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varnished back of a passing cab； a milk…woman's cans； and a row of
church…windows glared in his eyes like new…rubbed copper； and on
looking the other way he beheld a bloody sun hanging among the
chimneys at the upper end； as a danger…lamp to warn him off。
By this time the door was opened； and before him stood Ethelberta's
young brother Joey； thickly populated with little buttons； the
remainder of him consisting of invisible green。
'Ah； Joseph；' said Christopher； instantly recognizing the boy。
'What； are you here in office？ Is your'
Joey lifted his forefinger and spread his mouth in a genial manner；
as if to signify particular friendliness mingled with general
caution。
'Yes； sir； Mrs。 Petherwin is my mistress。 I'll see if she is at
home； sir；' he replied； raising his shoulders and winking a wink of
strategic meanings by way of finishall which signs showed； if
evidence were wanted； how effectually this pleasant young page
understood； though quite fresh from Wessex； the duties of his
peculiar position。 Mr。 Julian was shown to the drawing…room； and
there he found Ethelberta alone。
She gave him a hand so cool and still that Christopher； much as he
desired the contact； was literally ashamed to let her see and feel
his own； trembling with unmanageable excess of feeling。 It was
always so； always had been so； always would be so； at these meetings
of theirs： she was immeasurably the strongest； and the deep…eyed
young man fancied； in the chagrin which the perception of this
difference always bred in him； that she triumphed in her superior
control。 Yet it was only in little things that their sexes were
thus reversed： Christopher would receive quite a shock if a little
dog barked at his heels； and be totally unmoved when in danger of
his life。
Certainly the most self…possessed woman in the world； under pressure
of the incongruity between their last meeting and the present one；
might have shown more embarrassment than Ethelberta showed on
greeting him to…day。 Christopher was only a man in believing that
the shyness which she did evince was chiefly the result of personal
interest。 She might or might not have been said to blushperhaps
the stealthy change upon her face was too slow an operation to
deserve that name： but； though pale when he called； the end of ten
minutes saw her colour high and wide。 She soon set him at his ease；
and seemed to relax a long…sustained tension as she talked to him of
her arrangements； hopes； and fears。
'And how do you like London society？' said Ethelberta。
'Pretty well； as far as I have seen it： to the surface of its front
door。'
'You will find nothing to be alarmed at if you get inside。'
'O noof course notexcept my own shortcomings；' said the modest
musician。 'London society is made up of much more refined people
than society anywhere else。'
'That's a very prevalent opinion； and it is nowhere half so
prevalent as in London society itself。 However； come and see my
houseunless you think it a trouble to look over a house？'
'No； I should like it very much。'
The decorations tended towards the artistic gymnastics prevalent in
some quarters at the present day。 Upon a general flat tint of
duck's…egg green appeared quaint patterns of conventional foliage；
and birds； done in bright auburn； several shades nearer to
redbreast…red than was Ethelberta's hair； which was thus thrust
further towards brown by such juxtapositiona possible reason for
the choice of tint。 Upon the glazed tiles within the chimney…piece
were the forms of owls； bats； snakes； frogs； mice； spiders in their
webs； moles； and other objects of aversion and darkness； shaped in
black and burnt in after the approved fashion。
'My brothers Sol and Dan did most of the actual work；' said
Ethelberta； 'though I drew the outlines； and designed the tiles
round the fire。 The flowers； mice； and spiders are done very
simply； you know： you only press a real flower； mouse； or spider
out flat under a piece of glass； and then copy it； adding a little
more emaciation and angularity at pleasure。'
'In that 〃at pleasure〃 is where all the art lies；' said he。
'Well； yesthat is the case；' said Ethelberta thoughtfully； and
preceding him upstairs； she threw open a door on one of the floors；
disclosing Dan in person； engaged upon a similar treatment of this
floor also。 Sol appeared bulging from the door of a closet； a
little further on； where he was fixing some shelves； and both wore
workmen's blouses。 At once coming down from the short ladder he was
standing upon； Dan shook Christopher's hand with some velocity。
'We do a little at a time； you see；' he said； 'because Colonel down
below； and Mrs。 Petherwin's visitors； shan't smell the turpentine。'
'We be pushing on to…day to get it out of the way；' said Sol； also
coming forward and greeting their visitor； but more reluctantly than
his brother had done。 'Now I'll tell ye whatyou two；' he added；
after an uneasy pause； turning from Christopher to Ethelberta and
back again in great earnestness； 'you'd better not bide here；
talking to we rough ones； you know； for folks might find out that
there's something closer between us than workmen and employer and
employer's friend。 So Berta and Mr。 Julian； if you'll go on and
take no more notice o' us； in case of visitors； it would be wiser
else； perhaps； if we should be found out intimate with ye； and bring
down your gentility； you'll blame us for it。 I get as nervous as a
cat when I think I may be the cause of any disgrace to ye。'
'Don't be so silly； Sol；' said Ethelberta； laughing。
'Ah； that's all very well；' said Sol； with an unbelieving smile；
'but if we bain't company for you out of doors； you bain't company
for we withinnot that I find fault with ye or mind it； and shan't
take anything for painting your house； nor will Dan neither； any
more for thatno； not a penny； in fact； we are glad to do it for
'ee。 At the same time； you keep to your class； and we'll keep to
ours。 And so； good afternoon； Berta； when you like to go； and the
same to you； Mr。 Julian。 Dan； is that your mind？'
'I can but own it；' said Dan。
The two brothers then turned their backs upon their visitors； and
went on working； and Ethelberta and her lover left the room。 'My
brothers； you perceive；' said she； 'represent the respectable
British workman in his entirety； and a touchy individual he is； I
assure you； on points of dignity； after imbibing a few town ideas
from his leaders。 They are painfully off…hand with me； absolutely
refusing to be intimate； from a mistaken notion that I am ashamed of
their dress and manners； which； of course； is absurd。'
'Which； of course； is absurd；' said Christopher。
'Of course it is absurd！' she repeated with warmth； and looking
keenly at him。 But； finding no harm in his face； she continued as
before： 'Yet； all the time； they will do anything under the sun
that they think will advance my interests。 In our hearts we are
one。 All they ask me to do is to leave them to themselves； and
therefore I do so。 Now； would you like to see some more of your
acquaintance？'
She introduced him to a large attic； where he found hi