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perplexity； she could not be positive； now that it came to a real
nautical query； whether the craft of Neigh's friends had one mast or
two； for she had caught but a fragmentary view of the topsail over
the apple…trees。
'Is that the yacht which has been lying at Knollsea for the last few
days？' she inquired of the master of the Speedwell； as soon as she
had an opportunity。
The master warmed beneath his copper…coloured rind。 'O no； miss；
that one you saw was a cuttera smaller boat altogether；' he
replied。 'Built on the sliding…keel principle； you understand；
missand red below her water…line； if you noticed。 This is Lord
Mountclere's yachtthe Fawn。 You might have seen her re'ching in
round Old…Harry Rock this morning afore we started。'
'Lord Mountclere's？'
'Yesa nobleman of this neighbourhood。 But he don't do so much at
yachting as he used to in his younger days。 I believe he's aboard
this morning； however。'
Ethelberta now became more absorbed than ever in their ocean
comrade； and watched its motions continually。 The schooner was
considerably in advance of them by this time； and seemed to be
getting by degrees out of their course。 She wondered if Lord
Mountclere could be really going to Cherbourg： if so； why had he
said nothing about the trip to her when she spoke of her own
approaching voyage thither？ The yacht changed its character in her
eyes； losing the indefinite interest of the unknown； it acquired the
charm of a riddle on motives； of which the alternatives were； had
Lord Mountclere's journey anything to do with her own； or had it
not？ Common probability pointed to the latter supposition； but the
time of starting； the course of the yacht； and recollections of Lord
Mountclere's homage； suggested the more extraordinary possibility。
She went across to Cornelia。 'The man who handed us on board
didn't I see him speaking to you this morning？' she said。
'O yes；' said Cornelia。 'He asked if my mistress was the popular
Mrs。 Petherwin？
'And you told him； I suppose？'
'Yes。'
'What made you do that； Cornelia？'
'I thought I might： I couldn't help it。 When I went through the
toll…gate； such a gentlemanly…looking man asked me if he should help
me to carry the things to the end of the pier； and as we went on
together he said he supposed me to be Mrs。 Petherwin's maid。 I
said； 〃Yes。〃 The two men met afterwards； so there would ha' been no
good in my denying it to one of 'em。'
'Who was this gentlemanly person？'
'I asked the other man that； and he told me one of Lord Mountclere's
upper servants。 I knew then there was no harm in having been civil
to him。 He is well…mannered； and talks splendid language。'
'That yacht you see on our right hand is Lord Mountclere's property。
If I do not mistake； we shall have her closer by…and…by； and you may
meet your gentlemanly friend again。 Be careful how you talk to
him。'
Ethelberta sat down； thought of the meeting at Corvsgate Castle； of
the dinner…party at Mr。 Doncastle's； of the strange position she had
there been in； and then of her father。 She suddenly reproached
herself for thoughtlessness； for in her pocket lay a letter from
him； which she had taken from the postman that morning at the moment
of coming from the door； and in the hurry of embarking had forgotten
ever since。 Opening it quickly； she read：
'MY DEAR ETHELBERTA；Your letter reached me yesterday； and I called
round at Exonbury Crescent in the afternoon； as you wished。
Everything is going on right there； and you have no occasion to be
anxious about them。 I do not leave town for another week or two；
and by the time I am gone Sol and Dan will have returned from Paris；
if your mother and Gwendoline want any help： so that you need not
hurry back on their account。
'I have something else to tell you； which is not quite so
satisfactory； and it is this that makes me write at once； but do not
be alarmed。 It began in this way。 A few nights after the dinner…
party here I was determined to find out if there was any truth in
what you had been told about that boy； and having seen Menlove go
out as usual after dark； I followed her。 Sure enough； when she had
got into the park； up came master Joe； smoking a cigar。 As soon as
they had met I went towards them； and Menlove； seeing somebody draw
nigh； began to edge off； when the blockhead said； 〃Never mind； my
love； it is only the old man。〃 Being very provoked with both of
them； though she was really the most to blame； I gave him some smart
cuts across the shoulders with my cane； and told him to go home；
which he did with a flea in his ear； the rascal。 I believe I have
cured his courting tricks for some little time。
'Well； Menlove then walked by me； quite cool； as if she were merely
a lady passing by chance at the time； which provoked me still more；
knowing the whole truth of it； and I could not help turning upon her
and saying； 〃You； madam； ought to be served the same way。〃 She
replied in very haughty words； and I walked away； saying that I had
something better to do than argue with a woman of her character at
that hour of the evening。 This so set her up that she followed me
home； marched into my pantry； and told me that if I had been more
careful about my manners in calling her a bad character； it might
have been better both for me and my stuck…up daughtera daw in
eagle's plumesand so on。 Now it seems that she must have coaxed
something out of Joey about youfor what lad in the world could be
a match for a woman of her experience and arts！ I hope she will do
you no serious damage； but I tell you the whole state of affairs
exactly as they are； that you may form your own opinions。 After
all； there is no real disgrace； for none of us have ever done wrong；
but have worked honestly for a living。 However； I will let you know
if anything serious really happens。'
This was all that her father said on the matter； the letter
concluding with messages to the children and directions from their
mother with regard to their clothes。
Ethelberta felt very distinctly that she was in a strait； the old
impression that； unless her position were secured soon； it never
would be secured； returned with great force。 A doubt whether it was
worth securing would have been very strong ere this； had not others
besides herself been concerned in her fortunes。 She looked up from
her letter； and beheld the pertinacious yacht； it led her up to a
conviction that therein lay a means and an opportunity。
Nothing further of importance occurred in crossing。 Ethelberta's
head ached after a while； and Cornelia's healthy cheeks of red were
found to have diminished their colour to the size of a wafer and the
quality of a stain。 The Speedwell entered the breakwater at
Cherbourg to find the schooner already in the roadstead； and by the
time the steamer was brought up Ethelberta could see the men on
board the yacht clewing up and making things snug in a way from
which she inferred that they were not going to leave the harbour
again that day。 With the aspect of a fair galleon that could easily
out…manoeuvre her persevering buccaneer； Ethelberta passed
alongside。 Could it