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of entering by the direct door； had brought the young women round
into this green…room； as it may be called。 'You see we have come in
privately enough； when the musicians arrive we can pass through
behind them； and step down to our seats from the front。'
The players could soon be heard tuning in the next room。 Then one
came through the passage…room where the three waited； and went in；
then another； then another。 Last of all came Julian。
Ethelberta sat facing the door； but Christopher； never in the least
expecting her there； did not recognize her till he was quite inside。
When he had really perceived her to be the one who had troubled his
soul so many times and long； the blood in his facenever very much…
…passed off and left it； like the shade of a cloud。 Between them
stood a table covered with green baize； which； reflecting upwards a
band of sunlight shining across the chamber； flung upon his already
white features the virescent hues of death。 The poor musician；
whose person； much to his own inconvenience； constituted a complete
breviary of the gentle emotions； looked as if he were going to fall
down in a faint。
Ethelberta flung at Lord Mountclere a look which clipped him like
pincers： he never forgot it as long as he lived。
'This is your pretty jealous schemeI see it！' she hissed to him；
and without being able to control herself went across to Julian。
But a slight gasp came from behind the door where Picotee had been
sitting。 Ethelberta and Lord Mountclere looked that way： and
behold； Picotee had nearly swooned。
Ethelberta's show of passion went as quickly as it had come； for she
felt that a splendid triumph had been put into her hands。 'Now do
you see the truth？' she whispered to Lord Mountclere without a
drachm of feeling； pointing to Christopher and then to Picoteeas
like as two snowdrops now。
'I do； I do；' murmured the viscount hastily。
They both went forward to help Christopher in restoring the fragile
Picotee： he had set himself to that task as suddenly as he possibly
could to cover his own near approach to the same condition。 Not
much help was required； the little girl's indisposition being quite
momentary； and she sat up in the chair again。
'Are you better？' said Ethelberta to Christopher。
'Quite wellquite；' he said； smiling faintly。 'I am glad to see
you。 I must； I think； go into the next room now。' He bowed and
walked out awkwardly。
'Are you better； too？' she said to Picotee。
'Quite well；' said Picotee。
'You are quite sure you know between whom the love lies noweh？'
Ethelberta asked in a sarcastic whisper of Lord Mountclere。
'I ambeyond a doubt；' murmured the anxious nobleman； he feared
that look of hers； which was not less dominant than irresistible。
Some additional moments given to thought on the circumstances
rendered Ethelberta still more indignant and intractable。 She went
out at the door by which they had entered； along the passage； and
down the stairs。 A shuffling footstep followed； but she did not
turn her head。 When they reached the bottom of the stairs the
carriage had gone； their exit not being expected till two hours
later。 Ethelberta； nothing daunted； swept along the pavement and
down the street in a turbulent prance； Lord Mountclere trotting
behind with a jowl reduced to a mere nothing by his concern at the
discourtesy into which he had been lured by jealous whisperings。
'My dearestforgive me； I confess I doubted youbut I was beside
myself；' came to her ears from over her shoulder。 But Ethelberta
walked on as before。
Lord Mountclere sighed like a poet over a ledger。 'An old manwho
is not very oldnaturally torments himself with fears of losing
no； noit was an innocent jest of mineyou will forgive a joke
hee…hee？' he said again； on getting no reply。
'You had no right to mistrust me！'
'I do notyou did not blench。 You should have told me before that
it was your sister and not yourself who was entangled with him。'
'You brought me to Melchester on purpose to confront him！'
'Yes； I did。'
'Are you not ashamed？'
'I am satisfied。 It is better to know the truth by any means than
to die of suspense； better for us bothsurely you see that？'
They had by this time got to the end of a long street； and into a
deserted side road by which the station could be indirectly reached。
Picotee appeared in the distance as a mere distracted speck of
girlhood； following them because not knowing what else to do in her
sickness of body and mind。 Once out of sight here； Ethelberta began
to cry。
'Ethelberta；' said Lord Mountclere； in an agony of trouble； 'don't
be vexed！ It was an inconsiderate trickI own it。 Do what you
will； but do not desert me now！ I could not bear ityou would kill
me if you were to leave me。 Anything； but be mine。'
Ethelberta continued her way； and drying her eyes entered the
station； where； on searching the time…tables； she found there would
be no train for Anglebury for the next two hours。 Then more slowly
she turned towards the town again； meeting Picotee and keeping in
her company。
Lord Mountclere gave up the chase； but as he wished to get into the
town again； he followed in the same direction。 When Ethelberta had
proceeded as far as the Red Lion Hotel； she turned towards it with
her companion； and being shown to a room； the two sisters shut
themselves in。 Lord Mountclere paused and entered the White Hart；
the rival hotel to the Red Lion； which stood in an adjoining street。
Having secluded himself in an apartment here； walked from window to
window awhile； and made himself generally uncomfortable； he sat down
to the writing materials on the table； and concocted a note：
'WHITE HART HOTEL。
'MY DEAR MRS。 PETHERWIN；You do not mean to be so cruel as to break
your plighted word to me？ Remember； there is no love without much
jealousy； and lovers are ever full of sighs and misgiving。 I have
owned to as much contrition as can reasonably be expected。 I could
not endure the suspicion that you loved another。Yours always；
'MOUNTCLERE。'
This he sent； watching from the window its progress along the
street。 He awaited anxiously for an answer； and waited long。 It
was nearly twenty minutes before he could hear a messenger
approaching the door。 Yesshe had actually sent a reply； he prized
it as if it had been the first encouragement he had ever in his life
received from woman：
'MY LORD' （wrote Ethelberta）；'I am not prepared at present to
enter into the question of marriage at all。 The incident which has
occurred affords me every excuse for withdrawing my promise； since
it was given under misapprehensions on a point that materially
affects my happiness。
'E。 PETHERWIN。'
'Ho…ho…hoMiss Hoity…toity！' said Lord Mountclere； trotting up and
down。 But； remembering it was her June against his November； this
did not last long； and he frantically replied：
'MY DARLING；I cannot release youI must do anything to keep my
treasure。 Will you not see me for a few minutes； and let bygones go
to