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She had not gone many steps among the hazels； which here formed a
perfect thicket； when she observed a belt of holly…bushes in their
midst； towards the outskirts of these an opening on her left hand
directly led； thence winding round into a clear space of greensward；
which they completely enclosed。 On this isolated and mewed…up bit
of lawn stood a timber…built cottage； having ornamental barge…
boards； balconettes； and porch。 It was an erection interesting
enough as an experiment； and grand as a toy； but as a building
contemptible。
A blue gauze of smoke floated over the chimney； as if somebody was
living there； round towards the side some empty hen…coops were piled
away； while under the hollies were divers frameworks of wire netting
and sticks； showing that birds were kept here at some seasons of the
year。
Being lady of all she surveyed； Ethelberta crossed the leafy sward；
and knocked at the door。 She was interested in knowing the purpose
of the peculiar little edifice。
The door was opened by a woman wearing a clean apron upon a not very
clean gown。 Ethelberta asked who lived in so pretty a place。
'Miss Gruchette；' the servant replied。 'But she is not here now。'
'Does she live here alone？'
'Yesexcepting myself and a fellow…servant。'
'Oh。'
'She lives here to attend to the pheasants and poultry； because she
is so clever in managing them。 They are brought here from the
keeper's over the hill。 Her father was a fancier。'
'Miss Gruchette attends to the birds； and two servants attend to
Miss Gruchette？'
'Well； to tell the truth； m'm； the servants do almost all of it。
Still； that's what Miss Gruchette is here for。 Would you like to
see the house？ It is pretty。' The woman spoke with hesitation； as
if in doubt between the desire of earning a shilling and the fear
that Ethelberta was not a stranger。 That Ethelberta was Lady
Mountclere she plainly did not dream。
'I fear I can scarcely stay long enough； yet I will just look in；'
said Ethelberta。 And as soon as they had crossed the threshold she
was glad of having done so。
The cottage internally may be described as a sort of boudoir
extracted from the bulk of a mansion and deposited in a wood。 The
front room was filled with nicknacks； curious work…tables； filigree
baskets； twisted brackets supporting statuettes； in which the
grotesque in every case ruled the design； love…birds； in gilt cages；
French bronzes； wonderful boxes； needlework of strange patterns； and
other attractive objects。 The apartment was one of those which seem
to laugh in a visitor's face and on closer examination express
frivolity more distinctly than by words。
'Miss Gruchette is here to keep the fowls？' said Ethelberta； in a
puzzled tone； after a survey。
'Yes。 But they don't keep her。'
Ethelberta did not attempt to understand； and ceased to occupy her
mind with the matter。 They came from the cottage to the door； where
she gave the woman a trifling sum； and turned to leave。 But
footsteps were at that moment to be heard beating among the leaves
on the other side of the hollies； and Ethelberta waited till the
walkers should have passed。 The voices of two men reached herself
and the woman as they stood。 They were close to the house； yet
screened from it by the holly…bushes； when one could be heard to say
distinctly； as if with his face turned to the cottage
'Lady Mountclere gone for good？'
'I suppose so。 Ha…ha！ So come； so go。'
The speakers passed on； their backs becoming visible through the
opening。 They appeared to be woodmen。
'What Lady Mountclere do they mean？' said Ethelberta。
The woman blushed。 'They meant Miss Gruchette。'
'Oha nickname。'
'Yes。'
'Why？'
The woman whispered why in a story of about two minutes' length。
Ethelberta turned pale。
'Is she going to return？' she inquired； in a thin hard voice。
'Yes； next week。 You know her； m'm？'
'No。 I am a stranger。'
'So much the better。 I may tell you； then； that an old tale is
flying about the neighbourhoodthat Lord Mountclere was privately
married to another woman； at Knollsea； this morning early。 Can it
be true？'
'I believe it to be true。'
'And that she is of no family？'
'Of no family。'
'Indeed。 Then the Lord only knows what will become of the poor
thing。 There will be murder between 'em。'
'Between whom？'
'Her and the lady who lives here。 She won't budge an inchnot
she！'
Ethelberta moved aside。 A shade seemed to overspread the world； the
sky； the trees； and the objects in the foreground。 She kept her
face away from the woman； and； whispering a reply to her Good…
morning； passed through the hollies into the leaf…strewn path。 As
soon as she came to a large trunk she placed her hands against it
and rested her face upon them。 She drew herself lower down； lower；
lower； till she crouched upon the leaves。 'Ay'tis what father and
Sol meant！ O Heaven！' she whispered。
She soon arose； and went on her way to the house。 Her fair features
were firmly set； and she scarcely heeded the path in the
concentration which had followed her paroxysm。 When she reached the
park proper she became aware of an excitement that was in progress
there。
Ethelberta's absence had become unaccountable to Lord Mountclere；
who could hardly permit her retirement from his sight for a minute。
But at first he had made due allowance for her eccentricity as a
woman of genius； and would not take notice of the half…hour's
desertion； unpardonable as it might have been in other classes of
wives。 Then he had inquired； searched； been alarmed： he had
finally sent men…servants in all directions about the park to look
for her。 He feared she had fallen out of a window； down a well； or
into the lake。 The next stage of search was to have been drags and
grapnels： but Ethelberta entered the house。
Lord Mountclere rushed forward to meet her； and such was her
contrivance that he noticed no change。 The searchers were called
in； Ethelberta explaining that she had merely obeyed the wish of her
brother in going out to meet him。 Picotee； who had returned from
her walk with Sol； was upstairs in one of the rooms which had been
allotted to her。 Ethelberta managed to run in there on her way
upstairs to her own chamber。
'Picotee； put your things on again；' she said。 'You are the only
friend I have in this house； and I want one badly。 Go to Sol； and
deliver this message to himthat I want to see him at once。 You
must overtake him； if you walk all the way to Anglebury。 But the
train does not leave till four； so that there is plenty of time。'
'What is the matter？' said Picotee。 'I cannot walk all the way。'
'I don't think you will have to do thatI hope not。'
'He is going to stop at Corvsgate to have a bit of lunch： I might
overtake him there； if I must！'
'Yes。 And tell him to come to the east passage door。 It is that
door next to the entrance to the stable…yard。 There is a little
yew…tree outside it。 On second thoughts you； dear； must not come
back。 Wait at Corvsgate in the little inn parlour till Sol comes to
you again。 You will probably then have to go home to London alone；
but do not