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of some clergyman； I believe。 Lady Petherwin； her mother…in…law；
has been taking her about a great deal latterly。'
'She has apparently a very good prospect。'
'Yes； and it is through her being of that curious undefined
character which interprets itself to each admirer as whatever he
would like to have it。 Old men like her because she is so girlish；
youths because she is womanly； wicked men because she is good in
their eyes； good men because she is wicked in theirs。'
'She must be a very anomalous sort of woman； at that rate。'
'Yes。 Like the British Constitution； she owes her success in
practice to her inconsistencies in principle。'
'These poems must have set her up。 She appears to be quite the
correct spectacle。 Happy Mrs。 Petherwin！'
The subject of their dialogue was engaged in a conversation with
Mrs。 Belmaine upon the management of householdsa theme provoked by
a discussion that was in progress in the pages of some periodical of
the time。 Mrs。 Belmaine was very full of the argument； and went on
from point to point till she came to servants。
The face of Ethelberta showed caution at once。
'I consider that Lady Plamby pets her servants by far too much；'
said Mrs。 Belmaine。 'O； you do not know her？ Well； she is a woman
with theories； and she lends her maids and men books of the wrong
kind for their station； and sends them to picture exhibitions which
they don't in the least understandall for the improvement of their
taste； and morals； and nobody knows what besides。 It only makes
them dissatisfied。'
The face of Ethelberta showed venturesomeness。 'Yes； and dreadfully
ambitious！' she said。
'Yes； indeed。 What a turn the times have taken！ People of that
sort push on； and get into business； and get great warehouses； until
at last； without ancestors； or family； or name； or estate'
'Or the merest scrap of heirloom or family jewel。'
'Or heirlooms； or family jewels； they are thought as much of as if
their forefathers had glided unobtrusively through the peerage'
'Ever since the first edition。'
'Yes。' Mrs。 Belmaine； who really sprang from a good old family； had
been going to say； 'for the last seven hundred years；' but fancying
from Ethelberta's addendum that she might not date back more than a
trifling century or so； adopted the suggestion with her usual well…
known courtesy； and blushed down to her locket at the thought of the
mistake that she might have made。 This sensitiveness was a trait in
her character which gave great gratification to her husband； and；
indeed； to all who knew her。
'And have you any theory on the vexed question of servant…
government？' continued Mrs。 Belmaine； smiling。 'But nothe subject
is of far too practical a nature for one of your bent； of course。'
'O noit is not at all too practical。 I have thought of the matter
often；' said Ethelberta。 'I think the best plan would be for
somebody to write a pamphlet； 〃The Shortest Way with the Servants；〃
just as there was once written a terribly stinging one； 〃The
Shortest Way with the Dissenters；〃 which had a great effect。'
'I have always understood that that was written by a dissenter as a
satire upon the Church？'
'Ahso it was： but the example will do to illustrate my meaning。'
'Quite soI understandso it will；' said Mrs。 Belmaine； with
clouded faculties。
Meanwhile Christopher's music had arrived。 An accomplished
gentleman who had every musical talent except that of creation；
scanned the notes carefully from top to bottom； and sat down to
accompany the singer。 There was no lady present of sufficient
confidence or skill to venture into a song she had never seen
before； and the only one who had seen it was Ethelberta herself； she
did not deny having practised it the greater part of the afternoon；
and was very willing to sing it now if anybody would derive pleasure
from the performance。 Then she began； and the sweetness of her
singing was such that even the most unsympathetic honoured her by
looking as if they would be willing to listen to every note the song
contained if it were not quite so much trouble to do so。 Some were
so interested that； instead of continuing their conversation； they
remained in silent consideration of how they would continue it when
she had finished； while the particularly civil people arranged their
countenances into every attentive form that the mind could devise。
One emotional gentleman looked at the corner of a chair as if； till
that moment； such an object had never crossed his vision before； the
movement of his finger to the imagined tune was； for a deaf old
clergyman； a perfect mine of interest； whilst a young man from the
country was powerless to put an end to an enchanted gaze at nothing
at all in the exact middle of the room before him。 Neigh； and the
general phalanx of cool men and celebrated club yawners； were so
much affected that they raised their chronic look of great objection
to things； to an expression of scarcely any objection at all。
'What makes it so interesting；' said Mrs。 Doncastle to Ethelberta；
when the song was over and she had retired from the focus of the
company； 'is； that it is played from the composer's own copy； which
has never met the public eye； or any other than his own before to…
day。 And I see that he has actually sketched in the lines by hand；
instead of having ruled paperjust as the great old composers used
to do。 You must have been as pleased to get it fresh from the
stocks like that as he probably was pleased to get your thanks。'
Ethelberta became reflective。 She had not thanked Christopher；
moreover； she had decided； after some consideration； that she ought
not to thank him。 What new thoughts were suggested by that remark
of Mrs。 Doncastle's； and what new inclination resulted from the
public presentation of his tune and her words as parts of one
organic whole； are best explained by describing her doings at a
later hour； when； having left her friends somewhat early； she had
reached home and retired from public view for that evening。
Ethelberta went to her room； sent away the maid who did double duty
for herself and Lady Petherwin； walked in circles about the carpet
till the fire had grown haggard and cavernous； sighed； took a sheet
of paper and wrote：
'DEAR MR。 JULIAN；I have said I would not write： I have said it
twice； but discretion； under some circumstances； is only another
name for unkindness。 Before thanking you for your sweet gift； let
me tell you in a few words of something which may materially change
an aspect of affairs under which I appear to you to deserve it。
'With regard to my history and origin you are altogether mistaken；
and how can I tell whether your bitterness at my previous silence on
those points may not cause you to withdraw your act of courtesy now？
But the gratification of having at last been honest with you may
compensate even for the loss of your respect。
'The matter is a small one to tell； after all。 What will you say on
learning that I am not the trodden…down 〃lady by birth〃 that you
have supposed me？ That my father is not dead； as you probably
imagine； that he is working for his living as one amon