the hand of ethelberta-第91章

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drive　on　to　meet　Sol　at　Corvsgate。

Sol　and　Chickerel　plodded　along　the　road；　in　order　to　skirt
Enckworth　before　the　carrier　came　up。　　Reaching　the　top　of　a　hill　on
their　way；　they　paused　to　look　down　on　a　peaceful　scene。　　It　was　a
park　and　wood；　glowing　in　all　the　matchless　colours　of　late　autumn；
parapets　and　pediments　peering　out　from　a　central　position　afar。　　At
the　bottom　of　the　descent　before　them　was　a　lodge；　to　which　they　now
descended。　　The　gate　stood　invitingly　open。　　Exclusiveness　was　no
part　of　the　owner's　instincts：　　one　could　see　that　at　a　glance。　　No
appearance　of　a　well…rolled　garden…path　attached　to　the　park…drive；
as　is　the　case　with　many；　betokening　by　the　perfection　of　their
surfaces　their　proprietor's　deficiency　in　hospitality。　　The　approach
was　like　a　turnpike　road　full　of　great　ruts；　clumsy　mendings；
bordered　by　trampled　edges　and　incursions　upon　the　grass　at
pleasure。　　Butchers　and　bakers　drove　as　freely　herein　as　peers　and
peeresses。　　Christening　parties；　wedding　companies；　and　funeral
trains　passed　along　by　the　doors　of　the　mansion　without　check　or
question。　　A　wild　untidiness　in　this　particular　has　its
recommendations；　for　guarded　grounds　ever　convey　a　suspicion　that
their　owner　is　young　to　landed　possessions；　as　religious
earnestnesss　implies　newness　of　conversion；　and　conjugal　tenderness
recent　marriage。

Half…an…hour　being　wanting　as　yet　to　Chickerel's　time　with　the
carrier；　Sol　and　himself；　like　the　rest　of　the　world　when　at
leisure；　walked　into　the　extensive　stretch　of　grass　and　grove。　　It
formed　a　park　so　large　that　not　one　of　its　owners　had　ever　wished　it
larger；　not　one　of　its　owner's　rivals　had　ever　failed　to　wish　it
smaller；　and　not　one　of　its　owner's　satellites　had　ever　seen　it
without　praise。　　They　somewhat　avoided　the　roadway　passing　under　the
huge；　misshapen；　ragged　trees；　and　through　fern　brakes；　ruddy　and
crisp　in　their　decay。　　On　reaching　a　suitable　eminence；　the　father
and　son　stood　still　to　look　upon　the　many…chimneyed　building；　or
rather　conglomeration　of　buildings；　to　which　these　groves　and　glades
formed　a　setting。

'We　will　just　give　a　glance；'　said　Chickerel；　'and　then　go　away。　　It
don't　seem　well　to　me　that　Ethelberta　should　have　this；　it　is　too
much。　　The　sudden　change　will　do　her　no　good。　　I　never　believe　in
anything　that　comes　in　the　shape　of　wonderful　luck。　　As　it　comes；　so
it　goes。　　Had　she　been　brought　home　today　to　one　of　those　tenant…
farms　instead　of　these　woods　and　walls；　I　could　have　called　it　good
fortune。　　What　she　should　have　done　was　glorify　herself　by
glorifying　her　own　line　of　life；　not　by　forsaking　that　line　for
another。　　Better　have　been　admired　as　a　governess　than　shunned　as　a
peeress；　which　is　what　she　will　be。　　But　it　is　just　the　same
everywhere　in　these　days。　　Young　men　will　rather　wear　a　black　coat
and　starve　than　wear　fustian　and　do　well。'

'One　man　to　want　such　a　monstrous　house　as　that！　　Well；　'tis　a　fine
place。　　See；　there's　the　carpenters'　shops；　the　timber…yard；　and
everything；　as　if　it　were　a　little　town。　　Perhaps　Berta　may　hire　me
for　a　job　now　and　then。'

'I　always　knew　she　would　cut　herself　off　from　us。　　She　marked　for　it
from　childhood；　and　she　has　finished　the　business　thoroughly。'

'Well；　it　is　no　matter；　father；　for　why　should　we　want　to　trouble
her？　　She　may　write；　and　I　shall　answer；　but　if　she　calls　to　see　me；
I　shall　not　return　the　visit；　and　if　she　meets　me　with　her　husband
or　any　of　her　new　society　about　her；　I　shall　behave　as　a　stranger。'

'It　will　be　best；'　said　Chickerel。　　'Well；　now　I　must　move。'

However；　by　the　sorcery　of　accident；　before　they　had　very　far
retraced　their　steps　an　open　carriage　became　visible　round　a　bend　in
the　drive。　　Chickerel；　with　a　servant's　instinct；　was　for　beating　a
retreat。

'No；'　said　Sol。　　'Let　us　stand　our　ground。　　We　have　already　been
seen；　and　we　do　no　harm。'

So　they　stood　still　on　the　edge　of　the　drive；　and　the　carriage　drew
near。　　It　was　a　landau；　and　the　sun　shone　in　upon　Lord　Mountclere；
with　Lady　Mountclere　sitting　beside　him；　like　Abishag　beside　King
David。

Very　blithe　looked　the　viscount；　for　he　rode　upon　a　cherub　to…day。
She　appeared　fresh；　rosy；　and　strong；　but　dubious；　though　if　mien
was　anything；　she　was　a　viscountess　twice　over。　　Her　dress　was　of　a
dove…coloured　material；　with　a　bonnet　to　match；　a　little　tufted
white　feather　resting　on　the　top；　like　a　truce…flag　between　the
blood　of　noble　and　vassal。　　Upon　the　cool　grey　of　her　shoulders　hung
a　few　locks　of　hair；　toned　warm　as　fire　by　the　sunshiny　addition　to
its　natural　hue。

Chickerel　instinctively　took　off　his　hat；　Sol　did　the　same。

For　only　a　moment　did　Ethelberta　seem　uncertain　how　to　act。　　But　a
solution　to　her　difficulty　was　given　by　the　face　of　her　brother。
There　she　saw　plainly　at　one　glance　more　than　a　dozen　speeches　would
have　toldfor　Sol's　features　thoroughly　expressed　his　intention
that　to　him　she　was　to　be　a　stranger。　　Her　eyes　flew　to　Chickerel；
and　he　slightly　shook　his　head。　　She　understood　them　now。　　With　a
tear　in　her　eye　for　her　father；　and　a　sigh　in　her　bosom　for　Sol；　she
bowed　in　answer　to　their　salute；　her　husband　moved　his　hat　and
nodded；　and　the　carriage　rolled　on。　　Lord　Mountclere　might　possibly
be　making　use　of　the　fine　morning　in　showing　her　the　park　and
premises。　　Chickerel；　with　a　moist　eye；　now　went　on　with　his　son
towards　the　highroad。　　When　they　reached　the　lodge；　the　lodge…keeper
was　walking　in　the　sun；　smoking　his　pipe。　　'Good　morning；'　he　said
to　Chickerel。

'Any　rejoicings　at　the　Court　to…day？'　the　butler　inquired。

'Quite　the　reverse。　　Not　a　soul　there。　　'Tisn't　knowed　anywhere　at
all。　　I　had　no　idea　of　such　a　thing　till　he　brought　my　lady　here。
Not　going　off；　neither。　　They've　come　home　like　the　commonest　couple
in　the　land；　and　not　even　the　bells　allowed　to　ring。'

They　walked　along　the　public　road；　and　the　carrier　came　in　view。

'Father；'　said　Sol；　'I　don't　think　I'll　go　further　with　you。　　She's
gone　into　the　house；　and　suppose　she　should　run　back　without　him　to
try　to　find　us？　　It　would　be　cruel　to　disappoint　her。　　I'll　bide
about　here　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　in　case　she　should。　　Mr。　Julian
won't　have　passed　Corvsgate　till　I　get　there。'

'Well；　one　or　two　of　her　old　ways　may　be　left　in　her　still；　and　it
is　not　a　bad　thought。　　Then　you　will　walk　the　rest　of　the　distance
if　you　don't　meet　Mr。　Julian？　　I　must　be　in　London　by　the　evening。'

'Any　time　to…night　will　do　for　me。　　I　shall　not　begin　work　until　to…
morrow；　so　that　the　four　o'clock　train　will　answer　my　purpose。'

Thus　they　parted；　and　Sol　strolled　leisurely　back。　　The　road　was
quite　deserted；　and　he　lingered　by　the　park　fence。

'Sol！'　said　a　bird…like　voice；　'how　did　you　come　here？'

He　looked　up；　and　saw　a　figure　peering　down　upon　him　from　the　top　of
the　park　wall；　the　ground　on　the　inside　being　higher　than　the　road。
The　speaker　was　to　the　expected　Ethelberta　what　the　moon　is　to　the
sun；　a　star　to　the　moon。　　It　was　Picotee。

'Hullo；　Picotee！'　said　Sol。

'There's　a　little　gate　a　quarter　of　a　mile　further　on；'　said
Picotee。　　'We　can　meet　there　without　your　passing　through　the　big
lodge。　　I'll　be　there　as　soon　as　you。'

Sol　ascended　the　hill；　passed　through　the　second　gate；　and　turned
back　again；　when　he　met　Picotee　coming　forward　under　the　trees。
They　walked　together　in　this　secluded　spot。

'Berta　says　she　wants　to　see　you　and　father；'　said　Picotee
breathlessly。　　'You　must　come　in　and　make　yourselves　comfortable。
She　had　no　idea　you　were　here　so　secretly；　and　she　didn't　know　what
to　do。'

'Father's　gone；'　said　Sol。

'How　vexed　she　will　be！　　She　thinks　there　is　something　the　matter
that　you　are　angry　with　her　for　not　telling　you　earlier。　　But　you
will　come　in；　Sol？'

'No；　I　can't　come　in；'　said　her　brother。

'Why　not？　　It　is　such　a　big　house；　you　can't　think。　　You　need　not
come　near　the　front　apartments；　if　you　think　we　shall　be　ashamed　of
you　in　your　working　clothes。　　How　came　you　not　to　dress　up　a　bit；
Sol？　　Still；　Berta　won't　mind　it　much。　　She　says　Lord　Mountclere
must　take　her　as　she　is；　or　he　is　kindly　welcome　to　leave　her。'

'Ah；　well！　　I　might　have　had　a　word　or　two　to　say　ab