very far！ Now are you sure she does not love Ladywell？'
'Yes！'
'Well； perhaps I blame her wrongly。 She may have some little good
faitha woman has； here and there。 How do you know she does not
love Ladywell？'
'Because she would prefer Mr。 Neigh to him； any day。'
'Ha！'
'No； noyou mistake； sirshe doesn't love either at all
Ethelberta doesn't。 I meant that she cannot love Mr。 Ladywell
because he stands lower in her opinion than Mr。 Neigh； and him she
certainly does not care for。 She only loves you。 If you only knew
how true she is you wouldn't be so suspicious about her； and I wish
I had not come hereyes； I do！'
'I cannot tell what to think of it。 Perhaps I don't know much of
this world after all； or what girls will do。 But you don't excuse
her to me； Picotee。'
Before this time Picotee had been simulating haste in getting a
light； but in her dread of appearing visibly to Christopher's eyes；
and showing him the precise condition of her tear…stained face； she
put it off moment after moment； and stirred the fire； in hope that
the faint illumination thus produced would be sufficient to save her
from the charge of stupid conduct as entertainer。
Fluttering about on the horns of this dilemma； she was greatly
relieved when Christopher； who read her difficulty； and the general
painfulness of the situation； said that since Ethelberta was really
suffering from a headache he would not wish to disturb her till to…
morrow； and went off downstairs and into the street without further
ceremony。
Meanwhile other things had happened upstairs。 No sooner had Picotee
left her sister's room； than Ethelberta thought it would after all
have been much better if she had gone down herself to speak to this
admirably persistent lover。 Was she not drifting somewhat into the
character of coquette； even if her ground of offencea word of
Christopher's about somebody else's mean parentage； which was spoken
in utter forgetfulness of her own position； but had wounded her to
the quick neverthelesswas to some extent a tenable one？ She knew
what facilities in suffering Christopher always showed； how a touch
to other people was a blow to him； a blow to them his deep wound；
although he took such pains to look stolid and unconcerned under
those inflictions； and tried to smile as if he had no feelings
whatever。 It would be more generous to go down to him； and be kind。
She jumped up with that alertness which comes so spontaneously at
those sweet bright times when desire and duty run hand in hand。
She hastily set her hair and dress in ordernot such matchless
order as she could have wished them to be in； but time was precious…
…and descended the stairs。 When on the point of pushing open the
drawing…room door； which wanted about an inch of being closed； she
was astounded to discover that the room was in total darkness； and
still more to hear Picotee sobbing inside。 To retreat again was the
only action she was capable of at that moment： the clash between
this picture and the anticipated scene of Picotee and Christopher
sitting in frigid propriety at opposite sides of a well…lighted room
was too great。 She flitted upstairs again with the least possible
rustle； and flung herself down on the couch as before； panting with
excitement at the new knowledge that had come to her。
There was only one possible construction to be put upon this in
Ethelberta's rapid mind； and that approximated to the true one。 She
had known for some time that Picotee once had a lover； or something
akin to it； and that he had disappointed her in a way which had
never been told。 No stranger； save in the capacity of the one
beloved； could wound a woman sufficiently to make her weep； and it
followed that Christopher was the man of Picotee's choice。 As
Ethelberta recalled the conversations； conclusion after conclusion
came like pulsations in an aching head。 'O； how did it happen； and
who is to blame？' she exclaimed。 'I cannot doubt his faith； and I
cannot doubt hers； and yet how can I keep doubting them both？'
It was characteristic of Ethelberta's jealous motherly guard over
her young sisters that； amid these contending inquiries； her
foremost feeling was less one of hope for her own love than of
championship for Picotee's。
23。 ETHELBERTA'S HOUSE （continued）
Picotee was heard on the stairs： Ethelberta covered her face。
'Is he waiting？' she said faintly； on finding that Picotee did not
begin to speak。
'No； he is gone；' said Picotee。
'Ah； why is that？' came quickly from under the handkerchief。 'He
has forgotten methat's what it is！'
'O no； he has not！' said Picotee； just as bitterly。
Ethelberta had far too much heroism to let much in this strain
escape her； though her sister was prepared to go any lengths in the
same。 'I suppose；' continued Ethelberta； in the quiet way of one
who had only a headache the matter with her； 'that he remembered you
after the meeting at Anglebury？'
'Yes； he remembered me。'
'Did you tell me you had seen him before that time？'
'I had seen him at Sandbourne。 I don't think I told you。'
'At whose house did you meet him？'
'At nobody's。 I only saw him sometimes；' replied Picotee； in great
distress。
Ethelberta； though of all women most miserable； was brimming with
compassion for the throbbing girl so nearly related to her； in whom
she continually saw her own weak points without the counterpoise of
her strong ones。 But it was necessary to repress herself awhile：
the intended ways of her life were blocked and broken up by this jar
of interests； and she wanted time to ponder new plans。 'Picotee； I
would rather be alone now； if you don't mind；' she said。 'You need
not leave me any light； it makes my eyes ache； I think。'
Picotee left the room。 But Ethelberta had not long been alone and
in darkness when somebody gently opened the door； and entered
without a candle。
'Berta；' said the soft voice of Picotee again； 'may I come in？'
'O yes；' said Ethelberta。 'Has everything gone right with the house
this evening？'
'Yes； and Gwendoline went out just now to buy a few things； and she
is going to call round upon father when he has got his dinner
cleared away。'
'I hope she will not stay and talk to the other servants。 Some day
she will let drop something or other before father can stop her。'
'O Berta！' said Picotee； close beside her。 She was kneeling in
front of the couch； and now flinging her arm across Ethelberta's
shoulder and shaking violently； she pressed her forehead against her
sister's temple； and breathed out upon her cheek：
'I came in again to tell you something which I ought to have told
you just now； and I have come to say it at once because I am afraid
I shan't be able to to…morrow。 Mr。 Julian was the young man I spoke
to you of a long time ago； and I should have told you all about him；
but you said he was your young man too； andand I didn't know what
to do then； because I thought it was wrong in me to love your young
man； and Berta； he didn't mean me to love him at all； but I did it
myself； though I did not want to do it； either； it would come to me！
And I didn't know he belonged to you when I began it； or I would not
have let him meet me at all； no I wouldn't！'
'Meet you？ You don't mean to say he used to meet you？' whispered
Ethelberta。
'Yes；' said Picotee； 'but he could not help it。 We used to meet on
the road； and there was no other road unless I had gone ever so far
round。 But it is worse than that； Berta！ That was why I couldn't
bide in Sandbourne； andand ran away to you up here； it was not
because I wanted to see you； Berta； but because II wanted'
'Yes； yes； I know；' said Ethelberta hurriedly。
'And then when I went downstairs he mistook me for you for a moment；
and that causeda confusion！'
'O； well； it does not much matter；' said Ethelberta； kissing Picotee
soothingly。 'You ought not of course to have come to London in such
a manner； but； since you have come； we will make the best of it。
Perhaps it may end happily for you and for him。 Who knows？'
'Then don't you want him； Berta？'
'O no； not at all！'
'Whatand don't you REALLY want him； Berta？' repeated Picotee；
starting up。
'I would much rather he paid his addresses to you。 He is not the
sort of man I should wish tothink it best to marry； even if I were
to marry； which I have no intention of doing at present。 He calls
to see me because we are old friends； but his calls do not mean
anything more than that he takes an interest in me。 It is not at
all likely that I shall see him again！ and I certainly never shall
see him unless you are present。'
'That will be very nice。'
'Yes。 And you will be always distant towards him； and go to leave
the room when he comes； when I will call you back； but suppose we
continue this to…morrow？ I can tell you better then what to do。'
When Picotee had left her the second time； Ethelberta turned over
upon her breast and shook in convulsive sobs which had little
relationship with tears。 This abandonment ended as suddenly as it
had begunnot lasting more than a minute and a half altogetherand
she got up in an unconsidered and unusual impulse to seek relief
from the stinging sarcasm of this eventthe unhappy love of
Picoteeby mentioning something of it to another member of the
family； her eldest sister Gwendoline； who was a woman full of
sympathy。
Ethelberta descended to the kitchen； it being now about ten o'clock。
The room was empty； Gwendoline not having yet returned； and
Cornelia； being busy about her own affairs upstairs。 The French
family had gone to the theatre； and the house on that account was
very quiet to…night。 Ethelberta sat down in the dismal place
without turning up the gas； and in a few minutes admitted
Gwendoline。
The round…faced country cook floundered in； untying her bonnet as
she came； laying it down on a chair； and talking at the same time。
'Such a place as this London is； to be sure！' she exclaimed； turning
on the gas till it whistled。 'I wish I was down in Wessex again。
Lord…a…mercy； Berta； I didn't see it was you！ I thought it was
Cornelia。 As I was saying； I thought that； after biding in this
undergroun