按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
all that I'll play fair with them。 No half…and…half trimming
business。 You have joined 'em； and 'rayed yourself against us； and
there you'd better bide。 You have married your man； and your duty
is towards him。 I know what he is and so does father； but if I were
to help you to run away now； I should scorn myself more than I scorn
him。'
'I don't care for that； or for any such politics！ The Mountclere
line is noble； and how was I to know that this member was not noble；
too？ As the representative of an illustrious family I was taken
with him； but as a manI must shun him。'
'How can you shun him？ You have married him！'
'Nevertheless； I won't stay！ Neither law nor gospel demands it of
me after what I have learnt。 And if law and gospel did demand it； I
would not stay。 And if you will not help me to escape； I go alone。'
'You had better not try any such wild thing。'
The creaking of a door was heard。 'O Sol；' she said appealingly；
'don't go into the question whether I am right or wrongonly
remember that I am very unhappy。 Do help meI have no other person
in the world to ask！ Be under the balcony at six o'clock。 Say you
willI must gosay you will！'
'I'll think；' said Sol； very much disturbed。 'There； don't cry；
I'll try to be under the balcony； at any rate。 I cannot promise
more； but I'll try to be there。'
She opened in the panelling one of the old…fashioned concealed modes
of exit known as jib…doors； which it was once the custom to
construct without architraves in the walls of large apartments； so
as not to interfere with the general design of the room。 Sol found
himself in a narrow passage； running down the whole length of the
ball…room； and at the same time he heard Lord Mountclere's voice
within； talking to Ethelberta。 Sol's escape had been marvellous：
as it was the viscount might have seen her tears。 He passed down
some steps； along an area from which he could see into a row of
servants' offices； among them a kitchen with a fireplace flaming
like an altar of sacrifice。 Nobody seemed to be concerned about
him； there were workmen upon the premises； and he nearly matched
them。 At last he got again into the shrubberies and to the side of
the park by which he had entered。
On reaching Corvsgate he found Picotee in the parlour of the little
inn； as he had directed。 Mr。 Julian； she said； had walked up to the
ruins； and would be back again in a few minutes。 Sol ordered the
horse to be put in； and by the time it was ready Christopher came
down from the hill。 Room was made for Sol by opening the flap of
the dogcart； and Christopher drove on。
He was anxious to know the trouble； and Sol was not reluctant to
share the burden of it with one whom he believed to be a friend。 He
told； scrap by scrap； the strange request of Ethelberta。
Christopher； though ignorant of Ethelberta's experience that
morning； instantly assumed that the discovery of some concealed
spectre had led to this precipitancy。
'When does she wish you to meet her with the carriage？'
'Probably at half…past seven； at the west lodge； but that is to be
finally fixed by a note she will hand down to me from the balcony。'
'Which balcony？'
'The nearest to the yew…tree。'
'At what time will she hand the note？'
'As the Court clock strikes six； she says。 And if I am not there to
take her instructions of course she will give up the idea； which is
just what I want her to do。'
Christopher begged Sol to go。 Whether Ethelberta was right or
wrong； he did not stop to inquire。 She was in trouble； she was too
clear…headed to be in trouble without good reason； and she wanted
assistance out of it。 But such was Sol's nature that the more he
reflected the more determined was he in not giving way to her
entreaty。 By the time that they reached Anglebury he repented
having given way so far as to withhold a direct refusal。
'It can do no good；' he said mournfully。 'It is better to nip her
notion in its beginning。 She says she wants to fly to Rouen； and
from there arrange terms with him。 But it can't be doneshe should
have thought of terms before。'
Christopher made no further reply。 Leaving word at the 'Red Lion'
that a man was to be sent to take the horse of him； he drove
directly onwards to the station。
'Then you don't mean to help her？' said Julian； when Sol took the
ticketsone for himself and one for Picotee。
'I serve her best by leaving her alone！' said Sol。
'I don't think so。'
'She has married him。'
'She is in distress。'
'She has married him。'
Sol and Picotee took their seats； Picotee upbraiding her brother。
'I can go by myself！' she said； in tears。 'Do go back for Berta；
Sol。 She said I was to go home alone； and I can do it！'
'You must not。 It is not right for you to be hiring cabs and
driving across London at midnight。 Berta should have known better
than propose it。'
'She was flurried。 Go； Sol！'
But her entreaty was fruitless。
'Have you got your ticket； Mr。 Julian？' said Sol。 'I suppose we
shall go together till we get near Melchester？'
'I have not got my ticket yetI'll be back in two minutes。'
The minutes went by； and Christopher did not reappear。 The train
moved off： Christopher was seen running up the platform； as if in a
vain hope to catch it。
'He has missed the train；' said Sol。 Picotee looked disappointed；
and said nothing。 They were soon out of sight。
'God forgive me for such a hollow pretence！' said Christopher to
himself。 'But he would have been uneasy had he known I wished to
stay behind。 I cannot leave her in trouble like this！'
He went back to the 'Red Lion' with the manner and movement of a man
who after a lifetime of desultoriness had at last found something to
do。 It was now getting late in the afternoon。 Christopher ordered
a one…horse brougham at the inn； and entering it was driven out of
the town towards Enckworth as the evening shades were beginning to
fall。 They passed into the hamlet of Little Enckworth at half…past
five； and drew up at a beer…house at the end。 Jumping out here；
Julian told the man to wait till he should return。
Thus far he had exactly obeyed her orders to Sol。 He hoped to be
able to obey them throughout； and supply her with the aid her
brother refused。 He also hoped that the change in the personality
of her confederate would make no difference to her intention。 That
he was putting himself in a wrong position he allowed； but time and
attention were requisite for such analysis： meanwhile Ethelberta
was in trouble。 On the one hand was she waiting hopefully for Sol；
on the other was Sol many miles on his way to town； between them was
himself。
He ran with all his might towards Enckworth Park； mounted the lofty
stone steps by the lodge； saw the dark bronze figures on the piers
through the twilight； and then proceeded to thread the trees。 Among
these he struck a light for a moment： it was ten minutes to six。
In another five minutes he was panting beneath the walls of her
house。
Enckworth Court was not unknown to Christopher； for he had
frequently explored that spot in his Sandbourne days。 He perceived
now why she had selected that