the hand of ethelberta-第9节

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turned　aside；　and　entered　into　conversation　with　a　neighbour。

It　was　only　a　look；　and　yet　what　a　look　it　was！　　One　may　say　of　a
look　that　it　is　capable　of　division　into　as　many　species；　genera；
orders；　and　classes；　as　the　animal　world　itself。　　Christopher　saw
Ethelberta　Petherwin's　performance　in　this　kindthe　well…known
spark　of　light　upon　the　well…known　depths　of　mysteryand　felt
something　going　out　of　him　which　had　gone　out　of　him　once　before。

Thus　continually　beholding　her　and　her　companions　in　the　giddy
whirl；　the　night　wore　on　with　the　musicians；　last　dances　and　more
last　dances　being　added；　till　the　intentions　of　the　old　on　the
matter　were　thrice　exceeded　in　the　interests　of　the　young。　　Watching
the　couples　whirl　and　turn；　advance　and　recede　as　gently　as　spirits；
knot　themselves　like　house…flies　and　part　again；　and　lullabied　by
the　faint　regular　beat　of　their　footsteps　to　the　tune；　the　players
sank　into　the　peculiar　mesmeric　quiet　which　comes　over
impressionable　people　who　play　for　a　great　length　of　time　in　the
midst　of　such　scenes；　and　at　last　the　only　noises　that　Christopher
took　cognizance　of　were　those　of　the　exceptional　kind；　breaking
above　the　general　sea　of　sounda　casual　smart　rustle　of　silk；　a
laugh；　a　stumble；　the　monosyllabic　talk　of　those　who　happened　to
linger　for　a　moment　close　to　the　leafy　screenall　coming　to　his
ears　like　voices　from　those　old　times　when　he　had　mingled　in　similar
scenes；　not　as　servant　but　as　guest。



5。　AT　THE　WINDOW　…　THE　ROAD　HOME

The　dancing　was　over　at　last；　and　the　radiant　company　had　left　the
room。　　A　long　and　weary　night　it　had　been　for　the　two　players；
though　a　stimulated　interest　had　hindered　physical　exhaustion　in　one
of　them　for　a　while。　　With　tingling　fingers　and　aching　arms　they
came　out　of　the　alcove　into　the　long　and　deserted　apartment；　now
pervaded　by　a　dry　haze。　　The　lights　had　burnt　low；　and　Faith　and　her
brother　were　waiting　by　request　till　the　wagonette　was　ready　to　take
them　home；　a　breakfast　being　in　course　of　preparation　for　them
meanwhile。

Christopher　had　crossed　the　room　to　relieve　his　cramped　limbs；　and
now；　peeping　through　a　crevice　in　the　window　curtains；　he　said
suddenly；　'Who's　for　a　transformation　scene？　　Faith；　look　here！'

He　touched　the　blind；　up　it　flew；　and　a　gorgeous　scene　presented
itself　to　her　eyes。　　A　huge　inflamed　sun　was　breasting　the　horizon
of　a　wide　sheet　of　sea　which；　to　her　surprise　and　delight；　the
mansion　overlooked。　　The　brilliant　disc　fired　all　the　waves　that　lay
between　it　and　the　shore　at　the　bottom　of　the　grounds；　where　the
water　tossed　the　ruddy　light　from　one　undulation　to　another　in
glares　as　large　and　clear　as　mirrors；　incessantly　altering　them；
destroying　them；　and　creating　them　again；　while　further　off　they
multiplied；　thickened；　and　ran　into　one　another　like　struggling
armies；　till　they　met　the　fiery　source　of　them　all。

'O；　how　wonderful　it　is！'　said　Faith；　putting　her　hand　on
Christopher's　arm。　　'Who　knew　that　whilst　we　were　all　shut　in　here
with　our　puny　illumination　such　an　exhibition　as　this　was　going　on
outside！　　How　sorry　and　mean　the　grand　and　stately　room　looks　now！'

Christopher　turned　his　back　upon　the　window；　and　there　were　the
hitherto　beaming　candle…flames　shining　no　more　radiantly　than
tarnished　javelin…heads；　while　the　snow…white　lengths　of　wax　showed
themselves　clammy　and　cadaverous　as　the　fingers　of　a　corpse。　　The
leaves　and　flowers　which　had　appeared　so　very　green　and　blooming　by
the　artificial　light　were　now　seen　to　be　faded　and　dusty。　　Only　the
gilding　of　the　room　in　some　degree　brought　itself　into　keeping　with
the　splendours　outside；　stray　darts　of　light　seizing　upon　it　and
lengthening　themselves　out　along　fillet；　quirk；　arris；　and　moulding；
till　wasted　away。

'It　seems；'　said　Faith；　'as　if　all　the　people　who　were　lately　so
merry　here　had　died：　　we　ourselves　look　no　more　than　ghosts。'　　She
turned　up　her　weary　face　to　her　brother's；　which　the　incoming　rays
smote　aslant；　making　little　furrows　of　every　wrinkle　thereon；　and
shady　ravines　of　every　little　furrow。

'You　are　very　tired；　Faith；'　he　said。　　'Such　a　heavy　night's　work
has　been　almost　too　much　for　you。'

'O；　I　don't　mind　that；'　said　Faith。　　'But　I　could　not　have　played　so
long　by　myself。'

'We　filled　up　one　another's　gaps；　and　there　were　plenty　of　them
towards　the　morning；　but；　luckily；　people　don't　notice　those　things
when　the　small　hours　draw　on。'

'What　troubles　me　most；'　said　Faith；　'is　not　that　I　have　worked；　but
that　you　should　be　so　situated　as　to　need　such　miserable　assistance
as　mine。　　We　are　poor；　are　we　not；　Kit？'

'Yes；　we　know　a　little　about　poverty；'　he　replied。

While　thus　lingering

　　　　　'In　shadowy　thoroughfares　of　thought；'

Faith　interrupted　with；　'I　believe　there　is　one　of　the　dancers　now！…
…why；　I　should　have　thought　they　had　all　gone　to　bed；　and　wouldn't
get　up　again　for　days。'　　She　indicated　to　him　a　figure　on　the　lawn
towards　the　left；　looking　upon　the　same　flashing　scene　as　that　they
themselves　beheld。

'It　is　your　own　particular　one；'　continued　Faith。　　'Yes；　I　see　the
blue　flowers　under　the　edge　of　her　cloak。'

'And　I　see　her　squirrel…coloured　hair；'　said　Christopher。

Both　stood　looking　at　this　apparition；　who　once；　and　only　once；
thought　fit　to　turn　her　head　towards　the　front　of　the　house　they
were　gazing　from。　　Faith　was　one　in　whom　the　meditative　somewhat
overpowered　the　active　faculties；　she　went　on；　with　no　abundance　of
love；　to　theorize　upon　this　gratuitously　charming　woman；　who；
striking　freakishly　into　her　brother's　path；　seemed　likely　to　do　him
no　good　in　her　sisterly　estimation。　　Ethelberta's　bright　and　shapely
form　stood　before　her　critic　now；　smartened　by　the　motes　of　sunlight
from　head　to　heel：　　what　Faith　would　have　given　to　see　her　so
clearly　within！

'Without　doubt　she　is　already　a　lady　of　many　romantic　experiences；'
she　said　dubiously。

'And　on　the　way　to　many　more；'　said　Christopher。　　The　tone　was　just
of　the　kind　which　may　be　imagined　of　a　sombre　man　who　had　been　up
all　night　piping　that　others　might　dance。

Faith　parted　her　lips　as　if　in　consternation　at　possibilities。
Ethelberta；　having　already　become　an　influence　in　Christopher's
system；　might　soon　become　morean　indestructible　fascinationto
drag　him　about；　turn　his　soul　inside　out；　harrow　him；　twist　him；　and
otherwise　torment　him；　according　to　the　stereotyped　form　of　such
processes。

They　were　interrupted　by　the　opening　of　a　door。　　A　servant　entered
and　came　up　to　them。

'This　is　for　you；　I　believe；　sir；'　he　said。　　'Two　guineas；'　and　he
placed　the　money　in　Christopher's　hand。　　'Some　breakfast　will　be
ready　for　you　in　a　moment　if　you　like　to　have　it。　　Would　you　wish　it
brought　in　here；　or　will　you　come　to　the　steward's　room？'

'Yes；　we　will　come。'　　And　the　man　then　began　to　extinguish　the
lights　one　by　one。　　Christopher　dropped　the　two　pounds　and　two
shillings　singly　into　his　pocket；　and　looking　listlessly　at　the
footman　said；　'Can　you　tell　me　the　address　of　that　lady　on　the　lawn？
Ah；　she　has　disappeared！'

'She　wore　a　dress　with　blue　flowers；'　said　Faith。

'And　remarkable　bright　in　her　manner？　　O；　that's　the　young　widow；
Mrswhat's　that　nameI　forget　for　the　moment。'

'Widow？'　said　Christopher；　the　eyes　of　his　understanding　getting
wonderfully　clear；　and　Faith　uttering　a　private　ejaculation　of
thanks　that　after　all　no　commandments　were　likely　to　be　broken　in
this　matter。　　'The　lady　I　mean　is　quite　a　girlish　sort　of　woman。'

'Yes；　yes；　so　she　isthat's　the　one。　　Coachman　says　she　must　have
been　born　a　widow；　for　there　is　not　time　for　her　ever　to　have　been
made　one。　　However；　she's　not　quite　such　a　chicken　as　all　that。
Mrs。　Petherwin；　that's　the　party's　name。'

'Does　she　live　here？'

'No；　she　is　staying　in　the　house　visiting　for　a　few　days　with　her
mother…in…law。　　They　are　a　London　family；　I　don't　know　her　address。'

'Is　she　a　poetess？'

'That　I　cannot　say。　　She　is　very　clever　at　verses；　but　she　don't
lean　over　gates　to　see　the　sun；　and　goes　to　church　as　regular　as　you
or　I；　so　I　should　hardly　be　inclined　to　say　that　she's　the　complete
thing。　　When　she's　up　in　one　of　her　vagaries　she'll　sit　with　the
ladies　and　make　up　pretty　things　out　of　her　head　as　fast　as　sticks
a…breaking。　　They　will　run　off　her　tongue　like　cotton　from　a　reel；
and　if　she　can　ever　be　got　in　the　mind　of　telling　a　story　she　will
bring　it　out　that　serious　and　awful　that　it　makes　your　flesh　creep
upon　your　bones；　if　she's　only　got　to　say　that　she　walked　out　of　one
door　into　another；　she'll　tell　it　so　that　there　seems　something
wonderful　in　it。　　'Tis　a　bother　to　start　her；　so　our　people　say
behind　her　back；　but；　once　set　going；　the　house　is　all　alive　with
her。　　However；　it　will　soon　be　dull　enough；　she　and　Lady　Petherwin
are　off　to…morrow　for　Rookington；　where　I　believe　they　are　going　to
stay　over　New　Year's　Day。'

'Where　do　you　say　they　are　going？'　inquired　Christopher；　as　they
followed　the　footman。

'Rookington　Parkabout　three　miles　out　of　Sandbourne；　in　the
opposite　direction　to　this。'

'A　widow；'　Christopher　murmured。

Faith　overheard　him。　　'That　makes　no　difference　to　us；　does　it？'　she
said　wistfully。

Fo