the hand of ethelberta-第21节

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unsocial　reading　of　fiction　at　home　alone；　people　will　meet　together
cordially；　and　sit　at　the　feet　of　a　professed　romancer。　　I　am　going
to　tell　my　tales　before　a　London　public。　　As　a　child；　I　had　a
considerable　power　in　arresting　the　attention　of　other　children　by
recounting　adventures　which　had　never　happened；　and　men　and　women
are　but　children　enlarged　a　little。　　Look　at　this。'

She　drew　from　her　pocket　a　folded　paper；　shook　it　abroad；　and
disclosed　a　rough　draft　of　an　announcement　to　the　effect　that　Mrs。
Petherwin；　Professed　Story…teller；　would　devote　an　evening　to　that
ancient　form　of　the　romancer's　art；　at　a　well…known　fashionable　hall
in　London。　　'Now　you　see；'　she　continued；　'the　meaning　of　what　you
observed　going　on　here。　　That　you　heard　was　one　of　three　tales　I　am
preparing；　with　a　view　of　selecting　the　best。　　As　a　reserved　one；　I
have　the　tale　of　my　own　lifeto　be　played　as　a　last　card。　　It　was　a
private　rehearsal　before　my　brothers　and　sistersnot　with　any　view
of　obtaining　their　criticism；　but　that　I　might　become　accustomed　to
my　own　voice　in　the　presence　of　listeners。'

'If　I　only　had　had　half　your　enterprise；　what　I　might　have　done　in
the　world！'

'Now　did　you　ever　consider　what　a　power　De　Foe's　manner　would　have
if　practised　by　word　of　mouth？　　Indeed；　it　is　a　style　which　suits
itself　infinitely　better　to　telling　than　to　writing；　abounding　as　it
does　in　colloquialisms　that　are　somewhat　out　of　place　on　paper　in
these　days；　but　have　a　wonderful　power　in　making　a　narrative　seem
real。　　And　so；　in　short；　I　am　going　to　talk　De　Foe　on　a　subject　of
my　own。　　Well？'

The　last　word　had　been　given　tenderly；　with　a　long…drawn　sweetness；
and　was　caused　by　a　look　that　Christopher　was　bending　upon　her　at
the　moment；　in　which　he　revealed　that　he　was　thinking　less　of　the
subject　she　was　so　eagerly　and　hopefully　descanting　upon　than　upon
her　aspect　in　explaining　it。　　It　is　a　fault　of　manner　particularly
common　among　men　newly　imported　into　the　society　of　bright　and
beautiful　women；　and　we　will　hope　that；　springing　as　it　does　from　no
unworthy　source；　it　is　as　soon　forgiven　in　the　general　world　as　it
was　here。

'I　was　only　following　a　thought；'　said　Christopher：'a　thought　of
how　I　used　to　know　you；　and　then　lost　sight　of　you；　and　then
discovered　you　famous；　and　how　we　are　here　under　these　sad　autumn
trees；　and　nobody　in　sight。'

'I　think　it　must　be　tea…time；'　she　said　suddenly。　　'Tea　is　a　great
meal　with　us　hereyou　will　join　us；　will　you　not？'　　And　Ethelberta
began　to　make　for　herself　a　passage　through　the　boughs。　　Another
rustle　was　heard　a　little　way　off；　and　one　of　the　children　appeared。

'Emmeline　wants　to　know；　please；　if　the　gentleman　that　come　to　see
'ee　will　stay　to　tea；　because；　if　so；　she's　agoing　to　put　in　another
spoonful　for　him　and　a　bit　of　best　green。'

'O　Georginahow　candid！　　Yes；　put　in　some　best　green。'

Before　Christopher　could　say　any　more　to　her；　they　were　emerging　by
the　corner　of　the　cottage；　and　one　of　the　brothers　drew　near　them。
'Mr。　Julian；　you'll　bide　and　have　a　cup　of　tea　wi'　us？'　　he　inquired
of　Christopher。　　'An　old　friend　of　yours；　is　he　not；　Mrs。　Petherwin？
Dan　and　I　be　going　back　to　Sandbourne　to…night；　and　we　can　walk　with
'ee　as　far　as　the　station。'

'I　shall　be　delighted；'　said　Christopher；　and　they　all　entered　the
cottage。　　The　evening　had　grown　clearer　by　this　time；　the　sun　was
peeping　out　just　previous　to　departure；　and　sent　gold　wires　of　light
across　the　glades　and　into　the　windows；　throwing　a　pattern　of　the
diamond　quarries；　and　outlines　of　the　geraniums　in　pots；　against　the
opposite　wall。　　One　end　of　the　room　was　polygonal；　such　a　shape
being　dictated　by　the　exterior　design；　in　this　part　the　windows　were
placed；　as　at　the　east　end　of　continental　churches。　　Thus；　from　the
combined　effects　of　the　ecclesiastical　lancet　lights　and　the　apsidal
shape　of　the　room；　it　occurred　to　Christopher　that　the　sisters　were
all　a　delightful　set　of　pretty　saints；　exhibiting　themselves　in　a
lady　chapel；　and　backed　up　by　unkempt　major　prophets；　as　represented
by　the　forms　of　their　big　brothers。

Christopher　sat　down　to　tea　as　invited；　squeezing　himself　in　between
two　children　whose　names　were　almost　as　long　as　their　persons；　and
whose　tin　cups　discoursed　primitive　music　by　means　of　spoons　rattled
inside　them　until　they　were　filled。　　The　tea　proceeded　pleasantly；
notwithstanding　that　the　cake；　being　a　little　burnt；　tasted　on　the
outside　like　the　latter　plums　in　snapdragon。　　Christopher　never
could　meet　the　eye　of　Picotee；　who　continued　in　a　wild　state　of
flushing　all　the　time；　fixing　her　looks　upon　the　sugar…basin；　except
when　she　glanced　out　of　the　window　to　see　how　the　evening　was　going
on；　and　speaking　no　word　at　all　unless　it　was　to　correct　a　small
sister　of　somewhat　crude　manners　as　regards　filling　the　mouth；　which
Picotee　did　in　a　whisper；　and　a　gentle　inclination　of　her　mouth　to
the　little　one's　ear；　and　a　still　deeper　blush　than　before。

Their　visitor　next　noticed　that　an　additional　cup…and…saucer　and
plate　made　their　appearance　occasionally　at　the　table；　were　silently
replenished；　and　then　carried　off　by　one　of　the　children　to　an　inner
apartment。

'Our　mother　is　bedridden；'　said　Ethelberta；　noticing　Christopher's
look　at　the　proceeding。　　'Emmeline　attends　to　the　household；　except
when　Picotee　is　at　home；　and　Joey　attends　to　the　gate；　but　our
mother's　affliction　is　a　very　unfortunate　thing　for　the　poor
children。　　We　are　thinking　of　a　plan　of　living　which　will；　I　hope；
be　more　convenient　than　this　is；　but　we　have　not　yet　decided　what　to
do。'　　At　this　minute　a　carriage　and　pair　of　horses　became　visible
through　one　of　the　angular　windows　of　the　apse；　in　the　act　of
turning　in　from　the　highway　towards　the　park　gate。　　The　boy　who
answered　to　the　name　of　Joey　sprang　up　from　the　table　with　the
promptness　of　a　Jack…in…the…box；　and　ran　out　at　the　door。　　Everybody
turned　as　the　carriage　passed　through　the　gate；　which　Joey　held
open；　putting　his　other　hand　where　the　brim　of　his　hat　would　have
been　if　he　had　worn　one；　and　lapsing　into　a　careless　boy　again　the
instant　that　the　vehicle　had　gone　by。

'There's　a　tremendous　large　dinner…party　at　the　House　to…night；'
said　Emmeline　methodically；　looking　at　the　equipage　over　the　edge　of
her　teacup；　without　leaving　off　sipping。　　'That　was　Lord　Mountclere。
He's　a　wicked　old　man；　they　say。'

'Lord　Mountclere？'　said　Ethelberta　musingly。　　'I　used　to　know　some
friends　of　his。　　In　what　way　is　he　wicked？'

'I　don't　know；'　said　Emmeline；　with　simplicity。　　'I　suppose　it　is
because　he　breaks　the　commandments。　　But　I　wonder　how　a　big　rich
lord　can　want　to　steal　anything。'　　Emmeline's　thoughts　of　breaking
commandments　instinctively　fell　upon　the　eighth；　as　being　in　her
ideas　the　only　case　wherein　the　gain　could　be　considered　as　at　all
worth　the　hazard。

Ethelberta　said　nothing；　but　Christopher　thought　that　a　shade　of
depression　passed　over　her。

'Hook　back　the　gate；　Joey；'　shouted　Emmeline；　when　the　carriage　had
proceeded　up　the　drive。　　'There's　more　to　come。'

Joey　did　as　ordered；　and　by　the　time　he　got　indoors　another　carriage
turned　in　from　the　public　roada　one…horse　brougham　this　time。

'I　know　who　that　is：　　that's　Mr。　Ladywell；'　said　Emmeline；　in　the
same　matter…of…fact　tone。　　'He's　been　here　afore：　　he's　a　distant
relation　of　the　squire's；　and　he　once　gave　me　sixpence　for　picking
up　his　gloves。'

'What　shall　I　live　to　see？'　murmured　the　poetess；　under　her　breath；
nearly　dropping　her　teacup　in　an　involuntary　trepidation；　from　which
she　made　it　a　point　of　dignity　to　recover　in　a　moment。
Christopher's　eyes；　at　that　exhibition　from　Ethelberta；　entered　her
own　like　a　pair　of　lances。　　Picotee；　seeing　Christopher's　quick　look
of　jealousy；　became　involved　in　her　turn；　and　grew　pale　as　a　lily　in
her　endeavours　to　conceal　the　complications　to　which　it　gave　birth
in　her　poor　little　breast　likewise。

'You　judge　me　very　wrongly；'　said　Ethelberta；　in　answer　to
Christopher's　hasty　look　of　resentment。

'In　supposing　Mr。　Ladywell　to　be　a　great　friend　of　yours？'　said
Christopher；　who　had　in　some　indescribable　way　suddenly　assumed　a
right　to　Ethelberta　as　his　old　property。

'Yes：　　for　I　hardly　know　him；　and　certainly　do　not　value　him。'

After　this　there　was　something　in　the　mutual　look　of　the　two；　though
their　words　had　been　private；　which　did　not　tend　to　remove　the
anguish　of　fragile　Picotee。　　Christopher；　assured　that　Ethelberta's
embarrassment　had　been　caused　by　nothing　more　than　the　sense　of　her
odd　social　subsidence；　recovered　more　bliss　than　he　had　lost；　and
regarded　calmly　the　profile　of　young　Ladywell　between　the　two
windows　of　his　brougham　as　it　passed　the　open　cottage　door；　bearing
him　along　unconscious　as　the　dead　of　the　nearness　of　his　beloved
one；　and　of　the　sad　buffoonery　that　fate；　fortune；　and　the　guardian
angels　had　been　playing　with　Ethelberta　of　late。　　He　recognized　the
face　as　that　of　the　young　man　whom　he　had　encountered　when　watching
Ethelberta's　window　from　Rookington　Park。

'Perhaps　you　remember　seeing　him　at　the　Christmas　dance　at　Wyndway？'
she　inquired。　　'He　is　a　good…natured　fellow。　　Afterwards　he　sent　me
that　portfol