thus formed stood Ethelberta, whom Christopher had not beheld since the
ball at Wyndway House.

Round her, leaning against branches or prostrate on the ground, were five
or six individuals. Two were young mechanics--one of them evidently a
carpenter. Then there was a boy about thirteen, and two or three younger
children. Ethelberta's appearance answered as fully as ever to that of
an English lady skilfully perfected in manner, carriage, look, and
accent; and the incongruity of her present position among lives which had
had many of Nature's beauties stamped out of them, and few of the
beauties of Art stamped in, brought him, as a second feeling, a pride in
her that almost equalled his first sentiment of surprise. Christopher's
attention was meanwhile attracted from the constitution of the group to
the words of the speaker in the centre of it--words to which her auditors
were listening with still attention.

It appeared to Christopher that Ethelberta had lately been undergoing
some very extraordinary experiences. What the beginning of them had been
he could not in the least understand, but the portion she was describing
came distinctly to his ears, and he wondered more and more.

'He came forward till he, like myself, was about twenty yards from the
edge. I instinctively grasped my useless stiletto. How I longed for the
assistance which a little earlier I had so much despised! Reaching the
block or boulder upon which I had been sitting, he clasped his arms
around from behind; his hands closed upon the empty seat, and he jumped
up with an oath. This method of attack told me a new thing with wretched
distinctness; he had, as I suppose, discovered my sex, male attire was to
serve my turn no longer. The next instant, indeed, made it clear, for he
exclaimed, "You don't escape me, masquerading madam," or some such words,