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'I wish it were a thousand。'
'O noit doesn't matter at all。 But； certainly； three hundred for
two is a tantalizing sum： not enough to enable us to change our
condition； and enough to make us dissatisfied with going on as we
are。'
'We must forget we have it； and let it increase。'
'It isn't enough to increase much。 We may as well use it。 But how？
Take a bigger housewhat's the use？ Give up the organ？then I
shall be rather worse off than I am at present。 Positively； it is
the most provoking amount anybody could have invented had they tried
ever so long。 Poor Lucy； to do that； and not even to come near us
when father died。 。 。 。 Ah； I know what we'll do。 We'll go abroad…
…we'll live in Italy。'
SEQUEL。 ANGLEBURY … ENCKWORTH … SANDBOURNE
Two years and a half after the marriage of Ethelberta and the
evening adventures which followed it； a man young in years； though
considerably older in mood and expression； walked up to the 'Red
Lion' Inn at Anglebury。 The anachronism sat not unbecomingly upon
him； and the voice was precisely that of the Christopher Julian of
heretofore。 His way of entering the inn and calling for a
conveyance was more off…hand than formerly； he was much less afraid
of the sound of his own voice now than when he had gone through the
same performance on a certain chill evening the last time that he
visited the spot。 He wanted to be taken to Knollsea to meet the
steamer there； and was not coming back by the same vehicle。
It was a very different day from that of his previous journey along
the same road； different in season； different in weather； and the
humour of the observer differed yet more widely from its condition
then than did the landscape from its former hues。 In due time they
reached a commanding situation upon the road； from which were
visible knots and plantations of trees on the Enckworth manor。
Christopher broke the silence。
'Lord Mountclere is still alive and well； I am told？'
'O ay。 He'll live to be a hundred。 Never such a change as has come
over the man of late years。'
'Indeed！'
'O； 'tis my lady。 She's a one to put up with！ Still； 'tis said
here and there that marrying her was the best day's work that he
ever did in his life； although she's got to be my lord and my lady
both。'
'Is she happy with him？'
'She is very sharp with the pore manabout happy I don't know。 He
was a good…natured old man； for all his sins； and would sooner any
day lay out money in new presents than pay it in old debts。 But
'tis altered now。 'Tisn't the same place。 Ah； in the old times I
have seen the floor of the servants' hall over the vamp of your boot
in solid beer that we had poured aside from the horns because we
couldn't see straight enough to pour it in。 See？ No； we couldn't
see a hole in a ladder！ And now； even at Christmas or Whitsuntide；
when a man； if ever he desires to be overcome with a drop； would
naturally wish it to be； you can walk out of Enckworth as straight
as you walked in。 All her doings。'
'Then she holds the reins？'
'She do！ There was a little tussle at first； but how could a old
man hold his own against such a spry young body as that！ She
threatened to run away from him； and kicked up Bob's…a…dying； and I
don't know what all； and being the woman； of course she was sure to
beat in the long run。 Pore old nobleman； she marches him off to
church every Sunday as regular as a clock； makes him read family
prayers that haven't been read in Enckworth for the last thirty
years to my certain knowledge； and keeps him down to three glasses
of wine a day； strict； so that you never see him any the more
generous for liquor or a bit elevated at all； as it used to be。
There； 'tis true； it has done him good in one sense； for they say
he'd have been dead in five years if he had gone on as he was
going。'
'So that she's a good wife to him； after all。'
'Well； if she had been a little worse 'twould have been a little
better for him in one sense； for he would have had his own way more。
But he was a curious feller at one time； as we all know and I
suppose 'tis as much as he can expect； but 'tis a strange reverse
for him。 It is said that when he's asked out to dine； or to
anything in the way of a jaunt； his eye flies across to hers afore
he answers： and if her eye says yes； he says yes： and if her eye
says no； he says no。 'Tis a sad condition for one who ruled
womankind as he； that a woman should lead him in a string whether he
will or no。'
'Sad indeed！'
'She's steward； and agent； and everything。 She has got a room
called 〃my lady's office；〃 and great ledgers and cash…books you
never see the like。 In old times there were bailiffs to look after
the workfolk； foremen to look after the tradesmen； a building…
steward to look after the foremen； a land…steward to look after the
building…steward； and a dashing grand agent to look after the land…
steward： fine times they had then； I assure ye。 My lady said they
were eating out the property like a honeycomb； and then there was a
terrible row。 Half of 'em were sent flying； and now there's only
the agent； and the viscountess； and a sort of surveyor man； and of
the three she does most work so 'tis said。 She marks the trees to
be felled； settles what horses are to be sold and bought； and is out
in all winds and weathers。 There； if somebody hadn't looked into
things 'twould soon have been all up with his lordship； he was so
very extravagant。 In one sense 'twas lucky for him that she was
born in humble life； because owing to it she knows the ins and outs
of contriving； which he never did。'
'Then a man on the verge of bankruptcy will do better to marry a
poor and sensible wife than a rich and stupid one。 Well； here we
are at the tenth milestone。 I will walk the remainder of the
distance to Knollsea； as there is ample time for meeting the last
steamboat。'
When the man was gone Christopher proceeded slowly on foot down the
hill； and reached that part of the highway at which he had stopped
in the cold November breeze waiting for a woman who never came。 He
was older now； and he had ceased to wish that he had not been
disappointed。 There was the lodge； and around it were the trees；
brilliant in the shining greens of June。 Every twig sustained its
bird； and every blossom its bee。 The roadside was not muffled in a
garment of dead leaves as it had been then； and the lodge…gate was
not open as it always used to be。 He paused to look through the
bars。 The drive was well kept and gravelled； the grass edgings；
formerly marked by hoofs and ruts； and otherwise trodden away； were
now green and luxuriant； bent sticks being placed at intervals as a
protection。
While he looked through the gate a woman stepped from the lodge to
open it。 In her haste she nearly swung the gate into his face； and
would have completely done so had he not jumped back。
'I beg pardon； sir；' she said； on perceiving him。 'I was going to
open it for my lady； and I didn't see you。'
Christopher moved round the corner。 The perpetual snubbing that he
had received from Ethelberta ever since he had known her seemed
about to be continued th