through the town with Lady Petherwin； who then told her that this
landlady was the only respectable relative she seemed to have in the
world。
Aunt Charlotte's face was an English outline filled in with French
shades under the eyes； on the brows； and round the mouth； by the
natural effect of years； she resembled the British hostess as little
as well could be； no point in her causing the slightest suggestion
of drops taken for the stomach's sake。 Telling the two young women
she would gladly have met them at the station had she known the hour
of their arrival； she kissed them both without much apparent notice
of a difference in their conditions； indeed； seeming rather to
incline to Cornelia； whose country face and homely style of clothing
may have been more to her mind than Ethelberta's finished
travelling…dress； a class of article to which she appeared to be
well accustomed。 Her husband was at this time at the head of the
table…d'hote； and mentioning the fact as an excuse for his non…
appearance； she accompanied them upstairs。
After the strain of keeping up smiles with Lord Mountclere； the
rattle and shaking； and the general excitements of the chase across
the water and along the rail； a face in which she saw a dim reflex
of her mother's was soothing in the extreme； and Ethelberta went up
to the staircase with a feeling of expansive thankfulness。 Cornelia
paused to admire the clean court and the small caged birds sleeping
on their perches； the boxes of veronica in bloom； of oleander； and
of tamarisk； which freshened the air of the court and lent a romance
to the lamplight； the cooks in their paper caps and white blouses
appearing at odd moments from an Avernus behind； while the prompt
'v'la！' of teetotums in mob caps； spinning down the staircase in
answer to the periodic clang of bells； filled her with wonder； and
pricked her conscience with thoughts of how seldom such transcendent
nimbleness was attempted by herself in a part so nearly similar。
34。 THE HOTEL BEAU SEJOUR AND SPOTS NEAR IT
The next day； much to Ethelberta's surprise； there was a letter for
her in her mother's up…hill hand。 She neglected all the rest of its
contents for the following engrossing sentences：
'Menlove has wormed everything out of poor Joey； we find； and your
father is much upset about it。 She had another quarrel with him；
and then declared she would expose you and us to Mrs。 Doncastle and
all your friends。 I think that Menlove is the kind of woman who
will stick to her word； and the question for you to consider is； how
can you best face out any report of the truth which she will spread；
and contradict the lies that she will add to it？ It appears to me
to be a dreadful thing； and so it will probably appear to you。 The
worst part will be that your sisters and brothers are your servants；
and that your father is actually engaged in the house where you
dine。 I am dreadful afraid that this will be considered a fine joke
for gossips； and will cause no end of laughs in society at your
expense。 At any rate； should Menlove spread the report； it would
absolutely prevent people from attending your lectures next season；
for they would feel like dupes； and be angry with theirselves； and
you； and all of us。
'The only way out of the muddle that I can see for you is to put
some scheme of marrying into effect as soon as possible； and before
these things are known。 Surely by this time； with all your
opportunities； you have been able to strike up an acquaintance with
some gentleman or other； so as to make a suitable match。 You see；
my dear Berta； marriage is a thing which； once carried out； fixes
you more firm in a position than any personal brains can do； for as
you stand at present； every loose tooth； and every combed…out hair；
and every new wrinkle； and every sleepless night； is so much took
away from your chance for the future； depending as it do upon your
skill in charming。 I know that you have had some good offers； so do
listen to me； and warm up the best man of them again a bit； and get
him to repeat his words before your roundness shrinks away； and 'tis
too late。
'Mr。 Ladywell has called here to see you； it was just after I had
heard that this Menlove might do harm； so I thought I could do no
better than send down word to him that you would much like to see
him； and were wondering sadly why he had not called lately。 I gave
him your address at Rouen； that he might find you； if he chose； at
once； and be got to propose； since he is better than nobody。 I
believe he said； directly Joey gave him the address； that he was
going abroad； and my opinion is that he will come to you； because of
the encouragement I gave him。 If so； you must thank me for my
foresight and care for you。
'I heave a sigh of relief sometimes at the thought that I； at any
rate； found a husband before the present man…famine began。 Don't
refuse him this time； there's a dear； or； mark my words； you'll have
cause to rue itunless you have beforehand got engaged to somebody
better than he。 You will not if you have not already； for the
exposure is sure to come soon。'
'O； this false position！it is ruining your nature； my too
thoughtful mother！ But I will not accept any of themI'll brazen
it out！' said Ethelberta； throwing the letter wherever it chose to
fly； and picking it up to read again。 She stood and thought it all
over。 'I must decide to do something！' was her sigh again； and；
feeling an irresistible need of motion； she put on her things and
went out to see what resolve the morning would bring。
No rain had fallen during the night； and the air was now quiet in a
warm heavy fog； through which old cider…smells； reminding her of
Wessex； occasionally came from narrow streets in the background。
Ethelberta passed up the Rue Grand…Pont into the little dusky Rue
Saint…Romain； behind the cathedral； being driven mechanically along
by the fever and fret of her thoughts。 She was about to enter the
building by the transept door； when she saw Lord Mountclere coming
towards her。
Ethelberta felt equal to him； or a dozen such； this morning。 The
looming spectres raised by her mother's information； the wearing
sense of being over…weighted in the race； were driving her to a
Hamlet…like fantasticism and defiance of augury； moreover； she was
abroad。
'I am about to ascend to the parapets of the cathedral；' said she；
in answer to a half inquiry。
'I should be delighted to accompany you；' he rejoined； in a manner
as capable of explanation by his knowledge of her secret as was
Ethelberta's manner by her sense of nearing the end of her maying。
But whether this frequent glide into her company was meant as
ephemeral flirtation； to fill the half…hours of his journey； or
whether it meant a serious love…suitwhich were the only
alternatives that had occurred to her on the subjectdid not
trouble her now。 'I am bound to be civil to so great a lord；' she
lightly thought； and expressing no objection to his presence； she
passed with him through the outbuildings； containing Gothic lumber
from the shadowy pile above； and ascended the stone staircase。
Emerging from its windings； they duly came to the long wooden ladder
suspended in mid…air that led to the parapet of the tower。 This
being wide enough for two abreast； she could hardly do otherwise
than wait a moment for the viscount； who up to this point had never
faltered； and who amused her as they went by scraps of his
experience in various countries； which； to do him justice； he told
with vivacity and humour。 Thus they reached the end of the flight；
and entered behind a balustrade。
'The prospect will be very lovely from this point when the fog has
blown off；' said Lord Mountclere faintly； for climbing and
chattering at the same time had fairly taken away his breath。 He
leant against the masonry to rest himself。 'The air is clearing
already； I fancy I saw a sunbeam or two。'
'It will be lovelier above；' said Ethelberta。 'Let us go to the
platform at the base of the fleche； and wait for a view there。'
'With all my heart；' said her attentive companion。
They passed in at a door and up some more stone steps； which landed
them finally in the upper chamber of the tower。 Lord Mountclere
sank on a beam； and asked smilingly if her ambition was not
satisfied with this goal。 'I recollect going to the top some years
ago；' he added； 'and it did not occur to me as being a thing worth
doing a second time。 And there was no fog then； either。'
'O；' said Ethelberta； 'it is one of the most splendid things a
person can do！ The fog is going fast； and everybody with the least
artistic feeling in the direction of bird's…eye views makes the
ascent every time of coming here。'
'Of course； of course；' said Lord Mountclere。 'And I am only too
happy to go to any height with you。'
'Since you so kindly offer； we will go to the very top of the spire…
…up through the fog and into the sunshine；' said Ethelberta。
Lord Mountclere covered a grim misgiving by a gay smile； and away
they went up a ladder admitting to the base of the huge iron
framework above； then they entered upon the regular ascent of the
cage； towards the hoped…for celestial blue； and among breezes which
never descended so low as the town。 The journey was enlivened with
more breathless witticisms from Lord Mountclere； till she stepped
ahead of him again； when he asked how many more steps there were。
She inquired of the man in the blue blouse who accompanied them。
'Fifty…five；' she returned to Lord Mountclere a moment later。
They went round； and round； and yet around。
'How many are there now？' Lord Mountclere demanded this time of the
man。
'A hundred and ninety； Monsieur；' he said。
'But there were only fifty…five ever so long ago！'
'Two hundred and five； then；' said the man 'Perhaps the mist
prevented Mademoiselle hearing me distinctly？'
'Never mind： I would follow were there five thousand more； did
Mademoiselle bid me！' said the exhausted nobleman gallantly； in
English。
'Hush！' said Ethelberta； with displeasure。
'He doesn't understand a word；' said Lord Mountclere。
They paced the remainder of their spiral pathway in s