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swearing are godly worship to。'
'The prettiest maid is left out of harness； however；' said the
clerk。 'The little witness was the chicken to my tasteLord
forgive me for saying it； and a man with a wife and family！'
Sol and his father turned to withdraw； and soon forgot the remark；
but it was frequently recalled by Christopher。
'Do you think of trying to see Ethelberta before you leave？' said
Sol。
'Certainly not；' said Chickerel。 'Mr。 Mountclere's advice was good
in that。 The more we keep out of the way the more good we are doing
her。 I shall go back to Anglebury by the carrier； and get on at
once to London。 You will go with me； I suppose？'
'The carrier does not leave yet for an hour or two。'
'I shall walk on； and let him overtake me。 If possible； I will get
one glimpse of Enckworth Court； Berta's new home； there may be time；
if I start at once。'
'I will walk with you；' said Sol。
'There is room for one with me；' said Christopher。 'I shall drive
back early in the afternoon。'
'Thank you；' said Sol。 'I will endeavour to meet you at Corvsgate。'
Thus it was arranged。 Chickerel could have wished to search for
Picotee； and learn from her the details of this mysterious matter。
But it was particularly painful to him to make himself busy after
the event； and to appear suddenly and uselessly where he was plainly
not wanted to appear would be an awkwardness which the pleasure of
seeing either daughter could scarcely counterbalance。 Hence he had
resolved to return at once to town； and there await the news；
together with the detailed directions as to his own future
movements； carefully considered and laid down； which were sure to be
given by the far…seeing Ethelberta。
Sol and his father walked on together； Chickerel to meet the carrier
just beyond Enckworth； Sol to wait for Christopher at Corvsgate。
His wish to see； in company with his father； the outline of the seat
to which Ethelberta had been advanced that day； was the triumph of
youthful curiosity and interest over dogged objection。 His father's
wish was based on calmer reasons。
Christopher； lone and out of place； remained in the church yet a
little longer。 He desultorily walked round。 Reaching the organ
chamber； he looked at the instrument； and was surprised to find
behind it a young man。 Julian first thought him to be the organist；
on second inspection； however； he proved to be a person Christopher
had met before； under far different circumstances； it was our young
friend Ladywell； looking as sick and sorry as a lily with a slug in
its stalk。
The occasion； the place； and their own condition； made them kin。
Christopher had despised Ladywell； Ladywell had disliked
Christopher； but a third item neutralized the other twoit was
their common lot。
Christopher just nodded； for they had only met on Ethelberta's
stairs。 Ladywell nodded more； and spoke。 'The church appears to be
interesting；' he said。
'Yes。 Such a tower is rare in England；' said Christopher。
They then dwelt on other features of the building； thence enlarging
to the village； and then to the rocks and marine scenery； both
avoiding the malady they suffered fromthe marriage of Ethelberta。
'The village streets are very picturesque； and the cliff scenery is
good of its kind；' rejoined Ladywell。 'The rocks represent the
feminine side of grandeur。 Here they are white； with delicate tops。
On the west coast they are higher； black； and with angular summits。
Those represent grandeur in its masculine aspect。 It is merely my
own idea； and not very bright； perhaps。'
'It is very ingenious；' said Christopher； 'and perfectly true。'
Ladywell was pleased。 'I am here at present making sketches for my
next subjecta winter sea。 Otherwise I should not havehappened
to be in the church。'
'You are acquainted with Mrs。 PetherwinI think you are Mr。
Ladywell； who painted her portrait last season？'
'Yes；' said Ladywell； colouring。
'You may have heard her speak of Mr。 Julian？'
'O yes；' said Ladywell； offering his hand。 Then by degrees their
tongues wound closer round the subject of their sadness； each
tacitly owning to what he would not tell。
'I saw it；' said Ladywell heavily。
'Did she look troubled？'
'Not in the leastbright and fresh as a May morning。 She has
played me many a bitter trick； and poor Neigh too； a friend of mine。
But I cannot help forgiving her。 。 。 。 I saw a carriage at the
door； and strolled in。 The ceremony was just proceeding； so I sat
down here。 Well； I have done with Knollsea。 The place has no
further interest for me now。 I may own to you as a friend； that if
she had not been living here I should have studied at some other
coastof course that's in confidence。'
'I understand； quite。'
'I only arrived in the neighbourhood two days ago； and did not set
eyes upon her till this morning； she has kept so entirely indoors。'
Then the young men parted； and half…an…hour later the ingenuous
Ladywell came from the visitors' inn by the shore； a man walking
behind him with a quantity of artists' materials and appliances。 He
went on board the steamer； which this morning had performed the
passage in safety。 Ethelberta single having been the loadstone in
the cliffs that had attracted Ladywell hither； Ethelberta married
was the negative pole of the same； sending him away。 And thus did a
woman put an end to the only opportunity of distinction； on Art…
exhibition walls； that ever offered itself to the tortuous ways；
quaint alleys； and marbled bluffs of Knollsea； as accessories in the
picture of a winter sea。
Christopher's interest in the village was of the same evaporating
nature。 He looked upon the sea； and the great swell； and the waves
sending up a sound like the huzzas of multitudes； but all the wild
scene was irksome now。 The ocean…bound steamers far away on the
horizon inspired him with no curiosity as to their destination； the
house Ethelberta had occupied was positively hateful； and he turned
away to wait impatiently for the hour at which he had promised to
drive on to meet Sol at Corvsgate。
Sol and Chickerel plodded along the road； in order to skirt
Enckworth before the carrier came up。 Reaching the top of a hill on
their way； they paused to look down on a peaceful scene。 It was a
park and wood； glowing in all the matchless colours of late autumn；
parapets and pediments peering out from a central position afar。 At
the bottom of the descent before them was a lodge； to which they now
descended。 The gate stood invitingly open。 Exclusiveness was no
part of the owner's instincts： one could see that at a glance。 No
appearance of a well…rolled garden…path attached to the park…drive；
as is the case with many； betokening by the perfection of their
surfaces their proprietor's deficiency in hospitality。 The approach
was like a turnpike road full of great ruts； clumsy mendings；
bordered by trampled edges and incursions upon the grass at
pleasure。 Butchers and bakers drove as freely herein as peers and
peeresses。 Christening parties； wedding companies； and funeral
trains passed along by the doors of the mansion without check or
question。 A wild un