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to hear that your star is higher than mine。'
Before Neigh could make further reply Ladywell was attracted by the
glow of green sunlight reflected through the south door by the grass
of the churchyard； now in all its spring freshness and luxuriance。
He bent his steps thither； followed anxiously by Neigh。
'I had no idea there was such a lovely green spot in the city；'
Ladywell continued； passing out。 'Trees too； planted in the manner
of an orchard。 What a charming place！'
The place was truly charming just at that date。 The untainted
leaves of the lime and plane trees and the newly…sprung grass had in
the sun a brilliancy of beauty that was brought into extraordinary
prominence by the sable soil showing here and there； and the
charcoaled stems and trunks out of which the leaves budded： they
seemed an importation； not a produce； and their delicacy such as
would perish in a day。
'What is this round tower？' Ladywell said again； walking towards the
iron…grey bastion； partly covered with ivy and Virginia creeper；
which stood obtruding into the enclosure。
'O； didn't you know that was here？ That's a piece of the old city
wall；' said Neigh； looking furtively around at the same time。
Behind the bastion the churchyard ran into a long narrow strip；
grassed like the other part； but completely hidden from it by the
cylinder of ragged masonry。 On rounding this projection； Ladywell
beheld within a few feet of him a lady whom he knew too well。
'Mrs。 Petherwin here！' exclaimed he； proving how ignorant he had
been of the composition of the party he was to meet； and accounting
at the same time for his laxity in attending it。
'I forgot to tell you；' said Neigh awkwardly； behind him； 'that Mrs。
Petherwin was to come with us。'
Ethelberta's look was somewhat blushful and agitated； as if from
some late transaction： she appeared to have been secluding herself
there till she should have recovered her equanimity。 However； she
came up to him and said； 'I did not see you before this moment： we
had been thinking you would not come。'
While these words were being prettily spoken； Ladywell's face became
pale as death。 On Ethelberta's bosom were the stem and green calyx
of a rose； almost all its flower having disappeared。 It had been a
Harlequin rose； for two or three of its striped leaves remained to
tell the tale。
She could not help noticing his fixed gaze； and she said quickly；
'Yes； I have lost my pretty rose： this may as well go now；' and she
plucked the stem from its fastening in her dress and flung it away。
Poor Ladywell turned round to meet Mr。 and Mrs。 Belmaine； whose
voices were beginning to be heard just within the church door；
leaving Neigh and Ethelberta together。 It was a graceful act of
young Ladywell's that； in the midst of his own pain at the strange
tale the rose…leaves suggestedNeigh's rivalry； Ethelberta's
mutability； his own defeathe was not regardless of the intense
embarrassment which might have been caused had he remained。
The two were silent at first； and it was evident that Ethelberta's
mood was one of anger at something that had gone before。 She turned
aside from him to follow the others； when Neigh spoke in a tone
somewhat bitter and somewhat stern。
'Whatgoing like that！ After being compromised together； why don't
you close with me？ Ladywell knows all： I had already told him that
the rose…leaves were given me by my intended wife。 We seem to him
to be practising deceptions all of a piece； and what folly it is to
play off so！ As to what I did； that I ask your forgiveness for。'
Ethelberta looked upon the ground and maintained a compressed lip。
Neigh resumed： 'If I showed more feeling than you care for； I
insist that it was not more than was natural under the
circumstances； if not quite proper。 Opinions may differ； but my
experience goes to prove that conventional squeamishness at such
times as these is more talked and written about than practised。
Plain behaviour must be expected when marriage is the question。
Nevertheless； I do sayand I cannot say morethat I am sincerely
sorry to have offended you by exceeding my privileges。 I will never
do so again。'
'Don't say privileges。 You have none。'
'I am sorry that I thought otherwise； and that others will think so
too。 Ladywell is； at any rate； bent on thinking so。 。 。 。 It might
have been made known to him in a gentle waybut God disposes。'
'There is nothing to make knownI don't understand；' said
Ethelberta； going from him。
By this time Ladywell had walked round the gravel walks with the two
other ladies and Mr。 Belmaine； and they were all turning to come
back again。 The young painter had deputed his voice to reply to
their remarks； but his understanding continued poring upon other
things。 When he came up to Ethelberta； his agitation had left him：
she too was free from constraint； while Neigh was some distance off；
carefully examining nothing in particular in an old fragment of
wall。
The little party was now united again as to its persons； though in
spirit far otherwise。 They went through the church in general talk；
Ladywell sad but serene； and Ethelberta keeping far…removed both
from him and from Neigh。 She had at this juncture entered upon that
Sphinx…like stage of existence in which； contrary to her earlier
manner； she signified to no one of her ways； plans； or sensations；
and spoke little on any subject at all。 There were occasional
smiles now which came only from the face； and speeches from the lips
merely。
The journey home was performed as they had come； Ladywell not
accepting the seat in Neigh's cab which was phlegmatically offered
him。 Mrs。 Doncastle's acquaintance with Ethelberta had been slight
until this day； but the afternoon's proceeding had much impressed
the matron with her younger friend。 Before they parted she said；
with the sort of affability which is meant to signify the beginning
of permanent friendship： 'A friend of my husband's； Lord
Mountclere； has been anxious for some time to meet you。 He is a
great admirer of the poems； and more still of the story…telling
invention； and your power in it。 He has been present many times at
the Mayfair Hall to hear you。 When will you dine with us to meet
him？ I know you will like him。 Will Thursday be convenient？'
Ethelberta stood for a moment reflecting； and reflecting hoped that
Mrs。 Doncastle had not noticed her momentary perplexity。 Crises
were becoming as common with her as blackberries； and she had
foreseen this one a long time。 It was not that she was to meet Lord
Mountclere； for he was only a name and a distant profile to her： it
was that her father would necessarily be present at the meeting； in
the most anomalous position that human nature could endure。
However； having often proved in her disjointed experience that the
shortest way out of a difficulty lies straight through it；
Ethelberta decided to dine at the Doncastles'； and； as she murmured
that she should have great pleasure in meeting any friend of theirs；
set about contriving how the encounter with her dearest relative
might be made safe and unsuspected。 She bade them adieu blithe