extensive alterations are being made in his own on the other side of
the park； which he goes to look after every day。 If you want any
further information about Lady Petherwin； Mrs。 Petherwin will
probably give it。 I can let you have her address。'
'Ah； yes； thank you；' said Christopher。
The footman handed him one of some cards which appeared to have been
left for the purpose。 Julian； though tremblingly anxious to know
where Ethelberta was； did not look at it till he could take a cool
survey in private。 The address was 'Arrowthorne Lodge； Upper
Wessex。'
'Dear me！' said Christopher to himself； 'not far from Melchester；
and not dreadfully far from Sandbourne。'
12。 ARROWTHORNE PARK AND LODGE
Summer was just over when Christopher Julian found himself rattling
along in the train to Sandbourne on some trifling business
appertaining to his late father's affairs； which would afford him an
excuse for calling at Arrowthorne about the song of hers that he
wished to produce。 He alighted in the afternoon at a little station
some twenty miles short of Sandbourne； and leaving his portmanteau
behind him there； decided to walk across the fields； obtain if
possible the interview with the lady； and return then to the station
to finish the journey to Sandbourne； which he could thus reach at a
convenient hour in the evening； and； if he chose； take leave of
again the next day。
It was an afternoon which had a fungous smell out of doors； all
being sunless and stagnant overhead and around。 The various species
of trees had begun to assume the more distinctive colours of their
decline； and where there had been one pervasive green were now
twenty greenish yellows； the air in the vistas between them being
half opaque with blue exhalation。 Christopher in his walk overtook
a countryman； and inquired if the path they were following would
lead him to Arrowthorne Lodge。
''Twill take 'ee into Arr'thorne Park；' the man replied。 'But you
won't come anigh the Lodge； unless you bear round to the left as
might be。'
'Mrs。 Petherwin lives there； I believe？'
'No； sir。 Leastwise unless she's but lately come。 I have never
heard of such a woman。'
'She may possibly be only visiting there。'
'Ah； perhaps that's the shape o't。 Well； now you tell o't； I have
seen a strange face thereabouts once or twice lately。 A young good…
looking maid enough； seemingly。'
'Yes； she's considered a very handsome lady。'
'I've heard the woodmen say； now that you tell o't； that they meet
her every now and then； just at the closing in of the day； as they
come home along with their nitches of sticks； ay； stalking about
under the trees by herselfa tall black martel； so long…legged and
awful…like that you'd think 'twas the old feller himself a…coming；
they say。 Now a woman must be a queer body to my thinking； to roam
about by night so lonesome and that？ Ay； now that you tell o't；
there is such a woman； but 'a never have showed in the parish； sure
I never thought who the body wasno； not once about her； nor where
'a was living and thatnot I； till you spoke。 Well； there； sir；
that's Arr'thorne Lodge； do you see they three elms？' He pointed
across the glade towards some confused foliage a long way off。
'I am not sure about the sort of tree you mean；' said Christopher；
'I see a number of trees with edges shaped like edges of clouds。'
'Ay； ay； they be oaks； I mean the elms to the left hand。'
'But a man can hardly tell oaks from elms at that distance； my good
fellow！'
'That 'a can very wellleastwise； if he's got the sense。'
'Well； I think I see what you mean；' said Christopher 'What next？'
'When you get there； you bear away smart to nor'…west； and you'll
come straight as a line to the Lodge。'
'How the deuce am I to know which is north…west in a strange place；
with no sun to tell me？'
'What； not know nor…west？ Well； I should think a boy could never
live and grow up to be a man without knowing the four quarters。 I
knowed 'em when I was a mossel of a chiel。 We be no great scholars
here； that's true； but there isn't a Tom…rig or Jack…straw in these
parts that don't know where they lie as well as I。 Now I've lived；
man and boy； these eight…and…sixty years； and never met a man in my
life afore who hadn't learnt such a common thing as the four
quarters。'
Christopher parted from his companion and soon reached a stile；
clambering over which he entered a park。 Here he threaded his way；
and rounding a clump of aged trees the young man came in view of a
light and elegant country…house in the half…timbered Gothic style of
the late revival； apparently only a few years old。 Surprised at
finding himself so near； Christopher's heart fluttered unmanageably
till he had taken an abstract view of his position； and； in
impatience at his want of nerve； adopted a sombre train of reasoning
to convince himself that； far from indulgence in the passion of love
bringing bliss； it was a folly； leading to grief and disquiet
certainly one which would do him no good。 Cooled down by this； he
stepped into the drive and went up to the house。
'Is Mrs。 Petherwin at home？' he said modestly。
'Who did you say； sir？'
He repeated the name。
'Don't know the person。'
'The lady may be a visitorI call on business。'
'She is not visiting in this house； sir。'
'Is not this Arrowthorne Lodge？'
'Certainly not。'
'Then where is Arrowthorne Lodge； please？'
'Well； it is nearly a mile from here。 Under the trees by the high…
road。 If you go across by that footpath it will bring you out
quicker than by following the bend of the drive。'
Christopher wondered how he could have managed to get into the wrong
park； but； setting it down to his ignorance of the difference
between oak and elm； he immediately retraced his steps； passing
across the park again； through the gate at the end of the drive； and
into the turnpike road。 No other gate； park； or country seat of any
description was within view。
'Can you tell me the way to Arrowthorne Lodge？' he inquired of the
first person he met； who was a little girl。
'You are just coming away from it； sir；' said she。 'I'll show you；
I am going that way。'
They walked along together。 Getting abreast the entrance of the
park he had just emerged from； the child said； 'There it is； sir； I
live there too。'
Christopher； with a dazed countenance； looked towards a cottage
which stood nestling in the shrubbery and ivy like a mushroom among
grass。 'Is that Arrowthorne Lodge？' he repeated。
'Yes； and if you go up the drive； you come to Arrowthorne House。'
'Arrowthorne Lodgewhere Mrs。 Petherwin lives； I mean。'
'Yes。 She lives there along wi' mother and we。 But she don't want
anybody to know it； sir； cause she's celebrate； and 'twouldn't do at
all。'
Christopher said no more； and the little girl became interested in
the products of the bank and ditch by the wayside。 He left her；
pushed open the heavy gate； and tapped at the Lodge door。
The latch was lifted。 'Does Mrs。 Petherwin；' he began； and；
determined that there should be no mistake； repeated； 'Does Mrs。
Ethelberta Petherwin； the poetess； live here？' turning full upon the
person who opened the door。
'She does； sir；' said a faltering voice； and he found himself face
to face with the pupil…teacher of Sandbourne。
13。 THE LODGE （continued） … THE COPSE BEHIND
'This is indeed a surprise； Iam glad to see you！' Christopher
stammered； with a wire…drawn； radically different smile from the one
he had intendeda smile not without a tinge of ghastliness。
'YesI am home for the holidays；' said the blushing maiden； and；
after a critical pause； she added； 'If you wish to speak to my
sister； she is in the plantation with the children。'
'O nono； thank younot necessary at all；' said Christopher； in
haste。 'I only wish for an interview with a lady called Mrs。
Petherwin。'
'Yes； Mrs Petherwinmy sister；' said Picotee。 'She is in the
plantation。 That little path will take you to her in five minutes。'
The amazed Christopher persuaded himself that this discovery was
very delightful； and went on persuading so long that at last he felt
it to be so。 Unable； like many other people； to enjoy being
satirized in words because of the irritation it caused him as aimed…
at victim； he sometimes had philosophy enough to appreciate a satire
of circumstance； because nobody intended it。 Pursuing the path
indicated； he found himself in a thicket of scrubby undergrowth；
which covered an area enclosed from the park proper by a decaying
fence。 The boughs were so tangled that he was obliged to screen his
face with his hands； to escape the risk of having his eyes filliped
out by the twigs that impeded his progress。 Thus slowly advancing；
his ear caught； between the rustles； the tones of a voice in earnest
declamation； and； pushing round in that direction； he beheld through
some beech boughs an open space about ten yards in diameter； floored
at the bottom with deep beds of curled old leaves； and cushions of
furry moss。 In the middle of this natural theatre was the stump of
a tree that had been felled by a saw； and upon the flat stool thus
formed stood Ethelberta； whom Christopher had not beheld since the
ball at Wyndway House。
Round her； leaning against branches or prostrate on the ground； were
five or six individuals。 Two were young mechanicsone of them
evidently a carpenter。 Then there was a boy about thirteen； and two
or three younger children。 Ethelberta's appearance answered as
fully as ever to that of an English lady skilfully perfected in
manner； carriage； look； and accent； and the incongruity of her
present position among lives which had had many of Nature's beauties
stamped out of them； and few of the beauties of Art stamped in；
brought him； as a second feeling； a pride in her that almost
equalled his first sentiment of surprise。 Christopher's attention
was meanwhile attracted from the constitution of the group to the
words of the speaker in the centre of itwords to which her
auditors were listening with still attention。
It appeared to Christopher that Ethelberta had lately been
undergoing some very extraordinary experiences。 What t