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these people from their own level now； it is not much that I can
tell you in seeing them only from the under side； though I see
strange things sometimes； and of course
〃What great ones do the less will prattle of；〃
as it says in that book of select pieces that you gave me。
'Well； my dear girl； I hope you will prosper。 One thing above all
others you'll have to mind； and it is that folk must continually
strain to advance in order to remain where they are： and you
particularly。 But as for trying too hard； I wouldn't do it。 Much
lies in minding this； that your best plan for lightness of heart is
to raise yourself a little higher than your old mates； but not so
high as to be quite out of their reach。 All human beings enjoy
themselves from the outside； and so getting on A LITTLE has this
good in it； you still keep in your old class where your feelings
are； and are thoughtfully treated by this class： while by getting
on TOO MUCH you are sneered at by your new acquaintance； who don't
know the skill of your rise； and you are parted from and forgot by
the old ones who do。 Whatever happens； don't be too quick to feel。
You will surely get some hard blows when you are found out； for if
the great can find no excuse for hitting with a mind； they'll do it
and say 'twas in fun。 But you are young and healthy； and youth and
health are power。 I wish I could have a decent footman here with
me； but I suppose it is no use trying。 It is such men as these that
provoke the contempt we get。 Well； thank God a few years will see
the end of me； for I am growing ashamed of my companyso different
as they are to the servants of old times。Your affectionate father；
R。 CHICKEREL。
'P。S。Do not press Lady Petherwin any further to remove the rules
on which you live with her。 She is quite right： she cannot keep
us； and to recognize us would do you no good； nor us either。 We are
content to see you secretly； since it is best for you。'
8。 CHRISTOPHER'S LODGINGS … THE GROUNDS ABOUT ROOKINGTON
Meanwhile； in the distant town of Sandbourne； Christopher Julian had
recovered from the weariness produced by his labours at the Wyndway
evening…party where Ethelberta had been a star。 Instead of engaging
his energies to clear encumbrances from the tangled way of his life；
he now set about reading the popular 'Metres by E。' with more
interest and assiduity than ever； for though Julian was a thinker by
instinct； he was a worker by effort only； and the higher of these
kinds being dependent upon the lower for its exhibition； there was
often a lamentable lack of evidence of his power in either。 It is a
provoking correlation； and has conduced to the obscurity of many a
genius。
'Kit；' said his sister； on reviving at the end of the bad headache
which had followed the dance； 'those poems seem to have increased in
value with you。 The lady； lofty as she appears to be； would be
flattered if she only could know how much you study them。 Have you
decided to thank her for them？ Now let us talk it overI like
having a chat about such a pretty new subject。'
'I would thank her in a moment if I were absolutely certain that she
had anything to do with sending them； or even writing them。 I am
not quite sure of that yet。'
'How strange that a woman could bring herself to write those
verses！'
'Not at all strangethey are natural outpourings。'
Faith looked critically at the remoter caverns of the fire。
'Why strange？' continued Christopher。 'There is no harm in them。'
'O nono harm。 But I cannot explain to youunless you see it
partly of your own accordthat to write them she must be rather a
fast ladynot a bad fast lady； a nice fast lady； I mean； of course。
There； I have said it now； and I daresay you are vexed with me； for
your interest in her has deepened to what it originally was； I
think。 I don't mean any absolute harm by 〃fast；〃 Kit。'
'Bold； forward； you mean； I suppose？'
Faith tried to hit upon a better definition which should meet all
views； and； on failing to do so； looked concerned at her brother's
somewhat grieved appearance； and said； helplessly； 'Yes； I suppose I
do。'
'My idea of her is quite the reverse。 A poetess must intrinsically
be sensitive； or she could never feel： but then； frankness is a
rhetorical necessity even with the most modest； if their
inspirations are to do any good in the world。 You will； for
certain； not be interested in something I was going to tell you；
which I thought would have pleased you immensely； but it is not
worth mentioning now。'
'If you will not tell me； never mind。 But don't be crabbed； Kit！
You know how interested I am in all your affairs。'
'It is only that I have composed an air to one of the prettiest of
her songs； 〃When tapers tall〃but I am not sure about the power of
it。 This is how it beginsI threw it off in a few minutes； after
you had gone to bed。'
He went to the piano and lightly touched over an air； the manuscript
copy of which he placed in front of him； and listened to hear her
opinion； having proved its value frequently； for it was not that of
a woman merely； but impersonally human。 Though she was unknown to
fame； this was a great gift in Faith； since to have an unsexed
judgment is as precious as to be an unsexed being is deplorable。
'It is very fair indeed；' said the sister； scarcely moving her lips
in her great attention。 'Now again； and again； and again。 How
could you do it in the time！'
Kit knew that she admired his performance： passive assent was her
usual praise； and she seldom insisted vigorously upon any view of
his compositions unless for purposes of emendation。
'I was thinking that； as I cannot very well write to her； I may as
well send her this；' said Christopher； with lightened spirits； voice
to correspond； and eyes likewise； 'there can be no objection to it；
for such things are done continually。 Consider while I am gone；
Faith。 I shall be out this evening for an hour or two。'
When Christopher left the house shortly after； instead of going into
the town on some errand； as was customary whenever he went from home
after dark； he ascended a back street； passed over the hills behind；
and walked at a brisk pace inland along the road to Rookington Park；
where； as he had learnt； Ethelberta and Lady Petherwin were staying
for a time； the day or two which they spent at Wyndway having formed
a short break in the middle of this visit。 The moon was shining to…
night； and Christopher sped onwards over the pallid high…road as
readily as he could have done at noonday。 In three…quarters of an
hour he reached the park gates； and entering now upon a tract which
he had never before explored； he went along more cautiously and with
some uncertainty as to the precise direction that the road would
take。 A frosted expanse of even grass； on which the shadow of his
head appeared with an opal halo round it； soon allowed the house to
be discovered beyond； the other portions of the park abounding with
timber older and finer than that of any other spot in the
neighbourhood。 Christopher withdrew into the shade； and wheeled
round to the front of the building that contained hi