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The Hand of Ethelberta
by Thomas Hardy
PREFACE
This somewhat frivolous narrative was produced as an interlude
between stories of a more sober design； and it was given the sub…
title of a comedy to indicatethough not quite accuratelythe aim
of the performance。 A high degree of probability was not attempted
in the arrangement of the incidents； and there was expected of the
reader a certain lightness of mood； which should inform him with a
good…natured willingness to accept the production in the spirit in
which it was offered。 The characters themselves； however； were
meant to be consistent and human。
On its first appearance the novel suffered； perhaps deservedly； for
what was involved in these intentionsfor its quality of
unexpectedness in particularthat unforgivable sin in the critic's
sightthe immediate precursor of 'Ethelberta' having been a purely
rural tale。 Moreover； in its choice of medium； and line of
perspective； it undertook a delicate task： to excite interest in a
dramaif such a dignified word may be used in the connection
wherein servants were as important as； or more important than； their
masters； wherein the drawing…room was sketched in many cases from
the point of view of the servants' hall。 Such a reversal of the
social foreground has； perhaps； since grown more welcome； and
readers even of the finer crusted kind may now be disposed to pardon
a writer for presenting the sons and daughters of Mr。 and Mrs。
Chickerel as beings who come within the scope of a congenial regard。
T。 H。
December 1895。
CONTENTS
1。 A STREET IN ANGLEBURY … A HEATH NEAR IT … INSIDE THE 'RED LION' INN
2。 CHRISTOPHER'S HOUSE … SANDBOURNE TOWN … SANDBOURNE MOOR
3。 SANDBOURNE MOOR （continued）
4。 SANDBOURNE PIER … ROAD TO WYNDWAY … BALLROOM IN WYNDWAY HOUSE
5。 AT THE WINDOW … THE ROAD HOME
6。 THE SHORE BY WYNDWAY
7。 THE DINING…ROOM OF A TOWN HOUSE … THE BUTLER'S PANTRY
8。 CHRISTOPHER'S LODGINGS … THE GROUNDS ABOUT ROOKINGTON
9。 A LADY'S DRAWING…ROOMS … ETHELBERTA'S DRESSING…ROOM
10。 LADY PETHERWIN'S HOUSE
11。 SANDBOURNE AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD … SOME LONDON STREETS
12。 ARROWTHORNE PARK AND LODGE
13。 THE LODGE （continued） … THE COPSE BEHIND
14。 A TURNPIKE ROAD
15。 AN INNER ROOM AT THE LODGE
16。 A LARGE PUBLIC HALL
17。 ETHELBERTA'S HOUSE
18。 NEAR SANDBOURNE … LONDON STREETS … ETHELBERTA'S
19。 ETHELBERTA'S DRAWING…ROOM
20。 THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF THE HALL … THE ROAD HOME
21。 A STREET … NEIGH'S ROOMS … CHRISTOPHER'S ROOMS
22。 ETHELBERTA'S HOUSE
23。 ETHELBERTA'S HOUSE （continued）
24。 ETHELBERTA'S HOUSE （continued） … THE BRITISH MUSEUM
25。 THE ROYAL ACADEMY … THE FARNFIELD ESTATE
26。 ETHELBERTA'S DRAWING…ROOM
27。 MRS。 BELMAINE'S … CRIPPLEGATE CHURCH
28。 ETHELBERTA'S … MR。 CHICKEREL'S ROOM
29。 ETHELBERTA'S DRESSING…ROOM … MR。 DONCASTLE'S HOUSE
30。 ON THE HOUSETOP
31。 KNOLLSEA … A LOFTY DOWN … A RUINED CASTLE
32。 A ROOM IN ENCKWORTH COURT
33。 THE ENGLISH CHANNEL … NORMANDY
34。 THE HOTEL BEAU SEJOUR； AND SPOTS NEAR IT
35。 THE HOTEL （continued）； AND THE QUAY IN FRONT
36。 THE HOUSE IN TOWN
37。 KNOLLSEA … AN ORNAMENTAL VILLA
38。 ENCKWORTH COURT
39。 KNOLLSEA … MELCHESTER
40。 MELCHESTER （continued）
41。 WORKSHOPS … AN INN … THE STREET
42。 THE DONCASTLES' RESIDENCE； AND OUTSIDE THE SAME
43。 THE RAILWAY … THE SEA … THE SHORE BEYOND
44。 SANDBOURNE … A LONELY HEATH … THE 'RED LION' … THE HIGHWAY
45。 KNOLLSEA … THE ROAD THENCE … ENCKWORTH
46。 ENCKWORTH （continued） … THE ANGLEBURY HIGHWAY
47。 ENCKWORTH AND ITS PRECINCTS … MELCHESTER
SEQUEL。 ANGLEBURY … ENCKWORTH … SANDBOURNE
The Hand of Ethelberta
1。 A STREET IN ANGLEBURY … A HEATH NEAR IT … INSIDE THE 'RED LION' INN
Young Mrs。 Petherwin stepped from the door of an old and well…
appointed inn in a Wessex town to take a country walk。 By her look
and carriage she appeared to belong to that gentle order of society
which has no worldly sorrow except when its jewellery gets stolen；
but； as a fact not generally known； her claim to distinction was
rather one of brains than of blood。 She was the daughter of a
gentleman who lived in a large house not his own； and began life as
a baby christened Ethelberta after an infant of title who does not
come into the story at all； having merely furnished Ethelberta's
mother with a subject of contemplation。 She became teacher in a
school； was praised by examiners； admired by gentlemen； not admired
by gentlewomen； was touched up with accomplishments by masters who
were coaxed into painstaking by her many graces； and； entering a
mansion as governess to the daughter thereof； was stealthily married
by the son。 He； a minor like herself； died from a chill caught
during the wedding tour； and a few weeks later was followed into the
grave by Sir Ralph Petherwin； his unforgiving father； who had
bequeathed his wealth to his wife absolutely。
These calamities were a sufficient reason to Lady Petherwin for
pardoning all concerned。 She took by the hand the forlorn
Ethelbertawho seemed rather a detached bride than a widowand
finished her education by placing her for two or three years in a
boarding…school at Bonn。 Latterly she had brought the girl to
England to live under her roof as daughter and companion； the
condition attached being that Ethelberta was never openly to
recognize her relations； for reasons which will hereafter appear。
The elegant young lady； as she had a full right to be called if she
cared for the definition； arrested all the local attention when she
emerged into the summer…evening light with that diadem…and…sceptre
bearingmany people for reasons of heredity discovering such graces
only in those whose vestibules are lined with ancestral mail；
forgetting that a bear may be taught to dance。 While this air of
hers lasted； even the inanimate objects in the street appeared to
know that she was there； but from a way she had of carelessly
overthrowing her dignity by versatile moods； one could not calculate
upon its presence to a certainty when she was round corners or in
little lanes which demanded no repression of animal spirits。
'Well to be sure！' exclaimed a milkman； regarding her。 'We should
freeze in our beds if 'twere not for the sun； and； dang me！ if she
isn't a pretty piece。 A man could make a meal between them eyes and
chineh； hostler？ Odd nation dang my old sides if he couldn't！'
The speaker； who had been carrying a pair of pails on a yoke；
deposited them upon the edge of the pavement in front of the inn；
and straightened his back to an excruciating perpendicular。 His
remarks had been addressed to a rickety person； wearing a waistcoat
of that preternatural length from the top to the bottom button which
prevails among men who have to do with horses。 He was sweeping
straws from the carriage…way beneath the stone arch that formed a
passage to the stables behind。
'Never mind the cursing and swearing； or somebody who's never out of
hearing may clap yer name down in his black book；' said the hostler；
also pausing； and lifting his eyes to the mullioned and transomed
windows and moulded parapet above himnot to