'Do you know the Petherwins' present address?'

'Underground, sir, for the old lady. She died some time ago in
Switzerland, and was buried there, I believe.'

'And Mrs. Petherwin--the young lady,' said Christopher, starting.

'We are not acquainted personally with the family,' the man replied. 'My
master has only taken the house for a few months, whilst extensive
alterations are being made in his own on the other side of the park,
which he goes to look after every day. If you want any further
information about Lady Petherwin, Mrs. Petherwin will probably give it. I
can let you have her address.'

'Ah, yes; thank you,' said Christopher.

The footman handed him one of some cards which appeared to have been left
for the purpose. Julian, though tremblingly anxious to know where
Ethelberta was, did not look at it till he could take a cool survey in
private. The address was 'Arrowthorne Lodge, Upper Wessex.'

'Dear me!' said Christopher to himself, 'not far from Melchester; and not
dreadfully far from Sandbourne.'

12. ARROWTHORNE PARK AND LODGE

Summer was just over when Christopher Julian found himself rattling along
in the train to Sandbourne on some trifling business appertaining to his
late father's affairs, which would afford him an excuse for calling at
Arrowthorne about the song of hers that he wished to produce. He
alighted in the afternoon at a little station some twenty miles short of
Sandbourne, and leaving his portmanteau behind him there, decided to walk
across the fields, obtain if possible the interview with the lady, and
return then to the station to finish the journey to Sandbourne, which he
could thus reach at a convenient hour in the evening, and, if he chose,
take leave of again the next day.

It was an afternoon which had a fungous smell out of doors, all being
sunless and stagnant overhead and around. The various species of trees
had begun to assume the more distinctive colours of their decline, and
where there had been one pervasive green were now twenty greenish
yellows, the air in the vistas between them being half opaque with blue
exhalation. Christopher in his walk overtook a countryman, and inquired
if the path they were following would lead him to Arrowthorne Lodge.

''Twill take 'ee into Arr'thorne Park,' the man replied. 'But you won't
come anigh the Lodge, unless you bear round to the left as might be.'

'Mrs. Petherwin lives there, I believe?'

'No, sir. Leas