第2章

’Itisyourownparticularone，’continuedFaith。’Yes，Iseetheblueflowersundertheedgeofhercloak。’

’AndIseehersquirrel-colouredhair，’saidChristopher。

Bothstoodlookingatthisapparition，whoonce，andonlyonce，thoughtfittoturnherheadtowardsthefrontofthehousetheyweregazingfrom。Faithwasoneinwhomthemeditativesomewhatoverpoweredtheactivefaculties；shewenton，withnoabundanceoflove，totheorizeuponthisgratuitouslycharmingwoman，who，strikingfreakishlyintoherbrother’spath，seemedlikelytodohimnogoodinhersisterlyestimation。Ethelberta’sbrightandshapelyformstoodbeforehercriticnow，smartenedbythemotesofsunlightfromheadtoheel:whatFaithwouldhavegiventoseehersoclearlywithin！

’Withoutdoubtsheisalreadyaladyofmanyromanticexperiences，’

shesaiddubiously。

’Andonthewaytomanymore，’saidChristopher。Thetonewasjustofthekindwhichmaybeimaginedofasombremanwhohadbeenupallnightpipingthatothersmightdance。

Faithpartedherlipsasifinconsternationatpossibilities。

Ethelberta，havingalreadybecomeaninfluenceinChristopher’ssystem，mightsoonbecomemore——anindestructiblefascination——todraghimabout，turnhissoulinsideout，harrowhim，twisthim，andotherwisetormenthim，accordingtothestereotypedformofsuchprocesses。

Theywereinterruptedbytheopeningofadoor。Aservantenteredandcameuptothem。

’Thisisforyou，Ibelieve，sir，’hesaid。’Twoguineas；’andheplacedthemoneyinChristopher’shand。’Somebreakfastwillbereadyforyouinamomentifyouliketohaveit。Wouldyouwishitbroughtinhere；orwillyoucometothesteward’sroom？’

’Yes，wewillcome。’Andthemanthenbegantoextinguishthelightsonebyone。Christopherdroppedthetwopoundsandtwoshillingssinglyintohispocket，andlookinglistlesslyatthefootmansaid，’Canyoutellmetheaddressofthatladyonthelawn？

Ah，shehasdisappeared！’

’Sheworeadresswithblueflowers，’saidFaith。

’Andremarkablebrightinhermanner？O，that’stheyoungwidow，Mrs——what’sthatname——Iforgetforthemoment。’

’Widow？’saidChristopher，theeyesofhisunderstandinggettingwonderfullyclear，andFaithutteringaprivateejaculationofthanksthatafterallnocommandmentswerelikelytobebrokeninthismatter。’TheladyImeanisquiteagirlishsortofwoman。’

’Yes，yes，sosheis——that’stheone。Coachmansaysshemusthavebeenbornawidow，forthereisnottimeforherevertohavebeenmadeone。However，she’snotquitesuchachickenasallthat。

Mrs。Petherwin，that’stheparty’sname。’

’Doesshelivehere？’

’No，sheisstayinginthehousevisitingforafewdayswithhermother-in-law。TheyareaLondonfamily，Idon’tknowheraddress。’

’Issheapoetess？’

’ThatIcannotsay。Sheisverycleveratverses；butshedon’tleanovergatestoseethesun，andgoestochurchasregularasyouorI，soIshouldhardlybeinclinedtosaythatshe’sthecompletething。Whenshe’supinoneofhervagariesshe’llsitwiththeladiesandmakeupprettythingsoutofherheadasfastassticksa-breaking。Theywillrunoffhertonguelikecottonfromareel，andifshecaneverbegotinthemindoftellingastoryshewillbringitoutthatseriousandawfulthatitmakesyourfleshcreepuponyourbones；ifshe’sonlygottosaythatshewalkedoutofonedoorintoanother，she’lltellitsothatthereseemssomethingwonderfulinit。’Tisabothertostarther，soourpeoplesaybehindherback，but，oncesetgoing，thehouseisallalivewithher。However，itwillsoonbedullenough；sheandLadyPetherwinareoffto-morrowforRookington，whereIbelievetheyaregoingtostayoverNewYear’sDay。’

’Wheredoyousaytheyaregoing？’inquiredChristopher，astheyfollowedthefootman。

’RookingtonPark——aboutthreemilesoutofSandbourne，intheoppositedirectiontothis。’

’Awidow，’Christophermurmured。

Faithoverheardhim。’Thatmakesnodifferencetous，doesit？’shesaidwistfully。

Fortyminuteslatertheyweredrivingalonganopenroadoveraridgewhichcommandedaviewofasmallinletbelowthem，thesandsofthisnookbeingshelteredbycrumblingcliffs。Hereatoncetheysaw，inthefulllightofthesun，twowomenstandingsidebyside，theirfacesdirectedoverthesea。

’Theresheisagain！’saidFaith。’Shehaswalkedalongtheshorefromthelawnwherewesawherbefore。’

’Yes，’saidthecoachman，’she’sacuriouswomanseemingly。She’lltalktoanypoorbodyshemeets。Youseeshehadbeenoutforamorningwalkinsteadofgoingtobed，andthatissomequeermortalorothershehaspickedupwithonherway。’

’Iwondershedoesnotprefersomerest，’Faithobserved。

Theroadthendroppedintoahollow，andthewomenbytheseawerenolongerwithinviewfromthecarriage，whichrapidlynearedSandbournewiththetwomusicians。

6。THESHOREBYWYNDWAY

TheeastgleameduponEthelberta’ssquirrel-colouredhairasshesaidtohercompanion，’Ihavecome，Picotee；butnot，asyouimagine，fromanight’ssleep。WehaveactuallybeendancingtilldaylightatWyndway。’

’Thenyoushouldnothavetroubledtocome！Icouldhavebornethedisappointmentundersuchcircumstances，’saidthepupil-teacher，who，wearingadressnotsofamiliartoChristopher’seyesashadbeenthelittlewhitejacket，hadnotbeenrecognizedbyhimfromthehill。’Youlooksotired，Berta。Icouldnotstayupallnightfortheworld！’

’Onegetsusedtothesethings，’saidEthelbertaquietly。’Ishouldhavebeeninbedcertainly，hadInotparticularlywishedtousethisopportunityofmeetingyoubeforeyougohometo-morrow。I

couldnothavecometoSandbourneto-day，becauseweareleavingtoreturnagaintoRookington。ThisisallthatIwishyoutotaketomother——onlyafewlittlethingswhichmaybeusefultoher；butyouwillseewhatitcontainswhenyouopenit。’ShehandedtoPicoteeasmallparcel。’Thisisforyourself，’shewenton，givingasmallpacketbesides。’Itwillpayyourfarehomeandback，andleaveyousomethingtospare。’

’Thankyou，’saidPicoteedocilely。

’Now，Picotee，’continuedtheelder，’letustalkforafewminutesbeforeIgoback:wemaynotmeetagainforsometime。’SheputherarmroundthewaistofPicotee，whodidthesamebyEthelberta；

andthusinterlacedtheywalkedbackwardsandforwardsuponthefirmflatsandwiththemotionofonebodyanimatedbyonewill。

’Well，whatdidyouthinkofmypoems？’

’Ilikedthem；butnaturally，Ididnotunderstandalltheexperienceyoudescribe。Itissodifferentfrommine。Yetthatmadethemmoreinterestingtome。IthoughtIshouldsomuchliketomixinthesamescenes；butthatofcourseisimpossible。’

’Iamafraiditis。AndyoupostedthebookasIsaid？’

’Yes。’Sheaddedhurriedly，asiftochangethesubject，’Ihavetoldnobodythatwearesisters，orthatyouareknowninanywaytomeortomotherortoanyofus。Ithoughtthatwouldbebest，fromwhatyousaid。’

’Yes，perhapsitisbestforthepresent。’

’Theboxofclothescamesafely，andIfindverylittlealterationwillbenecessarytomakethedressdobeautifullyformeonSundays。Itisquitenew-fashionedtome，thoughIsupposeitwasold-fashionedtoyou。O，andBerta，willthetitleofLadyPetherwindescendtoyouwhenyourmother-in-lawdies？’

’No，ofcoursenot。Sheisonlyaknight’swidow，andthat’snothing。’

’Theladyofaknightlooksasgoodonpaperastheladyofalord。’

’Yes。Andinotherplacestoosometimes。However，aboutyourjourneyhome。Beverycareful；anddon’tmakeanyinquiriesatthestationsofanybodybutofficials。Ifanymanwantstobefriendlywithyou，trytofindoutifitisfromagenuinewishtoassistyou，orfromadmirationofyourfreshface。’

’HowshallIknowwhich？’saidPicotee。

Ethelbertalaughed。’IfHeavendoesnottellyouatthemomentI

cannot，’shesaid。’Buthumanitylookswithadifferenteyefromlove，anduponthewholeitismosttobeprizedbyallofus。I

believeitendsoftenerinmarriagethandoalover’sflyingsmiles。

Sothatforthisandotherreasonslovefromastrangerismostlyworthlessasaspeculation；anditiscertainlydangerousasagame。

Well，Picotee，hasanyonepaidyourealattentionsyet？’

’No——thatis——’

’Thereissomethinggoingon。’

’Onlyaweebit。’

’Ithoughtso。Therewasadishonestyaboutyourdeareyeswhichhasneverbeentherebefore，andlove-makinganddishonestyareinseparableascoupledhounds。Upcomesman，andawaygoesinnocence。Areyougoingtotellmeanythingabouthim？’

’Iwouldrathernot，Ethelberta；becauseitishardlyanything。’

’Well，becareful。Andmindthis，nevertellhimwhatyoufeel。’

’Butthenhewillneverknowit。’

’Normusthe。Hemustthinkitonly。Thedifferencebetweenhisthinkingandknowingisoftenthedifferencebetweenyourwinningandlosing。Butgeneraladviceisnotofmuchuse，andIcannotgivemoreunlessyoutellmore。Whatishisname？’

Picoteedidnotreply。

’Nevermind:keepyoursecret。However，listentothis:notakiss——notsomuchastheshadow，hint，ormerestseedlingofakiss！’

’Thereisnofearofit，’murmuredPicotee；’thoughnotbecauseofme！’

’Yousee，mydearPicotee，aloverisnotarelative；andheisn’tquiteastranger；buthemayendinbeingeither，andthewaytoreducehimtowhicheverofthetwoyouwishhimtobeistotreathimliketheother。Menwhocomecourtingarejustlikebadcooks:

ifyouarekindtothem，insteadofascribingittoanexceptionalcourtesyonyourpart，theyinstantlysetitdowntotheirownmarvellousworth。’

’ButIoughttofavourhimjustalittle，poorthing？Justthesmallestglimmerofagleam！’

’Onlyaverylittleindeed——sothatitcomesasarelieftohismisery，notasaddingtohishappiness。’

’Itisbeingtooclever，allthis；andweoughttobeharmlessasdoves。’

’Ah，Picotee！tocontinueharmlessasadoveyoumustbewiseasaserpent，you’llfind——ay，tenserpents，forthatmatter。’

’ButifIcannotgetathim，howcanImanagehiminthesewaysyouspeakof？’

’Getathim？Isupposehegetsatyouinsomeway，doeshenot？——

triestoseeyou，ortobenearyou？’

’No——that’sjustthepoint——hedoesn’tdoanysuchthing，andthere’stheworryofit！’

’Well，whatasillygirl！Thenheisnotyourloveratall？’

’Perhapshe’snot。ButIamhis，atanyrate——twiceover。’

’That’snouse。Supplytheloveforbothsides？Why，it’sworsethanfurnishingmoneyforboth。Youdon’tsupposeamanwillgivehisheartinexchangeforawoman’swhenhehasalreadygothersfornothing？That’snotthewayoldAdamdoesbusinessatall。’

Picoteesighed。’Haveyougotayoungman，too，Berta？’

’Ayoungman？’

’AloverImean——that’swhatwecall’emdownhere。’

’Itisdifficulttoexplain，’saidEthelbertaevasively。’Iknewonemanyyearsago，andIhaveseenhimagain，and——thatisall。’

’Accordingtomyideayouhaveone，butaccordingtoyourownyouhavenot；hedoesnotloveyou，butyoulovehim——isthathowitis？’

’Ihavenotquiteconsideredhowitis。’

’Doyoulovehim？’

’IhaveneverseenamanIhateless。’

’Agreatdealliescoveredupthere，Iexpect！’

’Hewasinthatcarriagewhichdroveoverthehillatthemomentwemethere。’

’Ah-ah——somegreatlordoranotherwhohashisdaybycandlelight，andsoon。Iguessthestyle。SomebodywhonomoreknowshowmuchbreadisaloafthanIdothepriceofdiamondsandpearls。’

’Iamafraidhe’sonlyacommonerasyet，andnotaverygreatoneeither。Butsurelyyouguess，Picotee？ButI’llsetyouanexampleoffranknessbytellinghisname。Myfriend，Mr。Julian，towhomyoupostedthebook。Suchchangesashehasseen！——fromaffluencetopoverty。HeandhissisterhavebeenplayingdancesallnightatWyndway——Whatisthematter？’

’Onlyapain！’

’MydearPicotee——’

’IthinkI’llsitdownforamoment，Berta。’

’What——haveyouover-walkedyourself，dear？’

’Yes——andIgotupveryearly，yousee。’

’Ihopeyouarenotgoingtobeill，child。Youlookasifyououghtnottobehere。’

’O，itisquitetrifling。Doesnotgettingupinahurrycauseasenseoffaintnesssometimes？’

’Yes，inpeoplewhoarenotstrong。’

’Ifwedon’ttalkaboutbeingfaintitwillgooff。Faintnessissuchaqueerthingthattothinkofitistohaveit。Letustalkasweweretalkingbefore——aboutyouryoungmanandotherindifferentmatters，soastodivertmythoughtsfromfainting，dearBerta。Ihavealwaysthoughtthebookwastobeforwardedtothatgentlemanbecausehewasaconnectionofyoursbymarriage，andhehadaskedforit。Andsoyouhavemetthis——thisMr。Julian，andgoneforwalkswithhiminevenings，Isuppose，justasyoungmenandwomendowhoarecourting？’

’No，indeed——whatanabsurdchildyouare！’saidEthelberta。’I

knewhimonce，andheisinteresting；afewlittlethingslikethatmakeitallup。’

’Theloveisallononeside，aswithme。’

’Ono，no:thereisnothinglikethat。Iamnotattachedtoanyone，strictlyspeaking——though，morestrictlyspeaking，Iamnotunattached。’

’’Tisadelightfulmiddlemindtobein。Iknowit，forIwaslikeitonce；butIhadscarcelybeensolongenoughtoknowwhereIwasbeforeIwasgonepast。’

’Youshouldhavecommandedyourself，ordrawnbackentirely；forletmetellyouthatatthebeginningofcaringforaman——justwhenyouaresuspendedbetweenthinkingandfeeling——thereisahair’s-

breadthoftimeatwhichthequestionofgettingintoloveornotgettinginisamatterofwill——quiteathingofchoice。Atthesametime，drawingbackisatamedance，andthebestofallistostaybalancedawhile。’

’Youdothatwell，I’llwarrant。’

’Well，no；forwhatbetweencontinuallywantingtolove，toescapetheblanklivesofthosewhodonot，andwantingnottolove，tokeepoutofthemiseriesofthosewhodo，Igetfoolishlywarmandfoolishlycoldbyturns。’

’Yes——andIamlikeyouasfarasthe"foolishly"goes。Iwishwepoorgirlscouldcontrivetobringalittlewisdomintoourlovebywayofachange！’

’That’stheverythingthatleadingmindsintownhavebeguntodo，buttherearedifficulties。Itiseasytolovewisely，buttherichmanmaynotmarryyou；anditisnotveryhardtorejectwisely，butthepoormandoesn’tcare。Altogetheritisapreciousproblem。

Butshallweclamberoutuponthoseshiningblocksofrock，andfindsomeofthelittleyellowshellsthatareinthecrevices？Ihavetenminuteslonger，andthenImustgo。’

7。THEDINING-ROOMOFATOWNHOUSE-THEBUTLER’SPANTRY

Afewweekslatertherewasafriendlydinner-partyatthehouseofagentlemancalledDoncastle，wholivedinamoderatelyfashionablesquareofwestLondon。Allthefriendsandrelativespresentwerenicepeople，whoexhibitedbecomingsignsofpleasureandgaietyatbeingthere；butasregardsthevigourwithwhichtheseemotionswereexpressed，itmaybestatedthataslightlaughfromfardownthethroatandaslightnarrowingoftheeyewereequivalentasindicesofthedegreeofmirthfelttoaHa-ha-ha！andashakingoftheshouldersamongtheminortradersofthekingdom；andtoaHo-

ho-ho！contortedfeatures，purpleface，andstampingfootamongthegentlemenincorduroyandfustianwhoadorntheremoterprovinces。

Theconversationwaschieflyaboutavolumeofmusical，tender，andhumorousrhapsodieslatelyissuedtotheworldintheguiseofverse，whichhadbeenreviewedandtalkedabouteverywhere。Thistopic，beginningasaprivatedialoguebetweenayoungpainternamedLadywellandtheladyonhisrighthand，hadenlargeditsgroundbydegrees，asasubjectwillextendonthoserareoccasionswhenithappenstobeoneaboutwhicheachpersonhasthoughtsomethingbeforehand，insteadof，asinthenaturalorderofthings，onetowhichtheobliviouslistenerrepliesmechanically，withearnestfeatures，butwiththoughtsfaraway。Andsothewholetablemadethematterathingtoinquireorreplyuponatonce，andisolatedrillsofotherchatdiedoutlikeariverinthesands。

’Wittythings，andoccasionallyAnacreontic:andtheyhavetheoriginalitywhichsuchastylemustnaturallypossesswhencarriedoutbyafemininehand，’saidLadywell。

’Ifitisafemininehand，’saidamannear。

Ladywelllookedasifhesometimesknewsecrets，thoughhedidnotwishtoboast。

’Written，Ipresumeyoumean，intheAnacreonticmeasureofthreefeetandahalf——spondeesandiambics？’saidagentlemaninspectacles，glancinground，andgivingemphasistohisinquirybycausingblandglaresofacircularshapetoproceedfromhisglassestowardsthepersoninterrogated。

Thecompanyappearedwillingtogiveconsiderationtothewordsofamanwhoknewsuchthingsasthat，andhungforwardtolisten。ButLadywellstoppedthewholecurrentofaffairsinthatdirectionbysaying——

’Ono；Iwasspeakingratherofthematterandtone。Infact，theSevenDays’ReviewsaidtheywereAnacreontic，youknow；andsotheyare——anyonemayfeeltheyare。’

Thegenerallookthenimpliedafalseencouragement，andthemaninspectacleslookeddownagain，beinganervousperson，whoneverhadtimetoshowhismeritsbecausehewassomuchoccupiedinhidinghisfaults。

’Doyouknowtheauthoress，Mr。Neigh？’continuedLadywell。

’Can’tsaythatIdo，’hereplied。

Neighwasamanwhoneverdisturbedthefleshuponhisfaceexceptwhenhewasobligedtodoso，andpausedtensecondswhereotherpeopleonlypausedone；ashemovedhischininspeaking，motesoflightfromunderthecandle-shadecaught，lost，andcaughtagaintheoutlyingthreadsofhisburnishedbeard。

’Shewillbefamoussomeday；andyououghtatanyratetoreadherbook。’

’Yes，Iought，Iknow。Infact，someyearsagoIshouldhavedoneitimmediately，becauseIhadareasonforpushingonthatwayjustthen。’

’Ah，whatwasthat？’

’Well，IthoughtofgoinginforWestminsterAbbeymyselfatthattime；butafellowhassomuchtodo，and——’

’Whatapitythatyoudidn’tfollowitup。Amanofyourpowers，Mr。Neigh——’

’AfterwardsIfoundIwastoosteadyforit，andhadtoomuchoftherespectablehouseholderinme。Besides，somanyothermenareonthesametack；andthenIdidn’tcareaboutit，somehow。’

’Idon’tunderstandhighart，andamutterlyinthedarkonwhatarethetruelawsofcriticism，’aplainmarriedlady，whoworearchaeologicaljewellery，wassayingatthistime。’ButIknowthatIhavederivedanunusualamountofamusementfromthoseverses，andIamheartilythankfulto"E。"forthem。’

’Iamafraid，’saidagentlemanwhowassufferingfromabadshirt-

front，’thatanestimatewhichdependsuponfeelinginthatwayisnottobetrustedaspermanentopinion。’

Thesubjectnowflittedtotheotherend。

’Somebodyhasitthatwhentheheartfliesoutbeforetheunderstanding，itsavesthejudgmentaworldofpains，’camefromavoiceinthatquarter。

’I，formypart，likesomethingmerry，’saidanelderlywoman，whosefacewasbisectedbytheedgeofashadow，whichtonedherforeheadandeyelidstoalividneutraltint，andlefthercheeksandmouthlikemetalatawhiteheatintheuninterruptedlight。’Ithinkthelivelinessofthoseballadsasgreatarecommendationasany。Afterall，enoughmiseryisknowntousbyourexperiencesandthoseofourfriends，andwhatweseeinthenewspapers，forallpurposesofchastening，withouthavinggratuitousgriefinflicteduponus。’

’Butyouwouldnothavewishedthat"RomeoandJuliet"shouldhaveendedhappily，orthatOthelloshouldhavediscoveredtheperfidyofhisAncientintimetopreventallfatalconsequences？’

’Iamnotafraidtogosofarasthat，’saidtheoldlady。

’Shakespeareisnoteverybody，andIamsurethatthousandsofpeoplewhohaveseenthoseplayswouldhavedrivenhomemorecheerfullyafterwardsifbysomecontrivancethecharacterscouldallhavebeenjoinedtogetherrespectively。Iupholdouranonymousauthoronthegeneralgroundofherlevity。’

’Well，itisanoldandwornargument——thatabouttheinexpedienceoftragedy——andmuchmaybesaidonbothsides。ItisnottobedeniedthattheanonymousSappho’sverses——foritseemsthatsheisreallyawoman——areclever。’

’Clever！’saidLadywell——theyoungmanwhohadbeenoneoftheshooting-partyatSandbourne——’theyaremarvellouslybrilliant。’

’Sheisratherwarminherassumedcharacter。’

’That’sasignofheractualcoldness；sheletsoffherfeelingintheoreticgrooves，andthereissuretobenoneleftforpracticalones。Whateverseemstobethemostprominentvice，orthemostprominentvirtueinanybody’swritingistheonethingyouaresafestfrominpersonaldealingswiththewriter。’

’O，Idon’tmeantocallherwarmthoffeelingaviceorvirtueexactly——’

’Iagreewithyou，’saidNeightothelastspeakerbutone，intonesasemphaticastheypossiblycouldbewithoutlosingtheirpropercharacterofindifferencetothewholematter。’Warmsentimentofanysort，wheneverwehaveit，disturbsustoomuchtoleaveusreposeenoughforwritingitdown。’

’Iamsure，whenIwasattheardentage，’saidthemistressofthehouse，inatoneofpleasantlyagreeingwitheveryone，particularlythosewhowerediametricallyopposedtoeachother，’IcouldnomorehaveprintedsuchemotionsandmadethempublicthanI——couldhavehelpedprivatelyfeelingthem。’

’Iwonderifshehasgonethroughhalfshesays？Ifso，whatanexperience！’

’Ono——notatalllikely，’saidMr。Neigh。’Itisasriskytocalculatepeople’swaysoflivingfromtheirwritingsastheirincomesfromtheirwayofliving。’

’Sheisastruetonatureasfashionisfalse，’saidthepainter，inhiswarmthbecomingscarcelycomplimentary，assometimeshappenswithyoungpersons。’Idon’tthinkthatshehaswrittenawordmorethanwhateverywomanwoulddenyfeelinginasocietywherenowomansayswhatshemeansordoeswhatshesays。Andcananypraisebegreaterthanthat？’

’Ha-ha！Capital！’

’Allherversesseemtome，’saidaratherstupidperson，’tobesimply——

"Tral’-la-la-lal’-la-la-la’，Tral’-la-la-lal’-la-la-lu’，Tral’-la-la-lal’-la-la-lalla’，Tral’-la-la-lu’。"

Whenyoutakeawaythemusicthereisnothingleft。Yetsheisplainlyawomanofgreatculture。’

’HaveyouseenwhattheLondonLightsaysaboutthem——oneofthefinestthingsIhaveeverreadinthewayofadmiration？’continuedLadywell，payingnoattentiontothepreviousspeaker。Helingeredforareply，andthenimpulsivelyquotedseverallinesfromtheperiodicalhehadnamed，withoutaidorhesitation。’Good，isitnot？’addedLadywell。

Theyassented，butinsuchanunqualifiedmannerthathalfasmuchreadinesswouldhavemeantmore。ButLadywell，thoughnotexperiencedenoughtobequitefreefromenthusiasm，wastooexperiencedtomindindifferenceformorethanaminuteortwo。

Whentheladieshadwithdrawn，theyoungmanwenton——

’ColonelStaffsaidafunnythingtomeyesterdayabouttheseverypoems。HeaskedmeifIknewher，and——’

’Her？Why，heknowsthatitisaladyallthetime，andwewereonlyjustnowdoubtingwhetherthesexofthewritercouldbereallywhatitseems。Shame，Ladywell！’saidhisfriendNeigh。

’Ah，Mr。Ladywell，’saidanother，’nowwehavefoundyouout。Youknowher！’

’Now——Isay——ha-ha！’continuedthepainter，withafaceexpressingthathehadnotatalltriedtobefoundoutasthemanpossessingincomparablysuperiorknowledgeofthepoetess。’Ibegpardonreally，butdon’tpressmeonthematter。Uponmywordthesecretisnotmyown。AsIwassaying，theColonelsaid，"Doyouknowher？"——butyoudon’tcaretohear？’

’Weshallbedelighted！’

’SotheColonelsaid，"Doyouknowher？"adding，inamostcomicway，"BetweenU。andE。，Ladywell，Ibelievethereisacloseaffinity"——meaningme，youknow，byU。JustliketheColonel——ha-

ha-ha！’

TheoldermendidnotobligeLadywellasecondtimewithanyattemptatappreciation；butaweirdsilenceensued，duringwhichthesmileuponLadywell’sfacebecamefrozentopainfulpermanence。

’MeaningbyE。，youknow，the"E"ofthepoems——heh-heh！’headded。

’Itwasaveryhumorousincidentcertainly，’saidhisfriendNeigh，atwhichtherewasalaugh——notfromanythingconnectedwithwhathesaid，butsimplybecauseitwastherightthingtolaughwhenNeighmeantyoutodoso。

’Nowdon’t，Neigh——youaretooharduponme。But，seriously，twoorthreefellowsweretherewhenIsaidit，andtheyallbeganlaughing——but，then，theColonelsaiditinsuchaqueerway，youknow。Butyouwereaskingmeabouther？Well，thefactis，betweenourselves，Idoknowthatsheisalady；andIdon’tmindtellingaword——’

’Butwewouldnotfortheworldbethemeansofmakingyoubetrayherconfidence——wouldwe，Jones？’

’No，indeed；wewouldnot。’

’No，no；itisnotthatatall——thisisreallytoobad！——youmustlistenjustforamoment——’

’Ladywell，don’tbetrayanybodyonouraccount。’

’Whoevertheillustriousyoungladymaybeshehasseenagreatdealoftheworld，’saidMr。Doncastleblandly，’andputsherexperienceofthecomedyofitsemotions，andofitsmethodofshowingthem，inaveryvividlight。’

’Iheardamansaythatthenoveltywithwhichtheideasarepresentedismorenoticeablethantheoriginalityoftheideasthemselves，’observedNeigh。’Thewomanhasmadeagreattalkaboutherself；andIamquitewearyofpeopleaskingofhercondition，placeofabode，hassheafather，hassheamother，ordeareroneyetthanallother。’

’IwouldhaveburlesquequotationputdownbyActofParliament，andallwhodabbleinitplacedwithhimwhocanciteScriptureforhispurposes，’saidLadywell，inretaliation。

AfterapauseNeighremarkedhalf-privatelytotheirhost，whowashisuncle:’YourbutlerChickerelisaveryintelligentman，asI

haveheard。’

’Yes，hedoesverywell，’saidMr。Doncastle。

’Butishenota——veryextraordinaryman？’

’Nottomyknowledge，’saidDoncastle，lookingupsurprised。’Whydoyouthinkthat，Alfred？’

’Well，perhapsitwasnotamattertomention。Hereadsagreatdeal，Idaresay？’

’Idon’tthinkso。’

’Inoticedhowwonderfullyhisfacekindledwhenwebegantalkingaboutthepoemsduringdinner。Perhapsheisapoethimselfindisguise。Didyouobserveit？’

’No。Tothebestofmybeliefheisaverytrustworthyandhonourableman。Hehasbeenwithus——letmesee，howlong？——fivemonths，Ithink，andhewasfifteenyearsinhislastplace。Itcertainlyisanewsidetohischaracterifhepubliclyshowedanyinterestintheconversation，whateverhemighthavefelt。’

’Sincethematterhasbeenmentioned，’saidMr。Jones，’ImaysaythatItoonoticedthesingularityofit。’

’Ifyouhadnotsaidotherwise，’repliedDoncastlesomewhatwarmly，’Ishouldhaveassertedhimtobethelastman-servantinLondontoinfringesuchanelementaryrule。Ifhedidsothisevening，itiscertainlyforthefirsttime，andIsincerelyhopethatnoannoyancewascaused——’

’Ono，no——notatall——itmighthavebeenamistakeofmine，’saidJones。’IshouldquitehaveforgottenthecircumstanceifMr。

Neigh’swordshadnotbroughtittomymind。Itwasreallynothingtonotice，andIbegthatyouwillnotsayawordtohimaboutitonmyaccount。’

’Hehasatastethatway，mydearuncle，nothingmore，dependuponit，’saidNeigh。’IfIhadsuchamanbelongingtomeIshouldonlybetooproud。Certainlydonotmentionit。’

’OfcourseChickerelisChickerel，’Mr。Doncastlerejoined。’Weallknowwhatthatmeans。Andreally，onreflecting，Idorememberthatheisofaliteraryturnofmind——notfurtherbyaninchthaniscommendable，youknow。IamquiteawareasIglancedownthepapersandprintsanymorningthatChickerel’seyeshavebeenoverthegroundbeforemine，andthathegenerallyforestallstherestofusbyachapterorsointhelastnewbooksenthome；butintheseviciousdaysthatparticularweaknessisreallyvirtue，justbecauseitisnotquiteavice。’

’Yes，’saidMr。Jones，thereflectivemaninspectacles，’positivevirtuesaregettingmovedoffthestage:negativeonesaremovedontotheplaceofpositives；wethankbarejusticeasweusedonlytothankgenerosity；callamanhonestwhostealsonlybylaw，andconsiderhimabenefactorifhedoesnotstealatall。’

’Hear，hear！’saidNeigh。’WewilldecidethatChickerelisevenabettertrainedfellowthanifhehadshownnointerestatallinhisface。’

’Theactionbeinglikethosetriflingirregularitiesinartatitsvigorousperiods，whichseemeddesignedtohidetheunpleasantmonotonyofabsolutesymmetry，’saidLadywell。

’Ontheotherhand，anaffectedwantoftrainingofthatsortwouldbeevenabetterdisguiseforanartfulmanthanaperfectlyimpassibledemeanour。Heistworemovesfromdiscoveryinahiddenscheme，whilstaneutralfaceisonlyone。’

’Youquitealarmmebythesesubtletheories，’saidMr。Doncastle，laughing；andthesubjectthenbecamecompoundedwithothermatters，tillthespeakersrosetorejointhecharmingflockupstairs。

InthebasementstoryatthishourMr。Chickerelthebutler，whohadformedthesubjectofdiscussiononthefloorabove，wasbusilyengagedinlookingafterhistwosubordinatesastheybustledaboutintheoperationsofclearingaway。Hewasamanofwhom，iftheshapeofcertainbonesandmusclesofthefaceisevertobetakenasaguidetothecharacter，onemightsafelyhavepredicatedconscientiousnessintheperformanceofduties，athoroughknowledgeofallthatappertainedtothem，ageneraldesiretoliveonwithouttroublinghismindaboutanythingwhichdidnotconcernhim。AnypersoninterestedinthematterwouldhaveassumedwithouthesitationthattheestimatehisemployerhadgivenofChickerelwasatrueone——more，thatnotonlywouldthebutlerunderallordinarycircumstancesresolutelypreventhisfacefromshowingcuriosityinanunbecomingway，butthat，withthesoulofatruegentleman，hewould，ifnecessary，equivocateasreadilyasthenoblestofhisbetterstoremoveanystainuponhishonourinsuchtrifles。HenceitisapparentthatifChickerel’scountenancereallyappeared，asNeighhadasserted，fullofcuriositywithregardtothegossipthatwasgoingon，thefeelingswhichledtotheexhibitionmusthavebeenofaveryunusualandirrepressiblekind。

Hishairwasofthatpeculiarbluish-whitewhichistobeobservedwhentheoncomingyears，insteadofsinglingoutspeciallocksofaman’sheadforoperatingagainst，advanceuniformlyoverthewholefield，andenfeeblethecolouratallpointsbeforeabsolutelyextinguishingitanywhere；hisnosewasoftheknottyshapeinthegristleandearthwardtendencyinthefleshwhichiscommonlysaidtocarrysoundjudgmentaboveit，hiseyeswerethoughtful，andhisfacewasthin——acontourwhich，ifitatonceabstractedfromhisfeaturesthatcheerfulassuranceofsingle-mindedhonestywhichadornstheexteriorsofsomanyofhisbrethren，mighthaveraisedapresumptioninthemindsofsomebeholdersthatperhapsinthiscasethequalitymightnotbealtogetherwantingwithin。

Thecoffeehavingbeenservedtothepeopleupstairs，oneofthefootmenrushedintohisbedroomonthelowerfloor，andinafewminutesemergedagaininthedressofarespectableclerkwhohadbeenbornforbetterthings，withthetriflingexceptionsthatheworealow-crownedhat，andinsteadofknockinghisheelsonthepavementwalkedwithagaitasdelicateasalady’s。Goingoutofthearea-doorwithacigarinhismouth，hemountedthestepshastilytokeepanappointmentroundthecorner——thekeepingofwhichasaprivategentlemannecessitatedthechangeofthegreaterpartofhisclothestwicewithinaquarterofanhour——thelimitofhistimeofabsence。Theotherfootmanwasupstairs，andthebutler，findingthathehadafewminutestohimself，satdownatthetableandwrote:——

’MYDEARETHELBERTA，——Ididnotintendtowritetoyouforsomefewdaystocome，butthewayinwhichyouhavebeentalkedaboutherethiseveningmakesmeanxioustosendalineortwoatonce，thoughIhaveverylittletimetospare，asusual。Wehavejusthadadinner-party——indeedthecarriageshavenotyetbeenbroughtround——

andthetalkatdinnerwasaboutyourverses，ofcourse。ThethingwasbroughtupbyayoungfellownamedLadywell——doyouknowhim？

Heisapainterbyprofession，buthehasaprettygoodprivateincomebeyondwhathegetsbypractisinghislineofbusinessamongthenobility，andthatIexpectisnotlittle，forheiswellknown，andencouragedbecauseheisyoung，andgood-looking，andsoforth。

HisfamilyownagoodbitoflandsomewhereoutAldbrickhamway。

However，Iambeforemystory。Fromwhattheyallsaiditisprettyclearthatyouarethoughtagreatdealofinfashionablesocietyasapoetess——butperhapsyouknowthisaswellasI——movinginitasyoudoyourself，mydear。

’Theladiesafterwardsgotverycuriousaboutyourage，socurious，infact，andsofullofcertaintythatyouwerethirty-fiveandablightedexistence，ifanhour，thatIfeltinclinedtorapoutthereandthen，andhangwhatcameofit:"Mydaughter，ladies，wastomyownandhermother’scertainknowledgeonlytwenty-onelastbirthday，andhasasbrightaheartasanybodyinLondon。"Oneofthemactuallysaidthatyoumustbefiftytohavegotsuchanexperience。Herguesswasaveryshrewdoneinthebottomofit，however，foritwasgroundeduponthewayyouusethosestrangeexperiencesofmineinthesocietythatItellyouof，anddressthemupasiftheywereyours；and，asyousee，shehitoffmyownagetoayear。Ithoughtitwasverysharpofhertobesoright，althoughsowrong。

’IdonotwanttoinfluenceyourplansinanywayaboutthingswhichyourschoollearningfitsyoutounderstandmuchbetterthanI，whoneverhadsuchopportunities，butIthinkthatifIwereinyourplace，Berta，Iwouldnotletmynamebeknownjustyet，forpeoplealwayswantwhat’skeptfromthem，anddon’tvaluewhat’sgiven。I

amnotsure，butIthinkthatafterthewomenhadgoneupstairstheothersturnedtheirthoughtsuponyouagain；whattheysaidaboutyouIdon’tknow，forifthere’sonethingIhate’tishangingaboutthedoorswhenthemenbegintogetmovedbytheirwine，whichtheydidtoalargeextentto-night，andspokeveryloud。Theyalwaysdohere，foroldDonisaheartygiverinhisway。However，asyouseethesepeoplefromtheirownlevelnow，itisnotmuchthatIcantellyouinseeingthemonlyfromtheunderside，thoughIseestrangethingssometimes，andofcourse——

"Whatgreatonesdothelesswillprattleof，"

asitsaysinthatbookofselectpiecesthatyougaveme。

’Well，mydeargirl，Ihopeyouwillprosper。Onethingaboveallothersyou’llhavetomind，anditisthatfolkmustcontinuallystraintoadvanceinordertoremainwheretheyare:andyouparticularly。Butasfortryingtoohard，Iwouldn’tdoit。Muchliesinmindingthis，thatyourbestplanforlightnessofheartistoraiseyourselfalittlehigherthanyouroldmates，butnotsohighastobequiteoutoftheirreach。Allhumanbeingsenjoythemselvesfromtheoutside，andsogettingonALITTLEhasthisgoodinit，youstillkeepinyouroldclasswhereyourfeelingsare，andarethoughtfullytreatedbythisclass:whilebygettingonTOOMUCHyouaresneeredatbyyournewacquaintance，whodon’tknowtheskillofyourrise，andyouarepartedfromandforgotbytheoldoneswhodo。Whateverhappens，don’tbetooquicktofeel。

Youwillsurelygetsomehardblowswhenyouarefoundout，forifthegreatcanfindnoexcuseforhittingwithamind，they’lldoitandsay’twasinfun。Butyouareyoungandhealthy，andyouthandhealtharepower。IwishIcouldhaveadecentfootmanherewithme，butIsupposeitisnousetrying。Itissuchmenasthesethatprovokethecontemptweget。Well，thankGodafewyearswillseetheendofme，forIamgrowingashamedofmycompany——sodifferentastheyaretotheservantsofoldtimes——Youraffectionatefather，R。CHICKEREL。

’P。S——DonotpressLadyPetherwinanyfurthertoremovetherulesonwhichyoulivewithher。Sheisquiteright:shecannotkeepus，andtorecognizeuswoulddoyounogood，noruseither。Wearecontenttoseeyousecretly，sinceitisbestforyou。’

8。CHRISTOPHER’SLODGINGS-THEGROUNDSABOUTROOKINGTON

Meanwhile，inthedistanttownofSandbourne，ChristopherJulianhadrecoveredfromthewearinessproducedbyhislaboursattheWyndwayevening-partywhereEthelbertahadbeenastar。Insteadofengaginghisenergiestoclearencumbrancesfromthetangledwayofhislife，henowsetaboutreadingthepopular’MetresbyE。’withmoreinterestandassiduitythanever；forthoughJulianwasathinkerbyinstinct，hewasaworkerbyeffortonly；andthehigherofthesekindsbeingdependentuponthelowerforitsexhibition，therewasoftenalamentablelackofevidenceofhispowerineither。Itisaprovokingcorrelation，andhasconducedtotheobscurityofmanyagenius。

’Kit，’saidhissister，onrevivingattheendofthebadheadachewhichhadfollowedthedance，’thosepoemsseemtohaveincreasedinvaluewithyou。Thelady，loftyassheappearstobe，wouldbeflatteredifsheonlycouldknowhowmuchyoustudythem。Haveyoudecidedtothankherforthem？Nowletustalkitover——Ilikehavingachataboutsuchaprettynewsubject。’

’IwouldthankherinamomentifIwereabsolutelycertainthatshehadanythingtodowithsendingthem，orevenwritingthem。Iamnotquitesureofthatyet。’

’Howstrangethatawomancouldbringherselftowritethoseverses！’

’Notatallstrange——theyarenaturaloutpourings。’

Faithlookedcriticallyattheremotercavernsofthefire。

’Whystrange？’continuedChristopher。’Thereisnoharminthem。’

’Ono——noharm。ButIcannotexplaintoyou——unlessyouseeitpartlyofyourownaccord——thattowritethemshemustberatherafastlady——notabadfastlady；anicefastlady，Imean，ofcourse。

There，Ihavesaiditnow，andIdaresayyouarevexedwithme，foryourinterestinherhasdeepenedtowhatitoriginallywas，I

think。Idon’tmeananyabsoluteharmby"fast，"Kit。’

’Bold，forward，youmean，Isuppose？’

Faithtriedtohituponabetterdefinitionwhichshouldmeetallviews；and，onfailingtodoso，lookedconcernedatherbrother’ssomewhatgrievedappearance，andsaid，helplessly，’Yes，IsupposeI

do。’

’Myideaofherisquitethereverse。Apoetessmustintrinsicallybesensitive，orshecouldneverfeel:butthen，franknessisarhetoricalnecessityevenwiththemostmodest，iftheirinspirationsaretodoanygoodintheworld。Youwill，forcertain，notbeinterestedinsomethingIwasgoingtotellyou，whichIthoughtwouldhavepleasedyouimmensely；butitisnotworthmentioningnow。’

’Ifyouwillnottellme，nevermind。Butdon’tbecrabbed，Kit！

YouknowhowinterestedIaminallyouraffairs。’

’ItisonlythatIhavecomposedanairtooneoftheprettiestofhersongs，"Whentaperstall"——butIamnotsureaboutthepowerofit。Thisishowitbegins——Ithrewitoffinafewminutes，afteryouhadgonetobed。’

Hewenttothepianoandlightlytouchedoveranair，themanuscriptcopyofwhichheplacedinfrontofhim，andlistenedtohearheropinion，havingproveditsvaluefrequently；foritwasnotthatofawomanmerely，butimpersonallyhuman。Thoughshewasunknowntofame，thiswasagreatgiftinFaith，sincetohaveanunsexedjudgmentisaspreciousastobeanunsexedbeingisdeplorable。

’Itisveryfairindeed，’saidthesister，scarcelymovingherlipsinhergreatattention。’Nowagain，andagain，andagain。Howcouldyoudoitinthetime！’

Kitknewthatsheadmiredhisperformance:passiveassentwasherusualpraise，andsheseldominsistedvigorouslyuponanyviewofhiscompositionsunlessforpurposesofemendation。

’Iwasthinkingthat，asIcannotverywellwritetoher，Imayaswellsendherthis，’saidChristopher，withlightenedspirits，voicetocorrespond，andeyeslikewise；’therecanbenoobjectiontoit，forsuchthingsaredonecontinually。ConsiderwhileIamgone，Faith。Ishallbeoutthiseveningforanhourortwo。’

WhenChristopherleftthehouseshortlyafter，insteadofgoingintothetownonsomeerrand，aswascustomarywheneverhewentfromhomeafterdark，heascendedabackstreet，passedoverthehillsbehind，andwalkedatabriskpaceinlandalongtheroadtoRookingtonPark，where，ashehadlearnt，EthelbertaandLadyPetherwinwerestayingforatime，thedayortwowhichtheyspentatWyndwayhavingformedashortbreakinthemiddleofthisvisit。Themoonwasshiningto-

night，andChristopherspedonwardsoverthepallidhigh-roadasreadilyashecouldhavedoneatnoonday。Inthree-quartersofanhourhereachedtheparkgates；andenteringnowuponatractwhichhehadneverbeforeexplored，hewentalongmorecautiouslyandwithsomeuncertaintyastotheprecisedirectionthattheroadwouldtake。Afrostedexpanseofevengrass，onwhichtheshadowofhisheadappearedwithanopalhaloroundit，soonallowedthehousetobediscoveredbeyond，theotherportionsoftheparkaboundingwithtimberolderandfinerthanthatofanyotherspotintheneighbourhood。Christopherwithdrewintotheshade，andwheeledroundtothefrontofthebuildingthatcontainedhisoldlove。

Herehegazedandidled，asmanyamanhasdonebeforehim——

wonderingwhichroomthefairpoetessoccupied，waitingtilllightsbegantoappearintheupperwindows——whichtheydidasuncertainlyasglow-wormsblinkingupateventide——andwarmingwithcurrentsofrevivedfeelinginperhapsthesweetestofallconditions。Newloveisbrightest，andlongloveisgreatest；butrevivedloveisthetenderestthingknownuponearth。

Occupiedthus，Christopherwasgreatlysurprisedtosee，oncasuallyglancingtooneside，anothermanstandingclosetotheshadowytrunkofanothertree，inasimilarattitudetohisown，gazing，witharmsfolded，asblanklyatthewindowsofthehouseasChristopherhimselfhadbeengazing。Notwillingtobediscovered，Christopherstuckclosertohistree。Whilehewaitedthus，thestrangerbeganmurmuringwords，inaslowsoftvoice。Christopherlistenedtillheheardthefollowing:——

’Palewasthedayandrayless，love，Thathadanevesodim。’

Twowell-knownlinesfromoneofEthelberta’spoems。

Jealousyisafamiliarkindofheatwhichdisfigures，licksplayfully，clouds，blackens，andboilsamanasafiredoesapot；

andonrecognizingthesepilferingsfromwhathehadgrowntoregardashisowntreasury，Christopher’sfingersbegantonestlewithgreatvigourinthepalmsofhishands。Threeorfourminutespassed，whentheunknownrivalgavealastglanceatthewindows，andwalkedaway。Christopherdidnotlikethelookofthatwalkatall——therewasgraceenoughinittosuggestthathisantagonisthadnomeanchanceoffindingfavourinawoman’seyes。Asigh，too，seemedtoproceedfromthestranger’sbreast；butastheirdistanceapartwastoogreatforanysuchsoundtobeheardbyanypossibility，Christophersetdownthattoimagination，ortothebrushingofthewindoverthetrees。

Thelightedwindowswentoutonebyone，andallthehousewasindarkness。Julianthenwalkedoffhimself，withavigourthatwasspasmodiconly，andwithmuchlessbrightnessofmindthanhehadexperiencedonhisjourneyhither。Thestrangerhadgoneanotherway，andChristophersawnomoreofhim。WhenhereachedSandbourne，Faithwasstillsittingup。

’ButItoldyouIwasgoingtotakealongwalk，’hesaid。

’No，Christopher:reallyyoudidnot。Howtiredandsadyoudolook——thoughIalwaysknowbeforehandwhenyouareinthatstate:

oneofyourfeethasadragaboutitasyoupassalongthepavementoutsidethewindow。’

’Yes，IforgotthatIdidnottellyou。’

Hecouldnotbegintodescribehispilgrimage:itwastoosillyathingevenforhertohearof。

’Itdoesnotmatteratallaboutmystayingup，’saidFaithassuringly；’thatis，ifexercisebenefitsyou。Walkingupanddownthelane，Isuppose？’

’No；notwalkingupanddownthelane。’

’Theturnpike-roadtoRookingtonispleasant。’

’Faith，thatisreallywhereIhavebeen。Howcameyoutoknow？’

’Ionlyguessed。Versesandanaccidentalmeetingproduceaspecialjourney。’

’Ethelbertaisafinewoman，physicallyandmentally，both。I

wonderpeopledonottalkabouthertwiceasmuchastheydo。’

’Thensurelyyouaregettingattachedtoheragain。Youthinkyoudiscoverinhermorethananybodyelsedoes；andlovebeginswithasenseofsuperiordiscernment。’

’No，no。Thatisonlynonsense，’hesaidhurriedly。’However，loveherorlovehernot，Icankeepacornerofmyheartforyou，Faith。

Thereisanotherbruteafterhertoo，itseems。’

’Ofcoursethereis:Iexpecttherearemany。Herpositioninsocietyisaboveours，sothatitisanunwisecoursetogotroublingyourselfmoreabouther。’

’No。Ifaneedymanmustbesofoolishastofallinlove，itisbesttodosowherehecannotdoublehisfoolishnessbymarryingthewoman。’

’Idon’tliketohearyoutalksoslightinglyofwhatpoorfatherdid。’

Christopherfixedhisattentiononthesupper。Thatnight，lateasitwas，whenFaithwasinbedandsleeping，hesatbeforeasheetofmusic-paper，neatlycopyinghiscompositionuponit。ThemanuscriptwasintendedasanofferingtoEthelbertaatthefirstconvenientopportunity。

’Well，afterallmytroubletofindoutaboutEthelberta，herecomestheclueunaskedfor，’saidthemusiciantohissisterafewdayslater。

SheturnedandsawthathewasreadingtheWessexReflector。

’Whatisit？’askedFaith。

’Thesecretofthetrueauthorshipofthebookisoutatlast，anditisEthelbertaofcourse。Iamsogladtohaveitprovedhers。’

’Butcanwebelieve——？’

’Oyes。Justhearwhat"OurLondonCorrespondent"says。Itisoneofthenicestbitsofgossipthathehasfurnisheduswithforalongtime。’

’Yes:nowreadit，do。’

’"Theauthorof’MetresbyE。’"’Christopherbegan，’"abookofwhichsomuchhasbeensaidandconjectured，andone，infact，thathasbeenthechieftalkforseveralweekspastoftheliterarycirclestowhichIbelong，isayoungladywhowasawidowbeforeshereachedtheageofeighteen，andisnownotfarbeyondherfourthlustrum。IwasadditionallyinformedbyafriendwhomImetyesterdayonhiswaytotheHouseofLords，thathernameisMrs。

Petherwin——ChristiannameEthelberta；andthatsheresideswithhermother-in-lawattheirhouseinExonburyCrescent。Sheis，moreover，thedaughterofthelateBishopofSilchester(ifreportmaybebelieved)，whoseactivebenevolence，asyourreadersknow，lefthisfamilyincomparativelystraitenedcircumstancesathisdeath。Themarriagewasasecretone，andmuchagainstthewishofherhusband’sfriends，whoarewealthypeopleonallsides。Thedeathofthebridegroomtwoorthreeweeksaftertheweddingledtoareconciliation；andtheyoungpoetesswastakentothehomewhichshestilloccupies，devotedtothecompositionofsuchbrillianteffusionsasthosetheworldhaslatelybeenfavouredwithfromherpen。"’

’Ifyouwanttosendheryourmusic，youcandosonow，’saidFaith。

’Imighthavesentitbefore，butIwantedtodeliveritpersonally。

However，itisallthesamenow，Isuppose，whetherIsenditornot。Ialwaysknewthatourdestinieswouldlieapart，thoughshewasoncetemporarilyunderacloud。Hermomentaryinspirationtowritethat"CancelledWords"wastheworstpossibleomenforme。Itshowedthat，thinkingmenolongerusefulasapracticalchance，shewouldmakemeornamentalasapoeticalregret。ButI’llsendthemanuscriptofthesong。’

’Inthewayofbusiness，asacomposeronly；andyoumustsaytoyourself，"Ethelberta，asthouartbutwoman，Idare；butaswidowI

fearthee。"’

NotwithstandingChristopher’saffectedcarelessness，thateveningsawagreatdealofnicetybestowedupontheoperationofwrappingupandsendingoffthesong。Hedroppeditintotheboxandhearditfall，andwiththecuriouspowerwhichhepossessedofsettinghiswisdomtowatchanyparticularfollyinhimselfthatitcouldnothinder，speculatedashewalkedontheresultofthisfirsttangiblestepofreturntohisoldpositionasEthelberta’slover。

9。ALADY’SDRAWING-ROOMS-ETHELBERTA’SDRESSING-ROOM

ItwasahouseonthenorthsideofHydePark，betweentenandelevenintheevening，andseveralintelligentandcourteouspeoplehadassembledtheretoenjoythemselvesasfarasitwaspossibletodosoinaneutralway——allcarefullykeepingeveryvarietyoffeelinginastateofsolution，inspiteofanyattemptsuchfeelingsmadefromtimetotimetocrystallizeoninterestingsubjectsinhand。

’Neigh，whoisthatcharmingwomanwithherheadbuiltupinanovelwayevenforhairarchitecture——theonewithherbacktowardsus？’

saidamanwhosecoatfitteddoubtfullytoafriendwhosecoatfittedwell。

’Justgoingtoaskforthesameinformation，’saidMr。Neigh，determiningtheverylongesthairinhisbeardtoaninfinitesimalnicetybydrawingitslowerportionthroughhisfingers。’Ihavequiteforgotten——cannotkeeppeople’snamesinmyheadatall；norcouldmyfathereither——noranyofmyfamily——averyoddthing。ButmyoldfriendMrs。Napperknowsforcertain。’Andheturnedtooneofasmallgroupofmiddle-agedpersonsnear，who，insteadofskimmingthesurfaceofthingsingeneral，liketherestofthecompany，weregoingintotheverydepthsofthem。

’O——thatisthecelebratedMrs。Petherwin，thewomanwhomakesrhymesandprints’em，’saidMrs。Napper，inadetachedsentence，andthencontinuedtalkingagaintothoseontheothersideofher。

ThetwoloungerswentonwiththeirobservationsofEthelberta’sheaddress，which，thoughnotextraordinaryoreccentric，didcertainlyconveyanideaofindefinablenovelty。Observersweresometimeshalfinclinedtothinkthathercutsandmodeswereacquiredbysomesecretcommunicationwiththemysteriouscliquewhichorderstheliveryofthefashionableworld，for——anditaffordsaparalleltocasesinwhichcleverthinkersinotherspheresarriveindependentlyatoneandthesameconclusion——

Ethelberta’sfashionoftenturnedouttobethecomingone。

’O，isthatthewomanatlast？’saidNeigh，diminishinghisbroadgeneralgazeattheroomtoaclosecriticismofEthelberta。

’"Therhymes，"asMrs。Nappercallsthem，arenottobedespised，’

saidhiscompanion。’Theyarenotquitevirginibuspuerisque，andthewriter’sopinionsoflifeandsocietydifferverymateriallyfrommine，butIcannothelpadmiringherinthemorereflectivepieces；thesongsIdon’tcarefor。Themethodinwhichshehandlescurioussubjects，andatthesametimeimpressesuswithafullconvictionofhermodesty，isveryadroit，andsomewhatblindsustothefactthatnosuchpoemsweredemandedofheratall。’

’Ihavenotreadthem，’saidNeigh，secretlywrestlingwithhisjaw，topreventayawn；’butIsupposeImust。Thetruthis，thatI

nevercaremuchforreadingwhatoneoughttoread；IwishIdid，butIcannothelpit。And，nodoubt，youadmiretheladyimmenselyforwritingthem:Idon’t。Everybodyissotalentednow-a-daysthattheonlypeopleIcaretohonourasdeservingrealdistinctionarethosewhoremaininobscurity。Iammyselfhopingforacornerinsomebiographicaldictionarywhenthetimecomesforthoseworksonlytocontainlistsoftheexceptionalindividualsofwhomnothingisknownbutthattheylivedanddied。’

’Ah——listen。Theyaregoingtosingoneofhersongs，’saidhisfriend，lookingtowardsabustlingmovementintheneighbourhoodofthepiano。’Ibelievethatsong，"Whentaperstall，"hasbeensettomusicbythreeorfourcomposersalready。’

’Menofanynote？’saidNeigh，atlastbeatenbyhisyawn，whichcourtesyneverthelessconfinedwithinhispersontosuchanextentthatonlyafewunimportantsymptoms，suchasreducedeyesandacertainrectangularmannerofmouthinspeaking，werevisible。

’Scarcely，’repliedtheotherman。’Establishedwritersofmusicdonotexpendtheirenergiesuponnewverseuntiltheyfindthatsuchverseislikelytoendure；forshouldthepoetbesoonforgotten，theirlabourisinsomedegreelost。’

’Artfuldogs——whowouldhavethoughtit？’saidNeigh，justasanexerciseinwords；andtheydrewnearertothepiano，lesstobecomelistenerstothesingingthantobespectatorsofthesceneinthatquarter。Butamongsomeotherstheinterestinthesongsseemedtobeverygreat；anditwasunanimouslywishedthattheyoungladywhohadpractisedthedifferentpiecesofmusicprivatelywouldsingsomeofthemnowintheorderoftheircomposers’reputations。Themusicalpersonsintheroomunconsciouslyresolvedthemselvesintoacommitteeoftaste。

Oneandanotherhadbeentried，when，attheendofthethird，aladyspoketoEthelberta。

’Now，Mrs。Petherwin，’shesaid，gracefullythrowingbackherface，’youropinionisbyfarthemostvaluable。Inwhichofthecasesdoyouconsiderthemarriageofverseandtunetohavebeenmostsuccessful？’

Ethelberta，findingtheseandotherunexpectedcallsmadeuponherself，cametothefrontwithoutflinching。

’ThesweetestandthebestthatIlikebyfar，’shesaid，’isnoneofthese。ItisonewhichreachedmebypostonlythismorningfromaplaceinWessex，andiswrittenbyanunheard-ofmanwholivessomewheredownthere——amanwhowillbe，nevertheless，heardagreatdealofsomeday，Ihope——think。Ihaveonlypractiseditthisafternoon；but，ifone’sownjudgmentisworthanything，itisthebest。’

’Letushaveyourfavourite，byallmeans，’saidanotherfriendofEthelberta’swhowaspresent——Mrs。Doncastle。

’IamsosorrythatIcannotobligeyou，sinceyouwishtohearit，’

repliedthepoetessregretfully；’butthemusicisathome。IhadnotreceiveditwhenIlenttheotherstoMissBelmaine，anditisonlyinmanuscriptliketherest。’

’Coulditnotbesentfor？’suggestedanenthusiastwhoknewthatEthelbertalivedonlyinthenextstreet，appealingbyalooktoher，andthentothemistressofthehouse。

’Certainly，letussendforit，’saidthatlady。AfootmanwasatoncequietlydespatchedwithprecisedirectionsastowhereChristopher’ssweetproductionmightbefound。

’What——istheregoingtobesomethinginteresting？’askedayoungmarriedfriendofMrs。Napper，whohadreturnedtoheroriginalspot。

’Yes——thebestsongshehaswrittenistobesunginthebestmannertothebestairthathasbeencomposedforit。Ishouldnotwonderifsheweregoingtosingitherself。’

’DidyouknowanythingofMrs。Petherwinuntilhernameleakedoutinconnectionwiththeseballads？’

’No；butIthinkIrecollectseeingheroncebefore。Sheisoneofthosepeoplewhoareknown，asonemaysay，bysubscription:

everybodyknowsalittle，tillsheisastonishinglywellknownaltogether；butnobodyknowsherentirely。Shewastheorphanchildofsomeclergyman，Ibelieve。LadyPetherwin，hermother-in-law，hasbeentakingheraboutagreatdeallatterly。’

’Shehasapparentlyaverygoodprospect。’

’Yes；anditisthroughherbeingofthatcuriousundefinedcharacterwhichinterpretsitselftoeachadmireraswhateverhewouldliketohaveit。Oldmenlikeherbecausesheissogirlish；

youthsbecausesheiswomanly；wickedmenbecausesheisgoodintheireyes；goodmenbecausesheiswickedintheirs。’

’Shemustbeaveryanomaloussortofwoman，atthatrate。’

’Yes。LiketheBritishConstitution，sheoweshersuccessinpracticetoherinconsistenciesinprinciple。’

’Thesepoemsmusthavesetherup。Sheappearstobequitethecorrectspectacle。HappyMrs。Petherwin！’

ThesubjectoftheirdialoguewasengagedinaconversationwithMrs。Belmaineuponthemanagementofhouseholds——athemeprovokedbyadiscussionthatwasinprogressinthepagesofsomeperiodicalofthetime。Mrs。Belmainewasveryfulloftheargument，andwentonfrompointtopointtillshecametoservants。

ThefaceofEthelbertashowedcautionatonce。

’IconsiderthatLadyPlambypetsherservantsbyfartoomuch，’

saidMrs。Belmaine。’O，youdonotknowher？Well，sheisawomanwiththeories；andshelendshermaidsandmenbooksofthewrongkindfortheirstation，andsendsthemtopictureexhibitionswhichtheydon’tintheleastunderstand——allfortheimprovementoftheirtaste，andmorals，andnobodyknowswhatbesides。Itonlymakesthemdissatisfied。’

ThefaceofEthelbertashowedventuresomeness。’Yes，anddreadfullyambitious！’shesaid。

’Yes，indeed。Whataturnthetimeshavetaken！Peopleofthatsortpushon，andgetintobusiness，andgetgreatwarehouses，untilatlast，withoutancestors，orfamily，orname，orestate——’

’Orthemerestscrapofheirloomorfamilyjewel。’

’Orheirlooms，orfamilyjewels，theyarethoughtasmuchofasiftheirforefathershadglidedunobtrusivelythroughthepeerage——’

’Eversincethefirstedition。’

’Yes。’Mrs。Belmaine，whoreallysprangfromagoodoldfamily，hadbeengoingtosay，’forthelastsevenhundredyears，’butfancyingfromEthelberta’saddendumthatshemightnotdatebackmorethanatriflingcenturyorso，adoptedthesuggestionwithherusualwell-

knowncourtesy，andblusheddowntoherlocketatthethoughtofthemistakethatshemighthavemade。Thissensitivenesswasatraitinhercharacterwhichgavegreatgratificationtoherhusband，and，indeed，toallwhoknewher。

’Andhaveyouanytheoryonthevexedquestionofservant-

government？’continuedMrs。Belmaine，smiling。’Butno——thesubjectisoffartoopracticalanatureforoneofyourbent，ofcourse。’

’Ono——itisnotatalltoopractical。Ihavethoughtofthematteroften，’saidEthelberta。’Ithinkthebestplanwouldbeforsomebodytowriteapamphlet，"TheShortestWaywiththeServants，"

justastherewasoncewrittenaterriblystingingone，"TheShortestWaywiththeDissenters，"whichhadagreateffect。’

’IhavealwaysunderstoodthatthatwaswrittenbyadissenterasasatireupontheChurch？’

’Ah——soitwas:buttheexamplewilldotoillustratemymeaning。’

’Quiteso——Iunderstand——soitwill，’saidMrs。Belmaine，withcloudedfaculties。

MeanwhileChristopher’smusichadarrived。Anaccomplishedgentlemanwhohadeverymusicaltalentexceptthatofcreation，scannedthenotescarefullyfromtoptobottom，andsatdowntoaccompanythesinger。Therewasnoladypresentofsufficientconfidenceorskilltoventureintoasongshehadneverseenbefore，andtheonlyonewhohadseenitwasEthelbertaherself；shedidnotdenyhavingpractiseditthegreaterpartoftheafternoon，andwasverywillingtosingitnowifanybodywouldderivepleasurefromtheperformance。Thenshebegan，andthesweetnessofhersingingwassuchthateventhemostunsympathetichonouredherbylookingasiftheywouldbewillingtolistentoeverynotethesongcontainedifitwerenotquitesomuchtroubletodoso。Someweresointerestedthat，insteadofcontinuingtheirconversation，theyremainedinsilentconsiderationofhowtheywouldcontinueitwhenshehadfinished；whiletheparticularlycivilpeoplearrangedtheircountenancesintoeveryattentiveformthatthemindcoulddevise。

Oneemotionalgentlemanlookedatthecornerofachairasif，tillthatmoment，suchanobjecthadnevercrossedhisvisionbefore；themovementofhisfingertotheimaginedtunewas，foradeafoldclergyman，aperfectmineofinterest；whilstayoungmanfromthecountrywaspowerlesstoputanendtoanenchantedgazeatnothingatallintheexactmiddleoftheroombeforehim。Neigh，andthegeneralphalanxofcoolmenandcelebratedclubyawners，weresomuchaffectedthattheyraisedtheirchroniclookofgreatobjectiontothings，toanexpressionofscarcelyanyobjectionatall。

’Whatmakesitsointeresting，’saidMrs。DoncastletoEthelberta，whenthesongwasoverandshehadretiredfromthefocusofthecompany，’is，thatitisplayedfromthecomposer’sowncopy，whichhasnevermetthepubliceye，oranyotherthanhisownbeforeto-

day。AndIseethathehasactuallysketchedinthelinesbyhand，insteadofhavingruledpaper——justasthegreatoldcomposersusedtodo。Youmusthavebeenaspleasedtogetitfreshfromthestockslikethatasheprobablywaspleasedtogetyourthanks。’

Ethelbertabecamereflective。ShehadnotthankedChristopher；

moreover，shehaddecided，aftersomeconsideration，thatsheoughtnottothankhim。WhatnewthoughtsweresuggestedbythatremarkofMrs。Doncastle’s，andwhatnewinclinationresultedfromthepublicpresentationofhistuneandherwordsaspartsofoneorganicwhole，arebestexplainedbydescribingherdoingsatalaterhour，when，havingleftherfriendssomewhatearly，shehadreachedhomeandretiredfrompublicviewforthatevening。

Ethelbertawenttoherroom，sentawaythemaidwhodiddoubledutyforherselfandLadyPetherwin，walkedincirclesaboutthecarpettillthefirehadgrownhaggardandcavernous，sighed，tookasheetofpaperandwrote:——

’DEARMR。JULIAN，——IhavesaidIwouldnotwrite:Ihavesaidittwice；butdiscretion，undersomecircumstances，isonlyanothernameforunkindness。Beforethankingyouforyoursweetgift，letmetellyouinafewwordsofsomethingwhichmaymateriallychangeanaspectofaffairsunderwhichIappeartoyoutodeserveit。

’Withregardtomyhistoryandoriginyouarealtogethermistaken；

andhowcanItellwhetheryourbitternessatmyprevioussilenceonthosepointsmaynotcauseyoutowithdrawyouractofcourtesynow？

Butthegratificationofhavingatlastbeenhonestwithyoumaycompensateevenforthelossofyourrespect。

’Thematterisasmallonetotell，afterall。WhatwillyousayonlearningthatIamnotthetrodden-down"ladybybirth"thatyouhavesupposedme？Thatmyfatherisnotdead，asyouprobablyimagine；thatheisworkingforhislivingasoneamongapeculiarlystigmatizedandridiculedmultitude？

’Hadhebeenabrawnycottager，carpenter，mason，blacksmith，well-

digger，navvy，tree-feller——anyeffectiveandmanlytrade，inshort，aworkerinwhichcanstandupinthefaceofthenoblestanddaintiest，andbarehisgnarledarmsandsay，withaconsciousnessofsuperiorpower，"Lookatarealman！"Ishouldhavebeenabletoshowyouantecedentswhich，ifnotintenselyromantic，arenotaltogetherantagonistictoromance。ButthepresentfashionofassociatingwithoneparticularclasseverythingthatisludicrousandbombasticoverpowersmewhenIthinkofitinrelationtomyselfandyourknownsensitiveness。Whenthewell-bornpoetessofgoodreportmeltsinto……’

Havinggotthusfar，afaint-heartedlook，whichhadbeguntoshowitselfseveralsentencesearlier，becamepronounced。Shethrewthewritingintothedullfire，pokedandstirredittillaredinflammationcreptoverthesheet，andthenstartedanew:——

’DEARMR。JULIAN，——Notknowingyourpresentrankascomposer——

whetherontheverybrinkoffame，orasyetalongwayoff——I

cannotdecidewhatformofexpressionmyearnestacknowledgmentsshouldtake。Letmesimplysayinoneshortphrase，Ithankyouinfinitely！

’Iamnomusician，andmyopiniononmusicmaynotbeworthmuch:

yetIknowwhatIlike(aseverybodysays，butIdonotusethewordsasaformtocoverahopelessblankonallconnectedwiththesubject)，andthissweetairIlove。Youmusthaveglidedlikeabreezeaboutme——seenintoaheartnotworthyofscrutiny，jotteddownwordsthatcannotjustifyattention——beforeyoucouldhaveapotheosizedthesonginsoexquisiteamanner。Mygratitudetooktheformofwretchednesswhen，onhearingtheeffectoftheballadinpublicthisevening，IthoughtthatIhadnotpowertowithholdareplywhichmightdousbothmoreharmthangood。ThenIsaid，"Awaywithallemotion——Iwishtheworldwasdraineddryofit——I

willtakenonotice，"whenaladywhisperedatmyelbowtotheeffectthatofcourseIhadexpressedmygratificationtoyou。I

oughtfirsttohavementionedthatyourcreationhasbeenplayedto-

nighttofulldrawing-rooms，andtheoriginaltonescooledtheartificialairlikeafountainalmost。

’Iprophesygreatthingsofyou。Perhaps，atthetimewhenweareeachbutarowofbonesinourindividualgraves，yourgeniuswillberemembered，whilemymereclevernesswillhavebeenlongforgotten。

’But——youmustallowawomanofexperiencetosaythis——theundoubtedpowerthatyoupossesswilldoyousociallynogoodunlessyoumixwithittheingredientofambition——aqualityinwhichI

fearyouareverydeficient。ItisinthehopeofstimulatingyoutoabetteropinionofyourselfthatIwritethisletter。

’ProbablyIshallnevermeetyouagain。NotthatIthinkcircumstancestobeparticularlypowerfultopreventsuchameeting，ratheritisthatIshallenergeticallyavoidit。Therecanbenosuchthingasstrongfriendshipbetweenamanandawomannotofonefamily。

’Morethanthattheremustnotbe，andthisiswhywewillnotmeet。

YouseethatIdonotmincemattersatall；butitishypocrisytoavoidtouchinguponasubjectwhichallmenandwomeninourpositioninevitablythinkof，nomatterwhattheysay。Somewomenmighthavewrittendistantly，andweptattherepressionoftheirrealfeeling；butitisbettertobemorefrank，andkeepadryeye——Yours，ETHELBERTA。’

Herfeetfeltcoldandherheartweakasshedirectedtheletter，andshewasoverpoweredwithweariness。Butmurmuring，’IfIletitstaytillthemorningIshallnotsendit，andamanmaybelosttofamebecauseofawoman’ssqueamishness——itshallgo，’shepartiallydressedherself，wrappedalargecloakaroundher，descendedthestairs，andwentouttothepillar-boxatthecorner，leavingthedoornotquiteclose。Nogustofwindhadrealizedhermisgivingsthatitmightbeblownshutonherreturn，andshere-enteredassoftlyasshehademerged。

ItwillbeseenthatEthelbertahadsaidnothingaboutherfamilyafterall。

10。LADYPETHERWIN’SHOUSE

ThenextdayoldLadyPetherwin，whohadnotaccompaniedEthelbertathenightbefore，cameintothemorning-room，withanewspaperinherhand。

’Whatdoesthismean，Ethelberta？’sheinquiredintonesfromwhicheveryshadeofhumanexpressivenesswasextractedbysomeawfulandimminentmoodthatlaybehind。Shewaspointingtoaparagraphundertheheadingof’LiteraryNotes，’whichcontainedinafewwordstheannouncementofEthelberta’sauthorshipthathadmorecircumstantiallyappearedintheWessexReflector。

’Itmeanswhatitsays，’saidEthelbertaquietly。

’Thenitistrue？’

’Yes。Imustapologizeforhavingkeptitsuchasecretfromyou。

Itwasnotdoneinthespiritthatyoumayimagine:itwasmerelytoavoiddisturbingyourmindthatIdiditsoprivately。’

’Butsurelyyouhavenotwritteneveryoneofthoseribaldverses？’

Ethelbertalookedinclinedtoexclaimmostvehementlyagainstthis；

butwhatsheactuallydidsaywas，’"Ribald"——whatdoyoumeanbythat？Idon’tthinkthatyouareawarewhat"ribald"means。’

’IamnotsurethatIam。Asregardssomewordsaswellassomepersons，thelessyouareacquaintedwiththemthemoreitistoyourcredit。’

’Idon’tquitedeservethis，LadyPetherwin。’

’Really，onewouldimaginethatwomenwrotetheirbooksduringthosedreamsinwhichpeoplehavenomoralsense，toseehowimpropersome，evenvirtuous，ladiesbecomewhentheygetintoprint。’

’Imighthavedoneamuchmoreunnaturalthingthanwritethosepoems。AndperhapsImighthavedoneamuchbetterthing，andgotlesspraise。Butthat’stheworld’sfault，notmine。’

’Youmighthaveleftthemunwritten，andshownmorefidelity。’

’Fidelity！itismoreamatterofhumourthanprinciple。Whathasfidelitytodowithit？’

’Fidelitytomydearboy’smemory。’

’ItwouldbedifficulttoshowthatbecauseIhavewrittenso-calledtenderandgayverse，Ifeeltenderandgay。Itistoooftenassumedthataperson’sfancyisaperson’srealmind。Ibelievethatinthemajorityofcasesoneisfondofimaginingthedirectoppositeofone’sprinciplesinsheereffortaftersomethingfreshandfree；atanyrate，someofthelightestofthoserhymeswerecomposedbetweenthedeepestfitsofdismalsIhaveeverknown。

However，Ididexpectthatyoumightjudgeinthewayyouhavejudged，andthatwasmychiefreasonfornottellingyouwhatIhaddone。’

’Youdon’tdenythatyoutriedtoescapefromrecollectionsyououghttohavecherished？Thereisonlyonethingthatwomenofyoursortareasreadytodoastotakeaman’sname，andthatis，drophismemory。’

’DearLadyPetherwin——don’tbesounreasonableastoblamealivepersonforliving！Nowoman’sheadissosmallastobefilledforlifebyamemoryofafewmonths。FouryearshavepassedsinceI

lastsawmyboy-husband。Weweremerechildren；seehowIhavealteredsinceinmind，substance，andoutline——Ihaveevengrownhalfaninchtallersincehisdeath。Twoyearswillexhausttheregretsofwidowswhohavelongbeenfaithfulwives；andoughtInottoshowalittlenewlifewhenmyhusbanddiedinthehoneymoon？’

’No。Acceptingtheprotectionofyourhusband’smotherwas，ineffect，anavowalthatyourejectedtheideaofbeingawidowtoprolongtheideaofbeingawife；andthesinagainstyourconventionalstatethusassumedisalmostasbadaswouldhavebeenasinagainstthemarriedstateitself。Ifyouhadgoneoffwhenhedied，saying，"Thankheaven，Iamfree！"youwould，atanyrate，haveshownsomerealhonesty。’

’Ishouldhavebeenmorevirtuousbybeingmoreunfeeling。Thatoftenhappens。’

’Ihavetakentoyou，andmadeagreatdealofyou——givenyoutheinestimableadvantagesofforeigntravelandgoodsocietytoenlargeyourmind。Inshort，IhavebeenlikeaNaomitoyouineverything，andImaintainthatwritingthesepoemssapsthefoundationofitall。’

’IdoownthatyouhavebeenaverygoodNaomitomethusfar；butRuthwasquiteafastwidowincomparisonwithme，andyetNaomineverblamedher。Youareunfortunateinyourillustration。Butitisdreadfullyflippantofmetoansweryoulikethis，foryouhavebeenkind。Butwhywillyouprovokeme！’

’Yes，youareflippant，Ethelberta。Youaretoomuchgiventothatsortofthing。’

’Well，Idon’tknowhowthesecretofmynamehasleakedout；andI

amnotribald，oranythingyousay，’saidEthelberta，withasigh。

’Thenyouownyoudonotfeelsoardentasyouseeminyourbook？’

’Idoownit。’

’Andthatyouaresorryyournamehasbeenpublishedinconnectionwithit？’

’Iam。’

’Andyouthinktheversesmaytendtomisrepresentyourcharacterasagayandrapturousone，whenitisnot？’

’Idofearit。’

’Then，ofcourse，youwillsuppressthepoemsinstantly。Thatistheonlywayinwhichyoucanregainthepositionyouhavehithertoheldwithme。’

Ethelbertasaidnothing；andthedullwinteratmospherehadfarfromlightenoughinittoshowbyherfacewhatshemightbethinking。

’Well？’saidLadyPetherwin。

’Ididnotexpectsuchacommandasthat，’saidEthelberta。’Ihavebeenobedientforfouryears，andwouldcontinueso——butIcannotsuppressthepoems。Theyarenotminenowtosuppress。’

’Youmustgetthemintoyourhands。Moneywilldoit，Isuppose？’

’Yes，Isupposeitwould——athousandpounds。’

’Verywell；themoneyshallbeforthcoming，’saidLadyPetherwin，afterapause。’Youhadbettersitdownandwriteaboutitatonce。’

’Icannotdoit，’saidEthelberta；’andIwillnot。Idon’twishthemtobesuppressed。Iamnotashamedofthem；thereisnothingtobeashamedofinthem；andIshallnottakeanystepsinthematter。’

’Thenyouareanungratefulwoman，andwantinginnaturalaffectionforthedead！Consideringyourbirth——’

’That’sanintolerable——’