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it fall； and with the curious power which he possessed of setting
his wisdom to watch any particular folly in himself that it could
not hinder； speculated as he walked on the result of this first
tangible step of return to his old position as Ethelberta's lover。
9。 A LADY'S DRAWING…ROOMS … ETHELBERTA'S DRESSING…ROOM
It was a house on the north side of Hyde Park； between ten and
eleven in the evening； and several intelligent and courteous people
had assembled there to enjoy themselves as far as it was possible to
do so in a neutral wayall carefully keeping every variety of
feeling in a state of solution； in spite of any attempt such
feelings made from time to time to crystallize on interesting
subjects in hand。
'Neigh； who is that charming woman with her head built up in a novel
way even for hair architecturethe one with her back towards us？'
said a man whose coat fitted doubtfully to a friend whose coat
fitted well。
'Just going to ask for the same information；' said Mr。 Neigh；
determining the very longest hair in his beard to an infinitesimal
nicety by drawing its lower portion through his fingers。 'I have
quite forgottencannot keep people's names in my head at all； nor
could my father eithernor any of my familya very odd thing。 But
my old friend Mrs。 Napper knows for certain。' And he turned to one
of a small group of middle…aged persons near； who； instead of
skimming the surface of things in general； like the rest of the
company； were going into the very depths of them。
'Othat is the celebrated Mrs。 Petherwin； the woman who makes
rhymes and prints 'em；' said Mrs。 Napper； in a detached sentence；
and then continued talking again to those on the other side of her。
The two loungers went on with their observations of Ethelberta's
headdress； which； though not extraordinary or eccentric； did
certainly convey an idea of indefinable novelty。 Observers were
sometimes half inclined to think that her cuts and modes were
acquired by some secret communication with the mysterious clique
which orders the livery of the fashionable world； forand it
affords a parallel to cases in which clever thinkers in other
spheres arrive independently at one and the same conclusion
Ethelberta's fashion often turned out to be the coming one。
'O； is that the woman at last？' said Neigh； diminishing his broad
general gaze at the room to a close criticism of Ethelberta。
'〃The rhymes；〃 as Mrs。 Napper calls them； are not to be despised；'
said his companion。 'They are not quite virginibus puerisque； and
the writer's opinions of life and society differ very materially
from mine； but I cannot help admiring her in the more reflective
pieces； the songs I don't care for。 The method in which she handles
curious subjects； and at the same time impresses us with a full
conviction of her modesty； is very adroit； and somewhat blinds us to
the fact that no such poems were demanded of her at all。'
'I have not read them；' said Neigh； secretly wrestling with his jaw；
to prevent a yawn； 'but I suppose I must。 The truth is； that I
never care much for reading what one ought to read； I wish I did；
but I cannot help it。 And； no doubt； you admire the lady immensely
for writing them： I don't。 Everybody is so talented now…a…days
that the only people I care to honour as deserving real distinction
are those who remain in obscurity。 I am myself hoping for a corner
in some biographical dictionary when the time comes for those works
only to contain lists of the exceptional individuals of whom nothing
is known but that they lived and died。'
'Ahlisten。 They are going to sing one of her songs；' said his
friend； looking towards a bustling movement in the neighbourhood of
the piano。 'I believe that song； 〃When tapers tall；〃 has been set
to music by three or four composers already。'
'Men of any note？' said Neigh； at last beaten by his yawn； which
courtesy nevertheless confined within his person to such an extent
that only a few unimportant symptoms； such as reduced eyes and a
certain rectangular manner of mouth in speaking； were visible。
'Scarcely；' replied the other man。 'Established writers of music do
not expend their energies upon new verse until they find that such
verse is likely to endure； for should the poet be soon forgotten；
their labour is in some degree lost。'
'Artful dogswho would have thought it？' said Neigh； just as an
exercise in words； and they drew nearer to the piano； less to become
listeners to the singing than to be spectators of the scene in that
quarter。 But among some others the interest in the songs seemed to
be very great； and it was unanimously wished that the young lady who
had practised the different pieces of music privately would sing
some of them now in the order of their composers' reputations。 The
musical persons in the room unconsciously resolved themselves into a
committee of taste。
One and another had been tried； when； at the end of the third； a
lady spoke to Ethelberta。
'Now； Mrs。 Petherwin；' she said； gracefully throwing back her face；
'your opinion is by far the most valuable。 In which of the cases do
you consider the marriage of verse and tune to have been most
successful？'
Ethelberta； finding these and other unexpected calls made upon
herself； came to the front without flinching。
'The sweetest and the best that I like by far；' she said； 'is none
of these。 It is one which reached me by post only this morning from
a place in Wessex； and is written by an unheard…of man who lives
somewhere down therea man who will be； nevertheless； heard a great
deal of some day； I hopethink。 I have only practised it this
afternoon； but； if one's own judgment is worth anything； it is the
best。'
'Let us have your favourite； by all means；' said another friend of
Ethelberta's who was presentMrs。 Doncastle。
'I am so sorry that I cannot oblige you； since you wish to hear it；'
replied the poetess regretfully； 'but the music is at home。 I had
not received it when I lent the others to Miss Belmaine； and it is
only in manuscript like the rest。'
'Could it not be sent for？' suggested an enthusiast who knew that
Ethelberta lived only in the next street； appealing by a look to
her； and then to the mistress of the house。
'Certainly； let us send for it；' said that lady。 A footman was at
once quietly despatched with precise directions as to where
Christopher's sweet production might be found。
'Whatis there going to be something interesting？' asked a young
married friend of Mrs。 Napper； who had returned to her original
spot。
'Yesthe best song she has written is to be sung in the best manner
to the best air that has been composed for it。 I should not wonder
if she were going to sing it herself。'
'Did you know anything of Mrs。 Petherwin until her name leaked out
in connection with these ballads？'
'No； but I think I recollect seeing her once before。 She is one of
those people who are known； as one may say； by subscription：
everybody knows a little； till she is astonishingly well known
altogether； but nobody knows her entirely。 She was the orphan child
of some clergyman； I believe。 Lady Petherwin； her mother…i