the hand of ethelberta-第80节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


unworthy　man；　and　so　it　has！'　said　Sol　bitterly。　　'What　shall　we　do
now？　　I'll　see　her。'

'Do　no　such　thing；　young　man；'　said　Mountclere。　　'The　best　course　is
to　leave　matters　alone。　　They　are　married。　　If　you　are　wise；　you
will　try　to　think　the　match　a　good　one；　and　be　content　to　let　her
keep　her　position　without　inconveniencing　her　by　your　intrusions　or
complaints。　　It　is　possible　that　the　satisfaction　of　her　ambition
will　help　her　to　endure　any　few　surprises　to　her　propriety　that　may
occur。　　She　is　a　clever　young　woman；　and　has　played　her　cards
adroitly。　　I　only　hope　she　may　never　repent　of　the　game！　　A…hem。
Good　morning。'　　Saying　this；　Mountclere　slightly　bowed　to　his
relations；　and　marched　out　of　the　church　with　dignity；　but　it　was
told　afterwards　by　the　coachman；　who　had　no　love　for　Mountclere；
that　when　he　stepped　into　the　fly；　and　was　as　he　believed
unobserved；　he　was　quite　overcome　with　fatuous　rage；　his　lips
frothing　like　a　mug　of　hot　ale。

'What　an　impertinent　gentleman　'tis；'　said　Chickerel。　　'As　if　we　had
tried　for　her　to　marry　his　brother！'

'He　knows　better　than　that；'　said　Sol。　　'But　he'll　never　believe
that　Berta　didn't　lay　a　trap　for　the　old　fellow。　　He　thinks　at　this
moment　that　Lord　Mountclere　has　never　been　told　of　us　and　our
belongings。'

'I　wonder　if　she　has　deceived　him　in　anything；'　murmured　Chickerel。
'I　can　hardly　suppose　it。　　But　she　is　altogether　beyond　me。
However；　if　she　has　misled　him　on　any　point　she　will　suffer　for　it。'

'You　need　not　fear　that；　father。　　It　isn't　her　way　of　working。　　Why
couldn't　she　have　known　that　when　a　title　is　to　be　had　for　the
asking；　the　owner　must　be　a　shocking　one　indeed？'

'The　title　is　well　enough。　　Any　poor　scrubs　in　our　place　must　be
fools　not　to　think　the　match　a　very　rare　and　astonishing　honour；　as
far　as　the　position　goes。　　But　that　my　brave　girl　will　be　miserable
is　a　part　of　the　honour　I　can't　stomach　so　well。　　If　he　had　been　any
other　lord　in　the　kingdom；　we　might　have　been　merry　indeed。　　I
believe　he　will　ruin　her　happinessyes；　I　donot　by　any　personal
snubbing　or　rough　conduct；　but　by　other　things；　causing　her　to　be
despised；　and　that　is　a　thing　she　can't　endure。'

'She's　not　to　be　despised　without　a　deal　of　troublewe　must
remember　that。　　And　if　he　insults　her　by　introducing　new　favourites；
as　they　say　he　did　his　first　wife；　I'll　call　upon　him　and　ask　his
meaning；　and　take　her　away。'

'Nonsensewe　shall　never　know　what　he　does；　or　how　she　feels；　she
will　never　let　out　a　word。　　However　unhappy　she　may　be；　she　will
always　deny　itthat's　the　unfortunate　part　of　such　marriages。'

'An　old　chap　like　that　ought　to　leave　young　women　alone；　damn　him！'

The　clerk　came　nearer。　　'I　am　afraid　I　cannot　allow　bad　words　to　be
spoke　in　this　sacred　pile；'　he　said。　　'As　far　as　my　personal　self
goes；　I　should　have　no　objection　to　your　cussing　as　much　as　you
like；　but　as　a　official　of　the　church　my　conscience　won't　allow　it
to　be　done。'

'Your　conscience　has　allowed　something　to　be　done　that　cussing　and
swearing　are　godly　worship　to。'

'The　prettiest　maid　is　left　out　of　harness；　however；'　said　the
clerk。　　'The　little　witness　was　the　chicken　to　my　tasteLord
forgive　me　for　saying　it；　and　a　man　with　a　wife　and　family！'

Sol　and　his　father　turned　to　withdraw；　and　soon　forgot　the　remark；
but　it　was　frequently　recalled　by　Christopher。

'Do　you　think　of　trying　to　see　Ethelberta　before　you　leave？'　said
Sol。

'Certainly　not；'　said　Chickerel。　　'Mr。　Mountclere's　advice　was　good
in　that。　　The　more　we　keep　out　of　the　way　the　more　good　we　are　doing
her。　　I　shall　go　back　to　Anglebury　by　the　carrier；　and　get　on　at
once　to　London。　　You　will　go　with　me；　I　suppose？'

'The　carrier　does　not　leave　yet　for　an　hour　or　two。'

'I　shall　walk　on；　and　let　him　overtake　me。　　If　possible；　I　will　get
one　glimpse　of　Enckworth　Court；　Berta's　new　home；　there　may　be　time；
if　I　start　at　once。'

'I　will　walk　with　you；'　said　Sol。

'There　is　room　for　one　with　me；'　said　Christopher。　　'I　shall　drive
back　early　in　the　afternoon。'

'Thank　you；'　said　Sol。　　'I　will　endeavour　to　meet　you　at　Corvsgate。'

Thus　it　was　arranged。　　Chickerel　could　have　wished　to　search　for
Picotee；　and　learn　from　her　the　details　of　this　mysterious　matter。
But　it　was　particularly　painful　to　him　to　make　himself　busy　after
the　event；　and　to　appear　suddenly　and　uselessly　where　he　was　plainly
not　wanted　to　appear　would　be　an　awkwardness　which　the　pleasure　of
seeing　either　daughter　could　scarcely　counterbalance。　　Hence　he　had
resolved　to　return　at　once　to　town；　and　there　await　the　news；
together　with　the　detailed　directions　as　to　his　own　future
movements；　carefully　considered　and　laid　down；　which　were　sure　to　be
given　by　the　far…seeing　Ethelberta。

Sol　and　his　father　walked　on　together；　Chickerel　to　meet　the　carrier
just　beyond　Enckworth；　Sol　to　wait　for　Christopher　at　Corvsgate。
His　wish　to　see；　in　company　with　his　father；　the　outline　of　the　seat
to　which　Ethelberta　had　been　advanced　that　day；　was　the　triumph　of
youthful　curiosity　and　interest　over　dogged　objection。　　His　father's
wish　was　based　on　calmer　reasons。

Christopher；　lone　and　out　of　place；　remained　in　the　church　yet　a
little　longer。　　He　desultorily　walked　round。　　Reaching　the　organ
chamber；　he　looked　at　the　instrument；　and　was　surprised　to　find
behind　it　a　young　man。　　Julian　first　thought　him　to　be　the　organist；
on　second　inspection；　however；　he　proved　to　be　a　person　Christopher
had　met　before；　under　far　different　circumstances；　it　was　our　young
friend　Ladywell；　looking　as　sick　and　sorry　as　a　lily　with　a　slug　in
its　stalk。

The　occasion；　the　place；　and　their　own　condition；　made　them　kin。
Christopher　had　despised　Ladywell；　Ladywell　had　disliked
Christopher；　but　a　third　item　neutralized　the　other　twoit　was
their　common　lot。

Christopher　just　nodded；　for　they　had　only　met　on　Ethelberta's
stairs。　　Ladywell　nodded　more；　and　spoke。　　'The　church　appears　to　be
interesting；'　he　said。

'Yes。　　Such　a　tower　is　rare　in　England；'　said　Christopher。

They　then　dwelt　on　other　features　of　the　building；　thence　enlarging
to　the　village；　and　then　to　the　rocks　and　marine　scenery；　both
avoiding　the　malady　they　suffered　fromthe　marriage　of　Ethelberta。

'The　village　streets　are　very　picturesque；　and　the　cliff　scenery　is
good　of　its　kind；'　rejoined　Ladywell。　　'The　rocks　represent　the
feminine　side　of　grandeur。　　Here　they　are　white；　with　delicate　tops。
On　the　west　coast　they　are　higher；　black；　and　with　angular　summits。
Those　represent　grandeur　in　its　masculine　aspect。　　It　is　merely　my
own　idea；　and　not　very　bright；　perhaps。'

'It　is　very　ingenious；'　said　Christopher；　'and　perfectly　true。'

Ladywell　was　pleased。　　'I　am　here　at　present　making　sketches　for　my
next　subjecta　winter　sea。　　Otherwise　I　should　not　havehappened
to　be　in　the　church。'

'You　are　acquainted　with　Mrs。　PetherwinI　think　you　are　Mr。
Ladywell；　who　painted　her　portrait　last　season？'

'Yes；'　said　Ladywell；　colouring。

'You　may　have　heard　her　speak　of　Mr。　Julian？'

'O　yes；'　said　Ladywell；　offering　his　hand。　　Then　by　degrees　their
tongues　wound　closer　round　the　subject　of　their　sadness；　each
tacitly　owning　to　what　he　would　not　tell。

'I　saw　it；'　said　Ladywell　heavily。

'Did　she　look　troubled？'

'Not　in　the　leastbright　and　fresh　as　a　May　morning。　　She　has
played　me　many　a　bitter　trick；　and　poor　Neigh　too；　a　friend　of　mine。
But　I　cannot　help　forgiving　her。　。　。　。　　I　saw　a　carriage　at　the
door；　and　strolled　in。　　The　ceremony　was　just　proceeding；　so　I　sat
down　here。　　Well；　I　have　done　with　Knollsea。　　The　place　has　no
further　interest　for　me　now。　　I　may　own　to　you　as　a　friend；　that　if
she　had　not　been　living　here　I　should　have　studied　at　some　other
coastof　course　that's　in　confidence。'

'I　understand；　quite。'

'I　only　arrived　in　the　neighbourhood　two　days　ago；　and　did　not　set
eyes　upon　her　till　this　morning；　she　has　kept　so　entirely　indoors。'

Then　the　young　men　parted；　and　half…an…hour　later　the　ingenuous
Ladywell　came　from　the　visitors'　inn　by　the　shore；　a　man　walking
behind　him　with　a　quantity　of　artists'　materials　and　appliances。　　He
went　on　board　the　steamer；　which　this　morning　had　performed　the
passage　in　safety。　　Ethelberta　single　having　been　the　loadstone　in
the　cliffs　that　had　attracted　Ladywell　hither；　Ethelberta　married
was　the　negative　pole　of　the　same；　sending　him　away。　　And　thus　did　a
woman　put　an　end　to　the　only　opportunity　of　distinction；　on　Art…
exhibition　walls；　that　ever　offered　itself　to　the　tortuous　ways；
quaint　alleys；　and　marbled　bluffs　of　Knollsea；　as　accessories　in　the
picture　of　a　winter　sea。

Christopher's　interest　in　the　village　was　of　the　same　evaporating
nature。　　He　looked　upon　the　sea；　and　the　great　swell；　and　the　waves
sending　up　a　sound　like　the　huzzas　of　multitudes；　but　all　the　wild
scene　was　irksome　now。　　The　ocean…bound　steamers　far　away　on　the
horizon　inspired　him　with　no　curiosity　as　to　their　destination；　the
house　Ethelberta　had　occupied　was　positively　hateful；　and　he　turned
away　to　wait　impatiently　for　the　hour　at　which　he　had　promised　to
drive　on　to　meet　Sol　at　Corvsgate。

Sol　and　Chickerel　plodded　along　the　road；　in　order　to　skirt
Enckworth　be