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very delightful； and went on persuading so long that at last he felt
it to be so。 Unable； like many other people； to enjoy being
satirized in words because of the irritation it caused him as aimed…
at victim； he sometimes had philosophy enough to appreciate a satire
of circumstance； because nobody intended it。 Pursuing the path
indicated； he found himself in a thicket of scrubby undergrowth；
which covered an area enclosed from the park proper by a decaying
fence。 The boughs were so tangled that he was obliged to screen his
face with his hands； to escape the risk of having his eyes filliped
out by the twigs that impeded his progress。 Thus slowly advancing；
his ear caught； between the rustles； the tones of a voice in earnest
declamation； and； pushing round in that direction； he beheld through
some beech boughs an open space about ten yards in diameter； floored
at the bottom with deep beds of curled old leaves； and cushions of
furry moss。 In the middle of this natural theatre was the stump of
a tree that had been felled by a saw； and upon the flat stool thus
formed stood Ethelberta； whom Christopher had not beheld since the
ball at Wyndway House。
Round her； leaning against branches or prostrate on the ground； were
five or six individuals。 Two were young mechanicsone of them
evidently a carpenter。 Then there was a boy about thirteen； and two
or three younger children。 Ethelberta's appearance answered as
fully as ever to that of an English lady skilfully perfected in
manner； carriage； look； and accent； and the incongruity of her
present position among lives which had had many of Nature's beauties
stamped out of them； and few of the beauties of Art stamped in；
brought him； as a second feeling； a pride in her that almost
equalled his first sentiment of surprise。 Christopher's attention
was meanwhile attracted from the constitution of the group to the
words of the speaker in the centre of itwords to which her
auditors were listening with still attention。
It appeared to Christopher that Ethelberta had lately been
undergoing some very extraordinary experiences。 What the beginning
of them had been he could not in the least understand； but the
portion she was describing came distinctly to his ears； and he
wondered more and more。
'He came forward till he； like myself； was about twenty yards from
the edge。 I instinctively grasped my useless stiletto。 How I
longed for the assistance which a little earlier I had so much
despised！ Reaching the block or boulder upon which I had been
sitting； he clasped his arms around from behind； his hands closed
upon the empty seat； and he jumped up with an oath。 This method of
attack told me a new thing with wretched distinctness； he had； as I
suppose； discovered my sex； male attire was to serve my turn no
longer。 The next instant； indeed； made it clear； for he exclaimed；
〃You don't escape me； masquerading madam；〃 or some such words； and
came on。 My only hope was that in his excitement he might forget to
notice where the grass terminated near the edge of the cliff； though
this could be easily felt by a careful walker： to make my own
feeling more distinct on this point I hastily bared my feet。'
The listeners moistened their lips； Ethelberta took breath； and then
went on to describe the scene that ensued； 'A dreadful variation on
the game of Blindman's buff；' being the words by which she
characterized it。
Ethelberta's manner had become so impassioned at this point that the
lips of her audience parted； the children clung to their elders； and
Christopher could control himself no longer。 He thrust aside the
boughs； and broke in upon the group。
'For Heaven's sake； Ethelberta；' he exclaimed with great excitement；
'where did you meet with such a terrible experience as that？'
The children shrieked； as if they thought that the interruption was
in some way the catastrophe of the events in course of narration。
Every one started up； the two young mechanics stared； and one of
them inquired； in return； 'What's the matter； friend？'
Christopher had not yet made reply when Ethelberta stepped from her
pedestal down upon the crackling carpet of deep leaves。
'Mr。 Julian！' said she； in a serene voice； turning upon him eyes of
such a disputable stage of colour； between brown and grey； as would
have commended itself to a gallant duellist of the last century as a
point on which it was absolutely necessary to take some friend's
life or other。 But the calmness was artificially done； and the
astonishment that did not appear in Ethelberta's tones was expressed
by her gaze。 Christopher was not in a mood to draw fine
distinctions between recognized and unrecognized organs of speech。
He replied to the eyes。
'I own that your surprise is natural；' he said； with an anxious look
into her face； as if he wished to get beyond this interpolated scene
to something more congenial and understood。 'But my concern at such
a history of yourself since I last saw you is even more natural than
your surprise at my manner of breaking in。'
'That history would justify any conduct in one who hears it'
'Yes； indeed。'
'If it were true；' added Ethelberta； smiling。 'But it is as false
as' She could name nothing notoriously false without raising an
image of what was disagreeable； and she continued in a better
manner： 'The story I was telling is entirely a fiction； which I am
getting up for a particular purposevery different from what
appears at present。'
'I am sorry there was such a misunderstanding；' Christopher
stammered； looking upon the ground uncertain and ashamed。 'Yet I am
not； either； for I am very glad you have not undergone such trials；
of course。 But the fact is； Ibeing in the neighbourhoodI
ventured to call on a matter of business； relating to a poem which I
had the pleasure of setting to music at the beginning of the year。'
Ethelberta was only a little less ill at ease than Christopher
showed himself to be by this way of talking。
'Will you walk slowly on？' she said gently to the two young men；
'and take the children with you； this gentleman wishes to speak to
me on business。'
The biggest young man caught up a little one under his arm； and
plunged amid the boughs； another little one lingered behind for a
few moments to look shyly at Christopher； with an oblique manner of
hiding her mouth against her shoulder and her eyes behind her
pinafore。 Then she vanished； the boy and the second young man
followed； and Ethelberta and Christopher stood within the wood…bound
circle alone。
'I hope I have caused no inconvenience by interrupting the
proceedings；' said Christopher softly； 'but I so very much wished to
see you！'
'Did you； indeedreally wish to see me？' she said gladly。 'Never
mind inconvenience then； it is a word which seems shallow in meaning
under the circumstances。 I surely must say that a visit is to my
advantage； must I not？ I am not as I was； you see； and may receive
as advantages what I used to consider as troubles。'
'Has your life really changed so much？'
'It has changed。 But what I first meant was that an interesting
visitor at a wrong time is better than a stupid one