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nothing in the world。'
'Oit will soon be goneit isit is only indigestion。'
'Indigestion？ Much you simple country people can know about that！
You should see what devils of indigestions we get in high life
eating 'normous great dinners and suppers that require clever
physicians to carry 'em off； or else they'd carry us off with gout
next day； and waking in the morning with such a splitting headache；
and dry throat； and inward cusses about human nature； that you feel
all the world like some great lord。 However； now let's go down
again。'
'No； no； no！' said the unhappy maiden imploringly。 'Hark！'
They listened again。 The voices of the musician and poetess had
changed： there was a decided frigidity in their tonethen came a
louder expressionthen a silence。
'You needn't be afeard；' said Joey。 'They won't fight； bless you；
they busts out quarrelling like this times and times when they've
been over…friendly； but it soon gets straight with 'em again。'
There was now a quick walk across the room； and Joey and his sister
drew down their heads out of sight。 Then the room door was slammed；
quick footsteps went along the hall； the front door closed just as
loudly； and Christopher's tread passed into nothing along the
pavement。
'That's rather a wuss one than they mostly have； but Lord； 'tis
nothing at all。'
'I don't much like biding here listening！' said Picotee。
'O； 'tis how we do all over the West End；' said Joey。 ''Tis yer
ignorance of town life that makes it seem a good deal to 'ee。'
'You can't make much boast about town life； for you haven't left off
talking just as they do down in Wessex。'
'Well； I own to thatwhat's fair is fair； and 'tis a true charge；
but if I talk the Wessex way 'tisn't for want of knowing better；
'tis because my staunch nater makes me bide faithful to our old
ancient institutions。 You'd soon own 'twasn't ignorance in me； if
you knowed what large quantities of noblemen I gets mixed up with
every day。 In fact 'tis thoughted here and there that I shall do
very well in the world。'
'Well； let us go down；' said Picotee。 'Everything seems so
overpowering here。'
'O； you'll get broke in soon enough。 I felt just the same when I
first entered into society。'
'Do you think Berta will be angry with me？ How does she treat you？'
'Well； I can't complain。 You see she's my own flesh and blood； and
what can I say？ But； in secret truth； the wages is terrible low；
and barely pays for the tobacco I consooms。'
'O Joey； you wicked boy！ If mother only knew that you smoked！'
'I don't mind the wickedness so much as the smell。 And Mrs。
Petherwin has got such a nose for a fellow's clothes。 'Tis one of
the greatest knots in servicethe smoke question。 'Tis thoughted
that we shall make a great stir about it in the mansions of the
nobility soon。'
'How much more you know of life than I doyou only fourteen and me
seventeen！'
'Yes； that's true。 You see； age is nothing'tis opportunity。 And
even I can't boast； for many a younger man knows more。'
'But don't smoke； Joeythere's a dear！'
'What can I do？ Society hev its rules； and if a person wishes to
keep himself up； he must do as the world do。 We be all Fashion's
slaveas much a slave as the meanest in the land！'
They got downstairs again； and when the dinner of the French lady
and gentleman had been sent up and cleared away； and also
Ethelberta's evening tea （which she formed into a genuine meal；
making a dinner of luncheon； when nobody was there； to give less
trouble to her servant…sisters）； they all sat round the fire。 Then
the rustle of a dress was heard on the staircase； and squirrel…
haired Ethelberta appeared in person。 It was her custom thus to
come down every spare evening； to teach Joey and her sisters
something or othermostly French； which she spoke fluently； but the
cook and housemaid showed more ambition than intelligence in
acquiring that tongue； though Joey learnt it readily enough。
There was consternation in the camp for a moment or two； on account
of poor Picotee； Ethelberta being not without firmness in matters of
discipline。 Her eye instantly lighted upon her disobedient sister；
now looking twice as disobedient as she really was。
'O； you are here； Picotee？ I am glad to see you；' said the mistress
of the house quietly。
This was altogether to Picotee's surprise； for she had expected a
round rating at least； in her freshness hardly being aware that this
reserve of feeling was an acquired habit of Ethelberta's； and that
civility stood in town for as much vexation as a tantrum represented
in Wessex。
Picotee lamely explained her outward reasons for coming； and soon
began to find that Ethelberta's opinions on the matter would not be
known by the tones of her voice。 But innocent Picotee was as wily
as a religionist in sly elusions of the letter whilst infringing the
spirit of a dictum； and by talking very softly and earnestly about
the wondrous good she could do by remaining in the house as
governess to the children； and playing the part of lady's…maid to
her sister at show times； she so far coaxed Ethelberta out of her
intentions that she almost accepted the plan as a good one。 It was
agreed that for the present； at any rate； Picotee should remain。
Then a visit was made to Mrs。 Chickerel's room； where the remainder
of the evening was passed； and harmony reigned in the household。
19。 ETHELBERTA'S DRAWING…ROOM
Picotee's heart was fitfully glad。 She was near the man who had
enlarged her capacity from girl's to woman's； a little note or two
of young feeling to a whole diapason； and though nearness was
perhaps not in itself a great reason for felicity when viewed beside
the complete realization of all that a woman can desire in such
circumstances； it was much in comparison with the outer darkness of
the previous time。
It became evident to all the family that some misunderstanding had
arisen between Ethelberta and Mr。 Julian。 What Picotee hoped in the
centre of her heart as to the issue of the affair it would be too
complex a thing to say。 If Christopher became cold towards her
sister he would not come to the house； if he continued to come it
would really be as Ethelberta's loveraltogether； a pretty game of
perpetual check for Picotee。
He did not make his appearance for several days。 Picotee； being a
presentable girl； and decidedly finer…natured than her sisters below
stairs； was allowed to sit occasionally with Ethelberta in the
afternoon； when the teaching of the little ones had been done for
the day； and thus she had an opportunity of observing Ethelberta's
emotional condition with reference to Christopher； which Picotee did
with an interest that the elder sister was very far from suspecting。
At first Ethelberta seemed blithe enough without him。 One more day
went； and he did not come； and then her manner was that of apathy。
Another day passed； and from fanciful elevations of the eyebrow； and
long breathings； it became apparent that Ethelberta had decidedly
passed the indifferent stage； and was getting seriously out of sorts
about him。 Next morning she looked all hope。 He did not come tha