CHAPTERI
Light,enteringthevastroom——aroomsohighthatitscarvedceilingrefuseditselftoexactscrutiny——travelled,withthewistful,coldcuriosityofthedawn,overafantasticstorehouseofTime。Light,unaccompaniedbytheprejudiceofhumaneyes,madestrangerevelationofincongruities,asthoughilluminatingthedispassionatemarchofhistory。
Forinthisdininghall——oneofthefinestinEngland——theCaradocfamilyhadforcenturiesassembledthetrophiesandrecordsoftheirexistence。Roundaboutthisdininghalltheyhadbuiltandpulleddownandrestored,untiltherestofMonklandCourtpresentedsomeaspectofhomogeneity。Herealonetheyhadleftvirgintheworkoftheoldquasi—monasticbuilders,andwithinitunconsciouslydepositedtheirsouls。Fortherewerehere,meetingtheeyesoflight,allthoserathertouchingevidencesofman\'sdesiretopersistforever,thoseshellsofhisformerbodies,thefetishesandqueerproofsofhisfaiths,togetherwiththeremorselessdemonstrationoftheirtreatmentatthehandsofTime。
Theannalistmightherehavefoundallhisneededconfirmations;theanalystfromthismaterialformedthedueequationofhighbirth;thephilosophertracedthecourseofaristocracy,fromitsprimevalriseincrudestrengthorsubtlety,throughcenturiesofpower,topicturesquedecadence,andthebeginningsofitslaststand。Eventheartistmighthere,perchance,haveseizedonthedryineffablepervadingspirit,asonevisitinganoldcathedralseemstoscentouttheconstrictionofitsheart。
>FromthelegendaryswordofthatWelshchieftainwhobyanactofhigh,rewardedtreacheryhadpassedintothefavouroftheconqueringWilliam,andreceived,withthewidowofaNorman,manylandsinDevonshire,totheCuppurchasedforGeoffreyCaradoc;presentEarlofValleys,bysubscriptionofhisDevonshiretenantsontheoccasionofhismarriagewiththeLadyGertrudeSemmering——noinsigniawereabsent,savethefamilyportraitsinthegalleryofValleysHouseinLondon。Therewasevenanancientduplicateofthatyellowtatteredscrollroyally,reconfirminglandsandtitletoJohn,themostdistinguishedofalltheCaradocs,whohadunfortunatelyneglectedtobeborninwedlock,byoneofthosehumorousomissionstobefoundinthegenealogiesofmostoldfamilies。Yes,itwasthere,almostcynicallyhunginacorner;forthisincident,thoughnodoubtaburningquestioninthefifteenthcentury,wasnowbutstapleforanironicallittletale,inviewofthefactthatdescendantsofJohn\'s\'own\'brotherEdmundwereundoubtedlytobefoundamongthecottagersofaparishnotfardistant。
Light,glancingfromthesuitsofarmourtothetigerskinsbeneaththem,broughtfromIndiabutayearagobyBertieCaradoc,theyoungerson,seemedrecording,howthose,whohadoncebeenforemostbyvirtueofthatsimplelawofNaturewhichcrownstheadventuringandstrong,nowbeingalmostwashedasideoutofthemainstreamofnationallife,werecompelledtodeviseadventure,lesttheyshouldlosebeliefintheirownstrength。
Theunsparinglightofthatfirsthalf—hourofsummermorningrecordedmanyotherchanges,wanderingfromausteretapestriestothevelvetycarpets,anddraggingfromthecontrastsureproofofacommonsensewhichdeniedtothepresentEarlandCountesstheasceticismsofthepast。Andthenitseemedtoloseinterestinthiscriticaljourney,asthoughlongingtoclotheallinwitchery。Forthesunhadrisen,andthroughtheEasternwindowscamepouringitslevelandmysteriousjoy。Andwithit,passinginatanopenlattice,cameawildbeetosettleamongtheflowersonthetableathwarttheEasternend,usedwhentherewasonlyasmallpartyinthehouse。Thehoursfledonsilent,tillthesunwashigh,andthefirstvisitorscame——threemaids,rosy,notsilent,bringingbrushes。
Theypassed,andwerefollowedbytwofootmen——scoutsofthebreakfastbrigade,whostoodforamomentprofessionallydoingnothing,thensoberlycommencedtosetthetable。Thencamealittlegirlofsix,toseeiftherewereanythingexciting——littleAnnShropton,childofSirWilliamShroptonbyhismarriagewithLadyAgatha,andeldestdaughterofthehouse,theonlyoneofthefouryoungCaradocsasyetwedded。Shecameontiptoe,thinkingtosurprisewhateverwasthere。Shehadabroadlittleface,andwidefrankhazeleyesoveralittlenosethatcameoutstraightandsudden。Encircledbyaloosebeltplacedfarbelowthewaistofherhollandfrock,asiftosymbolizefreedom,sheseemedtothinkeverythinginlifegoodfun。Andsoonshefoundtheexcitingthing。
\"Here\'sabumblebee,William。DoyouthinkIcouldtameitinmylittleglassbog？\"
\"No,Idon\'t,MissAnn;andlookout,you\'llbestung！\"
\"Itwouldn\'tstingme。\"
\"Whynot？\"
\"Becauseitwouldn\'t。\"
\"Ofcourse——ifyousayso————\"
\"Whattimeisthemotorordered？\"
\"Nineo\'clock。\"
\"I\'mgoingwithGrandpapaasfarasthegate。\"
\"Supposehesaysyou\'renot？\"
\"Well,thenIshallgoallthesame。\"
\"Isee。\"
\"ImightgoallthewaywithhimtoLondon！IsAuntieBabsgoing？\"
\"No,Idon\'tthinkanybodyisgoingwithhislordship。\"
\"Iwould,ifshewere。William！\"
\"Yes。\"
\"IsUncleEustacesuretobeelected？\"
\"Ofcourseheis。\"
\"Doyouthinkhe\'llbeagoodMemberofParliament？\"
\"LordMiltounisveryclever,MissAnn。\"
\"Ishe？\"
\"Well,don\'tyouthinkso？\"
\"DoesCharlesthinkso？\"
\"Askhim。\"
\"William！\"
\"Yes。\"
\"Idon\'tlikeLondon。Ilikehere,andIlikeCotton,andIlikehomeprettywell,andIlovePendridny——and——IlikeRavensham。\"
\"HislordshipisgoingtoRavenshamto—dayonhiswayup,Iheardsay。\"
\"Oh！thenhe\'llseegreat—granny。William————\"
\"Here\'sMissWallace。\"
>Fromthedoorwayaladywithabroadpalepatientfacesaid:
\"Come,Ann。\"
\"Allright！Hallo,Simmons！\"
Theenteringbutlerreplied:
\"Hallo,MissAnn！\"
\"I\'vegottogo。\"
\"I\'msurewe\'reverysorry。\"
\"Yes。\"
Thedoorbangedfaintly,andinthegreatroomrosethebusysilenceofthoseminuteswhichprecederepasts。Suddenlythefourmenbythebreakfastfablestoodback。LordValleyshadcomein。
Heapproachedslowly,readingabluepaper,withhislevelgreyeyesdividedbyalittleuncharacteristicfrown。Hehadatannedyetruddy,decisivelyshapedface,withcrisphairandmoustachebeginningtogoiron—grey——thefaceofamanwhoknowshisownmindandiscontentedwiththatknowledge。Hisfiguretoo,well—bracedandupright,withthebackoftheheadcarriedlikeasoldier\'s,confirmedtheimpression,notsomuchofself—sufficiency,asofthesufficiencyofhishabitsoflifeandthought。Andtherewasapparentaboutallhismovementsthatpeculiarunconsciousnessofhissurroundingswhichcomestothosewholiveagreatdealinthepubliceye,havethematerialmachineryofexistenceplacedexactlytotheirhands,andneverneedtoconsiderwhatothersthinkofthem。Takinghisseat,andstillperusingthepaper,heatoncebegantoeatwhatwasputbeforehim;thennoticingthathiseldestdaughterhadcomeinandwassittingdownbesidehim,hesaid:
\"Borehavingtogoupinsuchweather！\"
\"IsitaCabinetmeeting？\"
\"Yes。Thisconfoundedbusinessoftheballoons。\"ButtheratheranxiousdarkeyesofAgatha\'sdelicatenarrowfaceweretakinginthedetailsofatrayforkeepingdisheswarmonasideboard,andshewasthinking:\"IbelievethatwouldbebetterthantheonesI\'vegot,afterall。IfWilliamwouldonlysaywhetherhereallylikestheselargetraysbetterthansinglehot—waterdishes！\"Shecontrivedhow—
evertoaskinhergentlevoice——forallherwordsandmovementsweregentle,evenalittletimid,tillanythingappearedtothreatenthewelfareofherhusbandorchildren:
\"DoyouthinkthiswarscaregoodforEustace\'sprospects,Father？\"
Butherfatherdidnotanswer;hewasgreetinganew—comer,atall,fine—lookingyoungman,withdarkhairandafairmoustache,betweenwhomandhimselftherewasnorelationship,yetacertainnegativeresemblance。ClaudFresnay,ViscountHarbinger,wasindeedalsoalittleofwhatiscalledthe\'Norman\'type——havingacertainfirmregularityoffeature,andaslightaquilinityofnosehighuponthebridge——butthatwhichintheeldermanseemedtoindicateonlyanunconsciousacceptanceofselfasastandard,intheyoungermangaveanimpressionatoncemoreassertiveandmoreuneasy,asthoughhewerealittleafraidofnotchaffingsomethingallthetime。
Behindhimhadcomeinatallwoman,offullfigureandfinepresence,withhairstillbrown——LadyValleysherself。Thoughhereldestsonwasthirty,shewas,herself,stilllittlemorethanfifty。Fromhervoice,manner,andwholepersonality,onemightsuspectthatshehadbeenanacknowledgedbeauty;buttherewasnowmorethanasuspicionofmaturityaboutheralmostjovialface,withitsfullgrey—blueeyes;andcoarsenedcomplexion。Goodcomrade,andessentially\'womanoftheworld,\'waswrittenoneverylineofher,andineverytoneofhervoice。Shewasindeedafiguresuggestiveofopenairandgenerousliving,endowedwithabundantenergy,andnotdevoidofhumour。ItwasshewhoansweredAgatha\'sremark。
\"Ofcourse,mydear,theverybestthingpossible。\"
LordHarbingerchimedin:
\"Bytheway,Brabrook\'sgoingtospeakonit。Didyoueverhearhim,LadyAgatha？\'Mr。Speaker,Sir,Irise——andwithmerisesthedemocraticprinciple————\'\"
ButAgathaonlysmiled,forshewasthinking:
\"IfIletAnngoasfarasthegate,she\'llonlymakeitastepping—
stonetosomethingelseto—morrow。\"Takingnointerestinpublicaffairs,herinheritedcravingforcommandhadresortedforexpressiontoameticulousorderingofhouseholdmatters。Itwasindeedacultwithher,apassion——asthoughshefeltherselfasortoffigureheadtonationaldomesticity;theleaderofapatrioticmovement。
LordValleys,havingfinishedwhatseemednecessary,arose。
\"Anymessagetoyourmother,Gertrude？\"
\"No,Iwrotelastnight。\"
\"TellMiltountokeep——aneyeonthatMr。Courtier。Iheardhimspeakoneday——he\'srathergood。\"
LadyValleys,whohadnotyetsatdown,accompaniedherhusbandtothedoor。
\"Bytheway,I\'vetoldMotheraboutthiswoman,Geoff。\"
\"Wasitnecessary？\"
\"Well,Ithinkso;I\'muneasy——afterall,MotherhassomeinfluencewithMiltoun。\"
LordValleysshruggedhisshoulders,andslightlysqueezinghiswife\'sarm,wentout。
Thoughhimselfvaguelyuneasyonthatverysubject,hewasamanwhodidnotgotomeetdisturbance。Hehadthenerveswhichseemtobenonervesatall——especiallyfoundinthoseofhisclasswhohavemuchtodowithhorses。Hetemperamentallyregardedtheevilofthedayasquitesufficienttoit。Moreover,hiseldestsonwasariddlethathehadlonggivenup,sofaraswomenwereconcerned。
Emergingintotheouterhall,helingeredamoment,rememberingthathehadnotseenhisyoungerandfavouritedaughter。
\"LadyBarbaradownyet？\"Hearingthatshewasnot,heslippedintothemotorcoatheldforhimbySimmons,andsteppedoutunderthewhiteportico,decoratedbytheCaradochawksinstone。
ThevoiceoflittleAnnreachedhim,clearandhighabovethesmotheredwhirringofthecar。
\"Comeon,Grandpapa！\"
LordValleysgrimacedbeneathhiscrispmoustache——thewordgrandpapaalwaysfellqueerlyontheearsofonewhowasbutfifty—six,andbynomeansfeltit——andjerkinghisglovedhandtowardsAnn,hesaid:
\"Senddowntothelodgegateforthis。\"
ThevoiceoflittleAnnansweredloudly:
\"No;I\'mcomingbackbymyself。\"
Thecarstarting,drowneddiscussion。
LordValleys,motoring,somewhatpatheticallyillustratedtheinvasionofinstitutionsbytheirdestroyer,Science。Asupporteroftheturf,andnotlongsinceMasterofFoxhounds,mostofwhosesoul（outsidepolitics）wasinhorses,hehadbeen,asitwere,compelledbycommonsense,notonlytotolerate,buttotakeupandevenpressforwardthecauseoftheirsupplanters。Hisinstinctofself—
preservationwassecretlyatwork,hurryinghimtohisowndestruction;forcinghimtopersuadehimselfthatscienceandhersuccessivevictoriesoverbrutenaturecouldbewooedintotheserviceofaprestigewhichrestedonacrystallizedandstationarybase。Allthiskeepingpacewiththetimes,thisimmersionintheresultsofmoderndiscoveries,thisspeeding—upofexistencesothatitwasallsurfaceandlittleroot——theincreasingvolatility,cosmopolitanism,andevencommercialismofhislife,onwhichheratherpridedhimselfasamanoftheworld——was,withasecrecytoodeepforhisperception,cuttingatthealoofnesslogicallydemandedofoneinhisposition。Stubborn,andnotspirituallysubtle,thoughbynomeansdullinpracticalmatters,hewasresolutelylettingthewatersbearhimon,holdingthetillerfirmly,withoutperceivingthathewasinthevortexofawhirlpool。Indeed,hiscommonsensecontinuallyimpelledhim,againstthesortofreactionaryismofwhichhissonMiltounhadsomuch,tothateasierreactionaryism,which,livingonitsspiritualcapital,makeswhatmaterialcapitalitcanoutofitsenemy,Progress。
Hedrovethecarhimself,shrewdandself—contained,sittingeasily,withhiscapwelldrawnoverthosesteadyeyes;andthoughthisunexpectedmeetingoftheCabinetintheWhitsuntiderecesswasnotonlyanuisance,butgavefoodforanxiety,hewasfullyabletoenjoytheswiftsmoothmovementthroughthesummerair,whichmethimwithsuchfriendlysweetnessunderthegreattreesofthelongavenue。Besidehim,littleAnnwassilent,withherlegsstuckoutratherwideapart。Motoringwasanewexcitement,forathomeitwasforbidden;andameditativeraptureshoneinherwideeyesabovehersuddenlittlenose。Onlyonceshespoke,whenclosetothelodgethecarsloweddown,andtheypassedthelodge—keeper\'slittledaughter。
\"Hallo,Susie！\"
Therewasnoanswer,butthelookonSusie\'ssmallpalefacewassohumbleandadoringthatLordValleys,notaveryobservantman,noticeditwithasortofsatisfaction。\"Yes,\"hethought,somewhatirrelevantly,\"thecountryissoundatheart！\"
CHAPTERII
AtRavenshamHouseonthebordersofRichmondPark,suburbanseatoftheCasterleyfamily,eversinceitbecameusualtohavearesidencewithineasydrivingdistanceofWestminster——inalargeconservatoryadjoiningthehall,LadyCasterleystoodinfrontofsomeJapaneselilies。Shewasaslender,shortoldwoman,withanivory—colouredface,athinnose,andkeeneyeshalf—veiledbydelicatewrinkledlids。Verystill,inhergreydress,andwithgreyhair,shegavetheimpressionofalittlefigurecarvedoutoffine,wornsteel。
Herfirm,spideryhandheldaletterwritteninfreesomewhatsprawlingstyle:
MONKLANDCOURT,\"DEVON。
\"MYDEAR,MOTHER,\"Geoffreyismotoringupto—morrow。He\'lllookinonyouonthewayifhecan。Thisnewwarscarehastakenhimup。Ishan\'tbeinTownmyselftillMiltoun\'selectionisover。Thefactis,Idaren\'tleavehimdownherealone。Heseeshis\'Anonyma\'everyday。ThatMr。
Courtier,whowrotethebookagainstWar——rathercoolforamanwho\'sbeenasoldieroffortune,don\'tyouthink？——isstayingattheinn,workingfortheRadical。Heknowsher,too——and,onecanonlyhope,forMiltoun\'ssake,toowell——anattractiveperson,withredmoustaches,ratherniceandmad。Bertiehasjustcomedown;ImustgethimtohaveatalkwithMiltoun,andseeifhecantfindouthowthelandlies。OnecantrustBertie——he\'sreallyveryastute。I
mustsay,thatshe\'squiteasweet—lookingwoman;butabsolutelynothing\'sknownofherhereexceptthatshedivorcedherhusband。
Howdoesonefindoutaboutpeople？Miltoun\'sbeingsoextraordinarilystrait—lacedmakesitallthemoreawkward。Theearnestnessofthisrisinggenerationismostremarkable。Idon\'tremembertakingsuchaseriousviewoflifeinmyyouth。\"
LadyCasterleyloweredthecoronettedsheetofpaper。Theghostofagrimacehauntedherface——shehadnotforgottenherdaughter\'syouth。
Raisingtheletteragain,shereadon:
\"I\'msureGeoffreyandIfeelyearsyoungerthaneitherMiltounorAgatha,thoughwedidproducethem。Onedoesn\'tfeelitwithBertieorBabs,luckily。ThewarscareishavinganexcellenteffectonMiltoun\'scandidature。ClaudHarbingeriswithus,too,workingforMiltoun;but,asamatteroffact,Ithinkhe\'safterBabs。It\'srathermelancholy,whenyouthinkthatBabsisn\'tquitetwenty——
still,onecan\'texpectanythingelse,Isuppose,withherlooks;andClaudisratherafinespecimen。Theytalkofhimalotnow;he\'squitecomingtotheforeamongtheyoungTories。\"
LadyCasterleyagainloweredtheletter,andstoodlistening。A
prolonged,muffledsoundasofdistantcheeringandgroanshadpenetratedthegreatconservatory,vibratingamongthepalepetalsoftheliliesandsettingfreetheirscentinshortwavesofperfume。
Shepassedintothehall;where,stoodanoldmanwithsallowfaceandlongwhitewhiskers。
\"Whatwasthatnoise,Clifton？\"
\"AposseofSocialists,mylady,ontheirwaytoPutneytoholdademonstration;thepeoplearehootingthem。They\'vegotblockedjustoutsidethegates。\"
\"Aretheymakingspeeches？\"
\"Theyaretalkingsomekindofrant,mylady。\"
\"I\'llgoandhearthem。Givememyblackstick。\"
Abovethevelvet—dark,flat—toughedcedartrees,whichroselikepagodasofebonyoneithersideofthedrive,theskyhungloweringinonegreatpurplecloud,endowedwithsinisterlifebyasinglewhitebeamstrikingupintoitfromthehorizon。Beneaththiscanopyofcloudasmallphalanxofdusty,dishevelled—lookingmenandwomenweredrawnupintheroad,guarding,andencouragingwithcheers,atall,black—coatedorator。Beforeandbehindthisphalanx,alittlemobofmenandboyskeptupanaccompanimentofgroansandjeering。
LadyCasterleyandher\'major—domo\'stoodsixpacesinsidethescrolledirongates,andwatched。Theslight,steel—colouredfigurewithsteel—colouredhair,wasmorearrestinginitsimmobilitythanallthevociferationsandgesturesofthemob。Hereyesalonemovedundertheirhalf—droopedlids;herrighthandclutchedtightlythehandleofherstick。Thespeaker\'svoiceroseinshrillprotestagainsttheexploitationof\'thepeople\';itsankinironicalcommentonChristianity;itdemandedpassionatelytobefreefromthecontinuousburdenof\'thisinsensatemilitaristtaxation\';itthreatenedthatthepeoplewouldtakethingsinfotheirownhands。
LadyCasterleyturnedherhead:
\"Heistalkingnonsense,Clifton。Itisgoingtorain。Ishallgoin。\"
Underthestoneporchshepaused。Thepurplecloudhadbroken;ablindfuryofrainwasdelugingthefast—scatteringcrowd。AfaintsmilecameonLadyCasterley\'slips。
\"Itwilldothemgoodtohavetheirardourdampedalittle。Youwillgetwet,Clifton——hurry！IexpectLordValleystodinner。Havearoomgotreadyforhimtodress。He\'smotoringfromMonkland。\"
CHAPTERIII
Inaveryhigh,white—pannelledroom,withbutlittlefurniture,LordValleysgreetedhismother—in—lawrespectfully。
\"Motoredupinninehours,Ma\'am——notbadgoing。\"
\"Iamgladyoucame。WhenisMiltoun\'selection？\"
\"Onthetwenty—ninth。\"
\"Pity！HeshouldbeawayfromMonkland,withthat——anonymouswomanlivingthere。\"
\"Ah！yes;you\'veheardofher！\"
LadyCasterleyrepliedsharply:
\"You\'retooeasy—going,Geoffrey。\"
LordValleyssmiled。
\"Thesewarscares,\"hesaid,\"aregettingabore。Can\'tquitemakeoutwhatthefeelingofthecountryisaboutthem。\"
LadyCasterleyrose:
\"Ithasnone。Whenwarcomes,thefeelingwillbeallright。Italwaysis。Givemeyourarm。Areyouhungry？\"……
WhenLordValleysspokeofwar,hespokeasonewho,sincehearrivedatyearsofdiscretion,hadlivedwithinthecircleofthosewhodirectthedestiniesofStates。Itwasforhim——asfortheliliesinthegreatglasshouse——impossibletoseewiththeeyes,orfeelwiththefeelingsofaflowerofthegardenoutside。Soakedinthebestprejudicesandmannersofhisclass,helivedalifenomoreshutofffromthegeneralthanwastobeexpected。Indeed,insomesort,asamanoffactsandcommonsense,hewasfairlyintouchwiththeopinionoftheaveragecitizen。Hewasquitegenuinewhenhesaidthathebelievedheknewwhatthepeoplewantedbetterthanthosewhopratedonthesubject;andnodoubthewasright,fortemperamentallyhewasnearertothemthantheirownleaders,thoughhewouldnotperhapshavelikedtobetoldso。Hisman—of—the—world,politicalshrewdnesshadbeensuperimposedbylifeonanaturewhoseprimestrengthwasitspracticalityandlackofimagination。Itwashisbusinesstobeefficient,butnotstrenuous,ordesirousofpushingideastotheirlogicalconclusions;tobeneithernarrownorpuritanical,solongastheshellof\'goodform\'waspreservedintact;tobealiberallandlorduptothepointofnotseriouslydamaginghisinterests;tobewell—disposedtowardstheartsuntilthoseartsrevealedthatwhichhehadnotbeforeperceived;itwashisbusinesstohavelighthands,steadyeyes,ironnerves,andthoseexcellentmannersthathavenomannerisms。Itwashisnaturetobeeasy—goingasahusband;indulgentasafather;carefulandstraightforwardasapolitician;andasaman,addictedtopleasure,towork,andtofreshair。Headmired,andwasfondofhiswife,andhadneverregrettedhismarriage。Hehadneverperhapsregrettedanything,unlessitwerethathehadnotyetwontheDerby,orquitesucceededingettinghisspecialstrainofblue—tickedpointerstobreedabsolutelytruetotype。Hismother—in—lawherespected,asonemightrespectaprinciple。
Therewasindeedinthepersonalityofthatlittleoldladythetremendousforceofaccumulateddecision——theinheritedassuranceofonewhoseprestigehadneverbeenquestioned;who,fromlongimmunity,andacertainclear—cutmatter—of—factness,bredbythehabitofcommand,hadindeedlostthepowerofperceivingthatherprestigeevercouldbequestioned。Herknowledgeofherownmindwasnoordinarypieceoflearning,hadnot,infact,beenlearnedatall,butsprangfull—fledgedfromanactivedominatingtemperament。
Fortifiedbythenecessity,commontoherclass,ofknowingthoroughlythemorepatentsideofpublicaffairs;armouredbythetraditionofaculturedemandedbyleadership;inspiredbyideas,butalwaysthesameideas;owningnomaster,butinservitudetoherowncustomofleading,shehadamind,formidableasthetwo—edgedswordswieldedbyherancestorstheFitz—Harolds,atAgincourtorPoitiers——
amindwhichhadeverinstinctivelyrejectedthatinnerknowledgeofherselforoftheselvesofothers;producedbythosefoolishpracticesofintrospection,contemplation,andunderstanding,sodeleterioustoauthority。IfLordValleyswasthebodyofthearistocraticmachine,LadyCasterleywasthesteelspringinsideit。
Allherlifestudiouslyunaffectedandsimpleinattire;ofplainandfrugalhabit;anearlyriser;workingatsomethingorotherfrommorningtillnight,andaslittleworn—outatseventy—eightasmostwomenoffifty,shehadonlyoneweakspot——andthatwasherstrength——blindnessastothenatureandsizeofherplaceintheschemeofthings。Shewasatype,aforce。
Wonderfullywellshewentwiththeroominwhichtheyweredining,whosegreywalls,surmountedbyadeepfriezepaintedsomewhatinthestyleofFragonard,containedmanynymphsandrosesnowratherdim;
withthefurniture,too,whichhadalookofhavingsurvivedintotimesnotitsown。Onthetableswerenoflowers,savefiveliliesinanoldsilverchalice;andonthewalloverthegreatsideboardaportraitofthelateLordCasterley。
Shespoke:
\"IhopeMiltounistakinghisownline？\"
\"That\'sthetrouble。Hesuffersfromswollenprinciples——onlywishhecouldkeepthemoutofhisspeeches。\"
\"Lethimbe;andgethimawayfromthatwomanassoonashiselection\'sover。Whatisherrealname？\"
\"Mrs。somethingLeesNoel。\"
\"Howlonghasshebeenthere？\"
\"Aboutayear,Ithink。\"
\"Andyoudon\'tknowanythingabouther？\"
LordValleysraisedhisshoulders。
\"Ah！\"saidLadyCasterley;\"exactly！You\'relettingthethingdrift。
Ishallgodownmyself。IsupposeGertrudecanhaveme？WhathasthatMr。Courtiertodowiththisgoodlady？\"
LordValleyssmiled。Inthissmilewasthewholeofhispoliteandeasy—goingphilosophy。\"Iamnomeddler,\"itseemedtosay;andatsightofthatsmileLadyCasterleytightenedherlips。
\"Heisafirebrand,\"shesaid。\"IreadthatbookofhisagainstWar—
—mostinflammatory。AimedatGrant—andRosenstern,chiefly。I\'vejustseen,oneoftheresults,outsidemyowngates。Amobofanti—
Waragitators。\"
LordValleyscontrolledayawn。
\"Really？I\'dnoideaCourtierhadanyinfluence。\"
\"Heisdangerous。Mostidealistsarenegligible—hisbookwasclever。\"
\"Iwishtogoodnesswecouldseethelastofthesescares,theyonlymakebothcountrieslookfoolish,\"mutteredLordValleys。
LadyCasterleyraisedherglass,fullofabloodyredwine。\"Thewarwouldsaveus,\"shesaid。
\"Warisnojoke。\"
\"Itwouldbethebeginningofabetterstateofthings。\"
\"Youthinkso？\"
\"Weshouldgettheleadagainasanation,andDemocracywouldbeputbackfiftyyears。\"
LordValleysmadethreelittleheapsofsalt,andpausedtocountthem;then,withaslightupliftingofhiseyebrows,whichseemedtodoubtwhathewasgoingtosay,hemurmured:\"Ishouldhavesaidthatwewerealldemocratsnowadays……Whatisit,Clifton？\"
\"Yourchauffeurwouldliketoknow,whattimeyouwillhavethecar？\"
\"Directlyafterdinner。\"
Twentyminuteslater,hewasturningthroughthescrolledirongatesintotheroadforLondon。Itwasfallingdark;andinthetremulousskycloudswerepiledup,anddriftedhereandtherewithasortofendlesslackofpurpose。Nodirectionseemedtohavebeendecreeduntotheirwings。Theyhadmettogetherinthefirmamentlikeaflockofgiantmagpiescrossingandre—crossingeachothers\'flight。