburden，andaddingworseconfusiontohersister’salreadyconfusedexistence。
