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sweethearts； there is nothing worth a rush in what they feel！'
Faith said nothing in reply to this。 The opinions she had formed
upon the wisdom of her brother's pursuit of Ethelberta would have
come just then with an ill grace。 It must； however； have been
evident to Christopher； had he not been too preoccupied for
observation； that Faith's impressions of Ethelberta were not quite
favourable as regarded her womanhood； notwithstanding that she
greatly admired her talents。
22。 ETHELBERTA'S HOUSE
Ethelberta came indoors one day from the University boat…race； and
sat down； without speaking； beside Picotee； as if lost in thought。
'Did you enjoy the sight？' said Picotee。
'I scarcely know。 We couldn't see at all from Mrs。 Belmaine's
carriage； so two of usvery rashlyagreed to get out and be rowed
across to the other side where the people were quite few。 But when
the boatman had us in the middle of the river he declared he
couldn't land us on the other side because of the barges； so there
we were in a dreadful statetossed up and down like corks upon
great waves made by steamers till I made up my mind for a drowning。
Well； at last we got back again； but couldn't reach the carriage for
the crowd； and I don't know what we should have done if a gentleman
hadn't comesent by Mrs。 Belmaine； who was in a great fright about
us； then he was introduced to me； andI wonder how it will end！'
'Was there anything so wonderful in the beginning； then？'
'Yes。 One of the coolest and most practised men in London was ill…
mannered towards me from sheer absence of mindand could there be
higher flattery？ When a man of that sort does not give you the
politeness you deserve； it means that in his heart he is rebelling
against another feeling which his pride suggests that you do not
deserve。 O； I forgot to say that he is a Mr。 Neigh； a nephew of Mr。
Doncastle's； who lives at ease about Piccadilly and Pall Mall； and
has a few acres somewherebut I don't know much of him。 The worst
of my position now is that I excite this superficial interest in
many people and a deep friendship in nobody。 If what all my
supporters feel could be collected into the hearts of two or three
they would love me better than they love themselves； but now it
pervades all and operates in none。'
'But it must operate in this gentleman？'
'Well； yesjust for the present。 But men in town have so many
contrivances for getting out of love that you can't calculate upon
keeping them in for two days together。 However； it is all the same
to me。 There's onlybut let that be。'
'What is there only？' said Picotee coaxingly。
'Only one man；' murmured Ethelberta； in much lower tones。 'I mean；
whose wife I should care to be； and the very qualities I like in him
will； I fear； prevent his ever being in a position to ask me。'
'Is he the man you punished the week before last by forbidding him
to come？'
'Perhaps he is： but he does not want civility from me。 Where
there's much feeling there's little ceremony。'
'It certainly seems that he does not want civility from you to make
him attentive to you；' said Picotee； stifling a sigh； 'for here is a
letter in his handwriting； I believe。'
'You might have given it to me at once；' said Ethelberta； opening
the envelope hastily。 It contained very few sentences： they were
to the effect that Christopher had received her letter forbidding
him to call； that he had therefore at first resolved not to call or
even see her more； since he had become such a shadow in her path。
Still； as it was always best to do nothing hastily； he had on second
thoughts decided to ask her to grant him a last special favour； and
see him again just once； for a few minutes only that afternoon； in
which he might at least say Farewell。 To avoid all possibility of
compromising her in anybody's eyes； he would call at half…past six；
when other callers were likely to be gone； knowing that from the
peculiar constitution of the household the hour would not interfere
with her arrangements。 There being no time for an answer； he would
assume that she would see him； and keep the engagement； the request
being one which could not rationally be objected to。
'Thereread it！' said Ethelberta； with glad displeasure。 'Did you
ever hear such audacity？ Fixing a time so soon that I cannot reply；
and thus making capital out of a pretended necessity； when it is
really an arbitrary arrangement of his own。 That's real rebellion
forcing himself into my house when I said strictly he was not to
come； and then； that it cannot rationally be objected toI don't
like his 〃rationally。〃'
'Where there's much love there's little ceremony； didn't you say
just now？' observed innocent Picotee。
'And where there's little love； no ceremony at all。 These manners
of his are dreadful； and I believe he will never improve。'
'It makes you care not a bit about him； does it not； Berta？' said
Picotee hopefully。
'I don't answer for that；' said Ethelberta。 'I feel； as many others
do； that a want of ceremony which is produced by abstraction of mind
is no defect in a poet or musician； fatal as it may be to an
ordinary man。'
'Mighty me！ You soon forgive him。'
'Picotee； don't you be so quick to speak。 Before I have finished；
how do you know what I am going to say？ I'll never tell you
anything again； if you take me up so。 Of course I am going to
punish him at once； and make him remember that I am a lady； even if
I do like him a little。'
'How do you mean to punish him？' said Picotee； with interest。
'By writing and telling him that on no account is he to come。'
'But there is not time for a letter'
'That doesn't matter。 It will show him that I did not MEAN him to
come。'
At hearing the very merciful nature of the punishment； Picotee
sighed without replying； and Ethelberta despatched her note。 The
hour of appointment drew near； and Ethelberta showed symptoms of
unrest。 Six o'clock struck and passed。 She walked here and there
for nothing； and it was plain that a dread was filling her： her
letter might accidentally have had； in addition to the moral effect
which she had intended； the practical effect which she did not
intend； by arriving before； instead of after； his purposed visit to
her； thereby stopping him in spite of all her care。
'How long are letters going to Bloomsbury？' she said suddenly。
'Two hours； Joey tells me；' replied Picotee； who had already
inquired on her own private account。
'There！' exclaimed Ethelberta petulantly。 'How I dislike a man to
misrepresent things！ He said there was not time for a reply！'
'Perhaps he didn't know；' said Picotee； in angel tones； 'and so it
happens all right； and he has got it； and he will not come after
all。'
They waited and waited； but Christopher did not appear that night；
the true case being that his declaration about insufficient time for
a reply was merely an ingenious suggestion to her not to be so cruel
as to forbid him。 He was far from suspecting when the letter of
denial did reach himabout an hour before the time of appointment
that it was sent by a refinement of art； of which the real intention
was futility