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！
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； and that but for his own misstatement it would have
been carefully delayed。
The next day another letter came from the musician； decidedly short
and to the point。 The irate lover stated that he would not be made
a fool of any longer： under any circumstances he meant to come that
self…same afternoon； and should decidedly expect her to see him。
'I will not see him！' said Ethelberta。 'Why did he not call last
night？'
'Because you told him not to；' said Picotee。
'Good gracious； as if a woman's words are to be translated as
literally as Homer！ Surely he is aware that more often than not
〃No〃 is said to a man's importunities because it is traditionally
the correct modest reply； and for nothing else in the world。 If all
men took words as superficially as he does； we should die of decorum
in shoals。'
'Ah； Berta！ how could you write a letter that you did not mean
should be obeyed？'
'I did in a measure mean it； although I could have shown Christian
forgiveness if it had not been。 Never mind； I will not see him。
I'll plague my heart for the credit of my sex。'
To ensure the fulfilment of this resolve； Ethelberta determined to
give way to a headache that she was beginning to be aware of； go to
her room； disorganize her dress； and ruin her hair by lying down； so
putting it out of her power to descend and meet Christopher on any
momentary impulse。
Picotee sat in the room with her； reading； or pretending to read；
and Ethelberta pretended to sleep。 Christopher's knock came up the
stairs； and with it the end of the farce。
'I'll tell you what；' said Ethelberta in the prompt and broadly…
awake tone of one who had been concentrated on the expectation of
that sound for a length of time； 'it was a mistake in me to do this！
Joey will be sure to make a muddle of it。'
Joey was heard coming up the stairs。 Picotee opened the door； and
said； with an anxiety transcending Ethelberta's； 'Well？'
'O； will you tell Mrs。 Petherwin that Mr。 Julian says he'll wait。'
'You were not to ask him to wait；' said Ethelberta； within。
'I know that；' said Joey； 'and I didn't。 He's doing that out of his
own head。'
'Then let Mr。 Julian wait； by all means；' said Ethelberta。 'Allow
him to wait if he likes； but tell him it is uncertain if I shall be
able to come down。'
Joey then retired； and the two sisters remained in silence。
'I wonder if he's gone；' Ethelberta said； at the end of a long time。
'I thought you were asleep；' said Picotee。 'Shall we ask Joey？ I
have not heard the door close。'
Joey was summoned； and after a leisurely ascent； interspersed by
various gymnastic performances over the handrail here and there；
appeared again。
'He's there jest the same： he don't seem to be in no hurry at all；'
said Joey。
'What is he doing？' inquired Picotee solicitously。
'O； only looking at his watch sometimes； and humming tunes； and
playing rat…a…tat…tat upon the table。 He says he don't mind waiting
a bit。'
'You must have made a mistake in the message；' said Ethelberta；
within。
'Well； no。 I am correct as a jineral thing。 I jest said perhaps
you would be engaged all the evening； and perhaps you wouldn't。'
When Joey had again retired； and they had waited another ten
minutes； Ethelberta said； 'Picotee； do you go down and speak a few
words to him。 I am determined he shall not see me。 You know him a
little； you remember when he came to the Lodge？'
'What must I say to him？'
Ethelberta paused before replying。 'Try to find out ifif he is
much grieved at not seeing me； and saygive him to understand that
I will forgive him； Picotee。'
'Very well。'
'And Picotee'
'Yes。'
'If he says he MUST see meI think I will get up。 But only if he
says MUST： you remember that。'
Picotee departed on her errand。 She paused on the staircase
trembling； and thinking between the thrills how very far would have
been the conduct of her poor slighted self from proud recalcitration
had Mr。 Julian's gentle request been addressed to her instead of to
Ethelberta； and she went some way in the painful discovery of how
much more tantalizing it was to watch an envied situation that was
held by another than to be out of sight of it altogether。 Here was
Christopher waiting to bestow love； and Ethelberta not going down to
receive it： a commodity unequalled in value by any other in the
whole wide world was being wantonly wasted within that very house。
If she could only have stood to…night as the beloved Ethelberta； and
not as the despised Picotee； how different would be this going down！
Thus she went along； red and pale moving in her cheeks as in the
Northern Lights at their strongest time。
Meanwhile Christopher had sat waiting minute by minute till the
evening shades grew browner； and the fire sank low。 Joey； finding
himself not particularly wanted upon the premises after the second
inquiry； had slipped out to witness a nigger performance round the
corner； and Julian began to think himself forgotten by all the
household。 The perception gradually cooled his emotions and enabled
him to hold his hat quite steadily。
When Picotee gently thrust open the door she was surprised to find
the room in darkness； the fire gone completely out； and the form of
Christopher only visible by a faint patch of light； which； coming
from a lamp on the opposite side of the way and falling upon the
mirror； was thrown as a pale nebulosity upon his shoulder。 Picotee
was too flurried at sight of the familiar outline to know what to
do； and； instead of going or calling for a light； she mechanically
advanced into the room。 Christopher did not turn or move in any
way； and then she perceived that he had begun to doze in his chair。
Instantly； with the precipitancy of the timorous； she said； 'Mr。
Julian！' and touched him on the shouldermurmuring then； 'O； I beg
pardon； II will get a light。'
Christopher's consciousness returned； and his first act； before
rising； was to exclaim； in a confused manner； 'Ahyou have come
thank you； Berta！' then impulsively to seize her hand； as it hung
beside his head； and kiss it passionately。 He stood up； still
holding her fingers。
Picotee gasped out something； but was completely deprived of
articulate utterance； and in another moment being unable to control
herself at this sort of first meeting with the man she had gone
through fire and water to be near； and more particularly by the
overpowering kiss upon her hand； burst into hysterical sobbing。
Julian； in his inability to imagine so much emotionor at least the
exhibition of itin Ethelberta； gently drew Picotee further forward
by the hand he held； and utilized the solitary spot of light from
the mirror by making it fall upon her face。 Recognizing the
childish features； he at once； with an exclamation； dropped her hand
and started back。 Being in point of fact a complete bundle of
nerves and nothing else； his thin figure shook like a harp…string in
painful excitement at a contretemps which would scarcely have
quickened the pulse