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him to repeat his words before your roundness shrinks away； and 'tis
too late。
'Mr。 Ladywell has called here to see you； it was just after I had
heard that this Menlove might do harm； so I thought I could do no
better than send down word to him that you would much like to see
him； and were wondering sadly why he had not called lately。 I gave
him your address at Rouen； that he might find you； if he chose； at
once； and be got to propose； since he is better than nobody。 I
believe he said； directly Joey gave him the address； that he was
going abroad； and my opinion is that he will come to you； because of
the encouragement I gave him。 If so； you must thank me for my
foresight and care for you。
'I heave a sigh of relief sometimes at the thought that I； at any
rate； found a husband before the present man…famine began。 Don't
refuse him this time； there's a dear； or； mark my words； you'll have
cause to rue itunless you have beforehand got engaged to somebody
better than he。 You will not if you have not already； for the
exposure is sure to come soon。'
'O； this false position！it is ruining your nature； my too
thoughtful mother！ But I will not accept any of themI'll brazen
it out！' said Ethelberta； throwing the letter wherever it chose to
fly； and picking it up to read again。 She stood and thought it all
over。 'I must decide to do something！' was her sigh again； and；
feeling an irresistible need of motion； she put on her things and
went out to see what resolve the morning would bring。
No rain had fallen during the night； and the air was now quiet in a
warm heavy fog； through which old cider…smells； reminding her of
Wessex； occasionally came from narrow streets in the background。
Ethelberta passed up the Rue Grand…Pont into the little dusky Rue
Saint…Romain； behind the cathedral； being driven mechanically along
by the fever and fret of her thoughts。 She was about to enter the
building by the transept door； when she saw Lord Mountclere coming
towards her。
Ethelberta felt equal to him； or a dozen such； this morning。 The
looming spectres raised by her mother's information； the wearing
sense of being over…weighted in the race； were driving her to a
Hamlet…like fantasticism and defiance of augury； moreover； she was
abroad。
'I am about to ascend to the parapets of the cathedral；' said she；
in answer to a half inquiry。
'I should be delighted to accompany you；' he rejoined； in a manner
as capable of explanation by his knowledge of her secret as was
Ethelberta's manner by her sense of nearing the end of her maying。
But whether this frequent glide into her company was meant as
ephemeral flirtation； to fill the half…hours of his journey； or
whether it meant a serious love…suitwhich were the only
alternatives that had occurred to her on the subjectdid not
trouble her now。 'I am bound to be civil to so great a lord；' she
lightly thought； and expressing no objection to his presence； she
passed with him through the outbuildings； containing Gothic lumber
from the shadowy pile above； and ascended the stone staircase。
Emerging from its windings； they duly came to the long wooden ladder
suspended in mid…air that led to the parapet of the tower。 This
being wide enough for two abreast； she could hardly do otherwise
than wait a moment for the viscount； who up to this point had never
faltered； and who amused her as they went by scraps of his
experience in various countries； which； to do him justice； he told
with vivacity and humour。 Thus they reached the end of the flight；
and entered behind a balustrade。
'The prospect will be very lovely from this point when the fog has
blown off；' said Lord Mountclere faintly； for climbing and
chattering at the same time had fairly taken away his breath。 He
leant against the masonry to rest himself。 'The air is clearing
already； I fancy I saw a sunbeam or two。'
'It will be lovelier above；' said Ethelberta。 'Let us go to the
platform at the base of the fleche； and wait for a view there。'
'With all my heart；' said her attentive companion。
They passed in at a door and up some more stone steps； which landed
them finally in the upper chamber of the tower。 Lord Mountclere
sank on a beam； and asked smilingly if her ambition was not
satisfied with this goal。 'I recollect going to the top some years
ago；' he added； 'and it did not occur to me as being a thing worth
doing a second time。 And there was no fog then； either。'
'O；' said Ethelberta； 'it is one of the most splendid things a
person can do！ The fog is going fast； and everybody with the least
artistic feeling in the direction of bird's…eye views makes the
ascent every time of coming here。'
'Of course； of course；' said Lord Mountclere。 'And I am only too
happy to go to any height with you。'
'Since you so kindly offer； we will go to the very top of the spire…
…up through the fog and into the sunshine；' said Ethelberta。
Lord Mountclere covered a grim misgiving by a gay smile； and away
they went up a ladder admitting to the base of the huge iron
framework above； then they entered upon the regular ascent of the
cage； towards the hoped…for celestial blue； and among breezes which
never descended so low as the town。 The journey was enlivened with
more breathless witticisms from Lord Mountclere； till she stepped
ahead of him again； when he asked how many more steps there were。
She inquired of the man in the blue blouse who accompanied them。
'Fifty…five；' she returned to Lord Mountclere a moment later。
They went round； and round； and yet around。
'How many are there now？' Lord Mountclere demanded this time of the
man。
'A hundred and ninety； Monsieur；' he said。
'But there were only fifty…five ever so long ago！'
'Two hundred and five； then；' said the man 'Perhaps the mist
prevented Mademoiselle hearing me distinctly？'
'Never mind： I would follow were there five thousand more； did
Mademoiselle bid me！' said the exhausted nobleman gallantly； in
English。
'Hush！' said Ethelberta； with displeasure。
'He doesn't understand a word；' said Lord Mountclere。
They paced the remainder of their spiral pathway in silence； and
having at last reached the summit； Lord Mountclere sank down on one
of the steps； panting out； 'Dear me； dear me！'
Ethelberta leaned and looked around； and said； 'How extraordinary
this is。 It is sky above； below； everywhere。'
He dragged himself together and stepped to her side。 They formed as
it were a little world to themselves； being completely ensphered by
the fog； which here was dense as a sea of milk。 Below was neither
town； country； nor cathedralsimply whiteness； into which the iron
legs of their gigantic perch faded to nothing。
'We have lost our labour； there is no prospect for you； after all；
Lord Mountclere；' said Ethelberta； turning her eyes upon him。 He
looked at her face as if there were； and she continued； 'Listen； I
hear sounds from the town： people's voices； and carts； and dogs；
and the noise of a railway…train。 Shall we now descend； and own
ourselves disappointed？'
'Whenever you choose。'
Before they had put their intention in practice there appeared to be
reasons for