she should write for them。
Picotee arrived in town late on a cold February afternoon； bearing a
small bag in her hand。 She crossed Westminster Bridge on foot； just
after dusk； and saw a luminous haze hanging over each well…lighted
street as it withdrew into distance behind the nearer houses；
showing its direction as a train of morning mist shows the course of
a distant stream when the stream itself is hidden。 The lights along
the riverside towards Charing Cross sent an inverted palisade of
gleaming swords down into the shaking water； and the pavement ticked
to the touch of pedestrians' feet； most of whom tripped along as if
walking only to practise a favourite quick step； and held
handkerchiefs to their mouths to strain off the river mist from
their lungs。 She inquired her way to Exonbury Crescent； and between
five and six o'clock reached her sister's door。
Two or three minutes were passed in accumulating resolution
sufficient to ring the bell； which when at last she did； was not
performed in a way at all calculated to make the young man Joey
hasten to the door。 After the lapse of a certain time he did；
however； find leisure to stroll and see what the caller might want；
out of curiosity to know who there could be in London afraid to ring
a bell twice。
Joey's delight exceeded even his surprise； the ruling maxim of his
life being the more the merrier； under all circumstances。 The
beaming young man was about to run off and announce her upstairs and
downstairs； left and right； when Picotee called him hastily to her。
In the hall her quick young eye had caught sight of an umbrella with
a peculiar horn handlean umbrella she had been accustomed to meet
on Sandbourne Moor on many happy afternoons。 Christopher was
evidently in the house。
'Joey；' she said； as if she were ready to faint； 'don't tell Berta I
am come。 She has company； has she not？'
'O noonly Mr。 Julian！' said the brother。 'He's quite one of the
family！'
'Never mindcan't I go down into the kitchen with you？' she
inquired。 There had been bliss and misery mingled in those tidings；
and she scarcely knew for a moment which way they affected her。
What she did know was that she had run her dear fox to earth； and a
sense of satisfaction at that feat prevented her just now from
counting the cost of the performance。
'Does Mr。 Julian come to see her very often？' said she。
'O yeshe's always a…cominga regular bore to me。'
'A regular what？'
'Bore！Ah； I forgot； you don't know our town words。 However； come
along。'
They passed by the doors on tiptoe； and their mother upstairs being；
according to Joey's account； in the midst of a nap； Picotee was
unwilling to disturb her； so they went down at once to the kitchen；
when forward rushed Gwendoline the cook； flourishing her floury
hands； and Cornelia the housemaid； dancing over her brush； and these
having welcomed and made Picotee comfortable； who should ring the
area…bell； and be admitted down the steps； but Sol and Dan。 The
workman…brothers； their day's duties being over； had called to see
their relations； first； as usual； going home to their lodgings in
Marylebone and making themselves as spruce as bridegrooms； according
to the rules of their newly…acquired town experience。 For the
London mechanic is only nine hours a mechanic； though the country
mechanic works； eats； drinks； and sleeps a mechanic throughout the
whole twenty…four。
'God bless my soulPicotee！' said Dan； standing fixed。 'WellI
say； this is splendid！ ha…ha！'
'Picoteewhat brought you here？' said Sol； expanding the
circumference of his face in satisfaction。 'Well； come alongnever
mind so long as you be here。'
Picotee explained circumstances as well as she could without stating
them； and； after a general conversation of a few minutes； Sol
interrupted with'Anybody upstairs with Mrs。 Petherwin？'
'Mr。 Julian was there just now；' said Joey； 'but he may be gone。
Berta always lets him slip out how he can； the form of ringing me up
not being necessary with him。 Wait a minuteI'll see。'
Joseph vanished up the stairs； and； the question whether Christopher
were gone or not being an uninteresting one to the majority； the
talking went on upon other matters。 When Joey crept down again a
minute later； Picotee was sitting aloof and silent； and he
accordingly singled her out to speak to。
'Such a lark； Picotee！' he whispered。 'Berta's a…courting of her
young man。 Would you like to see how they carries on a bit？'
'Dearly I should！' said Picotee； the pupils of her eyes dilating。
Joey conducted her to the top of the basement stairs； and told her
to listen。 Within a few yards of them was the morning…room door；
now standing ajar； and an intermittent flirtation in soft male and
female tones could be heard going on inside。 Picotee's lips parted
at thus learning the condition of things； and she leant against the
stair…newel。
'My？ What's the matter？' said Joey。
'If this is London； I don't like it at all！' moaned Picotee。
'WellI never see such a girlfainting all over the stairs for
nothing in the world。'
'Oit will soon be goneit isit is only indigestion。'
'Indigestion？ Much you simple country people can know about that！
You should see what devils of indigestions we get in high life
eating 'normous great dinners and suppers that require clever
physicians to carry 'em off； or else they'd carry us off with gout
next day； and waking in the morning with such a splitting headache；
and dry throat； and inward cusses about human nature； that you feel
all the world like some great lord。 However； now let's go down
again。'
'No； no； no！' said the unhappy maiden imploringly。 'Hark！'
They listened again。 The voices of the musician and poetess had
changed： there was a decided frigidity in their tonethen came a
louder expressionthen a silence。
'You needn't be afeard；' said Joey。 'They won't fight； bless you；
they busts out quarrelling like this times and times when they've
been over…friendly； but it soon gets straight with 'em again。'
There was now a quick walk across the room； and Joey and his sister
drew down their heads out of sight。 Then the room door was slammed；
quick footsteps went along the hall； the front door closed just as
loudly； and Christopher's tread passed into nothing along the
pavement。
'That's rather a wuss one than they mostly have； but Lord； 'tis
nothing at all。'
'I don't much like biding here listening！' said Picotee。
'O； 'tis how we do all over the West End；' said Joey。 ''Tis yer
ignorance of town life that makes it seem a good deal to 'ee。'
'You can't make much boast about town life； for you haven't left off
talking just as they do down in Wessex。'
'Well； I own to thatwhat's fair is fair； and 'tis a true charge；
but if I talk the Wessex way 'tisn't for want of knowing better；
'tis because my staunch nater makes me bide faithful to our old
ancient institutions。 You'd soon own 'twasn't ignorance in me； if
you knowed what large quantities of noblemen I gets mixed up with
every day。 In fact 'tis thoughted here and there that I shall do
very well in the world。'
'Well； let us go down；' said Picotee。 'Everything seems so
overpowering here。'
'O； you'll get broke in soon enough。 I felt just the same when I
first entered into society。'
'Do you think Berta will be angry with me？ How does she treat you？'
'Well； I can't complain。 You see she's my own flesh and blood； and
what can I say？ But； in secret truth； the wages is terrible low；
and barely pays for the tobacco I consooms。'
'O Joey； you wicked boy！ If mother only knew that you smoked！'
'I don't mind the wickedness so much as the smell。 And Mrs。
Petherwin has got such a nose for a fellow's clothes。 'Tis one of
the greatest knots in servicethe smoke question。 'Tis thoughted
that we shall make a great stir about it in the mansions of the
nobility soon。'
'How much more you know of life than I doyou only fourteen and me
seventeen！'
'Yes； that's true。 You see； age is nothing'tis opportunity。 And
even I can't boast； for many a younger man knows more。'
'But don't smoke； Joeythere's a dear！'
'What can I do？ Society hev its rules； and if a person wishes to
keep himself up； he must do as the world do。 We be all Fashion's
slaveas much a slave as the meanest in the land！'
They got downstairs again； and when the dinner of the French lady
and gentleman had been sent up and cleared away； and also
Ethelberta's evening tea （which she formed into a genuine meal；
making a dinner of luncheon； when nobody was there； to give less
trouble to her servant…sisters）； they all sat round the fire。 Then
the rustle of a dress was heard on the staircase； and squirrel…
haired Ethelberta appeared in person。 It was her custom thus to
come down every spare evening； to teach Joey and her sisters
something or othermostly French； which she spoke fluently； but the
cook and housemaid showed more ambition than intelligence in
acquiring that tongue； though Joey learnt it readily enough。
There was consternation in the camp for a moment or two； on account
of poor Picotee； Ethelberta being not without firmness in matters of
discipline。 Her eye instantly lighted upon her disobedient sister；
now looking twice as disobedient as she really was。
'O； you are here； Picotee？ I am glad to see you；' said the mistress
of the house quietly。
This was altogether to Picotee's surprise； for she had expected a
round rating at least； in her freshness hardly being aware that this
reserve of feeling was an acquired habit of Ethelberta's； and that
civility stood in town for as much vexation as a tantrum represented
in Wessex。
Picotee lamely explained her outward reasons for coming； and soon
began to find that Ethelberta's opinions on the matter would not be
known by the tones of her voice。 But innocent Picotee was as wily
as a religionist in sly elusions of the letter whilst infringing the
spirit of a dictum； and by talking very softly and earnestly about
the wondrous good she could do by remaining in the house as
governess to the children； and playing the part of lady's…maid to
her sister at show times； she so far coaxed Ethelberta