第13章

"It\'snogood;stupidofmetobeworryingyou。"

"Itisquiteimpossibleforyoutoworryme。"

Hereyesliftedsuddenlyfromherglove,andlookedstraightintohis。

"AreyoureallygoingtoPersia？"

"Yes。"

"ButIdon\'twantyouto,notyet！"andturningsuddenly,shelefthim。

Strangelydisturbed,Courtierremainedmotionless,consultingthegravestareofthegroupofGeorgianCaradocs。

Avoicesaid:

"Goodpainting,isn\'tit？"

BehindhimwasLordHarbinger。AndoncemorethememoryofLadyCasterley\'swords;thememoryofthetwofigureswithjoinedhandsonthebalconyabovetheelectioncrowd;allhislatentjealousyofthishandsomeyoungColossus,hisanimusagainstonewhomhecould,asitwere,smellouttobealwaysfightingonthewinningside;allhisconsciousnesstooofwhatalostcausehisownwas,hisdoubtwhetherhewerehonourabletolookonitasacauseatall,flaredupinCourtier,sothathisanswerwasastare。OnHarbinger\'sface,too,therehadcomealookofstubbornviolenceslowlyworkinguptowardsthesurface。

"Isaid:\'Good,isn\'tit？\'Mr。Courtier。"

"Iheardyou。"

"Andyouwerepleasedtoanswer？"

"Nothing。"

"Withthecivilitywhichmightbeexpectedofyourhabits。"

Coldlydisdainful,Courtieranswered:

"Ifyouwanttosaythatsortofthing,pleasechooseaplacewhereI

canreplytoyou,"andturnedabruptlyonhisheel。

Buthegroundhisteethashemadehiswayoutintothestreet。

InHydeParkthegrasswasparchedanddewlessunderaskywhosestarswereveiledbytheheatanddusthaze。NeverhadCourtiersobitterlywantedthesky\'sconsolation——theblessedsenseofinsignificanceinthefaceofthenight\'sdarkbeauty,which,dwarfingallpettyrageandhunger,mademenpartofitsmajesty,exaltedthemtoasenseofgreatness。

CHAPTERVII

Itwaspastfouro\'clockthefollowingdaywhenBarbaraissuedfromValleysHouseonfoot;cladinapalebufffrock,chosenforquietness,sheattractedeveryeye。Verysoonenteringataxi—cab,shedrovetotheTemple,stoppedattheStrandentrance,andwalkeddownthelittlenarrowlaneintotheheartoftheLaw。ItsvotarieswerehurryingbackfromtheCourts,streamingupfromtheirChambersfortea,orescapingdesperatelytoLord\'sorthePark——youngvotaries,unboundasyetbythefascinationoffameorfees。Andeach,ashepassed,lookedatBarbara,withhisfingersitchingtoremovehishat,andafeelingthatthiswasShe。Afteradayspentamongstprecedentsandpractice,aftersixhoursatleastoftryingtodiscoverwhatchanceAhadofstandingonhisrights,orBhadofpreventinghim,itwasdifficulttofeelotherwiseaboutthatcalmapparition——likeagoldenslimtreewalking。Oneofthem,askedbyherthewaytoMiltoun\'sstaircase,precededherwithshyceremony,andwhenshehadvanishedupthosedustystairs,lingeredon,hopingthatshemightfindhervisiteeout,andbeobligedtoreturnandaskhimthewayback。Butshedidnotcome,andhewentsadlyaway,disturbedtotheverybottomofallthatheownedinfeesimple。

Infact,nooneansweredBarbara\'sknock,anddiscoveringthatthedooryielded,shewalkedthroughthelobbypasttheclerk\'sden,convertedtoakitchen,intothesitting—room。Itwasempty。ShehadneverbeentoMiltoun\'sroomsbefore,andshestaredabouthercuriously。Sincehedidnotpractise,muchofthepropergearwasabsent。Theroomindeedhadaworncarpet,afewoldchairs,andwaslinedfromfloortoceilingwithbooks。ButthewallspacebetweenthewindowswasoccupiedbyanenormousmapofEngland,scoredalloverwithfiguresandcrosses;andbeforethismapstoodanimmensedesk,onwhichwerepilesofdoublefoolscapcoveredwithMiltoun\'sneatandratherpointedwriting。Barbaraexaminedthem,puckeringupherforehead;sheknewthathewasworkingatabookonthelandquestion;butshehadneverrealizedthatthemakingofabookrequitedsomuchwriting。Papers,too,andBlueBookslitteredalargebureauonwhichstoodbronzebustsofAEschylusandDante。

"Whatanuncomfortableplace！"shethought。Theroom,indeed,hadanatmosphere,aspirit,whichdepressedherhorribly。Seeingafewflowersdowninthecourtbelow,shehadalongingtogetouttothem。Thenbehindhersheheardthesoundofsomeonetalking。Buttherewasnooneintheroom;andtheeffectofthisdisruptedsoliloquy,whichcamefromnowhere,wassouncanny,thatsheretreatedtothedoor。Thesound,asoftwospiritsspeakinginonevoice,grewlouder,andinvoluntarilysheglancedatthebusts。Theyseemedquiteblameless。Thoughthesoundhadbeenbehindherwhenshewasatthewindow,itwasagainbehindhernowthatshewasatthedoor;andshesuddenlyrealizedthatitwasissuingfromabookcaseinthecentreofthewall。Barbarahadherfather\'snerve,andwalkinguptothebookcasesheperceivedthatithadbeenaffixedto,andcovered,adoorthatwasnotquiteclosed。Shepulledittowardsher,andpassedthrough。AcrossthecentreofanunkemptbedroomMiltounwasstriding,dressedonlyinhisshirtandtrousers。

Hisfeetwerebare,andhisheadandhairdrippingwet;thelookonhisthindarkfacewenttoBarbara\'sheart。Sheranforward,andtookhishand。Thiswasburninghot,butthesightofherseemedtohavefrozenhistongueandeyes。Andthecontrastofhisburninghandwiththisfrozensilence,frightenedBarbarahorribly。Shecouldthinkofnothingbuttoputherotherhandtohisforehead。

Thattoowasburninghot！

"Whatbroughtyouhere？"hesaid。

Shecouldonlymurmur:

"Oh！Eusty！Areyouill？"

Miltountookholdofherwrists。

"It\'sallright,I\'vebeenworkingtoohard;gotatouchoffever。"

"SoIcanfeel,"murmuredBarbara。"Yououghttobeinbed。Comehomewithme。"

Miltounsmiled。"It\'snotacaseforleeches。"

Thelookofhissmile,thesoundofhisvoice,sentashudderthroughher。

"I\'mnotgoingtoleaveyouherealone。

ButMiltoun\'sgrasptightenedonherwrists。

"MydearBabs,youwilldowhatItellyou。Gohome,holdyourtongue,andleavemetoburnoutinpeace。"

Barbarasustainedthatpainfulgripwithoutwincing;shehadregainedhercalmness。

"Youmustcome！Youhaven\'tanythinghere,notevenacooldrink。"

"MyGod！Barleywater！"

Thescornheputintothosetwowordswasmorewitheringthanawholephilippicagainstredemptionbycreaturecomforts。Andfeelingitdartintoher,Barbaraclosedherlipstight。Hehaddroppedherwrists,andagain,begunpacingupanddown;suddenlyhestopped:

"\'Thestars,sun,moonallshrinkaway,Adesertvast,withoutabound,Andnothinglefttoeatordrink,Andadarkdesertallaround。\'

YoushouldreadyourBlake,Audrey。"

Barbaraturnedquickly,andwentoutfrightened。Shepassedthroughthesitting—roomandcorridorontothestaircase。Hewasill—

raving！ThefeverinMiltoun\'sveinsseemedtohavestolenthroughtheclutchofhishandsintoherownveins。Herfacewasburning,shethoughtconfusedly,breathedunevenly。Shefeltsore,andatthesametimeterriblysorry;andwithaltherekeptrisinginherthegustymemoryofHarbingerskiss。

Shehurrieddownthestairs,turnedbyinstinctdown—hillandfoundherselfontheEmbankment。Andsuddenly,withherinherentpowerofswiftdecision,shehailedacab,anddrovetothenearesttelephoneoffice。

CHAPTERVIII

ToawomanlikeAudreyNoel,borntobethecounterpartandcomplementofanother,——whoseoccupationsandeffortwereinherentlydivorcedfromthecontinuityofanystiffandstrenuouspurposeofherown,theuprootingshehadvoluntarilyundergonewasaseriousmatter。

Bereavedofthefacesofherflowers,thefriendlysighingofherlime—tree,thewantsofhercottagers;bereavedofthatbusymonotonyoflittlehomethingswhichisthestayandsolaceoflonelywomen,shewasextraordinarilylost。Evenmusicforreviewseemedtohavefailedher。ShehadneverlivedinLondon,sothatshehadnottherefugeofoldhauntsandhabits,buthadtomakeherown——andtomakehabitsandhauntsrequiredaheartthatcouldatleaststretchoutfeelersandlayholdofthings,andherheartwasnotnowable。WhenshehadstruggledwithherEdwardianflat,andlaiddownhersimpleroutineofmeals,shewasasstrandedaseverwas,convictletoutofprison。Shehadnoteventhatgreatsupport,thenecessityofhidingherfeelingsforfearofdisturbingothers。Shewasplantedthere,withherlongingandgrief,andnothing,nobody,totakeheroutofherself。Havingwilfullyembracedthisposition,shetriedtomakethebestofit,feelingitlessintolerable,atallevents,thanstayingonatMonkland,whereshehadmadethatgrievous,andunpardonableerror——fallinginlove。

Thisoffence,onthepartofonewhofeltwithinherselfagreatcapacitytoenjoyandtoconferhappiness,hadarisen——liketheothergrievousandunpardonableoffence,hermarriage——fromtoomuchdispositiontoyieldherselftothepersonalityofanother。Butitwascoldcomforttoknowthatthedesiretogiveandtoreceivelovehadtwiceoverlefther——adeadwoman。Whateverthenatureofthoseimmaturesensationswithwhich,asagirloftwenty,shehadacceptedherhusband,inherfeelingtowardsMiltountherewasnotonlyabandonment,butthehigherflameofself—renunciation。Shewantedtodothebestforhim,andhadnoteventheconsolationoftheknowledgethatshehadsacrificedherselfforhisadvantage。Allhadbeentakenoutofherhands！Yetwithcharacteristicfatalismshedidnotfeelrebellious。Ifitwereordainedthatsheshould,forfifty,perhapssixtyyears,repentinsterilityandashesthatfirsterrorofhergirlhood,rebellionwas,nonetheless,toofar—fetched。

Ifsherebelled,itwouldnotbeinspirit,butinaction。Generalprincipleswerenothingtoher;shelostnoforcebroodingoverthejusticeorinjusticeofhersituation,butmerelytriedtodigestitsfacts。

Thewholeday,succeedingCourtier\'svisit,wasspentbyherintheNationalGallery,whoseroof,aloneofallinLondon,seemedtoofferherprotection。Shehadfoundonepainting,byanItalianmaster,thesubjectofwhichremindedherofMiltoun;andbeforethisshesatforaverylongtime,attractingatlastthegoutystareofanofficial。Thestillfigureofthislady,withtheovalfaceandgravebeauty,bothpiquedhiscuriosity,andstimulatedcertainmoralqualms。She,wasundoubtedlywaitingforherlover。Nowoman,inhisexperience,hadeversatsolongbeforeapicturewithoutulteriormotive;andhekepthiseyeswellopenedtoseewhatthismotivewouldbelike。Itgavehim,therefore,asensationalmostamountingtochagrinwhencomingroundoncemore,hefoundtheyhadeludedhimandgoneofftogetherwithoutcomingunderhisinspection。

Feelinghisfeetagooddeal,forhehadbeenonthemallday,hesatdowninthehollowwhichshehadleftbehindher;andagainsthiswillfoundhimselfalsolookingatthepicture。Itwaspaintedinastylehedidnotcarefor;thefaceofthesubject,too,gavehimthequeerfeelingthatthegentlemanwasbeingroastedinside。Hehadnotbeensittingtherelong,however,beforeheperceivedtheladystandingbythepicture,andthelipsofthegentlemaninthepicturemoving。Itseemedtohimagainsttherules,andhegotupatonce,andwenttowardsit;butashedidso,hefoundthathiseyeswereshut,andopenedthemhastily。Therewasnoonethere。

>FromtheNationalGallery,AudreyhadgoneintoanA。B。C。fortea,andthenhome。BeforetheMansionswasataxi—cab,andthemaidmetherwiththenewsthat\'LadyCaradoc\'wasinthesitting—room。

Barbarawasindeedstandinginthemiddleoftheroomwithalookonherfacesuchasherfatherworesometimesontheracecourse,inthehuntingfield,oratstormyCabinetMeetings,alookbothresoluteandsharp。Shespokeatonce:

"IgotyouraddressfromMr。Courtier。Mybrotherisill。I\'mafraidit\'llbebrainfever,IthinkyouhadbettergoandseehimathisroomsintheTemple;there\'snotimetobelost。"

ToAudreyeverythingintheroomseemedtogoround;yetallhersenseswerepreternaturallyacute,sothatshecoulddistinctlysmellthemudoftheriveratlowtide。Shesaid,withashudder:

"Oh！Iwillgo;yes,Iwillgoatonce。"

"He\'squitealone。Hehasn\'taskedforyou;butIthinkyourgoingistheonlychance。Hetookmeforyou。Youtoldmeonceyouwereagoodnurse。"

"Yes。"

Theroomwassteadyenoughnow,butshehadlostthepreternaturalacutenessofhersenses,andfeltconfused。SheheardBarbarasay:

"Icantakeyoutothedoorinmycab,"andmurmuring:"Iwillgetready,"wentintoherbedroom。Foramomentshewassoutterlybewilderedthatshedidnothing。Theneveryotherthoughtwaslostinastrange,soft,almostpainfuldelight,asifsomenewinstinctwerebeingborninher;andquickly,butwithoutconfusionorhurry,shebeganpacking。Sheputintoavaliseherowntoiletthings;thenflannel,cotton—wool,eaudeCologne,hot—waterbottle,Etna,shawls,thermometer,everythingshehadwhichcouldserveinillness。

Changingtoaplaindress,shetookupthevaliseandreturnedtoBarbara。Theywentouttogethertothecab。Themomentitbegantobearhertothisordealatoncesolonged—forandsoterrible,fearcameoverheragain,sothatshescrewedherselfintothecorner,verywhiteandstill。ShewasawareofBarbaracallingtothedriver:"GobytheStrand,andstopatapoulterer\'sforice！"And,whenthebagoficehadbeenhandedin,heardhersaying:"Iwillbringyouallyouwant——ifheisreallygoingtobeill。"

Then,asthecabstopped,andtheopendoorwayofthestaircasewasbeforeher,allhercouragecameback。

Shefeltthegirl\'swarmhandagainstherown,andgraspinghervaliseandthebagofice,gotout,andhurriedupthesteps。

CHAPTERIX

OnleavingNettlefold,Miltounhadgonestraightbacktohisrooms,andbegunatoncetoworkathisbookonthelandquestion。Heworkedallthroughthatnight——histhirdnightwithoutsleep,andallthefollowingday。Intheevening,feelingqueerinthehead,hewentoutandwalkedupanddowntheEmbankment。Then,fearingtogotobedandliesleepless,hesatdowninhisarm—chair。Fallingasleepthere,hehadfearfuldreams,andawokeunrefreshed。Afterhisbath,hedrankcoffee,andagainforcedhimselftowork。Bythemiddleofthedayhefeltdizzyandexhausted,bututterlydisinclinedtoeat。HewentoutintothehotStrand,boughthimselfanecessarybook,andafterdrinkingmorecoffee,camebackandagainbegantowork。Atfouro\'clockhefoundthathewasnottakinginthewords。Hisheadwasburninghot,andhewentintohisbedroomtobatheit。Thensomehowhebeganwalkingupanddown,talkingtohimself,asBarbarahadfoundhim。

Shehadnosoonergone,thanhefeltutterlyexhausted。Asmallcrucifixhungoverhisbed,andthrowinghimselfdownbeforeit,heremainedmotionlesswithhisfaceburiedinthecoverlet,andhisarmsstretchedouttowardsthewall。Hedidnotpray,butmerelysoughtrestfromsensation。Acrosshishalf—hypnotizedconsciousnesslittlethreadsofburningfancykeptshooting。Thenhecouldfeelnothingbututterphysicalsickness,andagainstthishiswillrevolted。Heresolvedthathewouldnotbeill,aridiculouslogforwomentohangover。Butthemomentsofsicknessgrewlongerandmorefrequent;andtodrivethemawayherosefromhisknees,andforsometimeagainwalkedupanddown;then,seizedwithvertigo,hewasobligedtositonthebedtosavehimselffromfalling。Frombeingburninghothehadbecomedeadlycold,gladtocoverhimselfwiththebedclothes。Theheatsoonflamedupinhimagain;butwithasickman\'sinstincthedidnotthrowofftheclothes,andstayedquitestill。Theroomseemedtohaveturnedtoathickwhitesubstancelikeacloud,inwhichhelayenwrapped,unabletomovehandorfoot。

Hissenseofsmellandhearinghadbecomeunnaturallyacute;hesmelledthedistantstreets,flowers,dust,andtheleatherofhisbooks,eventhescentleftbyBarbara\'sclothes,andacurious。

odourofrivermud。Aclockstrucksix,hecountedeachstroke;andinstantlythewholeworldseemedfullofstrikingclocks,thesoundofhorses\'hoofs,bicyclebells,people\'sfootfalls。Hissenseofvision,onthecontrary,wasabsorbedinconsciousnessofthiswhiteblanketofcloudwhereinhewasliftedabovetheearth,inthemidstofadullincessanthammering。Onthesurfaceofthecloudthereseemedtobeforminganumberoflittlegoldenspots;thesespotsweremoving,andhesawthattheyweretoads。Then,beyondthem,ahugefaceshapeditself,verydark,asifofbronze,witheyesburningintohisbrain。Themorehestruggledtogetawayfromtheseeyes,themoretheyboredandburnedintohim。Hisvoicewasgone,sothathewasunabletocryout,andsuddenlythefacemarchedoverhim。

Whenherecoveredconsciousnesshisheadwasdampwithmoisturetricklingfromsomethingheldtohisforeheadbyafigureleaningabovehim。Liftinghishandhetouchedacheek;andhearingasobinstantlysuppressed,hesighed。Hishandwasgentlytaken;hefeltkissesonit。

Theroomwassodark,thathecouldscarcelyseeherface——hissighttoowasdim;buthecouldhearherbreathingandtheleastsoundofherdressandmovements——thescenttooofherhandsandhairseemedtoenvelophim,andinthemidstofalltheacutediscomfortofhisfever,hefeltthebandroundhisbrainrelax。Hedidnotaskhowlongshehadbeenthere,butlayquitestill,tryingtokeephiseyesonher,forfearofthatface,whichseemedlurkingbehindtheair,readytomarchonhimagain。Thenfeelingsuddenlythathecouldnotholditback,hebeckoned,andclutchedather,tryingtocoverhimselfwiththeprotectionofherbreast。Thistimehisswoonwasnotsodeep;itgavewaytodelirium,withintervalswhenheknewthatshewasthere,andbytheshadedcandlelightcouldseeherinawhitegarment,floatingclosetohim,orsittingstillwithherhandonhis;hecouldevenfeelthefaintcomfortoftheicecap,andofthescentofeaudeCologne。Thenhewouldloseallconsciousnessofherpresence,andpassthroughintotheincoherentworld,wherethecrucifixabovehisbedseemedtobulgeandhangout,asifitmustfallonhim。Heconceivedaviolentlongingtotearitdown,whichgrewtillhehadstruggledupinbedandwrencheditfromoffthewall。Yetamysteriousconsciousnessofherpresencepermeatedevenhisdarkestjourneysintothestrangeland;andoncesheseemedtobewithhim,whereastrangelightshowedthemfieldsandtrees,adarklineofmoor,andabrightsea,allwhitened,andflashingwithsweetviolence。

Soonafterdawnhehadalongintervalofconsciousness,andtookinwithasortofwonderherpresenceinthelowchairbyhisbed。Sostillshesatinawhiteloosegown,palewithwatching,hereyesimmovablyfixedonhim,herlipspressedtogether,andquiveringathisfaintestmotion。Hedrankindesperatelythesweetnessofherface,whichhadsolostremembranceofself。

CHAPTERX

Barbaragavethenewsofherbrother\'sillnesstonooneelse,commonsensetellinghertorunnoriskofdisturbance。Ofherowninitiative,shebroughtadoctor,andwentdowntwiceadaytohearreportsofMiltoun\'sprogress。

Asafact,herfatherandmotherhadgonetoLordDennis,forGoodwood,andthechiefdifficultyhadbeentoexcuseherownneglectofthatfavouriteMeeting。Shehadfallenbackonthehalf—truththatEustacewantedherinTown;and,sinceLordandLadyValleyshadneitherofthemshakenoffacertainuneasinessabouttheirson,thepretextsufficed:

Itwasnotuntilthesixthday,whenthecrisiswaswellpastandMiltounquitefreefromfever,thatsheagainwentdowntoNettlefold。

Onarrivingsheatoncesoughtouthermother,whomshefoundinherbedroom,resting。IthadbeenveryhotatGoodwood。

Barbarawasnotafraidofher——shewasnot,indeed,afraidofanyone,exceptMiltoun,andinsomestrangeway,alittleperhapsofCourtier;yet,whenthemaidhadgone,shedidnotatoncebeginhertale。LadyValleys,whoatGoodwoodhadjusthearddetailsofaSocietyscandal,beganacarefullyexpurgatedaccountofitsuitabletoherdaughter\'sears——forsomeaccountshefeltshemustgivetosomebody。

"Mother,"saidBarbarasuddenly,"Eustacehasbeenill。He\'soutofdangernow,andgoingonallright。"Then,lookinghardatthebewilderedlady,sheadded:"Mrs。Noelisnursinghim。"

Thepasttenseinwhichillnesshadbeenmentioned,checkingatthefirstmomentanyrushofpanicinLadyValleys,leftherconfusedbythesituationconjuredupinBarbara\'slastwords。Insteadoffeedingthatpartofmanwhichlovesascandal,shewasbeingfed,alwaysanunenviablesensation。Awomandidnotnurseamanundersuchcircumstanceswithoutbeingeverythingtohim,intheworld\'seyes。Herdaughterwenton:

"Itookhertohim。Itseemedtheonlythingtodo——sinceit\'sallthroughfrettingforher。Nobodyknows,ofcourse,exceptthedoctor,and——Stacey。"

"Heavens！"mutteredLadyValleys。

"Ithassavedhim。"

ThemotherinstinctinLadyValleystooksuddenfright。"Areyoutellingmethetruth,Babs？Ishereallyoutofdanger？Howwrongofyounottoletmeknowbefore？"

ButBarbaradidnotflinch;andhermotherrelapsedintorumination。

"Staceyisacat！"shesaidsuddenly。Theexpurgateddetailsofthescandalshehadbeenretailingtoherdaughterhadincludedtheusualmaid。Shecouldnotfinditinhertoenjoytheironyofthiscoincidence。Then,seeingBarbarasmile,shesaidtartly:

"Ifailtoseethejoke。"

"OnlythatIthoughtyou\'denjoymythrowingStaceyin,dear。"

"What！Youmeanshedoesn\'tknow？"

"Notaword。"

LadyValleyssmiled。

"Whatalittlewretchyouare,Babs！"Maliciouslysheadded:"ClaudandhismotherarecomingoverfromWhitewater,withBertieandLilyMalvezin,you\'dbettergoanddress;"andhereyessearchedherdaughter\'ssoshrewdly,thataflushrosetothegirl\'scheeks。

Whenshehadgone,LadyValleysrangforhermaidagain,andrelapsedintomeditation。Herfirstthoughtwastoconsultherhusband;hersecondthatsecrecywasstrength。SincenooneknewbutBarbara,noonehadbetterknow。

Herastutenessandexperiencecomprehendedthefar—reachingprobabilitiesofthisaffair。Itwouldnotdototakeasinglefalsestep。Ifshehadnoone\'sactiontocontrolbutherownandBarbara\'s,somuchthelesschanceofaslip。Hermindwasastrangemedleyofthoughtsandfeelings,almostcomic,well—nightragic;ofworldlyprudence,andmotherlyinstinct;ofwarm—bloodedsympathywithalllove—affairs,andcool—bloodedconcernforherson\'scareer。

Itwasnotyettoolateperhapstopreventrealmischief;especiallysinceitwasagreedbyeveryonethatthewomanwasnoadventuress。

Whateverwasdone,theymustnotforgetthatshehadnursedhim——

savedhim,Barbarahadsaid！Shemustbetreatedwithallkindnessandconsideration。

Hasteninghertoilette,sheinturnwenttoherdaughter\'sroom。

Barbarawasalreadydressed,leaningoutofherwindowtowardsthesea。

LadyValleysbeganalmosttimidly:

"Mydear,isEustaceoutofbedyet？"

"Hewastogetupto—dayforanhourortwo。"

"Isee。Now,wouldtherebeanydangerifyouandIwentupandtookchargeoverfromMrs。Noel？"

"PoorEusty！"

"Yes,yes！But,exerciseyourjudgment。Woulditharmhim？"

Barbarawassilent。"No,"shesaidatlast,"Idon\'tsupposeitwould,now;butit\'sforthedoctortosay。"

LadyValleysexhibitedamanifestrelief。

"We\'llseehimfirst,ofcourse。Eustacewillhavetohaveanordinarynurse,Isuppose,forabit。"

LookingstealthilyatBarbara,sheadded:

"Imeantobeverynicetoher;butonemustn\'tberomantic,youknow,Babs。"

>FromthelittlesmileonBarbara\'slipsshederivednosenseofcertainty;indeedshewasvisitedbyallherlatedisquietudeaboutheryoungdaughter,byallthefeelingthatshe,aswellasMiltoun,washoveringonthevergeofsomefolly。

"Well,mydear,"shesaid,"Iamgoingdown。"

ButBarbaralingeredalittlelongerinthatbedroomwheretennightsagoshehadlaintossing,tillindespairshewentandcooledherselfinthedarksea。

HerlastlittleinterviewwithCourtierstoodbetweenherandafreshmeetingwithHarbinger,whomattheValleysHousegatheringshehadnotsufferedtobealonewithher。Shecamedownlate。

Thatsameevening,outonthebeachroad,underaskyswarmingwithstars,thepeoplewerestrolling——folkfromthetowns,downfortheirfortnight\'sholiday。Intwosandthrees,inpartiesofsixoreight,theypassedthewallattheendofLordDennis\'slittledomain;andthesoundoftheirsparsetalkandlaughter,togetherwiththesighingoftheyoungwaves,wasblownoverthewalltotheearsofHarbinger,Bertie,Barbara,andLilyMalvezin,whentheystrolledoutafterdinnertosniffthesea。Theholiday—makersstareddullyatthefourfiguresineveningdresslookingoutabovetheirheads;theyhadotherthingsthanthesetothinkof,becomingmoreandmoresilentasthenightgrewdark。Thefouryoungpeopletoowererathersilent。Therewassomethinginthiswarmnight,withitssighing,anditsdarkness,anditsstars,thatwasnotfavourabletotalk,sothatpresentlytheysplitintocouples,driftingalittleapart。

Standingthere,grippingthewall,itseemedtoHarbingerthattherewerenowordsleftintheworld。Notevenhisworstenemycouldhavecalledthisyoungmanromantic;yetthatfigurebesidehim,thegleamofherneckandherpalecheekinthedark,gavehimperhapsthemostpoignantglimpseofmysterythathehadeverhad。Hismind,essentiallythatofamanofaffairs,bynatureandbyhabitathomeamongstthematerialaspectsofthings,wasbutgropinglyconsciousthathere,inthisdarknight,andthedarksea,andthepalefigureofthisgirlwhoseheartwasdarktohimandsecret,therewasperhapssomething——yes,something——whichsurpassedtheconfinesofhisphilosophy,somethingbeckoninghimonoutofhissnugcompoundintothedesertofdivinity。Ifso,itwassoongoneintheachingofhissensesatthescentofherhair,andthelongingtoescapefromthisweirdsilence。

"Babs,"hesaid;"haveyouforgivenme？"

Heranswercame,withoutturnofhead,natural,indifferent:

"Yes——Itoldyouso。"

"Isthatallyouhavetosaytoafellow？"

"Whatshallwetalkabout——therunningofCasetta？"

DeepdownwithinhimHarbingerutteredanoiselessoath。Somethingsinisterwasmakingherbehavelikethistohim！Itwasthatfellow—

—thatfellow！Andsuddenlyhesaid:

"Tellmethis————"thenspeechseemedtostickinhisthroat。No！

Iftherewereanythinginthat,hepreferrednottohearit。Therewasalimit！

Downbelow,apairofloverspassed,verysilent,theirarmsroundeachother\'swaists。

Barbaraturnedandwalkedawaytowardsthehouse。