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took her into Miss Aldclyffe's dressing…room； on the first…floor；
where； after explaining the whereabouts of various articles of
apparel； the housekeeper left her； telling her that she had an hour
yet upon her hands before dressing…time。 Cytherea laid out upon the
bed in the next room all that she had been told would be required
that evening； and then went again to the little room which had been
appropriated to herself。
Here she sat down by the open window； leant out upon the sill like
another Blessed Damozel； and listlessly looked down upon the
brilliant pattern of colours formed by the flower…beds on the lawn
now richly crowded with late summer blossom。 But the vivacity of
spirit which had hitherto enlivened her； was fast ebbing under the
pressure of prosaic realities； and the warm scarlet of the
geraniums； glowing most conspicuously； and mingling with the vivid
cold red and green of the verbenas； the rich depth of the dahlia；
and the ripe mellowness of the calceolaria； backed by the pale hue
of a flock of meek sheep feeding in the open park； close to the
other side of the fence； were； to a great extent； lost upon her
eyes。 She was thinking that nothing seemed worth while； that it was
possible she might die in a workhouse； and what did it matter？ The
petty； vulgar details of servitude that she had just passed through；
her dependence upon the whims of a strange woman； the necessity of
quenching all individuality of character in herself； and
relinquishing her own peculiar tastes to help on the wheel of this
alien establishment； made her sick and sad； and she almost longed to
pursue some free； out…of…doors employment； sleep under trees or a
hut； and know no enemy but winter and cold weather； like shepherds
and cowkeepers； and birds and animalsay； like the sheep she saw
there under her window。 She looked sympathizingly at them for
several minutes； imagining their enjoyment of the rich grass。
'Yeslike those sheep；' she said aloud； and her face reddened with
surprise at a discovery she made that very instant。
The flock consisted of some ninety or a hundred young stock ewes：
the surface of their fleece was as rounded and even as a cushion；
and white as milk。 Now she had just observed that on the left
buttock of every one of them were marked in distinct red letters the
initials 'E。 S。'
'E。 S。' could bring to Cytherea's mind only one thought； but that
immediately and for everthe name of her lover； Edward Springrove。
'O； if it should be！' She interrupted her words by a resolve。
Miss Aldclyffe's carriage at the same moment made its appearance in
the drive； but Miss Aldclyffe was not her object now。 It was to
ascertain to whom the sheep belonged； and to set her surmise at rest
one way or the other。 She flew downstairs to Mrs。 Morris。
'Whose sheep are those in the park； Mrs。 Morris？'
'Farmer Springrove's。'
'What Farmer Springrove is that？' she said quickly。
'Why； surely you know？ Your friend； Farmer Springrove； the cider…
maker； and who keeps the Three Tranters Inn； who recommended you to
me when he came in to see me the other day？'
Cytherea's mother…wit suddenly warned her in the midst of her
excitement that it was necessary not to betray the secret of her
love。 'O yes；' she said； 'of course。' Her thoughts had run as
follows in that short interval：
'Farmer Springrove is Edward's father； and his name is Edward too。
'Edward knew I was going to advertise for a situation of some kind。
'He watched the Times； and saw it； my address being attached。
'He thought it would be excellent for me to be here that we might
meet whenever he came home。
'He told his father that I might be recommended as a lady's…maid；
and he knew my brother and myself。
'His father told Mrs。 Morris； Mrs。 Morris told Miss Aldclyffe。'
The whole chain of incidents that drew her there was plain； and
there was no such thing as chance in the matter。 It was all
Edward's doing。
The sound of a bell was heard。 Cytherea did not heed it； and still
continued in her reverie。
'That's Miss Aldclyffe's bell；' said Mrs。 Morris。
'I suppose it is；' said the young woman placidly。
'Well； it means that you must go up to her；' the matron continued；
in a tone of surprise。
Cytherea felt a burning heat come over her； mingled with a sudden
irritation at Mrs。 Morris's hint。 But the good sense which had
recognized stern necessity prevailed over rebellious independence；
the flush passed； and she said hastily
'Yes； yes； of course； I must go to her when she pulls the bell
whether I want to or no。'
However； in spite of this painful reminder of her new position in
life； Cytherea left the apartment in a mood far different from the
gloomy sadness of ten minutes previous。 The place felt like home to
her now； she did not mind the pettiness of her occupation； because
Edward evidently did not mind it； and this was Edward's own spot。
She found time on her way to Miss Aldclyffe's dressing…room to
hurriedly glide out by a side door； and look for a moment at the
unconscious sheep bearing the friendly initials。 She went up to
them to try to touch one of the flock； and felt vexed that they all
stared sceptically at her kind advances； and then ran pell…mell down
the hill。 Then； fearing any one should discover her childish
movements； she slipped indoors again； and ascended the staircase；
catching glimpses； as she passed； of silver…buttoned footmen； who
flashed about the passages like lightning。
Miss Aldclyffe's dressing…room was an apartment which； on a casual
survey； conveyed an impression that it was available for almost any
purpose save the adornment of the feminine person。 In its hours of
perfect order nothing pertaining to the toilet was visible； even the
inevitable mirrors with their accessories were arranged in a roomy
recess not noticeable from the door； lighted by a window of its own；
called the dressing…window。
The washing…stand figured as a vast oak chest； carved with grotesque
Renaissance ornament。 The dressing table was in appearance
something between a high altar and a cabinet piano； the surface
being richly worked in the same style of semi…classic decoration；
but the extraordinary outline having been arrived at by an ingenious
joiner and decorator from the neighbouring town； after months of
painful toil in cutting and fitting； under Miss Aldclyffe's
immediate eye； the materials being the remains of two or three old
cabinets the lady had found in the lumber…room。 About two…thirds of
the floor was carpeted； the remaining portion being laid with
parquetry of light and dark woods。
Miss Aldclyffe was standing at the larger window； away from the
dressing…niche。 She bowed； and said pleasantly； 'I am glad you have
come。 We shall get on capitally； I dare say。'
Her bonnet was off。 Cytherea did not think her so handsome as on
the earlier day； the queenliness of her beauty was harder and less
warm。 But a worse discovery than this was that Miss Aldclyffe； with
the usual obliviousness of rich people to their dependents'
specialities； seemed to have quite forgotten Cytherea's
inexperience； and mechanically delivered up her body to her handmaid
without a thought of details； and with a mild yawn。
Everything went well at first。 The dress was removed； stockings and
black boots were taken off； and silk stockings and white shoes were
put on。 Miss Aldclyffe then retired to bathe her hands and face；
and Cytherea drew breath。 If she could get through this first
evening； all would be right。 She felt that it was unfortunate that
such a crucial test for her powers as a birthday dinner should have
been applied on the threshold of her arrival； but set to again。
Miss Aldclyffe was now arrayed in a white dressing…gown； and dropped
languidly into an easy…chair； pushed up before the glass。 The
instincts of her sex and her own practice told Cytherea the next
movement。 She let Miss Aldclyffe's hair fall about her shoulders；
and began to arrange it。 It proved to be all real； a satisfaction。
Miss Aldclyffe was musingly looking on the floor； and the operation
went on for some minutes in silence。 At length her thoughts seemed
to turn to the present； and she lifted her eyes to the glass。
'Why； what on earth are you doing with my head？' she exclaimed； with
widely opened eyes。 At the words she felt the back of Cytherea's
little hand tremble against her neck。
'Perhaps you prefer it done the other fashion； madam？' said the
maiden。
'No； no； that's the fashion right enough； but you must make more
show of my hair than that； or I shall have to buy some； which God
forbid！'
'It is how I do my own；' said Cytherea naively； and with a sweetness
of tone that would have pleased the most acrimonious under
favourable circumstances； but tyranny was in the ascendant with Miss
Aldclyffe at this moment； and she was assured of palatable food for
her vice by having felt the trembling of Cytherea's hand。
'Yours； indeed！ YOUR hair！ Come； go on。' Considering that
Cytherea possessed at least five times as much of that valuable
auxiliary to woman's beauty as the lady before her； there was at the
same time some excuse for Miss Aldcl