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had received from Ethelberta ever since he had known her seemed
about to be continued through the medium of her dependents。
A trotting； accompanied by the sound of light wheels； had become
perceptible； and then a vehicle came through the gate； and turned up
the road which he had come down。 He saw the back of a basket
carriage； drawn by a pair of piebald ponies。 A lad in livery sat
behind with folded arms； the driver was a lady。 He saw her bonnet；
her shoulders； her hairbut no more。 She lessened in his gaze； and
was soon out of sight。
He stood a long time thinking； but he did not wish her his。
In this wholesome frame of mind he proceeded on his way； thankful
that he had escaped meeting her； though so narrowly。 But perhaps at
this remote season the embarrassment of a rencounter would not have
been intense。 At Knollsea he entered the steamer for Sandbourne。
Mr。 Chickerel and his family now lived at Firtop Villa； in that
place； a house which； like many others； had been built since
Julian's last visit to the town。 He was directed to the outskirts；
and into a fir plantation where drives and intersecting roads had
been laid out； and where new villas had sprung up like mushrooms。
He entered by a swing gate； on which 'Firtop' was painted； and a
maid…servant showed him into a neatly…furnished room； containing Mr。
Chickerel； Mrs。 Chickerel； and Picotee； the matron being reclined on
a couch； which improved health had permitted her to substitute for a
bed。
He had been expected； and all were glad to see again the sojourner
in foreign lands； even down to the ladylike tabby； who was all purr
and warmth towards him except when she was all claws and nippers。
But had the prime sentiment of the meeting shown itself it would
have been the unqualified surprise of Christopher at seeing how much
Picotee's face had grown to resemble her sister's： it was less a
resemblance in contours than in expression and tone。
They had an early tea； and then Mr。 Chickerel； sitting in a
patriarchal chair； conversed pleasantly with his guest； being well
acquainted with him through other members of the family。 They
talked of Julian's residence at different Italian towns with his
sister； of Faith； who was at the present moment staying with some
old friends in Melchester： and； as was inevitable； the discourse
hovered over and settled upon Ethelberta； the prime ruler of the
courses of them all； with little exception； through recent years。
'It was a hard struggle for her；' said Chickerel； looking
reflectively out at the fir trees。 'I never thought the girl would
have got through it。 When she first entered the house everybody was
against her。 She had to fight a whole host of them single…handed。
There was the viscount's brother； other relations； lawyers； ladies；
servants； not one of them was her friend； and not one who wouldn't
rather have seen her arrive there in evil relationship with him than
as she did come。 But she stood her ground。 She was put upon her
mettle； and one by one they got to feel there was somebody among
them whose little finger； if they insulted her； was thicker than a
Mountclere's loins。 She must have had a will of iron； it was a
situation that would have broken the hearts of a dozen ordinary
women； for everybody soon knew that we were of no family； and that's
what made it so hard for her。 But there she is as mistress now； and
everybody respecting her。 I sometimes fancy she is occasionally too
severe with the servants and I know what service is。 But she says
it is necessary； owing to her birth； and perhaps she is right。'
'I suppose she often comes to see you？'
'Four or five times a year；' said Picotee。
'She cannot come quite so often as she would；' said Mrs。 Chickerel；
'because of her lofty position； which has its juties。 Well； as I
always say； Berta doesn't take after me。 I couldn't have married
the man even though he did bring a coronet with him。'
'I shouldn't have cared to let him ask ye；' said Chickerel。
'However； that's neither here nor thereall ended better than I
expected。 He's fond of her。'
'And it is wonderful what can be done with an old man when you are
his darling；' said Mrs。 Chickerel。
'If I were Berta I should go to London oftener；' said Picotee； to
turn the conversation。 'But she lives mostly in the library。 And；
O； what do you think？ She is writing an epic poem； and employs
Emmeline as her reader。'
'Dear me。 And how are Sol and Dan？ You mentioned them once in your
letters；' said Christopher。
'Berta has set them up as builders in London。'
'She bought a business for them；' said Chickerel。 'But Sol wouldn't
accept her help for a long time； and now he has only agreed to it on
condition of paying her back the money with interest； which he is
doing。 They have just signed a contract to build a hospital for
twenty thousand pounds。'
Picotee broke in'You knew that both Gwendoline and Cornelia
married two years ago； and went to Queensland？ They married two
brothers； who were farmers； and left England the following week。
Georgie and Myrtle are at school。'
'And Joey？'
'We are thinking of making Joseph a parson；' said Mrs。 Chickerel。
'Indeed！ a parson。'
'Yes； 'tis a genteel living for the boy。 And he's talents that way。
Since he has been under masters he knows all the strange sounds the
old Romans and Greeks used to make by way of talking； and the love
stories of the ancient women as if they were his own。 I assure you；
Mr。 Julian； if you could hear how beautiful the boy tells about
little Cupid with his bow and arrows； and the rows between that
pagan apostle Jupiter and his wife because of another woman； and the
handsome young gods who kissed Venus； you'd say he deserved to be
made a bishop at once！'
The evening advanced； and they walked in the garden。 Here； by some
means； Picotee and Christopher found themselves alone。
'Your letters to my sister have been charming；' said Christopher。
'And so regular； too。 It was as good as a birthday every time one
arrived。'
Picotee blushed and said nothing。
Christopher had full assurance that her heart was where it always
had been。 A suspicion of the fact had been the reason of his visit
here to…day。
'Other letters were once written from England to Italy； and they
acquired great celebrity。 Do you know whose？'
'Walpole's？' said Picotee timidly。
'Yes； but they never charmed me half as much as yours。 You may rest
assured that one person in the world thinks Walpole your second。'
'You should not have read them； they were not written to you。 But I
suppose you wished to hear of Ethelberta？'
'At first I did；' said Christopher。 'But； oddly enough； I got more
interested in the writer than in her news。 I don't know if ever
before there has been an instance of loving by means of letters。 If
not； it is because there have never been such sweet ones written。
At last I looked for them more anxiously than Faith。'
'You see； you knew me before。' Picotee would have withdrawn this
remark if she could； fearing that it seemed like a suggestion of her
love long ago。
'Then； on my return； I thought I would just call and see yo