the patrician-第29章

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his　vision　ever　since；　the　Ball。　　During　his　own　last　dance　with　her
he　had　been　almost　savagely　silent；　only　by　a　great　effort
restraining　his　tongue　from　mordant　allusions　to　that　'prancing；　red…
haired　fellow；'　as　he　secretly　called　the　champion　of　lost　causes。
In　fact；　his　sensations　there　and　since　had　been　a　revelation；　or
would　have　teen　if　he　could　have　stood　apart　to　see　them。　　True；　he
had　gone　about　next　day　with　his　usual　cool；　off…hand　manner；　because
one　naturally　did　not　let　people　see；　but　it　was　with　such　an　inner
aching　and　rage　of　want　and　jealousy　as　to　really　merit　pity。　　Men　of
his　physically　big；　rather　rushing；　type；　are　the　last　to　possess
their　souls　in　patience。　　Walking　home　after　the　Ball　he　had
determined　to　follow　her　down　to　the　sea；　where　she　had　said；　so
maliciously；　that　she　was　going。　　After　a　second　almost　sleepless
night　he　had　no　longer　any　hesitation。　　He　must　see　her！　　After　all；
a　man　might　go　to　his　own　'place'　with　impunity；　he　did　not　care　if
it　were　a　pointed　thing　to　do。。。。　　Pointed！　　The　more　pointed　the
better！　　There　was　beginning　to　be　roused　in　him　an　ugly　stubbornness
of　male　determination。　　She　should　not　escape　him！

But　now　that　he　was　walking　at　her　side；　all　that　determination　and
assurance　melted　to　perplexed　humility。　　He　marched　along　by　his
horse　with　his　head　down；　just　feeling　the　ache　of　being　so　close　to
her　and　yet　so　far；　angry　with　his　own　silence　and　awkwardness；
almost　angry　with　her　for　her　loveliness；　and　the　pain　it　made　him
suffer。　　When　they　reached　the　house；　and　she　left　him　at　the　stable…
yard；　saying　she　was　going　to　get　some　flowers；　he　jerked　the　beast's
bridle　and　swore　at　it　for　its　slowness　in　entering　the　stable。　　He；
was　terrified　that　she　would　be　gone　before　he　could　get　into　the
garden；　yet　half　afraid　of　finding　her　there。　　But　she　was　still
plucking　carnations　by　the　box　hedge　which　led　to　the　conservatories。
And　as　she　rose　from　gathering　those　blossoms；　before　he　knew　what　he
was　doing；　Harbinger　had　thrown　his　arm　around　her；　held　her　as　in　a
vice；　kissed　her　unmercifully。

She　seemed　to　offer　no　resistance；　her　smooth　cheeks　growing　warmer
and　warmer；　even　her　lips　passive；　but　suddenly　he　recoiled；　and　his
heart　stood　still　at　his　own　outrageous　daring。　　What　had　he　done？
He　saw　her　leaning　back　almost　buried　in　the　clipped　box　hedge；　and
heard　her　say　with　a　sort　of　faint　mockery：　〃Well！〃

He　would　have　flung　himself　down　on　his　knees　to　ask　for　pardon　but
for　the　thought　that　someone　might　come。　　He　muttered　hoarsely：　〃By
God；　I　was　mad！〃　and　stood　glowering　in　sullen　suspense　between
hardihood　and　fear。　　He　heard　her　say；　quietly：

〃Yes；　you　were…rather。〃

Then　seeing　her　put　her　hand　up　to　her　lips　as　if　he　had　hurt　them；
he　muttered　brokenly：

〃Forgive　me；　Babs！〃

There　was　a　full　minute's　silence　while　he　stood　there；　no　longer
daring　to　look　at　her；　beaten　all　over　by　his　emotions。　　Then；　with
bewilderment；　he　heard　her　say：

〃I　didn't　mind　itfor　once！〃

He　looked　up　at　that。　　How　could　she　love　him；　and　speak　so　coolly！
How　could　she　not　mind；　if　she　did　not　love　him！　　She　was　passing　her
hands　over　her　face　and　neck　and　hair；　repairing　the　damage　of　his
kisses。

〃Now　shall　we　go　in？〃　she　said。

Harbinger　took　a　step　forward。

〃I　love　you　so；〃　he　said；　〃I　will　put　my　life　in　your　hands；　and　you
shall　throw　it　away。〃

At　those　words；　of　whose　exact　nature　he　had　very　little　knowledge；
he　saw　her　smile。

〃If　I　let　you　come　within　three　yards；　will　you　be　good？〃

He　bowed；　and；　in　silence；　they　walked　towards　the　house。

Dinner　that　evening　was　a　strange；　uncomfortable　meal。　　But　its
comedy；　too　subtly　played　for　Miltoun　and　Lord　Dennis；　seemed
transparent　to　the　eyes　of　Lady　Casterley；　for；　when　Harbinger　had
sallied　forth　to　ride　back　along　the　sands；　she　took　her　candle　and
invited　Barbara　to　retire。　　Then；　having　admitted　her　granddaughter
to　the　apartment　always　reserved　for　herself；　and　specially　furnished
with　practically　nothing；　she　sat　down　opposite　that　tall；　young；
solid　figure；　as　it　were　taking　stock　of　it；　and　said：

〃So　you　are　coming　to　your　senses；　at　all　events。　　Kiss　me！'

Barbara；　stooping　to　perform　this　rite；　saw　a　tear　stealing　down　the
carved　fine　nose。　　Knowing　that　to　notice　it　would　be　too　dreadful；
she　raised　herself；　and　went　to　the　window。　　There；　staring　out　over
the　dark　fields　and　dark　sea；　by　the　side　of　which　Harbinger　was
riding　home；　she　put　her　hand　up　to　her；　lips；　and　thought　for　the
hundredth　time：

〃So　that's　what　it's　like！〃




CHAPTER　VI

Three　days　after　his　first；　and　as　he　promised　himself；　his　last
Society　Ball；　Courtier　received　a　note　from　Audrey　Noel；　saying　that
she　had　left　Monkland　for　the　present；　and　come　up　to　a　little　flat
on　the　riverside　not　far　from　Westminster。

When　he　made　his　way　there　that　same　July　day；　the　Houses　of
Parliament　were　bright　under　a　sun　which　warmed　all　the　grave　air
emanating　from　their　counsels　of　perfection：　Courtier　passed　by
dubiously。　　His　feelings　in　the　presence　of　those　towers　were　always
a　little　mixed。　　There　was　not　so　much　of　the　poet　in　him　as　to　cause
him　to　see　nothing　there　at　all　save　only　same　lines　against　the　sky；
but　there　was　enough　of　the　poet　to　make　him　long　to　kick　something；
and　in　this　mood　he　wended　his　way　to　the　riverside。

Mrs。　Noel　was　not　at　home；　but　since　the　maid　informed　him　that　she
would　be　in　directly；　he　sat　down　to　wait。　　Her　flat；　which　was　on…
the　first　floor；　overlooked　the　river　and　had　evidently　been　taken
furnished；　for　there　were　visible　marks　of　a　recent　struggle　with　an
Edwardian　taste　which；　flushed　from　triumph　over　Victorianism；　had
filled　the　rooms　with　early　Georgian　remains。　　On　the　only　definite
victory；　a　rose…coloured　window　seat　of　great　comfort　and　little　age；
Courtier　sat　down；　and　resigned　himself　to　doing　nothing　with　the
ease　of　an　old　soldier。

To　the　protective　feeling　he　had　once　had　for　a　very　graceful；　dark…
haired　child；　he　joined　not　only　the　championing　pity　of　a　man　of
warm　heart　watching　a　woman　in　distress；　but　the　impatience　of　one；
who；　though　temperamentally　incapable　of　feeling　oppressed　himself；
rebelled　at　sight　of　all　forms　of　tyranny　affecting　others。

The　sight　of　the　grey　towers；　still　just　visible；　under　which　Miltoun
and　his　father　sat；　annoyed　him　deeply；　symbolizing　to　him；
Authorityfoe　to　his　deathless　mistress；　the　sweet；　invincible　lost
cause　of　Liberty。　　But　presently　the　river；　bringing　up　in　flood　the
unbound　water　that　had　bathed　every　shore；　touched　all　sands；　and
seen　the　rising　and　falling　of　each　mortal　star；　so　soothed　him　with
its　soundless　hymn　to　Freedom；　that　Audrey　Noel　coming　in　with　her
hands　full　of　flowers；　found　him　sleeping　firmly；　with　his　mouth
shut。

Noiselessly　putting　down　the　flowers；　she　waited　for　his　awakening。
That　sanguine　visage；　with　its　prominent　chin；　flaring　moustaches；
and　eyebrows　raised　rather　V…shaped　above　his　closed　eyes；　wore　an
expression　of　cheery　defiance　even　in　sleep；　and　perhaps　no　face　in
all　London　was　so　utterly　its　obverse；　as　that　of　this　dark；　soft…
haired　woman；　delicate；　passive；　and　tremulous　with　pleasure　at　sight
of　the　only　person　in　the　world　from　whom　she　felt　she　might　learn　of
Miltoun；　without　losing　her　self…respect。

He　woke　at　last；　and　manifesting　no　discomfiture；　said：

〃It　was　like　you　not　to　wake　me。〃

They　sat　for　a　long　while　talking；　the　riverside　traffic　drowsily
accompanying　their　voices；　the　flowers　drowsily　filling　the　room　with
scent；　and　when　Courtier　left；　his　heart　was　sore。　　She　had　not
spoken　of　herself　at　all；　but　had　talked　nearly　all　the　time　of
Barbara；　praising　her　beauty　and　high　spirit；　growing　pale　once　or
twice；　and　evidently　drinking　in　with　secret　avidity　every　allusion
to　Miltoun。　　Clearly；　her　feelings　had　not　changed；　though　she　would
not　show　them！　　Courtier's　pity　for　her　became　well…nigh　violent。

It　was　in　such　a　mood；　mingled　with　very　different　feelings；　that　he
donned　evening　clothes　and　set　out　to　attend　the　last　gathering　of
the　season　at　Valleys　House；　a　function　which；　held　so　late　in　July；
was　perforce　almost　perfectly　political。

Mounting　the　wide　and　shining　staircase；　that　had　so　often　baffled
the　arithmetic　of　little　Ann；　he　was　reminded　of　a　picture　entitled
'The　Steps　to　Heaven'　in　his　nursery　four…and…thirty　years　before。
At　the　top　of　this　staircase；　and　surrounded　by　acquaintances；　he
came　on　Harbinger；　who　nodded　curtly。　　The　young　man's　handsome　face
and　figure　appeared　to　Courtier's　jaundiced　eye　more　obviously
successful　and　complacent　than　ever；　so　that　he　passed　him　by
sardonically；　and　manoeuvred　his　way　towards　Lady　Valleys；　whom　he
could　perceive　stationed；　like　a　general；　in　a　little　cleared　space；
where　to　and　fro　flowed　constant　streams　of　people；　like　the　rays　of
a　star。　　She　was　looking　her　very　best；　going　well　with　great　and
highly…polished　spaces；　and　she　greeted　Courtier　with　a　special
cordiality　of　tone；　which　had　in　it；　besides　kindness　towards　one　who
must　be　feeling　a　strange　bird；　a　certain　diplomatic　quality；
compounded　of　desire；　as　it　were；　to　'warn　him　off；'　and　fear　of
saying　something　that　might　irritate　and　make　him　more　dangerous。
She　had　heard；　she　said；　that　he　was　bound　for　Persia；　she　hoped　he
was　not　going　to　try　and　make　things　more　difficult　there；　then　with
the　words：　〃So　good　of　you　to　have　come！〃　she　became　once　more　the
centre　of　her　battlefield。

Perceiving　that　he　was　finished　with；　Courtier　stood　back　against　a
wall　and　watched。　　Thus　isolated；　he　was　like　a　solitary　cuckoo
contemplating　the　gyrations　of　a　flock　of　rooks。　　Their　motions
seemed　a　little　meaningless　to　one　so　far　removed　from　all　the
fetishes　and　shibboleths　of　Westminster。　　He　heard　them　discussing
Miltoun's　speech；　the　real　significance　of　which　apparently　had　only
just　been　grasped。　　The　words　'doctrinaire；'　'extremist；'　came　to　his
ears；　together　with　the　saying　'a　new　force。'　　People　were　evidently
puzzled；　disturbed；　not　pleasedas　if　some　star　not　hitherto
accounted　for　had　suddenly　appeared　amongst　the　proper
constellations。

Searching　this　crowd　for　Barbara；　Courtier　had　all　the　time　an　uneasy
sense　of　shame。　　What　business　had　he　to　come　amongst　these　people　so
strange　to　him；　just　for　the　sake　of　seeing　her！　　What　business　had
he　to　be　hankering　after　this　girl　at　all；　knowing　in　his　heart　that
he　could　not　stand　the　atmosphere　she　lived　in　for　a　week；　and　that
she　was　utterly　unsuited　for　any　atmosphere　that　he　could　give　her；
to　say　nothing　of　the　unlikelihood　that　he　could　flutter　the　pulses
of　one　half　his　age！

A　voice；　behind　him　said：　〃Mr。　Courtier！〃

He　turned；　and　there　was　Barbara。

〃I　want　to　talk　to　you　about　something　serious：　Will　you　come　into
the　picture　gallery？〃

When　at　last　they　were　close　to　a　family　group　of　Georgian　Caradocs；
and　could　as　it　were　shut　out　the　throng　sufficiently　for　private
speech；　she　began：

〃Miltoun's　so　horribly　unhappy；　I　don't　know　what　to　do　for　him：　He's
making　himself　ill！〃

And　she　suddenly　looked　up；　in　Courtier's　face。　　She　seemed　to　him
very　young；　and　touchin