the patrician-第40节

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Greatly　fortified　by　this　interview；　Lady　Valleys　rejoined　her
daughter　in　the　ear；　but　while　it　slid　on　amongst　the　multitudinous
traffic；　signs　of　unwonted　nervousness　began　to　start　out　through　the
placidity　of　her　face。

〃I　wish；　my　dear；〃　she　said　suddenly；　〃that　someone　else　had　to　do
this。　　Suppose　Eustace　refuses！〃

〃He　won't；〃　Barbara　answered；　〃she　looks　so　tired；　poor　dear。
Besides〃

Lady　Valleys　gazed　with　curiosity　at　that　young　face；　which　had
flushed　pink。　　Yes；　this　daughter　of　hers　was　a　woman　already；　with
all　a　woman's　intuitions。　　She　said　gravely：

〃It　was　a　rash　stroke　of　yours；　Babs；　let's　hope　it　won't　lead　to
disaster。〃

Barbara　bit　her　lips。

〃If　you'd　seen　him　as　I　saw　him！　　And；　what　disaster？　　Mayn't　they
love　each　other；　if　they　want？〃

Lady　Valleys　swallowed　a　grimace。　　It　was　so　exactly　her　own　point　of
view。　　And　yet！

〃That's　only　the　beginning；〃　she　said；　〃you　forget　the　sort　of　boy
Eustace　is。〃

〃Why　can't　the　poor　thing　be　let　out　of　her　cage？〃　cried　Barbara。
〃What　good　does　it　do　to　anyone？　　Mother；　if　ever；　when　I　am　married；
I　want　to　get　free；　I　will！〃

The　tone　of　her　voice　was　so　quivering；　and　unlike　the　happy　voice　of
Barbara；　that　Lady　Valleys　involuntarily　caught　hold　of　her　hand　and
squeezed　it　hard。

〃My　dear　sweet；〃　she　said；　〃don't　let's　talk　of　such　gloomy　things。〃

〃I　mean　it。　　Nothing　shall　stop　me。〃

But　Lady　Valleys'　face　had　suddenly　become　rather　grim。

〃So　we　think；　child；　it's　not　so　simple。〃

〃It　can't　be　worse；　anyway；〃　muttered　Barbara；　〃than　being　buried
alive　as　that　wretched　woman　is。〃

For　answer　Lady　Valleys　only　murmured：

〃The　doctor　promised　that　ambulance　carriage　at　four　o'clock。　　What
am　I　going　to　say？〃

〃She'll　understand　when　you　look　at　her。　　She's　that　sort。〃

The　door　was　opened　to　them　by　Mrs。　Noel　herself。

It　was　the　first　time　Lady　Valleys　had　seen　her　in　a　house；　and　there
was　real　curiosity　mixed　with　the　assurance　which　masked　her
nervousness。　　A　pretty　creature；　even　lovely！　　But　the　quite　genuine
sympathy　in　her　words：　〃I　am　truly　grateful。　　You　must　be　quite　worn
out；〃　did　not　prevent　her　adding　hastily：　〃The　doctor　says　he　must　be
got　home　out　of　these　hot　rooms。　　We'll　wait　here　while　you　tell
him。〃

And　then　she　saw　that　it　was　true；　this　woman　was　the　sort　who
understood。

Left　in　the　dark　passage；　she　peered　round　at　Barbara。

The　girl　was　standing　against　the　wall　with　her　head　thrown　back。
Lady　Valleys　could　not　see　her　face；　but　she　felt　all　of　a　sudden
exceedingly　uncomfortable；　and　whispered：

〃Two　murders　and　a　theft；　Babs；　wasn't　it　'Our　Mutual　Friend'？〃

〃Mother！〃

〃What？〃

〃Her　face！　　When　you're　going　to　throw　away　a　flower；　it　looks　at
you！〃

〃My　dear！〃　murmured　Lady　Valleys；　thoroughly　distressed；　〃what　things
you're　saying　to…day！〃

This　lurking　in　a　dark　passage；　this　whispering　girlit　was　all
queer；　unlike　an　experience　in　proper　life。

And　then　through　the　reopened　door　she　saw　Miltoun；　stretched　out　in
a　chair；　very　pale；　but　still　with　that　look　about　his　eyes　and　lips；
which　of　all　things　in　the　world　had　a　chastening　effect　on　Lady
Valleys；　making　her　feel　somehow　incurably　mundane。

She　said　rather　timidly：

〃I'm　so　glad　you're　better；　dear。　　What　a　time　you　must　have　had！
It's　too　bad　that　I　knew　nothing　till　yesterday！〃

But　Miltoun's　answer　was；　as　usual；　thoroughly　disconcerting。

〃Thanks；　yes！　　I　have　had　a　perfect　timeand　have　now　to　pay　for　it；
I　suppose。〃

Held　back　by　his　smile　from　bending　to　kiss　him；　poor　Lady　Valleys
fidgeted　from　head　to　foot。　　A　sudden　impulse　of　sheer　womanliness
caused　a　tear　to　fall　on　his　hand。

When　Miltoun　perceived　that　moisture；　he　said：

〃It's　all　right；　mother。　　I'm　quite　willing　to　come。〃

Still　wounded　by　his　voice；　Lady　Valleys　hardened　instantly。　　And
while　preparing　for　departure　she　watched　the　two　furtively。　　They
hardly　looked　at　one　another；　and　when　they　did；　their　eyes　baffled
her。　　The　expression　was　outside　her　experience；　belonging　as　it　were
to　a　different　world；　with　its　faintly　smiling；　almost　shining；
gravity。

Vastly　relieved　when　Miltoun；　covered　with　a　fur；　had　been　taken　down
to　the　carriage；　she　lingered　to　speak　to　Mrs。　Noel。

〃We　owe　you　a　great　debt。　　It　might　have　been　so　much　worse。　　You
mustn't　be　disconsolate。　　Go　to　bed　and　have　a　good　long　rest。〃　　And
from　the　door；　she　murmured　again：　〃He　will　come　and　thank　you；　when
he's　well。〃

Descending　the　stone　stairs；　she　thought：　〃'Anonyma''Anonyma'yes；
it　was　quite　the　name。〃　　And　suddenly　she　saw　Barbara　come　running　up
again。

〃What　is　it；　Babs？〃

Barbara　answered：

〃Eustace　would　like　some　of　those　lilies。〃　　And；　passing　Lady
Valleys；　she　went　on　up　to　Miltoun's　chambers。

Mrs。　Noel　was　not　in　the　sitting…room；　and　going　to　the　bedroom　door；
the　girl　looked　in。

She　was　standing　by　the　bed；　drawing　her　hand　over　and　over　the　white
surface　of　the　pillow。　　Stealing　noiselessly　back；　Barbara　caught　up
the　bunch　of　lilies；　and　fled。




CHAPTER　XII

Miltoun；　whose　constitution；　had　the　steel…like　quality　of　Lady
Casterley's；　had　a　very　rapid　convalescence。　　And；　having　begun　to
take　an　interest　in　his　food；　he　was　allowed　to　travel　on　the　seventh
day　to　Sea　House　in　charge　of　Barbara。

The　two　spent　their　time　in　a　little　summer…house　close　to　the　sea；
lying　out　on　the　beach　under　the　groynes；　and；　as　Miltoun　grew
stronger；　motoring　and　walking　on　the　Downs。

To　Barbara；　keeping　a　close　watch；　he　seemed　tranquilly　enough
drinking　in　from　Nature　what　was　necessary　to　restore　balance　after
the　struggle；　and　breakdown　of　the　past　weeks。　　Yet　she　could　never
get　rid　of　a　queer　feeling　that　he　was　not　really　there　at　all；　to
look　at　him　was　like　watching　an　uninhabited　house　that　was　waiting
for　someone　to　enter。

During　a　whole　fortnight　he　did　not　make　a　single　allusion　to　Mrs。
Noel；　till；　on　the　very　last　morning；　as　they　were　watching　the　sea；；
he　said　with　his　queer　smile：

〃It　almost　makes　one　believe　her　theory；　that　the　old　gods　are　not
dead。　　Do　you　ever　see　them；　Babs；　or　are　you；　like　me；　obtuse？〃

Certainly　about　those　lithe　invasions　of　the　sea…nymph　waves；　with
ashy；　streaming　hair；　flinging　themselves　into　the　arms　of　the　land；
there　was　the　old　pagan　rapture；　an　inexhaustible　delight；　a
passionate　soft　acceptance　of　eternal　fate；　a　wonderful　acquiescence
in　the　untiring　mystery　of　life。

But　Barbara；　ever　disconcerted　by　that　tone　in　his　voice；　and　by　this
quick　dive　into　the　waters　of　unaccustomed　thought；　failed　to　find　an
answer。

Miltoun　went　on：

〃She　says；　too；　we　can　hear　Apollo　singing。　　Shall　we　try。〃

But　all　that　came　was　the　sigh　of　the　sea；　and　of　the　wind　in　the
tamarisk。

〃No；〃　muttered　Miltoun　at　last；　〃she　alone　can　hear　it。〃

And　Barbara　saw；　once　more　on　his　face　that　look；　neither　sad　nor
impatient；　but　as　of　one　uninhabited　and　waiting。

She　left　Sea　House　next　day　to　rejoin　her　mother；　who；　having　been　to
Cowes；　and　to　the　Duchess　of　Gloucester's；　was　back　in　Town　waiting
for　Parliament　to　rise；　before　going　off　to　Scotland。　　And　that　same
afternoon　the　girl　made　her　way　to　Mrs。　Noel's　flat。　　In　paying　this
visit　she　was　moved　not　so　much　by　compassion；　as　by　uneasiness；　and
a　strange　curiosity。　　Now　that　Miltoun　was　well　again；　she　was
seriously　disturbed　in　mind。　　Had　she　made　a　mistake　in　summoning
Mrs。　Noel　to　nurse　him？

When　she　went　into　the　little　drawing…room　Audrey　was　sitting　in　the
deep…cushioned　window…seat　with　a　book　on　her　knee；　and　by　the　fact
that　it　was　open　at　the　index；　Barbara　judged　that　she　had　not　been
reading　too　attentively。　　She　showed　no　signs　of　agitation　at　the
sight　of　her　visitor；　nor　any　eagerness　to　hear　news　of　Miltoun。　　But
the　girl　had　not　been　five　minutes　in　the　room　before　the　thought
came　to　her：　〃　Why！　　She　has　the　same　look　as　Eustace！〃　　She；　too；
was　like　an　empty　tenement；　without　impatience；　discontent；　or　grief…
…waiting！　　Barbara　had　scarcely　realized　this　with　a　curious　sense　of
discomposure；　when　Courtier　was　announced。　　Whether　there　was　in　this
an　absolute　coincidence　or　just　that　amount　of　calculation　which
might　follow　on　his　part　from　receipt　of　a　note　written　from　Sea
Housesaying　that　Miltoun　was　well　again；　that　she　was　coming　up　and
meant　to　go　and　thank　Mrs。　Noelwas　not　clear；　nor　were　her　own
sensations；　and　she　drew　over　her　face　that　armoured　look　which　she
perhaps　knew　Courtier　could　not　bear　to　see。　　His　face；　at　all
events；　was　very　red　when　he　shook　hands。　　He　had　come；　he　told　Mrs。
Noel；　to　say　good…bye。　　He　was　definitely　off　next　week。　　Fighting
had　broken　out；　the　revolutionaries　were　greatly　outnumbered。　　Indeed
he　ought　to　have　been　there　long　before！

Barbara　had　gone　over　to　the　window；　she　turned　suddenly；　and　said：

〃You　were　preaching　peace　two　months　ago！〃

Courtier　bowed。

〃We　are　not　all　perfectly　consistent；　Lady　Barbara。　　These　poor
devils　have　a　holy　cause。〃

Barbara　held　out　her　hand　to　Mrs。　Noel。

〃You　only　think　their　cause　holy　because　they　happen　to　be　weak。
Good…bye；　Mrs。　Noel；　the　world　is　meant　for　the　strong；　isn't　it！〃

She　intended　that　to　hurt　hi