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'Ah！ naturally you would not know much；' replied Ladywell； in an
eager whisper。 'Perhaps I am judging others by myself a little more
thanbut； as you have heard； she is an acquaintance of mine。 I
know her very well； and； in fact； I originally suggested the scheme
to her as a pleasant way of adding to her fame。 〃Depend upon it；
dear Mrs。 Petherwin；〃 I said； during a pause in one of our dances
together some time ago； 〃any public appearance of yours would be
successful beyond description。〃'
'O； I had no idea that you knew her so well！ Then it is quite
through you that she has adopted this course？'
'Well； not entirelyI could not say entirely。 She said that some
day； perhaps； she might do such a thing； and； in short； I reduced
her vague ideas to form。'
'I should not mind knowing her betterI must get you to throw us
together in some way；' said Neigh； with some interest。 'I had no
idea that you were such an old friend。 You could do it； I suppose？'
'Really； I am afraidhah…hahmay not have the opportunity of
obliging you。 I met her at Wyndway； you know； where she was
visiting with Lady Petherwin。 It was some time ago； and I cannot
say that I have ever met her since。'
'Or before？' said Neigh。
'Wellno； I never did。'
'Ladywell； if I had half your power of going to your imagination for
facts； I would be the greatest painter in England。'
'Now Neighthat's too badbut with regard to this matter； I do
speak with some interest；' said Ladywell； with a pleased sense of
himself。
'In love with her？Smitten down？Done for？'
'Now； now！ However； several other fellows chaff me about her。 It
was only yesterday that Jones said'
'Do you know why she cares to do this sort of thing？'
'Merely a desire for fame； I suppose。'
'I should think she has fame enough already。'
'That I can express no opinion upon。 I am thinking of getting her
permission to use her face in a subject I am preparing。 It is a
fine face for canvas。 Glorious contourglorious。 Ah； here she is
again； for the second part。'
'Dream on； young fellow。 You'll make a rare couple！' said Neigh；
with a flavour of superciliousness unheeded by his occupied
companion。
Further back in the room were a pair of faces whose keen interest in
the performance contrasted much with the languidly permissive air of
those in front。 When the ten minutes' break occurred； Christopher
was the first of the two to speak。 'Well； what do you think of her；
Faith？' he said； shifting restlessly on his seat。
'I like the quiet parts of the tale best； I think〃 replied the
sister； 'but； of course； I am not a good judge of these things。 How
still the people are at times！ I continually take my eyes from her
to look at the listeners。 Did you notice the fat old lady in the
second row； with her cloak a little thrown back？ She was absolutely
unconscious； and stayed with her face up and lips parted like a
little child of six。'
'She well may！ the thing is a triumph。 That fellow Ladywell is
here； I believeyes； it is he； busily talking to the man on his
right。 If I were a woman I would rather go donkey…driving than
stick myself up there； for gaping fops to quiz and say what they
like about！ But she had no choice； poor thing； for it was that or
nothing with her。'
Faith； who had secret doubts about the absolute necessity of
Ethelberta's appearance in public； said； with remote meanings；
'Perhaps it is not altogether a severe punishment to her to be
looked at by well…dressed men。 Suppose she feels it as a blessing；
instead of an affliction？'
'She is a different sort of woman； Faith； and so you would say if
you knew her。 Of course； it is natural for you to criticize her
severely just now； and I don't wish to defend her。'
'I think you do a little； Kit。'
'No； I am indifferent about it all。 Perhaps it would have been
better for me if I had never seen her； and possibly it might have
been better for her if she had never seen me。 She has a heart； and
the heart is a troublesome encumbrance when great things have to be
done。 I wish you knew her： I am sure you would like each other。'
'O yes；' said Faith； in a voice of rather weak conviction。 'But； as
we live in such a plain way； it would be hardly desirable at
present。'
Ethelberta being regarded； in common with the latest conjurer；
spirit…medium； aeronaut； giant； dwarf or monarch； as a new
sensation； she was duly criticized in the morning papers； and even
obtained a notice in some of the weekly reviews。
'A handsome woman；' said one of these； 'may have her own reasons for
causing the flesh of the London public to creep upon its bones by
her undoubtedly remarkable narrative powers； but we question if much
good can result from such a form of entertainment。 Nevertheless；
some praise is due。 We have had the novel…writer among us for some
time； and the novel…reader has occasionally appeared on our
platforms； but we believe that this is the first instance on record
of a Novel…tellerone； that is to say； who relates professedly as
fiction a romantic tale which has never been printedthe whole
owing its chief interest to the method whereby the teller identifies
herself with the leading character in the story。'
Another observed： 'When once we get away from the magic influence
of the story…teller's eye and tongue； we perceive how improbable；
even impossible； is the tissue of events to which we have been
listening with so great a sense of reality； and we feel almost angry
with ourselves at having been the victims of such utter illusion。'
'Mrs。 Petherwin's personal appearance is decidedly in her favour；'
said another。 'She affects no unconsciousness of the fact that form
and feature are no mean vehicles of persuasion； and she uses the
powers of each to the utmost。 There spreads upon her face when in
repose an air of innocence which is charmingly belied by the
subtlety we discover beneath it when she begins her tale； and this
amusing discrepancy between her physical presentment and the inner
woman is further illustrated by the misgiving； which seizes us on
her entrance； that so impressionable a lady will never bear up in
the face of so trying an audience。 。 。 。 The combinations of
incident which Mrs。 Petherwin persuades her hearers that she has
passed through are not a little marvellous； and if what is rumoured
be true； that the tales are to a great extent based upon her own
experiences； she has proved herself to be no less daring in
adventure than facile in her power of describing it。'
17。 ETHELBERTA'S HOUSE
After such successes as these； Christopher could not forego the
seductive intention of calling upon the poetess and romancer； at her
now established town residence in Exonbury Crescent。 One wintry
afternoon he reached the doornow for the third timeand gave a
knock which had in it every tender refinement that could be thrown
into the somewhat antagonistic vehicle of noise。 Turning his face
down the street he waited restlessly on the step。 There was a
strange light in the atmosphere： the glass of the street…lamps； the
varnished back of a passing cab； a milk…woman's cans； and a row of
church…windows glar