the hand of ethelberta- 第79部分

'Then　she　holds　the　reins？'

'She　do！　　There　was　a　little　tussle　at　first；　but　how　could　a　old
man　hold　his　own　against　such　a　spry　young　body　as　that！　　She
threatened　to　run　away　from　him；　and　kicked　up　Bob's…a…dying；　and　I
don't　know　what　all；　and　being　the　woman；　of　course　she　was　sure　to
beat　in　the　long　run。　　Pore　old　nobleman；　she　marches　him　off　to
church　every　Sunday　as　regular　as　a　clock；　makes　him　read　family
prayers　that　haven't　been　read　in　Enckworth　for　the　last　thirty
years　to　my　certain　knowledge；　and　keeps　him　down　to　three　glasses
of　wine　a　day；　strict；　so　that　you　never　see　him　any　the　more
generous　for　liquor　or　a　bit　elevated　at　all；　as　it　used　to　be。
There；　'tis　true；　it　has　done　him　good　in　one　sense；　for　they　say
he'd　have　been　dead　in　five　years　if　he　had　gone　on　as　he　was
going。'

'So　that　she's　a　good　wife　to　him；　after　all。'

'Well；　if　she　had　been　a　little　worse　'twould　have　been　a　little
better　for　him　in　one　sense；　for　he　would　have　had　his　own　way　more。
But　he　was　a　curious　feller　at　one　time；　as　we　all　know　and　I
suppose　'tis　as　much　as　he　can　expect；　but　'tis　a　strange　reverse
for　him。　　It　is　said　that　when　he's　asked　out　to　dine；　or　to
anything　in　the　way　of　a　jaunt；　his　eye　flies　across　to　hers　afore
he　answers：　　and　if　her　eye　says　yes；　he　says　yes：　　and　if　her　eye
says　no；　he　says　no。　　'Tis　a　sad　condition　for　one　who　ruled
womankind　as　he；　that　a　woman　should　lead　him　in　a　string　whether　he
will　or　no。'

'Sad　indeed！'

'She's　steward；　and　agent；　and　everything。　　She　has　got　a　room
called　〃my　lady's　office；〃　and　great　ledgers　and　cash…books　you
never　see　the　like。　　In　old　times　there　were　bailiffs　to　look　after
the　workfolk；　foremen　to　look　after　the　tradesmen；　a　building…
steward　to　look　after　the　foremen；　a　land…steward　to　look　after　the
building…steward；　and　a　dashing　grand　agent　to　look　after　the　land…
steward：　　fine　times　they　had　then；　I　assure　ye。　　My　lady　said　they
were　eating　out　the　property　like　a　honeycomb；　and　then　there　was　a
terrible　row。　　Half　of　'em　were　sent　flying；　and　now　there's　only
the　agent；　and　the　viscountess；　and　a　sort　of　surveyor　man；　and　of
the　three　she　does　most　work　so　'tis　said。　　She　marks　the　trees　to
be　felled；　settles　what　horses　are　to　be　sold　and　bought；　and　is　out
in　all　winds　and　weathers。　　There；　if　somebody　hadn't　looked　into
things　'twould　soon　have　been　all　up　with　his　lordship；　he　was　so
very　extravagant。　　In　one　sense　'twas　lucky　for　him　that　she　was
born　in　humble　life；　because　owing　to　it　she　knows　the　ins　and　outs
of　contriving；　which　he　never　did。'

'Then　a　man　on　the　verge　of　bankruptcy　will　do　better　to　marry　a
poor　and　sensible　wife　than　a　rich　and　stupid　one。　　Well；　here　we
are　at　the　tenth　milestone。　　I　will　walk　the　remainder　of　the
distance　to　Knollsea；　as　there　is　ample　time　for　meeting　the　last
steamboat。'

When　the　man　was　gone　Christopher　proceeded　slowly　on　foot　down　the
hill；　and　reached　that　part　of　the　highway　at　which　he　had　stopped
in　the　cold　November　breeze　waiting　for　a　woman　who　never　came。　　He
was　older　now；　and　he　had　ceased　to　wish　that　he　had　not　been
disappointed。　　There　was　the　lodge；　and　around　it　were　the　trees；
brilliant　in　the　shining　greens　of　June。　　Every　twig　sustained　its
bird；　and　every　blossom　its　bee。　　The　roadside　was　not　muffled　in　a
garment　of　dead　leaves　as　it　had　been　then；　and　the　lodge…gate　was
not　open　as　it　always　used　to　be。　　He　paused　to　look　through　the
bars。　　The　drive　was　well　kept　and　gravelled；　the　grass　edgings；
formerly　marked　by　hoofs　and　ruts；　and　otherwise　trodden　away；　were
now　green　and　luxuriant；　bent　sticks　being　placed　at　intervals　as　a
protection。

While　he　looked　through　the　gate　a　woman　stepped　from　the　lodge　to
open　it。　　In　her　haste　she　nearly　swung　the　gate　into　his　face；　and
would　have　completely　done　so　had　he　not　jumped　back。

'I　beg　pardon；　sir；'　she　said；　on　perceiving　him。　　'I　was　going　to
open　it　for　my　lady；　and　I　didn't　see　you。'

Christopher　moved　round　the　corner。　　The　perpetual　snubbing　that　he
had　received　from　Ethelberta　ever　since　he　had　known　her　seemed
about　to　be　continued　through　the　medium　of　her　dependents。

A　trotting；　accompanied　by　the　sound　of　light　wheels；　had　become
perceptible；　and　then　a　vehicle　came　through　the　gate；　and　turned　up
the　road　which　he　had　come　down。　　He　saw　the　back　of　a　basket
carriage；　drawn　by　a　pair　of　piebald　ponies。　　A　lad　in　livery　sat
behind　with　folded　arms；　the　driver　was　a　lady。　　He　saw　her　bonnet；
her　shoulders；　her　hairbut　no　more。　　She　lessened　in　his　gaze；　and
was　soon　out　of　sight。

He　stood　a　long　time　thinking；　but　he　did　not　wish　her　his。

In　this　wholesome　frame　of　mind　he　proceeded　on　his　way；　thankful
that　he　had　escaped　meeting　her；　though　so　narrowly。　　But　perhaps　at
this　remote　season　the　embarrassment　of　a　rencounter　would　not　have
been　intense。　　At　Knollsea　he　entered　the　steamer　for　Sandbourne。

Mr。　Chickerel　and　his　family　now　lived　at　Firtop　Villa；　in　that
place；　a　house　which；　like　many　others；　had　been　built　since
Julian's　last　visit　to　the　town。　　He　was　directed　to　the　outskirts；
and　into　a　fir　plantation　where　drives　and　intersecting　roads　had
been　laid　out；　and　where　new　villas　had　sprung　up　like　mushrooms。
He　entered　by　a　swing　gate；　on　which　'Firtop'　was　painted；　and　a
maid…servant　showed　him　into　a　neatly…furnished　room；　containing　Mr。
Chickerel；　Mrs。　Chickerel；　and　Picotee；　the　matron　being　reclined　on
a　couch；　which　improved　health　had　permitted　her　to　substitute　for　a
bed。

He　had　been　expected；　and　all　were　glad　to　see　again　the　sojourner
in　foreign　lands；　even　down　to　the　ladylike　tabby；　who　was　all　purr
and　warmth　towards　him　except　when　she　was　all　claws　and　nippers。
But　had　the　prime　sentiment　of　the　meeting　shown　itself　it　would
have　been　the　unqualified　surprise　of　Christopher　at　seeing　how　much
Picotee's　face　had　grown　to　resemble　her　sister's：　　it　was　less　a
resemblance　in　contours　than　in　expression　and　tone。

They　had　an　early　tea；　and　then　Mr。　Chickerel；　sitting　in　a
patriarchal　chair；　conversed　pleasantly　with　his　guest；　being　well
acquainted　with　him　through　other　members　of　the　family。　　They
talked　of　Julian's　residence　at　different　Italian　towns　with　his
sister；　of　Faith；　who　was　at　the　present　moment　staying　with　some
old　friends　in　Melchester：　　and；　as　was　inevitable；　the　discourse
hovered　over　and　settled　upon　Ethelberta；　the　prime　ruler　of　the
courses　of　them　all；　with　little　exception；　through　recent　years。

'It　was　a　hard　struggle　for　her；'　said　Chickerel；　looking
reflectively　out　at　the　fir　trees。　　'I　never　thought　the　girl　would
have　got　through　it。　　When　she　first　entered　the　house　everybody　was
against　her。　　She　had　to　fight　a　whole　host　of　them　single…handed。
There　was　the　viscount's　brother；　other　relations；　lawyers；　ladies；
servants；　not　one　of　them　was　her　friend；　and　not　one　who　wouldn't
rather　have　seen　her　arrive　there　in　evil　relationship　with　him　than
as　she　did　come。　　But　she　stood　her　ground。　　She　was　put　upon　her
mettle；　and　one　by　one　they　got　to　feel　there　was　somebody　among
them　whose　little　finger；　if　they　insulted　her；　was　thicker　than　a
Mountclere's　loins。　　She　must　have　had　a　will　of　iron；　it　was　a
situation　that　would　have　broken　the　hearts　of　a　dozen　ordinary
women；　for　everybody　soon　knew　that　we　were　of　no　family；　and　that's
what　made　it　so　hard　for　her。　　But　there　she　is　as　mistress　now；　and
everybody　respecting　her。　　I　sometimes　fancy　she　is　occasionally　too
severe　with　the　servants　and　I　know　what　service　is。　　But　she　says
it　is　necessary；　owing　to　her　birth；　and　perhaps　she　is　right。'

'I　suppose　she　often　comes　to　see　you？'

'Four　or　five　times　a　year；'　said　Picotee。

'She　cannot　come　quite　so　often　as　she　would；'　said　Mrs。　Chickerel；
'because　of　her　lofty　position；　which　has　its　juties。　　Well；　as　I
always　say；　Berta　doesn't　take　after　me。　　I　couldn't　have　married
the　man　even　though　he　did　bring　a　coronet　with　him。'

'I　shouldn't　have　cared　to　let　him　ask　ye；'　said　Chickerel。
'However；　that's　neither　here　nor　thereall　ended　better　than　I
expected。　　He's　fond　of　her。'

'And　it　is　wonderful　what　can　be　done　with　an　old　man　when　you　are
his　darling；'　said　Mrs。　Chickerel。

'If　I　were　Berta　I　should　go　to　London　oftener；'　said　Picotee；　to
turn　the　conversation。　　'But　she　lives　mostly　in　the　library。　　And；
O；　what　do　you　think？　　She　is　writing　an　epic　poem；　and　employs
Emmeline　as　her　reader。'

'Dear　me。　　And　how　are　Sol　and　Dan？　　You　mentioned　them　once　in　your
letters；'　said　Christopher。

'Berta　has　set　them　up　as　builders　in　London。'

'She　bought　a　business　for　them；'　said　Chickerel。　　'But　Sol　wouldn't
accept　her　help　for　a　long　time；　and　now　he　has　only　agreed　to　it　on
condition　of　paying　her　back　the　money　with　interest；　which　he　is
doing。　　They　have　just　signed　a　contract　to　build　a　hospital　for
twenty　thousand　pounds。'

Picotee　broke　in'You　knew　that　both　Gwendoline　and　Cornelia
married　two　years　ago；　and　went　to　Queensland？　　They　married　two
brothers；　who　were　farmers；　and　left　England　the　following　week。
Georgie　and　Myrtle　are　at　school。'

'And　Joey？'

'We　are　thinking　of　making　Joseph　a　parson；'　said　Mrs。　Chickerel。

'Indeed！　a　parson。'

'Yes；　'tis　a　genteel　living　for　the　boy。　　And　he's　talents　that　way。
Since　he　has　been　under　masters　he　knows　all　the　strange　sounds　the
old　Romans　and　Greeks　used　to　make　by　way　of　talking；　and　the　love
stories　of　the　ancient　women　as　if　they　were　his　own。　　I　assure　you；
Mr。　Julian；　if　you　could　hear　how　beautiful　the　boy　tells　about
little　Cupid　with　his　bow　and　arrows；　and　the　rows　between　that
pagan　apostle　Jupiter　and　his　wife　because　of　another　woman；　and　the
handsome　young　gods　who　kissed　Venus；　you'd　say　he　deserved　to　be
made　a　bishop　at　once！'

The　evening　advanced；　and　they　walked　in　the　garden。　　Here；　by　some
means；　Picotee　and　Christopher　found　themselves　alone。

'Your　letters　to　my　sister　have　been　charming；'　said　Christopher。
'And　so　regular；　too。　　It　was　as　good　as　a　birthday　every　time　one
arrived。'

Picotee　blushed　and　said　nothing。

Christopher　had　full　assurance　that　her　heart　was　where　it　al