第9章

WhenMiltoun\'sshadowblottedthelightbywhichshewasseeingsolittle,shegaveaslightstart,andgotup。Butsheneitherwenttowardshim,norspoke。Andhe,withoutaword,cameinandstoodbythehearth,lookingdownattheemptygrate。Atortoise—shellcatwhichhadbeenwatchingswallows,disturbedbyhisentrance,withdrewfromthewindowbeneathachair。

Thissilence,inwhichthequestionoftheirfutureliveswastobedecided,seemedtobothinterminable;yet,neithercouldendit。

Atlast,touchinghissleeve,shesaid:"You\'rewet！"

Miltounshiveredatthattimidsignofpossession。Andtheyagainstoodinsilencebrokenonlybythesoundofthecatlickingitspaws。

Butherfacultyfordumbnesswasstrongerthanhis,and——hehadtospeakfirst。

"Forgivemeforcoming;somethingmustbesettled。This——rumour————"

"Oh！that！"shesaid。"IsthereanythingIcandotostoptheharmtoyou？"

ItwastheturnofMiltoun\'slipstocurl。"God！no;letthemtalk！"

Theireyeshadcometogethernow,and,oncetogether,seemedunabletopart。

Mrs。Noelsaidatlast:

"Willyoueverforgiveme？"

"Whatfor——itwasmyfault。"

"No;Ishouldhaveknownyoubetter。"

Thedepthofmeaninginthosewords——thetremendousandsubtleadmissiontheycontainedofallthatshehadbeenreadytodo,thedespairingknowledgeinthemthathewasnot,andneverhadbeen,readyto\'bearitouteventotheedgeofdoom\'——madeMiltounwinceaway。

"Itisnotfromfear——believethat,anyway。"

"Ido。"

Therefollowedanotherlong,longsilence！Butthoughsoclosethattheywerealmosttouching,theynolongerlookedatoneanother。

ThenMiltounsaid:

"Thereisonlytosaygood—bye,then。"

Atthoseclearwordsspokenbylipswhich,thoughjustsmiling,failedsoutterlytohidehismisery,Mrs。Noel\'sfacebecamecolourlessasherwhitegown。Buthereyes,whichhadgrownimmense,seemedfromthesheerlackofallothercolour,tohavedrawnintothemthewholeofhervitality;tobepouringforthaproudandmournfulreproach。

Shivering,andcrushinghimselftogetherwithhisarms,Miltounwalkedtowardsthewindow。Therewasnotthefaintestsoundfromher,andhelookedback。Shewasfollowinghimwithhereyes。Hethrewhishandupoverhisface,andwentquicklyout。Mrs。Noelstoodforalittlewhilewherehehadlefther;then,sittingdownoncemoreatthepiano,beganagaintoconoverthelineofmusic。

Andthecatstolebacktothewindowtowatchtheswallows。Thesunlightwasdyingslowlyonthetopbranchesofthelime—tree;a,drizzlingrainbegantofall。

CHAPTERXX

ClaudFresnay,ViscountHarbingerwas,attheageofthirty—one,perhapstheleastencumberedpeerintheUnitedKingdom。Thankstoanancestorwhohadacquiredland,anddepartedthislifeonehundredandthirtyyearsbeforethetownofNettlefoldwasbuiltonasmallportionofit,andtoafatherwhohaddiedinhisson\'sinfancy,afterjudiciouslysellingthesaidtown,hepossessedaverylargeincomeindependentlyofhislandedinterests。Tallandwell—built,withhandsome,strongly—markedfeatures,hegaveatfirstsightanimpressionofstrength——whichfadedsomewhatwhenhebegantotalk。

Itwasnotsomuchthemannerofhisspeech——withitsrapidslang,anditswayofturningeverythingtoajest——asthefeelingitproduced,thatthebrainbehindittooknaturallythepathofleastresistance。Hewasinfactoneofthosepersonalitieswhoareoftenenoughprominentinpoliticsandsociallife,byreasonoftheirappearance,position,assurance,andofacertainenergy,halfgenuine,andhalfmereinherentpredilectionforshortcuts。

Certainlyhewasnotidle,hadwrittenabook,travelled,wasaCaptainofYeomanry,aJusticeofthePeace,agoodcricketer,andaconstantandglibspeaker。Itwouldhavebeenunfairtocallhisenthusiasmforsocialreformspurious。Itwasrealenoughinitsway,anddidcertainlytestifythathewasnotaltogetherlackingeitherinimaginationorgood—heartedness。Butitwasoverandoverlaidwiththepublic—schoolhabit——thatpeculiar,extraordinarilyEnglishhabit,sopowerfulandbeguilingthatitbecomesasecondnaturestrongerthanthefirst——ofrelatingeverythingintheUniversetothestandardsandprejudicesofasingleclass。Sincepracticallyallhisintimateassociateswereimmersedinit,hewasnaturallynotintheleastconsciousofthishabit;indeedtherewasnothinghedeprecatedsomuchinpoliticsasthenarrowandprejudicedoutlook,suchashehadobservedintheNonconformist,orlabourpolitician。Hewouldneverhaveadmittedforamomentthatcertaindoorshadbeenbanged—toathisbirth,boltedwhenhewenttoEton,andpadlockedatCambridge。Noonewouldhavedeniedthattherewasmuchthatwasvaluableinhisstandards——ahighlevelofhonesty,candour,sportsmanship,personalcleanliness,andself—

reliance,togetherwithadislikeofsuchcrueltyashadbeenofficially（sotospeak）recognizedascruelty,andasenseofpublicservicetoaStaterunbyandforthepublicschools;butitwouldhaverequiredfarmoreoriginalitythanhepossessedevertolookatLifefromanyotherpointofviewthanthatfromwhichhehadbeenbornandbredtowatchHer。Tofullyunderstandharbinger,onemust,andwithunprejudicedeyesandbrain,haveattendedoneofthosegreatcricketmatchesinwhichhehadfiguredconspicuouslyasaboy,andlookingdownfromsomehighimpartialspothavewatchedthegroundatlunchtimecoveredfromropetoropeandstandtostandwithamarvellousswarm,allwalkinginpreciselythesamemanner,withpreciselythesameexpressionontheirfaces,underpreciselythesamehats——aswarmenshriningthegreatestidentityof,creedandhabiteverknownsincetheworldbegan。No,hisenvironmenthadnotbeenfavourabletooriginality。Moreoverhewasnaturallyrapidratherthandeep,andlifehardlyeverlefthimaloneorlefthimsilent。Broughtintocontactdayandnightwithpeopletowhompoliticsweremoreorlessagame;runaftereverywhere;subjectedtonoformofdiscipline——itwasawonderthathewasasseriousashewas。Norhadheeverbeeninlove,until,lastyear,duringherfirstseason,Barbarahad,ashemighthaveexpressedit——inthecaseofanother\'bowledhimmiddlestump。Thoughsodeeplysmitten,he。

hadnotyetaskedhertomarryhim——hadnot,asitwere,hadtime,norperhapsquitethecourage,orconviction。Whenhewasnearher,itseemedimpossiblethathecouldgoonlongerwithoutknowinghisfate;whenhewasawayfromheritwasalmostarelief,becausethereweresomanythingstobedoneandsaid,andsolittletimetodoorsaythemin。Butnow,duringthisfortnight,which,forhersake,hehaddevotedtoMiltoun\'scause,hisfeelinghadadvancedbeyondthepointofcomfort。

HedidnotadmitthatthereasonofthisuneasinesswasCourtier,for,afterall,Courtierwas,inasense,nobody,and\'anextremist\'

intothebargain,andanextremistalwaysaffectedthecentreofHarbinger\'sanatomy,causingittogiveoffapeculiarsmileandtoneofvoice。Nevertheless,hiseyes,whenevertheyfellonthatsanguine,steady,ironicface,shonewithasortofcoldinquiry,orwereevendarkenedbytheshadeoffear。Theymetseldom,itistrue,formostofhisdaywasspentinmotoringandspeaking,andmostofCourtier\'sinwritingandriding,hislegbeingstilltooweakforwalking。Butonceortwiceinthesmokingroomlateatnight,hehadembarkedonsomebanteringdiscussionwiththechampionoflostcauses;andverysoonanill—concealedimpatiencehadcreptintohisvoice。Whyamanshouldwastehistime,floggingdead。

horsesonajourneytothemoon,wasincomprehensible！Factswerefacts,humannaturewouldneverbeanythingbuthumannature！AnditwaspeculiarlygallingtoseeinCourtier\'seyeagleam,tocatchinhisvoiceatone,asifhewerethinking:"Myyoungfriend,yoursoupiscold！"

Onamorningafteroneoftheseencounters,seeingBarbarasallyforthinridingclothes,heaskedifhetoomightgoroundthestables,andstartedforthbesideher,unwontedlysilent,withanoddfeelingabouthisheart,andhisthroatunaccountablydry。

ThestablesatMonklandCourtwereaslargeasmanycountryhouses。

Accommodatingthirtyhorses,theywereatpresentoccupiedbytwenty—

one,includingtheponyoflittleAnn。Forheight,perfectionoflighting,gloss,shine,andpurityofatmospheretheywereunequalledinthecounty。Itseemedindeedimpossiblethatanyhorsecouldeversofarforgethimselfinsuchaplaceastorememberthathewasahorse。Everymorningalittlebinofcarrots,apples,andlumpsofsugar,wassetclosetothemainentrance,readyforthosewhomightdesiretofeedthedearinhabitants。

Reineduptoabrassringoneithersideoftheirstallswiththeirnosestowardsthedoors,theywerealwaysonviewfromninetoten,andwouldstandwiththeirnecksarched,earspricked,andcoatsgleaming,wonderingaboutthings,soothedbythefainthissingofthestillbusygrooms,andreadytomovetheirnosesupanddownthemomenttheysawsomeoneenter。

Inalargeloose—boxattheendofthenorthwingBarbara\'sfavouritechestnuthunter,allbutonesavingsixteenthofwhomhadbeenenteredinthestudbook,havingheardherfootstep,wasstandingquitestillwithhisneckturned。Hehadbeencrumpingupanappleplacedamongsthisfeed,andhissensesstruggledbetweenthelingeringflavourofthatdelicacy,——andtheperceptionofasoundwithwhichheconnectedcarrots。Whensheunlatchedhisdoor,andsaid"Hal,"heatoncewenttowardshismanger,toshowhisindependence,butwhenshesaid:"Oh！verywell！"heturnedroundandcametowardsher。Hiseyes,whichwerefullandofasoftbrilliance,underthickchestnutlashes,exploredherallover。

Perceivingthathercarrotswerenotinfront,heelongatedhisneck,lethisnosestrayroundherwaist,andgavehergauntlettedhandanipwithhislips。Nottastingcarrot,hewithdrewhisnose,andsnuffled。Thensteppingcarefullysoasnottotreadonherfoot,hebuntedhergentlywithhisshoulder,tillwithaquickmanoeuvrehegotbehindherandbreathedlowandlongonherneck。Eventhisdidnotsmellofcarrots,andputtinghismuzzleoverhershoulderagainsthercheek,heslobberedaverylittle。Acarrotappearedaboutthelevelofherwaist,andhanginghisheadover,hetriedtoreachit。Feelingitallfirmandsoftunderhischin,hesnuffledagain,andgaveheragentledigwithhisknee。Butstillunabletoreachthecarrot,hethrewhisheadup,withdrew,andpretendednottoseeher。Andsuddenlyhefelttwolongsubstancesroundhisneck,andsomethingsoftagainsthisnose。Hesufferedthisinsilence,layinghisearsback。Thesoftnessbeganpuffingonhismuzzle。

Prickinghisearsagain,hepuffedbackalittleharder,withmorecuriosity,andthesoftnesswaswithdrawn。Heperceivedsuddenlythathehadacarrotinhismouth。

Harbingerhadwitnessedthisepisode,oddlypale,leaningagainsttheloose—boxwall。Hespoke,asitcametoanend:

"LadyBabs！"

Thetoneofhisvoicemusthavebeenasstrangeasitsoundedtohimself,forBarbaraspunround。

"Yes？"

"HowlongamIgoingonlikethis？"

Neitherchangingcolournordroppinghereyes,sheregardedhimwithafaintlyinquisitiveinterest。Itwasnotacruellook,hadnotatraceofmischief,orsexmalice,andyetitfrightenedhimbyitssereneinscrutability。Impossibletotellwhatwasgoingonbehindit。Hetookherhand,bentoverit,andsaidinalowvoice:

"YouknowwhatIfeel;don\'tbecrueltome！"

Shedidnotpullawayherhand;itwasasifshehadnotthoughtofit。

"Iamnotabitcruel。"

Lookingup,hesawhersmiling。

"Then——Babs！"

Hisfacewasclosetohers,butBarbaradidnotshrinkback。Shejustshookherhead;andHarbingerflushedup。

"Why？"heasked;andasthoughtheenormousinjusticeofthatrejectinggesturehadsuddenlystruckhim,hedroppedherhand。

"Why？"hesaidagain,sharply。

Butthesilencewasonlybrokenbythecheepingofsparrowsoutsidetheroundwindow,andthesoundofthehorse,Hal,munchingthelastmorselofhiscarrot。Harbingerwasawareinhiseverynerveofthesweetish,slightlyacrid,huskyodouroftheloosebox,minglingwiththescentofBarbara\'shairandclothes。Andrathermiserably,hesaidforthethirdtime:

"Why？"

Butfoldingherhandsawaybehindherback。sheansweredgently:

"Mydear,howshouldIknowwhy？"

Shewascalmlyexposedtohisembraceifhehadonlydared;buthedidnotdare,andwentbacktotheloose—boxwall。Bitinghisfinger,hestaredathergloomily。Shewasstrokingthemuzzleofherhorse;andasortofdryragebeganwhiskingandrustlinginhisheart。Shehadrefusedhim——Harbinger！Hehadnotknown,hadnotsuspectedhowmuchhewantedher。Howcouldtherebeanybodyelseforhim,whilethatyoung,calm,sweet—scented,smilingthinglived,tomakehisheadgoround,hissensesache,andtofillhisheartwithlonging！Heseemedtohimselfatthatmomentthemostunhappyofallmen。

"Ishallnotgiveyouup,"hemuttered。

Barbara\'sanswerwasasmile,faintlycurious,compassionate,yetalmostgrateful,asifshehadsaid:

"Thankyou——whoknows？"

Andratherquickly,ayardorsoapart,andtalkingofhorses,theyreturnedtothehouse。

Itwasaboutnoon,when,accompaniedbyCourtier,sherodeforth。

TheSou—Westerlyspell——amatterofthreedays——hadgivenwaybeforeradiantstillness;andmerelytobealivewastofeelemotion。Atalittlestreamrunningbesidethemoorunderthewildstoneman,theridersstoppedtheirhorses,justtolisten,and,inhaletheday。

Thefarsweetchorusoflifewastunedtoamostdelicaterhythm;notoneofthosesmallmingledpipingsofstreamsandthelazyair,ofbeasts,men;birds,andbees,jarredouttooharshlythroughthegarmentofsoundenwrappingtheearth。Itwasnoon——thestillmoment——butthishymntothesun,afterhistoolongabsence,neverforamomentceasedtobemurmured。Andtheearthworeanunder—robeofscent,delicious,veryfinelywovenoftheyoungfernsap,heatherbuds;larch—treesnotyetodourless,gorsejustgoingbrown,driftedwoodsmoke,andthebreathofhawthorn。AboveEarth\'stwinvestmentsofsoundandscent,theblueenwrappingscarfofair,thatwistfulwidechampaign,wasspannedonlybythewingsofFreedom。

Afterthatlongdrinkoftheday,theridersmountedalmostinsilencetotheverytopofthemoor。Thereagaintheysatquitestillontheirhorses,examiningtheprospect。FarawaytoSouthandEastlaythesea,plainlyvisible。Twosmallgroupsofwildponieswereslowlygrazingtowardseachotheronthehillsidebelow。

Courtiersaid。inalowvoice:

"\'ThuswillIsitandsing,withloveinmyarms;watchingourtwoherdsmingletogether,andbelowusthefar,divine,ceruleansea。\'"

And,afteranothersilence,lookingsteadilyinBarbara\'sface,headded:

"LadyBarbara,Iamafraidthisisthelasttimeweshallbealonetogether。WhileIhavethechance,therefore,Imustdohomage……

Youwillalwaysbethefixedstarformyworship。Butyourraysaretoobright;Ishallworshipfromafar。FromyourseventhHeaven,therefore,lookdownonmewithkindlyeyes,anddonotquiteforgetme:"

Underthatspeech,sostrangelycompoundedofironyandfervour,Barbarasatverystill,withglowingcheeks。

"Yes,"saidCourtier,"onlyanimmortalmustembraceagoddess。

OutsidethepurlieusofAuthorityIshallsitcross—legged,andprostratemyselfthreetimesaday。"

ButBarbaraanswerednothing。

"Intheearlymorning,"wentonCourtier,"leavingthedarkanddismalhomesofFreedomIshalllooktowardstheTemplesoftheGreat;therewiththeeyeoffaithIshallseeyou。"

Hestopped,forBarbara\'slipsweremoving。

"Don\'thurtme,please。"

Courtierleanedover,tookherhand,andputittohislips。"Wewillnowrideon……"

ThatnightatdinnerLordDennis,seatedoppositehisgreat—niece,wasstruckbyherappearance。

"Averybeautifulchild,"hethought,"amostlovelyyoungcreature！"

ShewasplacedbetweenCourtierandHarbinger。Andtheoldman\'sstillkeeneyescarefullywatchedthosetwo。Thoughattentivetotheirneighboursontheotherside,theywerebothofthemkeepingthecornerofaneyeonBarbaraandoneachother。ThethingwastransparenttoLordDennis,andasmilesettledinthatnestofgravitybetweenhiswhitepeakedbeardandmoustaches。Buthewaited,theinstinctofafishermanbiddinghimtoneglectnopieceofwater,tillhesawthechildsilentandinrepose,andwatchedcarefullytoseewhatwouldrise。Althoughshewassocalmly,sohealthilyeating,hereyesstoleroundatCourtier。ThisquicklookseemedtoLordDennisperturbed,asifsomethingwereexcitingher。

ThenHarbingerspoke,andsheturnedtoanswerhim。Herfacewascalmnow,faintlysmiling,alittleeager,provocativeinitsjoyoflife。ItmadeLordDennisthinkofhisownyouth。Whatasplendidcouple！IfBabsmarriedyoungHarbingertherewouldnotbeafinerpairinallEngland。HiseyestravelledbacktoCourtier。Manlyenough！Theycalledhimdangerous！Therewasalookofeffervescence,carefullycorkeddown——mightperhapsbeattractivetoagirl！Tohisessentiallypracticalandsobermind,atypelikeCourtierwaspuzzling。Helikedthelookofhim,butdistrustedhisironicexpression,andthatappearanceofbloodtothehead。Fellow——nodoubt——thatwouldrideoffonhisideas,humanitarian！ToLordDennistherewassomethingqueerabouthumanitarians。Theyoffendedperhapshisdryandprecisesenseofform。Theywerealwayslookingoutforcrueltyorinjustice;seemeddelightedwhentheyfoundit——

swelledup,asitwere,whentheyscentedit,andastherewasagooddealabout,wereneverquiteofnormalsize。Menwholivedforideaswere,infact,tooneforwhomfactssufficedalwaysalittleworrying！AmovementfromBarbarabroughthimbacktoactuality。

WasthepossessorofthatcrownofhairandthosedivineyoungshouldersthelittleBabswhohadriddenwithhimintheRow？TimewascertainlytheDevil！Hereyesweresearchingforsomething;andfollowingthedirectionofthatglance,LordDennisfoundhimselfobservingMiltoun。Whatadifferencebetweenthosetwo！Bothnodoubtinthegreattroubleofyouth;whichsometimes,asheknewtoowell,lastedonalmosttooldage。Itwasacuriouslookthechildwasgivingherbrother,asifaskinghimtohelpher。LordDennishadseeninhisdaymanyyoungcreaturesleavetheshelteroftheirfreedomandenterthehouseofthegreatlottery;many,whohaddrawnaprizeandthereatlostforeverthecoldnessoflife;manytoo,thelightofwhoseeyeshadfadedbehindtheshuttersofthathouse,havingdrawnablank。Thethoughtof\'little\'Babsonthethresholdofthatinexorablesaloon,filledhimwithaneagersadness;andthesightofthetwomenwatchingforher,waitingforher,likehunters,wastohimdistasteful。Inanycase,lethernot,forHeaven\'ssake,gorangingasfarasthatredfellowofmiddleage,whomighthaveideas,buthadnopedigree;lethersticktoyouthandherownorder,andmarrythe——youngman,confoundhim,wholookedlikeaGreekgod,ofthewrongperiod,havinggrownamoustache。Herememberedherwordstheothereveningaboutthesetwoandthedifferentlivestheylived。Someromanticnotionorotherwasworkinginher！AndagainhelookedatCourtier。AQuixotictype——thesortthatrodeslap—bangateverything！Allverywell——butnotforBabs！ShewasnotlikethegloriousGaribaldi\'sgloriousAnita！ItwastrulycharacteristicofLordDennis——andindeedofotherpeople——thattohimchampionsofLibertywhendeadwerefardearerthanchampionsofLibertywhenliving。Yes,Babswouldwantmore,orwasitless,thanjustalifeofsleepingunderthestarsforthemansheloved,andthecausehefoughtfor。Shewouldwantpleasure,and,nottoomucheffort,andpresentlyalittlepower;nottheuncomfortableafter—fameofawomanwhowentthroughfire,butthefameandpowerofbeauty,andSocietyprestige。This,fancyofhers,ifitwereafancy,couldbenothingbuttheromanticismofayounggirl。Forthesakeofapassingshadow,togiveupsubstance？Itwouldn\'tdo！。AndagainLordDennisfixedhisshrewdglanceonhisgreat—niece。Thoseeyes,thatsmile！Yes！Shewouldgrowoutofthis。AndtaketheGreekgod,thedyingGaul——whicheverthatyoungmanwas！

CHAPTERXXI

ItwasnottillthemorningofpollingdayitselfthatCourtierleftMonklandCourt。Hehadalreadysufferedforsometimefrombadconscience。Forhiskneewaspracticallycured,andheknewwellthatitwasBarbara,andBarbaraalone,whokepthimstayingthere。

Theatmosphereofthatbighousewithitsarmyofservants,theimpossibilityofdoinganythingforhimself,andthefeelingofhopelessinsulationfromthevividandnecessitoussidesoflife,galledhimgreatly。Hefeltaverygenuinepityforthesepeoplewhoseemedtoleadanexistenceasitweresmotheredundertheirownsocialimportance。Itwasnottheirfault。Herecognizedthattheydidtheirbest。Theyweregoodspecimensoftheirkind;neithersoftnorluxurious,asthingswentinadegenerateandextravagantage;

theyevidentlytriedtobesimple——andthisseemedtohimtoheightenthepathosoftheirsituation。Fatehadbeentoomuchforthem。

Whathumanspiritcouldemergeuntrammelledandunshrunkenfromthatgreatencompassinghostofmaterialadvantage？ToaBedouinlikeCourtier,itwasasthoughasubtle,butveryterribletragedywasallthetimebeingplayedbeforehiseyes;andin,theverycentreofthistragedywasthegirlwhosogreatlyattractedhim。Everynightwhenheretiredtothatloftyroom,whichsmeltsogood,andwhere,withoutostentation,everythingwassoperfectlyorderedforhiscomfort,hethought:

"MyGod,to—morrowI\'llbeoff！"

Buteverymorningwhenhemetheratbreakfasthisthoughtwaspreciselythesame,andthereweremomentswhenhecaughthimselfwondering:"AmIfallingunderthespellofthisexistence——amI

gettingsoft？"Herecognizedasneverbeforethatthepeculiarartificial\'hardness\'ofthepatricianwasabrineorpickle,inwhich,withtheinstinctofself—preservationtheydeliberatelysoakedthemselves,topreventthedecayoftheiroverprotectedfibre。

HeperceivediteveninBarbara——asortofsentiment—proofoverall,aspeciesofmistrustoftheemotionalorlyrical,akindofcontemptofsympathyandfeeling。Andeverydayhewasmoreandmoretemptedtolayrudehandsonthisgarment;toseewhetherhecouldnotmakehercatchfire,andflareupwithsomeemotionoridea。Inspiteofhertantalizing,youthfulself—possession,hesawthatshefeltthislonginginhim,andnowandthenhecaughtaglimpseofastreakofrecklessnessinherwhichluredhimon:

Andyet,whenatlasthewassayinggood—byeonthenightbeforepollingday,hecouldnotflatterhimselfthathehadreallystruckanysparkfromher。Certainlyshegavehimnochance,atthatfinalinterview,butstoodamongsttheotherwomen,calmandsmiling,asifdeterminedthatheshouldnotagainmockherwithhisironicaldevotion。

Hegotupveryearlythenextmorning,intendingtopassawayunseen。

Inthecarputathisdisposal;hefoundasmallfigureinaholland—

frock,leaningbackagainstthecushionssothatsomesandalledtoespointedupatthechauffeur\'sback。TheybelongedtolittleAnn,whointhecourseofbusinesshaddiscoveredthevehiclebeforethedoor。

Hersuddenlittlevoiceunderhersuddenlittlenose,friendlybutnottoofriendly,wascomfortingtoCourtier。

"Areyougoing？Icancomeas,farasthegate。""Thatislucky。"

"Yes。Isthatallyourluggage？"

"I\'mafraiditis。"

"Oh！It\'squitealot,really,isn\'tit？"

"AsmuchasIdeserve。"

"Ofcourseyoudon\'thavetotakeguinea—pigsaboutwithyou？"

"Notasarule。"

"Ialwaysdo。There\'sgreat—Granny！"

TherecertainlywasLadyCasterley,standingalittlebackfromthedrive,anddirectingatallgardenerhowtodealwithanoldoak—

tree。Courtieralighted,andwenttowardshertosaygood—bye。Shegreetedhimwithacertaingrimcordiality。

"Soyouaregoing！Iamgladofthat,thoughyouquiteunderstandthatIlikeyoupersonally。"

"Quite！"

Hereyesgleamedmaliciously。

"Menwholaughlikeyouaredangerous,asI\'vetoldyoubefore！"

Then,withgreatgravity;sheadded"MygranddaughterwillmarryLordHarbinger。Imentionthat,Mr。

Courtier,foryourpeaceofmind。Youareamanofhonour;itwillgonofurther。"

Courtier,bowingoverherhand,answered:

"Hewillbelucky。"

Thelittleoldladyregardedhimunflinchingly。

"Hewill,sir。Good—bye！"

Courtiersmilinglyraisedhishat。Hischeekswereburning。

Regainingthecar,helookedround。LadyCasterleywasbusyoncemoreexhortingthetallgardener。ThevoiceoflittleAnnbrokeinonhisthoughts:

"Ihopeyou\'llcomeagain。BecauseIexpectIshallbehereatChristmas;andmybrotherswillbeherethen,thatis,JockandTiddy,notChristopherbecausehe\'syoung。Imustgonow。Good—bye！