Hallo,Susie！\"
Courtiersawherslideaway,andjointhelittlepaleadoringfigureofthelodge—keeper\'sdaughter。
Thecarpassedoutintothelane。
IfLadyCasterleyhadplannedthisdisclosure,whichindeedshehadnot,fortheimpulsehadonlycomeoverheratthesoundofCourtier\'slaugh,shecouldnothave,devisedonemoreeffectual,fortherewasdeepdowninhimallawanderer\'sveryrealdistrust,,amountingalmosttocontempt,ofpeoplesosettledanddonefor;asaristocratsorbourgeois,andallamanofaction\'shorrorofwhathecalledpukingandmuling。ThepursuitofBarbarawithanyotherobjectbutthatofmarriagehadnaturallynotoccurredtoonewhohadlittlesenseofconventionalmorality,butmuchself—respect;andasecretendeavourtocutoutHarbinger,endinginamarriagewhereathewouldfigureasasortofpirate,wasquiteaslittletothetasteofamannotunaccustomedtothinkhimselfasgoodasotherpeople。
HecausedthecartodeviateupthelanethatledtoAudreyNoel\'s,hatingtogoawaywithoutahailofcheertothatshipindistress。
Shecameouttohimontheverandah。Fromtheclaspofherhand,thinandfaintlybrowned——thehandofawomanneverquiteidle——hefeltthatshereliedonhimtounderstandandsympathize;andnothingsoawakenedthebestinCourtierassuchmuteappealstohisprotection。Hesaidgently:
\"Don\'tletthemthinkyou\'redown;\"and,squeezingherhandhard:
\"Whyshouldyoubewastedlikethis？It\'sasinandshame！\"
Buthestoppedinwhathefelttobeanunluckyspeechatsightofherface,whichwithoutmovementexpressedsomuchmorethanhiswords。Hewasprotestingasacivilizedman;herfacewastheprotestofNature,thesoundlessdeclarationofbeautywastedagainstitswill,beautythatwaslife\'sinvitationtotheembracewhichgavelifebirth。
\"I\'mclearingout,myself,\"hesaid:\"YouandI,youknow,arenotgoodforthesepeople。Nobirdsoffreedomallowed！\"
Pressinghishand,sheturnedawayintothehouse,leavingCourtiergazingatthepatchofairwhereherwhitefigurehadstood。HehadalwayshadaspecialprotectivefeelingforAudreyNoel,afeelingwhichwithbutlittleencouragementmighthavebecomesomethingwarmer。Butsinceshehadbeenplacedinheranomalousposition,hewouldnotfortheworldhavebrushedthedewoffherbeliefthatshecouldtrusthim。And,nowthathehadfixedhisowngazeelsewhere,andshewasinthisbittertrouble,hefeltonheraccounttherancourthatabrotherfeelswhenJusticeandPityhaveconspiredtoflouthissister。ThevoiceofFriththechauffeurrousedhimfromgloomyreverie。
\"LadyBarbara,sir！\"
Followingtheman\'seyes,Courtiersawagainstthesky—lineontheforaboveAshman\'sFolly,anequestrianstatue。Hestoppedthecaratonce,andgotout。
Hereachedherattheruin,screenedfromtheroad,bythatdivinechancewhichattendsonmenwhotakecarethatitshall。Hecouldnottellwhethersheknewofhisapproach,andhewouldhavegivenallhehad,whichwasnotmuch,tohaveseenthroughthestiffgreyofhercoat,andthesoftcreamofherbody,intothatmysteriouscave,herheart。Tohavebeenforamoment,likeAshman,doneforgoodandallwithmaterialthings,andlivingthewhitelifewherearenobarriersbetweenmanandwoman。Thesmileonherlipssobaffledhim,puffedtherebyherspirit,asafirstflowerispuffedthroughthesurfaceofearthtomockatthespringwinds。Howtellwhatitsignified！Yetheratherpridedhimselfonhisknowledgeofwomen,ofwhomhehadseensomething。Butallhefoundtosaywas:
\"I\'mgladofthischance。\"
Thensuddenlylookingup,hefoundherstrangelypaleandquivering。
\"IshallseeyouinLondon！\"shesaid;and,touchingherhorsewithherwhip,withoutlookingback,sherodeawayoverthehill。
Courtierreturnedtothemoorroad,andgettingintothecar,muttered:
\"Faster,please,Frith！\"……
CHAPTERXXII
PollingwasalreadyinbriskprogresswhenCourtierarrivedinBucklandbury;andpartlyfromanotunnaturalinterestintheresult,partlyfromahalf—unconsciousclingingtothechanceofcatchinganotherglimpseofBarbara,hetookhisbagtothehotel,determinedtostayfortheannouncementofthepoll。StrollingoutintotheHighStreethebeganobservingthehumoursoftheday。Thebloomofpoliticalbeliefhadlongbeenbrushedoffthewingsofonewhohadsoflowntheworld\'swinds。Hehadseentoomuchofmorevividcolourstobecapablenowofveneratinggreatlythedullanddubioustintsofblueandyellow。Theylefthimfeelingextremelyphilosophic。Yetitwasimpossibletogetawayfromthem,fortheveryworldthatdayseemedblueandyellow,nordidthethirdcolourofredadoptedbybothsidesaffordanyclearassurancethateithercouldseevirtueintheother;rather,itseemedtosymbolizethedesireofeachtohavehisenemy\'sblood。ButCourtiersoonobservedbythelookscastathisowndetached,andperhapssarcastic,face,thatevenmorehatefultoeithersidethanitsantagonist,wasthephilosophiceye。Unanimouswasthelongingtoheavehalfabrickatitwheneveritshoweditself。Withitsd———dimpartiality,itshabitoflookingthroughtheintegumentofthingstoseeiftheremightbeanythinginside,hefeltthattheyregardeditastherealadversary—
—theeternalfoetoallthelittlefat\'facts,\'who,dressedupinblueandyellow,wereswaggeringandstaggering,callingeachothernames,wipingeachother\'seyes,bloodingeachother\'snoses。Totheselittlesolemndeliciouscreatures,allfrontandnobehind,thephilosophiceye,withitshabitoflookingroundthecorner,wasclearlydetestable。Theveryyellowandverybluebodiesoftheseroisteringsmallwarriorswiththeirhandsontheirtinswordsandtheirlipsontheirtintrumpets,startedupineverywindowandoneverywallconfrontingeachcitizeninturn,persuadinghimthattheyandtheyaloneweretakinghimtoWestminster。Norhadtheyapparentlyforthemostpartmuchtroublewithelectors,who,findinguncertaintydistasteful,passionatelydesiredtobeassuredthatthecountrycouldatoncebesavedbylittleyellowfactsorlittlebluefacts,asthecasemightbe;whohad,nodoubt,adozenothergoodreasonsforbeingontheonesideortheother;as,forinstance,thattheirfatherhadbeensobeforethem;thattheirbreadwasbutteredyelloworbutteredblue;thattheyhadbeenontheothersidelasttime;thattheyhadthoughtitoverandmadeuptheirminds;thattheyhadinnocentblueornaiveyellowbeerwithin;thathislordshipwastheman;orthatthewordspropertotheirmouthswere\'ChilcoxforBucklandbury\';and,aboveall,theonereallycreditablereason,that,sofarastheycouldtellwiththebestoftheirintellectandfeelings,thetruthatthemomentwaseitherblueoryellow。
Thenarrowhighstreetwasthrongedwithvoters。Tallpolicemenstationedtherehadnothingtodo。Thecertaintyofall,thattheyweregoingtowin,seemedtokeepeveryoneingoodhumour。Therewasasyetnoneedtobreakanyone\'shead,forthoughthesharpestlookoutwaskeptforanysignsofthephilosophiceye,itwasonlytobefound——outsideCourtier——intheperambulatorsofbabies,inoneoldmanwhorodeabicyclewaveringlyalongthestreetandstoppedtoaskapolicemanwhatwasthematterinthetown,andintworathergreen—facedfellowswhotrundledbarrowsfulloffavoursbothblueandyellow。
ButthoughCourtiereyedthe\'facts\'withsuchsuspicion,thekeennessofeveryoneaboutthebusinessstruckhimasreallysplendid。Theywentatitwithawill。Havinglookedforwardtoitformonths,theyweregoingtolookbackonitformonths。Itwasevidentlyareligiousceremony,summingupmosthighfeelings;andthisseemedtoonewhowashimselfamanofaction,natural,perhapspathetic,butcertainlynomatterforscorn。
Itwasalreadylateintheafternoonwhentherecamedebouchingintothehighstreetalongstringofsandwichmen,eachbearingbeforeandbehindhimapostercontainingthesewordsbeautifullysituatedinlargedarkbluelettersagainstapaleblueground:
\"NEWCOMPLICATIONS。
DANGERNOTPAST。
VOTEFORMILTOUNANDTHEGOVERNMENT,ANDSAVETHEEMPIRE。\"
Courtierstoppedtolookatthemwithpeculiarindignation。NotonlydidthispostertrampinagainonhischerishedconvictionsaboutPeace,buthesawinitsomethingmorethanmettheunphilosophiceye。Itsymbolizedforhimallthatwascatch—pennyinthenationallife—anepitaphonthegraveofgenerosity,unutterablysad。YetfromaPartypointofviewwhatcouldbemorejustifiable？Wasitnotdesperatelyimportantthateverybluenerveshouldbestrainedthatdaytoturnyellownerves,ifnotblue,atalleventsgreen,beforenightfell？WasitnotperfectlytruethattheEmpirecouldonlybesavedbyvotingblue？Couldtheyhelpabluepaperprintingthewords,\'Newcomplications,\'whichhehadreadthatmorning？Nomorethantheyellowscouldhelpayellowjournalprintingthewords\'LordMiltoun\'sEveningAdventure。\'Theironlybusinesswastowin,everfightingfair。Theyellowshadnotfoughtfair,theyneverdid,andoneoftheirmostunfairtacticswasthewaytheyhadofalwaysaccusingthebluesofunfairfighting,anaccusationtrulyludicrous！
Asfortruth！Thatwhichhelpedtheworldtobeblue,wasobviouslytrue;thatwhichdidn\'t,asobviouslynot。Therewasnomiddlepolicy！Themanwhosawthingsneitherwasasofty,andnopropercitizen。Andasforgivingtheyellowscreditforsincerity——theyellowsnevergavethemcredit！ButthoughCourtierknewallthat,thisposterseemedtohimparticularlydamnable,andhecouldnotforthelifeofhimresiststrikingoneofthesandwich—boardswithhiscane。Theresoundingthwackstartledabutcher\'sponystandingbythepavement。Itreared,andboltedforward,withCourtier,whohadnaturallyseizedtherein,hangingon。Adogdashedpast。Courtiertrippedandfell。Thepony,passingover,struckhimontheheadwithahoof。Foramomenthelostconsciousness;thencomingtohimself,refusedassistance,andwenttohishotel。Hefeltverygiddy,and,afterbandaginganastycut,laydownonhisbed。
Miltoun,returningfromthatnecessaryexhibitionofhimself,thecrowningfact,ateverypollingcentre,foundtimetogoandseehim。
\"Thatlastposterofyours！\"Courtierbegan,atonce。
\"I\'mhavingitwithdrawn。\"
\"It\'sdonethetrick——congratulations——you\'llgetin！\"
\"Iknewnothingofit。\"
\"Mydearfellow,Ididn\'tsupposeyoudid。\"
\"Whenthereisadesert,Courtier,betweenamanandthesacredcity,hedoesn\'trenouncehisjourneybecausehehastowashindirtywaterontheway:Themob——howIloatheit！\"
Therewassuchpent—upfuryinthosewordsastoastonishevenonewhoselifehadbeenpassedinconflictwithmajorities。
\"Ihateitsmeanstupidities,Ihatethesoundofitsvoice,andthelookonitsface——it\'ssougly,it\'ssolittle。Courtier,IsufferpurgatoryfromthethoughtthatIshallscrapeinbythevotesofthemob。ThereissininusingthiscreatureandIamexpiatingit。\"
Tothisstrangeoutburst,Courtieratfirstmadenoreply。
\"You\'vebeenworkingtoohard,\"hesaidatlast,\"you\'reoffyourbalance。Afterall,themob\'smadeupofmenlikeyouandme。\"
\"No,Courtier,themobisnotmadeupofmenlikeyouandme。Ifitwereitwouldnotbethemob。\"
\"Itlooks,\"Courtieransweredgravely,\"asifyouhadnobusinessinthisgalley。I\'vealwayssteeredclearofitmyself。\"
\"Youfollowyourfeelings。Ihavenotthathappiness。\"
Sosaying,Miltounturnedtothedoor。
Courtier\'svoicepursuedhimearnestly。
\"Dropyourpolitics——ifyoufeellikethisaboutthem;don\'twasteyourlifefollowingwhateveritisyoufollow;don\'twastehers！\"
ButMiltoundidnotanswer。
Itwasawondrousstillnight,when,afewminutesbeforetwelve,withhisforeheadbandagedunderhishat,thechampionoflostcausesleftthehotelandmadehiswaytowardstheGrammarSchoolforthedeclarationofthepoll。Asoundasofsomemonsterbreathingguidedhim,till,fromasteepemptystreethecameinsightofasurgingcrowd,spreadoverthetownsquare,likeadarkcarpetpatternedbysplashesoflamplight。Highupabovethatcrowd,onthelittlepeakedtoweroftheGrammarSchool,abrightlylightedclockfacepresided;andoverthepassionatehopesinthosethousandsofheartsknittogetherbysuspensetheskyhadlifted;andshowednocloudbetweenthemandthepurplefieldsofair。ToCourtierdescendingtowardsthesquare,theswayingwhitefaces,turnedalloneway,seemedliketheheadsofgiantwildflowersinadarkfield,shiveredbywind。Thenighthadcharmedawaytheblueandyellowfacts,andbreatheddownintothatthrongthespiritofemotion。Andherealizedallatoncethebeautyandmeaningofthisscene——expressionofthequiveringforces,whoseperpetualflux,controlledbytheSpiritofBalance,wasthesouloftheworld。Thousandsofheartswiththethoughtofselflostinoneover—masteringexcitement！
Anoldmanwithalonggreybeard,standingclosetohiselbow,murmured:
\"\'Tisanxiouswork——Iwouldn\'tha\'missedthisforanythingintheworld。\"
\"Fine,eh？\"answeredCourtier。
\"Aye,\"saidtheoldman,\"\'tisfine。I\'venotseenthelikeo\'thissincethegreatyear——forty—eight。Theretheyare——thearistocrats！\"
FollowingthedirectionofthatskinnyhandCourtiersawonabalconyLordandLadyValleys,sidebyside,lookingsteadilydownatthecrowd。Theretoo,leaningagainstawindowandtalkingtosomeonebehind,wasBarbara。Theoldmanwentonmuttering,andCourtiercouldseethathiseyeshadgrownverybright,hiswholefacetransfiguredbyintensehostility;hefeltdrawntothisoldcreature,thusmovedtotheverysoul。ThenhesawBarbaralookingdownathim,withherhandraisedtohertempletoshowthatshesawhisbandagedhead。Hehadthepresenceofmindnottolifthishat。
Theoldmanspokeagain。
\"Youwouldn\'trememberforty—eight,Isuppose。Therewasafeelinginthepeoplethen——wewouldha\'diedforthingsinthosedays。I\'meighty—four,\"andheheldhisshakinghanduptohisbreast,\"butthespirit\'salivehereyet！GodsendtheRadicalgetsin！\"Therewaswaftedfromhimascentasofpotatoes。
Farbehind,attheveryedgeofthevastdarkthrong,somevoicesbegansinging:\"WaydownupontheSwaneeribber。\"Thetunefloatedforth,ceased,spurteduponcemore,anddied。
Then,intheverycentreofthesquareastentorianbaritoneroaredforth:\"Shouldauldacquaintancebeforgot！\"
Thesongswelled,tilleverykindofvoice,fromtrebletotheoldChartist\'squaveringbass,waschantingit;hereandtherethecrowdheavedwiththemovementoflinkedarms。Courtierfoundthesoftfingersofayoungwomaninhisrighthand,theoldChartist\'sdrytremblingpawinhisleft。Hehimselfsangloudly。Thegraveandfearfulmusicsprangstraightupintotheyair,rolledoutrightandleft,andwaslostamongthehills。Butithadnosoonerdiedawaythanthesamehugebaritoneyelled\"GodsaveourgraciousKing！\"Thestatureofthecrowdseemedatoncetoleapuptwofeet,andfromunderthatplatformofraisedhatsroseastupendousshouting。
\"This,\"thoughtCourtier,\"isreligion！\"
Theyweresingingevenonthebalconies;bythelamplighthecouldseeLordValleysmouthnotopenedquiteenough,asthoughhisvoicewerejustalittleashamedofcomingout,andBarbarawithherheadflungbackagainstthepillar,pouringoutherheart。Nomouthinallthecrowdwassilent。ItwasasthoughthesouloftheEnglishpeoplewereescapingfromitsdungeonofreserve,onthepinionsofthatchant。
Butsuddenly,likeashotbirdclosingwings,thesongfellsilentanddivedheadlongbacktoearth。Outfromundertheclock—facehadmovedathindarkfigure。Morefigurescamebehind。CourtiercouldseeMiltoun。Avoicefarawaycried:\"Up;Chilcox！\"Ahuge:
\"Husill\"followed;thensuchasilence,thatthesoundofanengineshuntingamileawaycouldbeheardplainly。
Thedarkfiguremovedforward,andatinysquareofpapergleamedoutwhiteagainsttheblackofhisfrock—coat。
\"Ladiesandgentlemen。ResultofthePoll:
MiltounFourthousandeighthundredandninety—eight。ChilcoxFourthousandeighthundredandtwo。\"
Thesilenceseemedtofalltoearth,andbreakintoathousandpieces。Throughthepandemoniumofcheersandgroaning,Courtierwithallhisstrengthforcedhimselftowardsthebalcony。HecouldseeLordValleysleaningforwardwithabroadsmile;LadyValleyspassingherhandacrosshereyes;BarbarawithherhandinHarbinger\'s,lookingstraightintohisface。Hestopped。TheoldChartistwasstillbesidehim,tearsrollingdownhischeeksintohisbeard。
CourtiersawMiltouncomeforward,andstand,unsmiling,deathlypale。
PARTII
CHAPTERI
Atthreeo\'clockintheafternoonofthenineteenthofJulylittleAnnShroptoncommencedtheascentofthemainstaircaseofValleysHouse,London。Sheclimbedslowly,intheverymiddle,anextremelysmallwhitefigureonthosewideandshiningstairs,countingthemaloud。Theirnumberwasneveraliketwodaysrunning,whichmadethemattractivetooneforwhomnoveltywasthesaltoflife。
Comingtothatspotwheretheybranched,shepausedtoconsiderwhichofthetwoflightsshehadusedlast,andunabletoremember,satdown。Shewasthebearerofamessage。Ithadbeennewwhenshestarted,butwasalreadycomparativelyold,andlikelytobecomeolder,inviewofadesignnowconceivedbyheroftravellingthewholelengthofthepicturegallery。Andwhileshesatmaturingthisplan,sunlightfloodingthroughalargewindowdroveawhiterefulgencedownintotheheartofthewidepolishedspaceofwoodandmarble,whenceshehadcome。ThenatureoflittleAnnhabituallyrejectedfairiesandallfantasticthings,findingthemquitetoomuchintheair,anddevoidofsufficientrealityand\'go\';andthisrefulgence,almostunearthlyinitstravellingglory,passedoverhersmallheadandplayedstrangelywiththepillarsinthehall,withoutexcitinginheranyfanciesoranysentiment。Theintentionofdiscoveringwhatwasattheendofthepicturegalleryabsorbedthewholeofheressentiallypracticalandactivemind。Decidingontheleft—handflightofstairs,sheenteredthatimmenselylong,narrow,and——withblindsdrawn——ratherdarksaloon。Shewalkedcarefully,becausethefloorwasveryslipperyhere,andwithakindofseriousnessduepartlytothedarknessandpartlytothepictures。
Theywereindeed,inthislight,ratherformidable,thoseoldCaradocsblack,armouredcreatures,someofthem,whoseemedtoeyewithasortofburning,grim,defensivegreedthesmallwhitefigureoftheirdescendantpassingalongbetweenthem。ButlittleAnn,whoknewtheywereonlypictures,maintainedhercoursesteadily,andeverynowandthen,asshepassedonewhoseemedtoherratheruglierthantheothers,wrinkledhersuddenlittlenose。Attheend,asshehadthought;appearedadoor。Sheopenedit,andpassedontoalanding。Therewasastonestaircaseinthecorner,andthereweretwodoors。Itwouldbenicetogoupthestaircase,butitwouldalsobenicetoopenthedoors。Goingtowardsthefirstdoor,withalittlethrill,sheturnedthehandle。Itwasoneofthoserooms,necessaryinhouses,forwhichshehadnogreatliking;andclosingthisdoorratherloudlysheopenedtheotherone,findingherselfinachambernotresemblingtheroomsdownstairs,whichwereallhighandnicelygilded,butmorelikewhereshehadlessons,low,andfilledwithbooksandleatherchairs。Fromtheendoftheroomwhichshecouldnotsee,sheheardasoundasofsomeonekissingsomething,andinstincthadalmostmadeherturntogoawaywhentheword:
\"Hallo！\"suddenlyopenedherlips。AndalmostdirectlyshesawthatGrannyandGrandpapawerestandingbythefireplace。Notknowingquitewhethertheyweregladtoseeher,shewentforwardandbeganatonce:
\"Isthiswhereyousit,Grandpapa？\"
\"Itis。\"
\"It\'snice,isn\'tit,Granny？Wheredoesthestonestaircasegoto？\"
\"Totheroofofthetower,Ann。\"
\"Oh！Ihavetogiveamessage,soImustgonow。\"
\"Sorrytoloseyou。\"
\"Yes;good—bye！\"
Hearingthedoorshutbehindher,LordandLadyValleyslookedateachotherwithadubioussmile。
Thelittleinterviewwhichshehadinterrupted,hadariseninthisway。
Accustomedtoretiretothisquietandhomelyroom,whichwasnothisofficialstudywherehewasalwaysliabletotheattacksofsecretaries,LordValleyshadcomeuphereafterlunchtosmokeandchewthecudofaworry。
ThematterwasoneinconnectionwithhisPendridnyestate,inCornwall。Ithadlongagitatedbothhisagentandhimself,andhadnowcometohimforfinaldecision。Thequestionaffectedtwovillagestothenorthoftheproperty,whoseinhabitantsweresolelydependentontheworkingofalargequarry,whichhadforsometimebeenlosingmoney。
Akindlyman,hewasextremelyaversetoanymeasurewhichwouldplungehistenantsintodistress,andespeciallyincaseswheretherehadbeennoquestionofoppositionbetweenhimselfandthem。But,reducedtoitsessentials,thematterstoodthus:ApartfromthatparticularquarrythePendridnyestatewasnotonlyagoing,butevenaprofitableconcern,supportingitselfandsupplyingsomeofthesinewsofwartowardsValleysHouseandtheracingestablishmentatNewmarketandothergeneralexpenses;withthisquarrystillrunning,allowingfortheupkeepofPendridny,andtheprovisionofpensionstosuperannuatedservants,itwasrathertheotherway。
Sittingthere,thatafternoon,smokinghisfavouritepipe,hehadatlastcometotheconclusionthattherewasnothingforitbuttoclosedown。Hehadnotmadethisresolutionlightly;though,todohimjustice,theknowledgethatthedecisionwouldbeboundtocauseanoutcryinthelocal,andperhapstheNationalPress,hadsecretlyratherspurredhimontotheresolvethandeterredhimfromit。Hefeltasifhewerebeingdictatedtoinadvance,andhedidnotlikedictation。Tohavetodeprivethesepoorpeopleoftheirimmediatelivingwas,heknew,agooddealmoreirksometohimthantothosewhowouldcertainlymakeafussaboutit,hisconsciencewasclear,andhecoulddiscountthatfutureoutcryasmerePartyspite。Hehadveryhonestlytriedtoexaminethethingallround;andhadreasonedthus:IfIkeepthisquarryopen,Iamreallyadmittingtheprincipleofpauperization,sinceInaturallylooktoeachofmyestatestosupportitsownhouse,grounds,shooting,andtocontributetowardsthesupportofthishouse,andmyfamily,andracingstable,andallthepeopleemployedaboutthemboth。
Toallowanybusinesstoberunonmyestateswhichdoesnotcontributetothegeneralupkeep,istoprotectandreallypauperizeaportionofmytenantsattheexpenseoftherest;itmustthereforebefalseeconomicsandasecretsortofsocialism。Further,iflogicallyfollowedout,itmightendinmyruin,andtoallowthat,thoughImightnotpersonallyobject,wouldbetoimplythatIdonotbelievethatIambyvirtueofmytraditionsandtraining,thebestmachinerythroughwhichtheStatecanworktosecurethewelfareofthepeople……
Whenhehadreachedthatpointinhisconsiderationofthequestion,hismind,orratherperhaps,hisessentialself,hadnotunnaturallyrisenupandsaid:Whichisabsurd！
Impersonalitywasinfashion,andasarulehebelievedinthinkingimpersonally。Therewasapoint,however,wherethepossibilityofdoingsoceased,withouttreacherytooneself,one\'sorder,andthecountry。Andtotheargumentwhichhewasquiteshrewdenoughtoputtohimself,soonerthanhaveitputbyanyoneelse,thatitwasdisproportionateforasinglemanbyastrokeofthepentobeabletodisposeofthelivelihoodofhundredswhosesensesandfeelingsweresimilartohisown——hehadanswered:\"IfIdidn\'t,someplutocratorcompanywould——or,worsestill,theState！\"Cooperativeenterprisebeing,inhisopinion,foreigntothespiritofthecountry,therewas,sofarashecouldsee,nootheralternative。
Factswerefactsandnottobegotover！
Notwithstandingallthis,thenecessityforthedecisionmadehimsorry,forifhehadnogreatsenseofproportion,hewasatleasthumane。
Hewasstillsmokinghispipeandstaringatasheetofpapercoveredwithsmallfigureswhenhiswifeentered。Thoughshehadcometoaskhisadviceonaverydifferentsubject,shesawatoncethathewasvexed,andsaid:
\"What\'sthematter,Geoff？\"
LordValleysrose,wenttothehearth,deliberatelytappedouthispipe,thenheldouttoherthesheetofpaper。
\"Thatquarry！Nothingforit——mustgo！\"
LadyValleys\'facechanged。
\"Oh,no！Itwillmeansuchdreadfuldistress。\"
LordValleysstaredathisnails。\"It\'sputtingadragonthewholeestate,\"hesaid。
\"Iknow,buthowcouldwefacethepeople——Ishouldneverbeabletogodownthere。Andmostofthemhavesuchenormousfamilies。\"
SinceLordValleyscontinuedtobendonhisnailsthatslow,thought—
formingstare,shewentonearnestly:
\"RatherthanthatI\'dmakesacrifices。I\'dsoonerPendridnywereletthanthrowallthosepeopleoutofwork。Isupposeitwouldlet。\"
\"Let？Bestwoodcockshootingintheworld。\"
LadyValleys,pursuingherthoughts,wenton:
\"Intimewemightgetthepeopledraftedintootherthings。HaveyouconsultedMiltoun？\"
\"No,\"saidLordValleysshortly,\"anddon\'tmeanto——he\'stoounpractical。\"
\"Healwaysseemstoknowwhathewantsverywell。\"
\"Itellyou,\"repeatedLordValleys,\"Miltoun\'snogoodinamatterofthissort——heandhisideasthrowbacktotheMiddleAges。\"
LadyValleyswentcloser,andtookhimbythelapelsofhiscollar。
\"Geoff—really,topleaseme;someotherway！\"
LordValleysfrowned,staringatherforsometime;andatlastanswered:
\"Topleaseyou——I\'llleaveitoveranotheryear。\"
\"Youthinkthat\'sbetterthanletting？\"
\"Idon\'tlikethethoughtofsomeoutsiderthere。Timeenoughtocometothatifwemust。TakeitasmyChristmaspresent。\"
LadyValleys,ratherflushed,bentforwardandkissedhisear。
ItwasatthismomentthatlittleAnnhadentered。
Whenshewasgone,andtheyhadexchangedthatdubiouslook,LadyValleyssaid:
\"IcameaboutBabs。Idon\'tknowwhattomakeofhersincewecameup。She\'snotputtingherheartintothings。\"
LordValleysansweredalmostsulkily:
\"It\'stheheatprobably——orClaudHarbinger。\"Inspiteofhiseasy—
goingparentalism,hedislikedthethoughtoflosingthechildwhomhesoaffectionatelyadmired。
\"Ah！\"saidLadyValleysslowly,\"I\'mnotsosure。\"
\"Howdoyoumean？\"
\"There\'ssomethingqueerabouther。I\'mbynomeanscertainshehasn\'tgotsomesortoffeelingforthatMr。Courtier。\"
\"What！\"saidLordValleys,growingmostunphilosophicallyred。
\"Exactly！\"
\"Confoundit,Gertrude,Miltoun\'sbusinesswasquiteenoughforoneyear。\"
\"Fortwenty,\"murmuredLadyValleys。\"I\'mwatchingher。He\'sgoingtoPersia,theysay。\"
\"Andleavinghisbonesthere,Ihope,\"mutteredLordValleys。
\"Really,it\'stoomuch。Ishouldthinkyou\'reallwrong,though。\"
LadyValleysraisedhereyebrows。Menwereveryqueeraboutsuchthings！Veryqueerandworsethanhelpless！
\"Well,\"shesaid,\"Imustgotomymeeting。I\'lltakeher,andseeifIcangetatsomething,\"andshewentaway。