the hand of ethelberta-第85节

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frequently　explored　that　spot　in　his　Sandbourne　days。　　He　perceived
now　why　she　had　selected　that　particular　balcony　for　handing　down
directions；　it　was　the　only　one　round　the　house　that　was　low　enough
to　be　reached　from　the　outside；　the　basement　here　being　a　little　way
sunk　in　the　ground。

He　went　close　under；　turned　his　face　outwards；　and　waited。　　About　a
foot　over　his　head　was　the　stone　floor　of　the　balcony；　forming　a
ceiling　to　his　position。　　At　his　back；　two　or　three　feet　behind；　was
a　blank　wallthe　wall　of　the　house。　　In　front　of　him　was　the　misty
park；　crowned　by　a　sky　sparkling　with　winter　stars。　　This　was
abruptly　cut　off　upward　by　the　dark　edge　of　the　balcony　which
overhung　him。

It　was　as　if　some　person　within　the　room　above　had　been　awaiting　his
approach。　　He　had　scarcely　found　time　to　observe　his　situation　when
a　human　hand　and　portion　of　a　bare　arm　were　thrust　between　the
balusters；　descended　a　little　way　from　the　edge　of　the　balcony；　and
remained　hanging　across　the　starlit　sky。　　Something　was　between　the
fingers。　　Christopher　lifted　his　hand；　took　the　scrap；　which　was
paper；　and　the　arm　was　withdrawn。　　As　it　withdrew；　a　jewel　on　one　of
the　fingers　sparkled　in　the　rays　of　a　large　planet　that　rode　in　the
opposite　sky。

Light　steps　retreated　from　the　balcony；　and　a　window　closed。
Christopher　had　almost　held　his　breath　lest　Ethelberta　should
discover　him　at　the　critical　moment　to　be　other　than　Sol；　and　mar
her　deliverance　by　her　alarm。　　The　still　silence　was　anything　but
silence　to　him；　he　felt　as　if　he　were　listening　to　the　clanging
chorus　of　an　oratorio。　　And　then　he　could　fancy　he　heard　words
between　Ethelberta　and　the　viscount　within　the　room；　they　were
evidently　at　very　close　quarters；　and　dexterity　must　have　been
required　of　her。　　He　went　on　tiptoe　across　the　gravel　to　the　grass；
and　once　on　that　he　strode　in　the　direction　whence　he　had　come。　　By
the　thick　trunk　of　one　of　a　group　of　aged　trees　he　stopped　to　get　a
light；　just　as　the　Court　clock　struck　six　in　loud　long　tones。　　The
transaction　had　been　carried　out；　through　her　impatience　possibly；
four　or　five　minutes　before　the　time　appointed。

The　note　contained；　in　a　shaken　hand；　in　which；　however；　the　well…
known　characters　were　distinguishable；　these　words　in　pencil：

'At　half…past　seven　o'clock。　　Just　outside　the　north　lodge；　don't
fail。'

This　was　the　time　she　had　suggested　to　Sol　as　that　which　would
probably　best　suit　her　escape；　if　she　could　escape　at　all。　　She　had
changed　the　place　from　the　west　to　the　north　lodgenothing　else。
The　latter　was　certainly　more　secluded；　though　a　trifle　more　remote
from　the　course　of　the　proposed　journey；　there　was　just　time　enough
and　none　to　spare　for　fetching　the　brougham　from　Little　Enckworth　to
the　lodge；　the　village　being　two　miles　off。　　The　few　minutes　gained
by　her　readiness　at　the　balcony　were　useful　now。　　He　started　at　once
for　the　village；　diverging　somewhat　to　observe　the　spot　appointed
for　the　meeting。　　It　was　excellently　chosen；　the　gate　appeared　to　be
little　used；　the　lane　outside　it　was　covered　with　trees；　and　all
around　was　silent　as　the　grave。　　After　this　hasty　survey　by　the　wan
starlight；　he　hastened　on　to　Little　Enckworth。

An　hour　and　a　quarter　later　a　little　brougham　without　lamps　was
creeping　along　by　the　park　wall　towards　this　spot。　　The　leaves　were
so　thick　upon　the　unfrequented　road　that　the　wheels　could　not　be
heard；　and　the　horse's　pacing　made　scarcely　more　noise　than　a　rabbit
would　have　done　in　limping　along。　　The　vehicle　progressed　slowly；
for　they　were　in　good　time。　　About　ten　yards　from　the　park　entrance
it　stopped；　and　Christopher　stepped　out。

'We　may　have　to　wait　here　ten　minutes；'　he　said　to　the　driver。　　'And
then　shall　we　be　able　to　reach　Anglebury　in　time　for　the　up　mail…
train　to　Southampton？'

'Half…past　seven；　half…past　eight；　half…past　ninetwo　hours。　　O
yes；　sir；　easily。　　A　young　lady　in　the　case　perhaps；　sir？'

'Yes。'

'Well；　I　hope　she'll　be　done　honestly　by；　even　if　she　is　of　humble
station。　　'Tis　best；　and　cheapest　too；　in　the　long　run。'　　The
coachman　was　apparently　imagining　the　dove　about　to　flit　away　to　be
one　of　the　pretty　maid…servants　that　abounded　in　Enckworth　Court；
such　escapades　as　these　were　not　unfrequent　among　them；　a　fair　face
having　been　deemed　a　sufficient　recommendation　to　service　in　that
house；　without　too　close　an　inquiry　into　character；　since　the　death
of　the　first　viscountess。

'Now　then；　silence；　and　listen　for　a　footstep　at　the　gate。'

Such　calmness　as　there　was　in　the　musician's　voice　had　been　produced
by　considerable　effort。　　For　his　heart　had　begun　to　beat　fast　and
loud　as　he　strained　his　attentive　ear　to　catch　the　footfall　of　a
woman　who　could　only　be　his　illegally。

The　obscurity　was　as　great　as　a　starry　sky　would　permit　it　to　be。
Beneath　the　trees　where　the　carriage　stood　the　darkness　was　total。



47。　ENCKWORTH　AND　ITS　PRECINCTS　…　MELCHESTER

To　be　wise　after　the　event　is　often　to　act　foolishly　with　regard　to
it；　and　to　preserve　the　illusion　which　has　led　to　the　event　would
frequently　be　a　course　that　omniscience　itself　could　not　find　fault
with。　　Reaction　with　Ethelberta　was　complete；　and　the　more　violent
in　that　it　threatened　to　be　useless。　　Sol's　bitter　chiding　had　been
the　first　thing　to　discompose　her　fortitude。　　It　reduced　her　to　a
consciousness　that　she　had　allowed　herself　to　be　coerced　in　her
instincts；　and　yet　had　not　triumphed　in　her　duty。　　She　might　have
pleased　her　family　better　by　pleasing　her　tastes；　and　have　entirely
avoided　the　grim　irony　of　the　situation　disclosed　later　in　the　day。

After　the　second　interview　with　Sol　she　was　to　some　extent　composed
in　mind　by　being　able　to　nurse　a　definite　intention。　　As　momentum
causes　the　narrowest　wheel　to　stand　upright；　a　scheme；　fairly
imbibed；　will　give　the　weakest　some　power　to　maintain　a　position
stoically。

In　the　temporary　absence　of　Lord　Mountclere；　about　six　o'clock；　she
slipped　out　upon　the　balcony　and　handed　down　a　note。　　To　her　relief；
a　hand　received　it　instantly。

The　hour　and　a　half　wanting　to　half…past　seven　she　passed　with　great
effort。　　The　main　part　of　the　time　was　occupied　by　dinner；　during
which　she　attempted　to　devise　some　scheme　for　leaving　him　without
suspicion　just　before　the　appointed　moment。

Happily；　and　as　if　by　a　Providence；　there　was　no　necessity　for　any
such　thing。

A　little　while　before　the　half…hour；　when　she　moved　to　rise　from
dinner；　he　also　arose；　tenderly　begging　her　to　excuse　him　for　a　few
minutes；　that　he　might　go　and　write　an　important　note　to　his　lawyer；
until　that　moment　forgotten；　though　the　postman　was　nearly　due。　　She
heard　him　retire　along　the　corridor　and　shut　himself　into　his　study；
his　promised　time　of　return　being　a　quarter　of　an　hour　thence。

Five　minutes　after　that　memorable　parting　Ethelberta　came　from　the
little　door　by　the　bush　of　yew；　well　and　thickly　wrapped　up　from
head　to　heels。　　She　skimmed　across　the　park　and　under　the　boughs
like　a　shade；　mounting　then　the　stone　steps　for　pedestrians　which
were　fixed　beside　the　park　gates　here　as　at　all　the　lodges。　　Outside
and　below　her　she　saw　an　oblong　shapeit　was　a　brougham；　and　it　had
been　drawn　forward　close　to　the　bottom　of　the　steps　that　she　might
not　have　an　inch　further　to　go　on　foot　than　to　this　barrier。　　The
whole　precinct　was　thronged　with　trees；　half　their　foliage　being
overhead；　the　other　half　under　foot；　for　the　gardeners　had　not　yet
begun　to　rake　and　collect　the　leaves；　thus　it　was　that　her　dress
rustled　as　she　descended　the　steps。

The　carriage　door　was　held　open　by　the　driver；　and　she　entered
instantly。　　He　shut　her　in；　and　mounted　to　his　seat。　　As　they　drove
away　she　became　conscious　of　another　person　inside。

'O！　Solit　is　done！'　she　whispered；　believing　the　man　to　be　her
brother。　　Her　companion　made　no　reply。

Ethelberta；　familiar　with　Sol's　moods　of　troubled　silence；　did　not
press　for　an　answer。　　It　was；　indeed；　certain　that　Sol's　assistance
would　have　been　given　under　a　sullen　protest；　even　if　unwilling　to
disappoint　her；　he　might　well　have　been　taciturn　and　angry　at　her
course。

They　sat　in　silence；　and　in　total　darkness。　　The　road　ascended　an
incline；　the　horse's　tramp　being　still　deadened　by　the　carpet　of
leaves。　　Then　the　large　trees　on　either　hand　became　interspersed　by
a　low　brushwood　of　varied　sorts；　from　which　a　large　bird
occasionally　flew；　in　its　fright　at　their　presence　beating　its　wings
recklessly　against　the　hard　stems　with　force　enough　to　cripple　the
delicate　quills。　　It　showed　how　deserted　was　the　spot　after
nightfall。

'Sol？'　said　Ethelberta　again。　　'Why　not　talk　to　me？'

She　now　noticed　that　her　fellow…traveller　kept　his　head　and　his
whole　person　as　snugly　back　in　the　corner；　out　of　her　way；　as　it　was
possible　to　do。　　She　was　not　exactly　frightened；　but　she　could　not
understand　the　reason。　　The　carriage　gave　a　quick　turn；　and　stopped。

'Where　are　we　now？'　she　said。　　'Shall　we　get　to　Anglebury　by　nine？
What　is　the　time；　Sol？'

'I　will　see；'　replied　her　companion。　　They　were　the　first　words　he
had　uttered。

The　voice　was　so　different　from　her　brother's　that　she　was
terrified；　her　limbs　quivered。