might reveal the secret of my birth； but if we go down there for a
few days； and take some lodgings； we shall be able to find out all
about it at leisure。 Gwendoline and Joey can attend to mother and
the people downstairs； especially as father will look in every
evening until he goes out of town； to see if they are getting on
properly。 It will be such a weight off my soul to slip away from
acquaintances here。'
'Will it？'
'Yes。 At the same time I ought not to speak so； for they have been
very kind。 I wish we could go to Rouen afterwards； aunt repeats her
invitation as usual。 However； there is time enough to think of
that。'
Ethelberta was dressed at last； and； beholding the lonely look of
poor Picotee when about to leave the room； she could not help having
a sympathetic feeling that it was rather hard for her sister to be
denied so small an enjoyment as a menial peep at a feast when she
herself was to sit down to it as guest。
'If you still want to go and see the procession downstairs you may
do so；' she said reluctantly； 'provided that you take care of your
tongue when you come in contact with Menlove； and adhere to father's
instructions as to how long you may stay。 It may be in the highest
degree unwise； but never mind； go。'
Then Ethelberta departed for the scene of action； just at the hour
of the sun's lowest decline； when it was fading away； yellow and
mild as candle…light； and when upper windows facing north…west
reflected to persons in the street dissolving views of tawny cloud
with brazen edges； the original picture of the same being hidden
from sight by soiled walls and slaty slopes。
Before entering the presence of host and hostess； Ethelberta
contrived to exchange a few words with her father。
'In excellent time；' he whispered； full of paternal pride at the
superb audacity of her situation here in relation to his。 'About
half of them are come。'
'Mr。 Neigh？'
'Not yet； he's coming。'
'Lord Mountclere？'
'Yes。 He came absurdly early； ten minutes before anybody else； so
that Mrs。 D。 could hardly get on her bracelets and things soon
enough to scramble downstairs and receive him； and he's as nervous
as a boy。 Keep up your spirits； dear； and don't mind me。'
'I will； father。 And let Picotee see me at dinner if you can。 She
is very anxious to look at me。 She will be here directly。'
And Ethelberta； having been announced； joined the chamberful of
assembled guests； among whom for the present we lose sight of her。
Meanwhile the evening outside the house was deepening in tone； and
the lamps began to blink up。 Her sister having departed； Picotee
hastily arrayed herself in a little black jacket and chip hat； and
tripped across the park to the same point。 Chickerel had directed a
maid…servant known as Jane to receive his humbler daughter and make
her comfortable； and that friendly person； who spoke as if she had
known Picotee five…and…twenty years； took her to the housekeeper's
room； where the visitor deposited her jacket and hat； and rested
awhile。
A quick…eyed； light…haired； slight…built woman came in when Jane had
gone。 'Are you Miss Chickerel？' she said to Picotee。
'Yes；' said Picotee； guessing that this was Menlove； and fearing her
a little。
'Jane tells me that you have come to visit your father； and would
like to look at the company going to dinner。 Well； they are not
much to see； you know； but such as they are you are welcome to the
sight of。 Come along with me。'
'I think I would rather wait for father； if you will excuse me；
please。'
'Your father is busy now； it is no use for you to think of saying
anything to him。'
Picotee followed her guide up a back staircase to the height of
several flights； and then； crossing a landing； they descended to the
upper part of the front stairs。
'Now look over the balustrade； and you will see them all in a
minute；' said Mrs。 Menlove。 'O； you need not be timid； you can look
out as far as you like。 We are all independent here； no slavery for
us： it is not as it is in the country； where servants are
considered to be of different blood and bone from their employers；
and to have no eyes for anything but their work。 Here they are
coming。'
Picotee then had the pleasure of looking down upon a series of human
crownssome black； some white； some strangely built upon； some
smooth and shiningdescending the staircase in disordered column
and great discomfort； their owners trying to talk； but breaking off
in the midst of syllables to look to their footing。 The young
girl's eyes had not drooped over the handrail more than a few
moments when she softly exclaimed； 'There she is； there she is！ How
lovely she looks； does she not？'
'Who？' said Mrs。 Menlove。
Picotee recollected herself； and hastily drew in her impulses。 'My
dear mistress；' she said blandly。 'That is she on Mr。 Doncastle's
arm。 And look； who is that funny old man the elderly lady is
helping downstairs？'
'He is our honoured guest； Lord Mountclere。 Mrs。 Doncastle will
have him all through the dinner； and after that he will devote
himself to Mrs。 Petherwin； your 〃dear mistress。〃 He keeps looking
towards her now； and no doubt thinks it a nuisance that she is not
with him。 Well； it is useless to stay here。 Come a little further…
…we'll follow them。' Menlove began to lead the way downstairs； but
Picotee held back。
'Won't they see us？' she said。
'No。 And if they do； it doesn't matter。 Mrs。 Doncastle would not
object in the least to the daughter of her respected head man being
accidentally seen in the hall。'
They descended to the bottom and stood in the hall。 'O； there's
father！' whispered Picotee； with childlike gladness； as Chickerel
became visible to her by the door。 The butler nodded to his
daughter； and became again engrossed in his duties。
'I wish I could see hermy mistressagain；' said Picotee。
'You seem mightily concerned about your mistress；' said Menlove。
'Do you want to see if you have dressed her properly？'
'Yes； partly； and I like her； too。 She is very kind to me。'
'You will have a chance of seeing her soon。 When the door is nicely
open you can look in for a moment。 I must leave you now for a few
minutes； but I will come again。'
Menlove departed； and Picotee stood waiting。 She wondered how
Ethelberta was getting on； and whether she enjoyed herself as much
as it seemed her duty to do in such a superbly hospitable place。
Picotee then turned her attention to the hall； every article of
furniture therein appearing worthy of scrutiny to her unaccustomed
eyes。 Here she walked and looked about for a long time till an
excellent opportunity offered itself of seeing how affairs
progressed in the dining…room。
Through the partly…opened door there became visible a sideboard
which first attracted her attention by its richness。 It was；
indeed； a noticeable example of modern art…workmanship； in being
exceptionally large； with curious ebony mouldings at different
stages； and； while the heavy cupboard doors at the bottom were
enriched with inlays of paler wood； other panels were decorated with
tiles； as if the massive composition had been erected on the spot as
part of the solid building。 However； it was on a space higher up
that Picotee's eyes and thoughts were fixed。 In the great mirror
above the middle ledge she could see reflected the upper part of the
dining…room； and this suggested to her that she might see Ethelberta
and the other guests reflected in the same way by standing on a
chair； which； quick as thought； she did。
To Picotee's dazed young vision her beautiful sister appeared as the
chief figure of a glorious pleasure…parliament of both sexes；
surrounded by whole regiments of candles grouped here and there
about the room。 She and her companions were seated before a large
flowerbed； or small hanging garden； fixed at about the level of the
elbow； the attention of all being concentrated rather upon the
uninteresting margin of the bed； and upon each other； than on the
beautiful natural objects growing in the middle； as it seemed to
Picotee。 In the ripple of conversation Ethelberta's clear voice
could occasionally be heard； and her young sister could see that her
eyes were bright； and her face beaming； as if divers social wants
and looming penuriousness had never been within her experience。 Mr。
Doncastle was quite absorbed in what she was saying。 So was the
queer old man whom Menlove had called Lord Mountclere。
'The dashing widow looks very well； does she not？' said a person at
Picotee's elbow。
It was her conductor Menlove； now returned again； whom Picotee had
quite forgotten。
'She will do some damage here to…night you will find；' continued
Menlove。 'How long have you been with her？'
'O； a long timeI mean rather a short time；' stammered Picotee。
'I know her well enough。 I was her maid once； or rather her mother…
in…law's； but that was long before you knew her。 I did not by any
means find her so lovable as you seem to think her when I had to do
with her at close quarters。 An awful flirtawful。 Don't you find
her so？'
'I don't know。'
'If you don't yet you will know。 But come down from your perchthe
dining…room door will not be open again for some timeand I will
show you about the rooms upstairs。 This is a larger house than Mrs。
Petherwin's； as you see。 Just come and look at the drawing…rooms。'
Wishing much to get rid of Menlove； yet fearing to offend her；
Picotee followed upstairs。 Dinner was almost over by this time； and
when they entered the front drawing…room a young man…servant and
maid were there rekindling the lights。
'Now let's have a game of cat…and…mice；' said the maid…servant
cheerily。 'There's plenty of time before they come up。'
'Agreed；' said Menlove promptly。 'You will play； will you not； Miss
Chickerel？'
'No； indeed；' said Picotee； aghast。
'Never mind； then； you look on。'
Away then ran the housemaid and Menlove； and the young footman
started at their heels。 Round the room； over the furniture； under
the furniture； through the furniture； out of one window； along the
balcony； in at another window； again round the roomso they glided
with the s