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this juvenile was that of a Graeco…Roman satyr to the furthest
degree of completeness。 Viewed in front； the outer line of his
upper lip rose in a double arch nearly to his little round nostrils；
giving an expression of a jollity so delicious to himself as to
compel a perpetual drawing in of his breath。 During half…laughs his
lips parted in the middle； and remained closed at the corners； which
were small round pits like his nostrils； the same form being
repeated as dimples a little further back upon his cheek。 The
opening for each eye formed a sparkling crescent； both upper and
under lid having the convexity upwards。
But during some few days preceding the dinner…party at the
Doncastles' all this changed。 The luxuriant curves departed； a
compressed lineality was to be observed everywhere； the pupils of
his eyes seemed flattened； and the carriage of his head was limp and
sideways。 This was a feature so remarkable and new in him that
Picotee noticed it； and was lifted from the melancholy current of
her own affairs in contemplating his。
'Well； what's the matter？' said Picotee。
'Onothing；' said Joey。
'Nothing？ How can you say so？'
'The world's a holler mockerythat's what I say。'
'Yes； so it is； to some； but not to you；' said Picotee； sighing。
'Don't talk argument； Picotee。 I only hope you'll never feel what I
feel now。 If it wasn't for my juties here I know what I'd do； I'd
'list； that's what I'd do。 But having my position to fill here as
the only responsible man…servant in the house； I can't leave。'
'Has anybody been beating you？'
'Beating！ Do I look like a person who gets beatings？ No； it is a
madness；' said Joey； putting his hand upon his chest。 'The case is；
I am in love。'
'O Joey； a boy no bigger than you are！' said Picotee reprovingly。
Her personal interest in the passion； however； provoked her to
inquire； in the next breath； 'Who is it？ Do tell； Joey。'
'No bigger than I！ What hev bigness to do with it？ That's just
like your old…fashioned notions。 Bigness is no more wanted in
courting nowadays than in soldiering or smoking or any other duty of
man。 Husbands is rare； and a promising courter who means business
will fetch his price in these times； big or small； I assure ye。 I
might have been engaged a dozen times over as far as the bigness
goes。 You should see what a miserable little fellow my rival is
afore you talk like that。 Now you know I've got a rival； perhaps
you'll own there must be something in it。'
'Yes； that seems like the real thing。 But who is the young woman？'
'Well； I don't mind telling you； Picotee。 It is Mrs。 Doncastle's
new maid。 I called to see father last night； and had supper there；
and you should have seen how lovely she wereeating sparrowgrass
sideways； as if she were born to it。 But； of course； there's a
rivalthere always isI might have known that； and I will crush
him！'
'But Mrs。 Doncastle's new maidif that was she I caught a glimpse
of the other dayis ever so much older than youa dozen years。'
'What's that to a man in love？ PoohI wish you would leave me；
Picotee； I wants to be alone。'
A short time after this Picotee was in the company of Ethelberta；
and she took occasion to mention Joey's attachment。 Ethelberta grew
exceedingly angry directly she heard of it。
'What a fearful nuisance that boy is becoming；' she said。 'Does
father know anything of this？'
'I think not；' said Picotee。 'O no； he cannot； he would not allow
any such thing to go on； she is so much older than Joey。'
'I should think he wouldn't allow it！ The fact is I must be more
strict about this growing friendliness between you all and the
Doncastle servants。 There shall be absolutely no intimacy or
visiting of any sort。 When father wants to see any of you he must
come here； unless there is a most serious reason for your calling
upon him。 Some disclosure or reference to me otherwise than as your
mistress； will certainly be made else； and then I am ruined。 I will
speak to father myself about Joey's absurd nonsense this evening。 I
am going to see him on another matter。' And Ethelberta sighed。 'I
am to dine there on Thursday；' she added。
'To dine there； Berta？ Well； that is a strange thing！ Why； father
will be close to you！'
'Yes；' said Ethelberta quietly。
'How I should like to see you sitting at a grand dinner…table； among
lordly dishes and shining people； and father about the room
unnoticed！ Berta； I have never seen a dinner…party in my life； and
father said that I should some day； he promised me long ago。'
'How will he be able to carry out that； my dear child？' said
Ethelberta； drawing her sister gently to her side。
'Father says that for an hour and a half the guests are quite fixed
in the dining…room； and as unlikely to move as if they were trees
planted round the table。 Do let me go and see you； Berta；' Picotee
added coaxingly。 'I would give anything to see how you look in the
midst of elegant people talking and laughing； and you my own sister
all the time； and me looking on like puss…in…the…corner。'
Ethelberta could hardly resist the entreaty； in spite of her recent
resolution。
'We will leave that to be considered when I come home to…night；' she
said。 'I must hear what father says。'
After dark the same evening a woman； dressed in plain black and
wearing a hood； went to the servants' entrance of Mr。 Doncastle's
house； and inquired for Mr。 Chickerel。 Ethelberta found him in a
room by himself； and on entering she closed the door behind her； and
unwrapped her face。
'Can you sit with me a few minutes； father？' she said。
'Yes； for a quarter of an hour or so；' said the butler。 'Has
anything happened？ I thought it might be Picotee。'
'No。 All's well yet。 But I thought it best to see you upon one or
two matters which are harassing me a little just now。 The first is；
that stupid boy Joey has got entangled in some way with the lady's…
maid at this house； a ridiculous affair it must be by all account；
but it is too serious for me to treat lightly。 She will worm
everything out of him； and a pretty business it will be then。'
'God bless my soul！ why； the woman is old enough to be his mother！
I have never heard a sound of it till now。 What do you propose to
do？'
'I have hardly thought： I cannot tell at all。 But we will consider
that after I have done。 The next thing is； I am to dine here
Thursdaythat is； to…morrow。'
'You going to dine here； are you？' said her father in surprise。
'Dear me； that's news。 We have a dinner…party to…morrow； but I was
not aware that you knew our people。'
'I have accepted the invitation；' said Ethelberta。 'But if you
think I had better stay away； I will get out of it by some means。
Heavens！ what does that meanwill anybody come in？' she added；
rapidly pulling up her hood and jumping from the seat as the loud
tones of a bell clanged forth in startling proximity。
'O noit is all safe；' said her father。 'It is the area door
nothing to do with me。 About the dinner： I don't see why you may
not come。 Of course you will take no notice of me； nor shall I of
you。 It is to be rather a large party。 Lord