the patrician-第28章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


their　lips　were　joined。　　And　there　floated　up　to　the　window　the　scent
of　heliotrope；　with　the　tune　of　the　waltz　that　those　two　should　have
been　dancing。　　This　couple　so　stealthily　enlaced；　the　gleam　of　their
furtively　turned　eyes；　the　whispering　of　their　lips；　that　stony　niche
below　the　twittering　sparrows；　so　cunningly　sought　outit　was　the
world　he　had　abjured！　　When　he　looked　again；　theylike　a　vision
seenhad　stolen　away　and　gone；　the　music　too　had　ceased；　there　was
no　scent　of　heliotrope。　　In　the　stony　niche　crouched　a　stray　cat
watching　the　twittering　sparrows。

Miltoun　went　out；　and；　turning　into　the　empty　Strand；　walked　on
without　heeding　where；　till　towards　five　o'clock　he　found　himself　on
Putney　Bridge。

He　rested　there；　leaning　over　the　parapet；　looking　down　at　the　grey
water。　　The　sun　was　just　breaking　through　the　heat　haze；　early
waggons　were　passing；　and　already　men　were　coming　in　to　work。　　To
what　end　did　the　river　wander　up　and　down；　and　a　human　river　flow
across　it　twice　every　day？　　To　what　end　were　men　and　women　suffering？
Of　the　full　current　of　this　life　Miltoun　could　no　more　see　the　aim；
than　that　of　the　wheeling　gulls　in　the　early　sunlight。

Leaving　the　bridge　he　made　towards　Barnes　Common。　　The　night　was
still　ensnared　there　on　the　gorse　bushes　grey　with　cobwebs　and　starry
dewdrops。　　He　passed　a　tramp　family　still　sleeping；　huddled　all
together。　　Even　the　homeless　lay　in　each　other's　arms！

》From　the　Common　he　emerged　on　the　road　near　the　gates　of　Ravensham；
turning　in　there；　he　found　his　way　to　the　kitchen　garden；　and　sat
down　on　a　bench　close　to　the　raspberry　bushes。　　They　were　protected
from　thieves；　but　at　Miltoun's　approach　two　blackbirds　flustered　out
through　the　netting　and　flew　away。

His　long　figure　resting　so　motionless　impressed　itself　on　the　eyes　of
a　gardener；　who　caused　a　report　to　be　circulated　that　his　young
lordship　was　in　the　fruit　garden。　　It　reached　the　ears　of　Clifton；
who　himself　came　out　to　see　what　this　might　mean。　　The　old　man　took
his　stand　in　front　of　Miltoun　very　quietly。

〃You　have　come　to　breakfast；　my　lord？〃

〃If　my　grandmother　will　have　me；　Clifton。〃

〃I　understood　your　lordship　was　speaking　last　night。〃

〃I　was。〃

〃You　find　the　House　of　Commons　satisfactory；　I　hope。〃

〃Fairly；　thank　you；　Clifton。〃

〃They　are　not　what　they　were　in　the　great　days　of　your　grandfather；　I
believe。　　He　had　a　very　good　opinion　of　them。　　They　vary；　no　doubt。〃

〃Tempora　mutantur。〃

〃That　is　so。　　I　find　quite　anew　spirit　towards　public　affairs。　　The
ha'penny　Press；　one　takes　it　in；　but　one　hardly　approves。　　I　shall　be
anxious　to　read　your　speech。　　They　say　a　first　speech　is　a　great
strain。〃

〃It　is　rather。〃

〃But　you　had　no　reason　to　be　anxious。　　I'm　sure　it　was　beautiful。〃

Miltoun　saw　that　the　old　man's　thin　sallow　cheeks　had　flushed　to　a
deep　orange　between　his　snow…white　whiskers。

〃I　have　looked　forward　to　this　day；〃　he　stammered；　〃ever　since　I　knew
your　lordshiptwenty…eight　years。　　It　is　the　beginning。〃

〃Or　the　end；　Clifton。〃

The　old　man's　face　fell　in　a　look　of　deep　and　concerned　astonishment。

〃No；　no；〃　he　said；　〃with　your　antecedents；　never。〃

Miltoun　took　his　hand。

〃Sorry；　Cliftondidn't　mean　to　shock　you。〃

And　for　a　minute　neither　spoke；　looking　at　their　clasped　hands　as　if
surprised。

〃Would　your　lordship　like　a　bathbreakfast　is　still　at　eight。　　I　can
procure　you　a　razor。〃

When　Miltoun　entered　the　breakfast　room；　his　grandmother；　with　a　copy
of　the　Times　in　her　hands；　was　seated　before　a　grape　fruit；　which；
with　a　shredded　wheat　biscuit；　constituted　her　first　meal。　　Her
appearance　hardly　warranted　Barbara's　description　of　'terribly　well'；
in　truth　she　looked　a　little　white；　as　if　she　had　been　feeling　the
heat。　　But　there　was　no　lack　of　animation　in　her　little　steel…grey
eyes；　nor　of　decision　in　her　manner。

〃I　see；〃　she　said；　〃that　you've　taken　a　line　of　your　own；　Eustace。
I've　nothing　to　say　against　that；　in　fact；　quite　the　contrary。　　But
remember　this；　my　dear；　however　you　may　change　you　mustn't　wobble。
Only　one　thing　counts　in　that　place；　hitting　the　same　nail　on　the
head　with　the　same　hammer　all　the　time。　　You　aren't　looking　at　all
well。〃

Miltoun；　bending　to　kiss　her；　murmured：

〃Thanks；　I'm　all　right。〃

〃Nonsense；〃　replied　Lady　Casterley。　　〃They　don't　look　after　you。　　Was
your　mother　in　the　House？〃

〃I　don't　think　so。〃

〃Exactly。　　And　what　is　Barbara　about？　　She　ought　to　be　seeing　to
you。〃

〃Barbara　is　down　with　Uncle　Dennis。〃

Lady　Casterley　set　her　jaw；　then　looking　her　grandson　through　and
through；　said：

〃I　shall　take　you　down　there　this　very　day。　　I　shall　have　the　sea　to
you。　　What　do　you　say；　Clifton？〃

〃His　lordship　does　look　pale。〃

〃Have　the　carriage；　and　we'll　go　from　Clapham　Junction。　　Thomas　can
go　in　and　fetch　you　some　clothes。　　Or；　better；　though　I　dislike　them；
we　can　telephone　to　your　mother　for　a　car。　　It's　very　hot　for　trains。
Arrange　that；　please；　Clifton！〃

To　this　project　Miltoun　raised　no　objection。　　And　all　through　the
drive　he　remained　sunk　in　an　indifference　and　lassitude　which　to　Lady
Casterley　seemed　in　the　highest　degree　ominous。　　For　lassitude；　to
her；　was　the　strange；　the　unpardonable；　state。　　The　little　great
ladycasket　of　the　aristocratic　principlewas　permeated　to　the　very
backbone　with　the　instinct　of　artificial　energy；　of　that　alert　vigour
which　those　who　have　nothing　socially　to　hope　for　are　forced　to
develop；　lest　they　should　decay　and　be　again　obliged　to　hope。　　To
speak　honest　truth；　she　could　not　forbear　an　itch　to　run　some　sharp
and　foreign　substance　into　her　grandson；　to　rouse　him　somehow；　for
she　knew　the　reason　of　his　state；　and　was　temperamentally　out　of
patience　with　such　a　cause　for　backsliding。　　Had　it　been　any　other　of
her　grandchildren　she　would　not　have　hesitated；　but　there　was　that　in
Miltoun　which　held　even　Lady　Casterley　in　check；　and　only　once　during
the　four　hours　of　travel　did　she　attempt　to　break　down　his　reserve。
She　did　it　in　a　manner　very　soft　for　herwas　he　not　of　all　living
things　the　hope　and　pride　of　her　heart？　　Tucking　her　little　thin
sharp　hand　under　his　arm；　she　said　quietly：

〃My　dear；　don't　brood　over　it。　　That　will　never　do。〃

But　Miltoun　removed　her　hand　gently；　and　laid　it　back　on　the　dust
rug；　nor　did　he　answer；　or　show　other　sign　of　having　heard。

And　Lady　Casterley；　deeply　wounded；　pressed　her　faded　lips　together；
and　said　sharply：

〃Slower；　please；　Frith！〃





CHAPTER　V

It　was　to　Barbara　that　Miltoun　unfolded；　if　but　little；　the　trouble
of　his　spirit；　lying　that　same　afternoon　under　a　ragged　tamarisk
hedge　with　the　tide　far　out。　　He　could　never　have　done　this　if　there
had　not　been　between　them　the　accidental　revelation　of　that　night　at
Monkland；　nor　even　then　perhaps　had　he　not　felt　in　this　young　sister
of　his　the　warmth　of　life　for　which　he　was　yearning。　　In　such　a
matter　as　love　Barbara　was　the　elder　of　these　two。　　For；　besides　the
motherly　knowledge　of　the　heart　peculiar　to　most　women；　she　had　the
inherent　woman…of…the…worldliness　to　be　expected　of　a　daughter　of
Lord　and　Lady　Valleys。　　If　she　herself　were　in　doubt　as　to　the　state
of　her　affections；　it　was　not　as　with　Miltoun；　on　the　score　of　the
senses　and　the　heart；　but　on　the　score　of　her　spirit　and　curiosity；
which　Courtier　had　awakened　and　caused　to　flap　their　wings　a　little。
She　worried　over　Miltoun's　forlorn　case；　it　hurt　her　too　to　think　of
Mrs。　Noel　eating　her　heart　out　in　that　lonely　cottage。　　A　sister　so
good　and　earnest　as　Agatha　had　ever　inclined　Barbara　to　a　rebellious
view　of　morals；　and　disinclined　her　altogether　to　religion。　　And　so；
she　felt　that　if　those　two　could　not　be　happy　apart；　they　should　be
happy　together；　in　the　name　of　all　the　joy　there　was　in　life！

And　while　her　brother　lay　face　to　the　sky　under　the　tamarisks；　she
kept　trying　to　think　of　how　to　console　him；　conscious　that　she　did
not　in　the　least　understand　the　way　he　thought　about　things。　　Over
the　fields　behind；　the　larks　were　hymning　the　promise　of　the　unripe
corn；　the　foreshore　was　painted　all　colours；　from　vivid　green　to
mushroom　pink；　by　the　edge　of　the　blue　sea　little　black　figures
stooped；　gathering　sapphire。　　The　air　smelled　sweet　in　the　shade　of
the　tamarisk；　there　was　ineffable　peace。　　And　Barbara；　covered　by　the
network　of　sunlight；　could　not　help　impatience　with　a　suffering　which
seemed　to　her　so　corrigible　by　action。　　At　last　she　ventured：

〃Life　is　short；　Eusty！〃

Miltoun's　answer；　given　without　movement；　startled　her：

〃Persuade　me　that　it　is；　Babs；　and　I'll　bless　you。　　If　the　singing　of
these　larks　means　nothing；　if　that　blue　up　there　is　a　morass　of　our
invention；　if　we　are　pettily；　creeping　on　furthering　nothing；　if
there's　no　purpose　in　our　lives；　persuade　me　of　it；　for　God's　sake！〃

Carried　suddenly　beyond　her　depth；　Barbara　could　only　put　out　her
hand；　and　say：　〃Oh！　don't　take　things　so　hard！〃

〃Since　you　say　that　life　is　short；〃　Miltoun　muttered；　with　his　smile；
〃you　shouldn't　spoil　it　by　feeling　pity！　　In　old　days　we　went　to　the
Tower　for　our　convictions。　　We　can　stand　a　little　private　roasting；　I
hope；　or　has　the　sand　run　out　of　us　altogether？〃

Stung　by　his　tone；　Barbara　answered　in　rather　a　hard　voice：

〃What　we　must　bear；　we　must；　I　suppose。　　But　why　should　we　make
trouble？　　That's　what　I　can't　stand！〃

〃O　profound　wisdom！〃

Barbara　flushed。

〃I　love　Life！〃　she　said。

The　galleons　of　the　westering　sun　were　already　sailing　in　a　broad
gold　fleet　straight　for　that　foreshore　where　the　little　black
stooping　figures　had　not　yet　finished　their　toil；　the　larks　still
sang　over　the　unripe　cornwhen　Harbinger；　galloping　along　the　sands
from　Whitewater　to　Sea　House；　came　on　that　silent　couple　walking　home
to　dinner。

It　would　not　be　safe　to　say　of　this　young　man　that　he　readily
diagnosed　a　spiritual　atmosphere；　but　this　was　the　less　his　demerit；
since　everything　from　his　cradle　up　had　conspired　to　keep　the
spiritual　thermometer　of　his　surroundings　at　60　in　the　shade。　　And
the　fact　that　his　own　spiritual　thermometer　had　now　run　up　so　that　it
threatened　to　burst　the　bulb；　rendered　him　less　likely　than　ever　to
see　what　was　happening　with　other　people's。　　Yet；　he　did　notice　that
Barbara　was　looking　pale；　andit　seemedsweeter　than　ever。。。。　With
her　eldest　brother　he　always　somehow　felt　ill　at　ease。　　He　could　not
exactly　afford　to　despise　an　uncompromising　spirit　in　one　of　his　own
order；　but　he　was　no　more　impervious　than　others　to　Miltoun's
caustic；　thinly…veiled　contempt　for　the　commonplace；　and　having　a
full…blooded　belief　in　himself…usual　with　men　of　fine　physique；
whose　lots　are　so　cast　that　this　belief　can　never　or　almost　never　be
really　shakenhe　greatly　disliked　the　feeling　of　being　a　little
looked　down　on。　　It　was　an　intense　relief；　when；　saying　that　he
wanted　a　certain　magazine；　Miltoun　strode　off　into　the　town。

To　Harbinger；　no　less　than　to　Miltoun　and　Barbara；　last　night　had
been　bitter　and　restless。　　The　sight　of　that　pale　swaying　figure；
with　the　parted　lips；　whirling　round　in　Courtier's　arms；　had　clung　to
his　vision　ever　since；　the　Ball。　　During　his　own　last　dance　with　her
he　had　been　almost　savagely　silent；　only　by　a　great