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Updated: June 16, 2025
Chickerel, in deploring the risks of their present speculative mode of life, was far from imagining that signs of the foul future so much dreaded were actually apparent to Ethelberta at the time the lament was spoken. Hence the daughter's uncommon sensitiveness to prophecy. It was as if a dead-reckoner poring over his chart should predict breakers ahead to one who already beheld them.
'What an impertinent gentleman 'tis, said Chickerel. 'As if we had tried for her to marry his brother! 'He knows better than that, said Sol. 'But he'll never believe that Berta didn't lay a trap for the old fellow. He thinks at this moment that Lord Mountclere has never been told of us and our belongings. 'I wonder if she has deceived him in anything, murmured Chickerel.
'Are you Miss Chickerel? she said to Picotee. 'Yes, said Picotee, guessing that this was Menlove, and fearing her a little. 'Jane tells me that you have come to visit your father, and would like to look at the company going to dinner. Well, they are not much to see, you know; but such as they are you are welcome to the sight of. Come along with me.
Chickerel followed closely, with sharp glances from the corner of his eye, and it was plain from Joey's nervous manner of lingering in the shadows of the area doorway instead of entering the house, that the butler had in some way set himself to prevent all communion between the fair lady's-maid and his son for that evening at least.
'If you are ill you had better go and rest yourself, Chickerel. Send in Thomas. Chickerel, who seemed to be much disturbed, then very gladly left the room, and dinner proceeded.
Two large books were lying before him on the vestry table, one of them being open. As the clerk spoke he looked slantingly on the page, as a person might do to discover if some writing were dry. Mountclere and Chickerel gazed on the same page. The book was the marriage-register. 'Too late! said Chickerel. There plainly enough stood the signatures of Lord Mountclere and Ethelberta.
It here becomes necessary to turn for a moment to Master Joey Chickerel, Ethelberta's troublesome page and brother. The face of this juvenile was that of a Graeco-Roman satyr to the furthest degree of completeness.
But, as with most men of the world, this was mere mechanism: his actual emotions were kept so far within his person that they were rarely heard or seen near his features. On reading the builders' names over the gateway he entered the yard, and asked at the office if Solomon Chickerel was engaged on the premises.
'Father, ought we not to go on at once to Ethelberta's, instead of waiting? said Sol, on reaching the vestry, still in ignorance. ''Twas no use in coming here. 'No use at all, said Chickerel, as if he had straw in his throat. 'Look at this. I would almost sooner have had it that in leaving this church I came from her grave well, no, perhaps not that, but I fear it is a bad thing.
On reaching a suitable eminence, the father and son stood still to look upon the many-chimneyed building, or rather conglomeration of buildings, to which these groves and glades formed a setting. 'We will just give a glance, said Chickerel, 'and then go away. It don't seem well to me that Ethelberta should have this; it is too much. The sudden change will do her no good.
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