balcony； in at another window； again round the roomso they glided
with the swiftness of swallows and the noiselessness of ghosts。
Then the housemaid drew a jew's…harp from her pocket； and struck up
a lively waltz sotto voce。 The footman seized Menlove； who appeared
nothing loth； and began spinning gently round the room with her； to
the time of the fascinating measure
'Which fashion hails； from countesses to queens；
And maids and valets dance behind the scenes。'
Picotee； who had been accustomed to unceiled country cottages all
her life； wherein the scamper of a mouse is heard distinctly from
floor to floor； exclaimed in a terrified whisper； at viewing all
this； 'They'll hear you underneath； they'll hear you； and we shall
all be ruined！'
'Not at all；' came from the cautious dancers。 'These are some of
the best built houses in Londondouble floors； filled in with
material that will deaden any row you like to make； and we make
none。 But come and have a turn yourself； Miss Chickerel。'
The young man relinquished Menlove； and on the spur of the moment
seized Picotee。 Picotee flounced away from him in indignation；
backing into a corner with ruffled feathers； like a pullet trying to
appear a hen。
'How dare you touch me！' she said； with rounded eyes。 'I'll tell
somebody downstairs of you； who'll soon see about it！'
'What a baby； she'll tell her father。'
'No I shan't； somebody you are all afraid of； that's who I'll tell。'
'Nonsense；' said Menlove； 'he meant no harm。'
Playtime was now getting short； and further antics being dangerous
on that account； the performers retired again downstairs； Picotee of
necessity following。 Her nerves were screwed up to the highest
pitch of uneasiness by the grotesque habits of these men and maids；
who were quite unlike the country servants she had known； and
resembled nothing so much as pixies； elves； or gnomes； peeping up
upon human beings from their shady haunts underground； sometimes for
good； sometimes for illsometimes doing heavy work； sometimes none；
teasing and worrying with impish laughter half suppressed； and
vanishing directly mortal eyes were bent on them。 Separate and
distinct from overt existence under the sun； this life could hardly
be without its distinctive pleasures； all of them being more or less
pervaded by thrills and titillations from games of hazard； and the
perpetual risk of sensational surprises。
Long before this time Picotee had begun to be anxious to get home
again； but Menlove seemed particularly to desire her company； and
pressed her to sit awhile； telling her young friend； by way of
entertainment； of various extraordinary love adventures in which she
had figured as heroine when travelling on the Continent。 These
stories had one and all a remarkable likeness in a certain point
Menlove was always unwilling to love the adorer； and the adorer was
always unwilling to live afterwards on account of it。
'Ha…ha…ha！' in men's voices was heard from the distant dining…room
as the two women went on talking。
'And then；' continued Menlove； 'there was that duel I was the cause
of between the courier and the French valet。 Dear me； what a
trouble that was； yet I could do nothing to prevent it。 This
courier was a very handsome manthey are handsome sometimes。'
'Yes； they are。 My aunt married one。'
'Did she？ Where do they live？'
'They keep an hotel at Rouen；' murmured Picotee； in doubt whether
this should have been told or not。
'Well； he used to follow me to the English Church every Sunday
regularly； and I was so determined not to give my hand where my
heart could never be； that I slipped out at the other door while he
stood expecting me by the one I entered。 Here I met M。 Pierre；
when； as ill luck would have it； the other came round the corner；
and seeing me talking to the valet； he challenged him at once。'
'Ha…ha…ha！' was heard again afar。
'Did they fight？' said Picotee。
'Yes； I believe they did。 We left Nice the next day； but I heard
some time after of a duel not many miles off； and although I could
not get hold of the names； I make no doubt it was between those two
gentlemen。 I never knew which of them fell； poor fellow； whichever
it was。'
'Ha…ha…ha…ha…ha…ha！' came from the dining…room。
'Whatever are those boozy men laughing at； I wonder？' said Menlove。
'They are always so noisy when the ladies have gone upstairs。 Upon
my soul； I'll run up and find out。'
'No； no； don't；' entreated Picotee； putting her hand on her
entertainer's arm。 'It seems wrong； it is no concern of ours。'
'Wrong be hangedanything on an impulse；' said Mrs。 Menlove；
skipping across the room and out of the door； which stood open； as
did others in the house； the evening being sultry and oppressive。
Picotee waited in her seat until it occurred to her that she could
escape the lady's…maid by going off into her father's pantry in her
absence。 But before this had been put into effect Menlove appeared
again。
'Such fun as they are having up there；' she said。 'Somebody asked
Mr。 Neigh to tell a story which he had told at some previous time；
but he was very reluctant to do so； and pretended he could not
recollect it。 Well； then； the other manI could not distinguish
him by his voicebegan telling it； to prompt Mr。 Neigh's memory；
and； as far as I could understand； it was about some lady who
thought Mr。 Neigh was in love with her； and； to find whether he was
worth accepting or not； she went with her maid at night to see his
estate； and wandered about and got lost； and was frightened； and I
don't know what besides。 Then Mr。 Neigh laughed too； and said he
liked such common sense in a woman。 No names were mentioned； but I
fancy； from the awkwardness of Mr。 Neigh at being compelled to tell
it； that the lady is one of those in the drawing…room。 I should
like to know which it was。'
'I knowhave heard something about it；' said Picotee； blushing with
anger。 'It was nothing at all like that。 I wonder Mr。 Neigh had
the audacity ever to talk of the matter； and to misrepresent it so
greatly！'
'Tell all about it； do；' said Menlove。
'O no；' said Picotee。 'I promised not to say a word。'
'It is your mistress； I expect。'
'You may think what you like； but the lady is anything but a
mistress of mine。'
The flighty Menlove pressed her to tell the whole story； but finding
this useless the subject was changed。 Presently her father came in；
and； taking no notice of Menlove； told his daughter that she had
been called for。 Picotee very readily put on her things； and on
going outside found Joey awaiting her。 Mr。 Chickerel followed
closely； with sharp glances from the corner of his eye； and it was
plain from Joey's nervous manner of lingering in the shadows of the
area doorway instead of entering the house； that the butler had in
some way set himself to prevent all communion between the fair
lady's…maid and his son for that evening at least。
He watched Picotee and her brother off the premises； and the pair
went on their way towards Exonbury Crescent； very few words passing
between them。 Picotee's thoughts had turned to the proposed visit
to Knollsea； and Joey was sulky under disappointment and the blank
of thwarted purposes。
30。 ON THE HOUSETOP
'Picotee； are you asleep？' Ethelberta whispered softly at dawn the
next morning； by the half…opened door of her sister's bedroom。
'No； I keep waking； it is so warm。'
'So do I。 Suppose we get up and see the sun rise。 The east is
filling with flame。'
'Yes； I should like it；' said Picotee。
The restlessness which had brought Ethelberta hither in slippers and
dressing…gown at such an early hour owed its origin to another cause
than the warmth of the weather； but of that she did not speak as
yet。 Picotee's room was an attic； with windows in the roofa
chamber dismal enough at all times； and very shadowy now。 While
Picotee was wrapping up； Ethelberta placed a chair under the window；
and mounting upon this they stepped outside； and seated themselves
within the parapet。
The air was as clear and fresh as on a mountain side； sparrows
chattered； and birds of a species unsuspected at later hours could
be heard singing in the park hard by； while here and there on ridges
and flats a cat might be seen going calmly home from the devilries
of the night to resume the amiabilities of the day。
'I am so sorry I was asleep when you reached home；' said Picotee。
'I was so anxious to tell you something I heard of； and to know what
you did； but my eyes would shut； try as I might； and then I tried no
longer。 Did you see me at all； Berta？'
'Never once。 I had an impression that you were there。 I fancied
you were from father's carefully vacuous look whenever I glanced at
his face。 But were you careful about what you said； and did you see
Menlove？ I felt all the time that I had done wrong in letting you
come； the gratification to you was not worth the risk to me。'
'I saw her； and talked to her。 But I am certain she suspected
nothing。 I enjoyed myself very much； and there was no risk at all。'
'I am glad it is no worse news。 However； you must not go there
again： upon that point I am determined。'
'It was a good thing I did go； all the same。 I'll tell you why when
you have told me what happened to you。'
'Nothing of importance happened to me。'
'I expect you got to know the lord you were to meet？'
'O yesLord Mountclere。'
'And it's dreadful how fond he is of youquite ridiculously taken
up with youI saw that well enough。 Such an old man； too； I
wouldn't have him for the world！'
'Don't jump at conclusions so absurdly； Picotee。 Why wouldn't you
have him for the world？'
'Because he is old enough to be my grandfather； and yours too。'
'Indeed he is not； he is only middle…aged。'
'O Berta！ Sixty…five at least。'
'He may or may not be that； and if he is； it is not old。 He is so
entertaining that one forgets all about age in connection with him。'
'He laughs like this〃Hee…hee…hee！〃' Picotee introduced as much
antiquity into her face as she could by screwing it up and suiting
the action to the word。
'This very odd thing occurred；' said Ethelberta； to get