the patrician-第7章

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humour　in　everything　that　did　not　absolutely　run　counter　to　her
interests　and　philosophy。

The　voice　of　little　Ann　broke　in　on　her　reflections。

〃I'm　going　to　Auntie　Babs　now。〃

〃Very　well；　give　me　a　kiss　first。〃

Little　Ann　thrust　up　her　face；　so　that　its　sudden　little　nose
penetrated　Lady　Valleys'　soft　curving　lips。。。。

When　early　that　same　afternoon　Courtier；　leaning　on　a　stick；　passed
from　his　room　out　on　to　the　terrace；　he　was　confronted　by　three
sunlit　peacocks　marching　slowly　across　a　lawn　towards　a　statue　of
Diana。　　With　incredible　dignity　those　birds　moved；　as　if　never　in
their　lives　had　they　been　hurried。　　They　seemed　indeed　to　know　that
when　they　got　there；　there　would　be　nothing　for　them　to　do　but　to
come　back　again。　　Beyond　them；　through　the　tall　trees；　over　some
wooded　foot…hills　of　the　moorland　and　a　promised　land　of　pinkish
fields；　pasture；　and　orchards；　the　prospect　stretched　to　the　far　sea。
Heat　clothed　this　view　with　a　kind　of　opalescence；　a　fairy　garment；
transmuting　all　values；　so　that　the　four　square　walls　and　tall
chimneys　of　the　pottery…works　a　few　miles　down　the　valley　seemed　to
Courtier　like　a　vision　of　some　old　fortified　Italian　town。　　His
sensations；　finding　himself　in　this　galley；　were　peculiar。　　For　his
feeling　towards　Miltoun；　whom　he　had　twice　met　at　Mrs。　Noel's；　was；
in　spite　of　disagreements；　by　no　means　unfriendly；　while　his　feeling
towards　Miltoun's　family　was　not　yet　in　existence。　　Having　lived　from
hand　to　mouth；　and　in　many　countries；　since　he　left　Westminster
School；　he　had　now　practically　no　class　feelings。　　An　attitude　of
hostility　to　aristocracy　because　it　was　aristocracy；　was　as
incomprehensible　to　him　as　an　attitude　of　deference。

His　sensations　habitually　shaped　themselves　in　accordance　with　those
two　permanent　requirements　of　his　nature；　liking　for　adventure；　and
hatred　of　tyranny。　　The　labourer　who　beat　his　wife；　the　shopman　who
sweated　his　'hands；'　the　parson　who　consigned　his　parishioners　to
hell；　the　peer　who　rode　roughshodall　were　equally　odious　to　him。
He　thought　of　people　as　individuals；　and　it　was；　as　it　were；　by
accident　that　he　had　conceived　the　class　generalization　which　he　had
fired　back　at　Miltoun　from　Mrs。　Noel's　window。　　Sanguine；　accustomed
to　queer　environments；　and　always　catching　at　the　moment　as　it　flew；
he　had　not　to　fight　with　the　timidities　and　irritations　of　a　nervous
temperament。　　His　cheery　courtesy　was　only　disturbed　when　he　became
conscious　of　some　sentiment　which　appeared　to　him　mean　or　cowardly。
On　such　occasions；　not　perhaps　infrequent；　his　face　looked　as　if　his
heart　were　physically　fuming；　and　since　his　shell　of　stoicism　was
never　quite　melted　by　this　heat；　a　very　peculiar　expression　was　the
result；　a　sort　of　calm；　sardonic；　desperate；　jolly　look。

His　chief　feeling；　then；　at　the　outrage　which　had　laid　him　captive　in
the　enemy's　camp；　was　one　of　vague　amusement；　and　curiosity。　　People
round　about　spoke　fairly　well　of　this　Caradoc　family。　　There　did　not
seem　to　be　any　lack　of　kindly　feeling　between　them　and　their　tenants；
there　was　said　to　be　no　griping　destitution；　nor　any　particular　ill…
housing　on　their　estate。　　And　if　the　inhabitants　were　not　encouraged
to　improve　themselves；　they　were　at　all　events　maintained　at　a
certain　level；　by　steady　and　not　ungenerous　supervision。　　When　a　roof
required　thatching　it　was　thatched；　when　a　man　became　too　old　to
work；　he　was　not　suffered　to　lapse　into　the　Workhouse。　　In　bad　years
for　wool；　or　beasts；　or　crops；　the　farmers　received　a　graduated
remission　of　rent。　　The　pottery…works　were　run　on　a　liberal　if
autocratic　basis。　　It　was　true　that　though　Lord　Valleys　was　said　to
be　a　staunch　supporter　of　a　'back　to　the　land'　policy；　no　disposition
was　shown　to　encourage　people　to　settle　on　these　particular　lands；　no
doubt　from　a　feeling　that　such　settlers　would　not　do　them　so　much
justice　as　their　present　owner。　　Indeed　so　firmly　did　this　conviction
seemingly　obtain；　that　Lord　Valleys'　agent　was　not　unfrequently
observed　to　be　buying　a　little　bit　more。

But；　since　in　this　life　one　notices　only　what　interests　him；　all　this
gossip；　half　complimentary；　half　not；　had　fallen　but　lightly　on　the
ears　of　the　champion　of　Peace　during　his　campaign；　for　he　was；　as
has；　been　said；　but　a　poor　politician；　and　rode　his　own　horse　very
much　his　own　way。

While　he　stood　there　enjoying　the　view；　he　heard　a　small　high　voice；
and　became　conscious　of　a　little　girl　in　a　very　shady　hat　so　far　back
on　her　brown　hair　that　it　did　not　shade　her；　and　of　a　small　hand　put
out　in　front。　　He　took　the　hand；　and　answered：

〃Thank　you；　I　am　welland　you？〃　perceiving　the　while　that　a　pair　of
wide　frank　eyes　were　examining　his　leg。

〃Does　it　hurt？〃

〃Not　to　speak　of。〃

〃My　pony's　leg　was　blistered。　　Granny　is　coming　to　look　at　it。〃

〃I　see。〃

〃I　have　to　go　now。　　I　hope　you'll　soon　be　better。　　Good…bye！〃

Then；　instead　of　the　little　girl；　Courtier　saw　a　tall　and　rather
florid　woman　regarding　him　with　a　sort　of　quizzical　dignity。　　She
wore　a　stiffish　fawn…coloured　dress　that　seemed　to　be　cut　a　little
too　tight　round　her　substantial　hips；　for　it　quite　neglected　to
embrace　her　knees。　　She　had　on　no　hat；　no　gloves；　no　ornaments；
except　the　rings　on　her　fingers；　and　a　little　jewelled　watch　in　a
leather　bracelet　on　her　wrist。　　There　was；　indeed；　about　her　whole
figure　an　air　of　almost　professional　escape　from　finery。

Stretching　out　a　well…shaped　but　not　small　hand；　she　said：


〃I　most　heartily　apologize　to　you；　Mr。　Courtier。〃

〃Not　at　all。〃

〃I　do　hope　you're　comfortable。　　Have　they　given　you　everything　you
want？〃

〃More　than　everything。〃

〃It　really　was　disgraceful！　　However　it's　brought　us　the　pleasure　of
making　your　acquaintance。　　I've　read　your　book；　of　course。〃

To　Courtier　it　seemed　that　on　this　lady's　face　had　come　a　look　which
seemed　to　say：　Yes；　very　clever　and　amusing；　quite　enjoyable！　　But
the　ideas　What？　　You　know　very　well　they　won't　doin　fact　they
mustn't　do！

〃That's　very　nice　of　you。〃

But　into　Lady　Valleys'　answer；　〃I　don't　agree　with　it　a　bit；　you
know！〃　there　had　crept　a　touch　of　asperity；　as　though　she　knew　that
he　had　smiled　inside。　　〃What　we　want　preached　in　these　days　are　the
warlike　virtuesespecially　by　a　warrior。〃

〃Believe　me；　Lady　Valleys；　the　warlike　virtues　are　best　left　to　men
of　more　virgin　imagination。〃

He　received　a　quick　look；　and　the　words：　〃Anyway；　I'm　sure　you　don't
care　a　rap　for　politics。　　You　know　Mrs。　Lees　Noel；　don't　you？　　What　a
pretty　woman　she　is！〃

But　as　she　spoke　Courtier　saw　a　young　girl　coming　along　the　terrace。
She　had　evidently　been　riding；　for　she　wore　high　boots　and　a　skirt
which　had　enabled　her　to　sit　astride。　　Her　eyes　were　blue；　and　her
hairthe　colour　of　beech…leaves　in　autumn　with　the　sun　shining
throughwas　coiled　up　tight　under　a　small　soft　hat。　　She　was　tall；
and　moved　towards　them　like　one　endowed　with　great　length　from　the
hip　joint　to　the　knee。　　Joy　of　life；　serene；　unconscious　vigour；
seemed　to　radiate　from　her　whole　face　and　figure。

At　Lady　Valleys'　words：

〃Ah；　Babs！　　My　daughter　BarbaraMr。　Courtier；〃　he　put　out　his　hand；
received　within　it　some　gauntleted　fingers　held　out　with　a　smile；　and
heard　her　say：

〃Miltoun's　gone　up　to　Town；　Mother；　I　was　going　to　motor　in　to
Bucklandbury　with　a　message　he　gave　me；　so　I　can　fetch　Granny　out
from　the　station：〃

〃You　had　better　take　Ann；　or　she'll　make　our　lives　a　burden；　and
perhaps　Mr。　Courtier　would　like　an　airing。　　Is　your　knee　fit；　do　you
think？〃

Glancing　at　the　apparition；　Courtier　replied：

〃It　is。〃

Never　since　the　age　of　seven　had　he　been　able　to　look　on　feminine
beauty　without　a　sense　of　warmth　and　faint　excitement；　and　seeing　now
perhaps　the　most　beautiful　girl　he　had　ever　beheld；　he　desired　to　be
with　her　wherever　she　might　be　going。　　There　was　too　something　very
fascinating　in　the　way　she　smiled；　as　if　she　had　a　little　seen
through　his　sentiments。

〃Well　then；〃　she　said；　〃we'd　better　look　for　Ann。〃

After　short　but　vigorous　search　little　Ann　was　foundin　the　car；
instinct　having　told　her　of　a　forward　movement　in　which　it　was　her
duty　to　take　part。　　And　soon　they　had　started；　Ann　between　them　in
that　peculiar　state　of　silence　to　which　she　became　liable　when　really
interested。

》From　the　Monkland　estate；　flowered；　lawned；　and　timbered；　to　the　open
moor；　was　like　passing　to　another　world；　for　no　sooner　was　the　last
lodge　of　the　Western　drive　left　behind；　than　there　came　into　sudden
view　the　most　pagan　bit　of　landscape　in　all　England。　　In　this　wild
parliament…house；　clouds；　rocks；　sun；　and　winds　met　and　consulted。
The　'old'　men；　too；　had　left　their　spirits　among　the　great　stones；
which　lay　couched　like　lions　on　the　hill…tops；　under　the　white
clouds；　and　their　brethren；　the　hunting　buzzard　hawks。　　Here　the　very
rocks　were　restless；　changing　form；　and　sense；　and　colour　from　day　to
day；　as　though　worshipping　the　unexpected；　and　refusing　themselves　to
law。　　The　winds　too　in　their　passage　revolted　against　their　courses；
and　came　tearing　down　wherever　there　were　combes　or　crannies；　so　that
men　in　their　shelters　might　still　learn　the　power　of　the　wild　gods。

The　wonders　of　this　prospect　were　entirely　lost　on　little　Ann；　and
somewhat　so　on　Courtier；　deeply　engaged　in　reconciling　those　two
alien　principles；　courtesy；　and　the　love　of　looking　at　a　pretty　face。
He　was　wondering　too　what　this　girl　of　twenty；　who　had　the　self…
possession　of　a　woman　of　forty；　might　be　thinking。　　It　was　little　Ann
who　broke　the　silence。

〃Auntie　Babs；　it　wasn't　a　very　strong　house；　was　it？〃

Courtier　looked　in　the　direction　of　her　small　finger。　　There　was　the
wreck　of　a　little　house；　which　stood　close　to　a　stone　man　who　had
obviously　possessed　that　hill　before　there　were　men　of　flesh。　　Over
one　corner　of　the　sorry　ruin；　a　single　patch　of　roof　still　clung；　but
the　rest　was　open。

〃He　was　a　silly　man　to　build　it；　wasn't　he；　Ann？　　That's　why　they
call　it　Ashman's　Folly。〃

〃Is　he　alive？〃

〃Not　quiteit's　just　a　hundred　years　ago。〃

〃What　made　him　build　it　here？〃

〃He　hated　women；　andthe　roof　fell　in　on　him。〃

〃Why　did　he　hate　women？〃

〃He　was　a　crank。〃

〃What　is　a　crank？〃

〃Ask　Mr。　Courtier。〃

Under　this　girl's　calm　quizzical　glance；　Courtier　endeavoured　to　find
an　answer　to　that　question。

〃A　crank；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃is　a　man　like　me。〃

He　heard　a　little　laugh；　and　became　acutely　conscious　of　Ann's
dispassionate　examining　eyes。

〃Is　Uncle　Eustace　a　crank？〃

〃You　know　now；　Mr。　Courtier；　what　Ann　thinks　of　you。　　You　think　a
good　deal　of　Uncle　Eustace；　don't　you；　Ann？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ann；　and　fixed　her　eyes　before　her。　　But　Courtier　gazed
sidewaysover　her　hatless　head。

His　exhilaration　was　increasing　every　moment。　　This　girl　reminded　him
of　a　two…year…old　filly　he　had　once　seen；　stepping　out　of　Ascot
paddock　for　her　first　race；　with　the　sun　glistening　on　her　satin
chestnut　skin；　her　neck　held　high；　her　eyes　all　fireas　sure　to　win；
as　that　grass　was　green。　　It　was　difficult　to　believe　her　Miltoun's
sister。　　It　was　difficult　to　believe　any　of　those　four　young　Caradocs
related。　　The　grave　ascetic　Miltoun；　wrapped　in　the　garment　of　his
spirit；　mild；　domestic；　stra