the patrician-第21章

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for；　after　all；　Courtier　was；　in　a　sense；　nobody；　and　'an　extremist'
into　the　bargain；　and　an　extremist　always　affected　the　centre　of
Harbinger's　anatomy；　causing　it　to　give　off　a　peculiar　smile　and　tone
of　voice。　　Nevertheless；　his　eyes；　whenever　they　fell　on　that
sanguine；　steady；　ironic　face；　shone　with　a　sort　of　cold　inquiry；　or
were　even　darkened　by　the　shade　of　fear。　　They　met　seldom；　it　is
true；　for　most　of　his　day　was　spent　in　motoring　and　speaking；　and
most　of　Courtier's　in　writing　and　riding；　his　leg　being　still　too
weak　for　walking。　　But　once　or　twice　in　the　smoking　room　late　at
night；　he　had　embarked　on　some　bantering　discussion　with　the　champion
of　lost　causes；　and　very　soon　an　ill…concealed　impatience　had　crept
into　his　voice。　　Why　a　man　should　waste　his　time；　flogging　dead。
horses　on　a　journey　to　the　moon；　was　incomprehensible！　　Facts　were
facts；　human　nature　would　never　be　anything　but　human　nature！　　And　it
was　peculiarly　galling　to　see　in　Courtier's　eye　a　gleam；　to　catch　in
his　voice　a　tone；　as　if　he　were　thinking：　〃My　young　friend；　your　soup
is　cold！〃

On　a　morning　after　one　of　these　encounters；　seeing　Barbara　sally
forth　in　riding　clothes；　he　asked　if　he　too　might　go　round　the
stables；　and　started　forth　beside　her；　unwontedly　silent；　with　an　odd
feeling　about　his　heart；　and　his　throat　unaccountably　dry。

The　stables　at　Monkland　Court　were　as　large　as　many　country　houses。
Accommodating　thirty　horses；　they　were　at　present　occupied　by　twenty…
one；　including　the　pony　of　little　Ann。　　For　height；　perfection　of
lighting；　gloss；　shine；　and　purity　of　atmosphere　they　were　unequalled
in　the　county。　　It　seemed　indeed　impossible　that　any　horse　could　ever
so　far　forget　himself　in　such　a　place　as　to　remember　that　he　was　a
horse。　　Every　morning　a　little　bin　of　carrots；　apples；　and　lumps　of
sugar；　was　set　close　to　the　main　entrance；　ready　for　those　who　might
desire　to　feed　the　dear　inhabitants。

Reined　up　to　a　brass　ring　on　either　side　of　their　stalls　with　their
noses　towards　the　doors；　they　were　always　on　view　from　nine　to　ten；
and　would　stand　with　their　necks　arched；　ears　pricked；　and　coats
gleaming；　wondering　about　things；　soothed　by　the　faint　hissing　of　the
still　busy　grooms；　and　ready　to　move　their　noses　up　and　down　the
moment　they　saw　someone　enter。

In　a　large　loose…box　at　the　end　of　the　north　wing　Barbara's　favourite
chestnut　hunter；　all　but　one　saving　sixteenth　of　whom　had　been
entered　in　the　stud　book；　having　heard　her　footstep；　was　standing
quite　still　with　his　neck　turned。　　He　had　been　crumping　up　an　apple
placed　amongst　his　feed；　and　his　senses　struggled　between　the
lingering　flavour　of　that　delicacy；and　the　perception　of　a　sound
with　which　he　connected　carrots。　　When　she　unlatched　his　door；　and
said　〃Hal；〃　he　at　once　went　towards　his　manger；　to　show　his
independence；　but　when　she　said：　〃Oh！　very　well！〃　he　turned　round　and
came　towards　her。　　His　eyes；　which　were　full　and　of　a　soft
brilliance；　under　thick　chestnut　lashes；　explored　her　all　over。
Perceiving　that　her　carrots　were　not　in　front；　he　elongated　his　neck；
let　his　nose　stray　round　her　waist；　and　gave　her　gauntletted　hand　a
nip　with　his　lips。　　Not　tasting　carrot；　he　withdrew　his　nose；　and
snuffled。　　Then　stepping　carefully　so　as　not　to　tread　on　her　foot；　he
bunted　her　gently　with　his　shoulder；　till　with　a　quick　manoeuvre　he
got　behind　her　and　breathed　low　and　long　on　her　neck。　　Even　this　did
not　smell　of　carrots；　and　putting　his　muzzle　over　her　shoulder
against　her　cheek；　he　slobbered　a　very　little。　　A　carrot　appeared
about　the　level　of　her　waist；　and　hanging　his　head　over；　he　tried　to
reach　it。　　Feeling　it　all　firm　and　soft　under　his　chin；　he　snuffled
again；　and　gave　her　a　　gentle　dig　with　his　knee。　　But　still　unable　to
reach　the　carrot；　he　threw　his　head　up；　withdrew；　and　pretended　not
to　see　her。　　And　suddenly　he　felt　two　long　substances　round　his　neck；
and　something　soft　against　his　nose。　　He　suffered　this　in　silence；
laying　his　ears　back。　　The　softness　began　puffing　on　his　muzzle。
Pricking　his　ears　again；　he　puffed　back　a　little　harder；　with　more
curiosity；　and　the　softness　was　withdrawn。　　He　perceived　suddenly
that　he　had　a　carrot　in　his　mouth。

Harbinger　had　witnessed　this　episode；　oddly　pale；　leaning　against　the
loose…box　wall。　　He　spoke；　as　it　came　to　an　end：

〃Lady　Babs！〃

The　tone　of　his　voice　must　have　been　as　strange　as　it　sounded　to
himself；　for　Barbara　spun　round。

〃Yes？〃

〃How　long　am　I　going　on　like　this？〃

Neither　changing　colour　nor　dropping　her　eyes；　she　regarded　him　with
a　faintly　inquisitive　interest。　　It　was　not　a　cruel　look；　had　not　a
trace　of　mischief；　or　sex　malice；　and　yet　it　frightened　him　by　its
serene　inscrutability。　　Impossible　to　tell　what　was　going　on　behind
it。　　He　took　her　hand；　bent　over　it；　and　said　in　a　low　voice：

〃You　know　what　I　feel；　don't　be　cruel　to　me！〃

She　did　not　pull　away　her　hand；　it　was　as　if　she　had　not　thought　of
it。

〃I　am　not　a　bit　cruel。〃

Looking　up；　he　saw　her　smiling。

〃ThenBabs！〃

His　face　was　close　to　hers；　but　Barbara　did　not　shrink　back。　　She
just　shook　her　head；　and　Harbinger　flushed　up。

〃Why？〃　he　asked；　and　as　though　the　enormous　injustice　of　that
rejecting　gesture　had　suddenly　struck　him；　he　dropped　her　hand。

〃Why？〃　he　said　again；　sharply。

But　the　silence　was　only　broken　by　the　cheeping　of　sparrows　outside
the　round　window；　and　the　sound　of　the　horse；　Hal；　munching　the　last
morsel　of　his　carrot。　　Harbinger　was　aware　in　his　every　nerve　of　the
sweetish；　slightly　acrid；　husky　odour　of　the　loosebox；　mingling　with
the　scent　of　Barbara's　hair　and　clothes。　　And　rather　miserably；　he
said　for　the　third　time：

〃Why？〃

But　folding　her　hands　away　behind　her　back。　　she　answered　gently：

〃My　dear；　how　should　I　know　why？〃

She　was　calmly　exposed　to　his　embrace　if　he　had　only　dared；　but　he
did　not　dare；　and　went　back　to　the　loose…box　wall。　　Biting　his
finger；　he　stared　at　her　gloomily。　　She　was　stroking　the　muzzle　of
her　horse；　and　a　sort　of　dry　rage　began　whisking　and　rustling　in　his
heart。　　She　had　refused　himHarbinger！　　He　had　not　known；　had　not
suspected　how　much　he　wanted　her。　　How　could　there　be　anybody　else
for　him；　while　that　young；　calm；　sweet…scented；　smiling　thing　lived；
to　make　his　head　go　round；　his　senses　ache；　and　to　fill　his　heart
with　longing！　　He　seemed　to　himself　at　that　moment　the　most　unhappy
of　all　men。

〃I　shall　not　give　you　up；〃　he　muttered。

Barbara's　answer　was　a　smile；　faintly　curious；　compassionate；　yet
almost　grateful；　as　if　she　had　said：

〃Thank　youwho　knows？〃

And　rather　quickly；　a　yard　or　so　apart；　and　talking　of　horses；　they
returned　to　the　house。

It　was　about　noon；　when；　accompanied　by　Courtier；　she　rode　forth。

The　Sou…Westerly　spella　matter　of　three　dayshad　given　way　before
radiant　stillness；　and　merely　to　be　alive　was　to　feel　emotion。　　At　a
little　stream　running　beside　the　moor　under　the　wild　stone　man；　the
riders　stopped　their　horses；　just　to　listen；　and；　inhale　the　day。
The　far　sweet　chorus　of　life　was　tuned　to　a　most　delicate　rhythm；　not
one　of　those　small　mingled　pipings　of　streams　and　the　lazy　air；　of
beasts；　men；　birds；　and　bees；　jarred　out　too　harshly　through　the
garment　of　sound　enwrapping　the　earth。　　It　was　noonthe　still
momentbut　this　hymn　to　the　sun；　after　his　too　long　absence；　never
for　a　moment　ceased　to　be　murmured。　　And　the　earth　wore　an　under…robe
of　scent；　delicious；　very　finely　woven　of　the　young　fern　sap；　heather
buds；　larch…trees　not　yet　odourless；　gorse　just　going　brown；　drifted
woodsmoke；　and　the　breath　of　hawthorn。　　Above　Earth's　twin　vestments
of　sound　and　scent；　the　blue　enwrapping　scarf　of　air；　that　wistful
wide　champaign；　was　spanned　only　by　the　wings　of　Freedom。

After　that　long　drink　of　the　day；　the　riders　mounted　almost　in
silence　to　the　very　top　of　the　moor。　　There　again　they　sat　quite
still　on　their　horses；　examining　the　prospect。　　Far　away　to　South　and
East　lay　the　sea；　plainly　visible。　　Two　small　groups　of　wild　ponies
were　slowly　grazing　towards　each　other　on　the　hillside　below。

Courtier　said。　　in　a　low　voice：

〃'Thus　will　I　sit　and　sing；　with　love　in　my　arms；　watching　our　two
herds　mingle　together；　and　below　us　the　far；　divine；　cerulean　sea。'〃

And；　after　another　silence；　looking　steadily　in　Barbara's　face；　he
added：

〃Lady　Barbara；　I　am　afraid　this　is　the　last　time　we　shall　be　alone
together。　　While　I　have　the　chance；　therefore；　I　must　do　homage。。。。
You　will　always　be　the　fixed　star　for　my　worship。　　But　your　rays　are
too　bright；　I　shall　worship　from　afar。　　From　your　seventh　Heaven；
therefore；　look　down　on　me　with　kindly　eyes；　and　do　not　quite　forget
me：〃

Under　that　speech；　so　strangely　compounded　of　irony　and　fervour；
Barbara　sat　very　still；　with　glowing　cheeks。

〃Yes；〃　said　Courtier；　〃only　an　immortal　must　embrace　a　goddess。
Outside　the　purlieus　of　Authority　I　shall　sit　cross…legged；　and
prostrate　myself　three　times　a　day。〃

But　Barbara　answered　nothing。

〃In　the　early　morning；〃　went　on　Courtier；　〃leaving　the　dark　and
dismal　homes　of　Freedom　I　shall　look　towards　the　Temples　of　the
Great；　there　with　the　eye　of　faith　I　shall　see　you。〃

He　stopped；　for　Barbara's　lips　were　moving。

〃Don't　hurt　me；　please。〃

Courtier　leaned　over；　took　her　hand；　and　put　it　to　his　lips。　　〃We
will　now　ride　on。。。。〃

That　night　at　dinner　Lord　Dennis；　seated　opposite　his　great…niece；
was　struck　by　her　appearance。

〃A　very　beautiful　child；〃　he　thought；　〃a　most　lovely　young　creature！〃

She　was　placed　between　Courtier　and　Harbinger。　　And　the　old　man's
still　keen　eyes　carefully　watched　those　two。　　Though　attentive　to
their　neighbours　on　the　other　side；　they　were　both　of　them　keeping
the　corner　of　an　eye　on　Barbara　and　on　each　other。　　The　thing　was
transparent　to　Lord　Dennis；　and　a　smile　settled　in　that　nest　of
gravity　between　his　white　peaked　beard　and　moustaches。　　But　he
waited；　the　instinct　of　a　fisherman　bidding　him　to　neglect　no　piece
of　water；　till　he　saw　the　child　silent　and　in　repose；　and　watched
carefully　to　see　what　would　rise。　　Although　she　was　so　calmly；　so
healthily　eating；　her　eyes　stole　round　at　Courtier。　　This　quick　look
seemed　to　Lord　Dennis　perturbed；　as　if　something　were　exciting　her。
Then　Harbinger　spoke；　and　she　turned　to　answer　him。　　Her　face　was
calm　now；　faintly　smiling；　a　little　eager；　provocative　in　its　joy　of
life。　　It　made　Lord　Dennis　think　of　his　own　youth。　　What　a　splendid
couple！　　If　Babs　married　young　Harbinger　there　would　not　be　a　finer
pair　in　all　England。　　His　eyes　travelled　back　to　Courtier。　　Manly
enough！　　They　called　him　dangerous！　　There　was　a　look　of
effervescence；　carefully　corked　downmight　perhaps　be　attractive　to
a　girl！　　To　his　essentially　practical　and　sober　mind；　a　type　like
Courtier　was　puzzling。　　He　liked　the　look　of　him；　but　distrusted　his
ironic　expression；　and　that　appearance　of　blood　to　the　head。　　Fellow
no　doubtthat　would　ride　off　on　his　ideas；　humanitarian！　　To　Lord
Dennis　there　was　something　queer　about　humanitarians。　　They　offended
perhaps　his　dry　and　precise　sense　of　form。　　They　were　always　looking
out　for　cruelty　or　injustice；　seemed　delighted　when　they　found　it
swelled　up；　as　it　were；　when　they　sce