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which the seeker for history in stones will be utterly hoodwinked in
time to come。
To the left of the door and vestibule which Ethelberta passed
through rose the principal staircase； constructed of a freestone so
milk…white and delicately moulded as to be easily conceived in the
lamplight as of biscuit…ware。 Who； unacquainted with the secrets of
geometrical construction； could imagine that； hanging so airily
there； to all appearance supported on nothing； were twenty or more
tons dead weight of stone； that would have made a prison for an
elephant if so arranged？ The art which produced this illusion was
questionable； but its success was undoubted。 'How lovely！' said
Ethelberta； as she looked at the fairy ascent。 'His staircase alone
is worth my hand！'
Passing along by the colonnade； which partly fenced the staircase
from the visitor； the saloon was reached； an apartment forming a
double cube。 About the left…hand end of this were grouped the
drawing…rooms and library； while on the right was the dining…hall；
with billiard； smoking； and gun rooms in mysterious remoteness
beyond。
Without attempting to trace an analogy between a man and his
mansion； it may be stated that everything here； though so dignified
and magnificent； was not conceived in quite the true and eternal
spirit of art。 It was a house in which Pugin would have torn his
hair。 Those massive blocks of red…veined marble lining the hall
emulating in their surface…glitter the Escalier de Marbre at
Versailleswere cunning imitations in paint and plaster by workmen
brought from afar for the purpose； at a prodigious expense； by the
present viscount's father； and recently repaired and re…varnished。
The dark green columns and pilasters corresponding were brick at the
core。 Nay； the external walls； apparently of massive and solid
freestone； were only veneered with that material； being； like the
pillars； of brick within。
To a stone mask worn by a brick face a story naturally appertained
one which has since done service in other quarters。 When the vast
addition had just been completed King George visited Enckworth。 Its
owner pointed out the features of its grand architectural attempt；
and waited for commendation。
'Brick； brick； brick；' said the king。
The Georgian Lord Mountclere blushed faintly； albeit to his very
poll； and said nothing more about his house that day。 When the king
was gone he sent frantically for the craftsmen recently dismissed；
and soon the green lawns became again the colour of a Nine…Elms
cement wharf。 Thin freestone slabs were affixed to the whole series
of fronts by copper cramps and dowels； each one of substance
sufficient to have furnished a poor boy's pocket with pennies for a
month； till not a speck of the original surface remained； and the
edifice shone in all the grandeur of massive masonry that was not
massive at all。 But who remembered this save the builder and his
crew？ and as long as nobody knew the truth； pretence looked just as
well。
What was honest in Enckworth Court was that portion of the original
edifice which still remained； now degraded to subservient uses。
Where the untitled Mountclere of the White Rose faction had spread
his knees over the brands； when the place was a castle and not a
court； the still…room maid now simmered her preserves； and where
Elizabethan mothers and daughters of that sturdy line had tapestried
the love…scenes of Isaac and Jacob； boots and shoes were now cleaned
and coals stowed away。
Lord Mountclere had so far recovered from the sprain as to be
nominally quite well； under pressure of a wish to receive guests。
The sprain had in one sense served him excellently。 He had now a
reason； apart from that of years； for walking with his stick； and
took care to let the reason be frequently known。 To…day he
entertained a larger number of persons than had been assembled
within his walls for a great length of time。
Until after dinner Ethelberta felt as if she were staying at an
hotel。 Few of the people whom she had met at the meeting of the
Imperial Association greeted her here。 The viscount's brother was
not present； but Sir Cyril Blandsbury and his wife were there； a
lively pair of persons； entertaining as actors； and friendly as
dogs。 Beyond these all the faces and figures were new to her；
though they were handsome and dashing enough to satisfy a court
chronicler。 Ethelberta； in a dress sloped about as high over the
shoulder as would have drawn approval from Reynolds； and
expostulation from Lely； thawed and thawed each friend who came near
her； and sent him or her away smiling； yet she felt a little
surprise。 She had seldom visited at a country…house； and knew
little of the ordinary composition of a group of visitors within its
walls； but the present assemblage seemed to want much of that old…
fashioned stability and quaint monumental dignity she had expected
to find under this historical roof。 Nobody of her entertainer's own
rank appeared。 Not a single clergyman was there。 A tendency to
talk Walpolean scandal about foreign courts was particularly
manifest。 And although tropical travellers； Indian officers and
their wives； courteous exiles； and descendants of Irish kings； were
infinitely more pleasant than Lord Mountclere's landed neighbours
would probably have been； to such a cosmopolite as Ethelberta a calm
Tory or old Whig company would have given a greater treat。 They
would have struck as gratefully upon her senses as sylvan scenery
after crags and cliffs； or silence after the roar of a cataract。
It was evening； and all these personages at Enckworth Court were
merry； snug； and warm within its walls。 Dinner…time had passed； and
everything had gone on well； when Mrs。 Tara O'Fanagan； who had a
gold…clamped tooth； which shone every now and then； asked Ethelberta
if she would amuse them by telling a story； since nobody present；
except Lord Mountclere； had ever heard one from her lips。
Seeing that Ethelberta had been working at that art as a profession；
it can hardly be said that the question was conceived with tact；
though it was put with grace。 Lord Mountclere evidently thought it
objectionable； for he looked unhappy。 To only one person in the
brilliant room did the request appear as a timely accident； and that
was to Ethelberta herself。 Her honesty was always making war upon
her manoeuvres； and shattering their delicate meshes； to her great
inconvenience and delay。 Thus there arose those devious impulses
and tangential flights which spoil the works of every would…be
schemer who instead of being wholly machine is half heart。 One of
these now was to show herself as she really was； not only to Lord
Mountclere； but to his friends assembled； whom； in her ignorance；
she respected more than they deserved； and so get rid of that self…
reproach which had by this time reached a morbid pitch； through her
over…sensitiveness to a situation in which a large majority of women
and men would have seen no falseness。
Full of this curious intention； she quietly assented to the request；
and laughingly bade them put themselves in listening order。
'An old story will suit us；' said the l