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by ten if possible。 Christopher quickly prepared himself； and put a
new string or two into Faith's harp； by which time she also was
dressed； and； wrapping up herself and her instrument safe from the
night air； away they drove at half…past nine。
'Is it a large party？' said Christopher； as they whizzed along。
'No； sir； it is what we call a dancethat is； 'tis like a ball； you
know； on a small scalea ball on a spurt； that you never thought of
till you had it。 In short； it grew out of a talk at dinner； I
believe； and some of the young people present wanted a jig； and
didn't care to play themselves； you know； young ladies being an idle
class of society at the best of times。 We've a house full of
sleeping company； you understandbeen there a week some of 'em
most of 'em being mistress's relations。'
'They probably found it a little dull。'
'Well； yesit is rather dull for 'emChristmas…time and all。 As
soon as it was proposed they were wild for sending post…haste for
somebody or other to play to them。'
'Did they name me particularly？' said Christopher。
'Yes； 〃Mr。 Christopher Julian；〃 she says。 〃The gent who's turned
music…man？〃 I said。 〃Yes； that's him；〃 says she。'
'There were music…men living nearer to your end of the town than I。'
'Yes； but I know it was you particular： though I don't think
mistress thought anything about you at first。 Mr。 Joycethat's the
butlersaid that your name was mentioned to our old party； when he
was in the room； by a young lady staying with us； and mistress says
then； 〃The Julians have had a downfall； and the son has taken to
music。〃 Then when dancing was talked of； they said； 〃O； let's have
him by all means。〃'
'Was the young lady who first inquired for my family the same one
who said； 〃Let's have him by all means？〃'
'O no； but it was on account of her asking that the rest said they
would like you to playat least that's as I had it from Joyce。'
'Do you know that lady's name？'
'Mrs。 Petherwin。'
'Ah！'
'Cold； sir？'
'O no。'
Christopher did not like to question the man any further； though
what he had heard added new life to his previous curiosity； and they
drove along the way in silence； Faith's figure； wrapped up to the
top of her head； cutting into the sky behind them like a sugar…loaf。
Such gates as crossed the roads had been left open by the
forethought of the coachman； and； passing the lodge； they proceeded
about half…a…mile along a private drive； then ascended a rise； and
came in view of the front of the mansion； punctured with windows
that were now mostly lighted up。
'What is that？' said Faith； catching a glimpse of something that the
carriage…lamp showed on the face of one wall as they passed； a
marble bas…relief of some battle…piece； built into the stonework。
'That's the scene of the death of one of the squire's forefathers
Colonel Sir Martin Jones； who was killed at the moment of victory in
the battle of Salamancabut I haven't been here long enough to know
the rights of it。 When I am in one of my meditations； as I wait
here with the carriage sometimes； I think how many more get killed
at the moment of victory than at the moment of defeat。 This is the
entrance for you； sir。' And he turned the corner and pulled up
before a side door。
They alighted and went in； Christopher shouldering Faith's harp； and
she marching modestly behind； with curly…eared music…books under her
arm。 They were shown into the house…steward's room； and ushered
thence along a badly…lit passage and past a door within which a hum
and laughter were audible。 The door next to this was then opened
for them； and they entered。
Scarcely had Faith； or Christopher either； ever beheld a more
shining scene than was presented by the saloon in which they now
found themselves。 Coming direct from the gloomy park； and led to
the room by that back passage from the servants' quarter； the light
from the chandelier and branches against the walls； striking on
gilding at all points； quite dazzled their sight for a minute or
two； it caused Faith to move forward with her eyes on the floor； and
filled Christopher with an impulse to turn back again into some
dusky corner where every thread of his not over…new dress suit
rather moth…eaten through lack of feasts for airing itcould be
counted less easily。
He was soon seated before a grand piano； and Faith sat down under
the shadow of her harp； both being arranged on a dais within an
alcove at one end of the room。 A screen of ivy and holly had been
constructed across the front of this recess for the games of the
children on Christmas Eve； and it still remained there； a small
creep…hole being left for entrance and exit。
Then the merry guests tumbled through doors at the further end； and
dancing began。 The mingling of black…coated men and bright ladies
gave a charming appearance to the groups as seen by Faith and her
brother； the whole spectacle deriving an unexpected novelty from the
accident of reaching their eyes through interstices in the tracery
of green leaves； which added to the picture a softness that it would
not otherwise have possessed。 On the other hand； the musicians；
having a much weaker light； could hardly be discerned by the
performers in the dance。
The music was now rattling on； and the ladies in their foam…like
dresses were busily threading and spinning about the floor； when
Faith； casually looking up into her brother's face； was surprised to
see that a change had come over it。 At the end of the quadrille he
leant across to her before she had time to speak； and said quietly；
'She's here！'
'Who？' said Faith； for she had not heard the words of the coachman。
'Ethelberta。'
'Which is she？' asked Faith； peeping through with the keenest
interest。
'The one who has the skirts of her dress looped up with convolvulus
flowersthe one with her hair fastened in a sort of Venus knot
behind； she has just been dancing with that perfumed piece of a man
they call Mr。 Ladywellit is he with the high eyebrows arched like
a girl's。' He added； with a wrinkled smile； 'I cannot for my life
see anybody answering to the character of husband to her； for every
man takes notice of her。'
They were interrupted by another dance being called for； and then；
his fingers tapping about upon the keys as mechanically as fowls
pecking at barleycorns； Christopher gave himself up with a curious
and far from unalloyed pleasure to the occupation of watching
Ethelberta； now again crossing the field of his vision like a
returned comet whose characteristics were becoming purely
historical。 She was a plump…armed creature； with a white round neck
as firm as a fortaltogether a vigorous shape； as refreshing to the
eye as the green leaves through which he beheld her。 She danced
freely； and with a zest that was apparently irrespective of
partners。 He had been waiting long to hear her speak； and when at
length her voice did reach his ears； it was the revelation of a
strange matter to find how great a thing that small event had become
to him。 He knew the old utterancerapid but not frequent； an
obstructive thought causing sometimes a sudden halt in the midst of
a s