the patrician-第14节

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tickled　Lord　Valleys　a　good　deal。

〃Ordeal　by　red　pepper！　　Shouldn't　have　thought　them　equal　to　that；〃
he　said。　　〃So　you've　got　him　at　Monkland　now。　　Harbinger　still　with
you？〃

〃Yes。　　I　don't　think　Harbinger　has　much　stamina。

〃Politically？〃

Miltoun　nodded。

〃I　rather　resent　his　being　on　our　sideI　don't　think　he　does　us　any
good。　　You've　seen　that　cartoon；　I　suppose；　it　cuts　pretty　deep。　　I
couldn't　recognize　you　amongst　the　old　women；　sir。〃

Lord　Valleys　smiled　impersonally。

〃Very　clever　thing。　　By　the　way；　I　shall　win　the　Eclipse；　I　think。〃

And　thus；　spasmodically；　the　conversation　ran　till　the　last　servant
had　left　the　room。

Then　Miltoun；　without　preparation；　looked　straight　at　his　father　and
said：

〃I　want　to　marry　Mrs。　Noel；　sir。〃

Lord　Valleys　received　the　shot　with　exactly　the　same　expression　as
that　with　which　he　was　accustomed　to　watch　his　horses　beaten。　　Then
he　raised　his　wineglass　to　his　lips；　and　set　it　down　again　untouched。
This　was　the　only　sign　he　gave　of　interest　or　discomfiture。

〃Isn't　this　rather　sudden？〃

Miltoun　answered：　〃I've　wanted　to　from　the　moment　I　first　saw　her。〃

Lord　Valleys；　almost　as　good　a　judge　of　a　man　and　a　situation　as　of　a
horse　or　a　pointer　dog；　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　and　said　with　faint
sarcasm：

〃My　dear　fellow；　it's　good　of　you　to　have　told　me　this；　though；　to　be
quite　frank；　it's　a　piece　of　news　I　would　rather　not　have　heard。〃

A　dusky　flush　burned　slowly　up　in　Miltoun's　cheeks。　　He　had
underrated　his　father；　the　man　had　coolness　and　courage　in　a　crisis。

〃What　is　your　objection；　sir？〃　And　suddenly　he　noticed　that　a　wafer
in　Lord　Valleys'　hand　was　quivering。　　This　brought　into　his　eyes　no
look　of　compunction；　but　such　a　smouldering　gaze　as　the　old　Tudor
Churchman　might　have　bent　on　an　adversary　who　showed　a　sign　of
weakness。　　Lord　Valleys；　too；　noticed　the　quivering　of　that　wafer；
and　ate　it。

〃We　are　men　of　the　world；〃　he　said。

Miltoun　answered：　〃I　am　not。〃

Showing　his　first　real　symptom　of　impatience　Lord　Valleys　rapped　out：

〃So　be　it！　　I　am。〃

〃Yes？〃；　said　Miltoun。

〃Eustace！〃

Nursing　one　knee；　Miltoun　faced　that　appeal　without　the　faintest
movement。　　His　eyes　continued　to　burn　into　his　father's　face。　　A
tremor　passed　over　Lord　Valleys'　heart。　　What　intensity　of　feeling
there　was　in　the　fellow；　that　he　could　look　like　this　at　the　first
breath　of　opposition！

He　reached　out　and　took　up　the　cigar…box；　held　it　absently　towards
his　son；　and　drew　it　quickly　back。

〃I　forgot；〃　he　said；　〃you　don't。〃

And　lighting　a　cigar；　he　smoked　gravely；　looking　straight　before　him；
a　furrow　between　his　brows。　　He　spoke　at　last：

〃She　looks　like　a　lady。　　I　know　nothing　else　about　her。〃

The　smile　deepened　round　Miltoun's　mouth。

〃Why　should　you　want　to　know　anything　else？〃

Lord　Valleys　shrugged。　　His　philosophy　had　hardened。

〃I　understand　for　one　thing；〃　he　said　coldly；　〃that　there　is　a　matter
of　a　divorce。　　I　thought　you　took　the　Church's　view　on　that　subject。〃

〃She　has　not　done　wrong。〃

〃You　know　her　story；　then？〃

〃No。〃

Lord　Valleys　raised　his　brows；　in　irony　and　a　sort　of　admiration。

〃Chivalry　the　better　part　of　discretion？〃

Miltoun　answered：

〃You　don't；　I　think；　understand　the　kind　of　feeling　I　have　for　Mrs。
Noel。　　It　does　not　come　into　your　scheme　of　things。　　It　is　the　only
feeling；　however；　with　which　I　should　care　to　marry；　and　I　am　not
likely　to　feel　it　for　anyone　again。〃

Lord　Valleys　felt　once　more　that　uncanny　sense　of　insecurity。　　Was
this　true？　　And　suddenly　he　felt　Yes；　it　is　true！　　The　face　before
him　was　the　face　of　one　who　would　burn　in　his　own　fire　sooner　than
depart　from　his　standards。　　And　a　sudden　sense　of　the　utter
seriousness　of　this　dilemma　dumbed　him。

〃I　can　say　no　more　at　the　moment；〃　he　muttered　and　got　up　from　the
table。




CHAPTER　XI

Lady　Casterley　was　that　inconvenient　thingan　early　riser。　　No　woman
in　the　kingdom　was　a　better　judge　of　a　dew　carpet。　　Nature　had　in　her
time　displayed　before　her　thousands　of　those　pretty　fabrics；　where
all　the　stars　of　the　past　night；　dropped　to　the　dark　earth；　were
waiting　to　glide　up　to　heaven　again　on　the　rays　of　the　sun。　　At
Ravensham　she　walked　regularly　in　her　gardens　between　half…past　seven
and　eight；　and　when　she　paid　a　visit；　was　careful　to　subordinate
whatever　might　be　the　local　custom　to　this　habit。

When　therefore　her　maid　Randle　came　to　Barbara's　maid　at　seven
o'clock；　and　said：　〃My　old　lady　wants　Lady　Babs　to　get　up；〃　there　was
no　particular　pain　in　the　breast　of　Barbara's　maid；　who　was　doing　up
her　corsets。　　She　merely　answered　〃I'll　see　to　it。　　Lady　Babs　won't
be　too　pleased！〃　　And　ten　minutes　later　she　entered　that　white…walled
room　which　smelled　of　pinks…a　temple　of　drowsy　sweetness；　where　the
summer　light　was　vaguely　stealing　through　flowered　chintz　curtains。

Barbara　was　sleeping　with　her　cheek　on　her　hand；　and　her　tawny　hair；
gathered　back；　streaming　over　the　pillow。　　Her　lips　were　parted；　and
the　maid　thought：　〃I'd　like　to　have　hair　and　a　mouth　like　that！〃　　She
could　not　help　smiling　to　herself　with　pleasure；　Lady　Babs　looked　so
prettyprettier　asleep　even　than　awake！　　And　at　sight　of　that
beautiful　creature；　sleeping　and　smiling　in　her　sleep；　the　earthy；
hothouse　fumes　steeping　the　mind　of　one　perpetually　serving　in　an
atmosphere　unsuited　to　her　natural　growth；　dispersed。　　Beauty；　with
its　queer　touching　power　of　freeing　the　spirit　from　all　barriers　and
thoughts　of　self；　sweetened　the　maid's　eyes；　and　kept　her　standing；
holding　her　breath。　　For　Barbara　asleep　was　a　symbol　of　that　Golden
Age　in　which　she　so　desperately　believed。　　She　opened　her　eyes；　and
seeing　the　maid；　said：

〃Is　it　eight　o'clock；　Stacey？〃

〃No；　but　Lady　Casterley　wants　you　to　walk　with　her。〃

〃Oh！　　bother！　　I　was　having　such　a　dream！〃

〃Yes；　you　were　smiling。〃

〃I　was　dreaming　that　I　could　fly。〃

〃Fancy！〃

〃I　could　see　everything　spread　out　below　me；　as　close　as　I　see　you；　I
was　hovering　like　a　buzzard　hawk。　　I　felt　that　I　could　come　down
exactly　where　I　wanted。　　It　was　fascinating。　　I　had　perfect　power；
Stacey。〃

And　throwing　her　neck　back；　she　closed　her　eyes　again。　　The　sunlight
streamed　in　on　her　between　the　half…drawn　curtains。

The　queerest　impulse　to　put　out　a　hand　and　stroke　that　full　white
throat　shot　through　the　maid's　mind。

〃These　flying　machines　are　stupid；〃　murmured　Barbara；　〃the　pleasure's
in　one's　body…wings！〃

〃I　can　see　Lady　Casterley　in　the　garden。〃

Barbara　sprang　out　of　bed。　　Close　by　the　statue　of　Diana　Lady
Casterley　was　standing；　gazing　down　at　some　flowers；　a　tiny；　grey
figure。　　Barbara　sighed。　　With　her；　in　her　dream；　had　been　another
buzzard　hawk；　and　she　was　filled　with　a　sort　of　surprise；　and　queer
pleasure　that　ran　down　her　in　little　shivers　while　she　bathed　and
dressed。

In　her　haste　she　took　no　hat；　and　still　busy　with　the　fastening　of
her　linen　frock；　hurried　down　the　stairs　and　Georgian　corridor；
towards　the　garden。　　At　the　end　of　it　she　almost　ran　into　the　arms　of
Courtier。

Awakening　early　this　morning；　he　had　begun　first　thinking　of　Audrey
Noel；　threatened　by　scandal；　then　of　his　yesterday's　companion；　that
glorious　young　creature；　whose　image　had　so　gripped　and　taken
possession　of　him。　　In　the　pleasure　of　this　memory　he　had　steeped
himself。　　She　was　youth　itself！　　That　perfect　thing；　a　young　girl
without　callowness。

And　his　words；　when　she　nearly　ran　into　him；　were：　〃The　Winged
Victory！〃

Barbara's　answer　was　equally　symbolic：　〃A　buzzard　hawk！　　Do　you　know；
I　dreamed　we　were　flying；　Mr。　Courtier。〃

Courtier　gravely　answered

〃If　the　gods　give　me　that　dream〃

》From　the　garden　door　Barbara　turned　her　head；　smiled；　and　passed
through。

Lady　Casterley；　in　the　company　of　little　Ann；　who　had　perceived　that
it　was　novel　to　be　in　the　garden　at　this　hour；　had　been　scrutinizing
some　newly　founded　colonies　of　a　flower　with　which　she　was　not
familiar。　　On　seeing　her　granddaughter　approach；　she　said　at　once：

〃What　is　this　thing？〃

〃Nemesia。〃

〃Never　heard　of　it。〃

〃It's　rather　the　fashion；　Granny。〃

〃Nemesia？〃　repeated　Lady　Casterley。　　〃What　has　Nemesis　to　do　with
flowers？　　I　have　no　patience　with　gardeners；　and　these　idiotic　names。
Where　is　your　hat？　　I　like　that　duck's　egg　colour　in　your　frock。
There's　a　button　undone。〃　　　And　reaching　up　her　little　spidery　hand；
wonderfully　steady　considering　its　age；　she　buttoned　the　top　button
but　one　of　Barbara's　bodice。

〃You　look　very　blooming；　my　dear；〃　she　said。　　〃How　far　is　it　to　this
woman's　cottage？　　We'll　go　there　now。〃

〃She　wouldn't　be　up。〃

Lady　Casterley's　eyes　gleamed　maliciously。

〃You　tell　me　she's　so　nice；〃　she　said。　　〃No　nice　unencumbered　woman
lies　in　bed　after　half…past　seven。　　Which　is　the　very　shortest　way？
No；　Ann；　we　can't　take　you。〃

Little　Ann；　after　regarding　her　great…grandmother　rather　too
intently；　replied：

〃Well；　I　can't　come；　you　see；　because　I've　got　to　go。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　Lady　Casterley；〃　then　trot　along。〃

Little　Ann；　tightening　her　lips；　walked　to　the　next　colony　of
Nemesia；　and　bent　over　the　colonists　with　concentration；　showing
clearly　that　she　had　found　something　more　interesting　tha