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own me； after safely bringing you over those weary hills？' But the
pride and emulation which had made her what she was would not permit
her； as the most lovely woman there； to take upon her own shoulders
the ridicule that had already been cast upon the ass。 Had he been
young and gaily caparisoned； she might have done it； but his age；
the clumsy trappings of rustic make； and his needy woful look of
hard servitude； were too much to endure。
'Many come and picnic here；' she said serenely； 'and the animal may
have been left till they return from some walk。'
'True；' said Lord Mountclere； without the slightest suspicion of the
truth。 The humble ass hung his head in his usual manner； and it
demanded little fancy from Ethelberta to imagine that he despised
her。 And then her mind flew back to her history and extraction； to
her fatherperhaps at that moment inventing a private plate…powder
in an underground pantryand with a groan at her inconsistency in
being ashamed of the ass； she said in her heart； 'My God； what a
thing am I！'
They then all moved on to another part of the castle； the viscount
busying himself round and round her person like the head scraper at
a pig…killing； and as they went indiscriminately mingled； jesting
lightly or talking in earnest； she beheld ahead of her the form of
Neigh among the rest。
Now； there could only be one reason on earth for Neigh's presence
her remark that she might attendfor Neigh took no more interest in
antiquities than in the back of the moon。 Ethelberta was a little
flurried； perhaps he had come to scold her； or to treat her badly in
that indefinable way of his by which he could make a woman feel as
nothing without any direct act at all。 She was afraid of him； and；
determining to shun him； was thankful that Lord Mountclere was near；
to take off the edge of Neigh's manner towards her if he approached。
'Do you know in what part of the ruins the lecture is to be given？'
she said to the viscount。
'Wherever you like；' he replied gallantly。 'Do you propose a place；
and I will get Dr。 Yore to adopt it。 Say； shall it be here； or
where they are standing？'
How could Ethelberta refrain from exercising a little power when it
was put into her hands in this way？
'Let it be here；' she said； 'if it makes no difference to the
meeting。'
'It shall be；' said Lord Mountclere。
And then the lively old nobleman skipped like a roe to the President
and to Dr。 Yore； who was to read the paper on the castle； and they
soon appeared coming back to where the viscount's party and
Ethelberta were beginning to seat themselves。 The bulk of the
company followed； and Dr。 Yore began。
He must have had a countenance of leatheras； indeed； from his
colour he appeared to haveto stand unmoved in his position； and
read； and look up to give explanations； without a change of muscle；
under the dozens of bright eyes that were there converged upon him；
like the sticks of a fan； from the ladies who sat round him in a
semicircle upon the grass。 However； he went on calmly； and the
women sheltered themselves from the heat with their umbrellas and
sunshades； their ears lulled by the hum of insects； and by the drone
of the doctor's voice。 The reader buzzed on with the history of the
castle； tracing its development from a mound with a few earthworks
to its condition in Norman times； he related monkish marvels
connected with the spot； its resistance under Matilda to Stephen；
its probable shape while a residence of King John； and the sad story
of the Damsel of Brittany； sister of his victim Arthur； who was
confined here in company with the two daughters of Alexander； king
of Scotland。 He went on to recount the confinement of Edward II。
herein； previous to his murder at Berkeley； the gay doings in the
reign of Elizabeth； and so downward through time to the final
overthrow of the stern old pile。 As he proceeded； the lecturer
pointed with his finger at the various features appertaining to the
date of his story； which he told with splendid vigour when he had
warmed to his work； till his narrative； particularly in the
conjectural and romantic parts； where it became coloured rather by
the speaker's imagination than by the pigments of history； gathered
together the wandering thoughts of all。 It was easy for him then to
meet those fair concentred eyes； when the sunshades were thrown
back； and complexions forgotten； in the interest of the history。
The doctor's face was then no longer criticized as a rugged boulder；
a dried fig； an oak carving； or a walnut shell； but became blotted
out like a mountain top in a shining haze by the nebulous pictures
conjured by his tale。
Then the lecture ended； and questions were asked； and individuals of
the company wandered at will； the light dresses of the ladies
sweeping over the hot grass and brushing up thistledown which had
hitherto lain quiescent； so that it rose in a flight from the skirts
of each like a comet's tail。
Some of Lord Mountclere's party； including himself and Ethelberta；
wandered now into a cool dungeon； partly open to the air overhead；
where long arms of ivy hung between their eyes and the white sky。
While they were here； Lady Jane Joy and some other friends of the
viscount told Ethelberta that they were probably coming on to
Knollsea。
She instantly perceived that getting into close quarters in that way
might be very inconvenient； considering the youngsters she had under
her charge； and straightway decided upon a point that she had
debated for several daysa visit to her aunt in Normandy。 In
London it had been a mere thought； but the Channel had looked so
tempting from its brink that the journey was virtually fixed as soon
as she reached Knollsea； and found that a little pleasure steamer
crossed to Cherbourg once a week during the summer； so that she
would not have to enter the crowded routes at all。
'I am afraid I shall not see you in Knollsea；' she said。 'I am
about to go to Cherbourg and then to Rouen。'
'How sorry I am。 When do you leave？'
'At the beginning of next week；' said Ethelberta； settling the time
there and then。
'Did I hear you say that you were going to Cherbourg and Rouen？'
Lord Mountclere inquired。
'I think to do so；' said Ethelberta。
'I am going to Normandy myself；' said a voice behind her； and
without turning she knew that Neigh was standing there。
They next went outside； and Lord Mountclere offered Ethelberta his
arm on the ground of assisting her down the burnished grass slope。
Ethelberta； taking pity upon him； took it； but the assistance was
all on her side； she stood like a statue amid his slips and
totterings； some of which taxed her strength heavily； and her
ingenuity more； to appear as the supported and not the supporter。
The incident brought Neigh still further from his retirement； and
she learnt that he was one of a yachting party which had put in at
Knollsea that morning； she was greatly relieved to find that he was
just now on his way to London； whence he would probably proceed on
his journey abroad。
Ethelberta adhered as well as she could to her resolve that Neigh
should not speak with her alone； but by dint