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trains passed along by the doors of the mansion without check or
question。 A wild untidiness in this particular has its
recommendations； for guarded grounds ever convey a suspicion that
their owner is young to landed possessions； as religious
earnestnesss implies newness of conversion； and conjugal tenderness
recent marriage。
Half…an…hour being wanting as yet to Chickerel's time with the
carrier； Sol and himself； like the rest of the world when at
leisure； walked into the extensive stretch of grass and grove。 It
formed a park so large that not one of its owners had ever wished it
larger； not one of its owner's rivals had ever failed to wish it
smaller； and not one of its owner's satellites had ever seen it
without praise。 They somewhat avoided the roadway passing under the
huge； misshapen； ragged trees； and through fern brakes； ruddy and
crisp in their decay。 On reaching a suitable eminence； the father
and son stood still to look upon the many…chimneyed building； or
rather conglomeration of buildings； to which these groves and glades
formed a setting。
'We will just give a glance；' said Chickerel； 'and then go away。 It
don't seem well to me that Ethelberta should have this； it is too
much。 The sudden change will do her no good。 I never believe in
anything that comes in the shape of wonderful luck。 As it comes； so
it goes。 Had she been brought home today to one of those tenant…
farms instead of these woods and walls； I could have called it good
fortune。 What she should have done was glorify herself by
glorifying her own line of life； not by forsaking that line for
another。 Better have been admired as a governess than shunned as a
peeress； which is what she will be。 But it is just the same
everywhere in these days。 Young men will rather wear a black coat
and starve than wear fustian and do well。'
'One man to want such a monstrous house as that！ Well； 'tis a fine
place。 See； there's the carpenters' shops； the timber…yard； and
everything； as if it were a little town。 Perhaps Berta may hire me
for a job now and then。'
'I always knew she would cut herself off from us。 She marked for it
from childhood； and she has finished the business thoroughly。'
'Well； it is no matter； father； for why should we want to trouble
her？ She may write； and I shall answer； but if she calls to see me；
I shall not return the visit； and if she meets me with her husband
or any of her new society about her； I shall behave as a stranger。'
'It will be best；' said Chickerel。 'Well； now I must move。'
However； by the sorcery of accident； before they had very far
retraced their steps an open carriage became visible round a bend in
the drive。 Chickerel； with a servant's instinct； was for beating a
retreat。
'No；' said Sol。 'Let us stand our ground。 We have already been
seen； and we do no harm。'
So they stood still on the edge of the drive； and the carriage drew
near。 It was a landau； and the sun shone in upon Lord Mountclere；
with Lady Mountclere sitting beside him； like Abishag beside King
David。
Very blithe looked the viscount； for he rode upon a cherub to…day。
She appeared fresh； rosy； and strong； but dubious； though if mien
was anything； she was a viscountess twice over。 Her dress was of a
dove…coloured material； with a bonnet to match； a little tufted
white feather resting on the top； like a truce…flag between the
blood of noble and vassal。 Upon the cool grey of her shoulders hung
a few locks of hair； toned warm as fire by the sunshiny addition to
its natural hue。
Chickerel instinctively took off his hat； Sol did the same。
For only a moment did Ethelberta seem uncertain how to act。 But a
solution to her difficulty was given by the face of her brother。
There she saw plainly at one glance more than a dozen speeches would
have toldfor Sol's features thoroughly expressed his intention
that to him she was to be a stranger。 Her eyes flew to Chickerel；
and he slightly shook his head。 She understood them now。 With a
tear in her eye for her father； and a sigh in her bosom for Sol； she
bowed in answer to their salute； her husband moved his hat and
nodded； and the carriage rolled on。 Lord Mountclere might possibly
be making use of the fine morning in showing her the park and
premises。 Chickerel； with a moist eye； now went on with his son
towards the highroad。 When they reached the lodge； the lodge…keeper
was walking in the sun； smoking his pipe。 'Good morning；' he said
to Chickerel。
'Any rejoicings at the Court to…day？' the butler inquired。
'Quite the reverse。 Not a soul there。 'Tisn't knowed anywhere at
all。 I had no idea of such a thing till he brought my lady here。
Not going off； neither。 They've come home like the commonest couple
in the land； and not even the bells allowed to ring。'
They walked along the public road； and the carrier came in view。
'Father；' said Sol； 'I don't think I'll go further with you。 She's
gone into the house； and suppose she should run back without him to
try to find us？ It would be cruel to disappoint her。 I'll bide
about here for a quarter of an hour； in case she should。 Mr。 Julian
won't have passed Corvsgate till I get there。'
'Well； one or two of her old ways may be left in her still； and it
is not a bad thought。 Then you will walk the rest of the distance
if you don't meet Mr。 Julian？ I must be in London by the evening。'
'Any time to…night will do for me。 I shall not begin work until to…
morrow； so that the four o'clock train will answer my purpose。'
Thus they parted； and Sol strolled leisurely back。 The road was
quite deserted； and he lingered by the park fence。
'Sol！' said a bird…like voice； 'how did you come here？'
He looked up； and saw a figure peering down upon him from the top of
the park wall； the ground on the inside being higher than the road。
The speaker was to the expected Ethelberta what the moon is to the
sun； a star to the moon。 It was Picotee。
'Hullo； Picotee！' said Sol。
'There's a little gate a quarter of a mile further on；' said
Picotee。 'We can meet there without your passing through the big
lodge。 I'll be there as soon as you。'
Sol ascended the hill； passed through the second gate； and turned
back again； when he met Picotee coming forward under the trees。
They walked together in this secluded spot。
'Berta says she wants to see you and father；' said Picotee
breathlessly。 'You must come in and make yourselves comfortable。
She had no idea you were here so secretly； and she didn't know what
to do。'
'Father's gone；' said Sol。
'How vexed she will be！ She thinks there is something the matter
that you are angry with her for not telling you earlier。 But you
will come in； Sol？'
'No； I can't come in；' said her brother。
'Why not？ It is such a big house； you can't think。 You need not
come near the front apartments； if you think we shall be ashamed of
you in your working clothes。 How came you not to dress up a bit；
Sol？ Still； Berta won't mind it much。 She says Lord Mountclere
must take her as she is； or he is kindly welcome to leave her。'
'Ah； well！ I might have had a word or two to say about that； but
the