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It was characteristic of Ethelberta's jealous motherly guard over
her young sisters that； amid these contending inquiries； her
foremost feeling was less one of hope for her own love than of
championship for Picotee's。
23。 ETHELBERTA'S HOUSE （continued）
Picotee was heard on the stairs： Ethelberta covered her face。
'Is he waiting？' she said faintly； on finding that Picotee did not
begin to speak。
'No； he is gone；' said Picotee。
'Ah； why is that？' came quickly from under the handkerchief。 'He
has forgotten methat's what it is！'
'O no； he has not！' said Picotee； just as bitterly。
Ethelberta had far too much heroism to let much in this strain
escape her； though her sister was prepared to go any lengths in the
same。 'I suppose；' continued Ethelberta； in the quiet way of one
who had only a headache the matter with her； 'that he remembered you
after the meeting at Anglebury？'
'Yes； he remembered me。'
'Did you tell me you had seen him before that time？'
'I had seen him at Sandbourne。 I don't think I told you。'
'At whose house did you meet him？'
'At nobody's。 I only saw him sometimes；' replied Picotee； in great
distress。
Ethelberta； though of all women most miserable； was brimming with
compassion for the throbbing girl so nearly related to her； in whom
she continually saw her own weak points without the counterpoise of
her strong ones。 But it was necessary to repress herself awhile：
the intended ways of her life were blocked and broken up by this jar
of interests； and she wanted time to ponder new plans。 'Picotee； I
would rather be alone now； if you don't mind；' she said。 'You need
not leave me any light； it makes my eyes ache； I think。'
Picotee left the room。 But Ethelberta had not long been alone and
in darkness when somebody gently opened the door； and entered
without a candle。
'Berta；' said the soft voice of Picotee again； 'may I come in？'
'O yes；' said Ethelberta。 'Has everything gone right with the house
this evening？'
'Yes； and Gwendoline went out just now to buy a few things； and she
is going to call round upon father when he has got his dinner
cleared away。'
'I hope she will not stay and talk to the other servants。 Some day
she will let drop something or other before father can stop her。'
'O Berta！' said Picotee； close beside her。 She was kneeling in
front of the couch； and now flinging her arm across Ethelberta's
shoulder and shaking violently； she pressed her forehead against her
sister's temple； and breathed out upon her cheek：
'I came in again to tell you something which I ought to have told
you just now； and I have come to say it at once because I am afraid
I shan't be able to to…morrow。 Mr。 Julian was the young man I spoke
to you of a long time ago； and I should have told you all about him；
but you said he was your young man too； andand I didn't know what
to do then； because I thought it was wrong in me to love your young
man； and Berta； he didn't mean me to love him at all； but I did it
myself； though I did not want to do it； either； it would come to me！
And I didn't know he belonged to you when I began it； or I would not
have let him meet me at all； no I wouldn't！'
'Meet you？ You don't mean to say he used to meet you？' whispered
Ethelberta。
'Yes；' said Picotee； 'but he could not help it。 We used to meet on
the road； and there was no other road unless I had gone ever so far
round。 But it is worse than that； Berta！ That was why I couldn't
bide in Sandbourne； andand ran away to you up here； it was not
because I wanted to see you； Berta； but because II wanted'
'Yes； yes； I know；' said Ethelberta hurriedly。
'And then when I went downstairs he mistook me for you for a moment；
and that causeda confusion！'
'O； well； it does not much matter；' said Ethelberta； kissing Picotee
soothingly。 'You ought not of course to have come to London in such
a manner； but； since you have come； we will make the best of it。
Perhaps it may end happily for you and for him。 Who knows？'
'Then don't you want him； Berta？'
'O no； not at all！'
'Whatand don't you REALLY want him； Berta？' repeated Picotee；
starting up。
'I would much rather he paid his addresses to you。 He is not the
sort of man I should wish tothink it best to marry； even if I were
to marry； which I have no intention of doing at present。 He calls
to see me because we are old friends； but his calls do not mean
anything more than that he takes an interest in me。 It is not at
all likely that I shall see him again！ and I certainly never shall
see him unless you are present。'
'That will be very nice。'
'Yes。 And you will be always distant towards him； and go to leave
the room when he comes； when I will call you back； but suppose we
continue this to…morrow？ I can tell you better then what to do。'
When Picotee had left her the second time； Ethelberta turned over
upon her breast and shook in convulsive sobs which had little
relationship with tears。 This abandonment ended as suddenly as it
had begunnot lasting more than a minute and a half altogetherand
she got up in an unconsidered and unusual impulse to seek relief
from the stinging sarcasm of this eventthe unhappy love of
Picoteeby mentioning something of it to another member of the
family； her eldest sister Gwendoline； who was a woman full of
sympathy。
Ethelberta descended to the kitchen； it being now about ten o'clock。
The room was empty； Gwendoline not having yet returned； and
Cornelia； being busy about her own affairs upstairs。 The French
family had gone to the theatre； and the house on that account was
very quiet to…night。 Ethelberta sat down in the dismal place
without turning up the gas； and in a few minutes admitted
Gwendoline。
The round…faced country cook floundered in； untying her bonnet as
she came； laying it down on a chair； and talking at the same time。
'Such a place as this London is； to be sure！' she exclaimed； turning
on the gas till it whistled。 'I wish I was down in Wessex again。
Lord…a…mercy； Berta； I didn't see it was you！ I thought it was
Cornelia。 As I was saying； I thought that； after biding in this
underground cellar all the week； making up messes for them French
folk； and never pleasing 'em； and never shall； because I don't
understand that line； I thought I would go out and see father； you
know。'
'Is he very well？' said Ethelberta。
'Yes； and he is going to call round when he has time。 Well； as I
was a…coming home…along I thought； 〃Please the Lord I'll have some
chippols for supper just for a plain trate；〃 and I went round to the
late greengrocer's for 'em； and do you know they sweared me down
that they hadn't got such things as chippols in the shop； and had
never heard of 'em in their lives。 At last I said； 〃Why； how can
you tell me such a brazen story？here they be； heaps of 'em！〃 It
made me so vexed that I came away there and then； and wouldn't have
oneno； not at a gift。'
'They call them young onions here；' said Ethelberta quietly； 'you
must always remember that。 But； Gwendoline； I wanted'
Ethelberta felt sick at heart； and stopped。 She had come down on
the wings of an impulse to unfold her