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'In menin men。 I don't mean in women。 How childish you are！'
The slight depression at finding that Christopher was not present；
which had followed Ethelberta's public triumph that evening； was
covered over； if not removed； by Ladywell's declaration； and she
reached home serene in spirit。 That she had not the slightest
notion of accepting the impulsive painter made little difference； a
lover's arguments being apt to affect a lady's mood as much by
measure as by weight。 A useless declaration like a rare china
teacup with a hole in it； has its ornamental value in enlarging a
collection。
No sooner had they entered the house than Mr。 Julian's card was
discovered； and Joey informed them that he had come particularly to
speak with Ethelberta； quite forgetting that it was her evening for
tale…telling。
This was real delight； for between her excitements Ethelberta had
been seriously sick…hearted at the horrible possibility of his never
calling again。 But alas！ for Christopher。 There being nothing like
a dead silence for getting one's off…hand sweetheart into a corner；
there is nothing like prematurely ending it for getting into that
corner one's self。
'Now won't I punish him for daring to stay away so long！' she
exclaimed as soon as she got upstairs。 'It is as bad to show
constancy in your manners as fickleness in your heart at such a time
as this。'
'But I thought honesty was the best policy？' said Picotee。
'So it is； for the man's purpose。 But don't you go believing in
sayings； Picotee： they are all made by men； for their own
advantages。 Women who use public proverbs as a guide through events
are those who have not ingenuity enough to make private ones as each
event occurs。'
She sat down； and rapidly wrote a line to Mr。 Julian：
'EXONBURY CRESCENT。
'I return from Mayfair Hall to find you have called。 You will； I
know； be good enough to forgive my saying what seems an unfriendly
thing； when I assure you that the circumstances of my peculiar
situation make it desirable； if not necessary。 It is that I beg you
not to give me the pleasure of a visit from you for some little
time； for unhappily the frequency of your kind calls has been
noticed； and I am now in fear that we may be talked about
invidiouslyto the injury of us both。 The town； or a section of
it； has turned its bull's…eye upon me with a brightness which I did
not in the least anticipate； and you will； I am sure； perceive how
indispensable it is that I should be circumspect。Yours sincerely；
E。 PETHERWIN。'
21。 A STREET … NEIGH'S ROOMS … CHRISTOPHER'S ROOMS
As soon as Ethelberta had driven off from the Hall； Ladywell turned
back again； and； passing the front entrance； overtook his
acquaintance Mr。 Neigh； who had been one of the last to emerge。 The
two were going in the same direction； and they walked a short
distance together。
'Has anything serious happened？' said Neigh； noticing an abstraction
in his companion。 'You don't seem in your usual mood to…night。'
'O； it is only that affair between us；' said Ladywell。
'Affair？ Between you and whom？'
'Her and myself； of course。 It will be in every fellow's mouth now；
I suppose！'
'Butnot anything between yourself and Mrs。 Petherwin？'
'A mere nothing。 But surely you started； Neigh； when you suspected
it just this moment？'
'Noyou merely fancied that。'
'Did she not speak well to…night！ You were in the room； I believe？'
'Yes； I just turned in for half…an…hour： it seems that everybody
does； so I thought I must。 But I had no idea that you were feeble
that way。'
'It is very kind of you； Neighupon my word it isvery kind； and
of course I appreciate the delicacy whichwhich'
'What's kind？'
'I mean your well…intentioned plan for making me believe that
nothing is known of this。 But stories will of course get wind； and
if our attachment has made more noise in the world than I intended
it should； and causes any public interest； whyha…ha！it must。
There is some little romance in it perhaps； and people will talk of
matters of that sort between individuals of any reputelittle as
that is with one of the pair。'
'Of course they willof course。 You are a rising man； remember；
whom some day the world will delight to honour。'
'Thank you for that； Neigh。 Thank you sincerely。'
'Not at all。 It is merely justice to say it； and one must he
generous to deserve thanks。'
'Ha…ha！that's very nicely put； and undeserved I am sure。 And yet
I need a word of that sort sometimes！'
'Genius is proverbially modest。'
'Pray don't； NeighI don't deserve it； indeed。 Of course it is
well meant in you to recognize any slight powers； but I don't
deserve it。 Certainly； my self…assurance was never too great。 'Tis
the misfortune of all children of art that they should be so
dependent upon any scraps of praise they can pick up to help them
along。'
'And when that child gets so deep in love that you can only see the
whites of his eyes'
'Ahnow； Neighdon't； I say！'
'But why did'
'Why did I love her？'
'Yes； why did you love her？'
'Ah； if I could only turn self…vivisector； and watch the operation
of my heart； I should know！'
'My dear fellow； you must be very bad indeed to talk like that。 A
poet himself couldn't be cleaner gone。'
'Now； don't chaff； Neigh； do anything； but don't chaff。 You know
that I am the easiest man in the world for taking it at most times。
But I can't stand it now； I don't feel up to it。 A glimpse of
paradise； and then perdition。 What would you do； Neigh？'
'She has refused you； then？'
'Wellnot positively refused me； but it is so near it that a dull
man couldn't tell the difference。 I hardly can myself。'
'How do you really stand with her？' said Neigh； with an anxiety ill…
concealed。
'Off and onneither one thing nor the other。 I was determined to
make an effort the last time she sat to me； and so I met her quite
coolly； and spoke only of technicalities with a forced smileyou
know that way of mine for drawing people out； eh； Neigh？'
'Quite； quite。'
'A forced smile； as much as to say； 〃I am obliged to entertain you；
but as a mere model for art purposes。〃 But the deuce a bit did she
care。 And then I frequently looked to see what time it was； as the
end of the sitting drew nearrather a rude thing to do； as a rule。'
'Of course。 But that was your finesse。 Ha…ha！capital！ Yet why
not struggle against such slavery？ It is regularly pulling you
down。 What's a woman's beauty； after all？'
'Well you may say so！ A thing easier to feel than define；' murmured
Ladywell。 'But it's no use； NeighI can't help it as long as she
repulses me so exquisitely！ If she would only care for me a little；
I might get to trouble less about her。'
'And love her no more than one ordinarily does a girl by the time
one gets irrevocably engaged to her。 But I suppose she keeps you
back so thoroughly that you carry on the old adoration with as much
vigour as if it were a new fancy every time？'
'Partly yes； and partly no！ It's very true； and it's not true！'
''Tis to be h