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vexed that her hopefulness was not roused to quite the pitch of his
own。 As with others of his sort； his too general habit of accepting
the most clouded possibility that chances offered was only
transcended by his readiness to kindle with a fitful excitement now
and then。 Faith was much more equable。 'If you were not the most
melancholy man God ever created；' she said； kindly looking at his
vague deep eyes and thin face； which was but a few degrees too
refined and poetical to escape the epithet of lantern…jawed from any
one who had quarrelled with him； 'you would not mind my coolness
about this。 It is a good thing of course to go； I have always
fancied that we were mistaken in coming here。 Mediocrity stamped
〃London〃 fetches more than talent marked 〃provincial。〃 But I cannot
feel so enthusiastic。'
'Still； if we are to go； we may as well go by enthusiasm as by
calculation； it is a sensation pleasanter to the nerves； and leads
to just as good a result when there is only one result possible。'
'Very well；' said Faith。 'I will not depress you。 If I had to
describe you I should say you were a child in your impulses； and an
old man in your reflections。 Have you considered when we shall
start？'
'Yes。'
'What have you thought？'
'That we may very well leave the place in six weeks if we wish。'
'We really may？'
'Yes。 And what is more； we will。'
Christopher and Faith arrived in London on an afternoon at the end
of winter； and beheld from one of the river bridges snow…white
scrolls of steam from the tall chimneys of Lambeth； rising against
the livid sky behind； as if drawn in chalk on toned cardboard。
The first thing he did that evening； when settled in their
apartments near the British Museum； before applying himself to the
beginning of the means by which success in life might be attained；
was to go out in the direction of Ethelberta's door； leaving Faith
unpacking the things； and sniffing extraordinary smoke…smells which
she discovered in all nooks and crannies of the rooms。 It was some
satisfaction to see Ethelberta's house； although the single feature
in which it differed from the other houses in the Crescent was that
no lamp shone from the fanlight over the entrancea speciality
which； if he cared for omens； was hardly encouraging。 Fearing to
linger near lest he might be detected； Christopher stole a glimpse
at the door and at the steps； imagined what a trifle of the
depression worn in each step her feet had tended to produce； and
strolled home again。
Feeling that his reasons for calling just now were scarcely
sufficient； he went next day about the business that had brought him
to town； which referred to a situation as organist in a large church
in the north…west district。 The post was half ensured already； and
he intended to make of it the nucleus of a professional occupation
and income。 Then he sat down to think of the preliminary steps
towards publishing the song that had so pleased her； and had also；
as far as he could understand from her letter； hit the popular taste
very successfully； a fact which； however little it may say for the
virtues of the song as a composition； was a great recommendation to
it as a property。 Christopher was delighted to perceive that out of
this position he could frame an admissible； if not an unimpeachable；
reason for calling upon Ethelberta。 He determined to do so at once；
and obtain the required permission by word of mouth。
He was greatly surprised； when the front of the house appeared in
view on this spring afternoon； to see what a white and sightless
aspect pervaded all the windows。 He came close： the eyeball
blankness was caused by all the shutters and blinds being shut tight
from top to bottom。 Possibly this had been the case for some time
he could not tell。 In one of the windows was a card bearing the
announcement； 'This House to be let Furnished。' Here was a
merciless clash between fancy and fact。 Regretting now his faint…
heartedness in not letting her know beforehand by some means that he
was about to make a new start in the world； and coming to dwell near
her； Christopher rang the bell to make inquiries。 A gloomy
caretaker appeared after a while； and the young man asked whither
the ladies had gone to live。 He was beyond measure depressed to
learn that they were in the South of FranceArles； the man thought
the place was calledthe time of their return to town being very
uncertain； though one thing was clear； they meant to miss the
forthcoming London season altogether。
As Christopher's hope to see her again had brought a resolve to do
so； so now resolve led to dogged patience。 Instead of attempting
anything by letter； he decided to wait； and he waited well；
occupying himself in publishing a 'March' and a 'Morning and Evening
Service in E flat。' Some four…part songs； too； engaged his
attention when the heavier duties of the day were overthese duties
being the giving of lessons in harmony and counterpoint； in which he
was aided by the introductions of a man well known in the musical
world； who had been acquainted with young Julian as a promising
amateur long before he adopted music as the staff of his pilgrimage。
It was the end of summer when he again tried his fortune at the
house in Exonbury Crescent。 Scarcely calculating upon finding her
at this stagnant time of the town year； and only hoping for
information； Julian was surprised and excited to see the shutters
open； and the house wearing altogether a living look； its neighbours
having decidedly died off meanwhile。
'The family here；' said a footman in answer to his inquiry； 'are
only temporary tenants of the house。 It is not Lady Petherwin's
people。'
'Do you know the Petherwins' present address？'
'Underground； sir； for the old lady。 She died some time ago in
Switzerland； and was buried there； I believe。'
'And Mrs。 Petherwinthe young lady；' said Christopher； starting。
'We are not acquainted personally with the family；' the man replied。
'My master has only taken the house for a few months； whilst
extensive alterations are being made in his own on the other side of
the park； which he goes to look after every day。 If you want any
further information about Lady Petherwin； Mrs。 Petherwin will
probably give it。 I can let you have her address。'
'Ah； yes； thank you；' said Christopher。
The footman handed him one of some cards which appeared to have been
left for the purpose。 Julian； though tremblingly anxious to know
where Ethelberta was； did not look at it till he could take a cool
survey in private。 The address was 'Arrowthorne Lodge； Upper
Wessex。'
'Dear me！' said Christopher to himself； 'not far from Melchester；
and not dreadfully far from Sandbourne。'
12。 ARROWTHORNE PARK AND LODGE
Summer was just over when Christopher Julian found himself rattling
along in the train to Sandbourne on some trifling business
appertaining to his late father's affairs； which would afford him an
excuse for calling at Arrowthorne about the song of hers that he
wished to produce。 He alighted in the afternoon at a little station
some twenty miles short of Sandbourne； and leaving