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'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 the winds？'
Was ever a thrush so safe in a cherry net before！
The messenger came back with the information that Mrs。 Petherwin had
taken a walk to the Close； her companion alone remaining at the
hotel。 There being nothing else left for the viscount to do； he put
on his hat； and went out on foot in the same direction。 He had not
walked far when he saw Ethelberta moving slowly along the High
Street before him。
Ethelberta was at this hour wandering without any fixed intention
beyond that of consuming time。 She was very wretched； and very
indifferent： the former when thinking of her past； the latter when
thinking of the days to come。 While she walked thus unconscious of
the streets； and their groups of other wayfarers； she saw
Christopher emerge from a door not many paces in advance； and close
it behind him： he stood for a moment on the step before descending
into the road。
She could not； even had she wished it； easily check her progress
without rendering the chance of his perceiving her still more
certain。 But she did not wish any such thing； and it made little
difference； for he had already seen her in taking his survey round；
and came down from the door to her side。 It was impossible for
anything formal to pass between them now。
'You are not at the concert； Mr。 Julian？' she said。 'I am glad to
have a better opportunity of speaking to you； and of asking for your
sister。 Unfortunately there is not time for us to call upon her to…
day。'
'Thank you； but it makes no difference；' said Julian； with somewhat
sad reserve。 'I will tell her I have met you； she is away from home
just at present。' And finding that Ethelberta did not rejoin
immediately he observed； 'The chief organist； old Dr。 Breeve； has
taken my place at the concert； as it was arranged he should do after
the opening part。 I am now going to the Cathedral for the afternoon
service。 You are going there too？'
'I thought of looking at the interior for a moment。'
So they went on side by side； saying little； for it was a situation
in which scarcely any appropriate thing could be spoken。 Ethelberta
was the less reluctant to walk in his company because of the
provocation to skittishness that Lord Mountclere had given； a
provocation which she still resented。 But she was far from wishing
to increase his jealousy； and yet this was what she was doing； Lord
Mountclere being a perturbed witness from behind of all that was
passing now。
They turned the corner of the short street of connection which led
under an archway to the Cathedral Close； the old peer dogging them
still。 Christopher seemed to warm up a little； and repeated the
invitation。 'You will come with your sister to see us before you
leave？' he said。 'We have tea at six。'
'We shall have left Melchester before that time。 I am now only
waiting for the train。'
'You two have not come all the way from Knollsea alone？'
'Part of the way；' said Ethelberta evasively。
'And going back alone？'
'No。 Only for the last five miles。 At least that was the
arrangementI am not quite sure if it holds good。'
'You don't wish me to see you safely in the train？'
'It is not necessary： thank you very much。 We are well used to
getting about the world alone； and from Melchester to Knollsea is no
serious journey； late or early。 。 。 。 Yet I think I ought； in
honesty； to tell you that we are not entirely by ourselves in
Melchester to…day。'
'I remember I saw your friendrelativein the room at the Town…
hall。 It did not occur to my mind for the moment that he was any
other than a stranger standing there。'
'He is not a relative；' she said； with perplexity。 'I hardly know；
Christopher； how to explain to you my position here to…day； because
of some difficulties that have arisen since we have been in the
town； which may alter it entirely。 On that account I will be less
frank with you than I should like to be； considering how long we
have known each other。 It would be wrong； however； if I were not to
tell you that there has been a possibility of my marriage with him。'
'The elderly gentleman？'
'Yes。 And I came here in his company； intending to return with him。
But you shall know all soon。 Picotee shall write to Faith。'
'I always think the Cathedral looks better from this point than from
the point usually chosen by artists；' he said； with nervous
quickness； directing her glance upwards to the silent structure； now
misty and unrelieved by either high light or deep shade。 'We get
the grouping of the chapels and choir…aisles more clearly shownand
the whole culminates to a more perfect pyramid from this spotdo
you think so？'
'Yes。 I do。'
A little further； and Christopher stopped to enter； when Ethelberta
bade him farewell。 'I thought at one time that our futures might
have been different from what they are apparently becoming；' he said
then； regarding her as a stall…reader regards the brilliant book he
cannot afford to buy。 'But one gets weary of repining about that。
I wish Picotee and yourself could see us oftener； I am as confirmed
a bachelor now as Faith is an old maid。 I wonder ifshould the
event you contemplate occuryou and he will ever visit us； or we
shall ever visit you！'
Christopher was evidently imagining the elderly gentleman to be some
retired farmer； or professional man already so intermixed with the
metamorphic classes of society as not to be surprised or
inconvenienced by her beginnings； one who wished to secure
Ethelberta as an ornament to his parlour fire in a quiet spirit； and
in no intoxicated mood regardless of issues。 She could scarcely
reply to his supposition； and the parting was what might have been
predicted from a conversation so carefully controlled。
Ethelberta； as she had intended； now went on further； and entering
the nave began to inspect the sallow monuments which lined the
grizzled pile。 She did not perceive amid the shadows an old
gentleman who had crept into the mouldy place as stealthily as a
worm into a skull； and was keeping himself carefully beyond her
observation。 She continued to regard feature after feature till the
choristers had filed in from the south side； and peals broke forth
from the organ on the black oaken mass at the junction of nave and
choir； shaking every cobweb in the dusky vaults； and Ethelberta's
heart no less。 She knew the fingers that were pressing out those
rolling sounds； and knowing them； became absorbed in tracing their
progress。 To go towards the organ…loft was an act of
unconsciousness； and she did not pause till she stood almost beneath
it。
Ethelberta was awakened from vague imaginings by the close approach
of the old gentleman alluded to； who spoke with a great deal of
agitation。
'I have been trying to meet with you；' said Lord Mountclere。 'Come；
let us be friends again！Ethelberta； I MUST not lose you！ You
cannot mean that the engagement shall be broken off？' He was far
too desirous to possess her at any price now to run a second risk of
exasperating her； and forb