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set about contriving how the encounter with her dearest relative
might be made safe and unsuspected。 She bade them adieu blithely；
but the thoughts engendered by the invitation stood before her as
sorrowful and rayless ghosts which could not be laid。 Often at such
conjunctures as these； when the futility of her great undertaking
was more than usually manifest； did Ethelberta long like a tired
child for the conclusion of the whole matter； when her work should
be over； and the evening come； when she might draw her boat upon the
shore； and in some thymy nook await eternal night with a placid
mind。
28。 ETHELBERTA'S … MR。 CHICKEREL'S ROOM
The question of Neigh or no Neigh had reached a pitch of insistence
which no longer permitted of dallying； even by a popular beauty。
His character was becoming defined to Ethelberta as something very
differently composed from that of her first imagining。 She had set
him down to be a man whose external in excitability owed nothing to
self…repression； but stood as the natural surface of the mass
within。 Neigh's urban torpor； she said； might have been in the
first instance produced by art； but； were it thus； it had gone so
far as to permeate him。 This had been disproved； first
surprisingly； by his reported statement； wondrously； in the second
place； by his call upon her and sudden proposal； thirdly； to a
degree simply astounding； by what had occurred in the city that day。
For Neigh； before the fervour had subsided which was produced in him
by her look and general power while reading 'Paradise Lost；' found
himself alone with her in a nook outside the church； and there had
almost demanded her promise to be his wife。 She had replied by
asking for time； and idly offering him the petals of her rose； that
had shed themselves in her hand。 Neigh； in taking them； pressed her
fingers more warmly than she thought she had given him warrant for；
which offended her。 It was certainly a very momentary affair； and
when it was over seemed to surprise himself almost as much as it had
vexed her； but it had reminded her of one truth which she was in
danger of forgetting。 The town gentleman was not half so far
removed from Sol and Dan； and the hard…handed order in general； in
his passions as in his philosophy。 He still continued to be the
male of his species； and when the heart was hot with a dream Pall
Mall had much the same aspect as Wessex。
Well； she had not accepted him yet； indeed； for the moment they were
in a pet with one another。 Yet that might soon be cleared off； and
then recurred the perpetual question； would the advantage that might
accrue to her people by her marriage be worth the sacrifice？ One
palliative feature must be remembered when we survey the matrimonial
ponderings of the poetess and romancer。 What she contemplated was
not meanly to ensnare a husband just to provide incomes for her and
her family； but to find some man she might respect； who would
maintain her in such a stage of comfort as should； by setting her
mind free from temporal anxiety； enable her to further organize her
talent； and provide incomes for them herself。 Plenty of saleable
originality was left in her as yet； but it was getting crushed under
the rubbish of her necessities。
She was not sure that Neigh would stand the test of her revelations。
It would be possible to lead him to marry her without revealing
anythingthe events of the last few days had shown her thatyet
Ethelberta's honesty shrank from the safe course of holding her
tongue。 It might be pleasant to many a modern gentleman to find
himself allied with a lady； none of whose ancestors had ever
pandered to a court； lost an army； taken a bribe； oppressed a
community； or broken a bank； but the added disclosure that； in
avoiding these stains； her kindred had worked and continued to work
with their hands for bread； might lead such an one to consider that
the novelty was dearly purchased。
Ethelberta was； upon the whole； dissatisfied with her progress thus
far。 She had planned many things and fulfilled few。 Had her father
been by this time provided for and made independent of the world； as
she had thought he might be； not only would her course with regard
to Neigh be quite clear； but the impending awkwardness of dining
with her father behind her chair could not have occurred。 True；
that was a small matter beside her regret for his own sake that he
was still in harness； and a mere change of occupation would be but a
tribute to a fastidiousness which he did not himself share。 She had
frequently tried to think of a vocation for him that would have a
more dignified sound； and be less dangerously close to her own path：
the post of care…taker at some provincial library； country
stationer； registrar of births and deaths； and many others had been
discussed and dismissed in face of the unmanageable fact that her
father was serenely happy and comfortable as a butler； looking with
dread at any hint of change short of perfect retirement。 Since；
then； she could not offer him this retirement； what right had she to
interfere with his mode of life at all？ In no other social groove
on earth would he thrive as he throve in his present one； to which
he had been accustomed from boyhood； and where the remuneration was
actually greater than in professions ten times as stately in name。
For the rest； too； Ethelberta had indulged in hopes； the high
education of the younger ones being the chief of these darling
wishes。 Picotee wanted looking to badly enough。 Sol and Dan
required no material help； they had quickly obtained good places of
work under a Pimlico builder； for though the brothers scarcely
showed as yet the light…fingered deftness of London artizans； the
want was in a measure compensated by their painstaking； and
employers are far from despising country hands who bring with them
strength； industry； and a desire to please。 But their sister had
other lines laid down for them than those of level progress； to
start them some day as masters instead of men was a long…cherished
wish of Ethelberta's。
Thus she had quite enough machinery in her hands to keep decently
going； even were she to marry a man who would take a kindly view of
her peculiar situation； and afford her opportunities of
strengthening her powers for her kindred's good。 But what would be
the result if； eighteen months hencethe date at which her
occupation of the house in Exonbury Crescent came to an endshe
were still a widow； with no accumulated capital； her platform
talents grown homely and stunted through narrow living； and her
tender vein of poesy completely dispersed by it？ To calmly
relinquish the struggle at that point would have been the act of a
stoic； but not of a woman； particularly when she considered the
children； the hopes of her mother for them； and her own condition
though this was leastunder the ironical cheers which would greet a
slip back into the mire。
It here becomes necessary to turn for a moment to Master Joey
Chickerel； Ethelberta's troublesome page and brother。 The face of
this juvenile was that of a Graeco…Roman satyr to the furthest
degree of completeness。 Viewed i