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'An old story will suit us；' said the lady who had importuned her。
'We have never heard one。'
'No； it shall be quite new；' she replied。 'One not yet made public；
though it soon will be。'
The narrative began by introducing to their notice a girl of the
poorest and meanest parentage； the daughter of a serving…man； and
the fifth of ten children。 She graphically recounted； as if they
were her own； the strange dreams and ambitious longings of this
child when young； her attempts to acquire education； partial
failures； partial successes； and constant struggles； instancing how；
on one of these occasions； the girl concealed herself under a
bookcase of the library belonging to the mansion in which her father
served as footman； and having taken with her there； like a young
Fawkes； matches and a halfpenny candle； was going to sit up all
night reading when the family had retired； until her father
discovered and prevented her scheme。 Then followed her experiences
as nursery…governess； her evening lessons under self…selected
masters； and her ultimate rise to a higher grade among the teaching
sisterhood。 Next came another epoch。 To the mansion in which she
was engaged returned a truant son； between whom and the heroine an
attachment sprang up。 The master of the house was an ambitious
gentleman just knighted； who； perceiving the state of their hearts；
harshly dismissed the homeless governess； and rated the son； the
consequence being that the youthful pair resolved to marry secretly；
and carried their resolution into effect。 The runaway journey came
next； and then a moving description of the death of the young
husband； and the terror of the bride。
The guests began to look perplexed； and one or two exchanged
whispers。 This was not at all the kind of story that they had
expected； it was quite different from her usual utterances； the
nature of which they knew by report。 Ethelberta kept her eye upon
Lord Mountclere。 Soon； to her amazement； there was that in his face
which told her that he knew the story and its heroine quite well。
When she delivered the sentence ending with the professedly
fictitious words： 'I thus was reduced to great distress； and vainly
cast about me for directions what to do；' Lord Mountclere's manner
became so excited and anxious that it acted reciprocally upon
Ethelberta； her voice trembled； she moved her lips but uttered
nothing。 To bring the story up to the date of that very evening had
been her intent； but it was beyond her power。 The spell was broken；
she blushed with distress and turned away； for the folly of a
disclosure here was but too apparent。
Though every one saw that she had broken down； none of them appeared
to know the reason why； or to have the clue to her performance。
Fortunately Lord Mountclere came to her aid。
'Let the first part end here；' he said； rising and approaching her。
'We have been well entertained so far。 I could scarcely believe
that the story I was listening to was utterly an invention； so
vividly does Mrs。 Petherwin bring the scenes before our eyes。 She
must now be exhausted； we will have the remainder to…morrow。'
They all agreed that this was well； and soon after fell into groups；
and dispersed about the rooms。 When everybody's attention was thus
occupied Lord Mountclere whispered to Ethelberta tremulously； 'Don't
tell more： you think too much of them： they are no better than
you！ Will you meet me in the little winter garden two minutes
hence？ Pass through that door； and along the glass passage。' He
himself left the room by an opposite door。
She had not set three steps in the warm snug octagon of glass and
plants when he appeared on the other side。
'You knew it all before！' she said； looking keenly at him。 'Who
told you； and how long have you known it？'
'Before yesterday or last week；' said Lord Mountclere。 'Even before
we met in France。 Why are you so surprised？'
Ethelberta had been surprised； and very greatly； to find him； as it
were； secreted in the very rear of her position。 That nothing she
could tell was new to him was a good deal to think of； but it was
little beside the recollection that he had actually made his first
declaration in the face of that knowledge of her which she had
supposed so fatal to all her matrimonial ambitions。
'And now only one point remains to be settled；' he said； taking her
hand。 'You promised at Rouen that at our next interview you would
honour me with a decisive replyone to make me happy for ever。'
'But my father and friends？' said she。
'Are nothing to be concerned about。 Modern developments have shaken
up the classes like peas in a hopper。 An annuity； and a comfortable
cottage'
'My brothers are workmen。'
'Manufacture is the single vocation in which a man's prospects may
be said to be illimitable。 Hee…hee！they may buy me up before they
die！ And now what stands in the way？ It would take fifty alliances
with fifty families so little disreputable as yours； darling； to
drag mine down。'
Ethelberta had anticipated the scene； and settled her course； what
had to be said and done here was mere formality； yet she had been
unable to go straight to the assent required。 However； after these
words of self…depreciation； which were let fall as much for her own
future ease of conscience as for his present warning； she made no
more ado。
'I shall think it a great honour to be your wife；' she said simply。
39。 KNOLLSEA … MELCHESTER
The year was now moving on apace； but Ethelberta and Picotee chose
to remain at Knollsea； in the brilliant variegated brick and stone
villa to which they had removed in order to be in keeping with their
ascending fortunes。 Autumn had begun to make itself felt and seen
in bolder and less subtle ways than at first。 In the morning now；
on coming downstairs； in place of a yellowish…green leaf or two
lying in a corner of the lowest step； which had been the only
previous symptoms around the house； she saw dozens of them playing
at corkscrews in the wind； directly the door was opened。 Beyond；
towards the sea； the slopes and scarps that had been muffled with a
thick robe of cliff herbage； were showing their chill grey substance
through the withered verdure； like the background of velvet whence
the pile has been fretted away。 Unexpected breezes broomed and
rasped the smooth bay in evanescent patches of stippled shade； and；
besides the small boats； the ponderous lighters used in shipping
stone were hauled up the beach in anticipation of the equinoctial
attack。
A few days after Ethelberta's reception at Enckworth； an improved
stanhope； driven by Lord Mountclere himself； climbed up the hill
until it was opposite her door。 A few notes from a piano softly
played reached his ear as he descended from his place： on being
shown in to his betrothed； he could perceive that she had just left
the instrument。 Moreover； a tear was visible in her eye when she
came near him。
They discoursed for several minutes in the manner natural between a
defenceless young widow and an old widower in Lord Mountclere's
position to whom she was plighteda great deal of formal
considerateness making it