第18章

InBarbara,thusforthefirsttimeinherlifeseriouslyreprimanded,therewasatworkthemostpeculiarsensationshehadeverfelt,asifsomethingwerescrapingherveryskin——asick,andatthesametimedevilish,feeling。Atthatmomentshecouldhavestruckherfatherdead。Butsheshowednothing,havingloweredthelidsofhereyes。

"Anythingelse？"shesaid。

LordValleys\'jawhadbecomesuddenlymoreprominent。

"AsasequeltoyourshareinMiltoun\'sbusiness,itispeculiarlyentrancing。"

"Mydear,"brokeinLadyValleysverysuddenly,"Babswilltellme。

It\'snothing,ofcourse。"

Barbara\'scalmvoicesaidagain:

"Anythingelse？"

Therepetitionofthisphraseinthatmaddening,coolvoicealmostbrokedownherfather\'ssorelytriedcontrol。

"Nothingfromyou,"hesaidwithdeadlycoldness。"IshallhavethehonouroftellingthisgentlemanwhatIthinkofhim。"

AtthosewordsBarbaradrewherselftogether,andturnedhereyesfromonefacetotheother。

Underthatgaze,whichforallitscoolhardness,wassofuriouslyalive,neitherLordnorLadyValleyscouldkeepquitestill。Itwasasifshehadstrippedfromthemthewell—bredmaskofthosewhosespirits,bylongunquestioningacceptanceofthemselves,havebecomeinelastic,inexpansive,commonerthantheyknew。Infactaratherawfulmoment！ThenBarbarasaid:

"Ifthere\'snothingelse,I\'mgoingtobed。Goodnight！"

Andascalmlyasshehadcomein,shewentout。

Whenshehadregainedherroom,shelockedthedoor,threwoffhercloak,andlookedatherselfintheglass。Withpleasureshesawhowfirmlyherteethwereclenched,howherbreastwasheaving,andhowhereyesseemedtobestabbingherself。Andallthetimeshethought:

"Verywell！Mydears！Verywell！"

CHAPTERXXV

Inthatmoodofrebelliousmortificationshefellasleep。And,curiouslyenough,dreamednotofhimwhomshehadinmindbeensofuriouslydefending,butofHarbinger。Shefanciedherselfinprison,lyinginacellfashionedlikethedrawing—roomatSeahouse;

andinthenextcell,intowhichshecouldsomehowlook,Harbingerwasdiggingatthewallwithhisnails。Shecoulddistinctlyseethehaironthebackofhishands,andhearhimbreathing。Theholehewasmakinggrewlargerandlarger。Herheartbegantobeatfuriously;sheawoke。

Sherosewithanewandmaliciousresolutiontoshownosignofrebellion,togothroughthedayasifnothinghadhappened,todeceivethemall,andthen——！Exactlywhat\'andthen\'meant,shedidnotexplaineventoherself。

Inaccordancewiththisplanofactionshepresentedanuntroubledfrontatbreakfast,wentoutridingwithlittleAnn,andshoppingwithhermotherafterwards。OwingtothisnewsofMiltounthejourneytoScotlandhadbeenpostponed。SheparriedwithcoolingenuityeachattemptmadebyLadyValleystodrawherintoconversationonthesubjectofthatmeetingatGustard\'s,norwouldshetalkofherbrother;ineveryotherwayshewasherusualself。

IntheafternoonsheevenvolunteeredtoaccompanyhermothertooldLadyHarbinger\'sintheneighbourhoodofPrince\'sGate。SheknewthatHarbingerwouldbethere,andwiththethoughtofmeetingthatotherat\'fiveo\'clock,\'hadacynicalpleasureinthusencounteringhim。Itwassocompleteablindtothemall！Then,feelingthatshewasaccomplishingamasterstroke;sheeventoldhim,inhermother\'shearing,thatshewouldwalkhome,andhemightcomeifhecared。Hedidcare。

Butwhenonceshehadbeguntoswingalonginthemellowafternoon,underthemellowtrees,wheretheairwassweetenedbytheSouth—Westwind,allthatmutinous,recklessmoodofhersvanished,shefeltsuddenlyhappyandkind,gladtobewalkingwithhim。To—daytoohewascheerful,asifdeterminednottospoilhergaiety;andshewasgratefulforthis。Onceortwicesheevenputherhandupandtouchedhissleeve,callinghisattentiontobirdsortrees,friendly,andglad,afterallthosehoursofbitterfeelings,tobegivinghappiness。WhentheypartedatthedoorofValleysHouse,shelookedbackathimwithaqueer,half—ruefulsmile。For,nowthehourhadcome！

Inalittleunfrequentedante—room,allwhitepanelsandpolish,shesatdowntowait。Theentrancedrivewasvisiblefromhere;andshemeanttoencounterCourtiercasuallyinthehall。Shewasexcited,andalittlescornfulofherownexcitement。Shehadexpectedhimtobepunctual,butitwasalreadypastfive;andsoonshebegantofeeluneasy,almostridiculous,sittinginthisroomwherenooneevercame。Goingtothewindow,shelookedout。

Asuddenvoicebehindher,said:

"AuntieBabs！"。

Turning,shesawlittleAnnregardingherwiththosewide,frank,hazeleyes。AshiverofnervespassedthroughBarbara。

"Isthisyourroom？It\'saniceroom,isn\'tit？"

Sheanswered:

"Quiteaniceroom,Ann。"

"Yes。I\'veneverbeeninherebefore。There\'ssomebodyjustcome,soImustgonow。"

Barbarainvoluntarilyputherhandsuptohercheeks,andquicklypassedwithhernieceintothehall。AttheverydoorthefootmanWilliamhandedheranote。Shelookedatthesuperscription。ItwasfromCourtier。Shewentbackintotheroom。Throughitshalf—closeddoorthefigureoflittleAnncouldbeseen,withherlegsratherwideapart,andherhandsclaspedonherlow—downbelt,pointingupatWilliamhersuddenlittlenose。Barbarashutthedoorabruptly,broketheseal,andread:

"DEARLADYBARBARA,"Iamsorrytosaymyinterviewwithyourbrotherwasfruitless。

"IhappenedtobesittingintheParkjustnow,andIwanttowishyoueveryhappinessbeforeIgo。Ithasbeenthegreatestpleasuretoknowyou。Ishallneverhaveathoughtofyouthatwillnotbemypride;noramemorythatwillnothelpmetobelievethatlifeisgood。IfIamtemptedtofeelthatthingsaredark,Ishallrememberthatyouarebreathingthissamemortalair。Andtobeautyandjoy\'

Ishalltakeoffmyhatwiththegreaterreverence,thatonceIwaspermittedtowalkandtalk,withyou。Andso,good—bye,andGodblessyou。

Yourfaithfulservant,"CHARLESCOURTIER。"

Hercheeksburned,quicksighsescapedherlips;shereadtheletteragain,butbeforegettingtotheendcouldnotseethewordsformist。Ifinthatlettertherehadbeenawordofcomplaintorevenofregret！Shecouldnotlethimgolikethis,withoutgood—bye,withoutanyexplanationatall。Heshouldnotthinkofherasacold,stonyflirt,whohadbeenmerelystealingafewweeks\'

amusementoutofhim。Shewouldexplaintohimatalleventsthatithadnotbeenthat。Shewouldmakehimunderstandthatitwasnotwhathethought——thatsomethinginherwanted——wanted————！Hermindwasallconfused。"Whatwasit？"shethought:"WhatdidIdo？"Andsorewithangeratherself,shescrewedtheletterupinherglove,andranout。ShewalkedswiftlydowntoPiccadilly,andcrossedintotheGreenPark。ThereshepassedLordMalvezinandafriendstrollinguptowardsHydeParkCorner,andgavethemaveryfaintbow。Thecomposureofthosetwopreciseandwell—groomedfiguressickenedherjustthen。Shewantedtorun,toflytothismeetingthatshouldremovefromhimtheodiousfeelingshemusthave,thatshe,BarbaraCaradoc,wasavulgarenchantress,acommontraitressandcoquette！Andhisletter——withoutasyllableofreproach！Hercheeksburnedso,thatshecouldnothelptryingtohidethemfrompeoplewhopassed。

Asshedrewnearertohisroomsshewalkedslower,forcingherselftothinkwhatsheshoulddo,whatsheshouldlethimdo！Butshecontinuedresolutelyforward。Shewouldnotshrinknow——whatevercameofit！Herheartfluttered,seemedtostopbeating,flutteredagain。Shesetherteeth;asortofdesperatehilarityroseinher。

Itwasanadventure！Thenshewasgrippedbythefeelingthathadcometoherontheroof。Thewholethingwasbizarre,ridiculous！

Shestopped,anddrewtheletterfromherglove。Itmightberidiculous,butitwasduefromher;andclosingherlipsverytight,shewalkedon。Inthoughtshewasalreadystandingclosetohim,hereyesshut,waiting,withherheartbeatingwildly,toknowwhatshewouldfeelwhenhislipshadspoken,perhapstouchedherfaceorhand。Andshehadasortofmiragevisionofherself,witheyelashesrestingonhercheeks,lipsalittleparted,armshelplessathersides。Yet,incomprehensibly,hisfigurewasinvisible。Shediscoveredthenthatshewasstandingbeforehisdoor。

Sherangthebellcalmly,butinsteadofdroppingherhand,pressedthelittlebarepatchofpalmleftopenbytheglovetoherface,toseewhetheritwasindeedherowncheekflamingso。

Thedoorhadbeenopenedbysomeunseenagency,disclosingapassageandflightofstairscoveredbyaredcarpet,atthefootofwhichlayanold,tangled,brown—whitedogfulloffleasandsorrow。

UnreasoningterrorseizedonBarbara;herbodyremainedrigid,butherspiritbeganflyingbackacrosstheGreenPark,totheveryhallofValleysHouse。Thenshesawcomingtowardsherayoungishwomaninablueapron,withmild,reddenedeyes。

"IsthiswhereMr。Courtierlives？"

"Yes,miss。"Theteethoftheyoungwomanwerefewinnumberandratherblack;andBarbaracouldonlystandtheresayingnothing,asifherbodyhadbeendesertedbetweenthesunlightandthisdimredpassage,whichledto—what？

Thewomanspokeagain:

"I\'msorryifyouwaswantinghim,miss,he\'sjustgoneaway。"

Barbarafeltamovementinherheart,likethetwangandquiverofanelasticband,suddenlyrelaxed。Shebenttostroketheheadoftheolddog,whowassmellinghershoes。Thewomansaid:

"And,ofcourse,Ican\'tgiveyouhisaddress,becausehe\'sgonetoforeignparts。"

Withamurmur,ofwhosesensesheknewnothing,Barbarahurriedoutintothesunshine。Wassheglad？Wasshesorry？Atthecornerofthestreetsheturnedandlookedback;thetwoheads,ofthewomanandthedog,weretherestill,pokedoutthroughthedoorway。

Ahorribleinclinationtolaughseizedher,followedbyashorribleadesiretocry。

CHAPTERXXVI

BytherivertheWestwind,whosemurmuringhadvisitedCourtierandMiltounthenightbefore,wasbringingupthefirstskyofautumn。

Slow—creepingandfleecygrey,thecloudsseemedtryingtooverpowerasunthatshonebutfitfullyeventhusearlyintheday。WhileAudreyNoelwasdressingsunbeamsdanceddesperatelyonthewhitewall,likelittlelostsoulswithnoto—morrow,orgnatsthatwheelandwheelinbriefjoy,leavingnofootmarksontheair。Throughthechinksofasidewindowcoveredbyadarkblindsomesmokyfilamentsoflightweretetheredtothebackofhermirror。Compoundedoftremblinggreyspirals,sothicktotheeyethatherhandfeltastonishmentwhenitfailedtograspthem,andsojealousasghostsofthespacetheyoccupied,theybroughtamoment\'sdistractiontoaheartnothappy。Forhowcouldshebehappy,herloverawayfromhernowthirtyhours,withouthavingovercomewithhislastkissesthefeelingofdisasterwhichhadsettledonherwhenhetoldherofhisresolve。Hereyeshadseendeeperthanhis;herinstincthadreceivedamessagefromFate。

Tobethedragger—down,thedestroyerofhisusefulness;tobenotthehelpmate,buttheclog;nottheinspiringsky,butthecloud！

Andbecauseofascruplewhichshecouldnotunderstand！Shehadnoangerwiththatunintelligiblescruple;butherfatalism,andhersympathyhadfolloweditoutintohisfuture。Thingsbeingso,itcouldnotbelongbeforehefeltthatherlovewasmaiminghim;evenifhewentondesiringher,itwouldbeonlywithhisbody。Andif,forthisscruple,hewerecapableofgivinguphispubliclife,hewouldbecapableoflivingonwithherafterhislovewasdead！Thisthoughtshecouldnotbear。Itstungtotheverymarrowofhernerves。AndyetsurelyLifecouldnotbesocruelastohavegivenhersuchhappinessmeaningtotakeitfromher！Surelyherlovewasnottobeonlyonesummer\'sday;hislovebutanembrace,andthen——

forevernothing！

Thismorning,fortifiedbydespair,sheadmittedherownbeauty。Hewould,hemustwanthermorethanthatotherlife,attheverythoughtofwhichherfacedarkened。Thatotherlifesohard,andfarfromher！Soloveless,formal,andyet——tohimsoreal,sodesperately,accursedlyreal！Ifhemustindeedgiveuphiscareer,thensurelythelifetheycouldlivetogetherwouldmakeuptohim——

alifeamongsimpleandsweetthings,allovertheworld,withmusicandpictures,andtheflowersandallNature,andfriendswhosoughtthemforthemselves,andinbeingkindtoeveryone,andhelpingthepoorandtheunfortunate,andlovingeachother！Buthedidnotwantthatsortoflife！Whatwasthegoodofpretendingthathedid？Itwasrightandnaturalheshouldwant,tousehispowers！Toleadandserve！Shewouldnothavehimotherwise:Withthesethoughtshoveringanddartingwithinher,shewentontwistingandcoilingherdarkhair,andburyingherheartbeneathitslacedefences。Shenotedtoo,withherusualcare,twofadingblossomsinthebowlofflowersonherdressing—table,and,removingtheir,emptiedoutthewaterandrefilledthebowl。

Beforesheleftherbedroomthesunbeamshadalreadyceasedtodance,thegreyfilamentsoflightweregone。Autumnskyhadcomeintoitsown。Passingthemirrorinthehallwhichwasalwaysroughwithher,shehadnotcouragetoglanceatit。Thensuddenlyawoman\'sbeliefinthepowerofhercharmcametoheraid;shefeltalmosthappy——

surelyhemustloveherbetterthanhisconscience！Butthatconfidencewasverytremulous,readytoyieldtothefirstrebuff。

Eventhefriendlyfresh——cheekedmaidseemedthatmorningtoberegardingherwithcompassion;andalltheinnatesense,notof\'goodform,\'butofform,whichmadehershrinkfromanythingthatshoulddisturborhurtanother,ormakeanyonethinkshewastobepitied,roseupatoncewithinher;shebecamemorethanevercarefultoshownothingeventoherself。Soshepassedthemorning,mechanicallydoingthelittleusualthings。Anoverpoweringlongingwaswithherallthetime,togethimawaywithherfromEngland,andseewhetherthethousandbeautiesshecouldshowhimwouldnotfirehimwithloveofthethingssheloved。Asagirlshehadspentnearlythreeyearsabroad。AndEustacehadneverbeentoItaly,nortoherbelovedmountainvalleys！Then,theremembranceofhisroomsattheTemplebrokeinonthatvision,andshatteredit。NoTitian\'sfeastofgentian,tawnybrown,andalpen—rosecouldintoxicatetheloverofthosebooks,thosepapers,thatgreatmap。Andthescentofleathercametohernowaspoignantlyasifshewereoncemoreflittingaboutnoiselesslyonherbusinessofnursing。Thenthererushedthroughheragainthewarmwonderfulsensethathadbeenwithherallthosepreciousdays——oflovethatknewsecretlyofitsapproachingtriumphandfulfilment;thedelicioussenseofgivingeveryminuteofhertime,everythought,andmovement;andallthesweetunconsciouswaitingforthedivine,irrevocablemomentwhenatlastshewouldgiveherselfandbehis。Theremembrancetooofhowtired,howsacredlytiredshehadbeen,andofhowshehadsmiledallthetimewithherinnerjoyofbeingtiredforhim。

Thesoundofthebellstartledher。Histelegramhadsaid,theafternoon！Shedeterminedtoshownothingofthetroubledarkeningthewholeworldforher,anddrewadeepbreath,waitingforhiskiss。

ItwasnotMiltoun,butLadyCasterley。

Theshocksentthebloodbuzzingintohertemples。Thenshenoticedthatthelittlefigurebeforeherwasalsotrembling;drawingupachair,shesaid:"Won\'tyousitdown？"

Thetoneofthatoldvoice,thankingher,broughtbacksharplythememoryofhergarden,atMonkland,bathedinthesweetnessandshimmerofsummer,andofBarbarastandingathergatetoweringabovethislittlefigure,whichnowsattheresosilent,withverywhiteface。Thosecarvedfeatures,thosekeen,yetveiledeyes,hadtoooftenhauntedherthoughts;theywerelikeabaddreamcometrue。

"Mygrandsonisnothere,ishe？"

Audreyshookherhead。

"Wehaveheardofhisdecision。Iwillnotbeataboutthebushwithyou。Itisadisasterformeacalamity。Ihaveknownandlovedhimsincehewasborn,andIhavebeenfoolishenoughtodream,dreamsabouthim。Iwonderedperhapswhetheryouknewhowmuchwecountedonhim。Youmustforgiveanoldwoman\'scomingherelikethis。Atmyagetherearefewthingsthatmatter,buttheymatterverymuch。"

AndAudreythought:"Andatmyagethereisbutonethingthatmatters,andthatmattersworsethandeath。"Butshedidnotspeak。

Towhom,towhatshouldshespeak？Tothishardoldwoman,whopersonifiedtheworld？Ofwhatuse,words？,,"Icansaytoyou,"wentonthevoiceofthelittlefigure,thatseemedsotofilltheroomwithitsgreypresence,"whatIcouldnotbringmyselftosaytoothers;foryouarenothard—hearted。"

Aquiverpassedupfromtheheartsopraisedtothestilllips。No,shewasnothard—hearted！Shecouldevenfeelforthisoldwomanfromwhosevoiceanxietyhadstolenitsdespotism。

"Eustacecannotlivewithouthiscareer。Hiscareerishimself,hemustbedoing,andleading,andspendinghispowers。Whathehasgivenyouisnothistrueself。Idon\'twanttohurtyou,butthetruthisthetruth,andwemustallbowbeforeit。Imaybehard,butIcanrespectsorrow。"

Torespectsorrow！Yes,thisgreyvisitorcoulddothat,asthewindpassingoverthesearespectsitssurface,astheairrespectsthesurfaceofarose,buttopenetratetotheheart,tounderstandhersorrow,thatoldagecouldnotdoforyouth！Aswelltrytotrackoutthesecretofthetwistingsintheflightofthoseswallowsoutthereabovetheriver,ortofollowtoitssourcethefaintscentoftheliliesinthatbowl！Howshouldsheknowwhatwaspassinginhere——thislittleoldwomanwhosebloodwascold？AndAudreyhadthesensationofwatchingsomeonepeltherwiththerindandhusksofwhatherownspirithadlongdevoured。Shehadalongingtogetup,andtakethehand,thechill,spideryhandofage,andthrustitintoherbreast,andsay:"Feelthat,andcease！"

But,withal,sheneverlostherqueerdullcompassionfortheownerofthatwhitecarvedface。Itwasnothervisitor\'sfaultthatshehadcome！AgainLadyCasterleywasspeaking。

"Itisearlydays。Ifyoudonotenditnow,atonce,itwillonlycomeharderonyoupresently。Youknowhowdeterminedheis。Hewillnotchangehismind。Ifyoucuthimofffromhisworkinlife,itwillbutrecoilonyou。Icanonlyexpectyourhatred,fortalkinglikethis,butbelieveme,it\'sforyourgood,aswellashis,inthelongrun。"

Atumultuousheart—beatingofironicalrageseizedonthelistenertothatspeech。Hergood！Thegoodofacorsethatthebreathisjustabandoning;thegoodofaflowerbeneathaheel;thegoodofanolddogwhosemasterleavesitforthelasttime！Slowlyaweightlikeleadstoppedallthatflutteringofherheart。Ifshedidnotenditatonce！Thewordshadnowbeenspokenthatforsomanyhours,sheknew,hadlainunspokenwithinherownbreast。Yes,ifshedidnot,shecouldneverknowamoment\'speace,feelingthatshewasforcinghimtoadeathinlife,desecratingherownloveandpride！Andthespurhadbeengivenbyanother！Thethoughtthatsomeone——thishardoldwomanofthehardworld——shouldhaveshapedinwordsthehauntingsofherloveandpridethroughallthoseagessinceMiltounspoketoherofhisresolve;thatsomeoneelseshouldhavehadtotellherwhatherhearthadsolongknownitmustdo——thisstabbedherlikeaknife！This,atallevents,shecouldnotbear！

Shestoodup,andsaid:

"Pleaseleavemenow！Ihaveagreatmanythingstodo,beforeI

go。"

Withasortofpleasureshesawalookofbewildermentcoverthatoldface;withasortofpleasureshemarkedthetremblingofthehandsraisingtheirownerfromthechair;andheardthestammeringinthevoice:"Youaregoing？Before—beforehecomes？You—youwon\'tbeseeinghimagain？"Withasortofpleasureshemarkedthehesitation,whichdidnotknowwhethertothank,orbless,orjustsaynothingandcreepaway。Withasortofpleasureshewatchedtheflushmountinthefadedcheeks,thefadedlipspressedtogether。

Then,atthescarcelywhisperedwords:"Thankyou,mydear！"sheturned,unabletobearfurthersightorsound。Shewenttothewindowandpressedherforeheadagainsttheglass,tryingtothinkofnothing。Sheheardthesoundofwheels—LadyCasterleyhadgone。Andthen,ofalltheawfulfeelingsmanorwomancanknow,sheexperiencedtheworst:Shecouldnotcry！

Atthismostbitteranddesertedmomentofherlife,shefeltstrangelycalm,foreseeingclearly,exactly;whatshemustdo,andwherego。Quicklyitmustbedone,oritwouldneverbedone！

Quickly！Andwithoutfuss！Sheputsomethingstogether,sentthemaidoutforacab,andsatdowntowrite。

Shemustdoandsaynothingthatcouldexcitehim,andbringbackhisillness。Letitallbesober,reasonable！Itwouldbeeasytolethimknowwhereshewasgoing,towritealetterthatwouldbringhimflyingafterher。Buttowritethecalm,reasonablewordsthatwouldkeephimwaitingandthinking,tillheneveragaincametoher,brokeherheart。

Whenshehadfinishedandsealedtheletter,shesatmotionlesswithanumbfeelinginhandsandbrain,tryingtorealizewhatshehadnexttodo。Togo,andthatwasall！

Hertrunkshadbeentakendownalready。Shechosethelittlehatthathelikedherbestin,andoveritfastenedherthickestveil。

Then,puttingonhertravellingcoatandgloves,shelookedinthelongmirror,andseeingthattherewasnothingmoretokeepher,liftedherdressingbag,andwentdown。

Overontheembankmentachildwascrying;andthepassionatescreamingsound,brokenbythegulpingoftears,madehercoverherlips,asthoughshehadheardherownescapedsoulwailingoutthere。

Sheleanedoutofthecabtosaytothemaid:

"Goandcomfortthatcrying,Ella。"

Onlywhenshewasaloneinthetrain,securefromalleyes,didshegivewaytodesperateweeping。Thewhitesmokerollingpastthewindowswasnotmoreevanescentthanherjoyhadbeen。Forshehadnoillusions——itwasover！Fromfirsttolast——notquiteayear！

Butevenatthismoment,notforalltheworldwouldshehavebeenwithoutherlove,gonetoitsgrave,likeadeadchildthatevermorewouldbetouchingherbreastwithitswistfulfingers。

CHAPTERXXVII

BarbarareturningfromhervisittoCourtier\'sdesertedrooms,wasmetatValleysHousewiththemessage:WouldshepleasegoatoncetoLadyCasterley？

When,inobedience,shereachedRavensham,shefoundhergrandmotherandLord—Dennisinthewhiteroom。Theywerestandingbyoneofthetallwindows,apparentlycontemplatingtheview。TheyturnedindeedatsoundofBarbara\'sapproach,butneitherofthemspokeornodded。

NothavingseenhergrandfathersincebeforeMiltoun\'sillness,Barbarafounditstrangetobesotreated;shetootookherstandsilentlybeforethewindow。Averylargewaspwascrawlingupthepane,thenslippingdownwithafaintbuzz。

SuddenlyLadyCasterleyspoke。

"Killthatthing！"

LordDennisdrewforthhishandkerchief。

"Notwiththat,Dennis。Itwillmakeamess。"Takeapaperknife。"

"Iwasgoingtoputitout,"murmuredLordDennis。

"LetBarbarawithhergloves。"

Barbaramovedtowardsthepane。

"It\'sahornet,Ithink,"shesaid。

"Soheis！"saidLordDennis,dreamily:

"Nonsense,"murmuredLadyCasterley,"it\'sacommonwasp。"

"Iknowit\'sahornet,Granny。Theringsaredarker。"

LadyCasterleybentdown;whensheraisedherselfshehadaslipperinherhand。

"Don\'tirritatehim！"criedBarbara,catchingherwrist。ButLadyCasterleyfreedherhand。

"Iwill,"shesaid,andbroughtthesoleoftheslipperdownontheinsect,sothatitdroppedonthefloor,dead。"Hehasnobusinessinhere。"

And,asifthatlittleincidenthadhappenedtothreeotherpeople,theyagainstoodsilentlylookingthroughthewindow。

ThenLadyCasterleyturnedtoBarbara。

"Well,haveyourealizedthemischiefthatyou\'vedone？"

"Ann！"murmuredLordDennis。

"Yes,yes;sheisyourfavourite,butthatwon\'tsaveher。Thiswoman——tohergreatcredit——Isaytohergreatcredit——hasgoneaway,soastoputherselfoutofEustace\'sreach,untilhehasrecoveredhissenses。"

Withasharp—drawnbreathBarbarasaid:

"Oh！poorthing！"

ButonLadyCasterley\'sfacehadcomeanalmostcruellook。

"Ah！"shesaid:"Exactly。But,curiouslyenough,IamthinkingofEustace。"Herlittlefigurewasquiveringfromheadtofoot:"Thiswillbealessontoyounottoplaywithfire！"

"Ann！"murmuredLordDennisagain,slippinghisarmthroughBarbara\'s。

"Theworld,"wentonLadyCasterley,"isaplaceoffacts,notofromanticfancies。Youhavedonemoreharmthancanpossiblyberepaired。Iwenttohermyself。Iwasverymuchmoved。\'Ifithadn\'tbeenforyourfoolishconduct————"

"Ann！"saidLordDennisoncemore。

LadyCasterleypaused,tappingthefloorwithherlittlefoot。

Barbara\'seyesweregleaming。

"Isthereanythingelseyouwouldliketosquash,dear？"

"Babs！"murmuredLordDennis;but,unconsciouslypressinghishandagainstherheart,thegirlwenton。

"Youareluckytobeabusingmeto—day——ifithadbeenyesterday————"

AtthesedarkwordsLadyCasterleyturnedaway,hershoesleavinglittledullstainsonthepolishedfloor。

Barbararaisedtohercheekthefingerswhichshehadbeensoconvulsivelyembracing。"Don\'tlethergoon,uncle,"shewhispered,"notjustnow！"

"No,no,mydear,"LordDennismurmured,"certainlynot——itisenough。"

"Ithasbeenyoursentimentalfolly,"cameLadyCasterley\'svoicefromafarcorner,"whichhasbroughtthisontheboy。"

Respondingtothepressureofthehand,backnowatherwaist,Barbaradidnotanswer;andthesoundofthelittlefeetretracingtheirstepsroseinthestillness。Neitherofthosetwoatthewindowturnedtheirheads;oncemorethefeetreceded,andagainbegancomingback。