the patrician-第32章

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such　circumstances　without　being　everything　to　him；　in　the　world's
eyes。　　Her　daughter　went　on：

〃I　took　her　to　him。　　It　seemed　the　only　thing　to　dosince　it's　all
through　fretting　for　her。　　Nobody　knows；　of　course；　except　the
doctor；　andStacey。〃

〃Heavens！〃　muttered　Lady　Valleys。

〃It　has　saved　him。〃

The　mother　instinct　in　Lady　Valleys　took　sudden　fright。　　〃Are　you
telling　me　the　truth；　Babs？　　Is　he　really　out　of　danger？　　How　wrong
of　you　not　to　let　me　know　before？〃

But　Barbara　did　not　flinch；　and　her　mother　relapsed　into　rumination。

〃Stacey　is　a　cat！〃　she　said　suddenly。　　The　expurgated　details　of　the
scandal　she　had　been　retailing　to　her　daughter　had　included　the　usual
maid。　　She　could　not　find　it　in　her　to　enjoy　the　irony　of　this
coincidence。　　Then；　seeing　Barbara　smile；　she　said　tartly：

〃I　fail　to　see　the　joke。〃

〃Only　that　I　thought　you'd　enjoy　my　throwing　Stacey　in；　dear。〃

〃What！　　You　mean　she　doesn't　know？〃

〃Not　a　word。〃

Lady　Valleys　smiled。

〃What　a　little　wretch　you　are；　Babs！　　〃Maliciously　she　added：　〃Claud
and　his　mother　are　coming　over　from　Whitewater；　with　Bertie　and　Lily
Malvezin；　you'd　better　go　and　dress；〃　and　her　eyes　searched　her
daughter's　so　shrewdly；　that　a　flush　rose　to　the　girl's　cheeks。

When　she　had　gone；　Lady　Valleys　rang　for　her　maid　again；　and　relapsed
into　meditation。　　Her　first　thought　was　to　consult　her　husband；　her
second　that　secrecy　was　strength。　　Since　no　one　knew　but　Barbara；　no
one　had　better　know。

Her　astuteness　and　experience　comprehended　the　far…reaching
probabilities　of　this　affair。　　It　would　not　do　to　take　a　single　false
step。　　If　she　had　no　one's　action　to　control　but　her　own　and
Barbara's；　so　much　the　less　chance　of　a　slip。　　Her　mind　was　a　strange
medley　of　thoughts　and　feelings；　almost　comic；　well…nigh　tragic；　of
worldly　prudence；　and　motherly　instinct；　of　warm…blooded　sympathy
with　all　love…affairs；　and　cool…blooded　concern　for　her　son's　career。
It　was　not　yet　too　late　perhaps　to　prevent　real　mischief；　especially
since　it　was　agreed　by　everyone　that　the　woman　was　no　adventuress。
Whatever　was　done；　they　must　not　forget　that　she　had　nursed　him
saved　him；　Barbara　had　said！　　She　must　be　treated　with　all　kindness
and　consideration。

Hastening　her　toilette；　she　in　turn　went　to　her　daughter's　room。

Barbara　was　already　dressed；　leaning　out　of　her　window　towards　the
sea。

Lady　Valleys　began　almost　timidly：

〃My　dear；　is　Eustace　out　of　bed　yet？〃

〃He　was　to　get　up　to…day　for　an　hour　or　two。〃

〃I　see。　　Now；　would　there　be　any　danger　if　you　and　I　went　up　and　took
charge　over　from　Mrs。　Noel？〃

〃Poor　Eusty！〃

〃Yes；　yes！　　But；　exercise　your　judgment。　　Would　it　harm　him？〃

Barbara　was　silent。　　〃No；〃　she　said　at　last；　〃I　don't　suppose　it
would；　now；　but　it's　for　the　doctor　to　say。〃

Lady　Valleys　exhibited　a　manifest　relief。

〃We'll　see　him　first；　of　course。　　Eustace　will　have　to　have　an
ordinary　nurse；　I　suppose；　for　a　bit。〃

Looking　stealthily　at　Barbara；　she　added：

〃I　mean　to　be　very　nice　to　her；　but　one　mustn't　be　romantic；　you
know；　Babs。〃

》From　the　little　smile　on　Barbara's　lips　she　derived　no　sense　of
certainty；　indeed　she　was　visited　by　all　her　late　disquietude　about
her　young　daughter；　by　all　the　feeling　that　she；　as　well　as　Miltoun；
was　hovering　on　the　verge　of　some　folly。

〃Well；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　going　down。〃

But　Barbara　lingered　a　little　longer　in　that　bedroom　where　ten　nights
ago　she　had　lain　tossing；　till　in　despair　she　went　and　cooled　herself
in　the　dark　sea。

Her　last　little　interview　with　Courtier　stood　between　her　and　a　fresh
meeting　with　Harbinger；　whom　at　the　Valleys　House　gathering　she　had
not　suffered　to　be　alone　with　her。　　She　came　down　late。

That　same　evening；　out　on　the　beach　road；　under　a　sky　swarming　with
stars；　the　people　were　strollingfolk　from　the　towns；　down　for　their
fortnight's　holiday。　　In　twos　and　threes；　in　parties　of　six　or　eight；
they　passed　the　wall　at　the　end　of　Lord　Dennis's　little　domain；　and
the　sound　of　their　sparse　talk　and　laughter；　together　with　the
sighing　of　the　young　waves；　was　blown　over　the　wall　to　the　ears　of
Harbinger；　Bertie；　Barbara；　and　Lily　Malvezin；　when　they　strolled　out
after　dinner　to　sniff　the　sea。　　The　holiday…makers　stared　dully　at
the　four　figures　in　evening　dress　looking　out　above　their　heads；　they
had　other　things　than　these　to　think　of；　becoming　more　and　more
silent　as　the　night　grew　dark。　　The　four　young　people　too　were　rather
silent。　　There　was　something　in　this　warm　night；　with　its　sighing；
and　its　darkness；　and　its　stars；　that　was　not　favourable　to　talk；　so
that　presently　they　split　into　couples；　drifting　a　little　apart。

Standing　there；　gripping　the　wall；　it　seemed　to　Harbinger　that　there
were　no　words　left　in　the　world。　　Not　even　his　worst　enemy　could　have
called　this　young　man　romantic；　yet　that　figure　beside　him；　the　gleam
of　her　neck　and　her　pale　cheek　in　the　dark；　gave　him　perhaps　the　most
poignant　glimpse　of　mystery　that　he　had　ever　had。　　His　mind；
essentially　that　of　a　man　of　affairs；　by　nature　and　by　habit　at　home
amongst　the　material　aspects　of　things；　was　but　gropingly　conscious
that　here；　in　this　dark　night；　and　the　dark　sea；　and　the　pale　figure
of　this　girl　whose　heart　was　dark　to　him　and　secret；　there　was
perhaps　somethingyes；　somethingwhich　surpassed　the　confines　of
his　philosophy；　something　beckoning　him　on　out　of　his　snug　compound
into　the　desert　of　divinity。　　If　so；　it　was　soon　gone　in　the　aching
of　his　senses　at　the　scent　of　her　hair；　and　the　longing　to　escape
from　this　weird　silence。

〃Babs；〃　he　said；　〃have　you　forgiven　me？〃

Her　answer　came；　without　turn　of　head；　natural；　indifferent：

〃YesI　told　you　so。〃

〃Is　that　all　you　have　to　say　to　a　fellow？〃

〃What　shall　we　talk　aboutthe　running　of　Casetta？〃

Deep　down　within　him　Harbinger　uttered　a　noiseless　oath。　　Something
sinister　was　making　her　behave　like　this　to　him！　　It　was　that　fellow…
…that　fellow！　　And　suddenly　he　said：

〃Tell　me　this〃　then　speech　seemed　to　stick　in　his　throat。　　No！
If　there　were　anything　in　that；　he　preferred　not　to　hear　it。　　There
was　a　limit！

Down　below；　a　pair　of　lovers　passed；　very　silent；　their　arms　round
each　other's　waists。

Barbara　turned　and　walked　away　towards　the　house。




CHAPTER　XI

The　days　when　Miltoun　was　first　allowed　out　of　bed　were　a　time　of
mingled　joy　and　sorrow　to　her　who　had　nursed　him。　　To　see　him　sitting
up；　amazed　at　his　own　weakness；　was　happiness；　yet　to　think　that　he
would　be　no　more　wholly　dependent；　no　more　that　sacred　thing；　a
helpless　creature；　brought　her　the　sadness　of　a　mother　whose　child　no
longer　needs　her。　　With　every　hour　he　would　now　get　farther　from　her；
back　into　the　fastnesses　of　his　own　spirit。　　With　every　hour　she
would　be　less　his　nurse　and　comforter；　more　the　woman　he　loved。　　And
though　that　thought　shone　out　in　the　obscure　future　like　a　glamorous
flower；　it　brought　too　much　wistful　uncertainty　to　the　present。　　She
was　very　tired；　too；　now　that　all　excitement　was　overso　tired　that
she　hardly　knew　what　she　did　or　where　she　moved。　　But　a　smile　had
become　so　faithful　to　her　eyes　that　it　clung　there　above　the　shadows
of　fatigue；　and　kept　taking　her　lips　prisoner。

Between　the　two　bronze　busts　she　had　placed　a　bowl　of　lilies　of　the
valley；　and　every　free　niche　in　that　room　of　books　had　a　little　vase
of　roses　to　welcome　Miltoun's　return。

He　was　lying　back　in　his　big　leather　chair；　wrapped　in　a　Turkish　gown
of　Lord　Valleys'on　which　Barbara　had　laid　hands；　having　failed　to
find　anything　resembling　a　dressing…gown　amongst　her　brother's
austere　clothing。　　The　perfume　of　lilies　had　overcome　the　scent　of
books；　and　a　bee；　dusky；　adventurer；　filled　the　room　with　his
pleasant　humming。

They　did　not　speak；　but　smiled　faintly；　looking　at　one　another。　　In
this　still　moment；　before　passion　had　returned　to　claim　its　own；
their　spirits　passed　through　the　sleepy　air；　and　became　entwined；　so
that　neither　could　withdraw　that　soft；　slow；　encountering　glance。　　In
mutual　contentment；　each　to　each；　close　as　music　to　the　strings　of　a
violin；　their　spirits　clungso　lost；　the　one　in　the　other；　that
neither　for　that　brief　time　seemed　to　know　which　was　self。

In　fulfilment　of　her　resolution；　Lady　Valleys；　who　had　returned　to
Town　by　a　morning　train；　started　with　Barbara　for　the　Temple　about
three　in　the　after　noon；　and　stopped　at　the　doctor's　on　the　way。　　The
whole　thing　would　be　much　simpler　if　Eustace　were　fit　to　be　moved　at
once　to　Valleys　House；　and　with　much　relief　she　found　that　the　doctor
saw　no　danger　in　this　course。　　The　recovery　had　been　remarkable
touch　and　go　for　bad　brain　fever　just　avoided！　　Lord　Miltoun's
constitution　was　extremely　sound。　　Yes；　he　would　certainly　favour　a
removal。　　His　rooms　were　too　confined　in　this　weather。　　Well　nursed
decidedly）　Oh；　yes！　　Quite！　　And　the　doctor's　eyes　became　perhaps　a
trifle　more　intense。　　Not　a　professional；　he　understood。　　It　might　be
as　well　to　have　another　nurse；　if　they　were　making　the　change。　　They
would　have　this　lady　knocking　up。　　Just　so！　　Yes；　he　would　see　to
that。　　An　ambulance　carriage　he　thought　advisable。　　That　could　all　be
arranged　for　this　afternoonat　oncehe　himself　would　look　to　it。
They　might　take　Lord　Miltoun　off　just　as　he　was；　the　men　would　know
what　to　do。　　And　when　they　had　him　at　Valleys　House；　the　moment　he
showed　interest　in　his　food；　down　to　the　sea…down　to　the　sea！　　At
this　time　of　year　nothing　like　it！　　Then　with　regard　to　nourishment；
he　would　be　inclined　already　to　shove　in　a　leetle　stimulant；　a
thimbleful　perhaps　four　times　a　day　with　foodnot　withoutmixed
with　an　egg；　with　arrowroot；　with　custard。　　A　week　would　see　him　on
his　legs；　a　fortnight　at　the　sea　make　him　as　good　a　man　as　ever。
Overworkburning　the　candlea　leetlemore　would　have　seen　a　very
different　state　of　things！　　Quite　so！　quite　so！　　Would　come　round
himself　before　dinner；　and　make　sure。　　His　patient　might　feel　it　just

at　first！　　He　bowed　Lady　Valleys　out；　and　when　she　had　gone；　sat　down
at　his　telephone　with　a　smile　flickering　on　his　clean…cut　lips；

Greatly　fortified　by　this　interview；　Lady　Valleys　rejoined　her
daughter　in　the　ear；　but　while　it　slid　on　amongst　the　multitudinous
traffic；　signs　of　unwonted　nervousness　began　to　start　out　through　the
placidity　of　her　face。

〃I　wish；　my　dear；〃　she　said　suddenly；　〃that　someone　else　had　to　do
this。　　Suppose　Eustace　refuses！〃

〃He　won't；〃　Barbara　answered；　〃she　looks　so　tired；　poor　dear。
Besides〃

Lady　Valleys　gazed　with　curiosity　at　that　young　face；　which　had
flushed　pink。　　Yes；　this　daughter　of　hers　was　a　woman　already；　with
all　a　woman's　intuitions。　　She　said　gravely：

〃It　was　a　rash　stroke　of　yours；　Babs；　let's　hope　it　won't　lead　to
disaster。〃

Barbara　bit　her　lips。

〃If　you'd　seen　him　as　I　saw　him！　　And；　what　disaster？　　Mayn't　they
love　each　other；　if　they　want？〃

Lady　Valleys　swallowed　a　grimace。　　It　was　so　exactly　her　own　point　of
view。　　And　yet！

〃That's　only　the　beginning；〃　she　said；　〃you　forget　the　sort　of　boy
Eustace　is。〃

〃Why　can't　the　poor　thing　be　let　out　of　her　cage？〃　cried　Barbara。
〃What　good　does　it　do　to　anyone？　　Mother；　if　ever；　when　I　am　married；
I　want　to　get