按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
She was quite willing not to be clever herself； since it was
unnecessary while she had a much…admired sister； who was clever
enough for two people and to spare。
This arrangement； by which she gained an untroubled existence in
exchange for freedom of will； had worked very pleasantly for Picotee
until the anomaly of falling in love on her own account created a
jar in the machinery。 Then she began to know how wearing were
miserable days； and how much more wearing were miserable nights。
She pictured Christopher in London calling upon her dignified sister
（for Ethelberta innocently mentioned his name sometimes in writing）
and imagined over and over again the mutual signs of warm feeling
between them。 And now Picotee resolved upon a noble course。 Like
Juliet； she had been troubled with a consciousness that perhaps her
love for Christopher was a trifle forward and unmaidenly； even
though she had determined never to let him or anybody in the whole
world know of it。 To set herself to pray that she might have
strength to see him without a pang the lover of her sister； who
deserved him so much more than herself； would be a grand penance and
corrective。
After uttering petitions to this effect for several days； she still
felt very bad； indeed； in the psychological difficulty of striving
for what in her soul she did not desire； rather worse； if anything。
At last； weary of walking the old road and never meeting him； and
blank in a general powerlessness； she wrote the letter to
Ethelberta； which was only the last one of a series that had
previously been written and torn up。
Now this hope had been whirled away like thistledown； and the case
was grievous enough to distract a greater stoic than Picotee。 The
end of it was that she left the school on insufficient notice； gave
up her cottage home on the pleatrue in the letterthat she was
going to join a relative in London； and went off thither by a
morning train； leaving her things packed ready to be sent on when
she should write for them。
Picotee arrived in town late on a cold February afternoon； bearing a
small bag in her hand。 She crossed Westminster Bridge on foot； just
after dusk； and saw a luminous haze hanging over each well…lighted
street as it withdrew into distance behind the nearer houses；
showing its direction as a train of morning mist shows the course of
a distant stream when the stream itself is hidden。 The lights along
the riverside towards Charing Cross sent an inverted palisade of
gleaming swords down into the shaking water； and the pavement ticked
to the touch of pedestrians' feet； most of whom tripped along as if
walking only to practise a favourite quick step； and held
handkerchiefs to their mouths to strain off the river mist from
their lungs。 She inquired her way to Exonbury Crescent； and between
five and six o'clock reached her sister's door。
Two or three minutes were passed in accumulating resolution
sufficient to ring the bell； which when at last she did； was not
performed in a way at all calculated to make the young man Joey
hasten to the door。 After the lapse of a certain time he did；
however； find leisure to stroll and see what the caller might want；
out of curiosity to know who there could be in London afraid to ring
a bell twice。
Joey's delight exceeded even his surprise； the ruling maxim of his
life being the more the merrier； under all circumstances。 The
beaming young man was about to run off and announce her upstairs and
downstairs； left and right； when Picotee called him hastily to her。
In the hall her quick young eye had caught sight of an umbrella with
a peculiar horn handlean umbrella she had been accustomed to meet
on Sandbourne Moor on many happy afternoons。 Christopher was
evidently in the house。
'Joey；' she said； as if she were ready to faint； 'don't tell Berta I
am come。 She has company； has she not？'
'O noonly Mr。 Julian！' said the brother。 'He's quite one of the
family！'
'Never mindcan't I go down into the kitchen with you？' she
inquired。 There had been bliss and misery mingled in those tidings；
and she scarcely knew for a moment which way they affected her。
What she did know was that she had run her dear fox to earth； and a
sense of satisfaction at that feat prevented her just now from
counting the cost of the performance。
'Does Mr。 Julian come to see her very often？' said she。
'O yeshe's always a…cominga regular bore to me。'
'A regular what？'
'Bore！Ah； I forgot； you don't know our town words。 However； come
along。'
They passed by the doors on tiptoe； and their mother upstairs being；
according to Joey's account； in the midst of a nap； Picotee was
unwilling to disturb her； so they went down at once to the kitchen；
when forward rushed Gwendoline the cook； flourishing her floury
hands； and Cornelia the housemaid； dancing over her brush； and these
having welcomed and made Picotee comfortable； who should ring the
area…bell； and be admitted down the steps； but Sol and Dan。 The
workman…brothers； their day's duties being over； had called to see
their relations； first； as usual； going home to their lodgings in
Marylebone and making themselves as spruce as bridegrooms； according
to the rules of their newly…acquired town experience。 For the
London mechanic is only nine hours a mechanic； though the country
mechanic works； eats； drinks； and sleeps a mechanic throughout the
whole twenty…four。
'God bless my soulPicotee！' said Dan； standing fixed。 'WellI
say； this is splendid！ ha…ha！'
'Picoteewhat brought you here？' said Sol； expanding the
circumference of his face in satisfaction。 'Well； come alongnever
mind so long as you be here。'
Picotee explained circumstances as well as she could without stating
them； and； after a general conversation of a few minutes； Sol
interrupted with'Anybody upstairs with Mrs。 Petherwin？'
'Mr。 Julian was there just now；' said Joey； 'but he may be gone。
Berta always lets him slip out how he can； the form of ringing me up
not being necessary with him。 Wait a minuteI'll see。'
Joseph vanished up the stairs； and； the question whether Christopher
were gone or not being an uninteresting one to the majority； the
talking went on upon other matters。 When Joey crept down again a
minute later； Picotee was sitting aloof and silent； and he
accordingly singled her out to speak to。
'Such a lark； Picotee！' he whispered。 'Berta's a…courting of her
young man。 Would you like to see how they carries on a bit？'
'Dearly I should！' said Picotee； the pupils of her eyes dilating。
Joey conducted her to the top of the basement stairs； and told her
to listen。 Within a few yards of them was the morning…room door；
now standing ajar； and an intermittent flirtation in soft male and
female tones could be heard going on inside。 Picotee's lips parted
at thus learning the condition of things； and she leant against the
stair…newel。
'My？ What's the matter？' said Joey。
'If this is London； I don't like it at all！' moaned Picotee。
'WellI never see such a girlfainting all over the stairs for
nothing in the world。'
'Oit will soon be goneit isit is only indigestion。'
'Indigestion？ Much you si