the patrician-第19章

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other's　faces；　but　at　each　other's　breasts。　　At　last　Barbara　stepped
forward　impulsively　and　kissed　her。

After　that；　like　two　children　who　kiss　first；　and　then　make
acquaintance；　they　stood　apart；　silent；　faintly　smiling。　　It　had　been
given　and　returned　in　real　sweetness　and　comradeship；　that　kiss；　for
a　sign　of　womanhood　making　face　against　the　world；　but　now　that　it
was　over；　both　felt　a　little　awkward。　　Would　that　kiss　have　been
given　if　Fate　had　been　auspicious？　　Was　it　not　proof　of　misery？　　So
Mrs。　Noel's　smile　seemed　saying；　and　Barbara's　smile　unwillingly
admitted。　　Perceiving　that　if　they　talked　it　could　only　be　about　the
most　ordinary　things；　they　began　speaking　of　music；　flowers；　and　the
queerness　of　bees'　legs。　　But　all　the　time；　Barbara；　though　seemingly
unconscious；　was　noting　with　her　smiling　eyes；　the　tiny　movement's；
by　which　one　woman　can　tell　what　is　passing　in　another。　　She　saw　a
little　quiver　tighten　the　corner　of　the　lips；　the　eyes　suddenly　grow
large　and　dark；　the　thin　blouse　desperately　rise　and　fall。　　And　her
fancy；　quickened　by　last　night's　memory；　saw　this　woman　giving
herself　up　to　the　memory　of　love　in　her　thoughts。　　At　this　sight　she
felt　a　little　of　that　impatience　which　the　conquering　feel　for　the
passive；　and　perhaps　just　a　touch　of　jealousy。

Whatever　Miltoun　decided；　that　would　this　woman　accept！　　Such
resignation；　while　it　simplified　things；　offended　the　part　of　Barbara
which　rebelled　against　all　inaction；　all　dictation；　even　from　her
favourite　brother。　　She　said　suddenly：

〃Are　you　going　to　do　nothing？　　Aren't　you　going　to　try　and　free
yourself？　　If　I　were　in　your　position；　I　would　never　rest　till　I'd
made　them　free　me。〃

But　Mrs。　Noel　did　not　answer；　and　sweeping　her　glance　from　that　crown
of　soft　dark　hair；　down　the　soft　white　figure；　to　the　very　feet；
Barbara　cried：

〃I　believe　you　are　a　fatalist。〃

Soon　after　that；　not　knowing　what　more　to　say；　she　went　away。　　But
walking　home　across　the　fields；　where　full　summer　was　swinging　on　the
delicious　air　and　there　was　now　no　bull　but　only　red　cows　to　crop
short　the　'milk…maids'　and　buttercups；　she　suffered　from　this　strange
revelation　of　the　strength　of　softness　and　passivityas　though　she
had　seen　in　the　white　figure　of　'Anonyma；'　and　heard　in　her　voice
something　from　beyond；　symbolic；　inconceivable；　yet　real。




CHAPTER　XVIII

Lord　Valleys；　relieved　from　official　pressure　by　subsidence　of　the
war　scare；　had　returned　for　a　long　week…end。　　To　say　that　he　had　been
intensely　relieved　by　the　news　that　Mrs。　Noel　was　not　free；　would　be
to　put　it　mildly。　　Though　not　old…fashioned；　like　his　mother…in…law；
in　regard　to　the　mixing　of　the　castes；　prepared　to　admit　that
exclusiveness　was　out　of　date；　to　pass　over　with　a　shrug　and　a　laugh
those　numerous　alliances　by　which　his　order　were　renewing　the　sinews
of　war；　and　indeed　in　his　capacity　of　an　expert；　often　pointing　out
the　dangers　of　too　much　in…breedingyet　he　had　a　peculiar　personal
feeling　about　his　own　family；　and　was　perhaps　a　little　extra
sensitive　because　of　Agatha；　for　Shropton；　though　a　good　fellow；　and
extremely　wealthy；　was　only　a　third　baronet；　and　had　originally　been
made　of　iron。　　It　was　inadvisable　to　go　outside　the　inner　circle
where　there　was　no　material　necessity　for　so　doing。　　He　had　not　done
it　himself。　　Moreover　there　was　a　sentiment　about　these　things！

On　the　morning　after　his　arrival；　visiting　the　kennels　before
breakfast；　he　stood　chatting　with　his　head　man；　and　caressing　the　wet
noses　of　his　two　favourite　pointers；with　something　of　the　feeling
of　a　boy　let　out　of　school。　　Those　pleasant　creatures；　cowering　and
quivering　with　pride　against　his　legs；　and　turning　up　at　him　their
yellow　Chinese　eyes；　gave　him　that　sense　of　warmth　and　comfort　which
visits　men　in　the　presence　of　their　hobbies。　　With　this　particular
pair；　inbred　to　the　uttermost；　he　had　successfully　surmounted　a　great
risk。　　It　was　now　touch　and　go　whether　he　dared　venture　on　one　more
cross　to　the　original　strain；　in　the　hope　of　eliminating　the　last
clinging　of　liver　colour。　　It　was　a　gambleand　it　was　just　that
which　rendered　it　so　vastly　interesting。

A　small　voice　diverted　his　attention；　he　looked　round　and　saw　little
Ann。　　She　had　been　in　bed　when　he　arrived　the　night　before；　and　he
was　therefore　the　newest　thing　about。

She　carried　in　her　arms　a　guinea…pig；　and　began　at　once：

〃Grandpapa；　Granny　wants　you。　　She's　on　the　terrace；　she's　talking　to
Mr。　Courtier。　　I　like　himhe's　a　kind　man。　　If　I　put　my　guinea…pig
down；　will　they　bite　it？　　Poor　darlingthey　shan't！　　Isn't　it　a
darling！〃

Lord　Valleys；　twirling　his　moustache；　regarded　the　guinea…pig　without
favour；　he　had　rather　a　dislike　for　all　senseless　kinds　of　beasts。

Pressing　the　guinea…pig　between　her　hands；　as　it　might　be　a
concertina；　little　Ann　jigged　it　gently　above　the　pointers；　who；
wrinkling　horribly　their　long　noses；　gazed　upwards；　fascinated。

〃Poor　darlings；　they　want　itdon't　they？　　Grandpapa〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Do　you　think　the　next　puppies　will　be　spotted　quite　all　over？〃

Continuing　to　twirl　his　moustache；　Lord　Valleys　answered：

〃I　think　it　is　not　improbable；　Ann。〃

〃Why　do　you　like　them　spotted　like　that？　　Oh！　they're　kissing　Sambo
I　must　go！〃

Lord　Valleys　followed　her；　his　eyebrows　a　little　raised。

As　he　approached　the　terrace　his　wife　came；　towards　him。　　Her　colour
was；　deeper　than　usual；　and　she　had　the　look；　higher　and　more
resolute；　peculiar　to　her　when　she　had　been　opposed。　　In　truth　she
had　just　been　through　a　passage　of　arms　with　Courtier；　who；　as　the
first　revealer　of　Mrs。　Noel's　situation；　had　become　entitled　to　a
certain　confidence　on　this　subject。　　It　had　arisen　from　what　she　had
intended　as　a　perfectly　natural　and　not　unkind　remark；　to　the　effect
that　all　the　trouble　had　come　from　Mrs。　Noel　not　having　made　her
position　clear　to　Miltoun　from　the　first。

He　had　at　once　grown　very　red。

〃It's　easy；　Lady　Valleys；　for　those　who　have　never　been　in　the
position　of　a　lonely　woman；　to　blame　her。〃

Unaccustomed　to　be　withstood；　she　had　looked　at　him　intently：

〃I　am　the　last　person　to　be　hard　on　a　woman　for　conventional〃
reasons。　　But　I　think　it　showed　lack　of　character。〃

Courtier's　reply　had　been　almost　rude。

〃Plants　are　not　equally　robust；　Lady　Valleys。　　Some；　as　we　know；　are
actually　sensitive。〃

She　had　retorted　with　decision

〃If　you　like　to　so　dignify　the　simpler　word　'weak'　〃

He　had　become　very　rigid　at　that；　biting　deeply　into　his　moustache。

〃What　crimes　are　not　committed　under　the　sanctity　of　that　creed
'survival　of　the　fittest；'　which　suits　the　book　of　all　you　fortunate
people　so　well！〃

Priding　herself　on　her　restraint；　Lady　Valleys　answered：

〃Ah！　we　must　talk　that　out。　　On　the　face　of　them　your　words　sound　a
little　unphilosophic；　don't　they？

He　had　looked　straight　at　her　with　a　queer；　unpleasant　smile；　and　she
had　felt　at　once　disturbed　and　angry。　　It　was　all　very　well　to　pet
and　even　to　admire　these　original　sort　of　men；　but　there　were　limits。
Remembering；　however；　that　he　was　her　guest；　she　had　only　said：

〃Perhaps　after　all　we　had　better　not　talk　it　out；〃　and　moving　away；
she　heard　him　answer：　〃In　any　case；　I'm　certain　Audrey　Noel　never
wilfully　kept　your　son　in　the　dark；　she's　much　too　proud。〃

Though　rude；　she　could　not　help　liking　the　way　he　stuck　up　for　this
woman；　and　she　threw　back　at　him　the　words：

〃You　and　I；　Mr。　Courtier；　must　have　a　good　fight　some　day！〃

She　went　towards　her　husband　conscious　of　the　rather　pleasurable
sensation　which　combat　always　roused　in　her。

These　two　were　very　good　comrades。　　Theirs　had　been　a　love　match；　and
making　due　allowance　for　human　nature　beset　by　opportunity；　had
remained；　throughout；　a　solid　and　efficient　alliance。　　Taking；　as
they　both　did；　such　prominent　parts　in　public　and　social　matters；　the
time　they　spent　together　was　limited；　but　productive　of　mutual
benefit　and　reinforcement。　　They　had　not　yet　had　an　opportunity　of
discussing　their　son's　affair；　and；　slipping　her　hand　through　his
arm；　Lady　Valleys　drew　him　away　from　the　house。

〃I　want　to　talk　to　you　about　Miltoun；　Geoff。〃

〃H'm！〃　said　Lord　Valleys；　〃yes。　　The　boy's　looking　worn。　　Good　thing
when　this　election's　over。〃

〃If　he's　beaten　and　hasn't　something　new　and　serious　to　concentrate
himself　on；　he'll　fret　his　heart　out　over　that　woman。〃

Lord　Valleys　meditated　a　little　before　replying。

〃I　don't　think　that；　Gertrude。　　He's　got　plenty　of　spirit。〃

〃Of　course！　　But　it's　a　real　passion。　　And；　you　know；　he's　not　like
most　boys；　who'll　take　what　they　can。〃

She　said　this　rather　wistfully。

〃I'm　sorry　for　the　woman；〃　mused　Lord　Valleys；　〃I　really　am。〃

〃They　say　this　rumour's　done　a　lot　of　harm。〃

〃Our　influence　is　strong　enough　to　survive　that。〃

〃It'll　be　a　squeak；　I　wish　I　knew　what　he　was　going　to　do。　　Will　you
ask　him？〃

〃You're　clearly　the　person　to　speak　to　him；〃　replied　Lord　Valleys。
〃I'm　no　hand　at　that　sort　of　thing。〃

But　Lady　Valleys；　with　genuine　discomfort；　murmured：

〃My　dear；　I'm　so　nervous　with　Eustace。　　When　he　puts　on　that　smile　of
his　I'm　done　for；　at　once。〃

〃This　is　obviously　a　woman's　business；　nobody　like　a　mother。〃

〃If　it　were　only　one　of　the　others；〃　muttered　Lady　Valleys：　〃Eustace
has　that　queer　way　of　making　you　feel　lumpy。〃

Lord　Valleys　looked　at　her　askance。　　He　had　that　kind　of　critical
fastidiousness　which　a　word　will　rouse　into　activity。　　Was　she　lumpy？
The　idea　had　never　struck　him。

〃Well；　I'll　do　it；　if　I　must；〃　sighed　Lady　Valleys。

When　after　breakfast　she　entered　Miltoun's　'den；'　he　was　buckling　on
his　spurs　preparatory；　to　riding　out　to　some　of　the　remoter　villages。
Under　the　mask　of　the　Apache　chief；　Bertie　was　standing；　more
inscrutable　and　neat　than　ever；　in　a　perfectly　tied　cravatte；
perfectly　cut　riding　breeches；　and　boots　worn　and　polished　till　a
sooty　glow　shone　through　their　natural　russet。　　Not　specially
dandified　in　his　usual　dress；　Bertie　Caradoc　would　almost　sooner　have
died　than　disgrace　a　horse。　　His　eyes；　the　sharper　because　they　had
only　half　the　space　of　the　ordinary　eye　to　glance　from；　at　once　took
in　the　fact　that　his　mother　wished　to　be　alone　with　'old　Miltoun；'
and　he　discreetly　left　the　room。

That　which　disconcerted　all　who　had　dealings　with　Miltoun　was　the
discovery　made　soon　or　late；　that　they　could　not　be　sure　how　anything
would　strike　him。　　In　his　mind；　as　in　his　face；　there　was　a　certain
regularity；　and　thenimpossible　to　say　exactly　whereit　would；
shoot　off　and　twist　round　a　corner。　　This　was　the　legacy　no　doubt　of
the　hard…bitten　individuality；　which　had　brought　to　the　front　so　many
of　his　ancestors；　for　in　Miltoun　was　the　blood　not　only　of　the
Caradocs　and　Fitz…Harolds；　but　of　most　other　prominent　families　in
the　kingdom；　all　of　whom；　in　those　ages　before　money　made　the　man；
must　have　had　a　forbear　conspicuous　by　reason　of　qualities；　not
always　fine；　but　always　poignant。

And　now；　though　Lady　Valleys　had　the　audacity　of　her　physique；　and
was　not　customarily　abashed；　she　began　by　speaking　of　politics；
hoping　her　son　would　give　her　an　opening。　　But　he　gave　her　none；　and
she　grew　nervous。　　At　last；　summoning　all　her　coolness；　she　said：