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here was Ladywell blundering in； and； since this conjunction had
occurred on his first visit； the chances were that Ladywell came
very often。
Julian walked up and down the room； every moment expanding itself to
a minute in his impatience at the delay and vexation at the cause。
After scrutinizing for the fifth time every object on the walls as
if afflicted with microscopic closeness of sight； his hands under
his coat…tails； and his person jigging up and down upon his toes； he
heard her coming up the stairs。 When she entered the apartment her
appearance was decidedly that of a person subsiding after some
little excitement。
'I did not calculate upon being so long；' she said sweetly； at the
same time throwing back her face and smiling。 'But Iwas longer
than I expected。'
'It seemed rather long；' said Christopher gloomily； 'but I don't
mind it。'
'I am glad of that；' said Ethelberta。
'As you asked me to stay； I was very pleased to do so； and always
should be； but I think that now I will wish you good…bye。'
'You are not vexed with me？' she said； looking quite into his face。
'Mr。 Ladywell is nobody； you know。'
'Nobody？'
'Well； he is not much； I mean。 The case is； that I am sitting to
him for a subject in which my face is to be usedotherwise than as
a portraitand he called about it。'
'May I say；' said Christopher； 'that if you want yourself painted；
you are ill…advised not to let it be done by a man who knows how to
use the brush a little？'
'O； he can paint！' said Ethelberta； rather warmly。 'His last
picture was excellent； I think。 It was greatly talked about。'
'I imagined you to say that he was a mere nobody！'
'Yes； buthow provoking you are！nobody； I mean； to talk to。 He
is a true artist； nevertheless。'
Christopher made no reply。 The warm understanding between them had
quite ended now； and there was no fanning it up again。 Sudden tiffs
had been the constant misfortune of their courtship in days gone by；
had been the remote cause of her marriage to another； and the
familiar shadows seemed to be rising again to cloud them with the
same persistency as ever。 Christopher went downstairs with well…
behaved moodiness； and left the house forthwith。 The postman came
to the door at the same time。
Ethelberta opened a letter from Picoteenow at Sandbourne again；
and； stooping to the fire…light； she began to read：
'MY DEAR ETHELBERTA；I have tried to like staying at Sandbourne
because you wished it； but I can't endure the town at all； dear
Berta； everything is so wretched and dull！ O； I only wish you knew
how dismal it is here； and how much I would give to come to London！
I cannot help thinking that I could do better in town。 You see； I
should be close to you； and should have the benefit of your
experience。 I would not mind what I did for a living could I be
there where you all are。 It is so like banishment to be here。 If I
could not get a pupil…teachership in some London school （and I
believe I could by advertising） I could stay with you； and be
governess to Georgina and Myrtle； for I am sure you cannot spare
time enough to teach them as they ought to be taught； and Emmeline
is not old enough to have any command over them。 I could also
assist at your dressmaking； and you must require a great deal of
that to be done if you continue to appear in public。 Mr。 Long read
in the papers the account of your first evening； and afterwards I
heard two ladies of our committee talking about it； but of course
not one of them knew my personal interest in the discussion。 Now
will you； Ethelberta； think if I may not come： Do； there's a dear
sister！ I will do anything you set me about if I may only come。
Your ever affectionate； PICOTEE。'
'Great powers abovewhat worries do beset me！' cried Ethelberta；
jumping up。 'What can possess the child so suddenly？she used to
like Sandbourne well enough！' She sat down； and hastily scribbled
the following reply：
'MY DEAR PICOTEEThere is only a little time to spare before the
post goes； but I will try to answer your letter at once。 Whatever
is the reason of this extraordinary dislike to Sandbourne？ It is a
nice healthy place； and you are likely to do much better than either
of our elder sisters； if you follow straight on in the path you have
chosen。 Of course； if such good fortune should attend me that I get
rich by my contrivances of public story…telling and so on； I shall
share everything with you and the rest of us； in which case you
shall not work at all。 But （although I have been unexpectedly
successful so far） this is problematical； and it would be rash to
calculate upon all of us being able to live； or even us seven girls
only； upon the fortune I am going to make that way。 So； though I
don't mean to be harsh； I must impress upon you the necessity of
going on as you are going just at present。 I know the place must be
dull； but we must all put up with dulness sometimes。 You； being
next to me in age； must aid me as well as you can in doing something
for the younger ones； and if anybody at all comes and lives here
otherwise than as a servant； it must be our fatherwho will not；
however； at present hear of such a thing when I mention it to him。
Do think of all this； Picotee； and bear up！ Perhaps we shall all be
happy and united some day。 Joey is waiting to run to the post…
office with this at once。 All are well。 Sol and Dan have nearly
finished the repairs and decorations of my housebut I will tell
you of that another time。Your affectionate sister；
BERTA。'
18。 NEAR SANDBOURNE … LONDON STREETS … ETHELBERTA'S
When this letter reached its destination the next morning； Picotee；
in her over…anxiety； could not bring herself to read it in anybody's
presence； and put it in her pocket till she was on her walk across
the moor。 She still lived at the cottage out of the town； though at
some inconvenience to herself； in order to teach at a small village
night…school whilst still carrying on her larger occupation of
pupil…teacher in Sandbourne。
So she walked and read； and was soon in tears。 Moreover； when she
thought of what Ethelberta would have replied had that keen sister
known the wildness of her true reason in wishing to go； she
shuddered with misery。 To wish to get near a man only because he
had been kind to her； and had admired her pretty face； and had given
her flowers； to nourish a passion all the more because of its
hopeless impracticability； were things to dream of； not to tell。
Picotee was quite an unreasoning animal。 Her sister arranged
situations for her； told her how to conduct herself in them； how to
make up anew； in unobtrusive shapes； the valuable wearing apparel
she sent from time to timeso as to provoke neither exasperation in
the little gentry； nor superciliousness in the great。 Ethelberta
did everything for her； in short； and Picotee obeyed orders with the
abstracted ease of mind which people show who have their thinking
done for them； and put out their troubles as they do their washing。
She was quite willing not to be clever herself； since it was
unnecessary while she had a much…admired sister； who was clever
en