第10章

Hallo,Susie！"

Courtiersawherslideaway,andjointhelittlepaleadoringfigureofthelodge—keeper\'sdaughter。

Thecarpassedoutintothelane。

IfLadyCasterleyhadplannedthisdisclosure,whichindeedshehadnot,fortheimpulsehadonlycomeoverheratthesoundofCourtier\'slaugh,shecouldnothave,devisedonemoreeffectual,fortherewasdeepdowninhimallawanderer\'sveryrealdistrust,,amountingalmosttocontempt,ofpeoplesosettledanddonefor;asaristocratsorbourgeois,andallamanofaction\'shorrorofwhathecalledpukingandmuling。ThepursuitofBarbarawithanyotherobjectbutthatofmarriagehadnaturallynotoccurredtoonewhohadlittlesenseofconventionalmorality,butmuchself—respect;andasecretendeavourtocutoutHarbinger,endinginamarriagewhereathewouldfigureasasortofpirate,wasquiteaslittletothetasteofamannotunaccustomedtothinkhimselfasgoodasotherpeople。

HecausedthecartodeviateupthelanethatledtoAudreyNoel\'s,hatingtogoawaywithoutahailofcheertothatshipindistress。

Shecameouttohimontheverandah。Fromtheclaspofherhand,thinandfaintlybrowned——thehandofawomanneverquiteidle——hefeltthatshereliedonhimtounderstandandsympathize;andnothingsoawakenedthebestinCourtierassuchmuteappealstohisprotection。Hesaidgently:

"Don\'tletthemthinkyou\'redown;"and,squeezingherhandhard:

"Whyshouldyoubewastedlikethis？It\'sasinandshame！"

Buthestoppedinwhathefelttobeanunluckyspeechatsightofherface,whichwithoutmovementexpressedsomuchmorethanhiswords。Hewasprotestingasacivilizedman;herfacewastheprotestofNature,thesoundlessdeclarationofbeautywastedagainstitswill,beautythatwaslife\'sinvitationtotheembracewhichgavelifebirth。

"I\'mclearingout,myself,"hesaid:"YouandI,youknow,arenotgoodforthesepeople。Nobirdsoffreedomallowed！"

Pressinghishand,sheturnedawayintothehouse,leavingCourtiergazingatthepatchofairwhereherwhitefigurehadstood。HehadalwayshadaspecialprotectivefeelingforAudreyNoel,afeelingwhichwithbutlittleencouragementmighthavebecomesomethingwarmer。Butsinceshehadbeenplacedinheranomalousposition,hewouldnotfortheworldhavebrushedthedewoffherbeliefthatshecouldtrusthim。And,nowthathehadfixedhisowngazeelsewhere,andshewasinthisbittertrouble,hefeltonheraccounttherancourthatabrotherfeelswhenJusticeandPityhaveconspiredtoflouthissister。ThevoiceofFriththechauffeurrousedhimfromgloomyreverie。

"LadyBarbara,sir！"

Followingtheman\'seyes,Courtiersawagainstthesky—lineontheforaboveAshman\'sFolly,anequestrianstatue。Hestoppedthecaratonce,andgotout。

Hereachedherattheruin,screenedfromtheroad,bythatdivinechancewhichattendsonmenwhotakecarethatitshall。Hecouldnottellwhethersheknewofhisapproach,andhewouldhavegivenallhehad,whichwasnotmuch,tohaveseenthroughthestiffgreyofhercoat,andthesoftcreamofherbody,intothatmysteriouscave,herheart。Tohavebeenforamoment,likeAshman,doneforgoodandallwithmaterialthings,andlivingthewhitelifewherearenobarriersbetweenmanandwoman。Thesmileonherlipssobaffledhim,puffedtherebyherspirit,asafirstflowerispuffedthroughthesurfaceofearthtomockatthespringwinds。Howtellwhatitsignified！Yetheratherpridedhimselfonhisknowledgeofwomen,ofwhomhehadseensomething。Butallhefoundtosaywas:

"I\'mgladofthischance。"

Thensuddenlylookingup,hefoundherstrangelypaleandquivering。

"IshallseeyouinLondon！"shesaid;and,touchingherhorsewithherwhip,withoutlookingback,sherodeawayoverthehill。

Courtierreturnedtothemoorroad,andgettingintothecar,muttered:

"Faster,please,Frith！"……

CHAPTERXXII

PollingwasalreadyinbriskprogresswhenCourtierarrivedinBucklandbury;andpartlyfromanotunnaturalinterestintheresult,partlyfromahalf—unconsciousclingingtothechanceofcatchinganotherglimpseofBarbara,hetookhisbagtothehotel,determinedtostayfortheannouncementofthepoll。StrollingoutintotheHighStreethebeganobservingthehumoursoftheday。Thebloomofpoliticalbeliefhadlongbeenbrushedoffthewingsofonewhohadsoflowntheworld\'swinds。Hehadseentoomuchofmorevividcolourstobecapablenowofveneratinggreatlythedullanddubioustintsofblueandyellow。Theylefthimfeelingextremelyphilosophic。Yetitwasimpossibletogetawayfromthem,fortheveryworldthatdayseemedblueandyellow,nordidthethirdcolourofredadoptedbybothsidesaffordanyclearassurancethateithercouldseevirtueintheother;rather,itseemedtosymbolizethedesireofeachtohavehisenemy\'sblood。ButCourtiersoonobservedbythelookscastathisowndetached,andperhapssarcastic,face,thatevenmorehatefultoeithersidethanitsantagonist,wasthephilosophiceye。Unanimouswasthelongingtoheavehalfabrickatitwheneveritshoweditself。Withitsd———dimpartiality,itshabitoflookingthroughtheintegumentofthingstoseeiftheremightbeanythinginside,hefeltthattheyregardeditastherealadversary—

—theeternalfoetoallthelittlefat\'facts,\'who,dressedupinblueandyellow,wereswaggeringandstaggering,callingeachothernames,wipingeachother\'seyes,bloodingeachother\'snoses。Totheselittlesolemndeliciouscreatures,allfrontandnobehind,thephilosophiceye,withitshabitoflookingroundthecorner,wasclearlydetestable。Theveryyellowandverybluebodiesoftheseroisteringsmallwarriorswiththeirhandsontheirtinswordsandtheirlipsontheirtintrumpets,startedupineverywindowandoneverywallconfrontingeachcitizeninturn,persuadinghimthattheyandtheyaloneweretakinghimtoWestminster。Norhadtheyapparentlyforthemostpartmuchtroublewithelectors,who,findinguncertaintydistasteful,passionatelydesiredtobeassuredthatthecountrycouldatoncebesavedbylittleyellowfactsorlittlebluefacts,asthecasemightbe;whohad,nodoubt,adozenothergoodreasonsforbeingontheonesideortheother;as,forinstance,thattheirfatherhadbeensobeforethem;thattheirbreadwasbutteredyelloworbutteredblue;thattheyhadbeenontheothersidelasttime;thattheyhadthoughtitoverandmadeuptheirminds;thattheyhadinnocentblueornaiveyellowbeerwithin;thathislordshipwastheman;orthatthewordspropertotheirmouthswere\'ChilcoxforBucklandbury\';and,aboveall,theonereallycreditablereason,that,sofarastheycouldtellwiththebestoftheirintellectandfeelings,thetruthatthemomentwaseitherblueoryellow。

Thenarrowhighstreetwasthrongedwithvoters。Tallpolicemenstationedtherehadnothingtodo。Thecertaintyofall,thattheyweregoingtowin,seemedtokeepeveryoneingoodhumour。Therewasasyetnoneedtobreakanyone\'shead,forthoughthesharpestlookoutwaskeptforanysignsofthephilosophiceye,itwasonlytobefound——outsideCourtier——intheperambulatorsofbabies,inoneoldmanwhorodeabicyclewaveringlyalongthestreetandstoppedtoaskapolicemanwhatwasthematterinthetown,andintworathergreen—facedfellowswhotrundledbarrowsfulloffavoursbothblueandyellow。

ButthoughCourtiereyedthe\'facts\'withsuchsuspicion,thekeennessofeveryoneaboutthebusinessstruckhimasreallysplendid。Theywentatitwithawill。Havinglookedforwardtoitformonths,theyweregoingtolookbackonitformonths。Itwasevidentlyareligiousceremony,summingupmosthighfeelings;andthisseemedtoonewhowashimselfamanofaction,natural,perhapspathetic,butcertainlynomatterforscorn。

Itwasalreadylateintheafternoonwhentherecamedebouchingintothehighstreetalongstringofsandwichmen,eachbearingbeforeandbehindhimapostercontainingthesewordsbeautifullysituatedinlargedarkbluelettersagainstapaleblueground:

"NEWCOMPLICATIONS。

DANGERNOTPAST。

VOTEFORMILTOUNANDTHEGOVERNMENT,ANDSAVETHEEMPIRE。"

Courtierstoppedtolookatthemwithpeculiarindignation。NotonlydidthispostertrampinagainonhischerishedconvictionsaboutPeace,buthesawinitsomethingmorethanmettheunphilosophiceye。Itsymbolizedforhimallthatwascatch—pennyinthenationallife—anepitaphonthegraveofgenerosity,unutterablysad。YetfromaPartypointofviewwhatcouldbemorejustifiable？Wasitnotdesperatelyimportantthateverybluenerveshouldbestrainedthatdaytoturnyellownerves,ifnotblue,atalleventsgreen,beforenightfell？WasitnotperfectlytruethattheEmpirecouldonlybesavedbyvotingblue？Couldtheyhelpabluepaperprintingthewords,\'Newcomplications,\'whichhehadreadthatmorning？Nomorethantheyellowscouldhelpayellowjournalprintingthewords\'LordMiltoun\'sEveningAdventure。\'Theironlybusinesswastowin,everfightingfair。Theyellowshadnotfoughtfair,theyneverdid,andoneoftheirmostunfairtacticswasthewaytheyhadofalwaysaccusingthebluesofunfairfighting,anaccusationtrulyludicrous！

Asfortruth！Thatwhichhelpedtheworldtobeblue,wasobviouslytrue;thatwhichdidn\'t,asobviouslynot。Therewasnomiddlepolicy！Themanwhosawthingsneitherwasasofty,andnopropercitizen。Andasforgivingtheyellowscreditforsincerity——theyellowsnevergavethemcredit！ButthoughCourtierknewallthat,thisposterseemedtohimparticularlydamnable,andhecouldnotforthelifeofhimresiststrikingoneofthesandwich—boardswithhiscane。Theresoundingthwackstartledabutcher\'sponystandingbythepavement。Itreared,andboltedforward,withCourtier,whohadnaturallyseizedtherein,hangingon。Adogdashedpast。Courtiertrippedandfell。Thepony,passingover,struckhimontheheadwithahoof。Foramomenthelostconsciousness;thencomingtohimself,refusedassistance,andwenttohishotel。Hefeltverygiddy,and,afterbandaginganastycut,laydownonhisbed。

Miltoun,returningfromthatnecessaryexhibitionofhimself,thecrowningfact,ateverypollingcentre,foundtimetogoandseehim。

"Thatlastposterofyours！"Courtierbegan,atonce。

"I\'mhavingitwithdrawn。"

"It\'sdonethetrick——congratulations——you\'llgetin！"

"Iknewnothingofit。"

"Mydearfellow,Ididn\'tsupposeyoudid。"

"Whenthereisadesert,Courtier,betweenamanandthesacredcity,hedoesn\'trenouncehisjourneybecausehehastowashindirtywaterontheway:Themob——howIloatheit！"

Therewassuchpent—upfuryinthosewordsastoastonishevenonewhoselifehadbeenpassedinconflictwithmajorities。

"Ihateitsmeanstupidities,Ihatethesoundofitsvoice,andthelookonitsface——it\'ssougly,it\'ssolittle。Courtier,IsufferpurgatoryfromthethoughtthatIshallscrapeinbythevotesofthemob。ThereissininusingthiscreatureandIamexpiatingit。"

Tothisstrangeoutburst,Courtieratfirstmadenoreply。

"You\'vebeenworkingtoohard,"hesaidatlast,"you\'reoffyourbalance。Afterall,themob\'smadeupofmenlikeyouandme。"

"No,Courtier,themobisnotmadeupofmenlikeyouandme。Ifitwereitwouldnotbethemob。"

"Itlooks,"Courtieransweredgravely,"asifyouhadnobusinessinthisgalley。I\'vealwayssteeredclearofitmyself。"

"Youfollowyourfeelings。Ihavenotthathappiness。"

Sosaying,Miltounturnedtothedoor。

Courtier\'svoicepursuedhimearnestly。

"Dropyourpolitics——ifyoufeellikethisaboutthem;don\'twasteyourlifefollowingwhateveritisyoufollow;don\'twastehers！"

ButMiltoundidnotanswer。

Itwasawondrousstillnight,when,afewminutesbeforetwelve,withhisforeheadbandagedunderhishat,thechampionoflostcausesleftthehotelandmadehiswaytowardstheGrammarSchoolforthedeclarationofthepoll。Asoundasofsomemonsterbreathingguidedhim,till,fromasteepemptystreethecameinsightofasurgingcrowd,spreadoverthetownsquare,likeadarkcarpetpatternedbysplashesoflamplight。Highupabovethatcrowd,onthelittlepeakedtoweroftheGrammarSchool,abrightlylightedclockfacepresided;andoverthepassionatehopesinthosethousandsofheartsknittogetherbysuspensetheskyhadlifted;andshowednocloudbetweenthemandthepurplefieldsofair。ToCourtierdescendingtowardsthesquare,theswayingwhitefaces,turnedalloneway,seemedliketheheadsofgiantwildflowersinadarkfield,shiveredbywind。Thenighthadcharmedawaytheblueandyellowfacts,andbreatheddownintothatthrongthespiritofemotion。Andherealizedallatoncethebeautyandmeaningofthisscene——expressionofthequiveringforces,whoseperpetualflux,controlledbytheSpiritofBalance,wasthesouloftheworld。Thousandsofheartswiththethoughtofselflostinoneover—masteringexcitement！

Anoldmanwithalonggreybeard,standingclosetohiselbow,murmured:

"\'Tisanxiouswork——Iwouldn\'tha\'missedthisforanythingintheworld。"

"Fine,eh？"answeredCourtier。

"Aye,"saidtheoldman,"\'tisfine。I\'venotseenthelikeo\'thissincethegreatyear——forty—eight。Theretheyare——thearistocrats！"

FollowingthedirectionofthatskinnyhandCourtiersawonabalconyLordandLadyValleys,sidebyside,lookingsteadilydownatthecrowd。Theretoo,leaningagainstawindowandtalkingtosomeonebehind,wasBarbara。Theoldmanwentonmuttering,andCourtiercouldseethathiseyeshadgrownverybright,hiswholefacetransfiguredbyintensehostility;hefeltdrawntothisoldcreature,thusmovedtotheverysoul。ThenhesawBarbaralookingdownathim,withherhandraisedtohertempletoshowthatshesawhisbandagedhead。Hehadthepresenceofmindnottolifthishat。

Theoldmanspokeagain。

"Youwouldn\'trememberforty—eight,Isuppose。Therewasafeelinginthepeoplethen——wewouldha\'diedforthingsinthosedays。I\'meighty—four,"andheheldhisshakinghanduptohisbreast,"butthespirit\'salivehereyet！GodsendtheRadicalgetsin！"Therewaswaftedfromhimascentasofpotatoes。

Farbehind,attheveryedgeofthevastdarkthrong,somevoicesbegansinging:"WaydownupontheSwaneeribber。"Thetunefloatedforth,ceased,spurteduponcemore,anddied。

Then,intheverycentreofthesquareastentorianbaritoneroaredforth:"Shouldauldacquaintancebeforgot！"

Thesongswelled,tilleverykindofvoice,fromtrebletotheoldChartist\'squaveringbass,waschantingit;hereandtherethecrowdheavedwiththemovementoflinkedarms。Courtierfoundthesoftfingersofayoungwomaninhisrighthand,theoldChartist\'sdrytremblingpawinhisleft。Hehimselfsangloudly。Thegraveandfearfulmusicsprangstraightupintotheyair,rolledoutrightandleft,andwaslostamongthehills。Butithadnosoonerdiedawaythanthesamehugebaritoneyelled"GodsaveourgraciousKing！"Thestatureofthecrowdseemedatoncetoleapuptwofeet,andfromunderthatplatformofraisedhatsroseastupendousshouting。

"This,"thoughtCourtier,"isreligion！"

Theyweresingingevenonthebalconies;bythelamplighthecouldseeLordValleysmouthnotopenedquiteenough,asthoughhisvoicewerejustalittleashamedofcomingout,andBarbarawithherheadflungbackagainstthepillar,pouringoutherheart。Nomouthinallthecrowdwassilent。ItwasasthoughthesouloftheEnglishpeoplewereescapingfromitsdungeonofreserve,onthepinionsofthatchant。

Butsuddenly,likeashotbirdclosingwings,thesongfellsilentanddivedheadlongbacktoearth。Outfromundertheclock—facehadmovedathindarkfigure。Morefigurescamebehind。CourtiercouldseeMiltoun。Avoicefarawaycried:"Up;Chilcox！"Ahuge:

"Husill"followed;thensuchasilence,thatthesoundofanengineshuntingamileawaycouldbeheardplainly。

Thedarkfiguremovedforward,andatinysquareofpapergleamedoutwhiteagainsttheblackofhisfrock—coat。

"Ladiesandgentlemen。ResultofthePoll:

MiltounFourthousandeighthundredandninety—eight。ChilcoxFourthousandeighthundredandtwo。"

Thesilenceseemedtofalltoearth,andbreakintoathousandpieces。Throughthepandemoniumofcheersandgroaning,Courtierwithallhisstrengthforcedhimselftowardsthebalcony。HecouldseeLordValleysleaningforwardwithabroadsmile;LadyValleyspassingherhandacrosshereyes;BarbarawithherhandinHarbinger\'s,lookingstraightintohisface。Hestopped。TheoldChartistwasstillbesidehim,tearsrollingdownhischeeksintohisbeard。

CourtiersawMiltouncomeforward,andstand,unsmiling,deathlypale。

PARTII

CHAPTERI

Atthreeo\'clockintheafternoonofthenineteenthofJulylittleAnnShroptoncommencedtheascentofthemainstaircaseofValleysHouse,London。Sheclimbedslowly,intheverymiddle,anextremelysmallwhitefigureonthosewideandshiningstairs,countingthemaloud。Theirnumberwasneveraliketwodaysrunning,whichmadethemattractivetooneforwhomnoveltywasthesaltoflife。

Comingtothatspotwheretheybranched,shepausedtoconsiderwhichofthetwoflightsshehadusedlast,andunabletoremember,satdown。Shewasthebearerofamessage。Ithadbeennewwhenshestarted,butwasalreadycomparativelyold,andlikelytobecomeolder,inviewofadesignnowconceivedbyheroftravellingthewholelengthofthepicturegallery。Andwhileshesatmaturingthisplan,sunlightfloodingthroughalargewindowdroveawhiterefulgencedownintotheheartofthewidepolishedspaceofwoodandmarble,whenceshehadcome。ThenatureoflittleAnnhabituallyrejectedfairiesandallfantasticthings,findingthemquitetoomuchintheair,anddevoidofsufficientrealityand\'go\';andthisrefulgence,almostunearthlyinitstravellingglory,passedoverhersmallheadandplayedstrangelywiththepillarsinthehall,withoutexcitinginheranyfanciesoranysentiment。Theintentionofdiscoveringwhatwasattheendofthepicturegalleryabsorbedthewholeofheressentiallypracticalandactivemind。Decidingontheleft—handflightofstairs,sheenteredthatimmenselylong,narrow,and——withblindsdrawn——ratherdarksaloon。Shewalkedcarefully,becausethefloorwasveryslipperyhere,andwithakindofseriousnessduepartlytothedarknessandpartlytothepictures。

Theywereindeed,inthislight,ratherformidable,thoseoldCaradocsblack,armouredcreatures,someofthem,whoseemedtoeyewithasortofburning,grim,defensivegreedthesmallwhitefigureoftheirdescendantpassingalongbetweenthem。ButlittleAnn,whoknewtheywereonlypictures,maintainedhercoursesteadily,andeverynowandthen,asshepassedonewhoseemedtoherratheruglierthantheothers,wrinkledhersuddenlittlenose。Attheend,asshehadthought;appearedadoor。Sheopenedit,andpassedontoalanding。Therewasastonestaircaseinthecorner,andthereweretwodoors。Itwouldbenicetogoupthestaircase,butitwouldalsobenicetoopenthedoors。Goingtowardsthefirstdoor,withalittlethrill,sheturnedthehandle。Itwasoneofthoserooms,necessaryinhouses,forwhichshehadnogreatliking;andclosingthisdoorratherloudlysheopenedtheotherone,findingherselfinachambernotresemblingtheroomsdownstairs,whichwereallhighandnicelygilded,butmorelikewhereshehadlessons,low,andfilledwithbooksandleatherchairs。Fromtheendoftheroomwhichshecouldnotsee,sheheardasoundasofsomeonekissingsomething,andinstincthadalmostmadeherturntogoawaywhentheword:

"Hallo！"suddenlyopenedherlips。AndalmostdirectlyshesawthatGrannyandGrandpapawerestandingbythefireplace。Notknowingquitewhethertheyweregladtoseeher,shewentforwardandbeganatonce:

"Isthiswhereyousit,Grandpapa？"

"Itis。"

"It\'snice,isn\'tit,Granny？Wheredoesthestonestaircasegoto？"

"Totheroofofthetower,Ann。"

"Oh！Ihavetogiveamessage,soImustgonow。"

"Sorrytoloseyou。"

"Yes;good—bye！"

Hearingthedoorshutbehindher,LordandLadyValleyslookedateachotherwithadubioussmile。

Thelittleinterviewwhichshehadinterrupted,hadariseninthisway。

Accustomedtoretiretothisquietandhomelyroom,whichwasnothisofficialstudywherehewasalwaysliabletotheattacksofsecretaries,LordValleyshadcomeuphereafterlunchtosmokeandchewthecudofaworry。

ThematterwasoneinconnectionwithhisPendridnyestate,inCornwall。Ithadlongagitatedbothhisagentandhimself,andhadnowcometohimforfinaldecision。Thequestionaffectedtwovillagestothenorthoftheproperty,whoseinhabitantsweresolelydependentontheworkingofalargequarry,whichhadforsometimebeenlosingmoney。

Akindlyman,hewasextremelyaversetoanymeasurewhichwouldplungehistenantsintodistress,andespeciallyincaseswheretherehadbeennoquestionofoppositionbetweenhimselfandthem。But,reducedtoitsessentials,thematterstoodthus:ApartfromthatparticularquarrythePendridnyestatewasnotonlyagoing,butevenaprofitableconcern,supportingitselfandsupplyingsomeofthesinewsofwartowardsValleysHouseandtheracingestablishmentatNewmarketandothergeneralexpenses;withthisquarrystillrunning,allowingfortheupkeepofPendridny,andtheprovisionofpensionstosuperannuatedservants,itwasrathertheotherway。

Sittingthere,thatafternoon,smokinghisfavouritepipe,hehadatlastcometotheconclusionthattherewasnothingforitbuttoclosedown。Hehadnotmadethisresolutionlightly;though,todohimjustice,theknowledgethatthedecisionwouldbeboundtocauseanoutcryinthelocal,andperhapstheNationalPress,hadsecretlyratherspurredhimontotheresolvethandeterredhimfromit。Hefeltasifhewerebeingdictatedtoinadvance,andhedidnotlikedictation。Tohavetodeprivethesepoorpeopleoftheirimmediatelivingwas,heknew,agooddealmoreirksometohimthantothosewhowouldcertainlymakeafussaboutit,hisconsciencewasclear,andhecoulddiscountthatfutureoutcryasmerePartyspite。Hehadveryhonestlytriedtoexaminethethingallround;andhadreasonedthus:IfIkeepthisquarryopen,Iamreallyadmittingtheprincipleofpauperization,sinceInaturallylooktoeachofmyestatestosupportitsownhouse,grounds,shooting,andtocontributetowardsthesupportofthishouse,andmyfamily,andracingstable,andallthepeopleemployedaboutthemboth。

Toallowanybusinesstoberunonmyestateswhichdoesnotcontributetothegeneralupkeep,istoprotectandreallypauperizeaportionofmytenantsattheexpenseoftherest;itmustthereforebefalseeconomicsandasecretsortofsocialism。Further,iflogicallyfollowedout,itmightendinmyruin,andtoallowthat,thoughImightnotpersonallyobject,wouldbetoimplythatIdonotbelievethatIambyvirtueofmytraditionsandtraining,thebestmachinerythroughwhichtheStatecanworktosecurethewelfareofthepeople……

Whenhehadreachedthatpointinhisconsiderationofthequestion,hismind,orratherperhaps,hisessentialself,hadnotunnaturallyrisenupandsaid:Whichisabsurd！

Impersonalitywasinfashion,andasarulehebelievedinthinkingimpersonally。Therewasapoint,however,wherethepossibilityofdoingsoceased,withouttreacherytooneself,one\'sorder,andthecountry。Andtotheargumentwhichhewasquiteshrewdenoughtoputtohimself,soonerthanhaveitputbyanyoneelse,thatitwasdisproportionateforasinglemanbyastrokeofthepentobeabletodisposeofthelivelihoodofhundredswhosesensesandfeelingsweresimilartohisown——hehadanswered:"IfIdidn\'t,someplutocratorcompanywould——or,worsestill,theState！"Cooperativeenterprisebeing,inhisopinion,foreigntothespiritofthecountry,therewas,sofarashecouldsee,nootheralternative。

Factswerefactsandnottobegotover！

Notwithstandingallthis,thenecessityforthedecisionmadehimsorry,forifhehadnogreatsenseofproportion,hewasatleasthumane。

Hewasstillsmokinghispipeandstaringatasheetofpapercoveredwithsmallfigureswhenhiswifeentered。Thoughshehadcometoaskhisadviceonaverydifferentsubject,shesawatoncethathewasvexed,andsaid:

"What\'sthematter,Geoff？"

LordValleysrose,wenttothehearth,deliberatelytappedouthispipe,thenheldouttoherthesheetofpaper。

"Thatquarry！Nothingforit——mustgo！"

LadyValleys\'facechanged。

"Oh,no！Itwillmeansuchdreadfuldistress。"

LordValleysstaredathisnails。"It\'sputtingadragonthewholeestate,"hesaid。

"Iknow,buthowcouldwefacethepeople——Ishouldneverbeabletogodownthere。Andmostofthemhavesuchenormousfamilies。"

SinceLordValleyscontinuedtobendonhisnailsthatslow,thought—

formingstare,shewentonearnestly:

"RatherthanthatI\'dmakesacrifices。I\'dsoonerPendridnywereletthanthrowallthosepeopleoutofwork。Isupposeitwouldlet。"

"Let？Bestwoodcockshootingintheworld。"

LadyValleys,pursuingherthoughts,wenton:

"Intimewemightgetthepeopledraftedintootherthings。HaveyouconsultedMiltoun？"

"No,"saidLordValleysshortly,"anddon\'tmeanto——he\'stoounpractical。"

"Healwaysseemstoknowwhathewantsverywell。"

"Itellyou,"repeatedLordValleys,"Miltoun\'snogoodinamatterofthissort——heandhisideasthrowbacktotheMiddleAges。"

LadyValleyswentcloser,andtookhimbythelapelsofhiscollar。

"Geoff—really,topleaseme;someotherway！"

LordValleysfrowned,staringatherforsometime;andatlastanswered:

"Topleaseyou——I\'llleaveitoveranotheryear。"

"Youthinkthat\'sbetterthanletting？"

"Idon\'tlikethethoughtofsomeoutsiderthere。Timeenoughtocometothatifwemust。TakeitasmyChristmaspresent。"

LadyValleys,ratherflushed,bentforwardandkissedhisear。

ItwasatthismomentthatlittleAnnhadentered。

Whenshewasgone,andtheyhadexchangedthatdubiouslook,LadyValleyssaid:

"IcameaboutBabs。Idon\'tknowwhattomakeofhersincewecameup。She\'snotputtingherheartintothings。"

LordValleysansweredalmostsulkily:

"It\'stheheatprobably——orClaudHarbinger。"Inspiteofhiseasy—

goingparentalism,hedislikedthethoughtoflosingthechildwhomhesoaffectionatelyadmired。

"Ah！"saidLadyValleysslowly,"I\'mnotsosure。"

"Howdoyoumean？"

"There\'ssomethingqueerabouther。I\'mbynomeanscertainshehasn\'tgotsomesortoffeelingforthatMr。Courtier。"

"What！"saidLordValleys,growingmostunphilosophicallyred。

"Exactly！"

"Confoundit,Gertrude,Miltoun\'sbusinesswasquiteenoughforoneyear。"

"Fortwenty,"murmuredLadyValleys。"I\'mwatchingher。He\'sgoingtoPersia,theysay。"

"Andleavinghisbonesthere,Ihope,"mutteredLordValleys。

"Really,it\'stoomuch。Ishouldthinkyou\'reallwrong,though。"

LadyValleysraisedhereyebrows。Menwereveryqueeraboutsuchthings！Veryqueerandworsethanhelpless！

"Well,"shesaid,"Imustgotomymeeting。I\'lltakeher,andseeifIcangetatsomething,"andshewentaway。