a chap will take all this trouble to get a woman into his house； and
a twelvemonth after would as soon hear it thunder as hear her sing！'
The policeman standing near was a humane man； through having a young
family he could hardly keep； and he hesitated about telling them to
move on。 Christopher had before this time perceived that the
articles were laid down before an old gentleman who was seated in
the shop； and that the gentleman was none other than he who had been
with Ethelberta in the concert…room。 The discovery was so startling
that； constitutionally indisposed as he was to stand and watch； he
became as glued to the spot as the other idlers。 Finding himself
now for the first time directly confronting the preliminaries of
Ethelberta's marriage to a stranger； he was left with far less
equanimity than he could have supposed possible to the situation。
'So near the time！' he said； and looked hard at Lord Mountclere。
Christopher had now a far better opportunity than before for
observing Ethelberta's betrothed。 Apart from any bias of jealousy；
disappointment； or mortification； he was led to judge that this was
not quite the man to make Ethelberta happy。 He had fancied her
companion to be a man under fifty； he was now visibly sixty or more。
And it was not the sort of sexagenarianism beside which a young
woman's happiness can sometimes contrive to keep itself alive in a
quiet sleepy way。 Suddenly it occurred to him that this was the man
whom he had helped in the carriage accident on the way to Knollsea。
He looked again。
By no means undignified； the face presented that combination of
slyness and jocundity which we are accustomed to imagine of the
canonical jolly…dogs in mediaeval tales。 The gamesome Curate of
Meudon might have supplied some parts of the countenance； cunning
Friar Tuck the remainder。 Nothing but the viscount's constant habit
of going to church every Sunday morning when at his country
residence kept unholiness out of his features； for though he lived
theologically enough on the Sabbath； as it became a man in his
position to do； he was strikingly mundane all the rest of the week；
always preferring the devil to God in his oaths。 And nothing but
antecedent good…humour prevented the short fits of crossness
incident to his passing infirmities from becoming established。 His
look was exceptionally jovial now； and the corners of his mouth
twitched as the telegraph…needles of a hundred little erotic
messages from his heart to his brain。 Anybody could see that he was
a merry man still； who loved good company； warming drinks； nymph…
like shapes； and pretty words； in spite of the disagreeable
suggestions he received from the pupils of his eyes； and the joints
of his lively limbs； that imps of mischief were busy sapping and
mining in those regions； with the view of tumbling him into a
certain cool cellar under the church aisle。
In general； if a lover can find any ground at all for serenity in
the tide of an elderly rival's success； he finds it in the fact
itself of that ancientness。 The other side seems less a rival than
a makeshift。 But Christopher no longer felt this； and the
significant signs before his eyes of the imminence of Ethelberta's
union with this old hero filled him with restless dread。 True； the
gentleman； as he appeared illuminated by the jeweller's gas…jets；
seemed more likely to injure Ethelberta by indulgence than by
severity； while her beauty lasted； but there was a nameless
something in him less tolerable than this。
The purchaser having completed his dealings with the goldsmith； was
conducted to the door by the master of the shop； and into the
carriage； which was at once driven off up the street。
Christopher now much desired to know the name of the man whom a nice
chain of circumstantial evidence taught him to regard as the happy
winner where scores had lost。 He was grieved that Ethelberta's
confessed reserve should have extended so far as to limit her to
mere indefinite hints of marriage when they were talking almost on
the brink of the wedding…day。 That the ceremony was to be a private
onewhich it probably would be because of the disparity of ages
did not in his opinion justify her secrecy。 He had shown himself
capable of a transmutation as valuable as it is rare in men； the
change from pestering lover to staunch friend； and this was all he
had got for it。 But even an old lover sunk to an indifferentist
might have been tempted to spend an unoccupied half…hour in
discovering particulars now； and Christopher had not lapsed nearly
so far as to absolute unconcern。
That evening； however； nothing came in his way to enlighten him。
But the next day； when skirting the Close on his ordinary duties； he
saw the same carriage standing at a distance； and paused to behold
the same old gentleman come from a well…known office and re…enter
the vehicleLord Mountclere； in fact； in earnest pursuit of the
business of yesternight； having just pocketed a document in which
romance； rashness； law； and gospel are so happily made to work
together that it may safely be regarded as the neatest compromise
which has ever been invented since Adam sinned。
This time Julian perceived that the brougham was one belonging to
the White Hart Hotel； which Lord Mountclere was using partly from
the necessities of these hasty proceedings； and also because； by so
doing； he escaped the notice that might have been bestowed upon his
own equipage； or men…servants； the Mountclere hammer…cloths being
known in Melchester。 Christopher now walked towards the hotel；
leisurely； yet with anxiety。 He inquired of a porter what people
were staying there that day； and was informed that they had only one
person in the house； Lord Mountclere； whom sudden and unexpected
business had detained in Melchester since the previous day。
Christopher lingered to hear no more。 He retraced the street much
more quickly than he had come； and he only said； 'Lord Mountclere
it must never be！'
As soon as he entered the house； Faith perceived that he was greatly
agitated。 He at once told her of his discovery； and she exclaimed；
'What a brilliant match！'
'O Faith；' said Christopher； 'you don't know！ You are far from
knowing。 It is as gloomy as midnight。 Good God； can it be
possible？'
Faith blinked in alarm； without speaking。
'Did you never hear anything of Lord Mountclere when we lived at
Sandbourne？'
'I knew the nameno more。'
'No； noof course you did not。 Well； though I never saw his face；
to my knowledge； till a short time ago； I know enough to say that；
if earnest representations can prevent it； this marriage shall not
be。 Father knew him； or about him； very well； and he once told me
what I cannot tell you。 Fancy； I have seen him three times
yesterday； last night； and this morningbesides helping him on the
road some weeks ago； and never once considered that he might be Lord
Mountclere。 He is here almost in disguise； one may say； neither man
nor horse is with him； and his object accounts for his privacy。 I
see how it isshe is doing this to benefit her brothers and
sisters； if possible； but she ought to know that if she is miserable
they will never be happy。 That's the nature of womenthey take the
form for the essence； and that's what she is doing now。 I should
think her guardian angel must have quitted her when she agreed to a
marriage which may tear her heart out like a claw。'
'You are too warm about it； Kitit cannot be so bad as that。 It is
not the thing； but the sensitiveness to the thing； which is the true
measure of its pain。 Perhaps what seems so bad to you falls lightly
on her mind。 A campaigner in a heavy rain is not more uncomfortable
than we are in a slight draught； and Ethelberta； fortified by her
sapphires and gold cups and wax candles； will not mind facts which
look like spectres to us outside。 A title will turn troubles into
romances； and she will shine as an interesting viscountess in spite
of them。'
The discussion with Faith was not continued； Christopher stopping
the argument by saying that he had a good mind to go off at once to
Knollsea； and show her her danger。 But till the next morning
Ethelberta was certainly safe； no marriage was possible anywhere
before then。 He passed the afternoon in a state of great
indecision； constantly reiterating； 'I will go！'
41。 WORKSHOPS … AN INN … THE STREET
On an extensive plot of ground； lying somewhere between the Thames
and the Kensington squares； stood the premises of Messrs。 Nockett
and Perch； builders and contractors。 The yard with its workshops
formed part of one of those frontier lines between mangy business
and garnished domesticity that occur in what are called improving
neighbourhoods。 We are accustomed to regard increase as the chief
feature in a great city's progress； its well…known signs greeting
our eyes on every outskirt。 Slush…ponds may be seen turning into
basement…kitchens； a broad causeway of shattered earthenware
smothers plots of budding gooseberry…bushes and vegetable trenches；
foundations following so closely upon gardens that the householder
may be expected to find cadaverous sprouts from overlooked potatoes
rising through the chinks of his cellar floor。 But the other great
process； that of internal transmutation； is not less curious than
this encroachment of grey upon green。 Its first erections are often
only the milk…teeth of a suburb； and as the district rises in
dignity they are dislodged by those which are to endure。 Slightness
becomes supplanted by comparative solidity； commonness by novelty；
lowness and irregularity by symmetry and height。
An observer of the precinct which has been named as an instance in
point might have stood under a lamp…post and heard simultaneously
the peal of the visitor's bell from the new terrace on the right
hand； and the stroke of tools from the musty workshops on the left。
Waggons laden with deals came up on this side； and landaus came down
on the otherthe former to lumber heavily through the old…
established contractors' gates； the latter to sweep fashionably into
the square。
About twelve o'clock on the day following Lord Mountclere's
exhibit