the hand of ethelberta- 第22部分

'Ah！　naturally　you　would　not　know　much；'　replied　Ladywell；　in　an
eager　whisper。　　'Perhaps　I　am　judging　others　by　myself　a　little　more
thanbut；　as　you　have　heard；　she　is　an　acquaintance　of　mine。　　I
know　her　very　well；　and；　in　fact；　I　originally　suggested　the　scheme
to　her　as　a　pleasant　way　of　adding　to　her　fame。　　〃Depend　upon　it；
dear　Mrs。　Petherwin；〃　I　said；　during　a　pause　in　one　of　our　dances
together　some　time　ago；　〃any　public　appearance　of　yours　would　be
successful　beyond　description。〃'

'O；　I　had　no　idea　that　you　knew　her　so　well！　　Then　it　is　quite
through　you　that　she　has　adopted　this　course？'

'Well；　not　entirelyI　could　not　say　entirely。　　She　said　that　some
day；　perhaps；　she　might　do　such　a　thing；　and；　in　short；　I　reduced
her　vague　ideas　to　form。'

'I　should　not　mind　knowing　her　betterI　must　get　you　to　throw　us
together　in　some　way；'　said　Neigh；　with　some　interest。　　'I　had　no
idea　that　you　were　such　an　old　friend。　　You　could　do　it；　I　suppose？'

'Really；　I　am　afraidhah…hahmay　not　have　the　opportunity　of
obliging　you。　　I　met　her　at　Wyndway；　you　know；　where　she　was
visiting　with　Lady　Petherwin。　　It　was　some　time　ago；　and　I　cannot
say　that　I　have　ever　met　her　since。'

'Or　before？'　said　Neigh。

'Wellno；　I　never　did。'

'Ladywell；　if　I　had　half　your　power　of　going　to　your　imagination　for
facts；　I　would　be　the　greatest　painter　in　England。'

'Now　Neighthat's　too　badbut　with　regard　to　this　matter；　I　do
speak　with　some　interest；'　said　Ladywell；　with　a　pleased　sense　of
himself。

'In　love　with　her？Smitten　down？Done　for？'

'Now；　now！　　However；　several　other　fellows　chaff　me　about　her。　　It
was　only　yesterday　that　Jones　said'

'Do　you　know　why　she　cares　to　do　this　sort　of　thing？'

'Merely　a　desire　for　fame；　I　suppose。'

'I　should　think　she　has　fame　enough　already。'

'That　I　can　express　no　opinion　upon。　　I　am　thinking　of　getting　her
permission　to　use　her　face　in　a　subject　I　am　preparing。　　It　is　a
fine　face　for　canvas。　　Glorious　contourglorious。　　Ah；　here　she　is
again；　for　the　second　part。'

'Dream　on；　young　fellow。　　You'll　make　a　rare　couple！'　said　Neigh；
with　a　flavour　of　superciliousness　unheeded　by　his　occupied
companion。

Further　back　in　the　room　were　a　pair　of　faces　whose　keen　interest　in
the　performance　contrasted　much　with　the　languidly　permissive　air　of
those　in　front。　　When　the　ten　minutes'　break　occurred；　Christopher
was　the　first　of　the　two　to　speak。　　'Well；　what　do　you　think　of　her；
Faith？'　he　said；　shifting　restlessly　on　his　seat。

'I　like　the　quiet　parts　of　the　tale　best；　I　think〃　replied　the
sister；　'but；　of　course；　I　am　not　a　good　judge　of　these　things。　　How
still　the　people　are　at　times！　　I　continually　take　my　eyes　from　her
to　look　at　the　listeners。　　Did　you　notice　the　fat　old　lady　in　the
second　row；　with　her　cloak　a　little　thrown　back？　　She　was　absolutely
unconscious；　and　stayed　with　her　face　up　and　lips　parted　like　a
little　child　of　six。'

'She　well　may！　the　thing　is　a　triumph。　　That　fellow　Ladywell　is
here；　I　believeyes；　it　is　he；　busily　talking　to　the　man　on　his
right。　　If　I　were　a　woman　I　would　rather　go　donkey…driving　than
stick　myself　up　there；　for　gaping　fops　to　quiz　and　say　what　they
like　about！　　But　she　had　no　choice；　poor　thing；　for　it　was　that　or
nothing　with　her。'

Faith；　who　had　secret　doubts　about　the　absolute　necessity　of
Ethelberta's　appearance　in　public；　said；　with　remote　meanings；
'Perhaps　it　is　not　altogether　a　severe　punishment　to　her　to　be
looked　at　by　well…dressed　men。　　Suppose　she　feels　it　as　a　blessing；
instead　of　an　affliction？'

'She　is　a　different　sort　of　woman；　Faith；　and　so　you　would　say　if
you　knew　her。　　Of　course；　it　is　natural　for　you　to　criticize　her
severely　just　now；　and　I　don't　wish　to　defend　her。'

'I　think　you　do　a　little；　Kit。'

'No；　I　am　indifferent　about　it　all。　　Perhaps　it　would　have　been
better　for　me　if　I　had　never　seen　her；　and　possibly　it　might　have
been　better　for　her　if　she　had　never　seen　me。　　She　has　a　heart；　and
the　heart　is　a　troublesome　encumbrance　when　great　things　have　to　be
done。　　I　wish　you　knew　her：　　I　am　sure　you　would　like　each　other。'

'O　yes；'　said　Faith；　in　a　voice　of　rather　weak　conviction。　　'But；　as
we　live　in　such　a　plain　way；　it　would　be　hardly　desirable　at
present。'



Ethelberta　being　regarded；　in　common　with　the　latest　conjurer；
spirit…medium；　aeronaut；　giant；　dwarf　or　monarch；　as　a　new
sensation；　she　was　duly　criticized　in　the　morning　papers；　and　even
obtained　a　notice　in　some　of　the　weekly　reviews。

'A　handsome　woman；'　said　one　of　these；　'may　have　her　own　reasons　for
causing　the　flesh　of　the　London　public　to　creep　upon　its　bones　by
her　undoubtedly　remarkable　narrative　powers；　but　we　question　if　much
good　can　result　from　such　a　form　of　entertainment。　　Nevertheless；
some　praise　is　due。　　We　have　had　the　novel…writer　among　us　for　some
time；　and　the　novel…reader　has　occasionally　appeared　on　our
platforms；　but　we　believe　that　this　is　the　first　instance　on　record
of　a　Novel…tellerone；　that　is　to　say；　who　relates　professedly　as
fiction　a　romantic　tale　which　has　never　been　printedthe　whole
owing　its　chief　interest　to　the　method　whereby　the　teller　identifies
herself　with　the　leading　character　in　the　story。'

Another　observed：　　'When　once　we　get　away　from　the　magic　influence
of　the　story…teller's　eye　and　tongue；　we　perceive　how　improbable；
even　impossible；　is　the　tissue　of　events　to　which　we　have　been
listening　with　so　great　a　sense　of　reality；　and　we　feel　almost　angry
with　ourselves　at　having　been　the　victims　of　such　utter　illusion。'

'Mrs。　Petherwin's　personal　appearance　is　decidedly　in　her　favour；'
said　another。　　'She　affects　no　unconsciousness　of　the　fact　that　form
and　feature　are　no　mean　vehicles　of　persuasion；　and　she　uses　the
powers　of　each　to　the　utmost。　　There　spreads　upon　her　face　when　in
repose　an　air　of　innocence　which　is　charmingly　belied　by　the
subtlety　we　discover　beneath　it　when　she　begins　her　tale；　and　this
amusing　discrepancy　between　her　physical　presentment　and　the　inner
woman　is　further　illustrated　by　the　misgiving；　which　seizes　us　on
her　entrance；　that　so　impressionable　a　lady　will　never　bear　up　in
the　face　of　so　trying　an　audience。　。　。　。　　The　combinations　of
incident　which　Mrs。　Petherwin　persuades　her　hearers　that　she　has
passed　through　are　not　a　little　marvellous；　and　if　what　is　rumoured
be　true；　that　the　tales　are　to　a　great　extent　based　upon　her　own
experiences；　she　has　proved　herself　to　be　no　less　daring　in
adventure　than　facile　in　her　power　of　describing　it。'



17。　ETHELBERTA'S　HOUSE

After　such　successes　as　these；　Christopher　could　not　forego　the
seductive　intention　of　calling　upon　the　poetess　and　romancer；　at　her
now　established　town　residence　in　Exonbury　Crescent。　　One　wintry
afternoon　he　reached　the　doornow　for　the　third　timeand　gave　a
knock　which　had　in　it　every　tender　refinement　that　could　be　thrown
into　the　somewhat　antagonistic　vehicle　of　noise。　　Turning　his　face
down　the　street　he　waited　restlessly　on　the　step。　　There　was　a
strange　light　in　the　atmosphere：　　the　glass　of　the　street…lamps；　the
varnished　back　of　a　passing　cab；　a　milk…woman's　cans；　and　a　row　of
church…windows　glared　in　his　eyes　like　new…rubbed　copper；　and　on
looking　the　other　way　he　beheld　a　bloody　sun　hanging　among　the
chimneys　at　the　upper　end；　as　a　danger…lamp　to　warn　him　off。

By　this　time　the　door　was　opened；　and　before　him　stood　Ethelberta's
young　brother　Joey；　thickly　populated　with　little　buttons；　the
remainder　of　him　consisting　of　invisible　green。

'Ah；　Joseph；'　said　Christopher；　instantly　recognizing　the　boy。
'What；　are　you　here　in　office？　　Is　your'

Joey　lifted　his　forefinger　and　spread　his　mouth　in　a　genial　manner；
as　if　to　signify　particular　friendliness　mingled　with　general
caution。

'Yes；　sir；　Mrs。　Petherwin　is　my　mistress。　　I'll　see　if　she　is　at
home；　sir；'　he　replied；　raising　his　shoulders　and　winking　a　wink　of
strategic　meanings　by　way　of　finishall　which　signs　showed；　if
evidence　were　wanted；　how　effectually　this　pleasant　young　page
understood；　though　quite　fresh　from　Wessex；　the　duties　of　his
peculiar　position。　　Mr。　Julian　was　shown　to　the　drawing…room；　and
there　he　found　Ethelberta　alone。

She　gave　him　a　hand　so　cool　and　still　that　Christopher；　much　as　he
desired　the　contact；　was　literally　ashamed　to　let　her　see　and　feel
his　own；　trembling　with　unmanageable　excess　of　feeling。　　It　was
always　so；　always　had　been　so；　always　would　be　so；　at　these　meetings
of　theirs：　　she　was　immeasurably　the　strongest；　and　the　deep…eyed
young　man　fancied；　in　the　chagrin　which　the　perception　of　this
difference　always　bred　in　him；　that　she　triumphed　in　her　superior
control。　　Yet　it　was　only　in　little　things　that　their　sexes　were
thus　reversed：　　Christopher　would　receive　quite　a　shock　if　a　little
dog　barked　at　his　heels；　and　be　totally　unmoved　when　in　danger　of
his　life。

Certainly　the　most　self…possessed　woman　in　the　world；　under　pressure
of　the　incongruity　between　their　last　meeting　and　the　present　one；
might　have　shown　more　embarrassment　than　Ethelberta　showed　on
greeting　him　to…day。　　Christopher　was　only　a　man　in　believing　that
the　shyness　which　she　did　evince　was　chiefly　the　result　of　personal
interest。　　She　might　or　might　not　have　been　said　to　blushperhaps
the　stealthy　change　upon　her　face　was　too　slow　an　operation　to
deserve　that　name：　　but；　though　pale　when　he　called；　the　end　of　ten
minutes　saw　her　colour　high　and　wide。　　She　soon　set　him　at　his　ease；
and　seemed　to　relax　a　long…sustained　tension　as　she　talked　to　him　of
her　arrangements；　hopes；　and　fears。

'And　how　do　you　like　London　society？'　said　Ethelberta。

'Pretty　well；　as　far　as　I　have　seen　it：　　to　the　surface　of　its　front
door。'

'You　will　find　nothing　to　be　alarmed　at　if　you　get　inside。'

'O　noof　course　notexcept　my　own　shortcomings；'　said　the　modest
musician。　　'London　society　is　made　up　of　much　more　refined　people
than　society　anywhere　else。'

'That's　a　very　prevalent　opinion；　and　it　is　nowhere　half　so
prevalent　as　in　London　society　itself。　　However；　come　and　see　my
houseunless　you　think　it　a　trouble　to　look　over　a　house？'

'No；　I　should　like　it　very　much。'

The　decorations　tended　towards　the　artistic