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school； some family that we had known had their household broken up
when the father died； and that the children went away you didn't
know where？'
'Do you mean the Julians？'
'Yes； that was the name。'
'Why； of course you know it was the Julians。 Young Julian had a day
or two's fancy for you one summer； had he not？just after you came
to us； at the same time； or just before it； that my poor boy and you
were so desperately attached to each other。'
'O yes； I recollect；' said Ethelberta。 'And he had a sister； I
think。 I wonder where they went to live after the family collapse。'
'I do not know；' said Lady Petherwin； taking up another sheet of
paper。 'I have a dim notion that the son； who had been brought up
to no profession； became a teacher of music in some country town
music having always been his hobby。 But the facts are not very
distinct in my memory。' And she dipped her pen for another letter。
Ethelberta； with a rather fallen countenance； then left her mother…
in…law； and went where all ladies are supposed to go when they want
to torment their minds in comfortto her own room。 Here she
thoughtfully sat down awhile； and some time later she rang for her
maid。
'Menlove；' she said； without looking towards a rustle and half a
footstep that had just come in at the door； but leaning back in her
chair and speaking towards the corner of the looking…glass； 'will
you go down and find out if any gentleman named Julian has been
staying in this house？ Get to know it； I mean； Menlove； not by
directly inquiring； you have ways of getting to know things； have
you not？ If the devoted George were here now； he would help'
'George was nothing to me； ma'am。'
'James； then。'
'And I only had James for a week or ten days： when I found he was a
married man； I encouraged his addresses very little indeed。'
'If you had encouraged him heart and soul； you couldn't have fumed
more at the loss of him。 But please to go and make that inquiry；
will you； Menlove？'
In a few minutes Ethelberta's woman was back again。 'A gentleman of
that name stayed here last night； and left this afternoon。'
'Will you find out his address？'
Now the lady's…maid had already been quick…witted enough to find out
that； and indeed all about him； but it chanced that a fashionable
illustrated weekly paper had just been sent from the bookseller's；
and being in want of a little time to look it over before it reached
her mistress's hands； Mrs。 Menlove retired； as if to go and ask the
questionto stand meanwhile under the gas…lamp in the passage；
inspecting the fascinating engravings。 But as time will not wait
for tire…women； a natural length of absence soon elapsed； and she
returned again and said；
'His address is； Upper Street； Sandbourne。'
'Thank you； that will do；' replied her mistress。
The hour grew later； and that dreamy period came round when ladies'
fancies； that have lain shut up close as their fans during the day；
begin to assert themselves anew。 At this time a good guess at
Ethelberta's thoughts might have been made from her manner of
passing the minutes away。 Instead of reading； entering notes in her
diary； or doing any ordinary thing； she walked to and fro； curled
her pretty nether lip within her pretty upper one a great many
times； made a cradle of her locked fingers； and paused with fixed
eyes where the walls of the room set limits upon her walk to look at
nothing but a picture within her mind。
2。 CHRISTOPHER'S HOUSE … SANDBOURNE TOWN … SANDBOURNE MOOR
During the wet autumn of the same year； the postman passed one
morning as usual into a plain street that ran through the less
fashionable portion of Sandbourne； a modern coast town and watering…
place not many miles from the ancient Anglebury。 He knocked at the
door of a flat…faced brick house； and it was opened by a slight；
thoughtful young man； with his hat on； just then coming out。 The
postman put into his hands a book packet； addressed； 'Christopher
Julian； Esq。'
Christopher took the package upstairs； opened it with curiosity； and
discovered within a green volume of poems； by an anonymous writer；
the title…page bearing the inscription； 'Metres by E。' The book was
new； though it was cut； and it appeared to have been looked into。
The young man； after turning it over and wondering where it came
from； laid it on the table and went his way； being in haste to
fulfil his engagements for the day。
In the evening； on returning home from his occupations； he sat
himself down cosily to read the newly…arrived volume。 The winds of
this uncertain season were snarling in the chimneys； and drops of
rain spat themselves into the fire； revealing plainly that the young
man's room was not far enough from the top of the house to admit of
a twist in the flue； and revealing darkly a little more； if that
social rule…of…three inverse； the higher in lodgings the lower in
pocket； were applicable here。 However； the aspect of the room；
though homely； was cheerful； a somewhat contradictory group of
furniture suggesting that the collection consisted of waifs and
strays from a former home； the grimy faces of the old articles
exercising a curious and subduing effect on the bright faces of the
new。 An oval mirror of rococo workmanship； and a heavy cabinet…
piano with a cornice like that of an Egyptian temple； adjoined a
harmonium of yesterday； and a harp that was almost as new。 Printed
music of the last century； and manuscript music of the previous
evening； lay there in such quantity as to endanger the tidiness of a
retreat which was indeed only saved from a chronic state of litter
by a pair of hands that sometimes played； with the lightness of
breezes； about the sewing…machine standing in a remote cornerif
any corner could be called remote in a room so small。
Fire lights and shades from the shaking flames struck in a butterfly
flutter on the underparts of the mantelshelf； and upon the reader's
cheek as he sat。 Presently； and all at once； a much greater
intentness pervaded his face： he turned back again； and read anew
the subject that had arrested his eyes。 He was a man whose
countenance varied with his mood； though it kept somewhat in the
rear of that mood。 He looked sad when he felt almost serene； and
only serene when he felt quite cheerful。 It is a habit people
acquire who have had repressing experiences。
A faint smile and flush now lightened his face； and jumping up he
opened the door and exclaimed； 'Faith！ will you come here for a
moment？'
A prompt step was heard on the stairs； and the young person
addressed as Faith entered the room。 She was small in figure； and
bore less in the form of her features than in their shades when
changing from expression to expression the evidence that she was his
sister。
'FaithI want your opinion。 But； stop； read this first。' He laid
his finger upon a page in the book； and placed it in her hand。
The girl drew from her pocket a little green…leather sheath； worn at
the edges to whity…brown； and out of that a pair of spectacles；
unconsciously looking round the room for a moment as she did so； as
if to ensure that no stranger saw her in the