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！
uncovered state； when it was scrutinized more than the paintings
around。 But now homely and useful labour was her purpose。
Catalogue in hand she took the two brothers through the galleries；
teaching them in whispers as they walked； and occasionally
correcting themfirst； for too reverential a bearing towards the
well…dressed crowd； among whom they persisted in walking with their
hats in their hands and with the contrite bearing of meek people in
church； and； secondly； for a tendency which they too often showed
towards straying from the contemplation of the pictures as art to
indulge in curious speculations on the intrinsic nature of the
delineated subject； the gilding of the frames； the construction of
the skylights overhead； or admiration for the bracelets； lockets；
and lofty eloquence of persons around them。
'Now；' said Ethelberta； in a warning whisper； 'we are coming near
the picture which was partly painted from myself。 And； Dan； when
you see it； don't you exclaim 〃Hullo！〃 or 〃That's Berta to a T；〃 or
anything at all。 It would not matter were it not dangerous for me
to be noticed here to…day。 I see several people who would recognize
me on the least provocation。'
'Not a word；' said Dan。 'Don't you be afeard about that。 I feel
that I baint upon my own ground to…day； and wouldn't do anything to
cause an upset； drown me if I would。 Would you； Sol？'
In this temper they all pressed forward； and Ethelberta could not
but be gratified at the reception of Ladywell's picture； though it
was accorded by critics not very profound。 It was an operation of
some minutes to get exactly opposite； and when side by side the
three stood there they overheard the immediate reason of the
pressure。 'Farewell； thou art too dear for my possessing' had been
lengthily discoursed upon that morning by the Coryphaeus of popular
opinion； and the spirit having once been poured out sons and
daughters could prophesy。 But； in truth； Ladywell's work； if not
emphatically original； was happily centred on a middle stratum of
taste； and apart from this adventitious help commanded； and deserved
to command； a wide area of appreciation。
While they were standing here in the very heart of the throng
Ethelberta's ears were arrested by two male voices behind her； whose
words formed a novel contrast to those of the other speakers around。
'Some men； you see； with extravagant expectations of themselves；
coolly get them gratified； while others hope rationally and are
disappointed。 Luck； that's what it is。 And the more easily a man
takes life the more persistently does luck follow him。'
'Of course； because； if he's industrious he does not want luck's
assistance。 Natural laws will help him instead。'
'Well； if it is true that Ladywell has painted a good picture he has
done it by an exhaustive process。 He has painted every possible bad
one till nothing more of that sort is left for him。 You know what
lady's face served as the original to this； I suppose？'
'Mrs。 Petherwin's； I hear。'
'Yes； Mrs。 Alfred Neigh that's to be。'
'What； that elusive fellow caught at last？'
'So it appears； but she herself is hardly so well secured as yet； it
seems； though he takes the uncertainty as coolly as possible。 I
knew nothing about it till he introduced the subject as we were
standing here on Monday； and said； in an off…hand way； 〃I mean to
marry that lady。〃 I asked him how。 〃Easily；〃 he said； 〃I will have
her if there are a hundred at her heels。〃 You will understand that
this was quite in confidence。'
'Of course； of course。' Then there was a slight laugh； and the
companions proceeded to other gossip。
Ethelberta； calm and compressed in manner； sidled along to extricate
herself； not daring to turn round； and Dan and Sol followed； till
they were all clear of the spot。 The brothers； who had heard the
words equally well with Ethelberta； made no remark to her upon them；
assuming that they referred to some peculiar system of courtship
adopted in high life； with which they had rightly no concern。
Ethelberta ostensibly continued her business of tutoring the young
workmen just as before； though every emotion in her had been put on
the alert by this discovery。 She had known that Neigh admired her；
yet his presumption in uttering such a remark as he was reported to
have uttered； confidentially or otherwise； nearly took away her
breath。 Perhaps it was not altogether disagreeable to have her
breath so taken away。
'I mean to marry that lady。' She whispered the words to herself
twenty times in the course of the afternoon。 Sol and Dan were left
considerably longer to their private perceptions of the false and
true in art than they had been earlier in the day。
When she reached home Ethelberta was still far removed in her
reflections； and it was noticed afterwards that about this time in
her career her openness of manner entirely deserted her。 She mostly
was silent as to her thoughts； and she wore an air of unusual
stillness。 It was the silence and stillness of a starry sky； where
all is force and motion。 This deep undecipherable habit sometimes
suggested； though it did not reveal； Ethelberta's busy brain to her
sisters； and they said to one another； 'I cannot think what's coming
to Berta： she is not so nice as she used to be。'
The evening under notice was passed desultorily enough after the
discovery of Neigh's self…assured statement。 Among other things
that she did after dark； while still musingly examining the
probabilities of the report turning out true； was to wander to the
large attic where the children slept； a frequent habit of hers at
night； to learn if they were snug and comfortable。 They were
talking now from bed to bed； the person under discussion being
herself。 Herself seemed everywhere to…day。
'I know that she is a fairy；' Myrtle was insisting； 'because she
must be； to have such pretty things in her house； and wear silk
dresses such as mother and we and Picotee haven't got； and have
money to give us whenever we want it。'
'Emmeline says perhaps she knows the fairy's godmother； and is not a
fairy herself； because Berta is too tall for a real fairy。'
'She must be one； for when there was a notch burnt in the hem of my
pretty blue frock she said it should be gone in the morning if I
would go to bed and not cry； and in the morning it was gone； and all
nice and straight as new。'
Ethelberta was recalling to mind how she had sat up and repaired the
damage alluded to by cutting off half an inch of the skirt all round
and hemming it anew； when the breathing of the children became
regular； and they fell asleep。 Here were bright little minds ready
for a training； which without money and influence she could never
give them。 The wisdom which knowledge brings； and the power which
wisdom may bring； she had always assumed would be theirs in her
dreams for their social elevation。 By what means were these things
to be ensured to them if her skill in bread…winning should fail her？
Would not a well…contrived marriage be of service？ She covered and
tucked in one more closely； lifted another upon the pillow and
straightened the soft limbs to