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between them。 Picotee's thoughts had turned to the proposed visit
to Knollsea； and Joey was sulky under disappointment and the blank
of thwarted purposes。
30。 ON THE HOUSETOP
'Picotee； are you asleep？' Ethelberta whispered softly at dawn the
next morning； by the half…opened door of her sister's bedroom。
'No； I keep waking； it is so warm。'
'So do I。 Suppose we get up and see the sun rise。 The east is
filling with flame。'
'Yes； I should like it；' said Picotee。
The restlessness which had brought Ethelberta hither in slippers and
dressing…gown at such an early hour owed its origin to another cause
than the warmth of the weather； but of that she did not speak as
yet。 Picotee's room was an attic； with windows in the roofa
chamber dismal enough at all times； and very shadowy now。 While
Picotee was wrapping up； Ethelberta placed a chair under the window；
and mounting upon this they stepped outside； and seated themselves
within the parapet。
The air was as clear and fresh as on a mountain side； sparrows
chattered； and birds of a species unsuspected at later hours could
be heard singing in the park hard by； while here and there on ridges
and flats a cat might be seen going calmly home from the devilries
of the night to resume the amiabilities of the day。
'I am so sorry I was asleep when you reached home；' said Picotee。
'I was so anxious to tell you something I heard of； and to know what
you did； but my eyes would shut； try as I might； and then I tried no
longer。 Did you see me at all； Berta？'
'Never once。 I had an impression that you were there。 I fancied
you were from father's carefully vacuous look whenever I glanced at
his face。 But were you careful about what you said； and did you see
Menlove？ I felt all the time that I had done wrong in letting you
come； the gratification to you was not worth the risk to me。'
'I saw her； and talked to her。 But I am certain she suspected
nothing。 I enjoyed myself very much； and there was no risk at all。'
'I am glad it is no worse news。 However； you must not go there
again： upon that point I am determined。'
'It was a good thing I did go； all the same。 I'll tell you why when
you have told me what happened to you。'
'Nothing of importance happened to me。'
'I expect you got to know the lord you were to meet？'
'O yesLord Mountclere。'
'And it's dreadful how fond he is of youquite ridiculously taken
up with youI saw that well enough。 Such an old man； too； I
wouldn't have him for the world！'
'Don't jump at conclusions so absurdly； Picotee。 Why wouldn't you
have him for the world？'
'Because he is old enough to be my grandfather； and yours too。'
'Indeed he is not； he is only middle…aged。'
'O Berta！ Sixty…five at least。'
'He may or may not be that； and if he is； it is not old。 He is so
entertaining that one forgets all about age in connection with him。'
'He laughs like this〃Hee…hee…hee！〃' Picotee introduced as much
antiquity into her face as she could by screwing it up and suiting
the action to the word。
'This very odd thing occurred；' said Ethelberta； to get Picotee off
the track of Lord Mountclere's peculiarities； as it seemed。 'I was
saying to Mr。 Neigh that we were going to Knollsea for a time；
feeling that he would not be likely to know anything about such an
out…of…the…way place； when Lord Mountclere； who was near； said； 〃I
shall be at Enckworth Court in a few days； probably at the time you
are at Knollsea。 The Imperial Archaeological Association holds its
meetings in that part of Wessex this season； and Corvsgate Castle；
near Knollsea； is one of the places on our list。〃 Then he hoped I
should be able to attend。 Did you ever hear anything so strange？
Now； I should like to attend very much； not on Lord Mountclere's
account； but because such gatherings are interesting； and I have
never been to one； yet there is this to be considered； would it be
right for me to go without a friend to such a place？ Another point
is； that we shall live in menagerie style at Knollsea for the sake
of the children； and we must do it economically in case we accept
Aunt Charlotte's invitation to Rouen； hence； if he or his friends
find us out there it will be awkward for me。 So the alternative is
Knollsea or some other place for us。'
'Let it be Knollsea； now we have once settled it；' said Picotee
anxiously。 'I have mentioned to Faith Julian that we shall be
there。'
'Mentioned it already！ You must have written instantly。'
'I had a few minutes to spare； and I thought I might as well write。'
'Very well； we will stick to Knollsea；' said Ethelberta； half in
doubt。 'Yesotherwise it will be difficult to see about aunt's
baptismal certificate。 We will hope nobody will take the trouble to
pry into our household。 。 。 。 And now； Picotee； I want to ask you
somethingsomething very serious。 How would you like me to marry
Mr。 Neigh？'
Ethelberta could not help laughing with a faint shyness as she asked
the question under the searching east ray。 'He has asked me to
marry him；' she continued； 'and I want to know what you would say to
such an arrangement。 I don't mean to imply that the event is
certain to take place； but； as a mere supposition； what do you say
to it； Picotee？' Ethelberta was far from putting this matter before
Picotee for advice or opinion； but； like all people who have an
innate dislike to hole…and…corner policy； she felt compelled to
speak of it to some one。
'I should not like him for you at all；' said Picotee vehemently。 'I
would rather you had Mr。 Ladywell。'
'O； don't name him！'
'I wouldn't have Mr。 Neigh at any price； nevertheless。 It is about
him that I was going to tell you。' Picotee proceeded to relate
Menlove's account of the story of Ethelberta's escapade； which had
been dragged from Neigh the previous evening by the friend to whom
he had related it before he was so enamoured of Ethelberta as to
regard that performance as a positive virtue in her。 'Nobody was
told； or even suspected； who the lady of the anecdote was；' Picotee
concluded； 'but I knew instantly； of course； and I think it very
unfortunate that we ever went to that dreadful ghostly estate of
his； Berta。'
Ethelberta's face heated with mortification。 She had no fear that
Neigh had told names or other particulars which might lead to her
identification by any friend of his； and she could make allowance
for bursts of confidence； but there remained the awkward fact that
he himself knew her to be the heroine of the episode。 What annoyed
her most was that Neigh could ever have looked upon her indiscretion
as a humorous incident； which he certainly must have done at some
time or other to account for his telling it。 Had he been angry with
her； or sneered at her for going； she could have forgiven him； but
to see her manoeuvre in the light of a joke； to use it as
illustrating his grim theory of womankind； and neither to like nor
to dislike her the more for it from first to last； this was to treat
her with a cynicism which was intolerable。 That Neigh's use of the
incident as a stock anecdote ceased long before he had decided to
ask her to marry him she