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'It is your own particular one；' continued Faith。 'Yes； I see the
blue flowers under the edge of her cloak。'
'And I see her squirrel…coloured hair；' said Christopher。
Both stood looking at this apparition； who once； and only once；
thought fit to turn her head towards the front of the house they
were gazing from。 Faith was one in whom the meditative somewhat
overpowered the active faculties； she went on； with no abundance of
love； to theorize upon this gratuitously charming woman； who；
striking freakishly into her brother's path； seemed likely to do him
no good in her sisterly estimation。 Ethelberta's bright and shapely
form stood before her critic now； smartened by the motes of sunlight
from head to heel： what Faith would have given to see her so
clearly within！
'Without doubt she is already a lady of many romantic experiences；'
she said dubiously。
'And on the way to many more；' said Christopher。 The tone was just
of the kind which may be imagined of a sombre man who had been up
all night piping that others might dance。
Faith parted her lips as if in consternation at possibilities。
Ethelberta； having already become an influence in Christopher's
system； might soon become morean indestructible fascinationto
drag him about； turn his soul inside out； harrow him； twist him； and
otherwise torment him； according to the stereotyped form of such
processes。
They were interrupted by the opening of a door。 A servant entered
and came up to them。
'This is for you； I believe； sir；' he said。 'Two guineas；' and he
placed the money in Christopher's hand。 'Some breakfast will be
ready for you in a moment if you like to have it。 Would you wish it
brought in here； or will you come to the steward's room？'
'Yes； we will come。' And the man then began to extinguish the
lights one by one。 Christopher dropped the two pounds and two
shillings singly into his pocket； and looking listlessly at the
footman said； 'Can you tell me the address of that lady on the lawn？
Ah； she has disappeared！'
'She wore a dress with blue flowers；' said Faith。
'And remarkable bright in her manner？ O； that's the young widow；
Mrswhat's that nameI forget for the moment。'
'Widow？' said Christopher； the eyes of his understanding getting
wonderfully clear； and Faith uttering a private ejaculation of
thanks that after all no commandments were likely to be broken in
this matter。 'The lady I mean is quite a girlish sort of woman。'
'Yes； yes； so she isthat's the one。 Coachman says she must have
been born a widow； for there is not time for her ever to have been
made one。 However； she's not quite such a chicken as all that。
Mrs。 Petherwin； that's the party's name。'
'Does she live here？'
'No； she is staying in the house visiting for a few days with her
mother…in…law。 They are a London family； I don't know her address。'
'Is she a poetess？'
'That I cannot say。 She is very clever at verses； but she don't
lean over gates to see the sun； and goes to church as regular as you
or I； so I should hardly be inclined to say that she's the complete
thing。 When she's up in one of her vagaries she'll sit with the
ladies and make up pretty things out of her head as fast as sticks
a…breaking。 They will run off her tongue like cotton from a reel；
and if she can ever be got in the mind of telling a story she will
bring it out that serious and awful that it makes your flesh creep
upon your bones； if she's only got to say that she walked out of one
door into another； she'll tell it so that there seems something
wonderful in it。 'Tis a bother to start her； so our people say
behind her back； but； once set going； the house is all alive with
her。 However； it will soon be dull enough； she and Lady Petherwin
are off to…morrow for Rookington； where I believe they are going to
stay over New Year's Day。'
'Where do you say they are going？' inquired Christopher； as they
followed the footman。
'Rookington Parkabout three miles out of Sandbourne； in the
opposite direction to this。'
'A widow；' Christopher murmured。
Faith overheard him。 'That makes no difference to us； does it？' she
said wistfully。
Forty minutes later they were driving along an open road over a
ridge which commanded a view of a small inlet below them； the sands
of this nook being sheltered by crumbling cliffs。 Here at once they
saw； in the full light of the sun； two women standing side by side；
their faces directed over the sea。
'There she is again！' said Faith。 'She has walked along the shore
from the lawn where we saw her before。'
'Yes；' said the coachman； 'she's a curious woman seemingly。 She'll
talk to any poor body she meets。 You see she had been out for a
morning walk instead of going to bed； and that is some queer mortal
or other she has picked up with on her way。'
'I wonder she does not prefer some rest；' Faith observed。
The road then dropped into a hollow； and the women by the sea were
no longer within view from the carriage； which rapidly neared
Sandbourne with the two musicians。
6。 THE SHORE BY WYNDWAY
The east gleamed upon Ethelberta's squirrel…coloured hair as she
said to her companion； 'I have come； Picotee； but not； as you
imagine； from a night's sleep。 We have actually been dancing till
daylight at Wyndway。'
'Then you should not have troubled to come！ I could have borne the
disappointment under such circumstances；' said the pupil…teacher；
who； wearing a dress not so familiar to Christopher's eyes as had
been the little white jacket； had not been recognized by him from
the hill。 'You look so tired； Berta。 I could not stay up all night
for the world！'
'One gets used to these things；' said Ethelberta quietly。 'I should
have been in bed certainly； had I not particularly wished to use
this opportunity of meeting you before you go home to…morrow。 I
could not have come to Sandbourne to…day； because we are leaving to
return again to Rookington。 This is all that I wish you to take to
motheronly a few little things which may be useful to her； but you
will see what it contains when you open it。' She handed to Picotee
a small parcel。 'This is for yourself；' she went on； giving a small
packet besides。 'It will pay your fare home and back； and leave you
something to spare。'
'Thank you；' said Picotee docilely。
'Now； Picotee；' continued the elder； 'let us talk for a few minutes
before I go back： we may not meet again for some time。' She put
her arm round the waist of Picotee； who did the same by Ethelberta；
and thus interlaced they walked backwards and forwards upon the firm
flat sand with the motion of one body animated by one will。
'Well； what did you think of my poems？'
'I liked them； but naturally； I did not understand all the
experience you describe。 It is so different from mine。 Yet that
made them more interesting to me。 I thought I should so much like
to mix in the same scenes； but that of course is impossible。'
'I am afraid it is。 And you posted the book as I said？'
'Yes。' She added hurriedly； as if to change the subject； 'I have
told nobody that we are sisters； or that you are known in any way to
me or to mother or to