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containing Sol and Mountclere slackened pace； and drew rein before
the inn。
Fresh horses were immediately called for； and while they were being
put in the two travellers walked up and down。
'It is now a quarter to seven o'clock；' said Mountclere； 'and the
question arises； shall I go on to Knollsea； or branch off at
Corvsgate Castle for Enckworth？ I think the best plan will be to
drive first to Enckworth； set me down； and then get him to take you
on at once to Knollsea。 What do you say？'
'When shall I reach Knollsea by that arrangement？'
'By half…past eight o'clock。 We shall be at Enckworth before eight；
which is excellent time。'
'Very well； sir； I agree to that；' said Sol； feeling that as soon as
one of the two birds had been caught； the other could not mate
without their knowledge。
The carriage and horses being again ready； away they drove at once；
both having by this time grown too restless to spend in Anglebury a
minute more than was necessary。
The hostler and his lad had taken the jaded Sandbourne horses to the
stable； rubbed them down； and fed them； when another noise was heard
outside the yard； the omnibus had returned from meeting the train。
Relinquishing the horses to the small stable…lad； the old hostler
again looked out from the arch。
A young man had stepped from the omnibus； and he came forward。 'I
want a conveyance of some sort to take me to Knollsea； at once。 Can
you get a horse harnessed in five minutes？'
'I'll make shift to do what I can master； not promising about the
minutes。 The truest man can say no more。 Won't ye step into the
bar； sir； and give your order？ I'll let ye know as soon as 'tis
ready。'
Christopher turned into a room smelling strongly of the night
before； and stood by the newly…kindled fire to wait。 He had just
come in haste from Melchester。 The upshot of his excitement about
the wedding； which； as the possible hour of its solemnization drew
near； had increased till it bore him on like a wind； was this
unpremeditated journey。 Lying awake the previous night； the
hangings of his bed pulsing to every beat of his heart； he decided
that there was one last and great service which it behoved him； as
an honest man and friend； to say nothing of lover； to render to
Ethelberta at this juncture。 It was to ask her by some means
whether or not she had engaged with open eyes to marry Lord
Mountclere； and if not； to give her a word or two of enlightenment。
That done； she might be left to take care of herself。
His plan was to obtain an interview with Picotee； and learn from her
accurately the state of things。 Should he； by any possibility； be
mistaken in his belief as to the contracting parties； a knowledge of
the mistake would be cheaply purchased by the journey。 Should he
not； he would send up to Ethelberta the strong note of expostulation
which was already written； and waiting in his pocket。 To intrude
upon her at such a time was unseemly； and to despatch a letter by a
messenger before evidence of its necessity had been received was
most undesirable。 The whole proceeding at best was clumsy； yet
earnestness is mostly clumsy； and how could he let the event pass
without a protest？ Before daylight on that autumn morning he had
risen； told Faith of his intention； and started off。
As soon as the vehicle was ready； Christopher hastened to the door
and stepped up。 The little stable…boy led the horse a few paces on
the way before relinquishing his hold； at the same moment a
respectably dressed man on foot； with a small black bag in his hand；
came up from the opposite direction； along the street leading from
the railway。 He was a thin； elderly man； with grey hair； that a
great anxiety pervaded him was as plainly visible as were his
features。 Without entering the inn； he came up at once to old John。
'Have you anything going to Knollsea this morning that I can get a
lift in？' said the pedestrianno other than Ethelberta's father。
'Nothing empty； that I know of。'
'Or carrier？'
'No。'
'A matter of fifteen shillings； then； I suppose？'
'Yesno doubt。 But yond there's a young man just now starting； he
might not take it ill if ye were to ask him for a seat； and go
halves in the hire of the trap。 Shall I call out？'
'Ah； do。'
The hostler bawled to the stable…boy； who put the question to
Christopher。 There was room for two in the dogcart； and Julian had
no objection to save the shillings of a fellow…traveller who was
evidently not rich。 When Chickerel mounted to his seat； Christopher
paused to look at him as we pause in some enactment that seems to
have been already before us in a dream long ago。 Ethelberta's face
was there； as the landscape is in the map； the romance in the
history； the aim in the deed： denuded； rayless； and sorry； but
discernible。
For the moment； however； this did not occur to Julian。 He took the
whip； the boy loosed his hold upon the horse； and they proceeded on
their way。
'What slap…dash jinks may there be going on at Knollsea； then； my
sonny？' said the hostler to the lad； as the dogcart and the backs of
the two men diminished on the road。 'You be a Knollsea boy： have
anything reached your young ears about what's in the wind there；
David Straw？'
'No； nothing： except that 'tis going to be Christmas day in five
weeks： and then a hide…bound bull is going to be killed if he don't
die afore the time； and gi'ed away by my lord in three…pound junks；
as a reward to good people who never curse and sing bad songs；
except when they be drunk； mother says perhaps she will have some；
and 'tis excellent if well stewed； mother says。'
'A very fair chronicle for a boy to give； but not what I asked for。
When you try to answer a old man's question； always bear in mind
what it was that old man asked。 A hide…bound bull is good when well
stewed； I make no doubtfor they who like it； but that's not it。
What I said was； do you know why three fokes； a rich man； a middling
man； and a poor man； should want horses for Knollsea afore seven
o'clock in the morning on a blinking day in Fall； when everything is
as wet as a dishclout； whereas that's more than often happens in
fine summer weather？'
'NoI don't know； John hostler。'
'Then go home and tell your mother that ye be no wide…awake boy； and
that old John； who went to school with her father afore she was born
or thought o'； says so。 。 。 。 Chok' it all； why should I think
there's sommat going on at Knollsea？ Honest travelling have been so
rascally abused since I was a boy in pinners； by tribes of nobodies
tearing from one end of the country to t'other； to see the sun go
down in salt water； or the moon play jack…lantern behind some rotten
tower or other； that； upon my song； when life and death's in the
wind there's no telling the difference！'
'I like their sixpences ever so much。'
'Young sonny； don't you answer up to me when you baint in the story…
…stopping my words in that fashion。 I won't have it； David。 Now up
in the tallet with ye； there's a good boy； and down with another
lock or two of hayas fast as you can do it for me。'
The boy vanished under the archway； and the hostler followed