obstructive thought causing sometimes a sudden halt in the midst of
a stream of words。 But the features by which a cool observer would
have singled her out from others in his memory when asking himself
what she was like； was a peculiar gaze into imaginary far…away
distance when making a quiet remark to a partnernot with
contracted eyes like a seafaring man； but with an open full looka
remark in which little words in a low tone were made to express a
great deal； as several single gentlemen afterwards found。
The production of dance…music when the criticizing stage among the
dancers has passed； and they have grown full of excitement and
animal spirits； does not require much concentration of thought in
the producers thereof； and desultory conversation accordingly went
on between Faith and her brother from time to time。
'Kit；' she said on one occasion； 'are you looking at the way in
which the flowers are fastened to the leaves？taking a mean
advantage of being at the back of the tapestry？ You cannot think
how you stare at them。'
'I was looking through themcertainly not at them。 I have a
feeling of being moved about like a puppet in the hands of a person
who legally can be nothing to me。'
'That charming woman with the shining bunch of hair and
convolvuluses？'
'Yes： it is through her that we are brought here； and through her
writing that poem； 〃Cancelled Words；〃 that the book was sent me； and
through the accidental renewal of acquaintance between us on
Anglebury Heath； that she wrote the poem。 I was； however； at the
moment you spoke； thinking more particularly of the little teacher
whom Ethelberta must have commissioned to send the book to me； and
why that girl was chosen to do it。'
'There may be a hundred reasons。 Kit； I have never yet seen her
look once this way。'
Christopher had certainly not yet received look or gesture from her；
but his time came。 It was while he was for a moment outside the
recess； and he caught her in the act。 She became slightly confused；
turned aside； and entered into conversation with a neighbour。
It was only a look； and yet what a look it was！ One may say of a
look that it is capable of division into as many species； genera；
orders； and classes； as the animal world itself。 Christopher saw
Ethelberta Petherwin's performance in this kindthe well…known
spark of light upon the well…known depths of mysteryand felt
something going out of him which had gone out of him once before。
Thus continually beholding her and her companions in the giddy
whirl； the night wore on with the musicians； last dances and more
last dances being added； till the intentions of the old on the
matter were thrice exceeded in the interests of the young。 Watching
the couples whirl and turn； advance and recede as gently as spirits；
knot themselves like house…flies and part again； and lullabied by
the faint regular beat of their footsteps to the tune； the players
sank into the peculiar mesmeric quiet which comes over
impressionable people who play for a great length of time in the
midst of such scenes； and at last the only noises that Christopher
took cognizance of were those of the exceptional kind； breaking
above the general sea of sounda casual smart rustle of silk； a
laugh； a stumble； the monosyllabic talk of those who happened to
linger for a moment close to the leafy screenall coming to his
ears like voices from those old times when he had mingled in similar
scenes； not as servant but as guest。
5。 AT THE WINDOW … THE ROAD HOME
The dancing was over at last； and the radiant company had left the
room。 A long and weary night it had been for the two players；
though a stimulated interest had hindered physical exhaustion in one
of them for a while。 With tingling fingers and aching arms they
came out of the alcove into the long and deserted apartment； now
pervaded by a dry haze。 The lights had burnt low； and Faith and her
brother were waiting by request till the wagonette was ready to take
them home； a breakfast being in course of preparation for them
meanwhile。
Christopher had crossed the room to relieve his cramped limbs； and
now； peeping through a crevice in the window curtains； he said
suddenly； 'Who's for a transformation scene？ Faith； look here！'
He touched the blind； up it flew； and a gorgeous scene presented
itself to her eyes。 A huge inflamed sun was breasting the horizon
of a wide sheet of sea which； to her surprise and delight； the
mansion overlooked。 The brilliant disc fired all the waves that lay
between it and the shore at the bottom of the grounds； where the
water tossed the ruddy light from one undulation to another in
glares as large and clear as mirrors； incessantly altering them；
destroying them； and creating them again； while further off they
multiplied； thickened； and ran into one another like struggling
armies； till they met the fiery source of them all。
'O； how wonderful it is！' said Faith； putting her hand on
Christopher's arm。 'Who knew that whilst we were all shut in here
with our puny illumination such an exhibition as this was going on
outside！ How sorry and mean the grand and stately room looks now！'
Christopher turned his back upon the window； and there were the
hitherto beaming candle…flames shining no more radiantly than
tarnished javelin…heads； while the snow…white lengths of wax showed
themselves clammy and cadaverous as the fingers of a corpse。 The
leaves and flowers which had appeared so very green and blooming by
the artificial light were now seen to be faded and dusty。 Only the
gilding of the room in some degree brought itself into keeping with
the splendours outside； stray darts of light seizing upon it and
lengthening themselves out along fillet； quirk； arris； and moulding；
till wasted away。
'It seems；' said Faith； 'as if all the people who were lately so
merry here had died： we ourselves look no more than ghosts。' She
turned up her weary face to her brother's； which the incoming rays
smote aslant； making little furrows of every wrinkle thereon； and
shady ravines of every little furrow。
'You are very tired； Faith；' he said。 'Such a heavy night's work
has been almost too much for you。'
'O； I don't mind that；' said Faith。 'But I could not have played so
long by myself。'
'We filled up one another's gaps； and there were plenty of them
towards the morning； but； luckily； people don't notice those things
when the small hours draw on。'
'What troubles me most；' said Faith； 'is not that I have worked； but
that you should be so situated as to need such miserable assistance
as mine。 We are poor； are we not； Kit？'
'Yes； we know a little about poverty；' he replied。
While thus lingering
'In shadowy thoroughfares of thought；'
Faith interrupted with； 'I believe there is one of the dancers now！…
…why； I should have thought they had all gone to bed； and wouldn't
get up again for days。' She indicated to him a figure on the lawn
towards the left； looking upon the same flashing scene as that they
themselves beheld。
'It is your own particular one；' continued Faith。 'Yes； I see the
blue flowers under the edge of her cloak。'
'And I see her squirrel…coloured hair；' said Christopher。
Both stood looking at this apparition； who once； and only once；
thought fit to turn her head towards the front of the house they
were gazing from。 Faith was one in whom the meditative somewhat
overpowered the active faculties； she went on； with no abundance of
love； to theorize upon this gratuitously charming woman； who；
striking freakishly into her brother's path； seemed likely to do him
no good in her sisterly estimation。 Ethelberta's bright and shapely
form stood before her critic now； smartened by the motes of sunlight
from head to heel： what Faith would have given to see her so
clearly within！
'Without doubt she is already a lady of many romantic experiences；'
she said dubiously。
'And on the way to many more；' said Christopher。 The tone was just
of the kind which may be imagined of a sombre man who had been up
all night piping that others might dance。
Faith parted her lips as if in consternation at possibilities。
Ethelberta； having already become an influence in Christopher's
system； might soon become morean indestructible fascinationto
drag him about； turn his soul inside out； harrow him； twist him； and
otherwise torment him； according to the stereotyped form of such
processes。
They were interrupted by the opening of a door。 A servant entered
and came up to them。
'This is for you； I believe； sir；' he said。 'Two guineas；' and he
placed the money in Christopher's hand。 'Some breakfast will be
ready for you in a moment if you like to have it。 Would you wish it
brought in here； or will you come to the steward's room？'
'Yes； we will come。' And the man then began to extinguish the
lights one by one。 Christopher dropped the two pounds and two
shillings singly into his pocket； and looking listlessly at the
footman said； 'Can you tell me the address of that lady on the lawn？
Ah； she has disappeared！'
'She wore a dress with blue flowers；' said Faith。
'And remarkable bright in her manner？ O； that's the young widow；
Mrswhat's that nameI forget for the moment。'
'Widow？' said Christopher； the eyes of his understanding getting
wonderfully clear； and Faith uttering a private ejaculation of
thanks that after all no commandments were likely to be broken in
this matter。 'The lady I mean is quite a girlish sort of woman。'
'Yes； yes； so she isthat's the one。 Coachman says she must have
been born a widow； for there is not time for her ever to have been
made one。 However； she's not quite such a chicken as all that。
Mrs。 Petherwin； that's the party's name。'
'Does she live here？'
'No； she is staying in the house visiting for a few days with her
mother…in…law。 They are a London family； I don't know her address。'
'Is she a poetess？'
'That I cannot say。 She is very clever at verses； but she don't
lean over gates to see the sun； and goes to church as regular as you
or I； so I should hardly be inclined to say that she's the complete
thing。 When she's up in one of her vagaries she'll sit with