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was larger still。 Her mind and eye were so occupied with this
matter that； sitting in her nook； she did not observe a thin young
man； his boots white with the dust of a long journey on foot； who
arrived at the castle by the valley…road from Knollsea。 He looked
awhile at the ruin； and； skirting its flank instead of entering by
the great gateway； climbed up the scarp and walked in through a
breach。 After standing for a moment among the walls； now silent and
apparently empty； with a disappointed look he descended the slope；
and proceeded along on his way。
Ethelberta； who was in quite another part of the castle； saw the
black spot diminishing to the size of a fly as he receded along the
dusty road； and soon after she descended on the other side； where
she remounted the ass； and ambled homeward as she had come； in no
bright mood。 What； seeing the precariousness of her state； was the
day's triumph worth after all； unless； before her beauty abated； she
could ensure her position against the attacks of chance？
'To be thus is nothing；
But to be safely thus。'
she said it more than once on her journey that day。
On entering the sitting…room of their cot up the hill she found it
empty； and from a change perceptible in the position of small
articles of furniture； something unusual seemed to have taken place
in her absence。 The dwelling being of that sort in which whatever
goes on in one room is audible through all the rest； Picotee； who
was upstairs； heard the arrival and came down。 Picotee's face was
rosed over with the brilliance of some excitement。 'What do you
think I have to tell you； Berta？' she said。
'I have no idea；' said her sister。 'Surely；' she added； her face
intensifying to a wan sadness； 'Mr。 Julian has not been here？'
'Yes；' said Picotee。 'And we went down to the sandshe； and
Myrtle； and Georgina； and Emmeline； and Iand Cornelia came down
when she had put away the dinner。 And then we dug wriggles out of
the sand with Myrtle's spade： we got such a lot； and had such fun；
they are in a dish in the kitchen。 Mr。 Julian came to see you； but
at last he could wait no longer； and when I told him you were at the
meeting in the castle ruins he said he would try to find you there
on his way home； if he could get there before the meeting broke up。'
'Then it was he I saw far away on the roadyes； it must have been。'
She remained in gloomy reverie a few moments； and then said； 'Very
welllet it be。 Picotee； get me some tea： I do not want dinner。'
But the news of Christopher's visit seemed to have taken away her
appetite for tea also； and after sitting a little while she flung
herself down upon the couch； and told Picotee that she had settled
to go and see their aunt Charlotte。
'I am going to write to Sol and Dan to ask them to meet me there；'
she added。 'I want them； if possible； to see Paris。 It will
improve them greatly in their trades； I am thinking； if they can see
the kinds of joinery and decoration practised in France。 They
agreed to go； if I should wish it； before we left London。 You； of
course； will go as my maid。'
Picotee gazed upon the sea with a crestfallen look； as if she would
rather not cross it in any capacity just then。
'It would scarcely be worth going to the expense of taking me； would
it？' she said。
The cause of Picotee's sudden sense of economy was so plain that her
sister smiled； but young love； however foolish； is to a thinking
person far too tragic a power for ridicule； and Ethelberta forbore；
going on as if Picotee had not spoken： 'I must have you with me。 I
may be seen there： so many are passing through Rouen at this time
of the year。 Cornelia can take excellent care of the children while
we are gone。 I want to get out of England； and I will get out of
England。 There is nothing but vanity and vexation here。'
'I am sorry you were away when he called；' said Picotee gently。
'O； I don't mean that。 I wish there were no different ranks in the
world； and that contrivance were not a necessary faculty to have at
all。 Well； we are going to cross by the little steamer that puts in
here； and we are going on Monday。' She added in another minute；
'What had Mr。 Julian to tell us that he came here？ How did he find
us out？'
'I mentioned that we were coming here in my letter to Faith。 Mr。
Julian says that perhaps he and his sister may also come for a few
days before the season is over。 I should like to see Miss Julian
again。 She is such a nice girl。'
'Yes。' Ethelberta played with her hair； and looked at the ceiling
as she reclined。 'I have decided after all；' she said； 'that it
will be better to take Cornelia as my maid； and leave you here with
the children。 Cornelia is stronger as a companion than you； and she
will be delighted to go。 Do you think you are competent to keep
Myrtle and Georgina out of harm's way？'
'O yesI will be exceedingly careful；' said Picotee； with great
vivacity。 'And if there is time I can go on teaching them a
little。' Then Picotee caught Ethelberta's eye； and colouring red；
sank down beside her sister； whispering； 'I know why it is！ But if
you would rather have me with you I will go； and not once wish to
stay。'
Ethelberta looked as if she knew all about that； and said； 'Of
course there will be no necessity to tell the Julians about my
departure until they have fixed the time for coming； and cannot
alter their minds。'
The sound of the children with Cornelia； and their appearance
outside the window； pushing between the fuchsia bushes which
overhung the path； put an end to this dialogue； they entered armed
with buckets and spades； a very moist and sandy aspect pervading
them as far up as the high…water mark of their clothing； and began
to tell Ethelberta of the wonders of the deep。
32。 A ROOM IN ENCKWORTH COURT
'Are you sure the report is true？'
'I am sure that what I say is true； my lord； but it is hardly to be
called a report。 It is a secret； known at present to nobody but
myself and Mrs。 Doncastle's maid。'
The speaker was Lord Mountclere's trusty valet； and the conversation
was between him and the viscount in a dressing…room at Enckworth
Court； on the evening after the meeting of archaeologists at
Corvsgate Castle。
'H'm…h'm； the daughter of a butler。 Does Mrs。 Doncastle know of
this yet； or Mr。 Neigh； or any of their friends？'
'No； my lord。'
'You are quite positive？'
'Quite positive。 I was； by accident； the first that Mrs。 Menlove
named the matter to； and I told her it might be much to her
advantage if she took particular care it should go no further。'
'Mrs。 Menlove！ Who's she？'
'The lady's…maid at Mrs。 Doncastle's； my lord。'
'O； ahof course。 You may leave me now； Tipman。' Lord Mountclere
remained in thought for a moment。 'A clever little puss； to
hoodwink us all like thishee…hee！' he murmured。 'Her education
how finished； and her beautyso seldom that I meet with such a
woman。 Cut down my elms to please a butler's daughterwhat a joke…
…certainly a good joke！ To interest me in her on the right side
instead of the wrong was strange。 But it can be made to change
sideshee…hee