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the square。
About twelve o'clock on the day following Lord Mountclere's
exhibition of himself to Christopher in the jeweller's shop at
Melchester； and almost at the identical time when the viscount was
seen to come from the office for marriage…licences in the same
place； a carriage drove nearly up to the gates of Messrs。 Nockett
and Co。's yard。 A gentleman stepped out and looked around。 He was
a man whose years would have been pronounced as five…and…forty by
the friendly； fifty by the candid； fifty…two or three by the grim。
He was as handsome a study in grey as could be seen in town； there
being far more of the raven's plumage than of the gull's in the
mixture as yet； and he had a glance of that practised sort which can
measure people； weigh them； repress them； encourage them to sprout
and blossom as a March sun encourages crocuses； ask them questions；
give them answersin short； a glance that could do as many things
as an American cooking…stove or a multum…in…parvo pocket…knife。
But； as with most men of the world； this was mere mechanism： his
actual emotions were kept so far within his person that they were
rarely heard or seen near his features。
On reading the builders' names over the gateway he entered the yard；
and asked at the office if Solomon Chickerel was engaged on the
premises。 The clerk was going to be very attentive； but finding the
visitor had come only to speak to a workman； his tense attitude
slackened a little； and he merely signified the foot of a Flemish
ladder on the other side of the yard； saying； 'You will find him；
sir； up there in the joiner's shop。'
When the man in the black coat reached the top he found himself at
the end of a long apartment as large as a chapel and as low as a
malt…room； across which ran parallel carpenters' benches to the
number of twenty or more； a gangway being left at the side for
access throughout。 Behind every bench there stood a man or two；
planing； fitting； or chiselling； as the case might be。 The visitor
paused for a moment； as if waiting for some cessation of their
violent motions and uproar till he could make his errand known。 He
waited ten seconds； he waited twenty； but； beyond that a quick look
had been thrown upon him by every pair of eyes； the muscular
performances were in no way interrupted： every one seemed oblivious
of his presence； and absolutely regardless of his wish。 In truth；
the texture of that salmon…coloured skin could be seen to be
aristocratic without a microscope； and the exceptious artizan has an
offhand way when contrasts are made painfully strong by an idler of
this kind coming； gloved and brushed； into the very den where he is
sweating and muddling in his shirt…sleeves。
The gentleman from the carriage then proceeded down the workshop；
wading up to his knees in a sea of shavings； and bruising his ankles
against corners of board and sawn…off blocks； that lay hidden like
reefs beneath。 At the ninth bench he made another venture。
'Sol Chickerel？' said the man addressed； as he touched his plane…
iron upon the oilstone。 'He's one of them just behind。'
'Damn it all； can't one of you show me？' the visitor angrily
observed； for he had been used to more attention than this。 'Here；
point him out。' He handed the man a shilling。
'No trouble to do that；' said the workman； and he turned and
signified Sol by a nod without moving from his place。
The stranger entered Sol's division； and； nailing him with his eye；
said at once： 'I want to speak a few words with you in private。 Is
not a Mrs。 Petherwin your sister？'
Sol started suspiciously。 'Has anything happened to her？' he at
length said hurriedly。
'O no。 It is on a business matter that I have called。 You need not
mind owning the relationship to methe secret will be kept。 I am
the brother of one whom you may have heard of from herLord
Mountclere。'
'I have not。 But if you will wait a minute； sir' He went to a
little glazed box at the end of the shop； where the foreman was
sitting； and； after speaking a few words to this person； Sol led
Mountclere to the door； and down the ladder。
'I suppose we cannot very well talk here； after all？' said the
gentleman； when they reached the yard； and found several men moving
about therein。
'Perhaps we had better go to some roomthe nearest inn will answer
the purpose； won't it？'
'Excellently。'
'There's the 〃Green Bushes〃 over the way。 They have a very nice
private room upstairs。'
'Yes； that will do。' And passing out of the yard； the man with the
glance entered the inn with Sol； where they were shown to the
parlour as requested。
While the waiter was gone for some wine； which Mountclere ordered；
the more ingenuous of the two resumed the conversation by saying；
awkwardly： 'Yes； Mrs。 Petherwin is my sister； as you supposed； sir；
but on her account I do not let it be known。'
'Indeed；' said Mountclere。 'Well； I came to see you in order to
speak of a matter which I thought you might know more about than I
do； for it has taken me quite by surprise。 My brother； Lord
Mountclere； is； it seems； to be privately married to Mrs。 Petherwin
to…morrow。'
'Is that really the fact？' said Sol； becoming quite shaken。 'I had
no thought that such a thing could be possible！'
'It is imminent。'
'Father has told me that she has lately got to know some nobleman；
but I never supposed there could be any meaning in that。'
'You were altogether wrong；' said Mountclere； leaning back in his
chair and looking at Sol steadily。 'Do you feel it to be a matter
upon which you will congratulate her？'
'A very different thing！' said Sol vehemently。 'Though he is your
brother； sir； I must say this； that I would rather she married the
poorest man I know。'
'Why？'
'From what my father has told me of him； he is nota more desirable
brother…in…law to me than I shall be in all likelihood to him。 What
business has a man of that character to marry Berta； I should like
to ask？'
'That's what I say；' returned Mountclere； revealing his satisfaction
at Sol's estimate of his noble brother： it showed that he had
calculated well in coming here。 'My brother is getting old； and he
has lived strangely： your sister is a highly respectable young
lady。'
'And he is not respectable； you mean？ I know he is not。 I worked
near Enckworth once。'
'I cannot say that；' returned Mountclere。 Possibly a certain
fraternal feeling repressed a direct assent： and yet this was the
only representation which could be expected to prejudice the young
man against the wedding； if he were such an one as the visitor
supposed Sol to bea man vulgar in sentiment and ambition； but pure
in his anxiety for his sister's happiness。 'At any rate； we are
agreed in thinking that this would be an unfortunate marriage for
both；' added Mountclere。
'About both I don't know。 It may be a good thing for him。 When do
you say it is to be； sirto…morrow？'
'Yes。'
'I don't know what to do！' said Sol； walking up and down。 'If half
what I have heard is true； I would lose a winter's work to prevent
her marrying him。 What does she want to go mixing in with people
who despise her for？ Now lo