The Hand of Ethelberta

assembled there to enjoy themselves as far as it was possible to do so in a neutral way-all carefully keeping every variety of feelin

ay even for hair architecture-the one with her back towards us?' said

have quite forgotten-cannot keep people's names in my head at all; nor could my father either-nor any of my family-a very odd thing. But my old friend Mrs. Napper knows for certain.' And he

mes and prints 'em,' said Mrs. Napper, in a detached sentence, an

ere sometimes half inclined to think that her cuts and modes were acquired by some secret communication with the mysterious clique which orders the livery of the fashionable world, for-a

, diminishing his broad general gaze at th

y differ very materially from mine, but I cannot help admiring her in the more reflective pieces; the songs I don't care for. The method in which she handles curious subject

lp it. And, no doubt, you admire the lady immensely for writing them: I don't. Everybody is so talented now-a-days that the only people I care to honour as deserving real distinction are those who remain in obscur

owards a bustling movement in the neighbourhood of the piano. 'I believe that so

confined within his person to such an extent that only a few unimportant symptoms, su

their energies upon new verse until they find that such verse is likely to endu

e scene in that quarter. But among some others the interest in the songs seemed to be very great; and it was unanimously wished that the young lady who had practised the different piece

, when, at the end of the thir

our opinion is by far the most valuable. In which of the cases do you

unexpected calls made upon herself,

a place in Wessex, and is written by an unheard-of man who lives somewhere down there-a man who will be, nevertheless, heard a great

eans,' said another friend of Ethelbe

he poetess regretfully; 'but the music is at home. I had not received it when

ew that Ethelberta lived only in the next street, appealin

n was at once quietly despatched with precise directions

ting?' asked a young married friend of Mrs.

est manner to the best air that has been composed for it.

therwin until her name leaked out

on: everybody knows a little, till she is astonishingly well known altogether; but nobody knows her entirely. She was the or

ently a very g

dmirer as whatever he would like to have it. Old men like her because she is so girlish; youths because

anomalous sort of

, she owes her success in practice

She appears to be quite the corre

seholds-a theme provoked by a discussion that was in progress in the pages of some periodical of the time

elberta showed

eories; and she lends her maids and men books of the wrong kind for their station, and sends them to picture exhibitions which they don't

venturesomeness. 'Yes, and d

sort push on, and get into business, and get great warehouses,

crap of heirloom

hought as much of as if their forefathers h

e the firs

she might not date back more than a trifling century or so, adopted the suggestion with her usual well-known courtesy, and blushed down to her locket at the thought o

nment?' continued Mrs. Belmaine, smiling. 'But no-the subject i

est plan would be for somebody to write a pamphlet, "The Shortest Way with the Servants," just as there wa

that was written by a dissent

e example will do to

it will,' said Mrs. Belmai

gan, and the sweetness of her singing was such that even the most unsympathetic honoured her by looking as if they would be willing to listen to every note the song contained if it were not quite so much trouble to do so. Some were so interested that, instead of continuing their conversation, they remained in silent consideration of how they would continue it when she had finished; while the particularly civil people arranged their countenances into every attentive form that the mind could devise. One emotional gentleman looked at the corner of

mposer's own copy, which has never met the public eye, or any other than his own before to-day. And I see that he has actually sketched in the lines by hand, instead of having

e suggested by that remark of Mrs. Doncastle's, and what new inclination resulted from the public presentation of his tune and her words as parts of one organic whole, ar

rself and Lady Petherwin, walked in circles about the carpet till the fire

ces, is only another name for unkindness. Before thanking you for your sweet gift, let me tell you in a few

ness at my previous silence on those points may not cause you to withdraw your act of courtesy now? But t

en-down "lady by birth" that you have supposed me? That my father is not dead, as you probably imagi

d arms and say, with a consciousness of superior power, "Look at a real man!" I should have been able to show you antecedents which, if not intensely romantic, are not altogether antagonistic to romance. But the present fashion

ntences earlier, became pronounced. She threw the writing into the dull fire, poked

f fame, or as yet a long way off-I cannot decide what form of expression my earnest ack

that cannot justify attention-before you could have apotheosized the song in so exquisite a manner. My gratitude took the form of wretchedness when, on hearing the effect of the ballad in public this evening, I thought that I had not power to withhold a reply which might do us both more harm than good. Then I said, "Away with all emotion

ach but a row of bones in our individual graves, your genius will b

ocially no good unless you mix with it the ingredient of ambition-a quality in which I fear you are very

powerful to prevent such a meeting, rather it is that I shall energetically avoid it. Th

id touching upon a subject which all men and women in our position inevitably think of, no matter what they say. Some women might have writ

may be lost to fame because of a woman's squeamishness-it shall go,' she partially dressed herself, wrapped a large cloak around her, descended the stairs, and went out to the pillar-bo

lberta had said nothing a