satisfied that in such sure hands as Ethelberta's she was safe。
Deeming it unwise to make any inquiry just yet beyond the simple one
of the way to Farnfield； Ethelberta led her companion along a newly…
fenced road across a heath。 In due time they came to an ornamental
gate with a curved sweep of wall on each side； signifying the
entrance to some enclosed property or other。 Ethelberta； being
quite free from any digested plan for encouraging Neigh in his
resolve to wive； was startled to find a hope in her that this very
respectable beginning before their eyes was the entrance to the
Farnfield property： that she hoped it was nevertheless
unquestionable。 Just beyond lay a turnpike…house； where was dimly
visible a woman in the act of putting up a shutter to the front
window。
Compelled by this time to come to special questions； Ethelberta
instructed Picotee to ask of this person if the place they had just
passed was the entrance to Farnfield Park。 The woman replied that
it was。 Directly she had gone indoors Ethelberta turned back again
towards the park gate。
'What have we come for； Berta？' said Picotee； as she turned also。
'I'll tell you some day；' replied her sister。
It was now much past eight o'clock； and； from the nature of the
evening； dusk。 The last stopping up…train was about ten； so that
half…an…hour could well be afforded for looking round。 Ethelberta
went to the gate； which was found to be fastened by a chain and
padlock。
'Ah； the London season；' she murmured。
There was a wicket at the side； and they entered。 An avenue of
young fir trees three or four feet in height extended from the gate
into the mist； and down this they walked。 The drive was not in very
good order； and the two women were frequently obliged to walk on the
grass to avoid the rough stones in the carriage…way。 The double
line of young firs now abruptly terminated； and the road swept
lower； bending to the right； immediately in front being a large
lake； calm and silent as a second sky。 They could hear from
somewhere on the margin the purl of a weir； and around were clumps
of shrubs； araucarias and deodars being the commonest。
Ethelberta could not resist being charmed with the repose of the
spot； and hastened on with curiosity to reach the other side of the
pool； where； by every law of manorial topography； the mansion would
be situate。 The fog concealed all objects beyond a distance of
twenty yards or thereabouts； but it was nearly full moon； and though
the orb was hidden； a pale diffused light enabled them to see
objects in the foreground。 Reaching the other side of the lake the
drive enlarged itself most legitimately to a large oval； as for a
sweep before a door； a pile of rockwork standing in the midst。
But where should have been the front door of a mansion was simply a
rough rail fence； about four feet high。 They drew near and looked
over。
In the enclosure； and on the site of the imaginary house； was an
extraordinary group。 It consisted of numerous horses in the last
stage of decrepitude； the animals being such mere skeletons that at
first Ethelberta hardly recognized them to be horses at all； they
seemed rather to be specimens of some attenuated heraldic animal；
scarcely thick enough through the body to throw a shadow： or
enlarged castings of the fire…dog of past times。 These poor
creatures were endeavouring to make a meal from herbage so trodden
and thin that scarcely a wholesome blade remained； the little that
there was consisted of the sourer sorts common on such sandy soils；
mingled with tufts of heather and sprouting ferns。
'Why have we come here； dear Berta？' said Picotee； shuddering。
'I hardly know；' said Ethelberta。
Adjoining this enclosure was another and smaller one； formed of high
boarding； within which appeared to be some sheds and outhouses。
Ethelberta looked through the crevices； and saw that in the midst of
the yard stood trunks of trees as if they were growing； with
branches also extending； but these were sawn off at the points where
they began to be flexible； no twigs or boughs remaining。 Each torso
was not unlike a huge hat…stand； and suspended to the pegs and
prongs were lumps of some substance which at first she did not
recognize； they proved to be a chronological sequel to the previous
scene。 Horses' skulls； ribs； quarters； legs； and other joints were
hung thereon； the whole forming a huge open…air larder emitting not
too sweet a smell。
But what Stygian sound was this？ There had arisen at the moment
upon the mute and sleepy air a varied howling from a hundred
tongues。 It had burst from a spot close at handa low wooden
building by a stream which fed the lakeand reverberated for miles。
No further explanation was required。
'We are close to a kennel of hounds；' said Ethelberta； as Picotee
held tightly to her arm。 'They cannot get out； so you need not
fear。 They have a horrid way of suddenly beginning thus at
different hours of the night； for no apparent reason： though
perhaps they hear us。 These poor horses are waiting to be killed
for their food。'
The experience altogether； from its intense melancholy； was very
depressing； almost appalling to the two lone young women； and they
quickly retraced their footsteps。 The pleasant lake； the purl of
the weir； the rudimentary lawns； shrubberies； and avenue； had
changed their character quite。 Ethelberta fancied at that moment
that she could not have married Neigh； even had she loved him； so
horrid did his belongings appear to be。 But for many other reasons
she had been gradually feeling within this hour that she would not
go out of her way at a beck from a man whose interest was so
unimpassioned。
Thinking no more of him as a possible husband she ceased to be
afraid to make inquiries about the peculiarities of his possessions。
In the high…road they came on a local man； resting from wheeling a
wheelbarrow； and Ethelberta asked him； with the air of a
countrywoman； who owned the estate across the road。
'The man owning that is one of the name of Neigh；' said the native；
wiping his face。 ''Tis a family that have made a very large fortune
by the knacker business and tanning； though they be only sleeping
partners in it now； and live like lords。 Mr。 Neigh was going to
pull down the old huts here； and improve the place and build a
mansionin short； he went so far as to have the grounds planted；
and the roads marked out； and the fish…pond made； and the place
christened Farnfield Park； but he did no more。 〃I shall never have
a wife；〃 he said； 〃so why should I want a house to put her in？〃
He's a terrible hater of women； I hear； particularly the lower
class。'
'Indeed！'
'Yes； and since then he has let half the land to the Honourable Mr。
Mountclere； a brother of Lord Mountclere's。 Mr。 Mountclere wanted
the spot for a kennel； and as the land is too poor and sandy for
cropping； Mr。 Neigh let him have it。 'Tis his hounds that you hear
howling。'
They passed on。 'Berta； why did we come down here？' said Picotee。
'To see the nakedness of the land。 It was a whim only； and as it
will end in nothing； it is not worth while for me to make further
explanation。'
It was with a curious sense of renunciation that Ethelberta went
homeward。 Neigh was handsome； grim…natured； rather wicked； and an
indifferentist； and these attractions interested her as a woman。
But the news of this evening suggested to Ethelberta that herself
and Neigh were too nearly cattle of one colour for a confession on
the matter of lineage to be well received by him； and without
confidence of every sort on the nature of her situation； she was
determined to contract no union at all。 The sympathy of unlikeness
might lead the scion of some family； hollow and fungous with
antiquity； and as yet unmarked by a mesalliance； to be won over by
her story； but the antipathy of resemblance would be ineradicable。
26。 ETHELBERTA'S DRAWING…ROOM
While Ethelberta during the next few days was dismissing that
evening journey from her consideration； as an incident altogether
foreign to the organized course of her existence； the hidden fruit
thereof was rounding to maturity in a species unforeseen。
Inferences unassailable as processes； are； nevertheless； to be
suspected； from the almost certain deficiency of particulars on some
side or other。 The truth in relation to Neigh's supposed frigidity
was brought before her at the end of the following week； when Dan
and Sol had taken Picotee； Cornelia； and the young children to Kew
for the afternoon。
Early that morning； hours before it was necessary； there had been
such a chatter of preparation in the house as was seldom heard
there。 Sunday hats and bonnets had been retrimmed with such cunning
that it would have taken a milliner's apprentice at least to
discover that any thread in them was not quite new。 There was an
anxious peep through the blind at the sky at daybreak by Georgina
and Myrtle； and the perplexity of these rural children was great at
the weather…signs of the town； where atmospheric effects had nothing
to do with clouds； and fair days and foul came apparently quite by
chance。 Punctually at the hour appointed two friendly human shadows
descended across the kitchen window； followed by Sol and Dan； much
to the relief of the children's apprehensions that they might forget
the day。
The brothers were by this time acquiring something of the airs and
manners of London workmen； they were less spontaneous and more
comparative； less genial； but smarter； in obedience to the usual law
by which the emotion that takes the form of humour in country
workmen becomes transmuted to irony among the same order in town。
But the fixed and dogged fidelity to one another under apparent
coolness； by which this family was distinguished； remained unshaken
in these members as in all the rest； leading them to select the
children as companions in their holiday in preference to casual
acquaintance。 At last they were ready； and departed； and
Ethelberta； after chatting with her mother awhile； proceeded to her
personal duties。
The house was very silent that day； Gwendoline and Joey being the
only ones left below