rmerly marked by hoofs and ruts, and otherwise trodden away,
were now green and luxuriant, bent sticks being placed at intervals as a
protection.

While he looked through the gate a woman stepped from the lodge to open
it. In her haste she nearly swung the gate into his face, and would have
completely done so had he not jumped back.

'I beg pardon, sir,' she said, on perceiving him. 'I was going to open
it for my lady, and I didn't see you.'

Christopher moved round the corner. The perpetual snubbing that he had
received from Ethelberta ever since he had known her seemed about to be
continued through the medium of her dependents.

A trotting, accompanied by the sound of light wheels, had become
perceptible; and then a vehicle came through the gate, and turned up the
road which he had come down. He saw the back of a basket carriage, drawn
by a pair of piebald ponies. A lad in livery sat behind with folded
arms; the driver was a lady. He saw her bonnet, her shoulders, her
hair--but no more. She lessened in his gaze, and was soon out of sight.

He stood a long time thinking; but he did not wish her his.

In this wholesome frame of mind he proceeded on his way, thankful that he
had escaped meeting her, though so narrowly. But perhaps at this remote
season the embarrassment of a rencounter would not have been intense. At
Knollsea he entered the steamer for Sandbourne.

Mr. Chickerel and his family now lived at Firtop Villa, in that place, a
house which, like many others, had been built since Julian's last visit
to the town. He was directed to the outskirts, and into a fir plantation
where drives and intersecting roads had been laid out, and where new
villas had sprung up like mushrooms. He entered by a swing gate, on
which 'Firtop' was painted, and a maid-servant showed him into a neatly-
furnished room, containing Mr. Chickerel, Mrs. Chickerel, and Picotee,
the matron being reclined on a couch, which improved health had permitted
her to substitute for a bed.

He had been expected, and all were glad to see again the sojourner in
foreign lands, even down to the ladylike tabby, who was all purr and
warmth towards him except when she was all claws and nippers. But had
the prime sentiment of the meeting shown itself it would have been the
unqualified surprise of Christopher at seeing how much Picotee's face had
grown to resemble her sister's: it was less a resemblance in contours
than in expression and tone.