第30章

Herface(asindeedfacesgenerallyare，thoughIgranttheyliesometimes)wasafairindextoherdisposition。Shewasgoodnatureitself，andeveryoneinthehouse，notexcludingIbelieveevenTheobaldhimselfafterafashion，wasfondofher。AsforChristinashetooktheverywarmestinterestinher，andusedtohaveherintothedining-roomtwiceaweek，andprepareherforconfirmation(forbysomeaccidentshehadneverbeenconfirmed)byexplainingtoherthegeographyofPalestineandtheroutestakenbyStPaulonhisvariousjourneysinAsiaMinor。

WhenBishopTreadwelldidactuallycomedowntoBattersbyandholdaconfirmationthere(Christinahadherwish，hesleptatBattersby，andshehadagranddinnerpartyforhim，andcalledhim“Mylord“

severaltimes)，hewassomuchstruckwithherprettyfaceandmodestdemeanourwhenhelaidhishandsuponherthatheaskedChristinaabouther。WhensherepliedthatEllenwasoneofherownservants，thebishopseemed，soshethoughtorchosetothink，quitepleasedthatsoprettyagirlshouldhavefoundsoexceptionallygoodasituation。

Ernestusedtogetupearlyduringtheholidayssothathemightplaythepianobeforebreakfastwithoutdisturbinghispapaandmamma——orrather，perhaps，withoutbeingdisturbedbythem。Ellenwouldgenerallybetheresweepingthedrawing-roomflooranddustingwhilehewasplaying，andtheboy，whowasreadytomakefriendswithmostpeople，soonbecameveryfondofher。Hewasnotasageneralrulesensitivetothecharmsofthefairsex，indeedhehadhardlybeenthrowninwithanywomenexcepthisAuntsAllaby，andhisAuntAlethea，hismother，hissisterCharlotteandMrsJay；

sometimesalsohehadhadtotakeoffhishattotheMissSkinners，andhadfeltasifheshouldsinkintotheearthondoingso，buthisshynesshadwornoffwithEllen，andthepairhadbecomefastfriends。

PerhapsitwaswellthatErnestwasnotathomeforverylongtogether，butasyethisaffectionthoughheartywasquitePlatonic。

Hewasnotonlyinnocent，butdeplorably——Imightevensayguiltily——

innocent。HispreferencewasbaseduponthefactthatEllenneverscoldedhim，butwasalwayssmilingandgoodtempered；besidessheusedtoliketohearhimplay，andthisgavehimadditionalzestinplaying。ThemorningaccesstothepianowasindeedtheonedistinctadvantagewhichtheholidayshadinErnest’seyes，foratschoolhecouldnotgetatapianoexceptquasi-surreptitiouslyattheshopofMrPearsall，themusic-seller。

Onreturningthismidsummerhewasshockedtofindhisfavouritelookingpaleandill。Allhergoodspiritshadlefther，theroseshadfledfromhercheek，andsheseemedonthepointofgoingintoadecline。Shesaidshewasunhappyabouthermother，whosehealthwasfailing，andwasafraidshewasherselfnotlongforthisworld。

Christina，ofcourse，noticedthechange。“Ihaveoftenremarked。”

shesaid，“thatthoseveryfresh-coloured，healthy-lookinggirlsarethefirsttobreakup。IhavegivenhercalomelandJames’spowdersrepeatedly，andthoughshedoesnotlikeit，IthinkImustshowhertoDrMartinwhenhenextcomeshere。”

“Verywell，mydear。”saidTheobald，andsonexttimeDrMartincameEllenwassentfor。DrMartinsoondiscoveredwhatwouldprobablyhavebeenapparenttoChristinaherselfifshehadbeenabletoconceiveofsuchanailmentinconnectionwithaservantwholivedunderthesameroofasTheobaldandherself——thepurityofwhosemarriedlifeshouldhavepreservedallunmarriedpeoplewhocamenearthemfromanytaintofmischief。

WhenitwasdiscoveredthatinthreeorfourmonthsmoreEllenwouldbeco