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instead of the wrong was strange。 But it can be made to change
sideshee…hee！it can be made to change sides！ Tipman！'
Tipman came forward from the doorway。
'Will you take care that that piece of gossip you mentioned to me is
not repeated in this house？ I strongly disapprove of talebearing of
any sort； and wish to hear no more of this。 Such stories are never
true。 Answer medo you hear？ Such stories are never true。'
'I beg pardon； but I think your lordship will find this one true；'
said the valet quietly。
'Then where did she get her manners and education？ Do you know？'
'I do not； my lord。 I suppose she picked 'em up by her wits。'
'Never mind what you suppose；' said the old man impatiently。
'Whenever I ask a question of you tell me what you know； and no
more。'
'Quite so； my lord。 I beg your lordship's pardon for supposing。'
'H'm…h'm。 Have the fashion…books and plates arrived yet？'
'Le Follet has； my lord； but not the others。'
'Let me have it at once。 Always bring it to me at once。 Are there
any handsome ones this time？'
'They are much the same class of female as usual； I think； my lord；'
said Tipman； fetching the paper and laying it before him。
'Yes； they are；' said the viscount； leaning back and scrutinizing
the faces of the women one by one； and talking softly to himself in
a way that had grown upon him as his age increased。 'Yet they are
very well： that one with her shoulder turned is pure and charming
the brown…haired one will pass。 All very harmless and innocent； but
without character； no soul； or inspiration； or eloquence of eye。
What an eye was hers！ There is not a girl among them so beautiful。
。 。 。 Tipman！ Come and take it away。 I don't think I will
subscribe to these papers any longerhow long have I subscribed？
Never mindI take no interest in these things； and I suppose I must
give them up。 What white article is that I see on the floor
yonder？'
'I can see nothing； my lord。'
'Yes； yes； you can。 At the other end of the room。 It is a white
handkerchief。 Bring it to me。'
'I beg pardon； my lord； but I cannot see any white handkerchief。
Whereabouts does your lordship mean？'
'There in the corner。 If it is not a handkerchief； what is it？
Walk along till you come to itthat is it； now a little further
now your foot is against it。'
'O thatit is not anything。 It is the light reflected against the
skirting； so that it looks like a white patch of somethingthat is
all。'
'H'm…hm。 My eyeshow weak they are！ I am getting old； that's what
it is： I am an old man。'
'O no； my lord。'
'Yes； an old man。'
'Well； we shall all be old some day； and so will your lordship； I
suppose； but as yet'
'I tell you I am an old man！'
'Yes； my lordI did not mean to contradict。 An old man in one
senseold in a young man's sense； but not in a house…of…parliament
or historical sense。 A little oldishI meant that； my lord。'
'I may be an old man in one sense or in another sense in your mind；
but let me tell you there are men older than I'
'Yes； so there are； my lord。'
'People may call me what they please； and you may be impertinent
enough to repeat to me what they say； but let me tell you I am not a
very old man after all。 I am not an old man。'
'Old in knowledge of the world I meant； my lord； not in years。'
'Well； yes。 Experience of course I cannot be without。 And I like
what is beautiful。 Tipman； you must go to Knollsea； don't send； but
go yourself； as I wish nobody else to be concerned in this。 Go to
Knollsea； and find out when the steamboat for Cherbourg starts； and
when you have done that； I shall want you to send Taylor to me。 I
wish Captain Strong to bring the Fawn round into Knollsea Bay。 Next
week I may want you to go to Cherbourg in the yacht with meif the
Channel is pretty calmand then perhaps to Rouen and Paris。 But I
will speak of that to…morrow。'
'Very good； my lord。'
'Meanwhile I recommend that you and Mrs。 Menlove repeat nothing you
may have heard concerning the lady you just now spoke of。 Here is a
slight present for Mrs。 Menlove； and accept this for yourself。' He
handed money。
'Your lordship may be sure we will not；' the valet replied。
33。 THE ENGLISH CHANNEL … NORMANDY
On Monday morning the little steamer Speedwell made her appearance
round the promontory by Knollsea Bay； to take in passengers for the
transit to Cherbourg。 Breezes the freshest that could blow without
verging on keenness flew over the quivering deeps and shallows； and
the sunbeams pierced every detail of barrow； path and rabbit…run
upon the lofty convexity of down and waste which shut in Knollsea
from the world to the west。
They left the pier at eight o'clock； taking at first a short
easterly course to avoid a sinister ledge of limestones jutting from
the water like crocodile's teeth； which first obtained notoriety in
English history through being the spot whereon a formidable Danish
fleet went to pieces a thousand years ago。 At the moment that the
Speedwell turned to enter upon the direct course； a schooner…yacht；
whose sheets gleamed like bridal satin； loosed from a remoter part
of the bay； continuing to bear off； she cut across the steamer's
wake； and took a course almost due southerly； which was precisely
that of the Speedwell。 The wind was very favourable for the yacht；
blowing a few points from north in a steady pressure on her quarter；
and； having been built with every modern appliance that shipwrights
could offer； the schooner found no difficulty in getting abreast；
and even ahead； of the steamer； as soon as she had escaped the
shelter of the hills。
The more or less parallel courses of the vessels continued for some
time without causing any remark among the people on board the
Speedwell。 At length one noticed the fact； and another； and then it
became the general topic of conversation in the group upon the
bridge； where Ethelberta； her hair getting frizzed and her cheeks
carnationed by the wind； sat upon a camp…stool looking towards the
prow。
'She is bound for Guernsey；' said one。 'In half…an…hour she will
put about for a more westerly course； you'll see。'
'She is not for Guernsey or anywhere that way；' said an
acquaintance； looking through his glass。 'If she is out for
anything more than a morning cruise； she is bound for our port。 I
should not wonder if she is crossing to get stocked； as most of them
do； to save the duty on her wine and provisions。'
'Do you know whose yacht it is？'
'I do not。'
Ethelberta looked at the light leaning figure of the pretty
schooner； which seemed to skate along upon her bilge and make white
shavings of all the sea that touched her。 She at first imagined
that this might be the yacht Neigh had arrived in at the end of the
previous week； for she knew that he came as one of a yachting party；
and she had noticed no other boat of that sort in the bay since his
arrival。 But as all his party had gone ashore and not yet returned；
she was surprised to see the supposed vessel here。 To add to her
perplexity； she could not be positive； now that it came to a real
nautical query； whether the craft of Neigh's frien