the hand of ethelberta-第8节

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by　ten　if　possible。　　Christopher　quickly　prepared　himself；　and　put　a
new　string　or　two　into　Faith's　harp；　by　which　time　she　also　was
dressed；　and；　wrapping　up　herself　and　her　instrument　safe　from　the
night　air；　away　they　drove　at　half…past　nine。

'Is　it　a　large　party？'　said　Christopher；　as　they　whizzed　along。

'No；　sir；　it　is　what　we　call　a　dancethat　is；　'tis　like　a　ball；　you
know；　on　a　small　scalea　ball　on　a　spurt；　that　you　never　thought　of
till　you　had　it。　　In　short；　it　grew　out　of　a　talk　at　dinner；　I
believe；　and　some　of　the　young　people　present　wanted　a　jig；　and
didn't　care　to　play　themselves；　you　know；　young　ladies　being　an　idle
class　of　society　at　the　best　of　times。　　We've　a　house　full　of
sleeping　company；　you　understandbeen　there　a　week　some　of　'em
most　of　'em　being　mistress's　relations。'

'They　probably　found　it　a　little　dull。'

'Well；　yesit　is　rather　dull　for　'emChristmas…time　and　all。　　As
soon　as　it　was　proposed　they　were　wild　for　sending　post…haste　for
somebody　or　other　to　play　to　them。'

'Did　they　name　me　particularly？'　said　Christopher。

'Yes；　〃Mr。　Christopher　Julian；〃　she　says。　　〃The　gent　who's　turned
music…man？〃　I　said。　　〃Yes；　that's　him；〃　says　she。'

'There　were　music…men　living　nearer　to　your　end　of　the　town　than　I。'

'Yes；　but　I　know　it　was　you　particular：　　though　I　don't　think
mistress　thought　anything　about　you　at　first。　　Mr。　Joycethat's　the
butlersaid　that　your　name　was　mentioned　to　our　old　party；　when　he
was　in　the　room；　by　a　young　lady　staying　with　us；　and　mistress　says
then；　〃The　Julians　have　had　a　downfall；　and　the　son　has　taken　to
music。〃　　Then　when　dancing　was　talked　of；　they　said；　〃O；　let's　have
him　by　all　means。〃'

'Was　the　young　lady　who　first　inquired　for　my　family　the　same　one
who　said；　〃Let's　have　him　by　all　means？〃'

'O　no；　but　it　was　on　account　of　her　asking　that　the　rest　said　they
would　like　you　to　playat　least　that's　as　I　had　it　from　Joyce。'

'Do　you　know　that　lady's　name？'

'Mrs。　Petherwin。'

'Ah！'

'Cold；　sir？'

'O　no。'

Christopher　did　not　like　to　question　the　man　any　further；　though
what　he　had　heard　added　new　life　to　his　previous　curiosity；　and　they
drove　along　the　way　in　silence；　Faith's　figure；　wrapped　up　to　the
top　of　her　head；　cutting　into　the　sky　behind　them　like　a　sugar…loaf。
Such　gates　as　crossed　the　roads　had　been　left　open　by　the
forethought　of　the　coachman；　and；　passing　the　lodge；　they　proceeded
about　half…a…mile　along　a　private　drive；　then　ascended　a　rise；　and
came　in　view　of　the　front　of　the　mansion；　punctured　with　windows
that　were　now　mostly　lighted　up。

'What　is　that？'　said　Faith；　catching　a　glimpse　of　something　that　the
carriage…lamp　showed　on　the　face　of　one　wall　as　they　passed；　a
marble　bas…relief　of　some　battle…piece；　built　into　the　stonework。

'That's　the　scene　of　the　death　of　one　of　the　squire's　forefathers
Colonel　Sir　Martin　Jones；　who　was　killed　at　the　moment　of　victory　in
the　battle　of　Salamancabut　I　haven't　been　here　long　enough　to　know
the　rights　of　it。　　When　I　am　in　one　of　my　meditations；　as　I　wait
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　on