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tucked in one more closely； lifted another upon the pillow and
straightened the soft limbs to an easy position； then sat down by
the window and looked out at the flashing stars。 Thoughts of
Neigh's audacious statement returned again upon Ethelberta。 He had
said that he meant to marry her。 Of what standing was the man who
had uttered such an intention respecting one to whom a politic
marriage had become almost a necessity of existence？
She had often heard Neigh speak indefinitely of some estate'my
little place' he had called itwhich he had purchased no very long
time ago。 All she knew was that its name was Farnfield； that it lay
thirty or forty miles out of London in a south…westerly direction； a
railway station in the district bearing the same name； so that there
was probably a village or small town adjoining。 Whether the dignity
of this landed property was that of domain； farmstead； allotment； or
garden…plot； Ethelberta had not the slightest conception。 She was
almost certain that Neigh never lived there； but that might signify
nothing。 The exact size and value of the estate would； she mused；
be curious； interesting； and almost necessary information to her who
must become mistress of it were she to allow him to carry out his
singularly cool and crude； if tender； intention。 Moreover； its
importance would afford a very good random sample of his worldly
substance throughout； from which alone； after all； could the true
spirit and worth and seriousness of his words be apprehended。
Impecuniosity may revel in unqualified vows and brim over with
confessions as blithely as a bird of May； but such careless
pleasures are not for the solvent； whose very dreams are negotiable；
and are expressed with due care accordingly。
That Neigh had used the words she had far more than prima…facie
appearances for believing。 Neigh's own conduct towards her； though
peculiar rather than devoted； found in these words alone a
reasonable key。 But； supposing the estate to be such a verbal
hallucination as； for instance； hers had been at Arrowthorne； when
her poor； unprogressive； hopelessly impracticable Christopher came
there to visit her； and was so wonderfully undeceived about her
social standing： what a fiasco； and what a cuckoo…cry would his
utterances about marriage seem then。 Christopher had often told her
of his expectations from 'Arrowthorne Lodge；' and of the blunders
that had resulted in consequence。 Had not Ethelberta's affection
for Christopher partaken less of lover's passion than of old…
established tutelary tenderness she might have been reminded by this
reflection of the transcendent fidelity he had shown under that
trialas severe a trial； considering the abnormal； almost morbid；
development of the passion for position in present…day society； as
can be prepared for men who move in the ordinary； unheroic channels
of life。
By the following evening the consideration of this possibility； that
Neigh's position might furnish scope for such a disillusive
discovery by herself as hers had afforded to Christopher； decoyed
Ethelberta into a curious little scheme。 She was piqued into a
practical undertaking by the man who could say to his friend with
such sangfroid； 'I mean to marry that lady。'
Merely telling Picotee to prepare for an evening excursion； of which
she was to talk to no one； Ethelberta made ready likewise； and they
left the house in a cab about half…an…hour before sunset； and drove
to the Waterloo Station。
With the decline and departure of the sun a fog gathered itself out
of the low meadow…land that bordered the railway as they went along
towards the west； stretching over it like a placid lake； till at the
end of the journey； the mist became generally pervasive； though not
dense。 Avoiding observation as much as they conveniently could； the
two sisters walked from the long wooden shed which formed the
station here； into the rheumy air and along the road to the open
country。 Picotee occasionally questioned Ethelberta on the object
of the strange journey： she did not question closely； being
satisfied that in such sure hands as Ethelberta's she was safe。
Deeming it unwise to make any inquiry just yet beyond the simple one
of the way to Farnfield； Ethelberta led her companion along a newly…
fenced road across a heath。 In due time they came to an ornamental
gate with a curved sweep of wall on each side； signifying the
entrance to some enclosed property or other。 Ethelberta； being
quite free from any digested plan for encouraging Neigh in his
resolve to wive； was startled to find a hope in her that this very
respectable beginning before their eyes was the entrance to the
Farnfield property： that she hoped it was nevertheless
unquestionable。 Just beyond lay a turnpike…house； where was dimly
visible a woman in the act of putting up a shutter to the front
window。
Compelled by this time to come to special questions； Ethelberta
instructed Picotee to ask of this person if the place they had just
passed was the entrance to Farnfield Park。 The woman replied that
it was。 Directly she had gone indoors Ethelberta turned back again
towards the park gate。
'What have we come for； Berta？' said Picotee； as she turned also。
'I'll tell you some day；' replied her sister。
It was now much past eight o'clock； and； from the nature of the
evening； dusk。 The last stopping up…train was about ten； so that
half…an…hour could well be afforded for looking round。 Ethelberta
went to the gate； which was found to be fastened by a chain and
padlock。
'Ah； the London season；' she murmured。
There was a wicket at the side； and they entered。 An avenue of
young fir trees three or four feet in height extended from the gate
into the mist； and down this they walked。 The drive was not in very
good order； and the two women were frequently obliged to walk on the
grass to avoid the rough stones in the carriage…way。 The double
line of young firs now abruptly terminated； and the road swept
lower； bending to the right； immediately in front being a large
lake； calm and silent as a second sky。 They could hear from
somewhere on the margin the purl of a weir； and around were clumps
of shrubs； araucarias and deodars being the commonest。
Ethelberta could not resist being charmed with the repose of the
spot； and hastened on with curiosity to reach the other side of the
pool； where； by every law of manorial topography； the mansion would
be situate。 The fog concealed all objects beyond a distance of
twenty yards or thereabouts； but it was nearly full moon； and though
the orb was hidden； a pale diffused light enabled them to see
objects in the foreground。 Reaching the other side of the lake the
drive enlarged itself most legitimately to a large oval； as for a
sweep before a door； a pile of rockwork standing in the midst。
But where should have been the front door of a mansion was simply a
rough rail fence； about four feet high。 They drew near and looked
over。
In the enclosure； and on the site of the imaginary house； was an
extraordinary group。 It consisted of numerous horses in the last
stage of decrepitude； the animals being such mere sk