concentration which had followed her paroxysm。 When she reached the
park proper she became aware of an excitement that was in progress
there。
Ethelberta's absence had become unaccountable to Lord Mountclere；
who could hardly permit her retirement from his sight for a minute。
But at first he had made due allowance for her eccentricity as a
woman of genius； and would not take notice of the half…hour's
desertion； unpardonable as it might have been in other classes of
wives。 Then he had inquired； searched； been alarmed： he had
finally sent men…servants in all directions about the park to look
for her。 He feared she had fallen out of a window； down a well； or
into the lake。 The next stage of search was to have been drags and
grapnels： but Ethelberta entered the house。
Lord Mountclere rushed forward to meet her； and such was her
contrivance that he noticed no change。 The searchers were called
in； Ethelberta explaining that she had merely obeyed the wish of her
brother in going out to meet him。 Picotee； who had returned from
her walk with Sol； was upstairs in one of the rooms which had been
allotted to her。 Ethelberta managed to run in there on her way
upstairs to her own chamber。
'Picotee； put your things on again；' she said。 'You are the only
friend I have in this house； and I want one badly。 Go to Sol； and
deliver this message to himthat I want to see him at once。 You
must overtake him； if you walk all the way to Anglebury。 But the
train does not leave till four； so that there is plenty of time。'
'What is the matter？' said Picotee。 'I cannot walk all the way。'
'I don't think you will have to do thatI hope not。'
'He is going to stop at Corvsgate to have a bit of lunch： I might
overtake him there； if I must！'
'Yes。 And tell him to come to the east passage door。 It is that
door next to the entrance to the stable…yard。 There is a little
yew…tree outside it。 On second thoughts you； dear； must not come
back。 Wait at Corvsgate in the little inn parlour till Sol comes to
you again。 You will probably then have to go home to London alone；
but do not mind it。 The worst part for you will be in going from
the station to the Crescent； but nobody will molest you in a four…
wheel cab： you have done it before。 However； he will tell you if
this is necessary when he gets back。 I can best fight my battles
alone。 You shall have a letter from me the day after to…morrow；
stating where I am。 I shall not be here。'
'But what is it so dreadful？'
'Nothing to frighten you。' But she spoke with a breathlessness that
completely nullified the assurance。 'It is merely that I find I
must come to an explanation with Lord Mountclere before I can live
here permanently； and I cannot stipulate with him while I am here in
his power。 Till I write； good…bye。 Your things are not unpacked；
so let them remain here for the presentthey can be sent for。'
Poor Picotee； more agitated than her sister； but never questioning
her orders； went downstairs and out of the house。 She ran across
the shrubberies； into the park； and to the gate whereat Sol had
emerged some half…hour earlier。 She trotted along upon the turnpike
road like a lost doe； crying as she went at the new trouble which
had come upon Berta； whatever that trouble might be。 Behind her she
heard wheels and the stepping of a horse； but she was too concerned
to turn her head。 The pace of the vehicle slackened； however； when
it was abreast of Picotee； and she looked up to see Christopher as
the driver。
'Miss Chickerel！' he said； with surprise。
Picotee had quickly looked down again； and she murmured； 'Yes。'
Christopher asked what he could not help asking in the
circumstances； 'Would you like to ride？'
'I should be glad；' said she； overcoming her flurry。 'I am anxious
to overtake my brother Sol。'
'I have arranged to pick him up at Corvsgate；' said Christopher。
He descended； and assisted her to mount beside him； and drove on
again； almost in silence。 He was inclined to believe that some
supernatural legerdemain had to do with these periodic impacts of
Picotee on his path。 She sat mute and melancholy till they were
within half…a…mile of Corvsgate。
'Thank you；' she said then； perceiving Sol upon the road； 'there is
my brother； I will get down now。'
'He was going to ride on to Anglebury with me；' said Julian。
Picotee did not reply； and Sol turned round。 Seeing her he
instantly exclaimed； 'What's the matter； Picotee？'
She explained to him that he was to go back immediately； and meet
her sister at the door by the yew； as Ethelberta had charged her。
Christopher； knowing them so well； was too much an interested member
of the group to be left out of confidence； and she included him in
her audience。
'And what are you to do？' said Sol to her。
'I am to wait at Corvsgate till you come to me。'
'I can't understand it；' Sol muttered； with a gloomy face。 'There's
something wrong； and it was only to be expected； that's what I say；
Mr。 Julian。'
'If necessary I can take care of Miss Chickerel till you come；' said
Christopher。
'Thank you；' said Sol。 'Then I will return to you as soon as I can；
at the 〃Castle〃 Inn； just ahead。 'Tis very awkward for you to be so
burdened by us； Mr。 Julian； but we are in a trouble that I don't yet
see the bottom of。'
'I know；' said Christopher kindly。 'We will wait for you。'
He then drove on with Picotee to the inn； which was not far off； and
Sol returned again to Enckworth。 Feeling somewhat like a thief in
the night； he zigzagged through the park； behind belts and knots of
trees； until he saw the yew； dark and clear； as if drawn in ink upon
the fair face of the mansion。 The way up to it was in a little
cutting between shrubs； the door being a private entrance； sunk
below the surface of the lawn； and invisible from other parts of the
same front。 As soon as he reached it； Ethelberta opened it at once；
as if she had listened for his footsteps。
She took him along a passage in the basement； up a flight of steps；
and into a huge； solitary； chill apartment。 It was the ball…room。
Spacious mirrors in gilt frames formed panels in the lower part of
the walls； the remainder being toned in sage…green。 In a recess
between each mirror was a statue。 The ceiling rose in a segmental
curve； and bore sprawling upon its face gilt figures of wanton
goddesses； cupids； satyrs with tambourines； drums； and trumpets； the
whole ceiling seeming alive with them。 But the room was very gloomy
now； there being little light admitted from without； and the
reflections from the mirrors gave a depressing coldness to the
scene。 It was a place intended to look joyous by night； and
whatever it chose to look by day。
'We are safe here；' said she。 'But we must listen for footsteps。 I
have only five minutes： Lord Mountclere is waiting for me。 I mean
to leave this place； come what may。'
'Why？' said Sol； in astonishment。
'I cannot tell yousomething has occurred。 God has got me in his
power at last； and is going to scourge me for my bad doingsthat's
what it seems like。 Sol； listen to me； and do exactly what I say。
Go to Anglebury； hire a brougham； bring it on as far as Little
Enckworth： you will have to meet me with it at one of the park
gates later in the eveningprobably the west； at half…past seven。
Leave it at the village with the man； come on here on foot； and stay
under the trees till just before six： it will then be quite dark；
and you must stand under the projecting balustrade a little further
on than the door you came in by。 I will just step upon the balcony
over it； and tell you more exactly than I can now the precise time
that I shall be able to slip out； and where the carriage is to be
waiting。 But it may not be safe to speak on account of his
closeness to meI will hand down a note。 I find it is impossible
to leave the house by daylightI am certain to be pursuedhe
already suspects something。 Now I must be going； or he will be
here； for he watches my movements because of some accidental words
that escaped me。'
'Berta； I shan't have anything to do with this；' said Sol。 'It is
not right！'
'I am only going to Rouen； to Aunt Charlotte！' she implored。 'I
want to get to Southampton； to be in time for the midnight steamer。
When I am at Rouen I can negotiate with Lord Mountclere the terms on
which I will return to him。 It is the only chance I have of rooting
out a scandal and a disgrace which threatens the beginning of my
life here！ My letters to him； and his to me； can be forwarded
through you or through father； and he will not know where I am。 Any
woman is justified in adopting such a course to bring her husband to
a sense of her dignity。 If I don't go away now； it will end in a
permanent separation。 If I leave at once； and stipulate that he
gets rid of her； we may be reconciled。'
'I can't help you： you must stick to your husband。 I don't like
them； or any of their sort； barring about three or four； for the
reason that they despise me and all my sort。 But； Ethelberta； for
all that I'll play fair with them。 No half…and…half trimming
business。 You have joined 'em； and 'rayed yourself against us； and
there you'd better bide。 You have married your man； and your duty
is towards him。 I know what he is and so does father； but if I were
to help you to run away now； I should scorn myself more than I scorn
him。'
'I don't care for that； or for any such politics！ The Mountclere
line is noble； and how was I to know that this member was not noble；
too？ As the representative of an illustrious family I was taken
with him； but as a manI must shun him。'
'How can you shun him？ You have married him！'
'Nevertheless； I won't stay！ Neither law nor gospel demands it of
me after what I have learnt。 And if law and gospel did demand it； I
would not stay。 And if you will not help me to escape； I go alone。'
'You had better not try any such wild thing。'
The creaking of a door was heard。 'O Sol；' she said appealingly；
'don't go into the question whether I am right or wrongonly
remember that I am very unhappy。 Do help meI have no other person
in the world to ask！ Be under the balcony