here spreads upon her face when in repose an air of
innocence which is charmingly belied by the subtlety we discover beneath
it when she begins her tale; and this amusing discrepancy between her
physical presentment and the inner woman is further illustrated by the
misgiving, which seizes us on her entrance, that so impressionable a lady
will never bear up in the face of so trying an audience. . . . The
combinations of incident which Mrs. Petherwin persuades her hearers that
she has passed through are not a little marvellous; and if what is
rumoured be true, that the tales are to a great extent based upon her own
experiences, she has proved herself to be no less daring in adventure
than facile in her power of describing it.'

17. ETHELBERTA'S HOUSE

After such successes as these, Christopher could not forego the seductive
intention of calling upon the poetess and romancer, at her now
established town residence in Exonbury Crescent. One wintry afternoon he
reached the door--now for the third time--and gave a knock which had in
it every tender refinement that could be thrown into the somewhat
antagonistic vehicle of noise. Turning his face down the street he
waited restlessly on the step. There was a strange light in the
atmosphere: the glass of the street-lamps, the varnished back of a
passing cab, a milk-woman's cans, and a row of church-windows glared in
his eyes like new-rubbed copper; and on looking the other way he beheld a
bloody sun hanging among the chimneys at the upper end, as a danger-lamp
to warn him off.

By this time the door was opened, and before him stood Ethelberta's young
brother Joey, thickly populated with little buttons, the remainder of him
consisting of invisible green.

'Ah, Joseph,' said Christopher, instantly recognizing the boy. 'What,
are you here in office? Is your--'

Joey lifted his forefinger and spread his mouth in a genial manner, as if
to signify particular friendliness mingled with general caution.

'Yes, sir, Mrs. Petherwin is my mistress. I'll see if she is at home,
sir,' he replied, raising his shoulders and winking a wink of strategic
meanings by way of finish--all which signs showed, if evidence were
wanted, how effectually this pleasant young page understood, though quite
fresh from Wessex, the duties of his peculiar position. Mr. Julian was
shown to the drawing-room, and there he found Ethelberta alone.

She gave him a hand so cool and still that Christop