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hotel： it would be extremely embarrassing if he should go there。
'Where do you stay； Lord Mountclere？' she said。
Thus directly asked； he could not but commit himself to the name of
the hotel he had been accustomed to patronize； which was one in the
upper part of the city。
'Mine is not that one；' said Ethelberta frigidly。
No further remark was made under this head； and they conversed for
the remainder of the daylight on scenery and other topics； Lord
Mountclere's air of festivity lending him all the qualities of an
agreeable companion。 But notwithstanding her resolve； Ethelberta
failed； for that day at least； to make her mind clear upon Lord
Mountclere's intentions。 To that end she would have liked first to
know what were the exact limits set by society to conduct under
present conditions； if society had ever set any at all； which was
open to question： since experience had long ago taught her that
much more freedom actually prevails in the communion of the sexes
than is put on paper as etiquette； or admitted in so many words as
correct behaviour。 In short； everything turned upon whether he had
learnt of her position when off the platform at Mayfair Hall。
Wearied with these surmises； and the day's travel； she closed her
eyes。 And then her enamoured companion more widely opened his； and
traced the beautiful features opposite him。 The arch of the brows
like a slur in musicthe droop of the lashes； the meeting of the
lips； and the sweet rotundity of the chinone by one； and all
together； they were adored； till his heart was like a retort full of
spirits of wine。
It was a warm evening； and when they arrived at their journey's end
distant thunder rolled behind heavy and opaque clouds。 Ethelberta
bade adieu to her attentive satellite； called to Cornelia； and
entered a cab； but before they reached the inn the thunder had
increased。 Then a cloud cracked into flame behind the iron spire of
the cathedral； showing in relief its black ribs and stanchions； as
if they were the bars of a blazing cresset held on high。
'Ah； we will clamber up there to…morrow；' said Ethelberta。
A wondrous stillness pervaded the streets of the city after this；
though it was not late； and their arrival at M。 Moulin's door was
quite an event for the quay。 No rain came； as they had expected；
and by the time they halted the western sky had cleared； so that the
newly…lit lamps on the quay； and the evening glow shining over the
river； inwove their harmonious rays as the warp and woof of one
lustrous tissue。 Before they had alighted there appeared from the
archway Madame Moulin in person； followed by the servants of the
hotel in a manner signifying that they did not receive a visitor
once a fortnight； though at that moment the clatter of sixty knives；
forks； and tongues was audible through an open window from the
adjoining dining…room； to the great interest of a group of idlers
outside。 Ethelberta had not seen her aunt since she last passed
through the town with Lady Petherwin； who then told her that this
landlady was the only respectable relative she seemed to have in the
world。
Aunt Charlotte's face was an English outline filled in with French
shades under the eyes； on the brows； and round the mouth； by the
natural effect of years； she resembled the British hostess as little
as well could be； no point in her causing the slightest suggestion
of drops taken for the stomach's sake。 Telling the two young women
she would gladly have met them at the station had she known the hour
of their arrival； she kissed them both without much apparent notice
of a difference in their conditions； indeed； seeming rather to
incline to Cornelia； whose country face and homely style of clothing
may have been more to her mind than Ethelberta's finished
travelling…dress； a class of article to which she appeared to be
well accustomed。 Her husband was at this time at the head of the
table…d'hote； and mentioning the fact as an excuse for his non…
appearance； she accompanied them upstairs。
After the strain of keeping up smiles with Lord Mountclere； the
rattle and shaking； and the general excitements of the chase across
the water and along the rail； a face in which she saw a dim reflex
of her mother's was soothing in the extreme； and Ethelberta went up
to the staircase with a feeling of expansive thankfulness。 Cornelia
paused to admire the clean court and the small caged birds sleeping
on their perches； the boxes of veronica in bloom； of oleander； and
of tamarisk； which freshened the air of the court and lent a romance
to the lamplight； the cooks in their paper caps and white blouses
appearing at odd moments from an Avernus behind； while the prompt
'v'la！' of teetotums in mob caps； spinning down the staircase in
answer to the periodic clang of bells； filled her with wonder； and
pricked her conscience with thoughts of how seldom such transcendent
nimbleness was attempted by herself in a part so nearly similar。
34。 THE HOTEL BEAU SEJOUR AND SPOTS NEAR IT
The next day； much to Ethelberta's surprise； there was a letter for
her in her mother's up…hill hand。 She neglected all the rest of its
contents for the following engrossing sentences：
'Menlove has wormed everything out of poor Joey； we find； and your
father is much upset about it。 She had another quarrel with him；
and then declared she would expose you and us to Mrs。 Doncastle and
all your friends。 I think that Menlove is the kind of woman who
will stick to her word； and the question for you to consider is； how
can you best face out any report of the truth which she will spread；
and contradict the lies that she will add to it？ It appears to me
to be a dreadful thing； and so it will probably appear to you。 The
worst part will be that your sisters and brothers are your servants；
and that your father is actually engaged in the house where you
dine。 I am dreadful afraid that this will be considered a fine joke
for gossips； and will cause no end of laughs in society at your
expense。 At any rate； should Menlove spread the report； it would
absolutely prevent people from attending your lectures next season；
for they would feel like dupes； and be angry with theirselves； and
you； and all of us。
'The only way out of the muddle that I can see for you is to put
some scheme of marrying into effect as soon as possible； and before
these things are known。 Surely by this time； with all your
opportunities； you have been able to strike up an acquaintance with
some gentleman or other； so as to make a suitable match。 You see；
my dear Berta； marriage is a thing which； once carried out； fixes
you more firm in a position than any personal brains can do； for as
you stand at present； every loose tooth； and every combed…out hair；
and every new wrinkle； and every sleepless night； is so much took
away from your chance for the future； depending as it do upon your
skill in charming。 I know that you have had some good offers； so do
listen to me； and warm up the best man of them again a bit； and get
him to repeat his words before your roundness shrinks away； and 'tis
too late。
'Mr。 Ladywell has called here to see you； it w