her sister at show times； she so far coaxed Ethelberta out of her
intentions that she almost accepted the plan as a good one。 It was
agreed that for the present； at any rate； Picotee should remain。
Then a visit was made to Mrs。 Chickerel's room； where the remainder
of the evening was passed； and harmony reigned in the household。
19。 ETHELBERTA'S DRAWING…ROOM
Picotee's heart was fitfully glad。 She was near the man who had
enlarged her capacity from girl's to woman's； a little note or two
of young feeling to a whole diapason； and though nearness was
perhaps not in itself a great reason for felicity when viewed beside
the complete realization of all that a woman can desire in such
circumstances； it was much in comparison with the outer darkness of
the previous time。
It became evident to all the family that some misunderstanding had
arisen between Ethelberta and Mr。 Julian。 What Picotee hoped in the
centre of her heart as to the issue of the affair it would be too
complex a thing to say。 If Christopher became cold towards her
sister he would not come to the house； if he continued to come it
would really be as Ethelberta's loveraltogether； a pretty game of
perpetual check for Picotee。
He did not make his appearance for several days。 Picotee； being a
presentable girl； and decidedly finer…natured than her sisters below
stairs； was allowed to sit occasionally with Ethelberta in the
afternoon； when the teaching of the little ones had been done for
the day； and thus she had an opportunity of observing Ethelberta's
emotional condition with reference to Christopher； which Picotee did
with an interest that the elder sister was very far from suspecting。
At first Ethelberta seemed blithe enough without him。 One more day
went； and he did not come； and then her manner was that of apathy。
Another day passed； and from fanciful elevations of the eyebrow； and
long breathings； it became apparent that Ethelberta had decidedly
passed the indifferent stage； and was getting seriously out of sorts
about him。 Next morning she looked all hope。 He did not come that
day either； and Ethelberta began to look pale with fear。
'Why don't you go out？' said Picotee timidly。
'I can hardly tell： I have been expecting some one。'
'When she comes I must run up to mother at once； must I not？' said
clever Picotee。
'It is not a lady；' said Ethelberta blandly。 She came then and
stood by Picotee； and looked musingly out of the window。 'I may as
well tell you； perhaps；' she continued。 'It is Mr。 Julian。 He is
I supposemy lover； in plain English。'
'Ah！' said Picotee。
'Whom I am not going to marry until he gets rich。'
'Ahhow strange！ If I had himsuch a lover； I meanI would marry
him if he continued poor。'
'I don't doubt it； Picotee； just as you come to London without
caring about consequences； or would do any other crazy thing and not
mind in the least what came of it。 But somebody in the family must
take a practical view of affairs； or we should all go to the dogs。'
Picotee recovered from the snubbing which she felt that she
deserved； and charged gallantly by saying； with delicate showings of
indifference； 'Do you love this Mr。 What's…his…name of yours？'
'Mr。 Julian？ O； he's a very gentlemanly man。 That is； except when
he is rude； and ill…uses me； and will not come and apologize！'
'If I had hima lover； I would ask him to come if I wanted him to。'
Ethelberta did not give her mind to this remark； but； drawing a long
breath； said； with a pouting laugh； which presaged unreality； 'The
idea of his getting indifferent now！ I have been intending to keep
him on until I got tired of his attentions； and then put an end to
them by marrying him； but here is he； before he has hardly declared
himself； forgetting my existence as much as if he had vowed to love
and cherish me for life。 'Tis an unnatural inversion of the manners
of society。'
'When did you first get to care for him； dear Berta？'
'Owhen I had seen him once or twice。'
'Goodnesshow quick you were！'
'Yesif I am in the mind for loving I am not to be hindered by
shortness of acquaintanceship。'
'Nor I neither！' sighed Picotee。
'Nor any other woman。 We don't need to know a man well in order to
love him。 That's only necessary when we want to leave off。'
'O Bertayou don't believe that！'
'If a woman did not invariably form an opinion of her choice before
she has half seen him； and love him before she has half formed an
opinion； there would be no tears and pining in the whole feminine
world； and poets would starve for want of a topic。 I don't believe
it； do you say？ Ah； well； we shall see。'
Picotee did not know what to say to this； and Ethelberta left the
room to see about her duties as public story…teller； in which
capacity she had undertaken to appear again this very evening。
20。 THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE HALL … THE ROAD HOME
London was illuminated by the broad full moon。 The pavements looked
white as if mantled with snow； ordinary houses were sublimated to
the rank of public buildings； public buildings to palaces； and the
faces of women walking the streets to those of calendared saints and
guardian…angels； by the pure bleaching light from the sky。
In the quiet little street where opened the private door of the Hall
chosen by Ethelberta for her story…telling； a brougham was waiting。
The time was about eleven o'clock； and presently a lady came out
from the building； the moonbeams forthwith flooding her face； which
they showed to be that of the Story…teller herself。 She hastened
across to the carriage； when a second thought arrested her motion：
telling the man…servant and a woman inside the brougham to wait for
her； she wrapped up her features and glided round to the front of
the house； where she paused to observe the carriages and cabs
driving up to receive the fashionable crowd stepping down from the
doors。 Standing here in the throng which her own talent and
ingenuity had drawn together； she appeared to enjoy herself by
listening for a minute or two to the names of several persons of
more or less distinction as they were called out； and then regarded
attentively the faces of others of lesser degree： to scrutinize the
latter was； as the event proved； the real object of the journey from
round the corner。 When nearly every one had left the doors； she
turned back disappointed。 Ethelberta had been fancying that her
alienated lover Christopher was in the back rows to…night； but； as
far as could now be observed； the hopeful supposition was a false
one。
When she got round to the back again； a man came forward。 It was
Ladywell； whom she had spoken to already that evening。 'Allow me to
bring you your note…book； Mrs。 Petherwin： I think you had forgotten
it；' he said。 'I assure you that nobody has handled it but myself。'
Ethelberta thanked him； and took the book。 'I use it to look into
between the parts； in case my memory should fail me；' she explained。
'I remember that I did lay it down； now you remind me。'
Ladywell had apparently more to say； and moved by her side towards
the carriage； but she declined the arm he offered； and said not
another word till he went on； haltingly：
'Your triumph to…night was very great； and it was as much a triumph
to me as to you； I cannot express my feelingI cannot say half that
I would。 If I might only'
'Thank you much；' said Ethelberta； with dignity。 'Thank you for
bringing my book； but I must go home now。 I know that you will see
that it is not necessary for us to be talking here。'
'Yesyou are quite right；' said the repressed young painter； struck
by her seriousness。 'Blame me； I ought to have known better。 But
perhaps a manwell； I will say ita lover without indiscretion is
no lover at all。 Circumspection and devotion are a contradiction in
terms。 I saw that； and hoped that I might speak without real harm。'
'You calculated how to be uncalculating； and are natural by art！'
she said； with the slightest accent of sarcasm。 'But pray do not
attend me furtherit is not at all necessary or desirable。 My maid
is in the carriage。' She bowed； turned； and entered the vehicle；
seating herself beside Picotee。
'It was harsh！' said Ladywell to himself； as he looked after the
retreating carriage。 'I was a fool； but it was harsh。 Yet what man
on earth likes a woman to show too great a readiness at first？ She
is right： she would be nothing without repulse！' And he moved away
in an opposite direction。
'What man was that？' said Picotee； as they drove along。
'Oa mere Mr。 Ladywell： a painter of good family； to whom I have
been sitting for what he calls an Idealization。 He is a dreadful
simpleton。'
'Why did you choose him？'
'I did not： he chose me。 But his silliness of behaviour is a
hopeful sign for the picture。 I have seldom known a man cunning
with his brush who was not simple with his tongue； or； indeed； any
skill in particular that was not allied to general stupidity。'
'Your own skill is not like that； is it； Berta？'
'In menin men。 I don't mean in women。 How childish you are！'
The slight depression at finding that Christopher was not present；
which had followed Ethelberta's public triumph that evening； was
covered over； if not removed； by Ladywell's declaration； and she
reached home serene in spirit。 That she had not the slightest
notion of accepting the impulsive painter made little difference； a
lover's arguments being apt to affect a lady's mood as much by
measure as by weight。 A useless declaration like a rare china
teacup with a hole in it； has its ornamental value in enlarging a
collection。
No sooner had they entered the house than Mr。 Julian's card was
discovered； and Joey informed them that he had come particularly to
speak with Ethelberta； quite forgetting that it was her evening for
tale…telling。
This was real delight； for between her excitements Ethelberta had
been seriously sick…hearted at the horrible possibility of his never
calling again。 But alas！ for Christopher。 There being nothing like
a dead silence for getting one's off…hand sweetheart into a corner；
there is nothing like prematurely ending it for getting int