the patrician-第15节

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clearly　that　she　had　found　something　more　interesting　than　had　yet
been　encountered。

〃Ha！〃　said　Lady　Casterley；　and　led　on　at　her　brisk　pace　towards　the
avenue。

All　the　way　down　the　drive　she　discoursed　on　woodcraft；　glancing
sharply　at　the　trees。　　Forestryshe　said…like　building；　and　all
other　pursuits　which　required；　faith　and　patient　industry；　was　a　lost
art　in　this　second…hand　age。　　She　had　made　Barbara's　grandfather
practise　it；　so　that　at　Catton　（her　country　place）　and　even　at
Ravensham；　the　trees　were　worth　looking　at。　　Here；　at　Monkland；　they
were　monstrously　neglected。　　To　have　the　finest　Italian　cypress　in
the　country；　for　example；　and　not　take　more　care　of　it；　was　a
downright　scandal！

Barbara　listened；　smiling　lazily。　　Granny　was　so　amusing　in　her
energy　and　precision；　and　her　turns　of　speech；　so　deliberately
homespun；　as　if　shethan　whom　none　could　better　use　a　stiff　and
polished　phrase；　or　the　refinements　of　the　French　languagewere
determined　to　take　what　liberties　she　liked。　　To　the　girl；　haunted
still　by　the　feeling　that　she　could　fly；　almost　drunk　on　the
sweetness　of　the　air　that　summer　morning；　it　seemed　funny　that　anyone
should　be　like　that。　　Then　for　a　second　she　saw　her　grandmother's
face　in　repose；　off　guard；　grim　with　anxious　purpose；　as　if
questioning　its　hold　on　life；　and　in　one　of　those　flashes　of
intuition　which　come　to　womeneven　when　young　and　conquering　like
Barbarashe　felt　suddenly　sorry；　as　though　she　had　caught　sight　of
the　pale　spectre　never　yet　seen　by　her。　　〃Poor　old　dear；〃　she
thought；　〃what　a　pity　to　be　old！〃

But　they　had　entered　the　footpath　crossing　three　long　meadows　which
climbed　up　towards　Mrs。　Noel's。　　It　was　so　golden…sweet　here　amongst
the　million　tiny　saffron　cups　frosted　with　lingering　dewshine；　there
was　such　flying　glory　in　the　limes　and　ash…trees；　so　delicate　a　scent
from　the　late　whins　and　may…flower；　and；　on　every　tree　a　greybird
calling　to　be　sorry　was　not　possible！

In　the　far　corner　of　the　first　field　a　chestnut　mare　was　standing；
with　ears　pricked　at　some　distant　sound　whose　charm　she　alone
perceived。　　On　viewing　the　intruders；　she　laid　those　ears　back；　and　a
little　vicious　star　gleamed　out　at　the　corner　of　her　eye。　　They
passed　her　and　entered　the　second　field。　　Half　way　across；　Barbara
said　quietly：

〃Granny；　that's　a　bull！〃

It　was　indeed　an　enormous　bull；　who　had　been　standing　behind　a　clump
of　bushes。　　He　was　moving　slowly　towards　them；　still　distant　about
two　hundred　yards；　a　great　red　beast；　with　the　huge　development　of
neck　and　front　which　makes　the　bull；　of　all　living　creatures；　the
symbol　of　brute　force。

Lady　Casterley　envisaged　him　severely。

〃I　dislike　bulls；〃　she　said；　〃I　think　I　must　walk　backward。〃

〃You　can't；　it's　too　uphill。〃

〃I　am　not　going　to　turn　back；〃　said　Lady　Casterley。　　〃The　bull　ought
not　to　be　here。　　Whose　fault　is　it？　　I　shall　speak　to　someone。　　Stand
still　and　look　at　him。　　We　must　prevent　his　coming　nearer。〃

They　stood　still　and　looked　at　the　bull；　who　continued　to　approach。

〃It　doesn't　stop　him；〃　said　Lady　Casterley。　　〃We　must　take　no　notice。
Give　me　your　arm；　my　dear；　my　legs　feel　rather　funny。〃

Barbara　put　her　arm　round　the　little　figure。　　They　walked　on。

〃I　have　not　been　used　to　bulls　lately；〃　said　Lady　Casterley。　　The
bull　came　nearer。

〃Granny；〃　said　Barbara；　〃you　must　go　quietly　on　to　the　stile。　　When
you're　over　I'll　come　too。〃

〃Certainly　not；〃　said　Lady　Casterley；　〃we　will　go　together。　　Take　no
notice　of　him；　I　have　great　faith　in　that。〃

〃Granny　darling；　you　must　do　as　I　say；　please；　I　remember　this　bull；
he　is　one　of　ours。〃

At　those　rather　ominous　words　Lady　Casterley　gave　her　a　sharp　glance。

〃I　shall　not　go；〃　she　said。　　〃My　legs　feel　quite　strong　now。　　We　can
run；　if　necessary。〃

〃So　can　the　bull；〃　said　Barbara。

〃I'm　not　going　to　leave　you；〃　muttered　Lady　Casterley。　　〃If　he　turns
vicious　I　shall　talk　to　him。　　He　won't　touch　me。　　You　can　run　faster
than　I；　so　that's　settled。〃

〃Don't　be　absurd；　dear；〃　answered　Barbara；　〃I　am　not　afraid　of
bulls。〃

Lady　Casterley　flashed　a　look　at　her　which　had　a　gleam　of　amusement。

〃I　can　feel　you；〃　she　said；　〃you're　just　as　trembly　as　I　am。〃

The　bull　was　now　distant　some　eighty　yards；　and　they　were　still　quite
a　hundred　from　the　stile。

〃Granny；〃　said　Barbara；　〃if　you　don't　go　on　as　I　tell　you；　I　shall
just　leave　you；　and　go　and　meet　him！　　You　mustn't　be　obstinate！〃

Lady　Casterley's　answer　was　to　grip　her　granddaughter　round　the
waist；　the　nervous　force　of　that　thin　arm　was　surprising。

〃You　will　do　nothing　of　the　sort；〃　she　said。　　〃I　refuse　to　have
anything　more　to　do　with　this　bull；　I　shall　simply　pay　no　attention。〃

The　bull　now　began　very　slowly　ambling　towards　them。

〃Take　no　notice；〃　said　Lady　Casterley；　who　was　walking　faster　than
she　had　ever　walked　before。

〃The　ground　is　level　now；〃　said　Barbara；　〃can　you　run？〃

〃I　think　so；〃　gasped　Lady　Casterley；　and　suddenly　she　found　herself
half…lifted　from　the　ground；　and；　as　it　were；　flying　towards　the
stile。　　She　heard　a　noise　behind；　then　Barbara's　voice：

〃We　must　stop。　　He's　on　us。　　Get　behind　me。〃

She　felt　herself　caught　and　pinioned　by　two　arms　that　seemed　set　on
the　wrong　way。　　Instinct；　and　a　general　softness　told　her　that　she
was　back　to　back　with　her　granddaughter。

〃Let　me　go！〃　she　gasped；　〃let　me　go！〃

And　suddenly　she　felt　herself　being　propelled　by　that　softness
forward　towards　the　stile。

〃Shoo！〃　she　said；　〃shoo！〃

〃Granny；〃　Barbara's　voice　came；　calm　and　breathless；　〃don't！　　You
only　excite　him！　　Are　we　near　the　stile？〃

〃Ten　yards；〃　panted　Lady　Casterley。　　。

〃Look　out；　then！〃　There　was　a　sort　of　warm　flurry　round　her；　a　rush；
a　heave；　a　scramble；　she　was　beyond　the　stile。　　The　bull　and　Barbara；
a　yard　or　two　apart；　were　just　the　other　side。　　Lady　Casterley　raised
her　handkerchief　and　fluttered　it。　　The　bull　looked　up；　Barbara；　all
legs　and　arms；　came　slipping　down　beside　her。

Without　wasting　a　moment　Lady　Casterley　leaned　forward　and　addressed
the　bull：

〃You　awful　brute！〃　she　said；　〃I　will　have　you　well　flogged。〃

Gently　pawing　the　ground；　the　bull　snuffled。

〃Are　you　any　the　worse；　child？〃

〃Not　a　scrap；〃　said　Barbara's　serene；　still　breathless　voice。

Lady　Casterley　put　up　her　hands；　and　took　the　girl's　face　between
them。

〃What　legs　you　have！〃　she　said。　　〃Give　me　a　kiss！〃

Having　received　a　hot；　rather　quivering　kiss；　she　walked　on；　holding
somewhat　firmly　to　Barbara's　arm。

〃As　for　that　bull；〃　she　murmured；　〃the　bruteto　attack　women！〃

Barbara　looked　down　at　her。

〃Granny；〃　she　said；　〃are　you　sure　you're　not　shaken？〃

Lady　Casterley；　whose　lips　were　quivering；　pressed　them　together　very
hard。

〃Not　a　b…b…bit。〃

〃Don't　you　think；〃　said　Barbara；　〃that　we　had　better　go　back；　at
oncethe　other　way？〃

〃Certainly　not。　　There　are　no　more　bulls；　I　suppose；　between　us　and
this　woman？〃

〃But　are　you　fit　to　see　her？〃

Lady　Casterley　passed　her　handkerchief　over　her　lips；　to　remove　their
quivering。

〃Perfectly；〃　she　answered。

〃Then；　dear；〃　said　Barbara；　〃stand　still　a　minute；　while　I　dust　you
behind。〃

This　having　been　accomplished；　they　proceeded　in　the　direction　of
Mrs。　Noel's　cottage。

At　sight　of　it；　Lady　Casterley　said：

〃I　shall　put　my　foot　down。　　It's　out　of　the　question　for　a　man　of
Miltoun's　prospects。　　I　look　forward　to　seeing　him　Prime　Minister
some　day。〃　　Hearing　Barbara's　voice　murmuring　above　her；　she　paused：
〃What's　that　you　say？〃

〃I　said：　What　is　the　use　of　our　being　what　we　are；　if　we　can't　love
whom　we　like？〃

〃Love！〃　said　Lady　Casterley；　〃I　was　talking　of　marriage。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　admit　the　distinction；　Granny　dear。〃

〃You　are　pleased　to　be　sarcastic；〃　said　Lady　Casterley。　　〃Listen　to
me！　　It's　the　greatest　nonsense　to　suppose　that　people　in　our　caste
are　free　to　do　as　they　please。　　The　sooner　you　realize　that；　the
better；　Babs。　　I　am　talking　to　you　seriously。　　The　preservation　of
our　position　as　a　class　depends　on　our　observing　certain　decencies。
What　do　you　imagine　would　happen　to　the　Royal　Family　if　they　were
allowed　to　marry　as　they　liked？　　All　this　marrying　with　Gaiety　girls；
and　American　money；　and　people　with　pasts；　and　writers；　and　so　forth；
is　most　damaging。　　There's　far　too　much　of　it；　and　it　ought　to　be
stopped。　　It　may　be　tolerated　for　a　few　cranks；　or　silly　young　men；
and　these　new　women；　but　for　Eustace　〃Lady　Casterley　paused　again；
and　her　fingers　pinched　Barbara's　arm；　〃or　for　youthere's　only　one
sort　of　marriage　possible。　　As　for　Eustace；　I　shall　speak　to　this
good　lady；　and　see　that　he　doesn't　get　entangled　further。〃

Absorbed　in　the　intensity　of　her　purpose；　she　did　not　observe　a
peculiar　little　smile　playing　round　Barbara's　lips。

〃You　had　better　speak　to　Nature；　too；　Granny！〃

Lady　Casterley　stopped　short；　and　looked　up　in　her　granddaughter's
face。

〃Now　what　do　you　mean　by　that？〃　she　said　〃Tell　me！〃

But　noticing　that　Barbara's　lips　had　closed　tightly；　she　gave　her　arm
a　hardif　unintentional…pinch；　and　walked　on。




CHAPTER　XII

Lady　Casterley's　rather　malicious　diagnosis　of　Audrey　Noel　was
correct。　　The　unencumbered　woman　was　up　and　in　her　garden　w