ItwastheinauguralmeetingoftheSocietyforthePromotionoftheBirthRate,overwhichshehadpromisedtopreside。Theschemewasoneinwhichshehadbeenprominentfromthestart,appealingasitdidtoherlargeandfull—bloodednature。Manymovements,towhichshefounditimpossibletorefusehername,hadinthemselvesbutsmallattraction;anditwasarealcomforttofeelsomethingapproachingenthusiasmforonebranchofherpublicwork。Notthattherewasanyacademicconsistencyaboutherinthematter,forinprivatelifeamongstherfriendsshewasnotnarrowlydogmaticonthedutyofwivestomultiplyexceedingly。Shethoughtimperiallyonthesubject,withoutbigotry。Large,healthyfamilies,inallcasessaveindividualones！Theprimeideaatthebackofhermindwas——
NationalExpansion！Hermotto,andsheintendedifpossibletomakeitthemottooftheLeague,was:\'Del\'audace,etencoredel\'audace！\'Itwasaquestionofthefullrealizationofthenation。
Shehadatrue,andinasensetouchingbeliefin\'theflag,\'apartfromwhatitmightcover。Itwasheridealism。\"Youmaytalk,\"shewouldsay,\"asmuchasyoulikeaboutdirectingnationallifeinaccordancewithsocialjustice！Whatdoesthenationcareaboutsocialjustice？Thethingismuchbiggerthanthat。It\'samatterofsentiment。Wemustexpand！\"
Onthewaytothemeeting,occupiedwithherspeech,shemadenoattempttodrawBarbaraintoconversation。Thatmustwait。Thechild,thoughlanguid,andpale,waslookingsobeautifulthatitwasapleasuretohavehersupportinsuchamovement。
InalittledarkroombehindthehalltheCommitteewerealreadyassembled,andtheywentatonceontotheplatform。
CHAPTERII
Unmovedbythestaresoftheaudience,Barbarasatabsorbedinmoodythoughts。
IntothethreeweekssinceMiltoun\'selectiontherehadbeencrowdedsuchamultitudeoffunctionsthatshehadfound,asitwere,notime,noenergytoknowwhereshestoodwithherself。Sincethatmorninginthestable,whenhehadwatchedherwiththehorseHal,Harbingerhadseemedtoliveonlytobeclosetoher。Andtheconsciousnessofhispassiongaveheratinglingsenseofpleasure。
Shehadbeenridinganddancingwithhim,andsometimesthishadbeenalmostblissful。Butthereweretimestoo,whenshefelt——thoughalwayswithacertaincontemptofherself,aswhenshesatonthatsunwarmedstonebelowthetor——aqueerdissatisfaction,alongingforsomethingoutsideaworldwhereshehadtoinventherownstarvationsandsimplicities,tomake—believeinearnestness。
ShehadseenCourtierthreetimes。Oncehehadcometodine,inresponsetoaninvitationfromLadyValleyswordedinthatcharming,almostwistfulstyle,whichshehadtaughtherselftousetothosebelowherinsocialrank,especiallyiftheywereintelligent;oncetotheValleysHousegardenparty;andnextday,havingtoldhimwhattimeshewouldberiding,shehadfoundhimintheRow,notmounted,butstandingbytherailjustwhereshemustpass,withthatlookonhisfaceofmingleddeferenceandironicself—containment,ofwhichhewasamaster。ItappearedthathewasleavingEngland;andtoherquestionswhy,andwhere,hehadonlyshruggedhisshoulders。Uponthisdustyplatform,inthehotbarehall,facingallthosepeople,listeningtospeecheswhosesenseshewastoolanguidandpreoccupiedtotakein,thewholemedleyofthoughts,andfacesroundher,andthesoundofthespeakers\'voices,formedakindofnightmare,outofwhichshenotedwithextremeexactitudethecolourofhermother\'sneckbeneathalargeblackhat,andtheexpressiononthefaceofaCommitteemantotheright,whowasbitinghisfingersundercoverofabluepaper。Sherealizedthatsomeonewasspeakingamongsttheaudience,castingforth,asitwere,smallbunchesofwords。Shecouldseehim——alittlemaninablackcoat,withawhitefacewhichkeptjerkingupanddown。
\"Ifeelthatthisisterrible,\"sheheardhimsay;\"Ifeelthatthisisblasphemy。Thatweshouldtrytotamperwiththegreatestforce,thegreatestandthemostsacredandsecret—force,that——thatmovesintheworld,istomehorrible。Icannotbeartolisten;itseemstomakeeverythingsosmall！\"Shesawhimsitdown,andhermotherrisingtoanswer。
\"Wemustallsympathizewiththesincerityandtoacertainextentwiththeintentionofourfriendinthebodyofthehall。Butwemustaskourselves:
Havewetherighttoallowourselvestheluxury,ofprivatefeelingsinamatterwhichconcernsthenationalexpansion。Wemustnotgivewaytosentiment。Ourfriendinthebodyofthehallspoke——hewillforgivemeforsayingso——likeapoet,ratherthanaseriousreformer。Iamafraidthatifweletourselvesdropintopoetry,thebirthrateofthiscountrywillverysoondropintopoetrytoo。AndthatIthinkitisimpossibleforustocontemplatewithfoldedhands。TheresolutionIwasabouttoproposewhenourfriendinthebodyofthehall————\"
ButBarbara\'sattention,hadwanderedoffagainintothatqueermedleyofthoughts,andfeelings,outofwhichthelittlemanhadsoabruptlyrousedher。Thensherealizedthatthemeetingwasbreakingup,andhermothersaying:
\"Now,mydear,it\'shospitalday。We\'vejusttime。\"
Whentheywereoncemoreinthecar,sheleanedbackverysilent,watchingthetraffic。
LadyValleyseyedhersidelong。
\"Whatalittlebombshell,\"shesaid,\"fromthatsmallperson！Hemusthavegotinbymistake。IhearMr。CourtierhasacardforHelenGloucester\'sballto—night,Babs。\"
\"Poorman！\"
\"Youwillbethere,\"saidLadyValleysdryly。
Barbaradrewbackintohercorner。
\"Don\'tteaseme,Mother！\"
AnexpressionofcompunctioncrossedLadyValleys\'face;shetriedtopossessherselfofBarbara\'shand。Butthatlanguidhanddidnotreturnhersqueeze。
\"Iknowthemoodyou\'rein,dear。Itwantsallone\'splucktoshakeitoff;don\'tletitgrowonyou。You\'dbettergodowntoUncleDennisto—morrow。You\'vebeenoverdoingit。\"
Barbarasighed。
\"Iwishitwereto—morrow。\"
Thecarhadstopped,andLadyValleyssaid:
\"Willyoucomein,orareyoutootired？Italwaysdoesthemgoodtoseeyou。\"
\"You\'retwiceastiredasme,\"Barbaraanswered;\"ofcourseI\'llcome。\"
Attheentranceofthetwoladies,thereroseatonceafaintbuzzandmurmur。LadyValleys,whoseamplepresenceradiatedsuddenlyabusinesslikeandcheeryconfidence,wenttoabedsideandsatdown。
ButBarbarastoodinathinstreakoftheJulysunlight,uncertainwheretobegin,amongstthefacesturnedtowardsher。Thepoordearslookedsohumble,andsowistful,andsotired。Therewasonelyingquiteflat,whohadnotevenraisedherheadtoseewhohadcomein。
Thatslumbering,pale,highcheek—bonedfacehadafrailtyasifatouch,abreath,wouldshatterit;awispoftheblackesthair,finerthansilk,layacrosstheforehead;theclosedeyesweredeepsunk;
onehand,scarredalmosttothebonewithwork,restedaboveherbreast。Shebreathedbetweenlipswhichhadnocolour。Abouther,sleeping,wasakindofbeauty。Andtherecameoverthegirlaqueerrushofemotion。Thesleeperseemedsoapartfromeverythingthere,fromalltheformalityandstiffnessoftheward。Tolookathersweptawaythelanguid,hollowfeelingwithwhichshehadcomein;itmadeherthinkofthetorsathome,whenthewindwasblowing,andallwasbare,andgrand,andsometimesterrible。Therewassomethingelementalinthatstillsleep。Andtheoldladyinthenextled,withabrownwrinkledfaceandbrightblackeyesbrimfuloflife,seemedalmostvulgarbesidesuchremotetranquillity,whileshewastellingBarbarathatalittlebunchofheatherinthebetterhalfofasoap—dishonthewindow—sillhadcomefromWales,because,assheexplained:\"MymotherwasborninStirling,dearie;soIlikesabitofheather,thoughIneverbeenouto\'BethnalGreenmeself。\"
ButwhenBarbaraagainpassed,thesleepingwomanwassittingup,andlookedbutapoorordinarything——herstrangefragilebeautyallwithdrawn。
ItwasareliefwhenLadyValleyssaid:
\"Mydear,myNavalBazaaratfive—thirty;andwhileI\'mthereyoumustgohomeandhavearest,andfreshenyourselfupfortheevening。WedineatPlasseyHouse。\"
TheDuchessofGloucester\'sBall,afunctionwhichnoonecouldverywellmiss,hadbeenfixedforthislatedateowingtotheDuchess\'sannounceddesiretoprolongtheseasonandsohelpthehackneycabmen;andthougheverybodysympathized,ithadbeenfeltbymostthatitwouldbesimplertogoaway,motoruponthedayoftheBall,andmotordownagainonthefollowingmorning。Andthroughouttheweekbywhichtheseasonwasthusprolonged,inlongrowsattherailwaystations,andontheirstands,thehackneycabmen,unconsciousofwhatwasbeingdoneforthem,waited,patientastheirhorses。Butsinceeverybodywasmakingthisspecialeffort,anexceptionallylarge,exclusive,andbrilliantcompanyreassembledatGloucesterHouse。
Inthevastballroomoverthemedleyofentwinedrevolvingcouples,punkahshadbeenfixed,toclearandfreshenthelanguidair,andthesehugefans,movingwithincredibleslowness,droveafaintrefreshingdraughtdownovertheseaofwhiteshirt—frontsandbarenecks,andfreedthescentfrominnumerableflowers。
Lateintheevening,closebyoneofthegreatclumpsofbloom,averyprettywomanstoodtalkingtoBertieCaradoc。Shewashiscousin,LilyMalvezin,sisterofGeoffreyWinlow,andwifeofaLiberalpeer,acharmingcreature,whosepinkcheeks,brighteyes,quicklips,androundedfigure,endowedherwiththeprettiestairofanimation。Andwhileshespokeshekeptstealingslyglancesatherpartner,tryingasitweretopiercethearmourofthatself—
containedyoungman。
\"No,mydear,\"shesaidinhermockingvoice,\"you\'llneverpersuademethatMiltounisgoingtocatchon。\'Ilesttropintransigeant\'。
Ah！there\'sBabs！\"
Forthegirlhadcomeglidingby,hereyeswanderinglazily,herlipsjustparted;herneck,hardlylesspalethanherwhitefrock;herfacepale,andmarkedwithlanguor,undertheheavycoilofhertawnyhair;andherswayingbodyseemingwitheachturnofthewaltztobecaughtbythearmsofherpartnerfromoutofaswoon。
Withthatimmobilityoflips,learnedbyallimprisonedinSociety,LilyMalvezinmurmured:
\"Who\'sthatshe\'sdancingwith？Isitthedarkhorse,Bertie？\"
ThroughlipsnolessimmobileBertieanswered:
\"Fortytoone,notakers。\"
ButthoseinquisitivebrighteyesstillfollowedBarbara,driftinginthedance,likeagreatwaterlilycaughtintheswirlofamillpool;
andthethoughtpassedthroughthatprettyhead:
\"She\'shookedhim。It\'snaughtyofBabs,really！\"Andthenshesawleaningagainstapillaranotherwhoseeyesalsowerefollowingthosetwo;andshethought:\"H\'m！PoorClaud——nowonderhe\'slookinglikethat。Oh！Babs！\"
ByoneofthestatuesontheterraceBarbaraandherpartnerstood,wheretrees,disfiguredbynogaudylanterns,offeredtherefreshmentoftheirdarknessandserenity。
Wrappedinhernewpalelanguor,stillbreathingdeeplyfromthewaltz,sheseemedtoCourtiertooutterlymouldedoutofloveliness。
Towhatendshouldamanframespeechestoavision！Shewasbutanincarnationofbeautyimprintedontheair,andwouldfadeoutatatouch—likethesuddenghostsofenchantmentthatcametooneundertheblue,andthestarlitsnowofamountainnight,orinabirchwoodallwistfulgolden！Speechseemedbutdesecration！Besides,whatofinterestwasthereforhimtosayinthisworldofhers,sobewilderingandofsuchglibassurance——thisworldthatwaslikeabuilding,whoseeverywindowwasshutandhadablinddrawndown。A
buildingthatadmittednonewhohadnotsworn,asitwere,tobelieveittheworld,thewholeworld,andnothingbuttheworld,outsidewhichwereonlythenibbledremainsofwhathadbuiltit。This,worldofSociety,inwhichhefeltlikeonetravellingthroughadesert,longingtomeetafellow—creature。
ThevoiceofHarbingerbehindthemsaid:
\"Lady—Babs！\"
Longdidthepunkahswafttheirbreezeoverthatbrave—huedwheelofpleasure,andthesoundoftheviolinsquaverandwailoutintothemorning。Thenquickly,asthespanglesofdewvanishoffgrasswhenthesunrises,allmeltedaway;andinthegreatroomswerenonebutflunkeyspresidingoverthepolishedsurfaceslikeflamingoesbysomelakesideatdawn。
CHAPTERIII
Abrickdower—houseoftheFitz—Harolds,justoutsidethelittleseasidetownofNettlefold,shelteredthetranquildaysofLordDennis。Inthatsouth—coastair,sanestandmosthealinginallEngland,heragedveryslowly,takinglittlethoughtofdeath,andmuchquietpleasureinhislife。Likethetalloldhousewithitshighwindowsandsquatchimneys,hewasmarvellouslyself—contained。
Hisbooks,forhesomewhatpassionatelyexaminedoldcivilizations,anddescribedtheirhabitsfromtimetotimewithadryandnottoopoignantpeninacertainold—fashionedmagazine;hismicroscope,forhestudiedinfusoria;andthefishingboatofhisfriendJohnBogle,whohadlongperceivedthatLordDenniswasthebiggestfishheevercaught;allthese,withoccasionalvisitors,andlittlerunstoLondon,toMonkland,andothercountryhouses,madeupthesumofalifewhich,ifnotdesperatelybeneficial,wasuniformlykindandharmless,and,byitsnotorioussimplicity,hadacertainnegativeinfluencenotonlyonhisownclassbutontherelationsofthatclasswiththecountryatlarge。ItwascommonlysaidinNettlefold,thathewasagentleman;iftheywerealllikehimtherewasn\'tmuchinallthistalkagainsttheLords。Theshoppeopleandlodging—
housekeepersfeltthattheinterestsofthecountryweresaferinhishands:thaninthehandsofpeoplewhowantedtomeddlewitheverythingforthegoodofthosewhowereonlyanxioustobeletalone。AmantoowhocouldsocompletelyforgethewasthesonofaDuke,thatotherpeopleneverforgotit,wasthemanfortheirmoney。
Itwastruethathehadneverhadasayinpublicaffairs;butthiswasoverlooked,becausehecouldhavehaditifheliked,andthefactthathedidnotlike,onlyshowedoncemorethathewasagentleman。
Justashewastheonepersonalityofthelittletownagainstwhompracticallynothingwasever,said,sowashishousetheonehousewhichdefiedcriticism。Timehadmadeitutterlysuitable。Theiviedwalls,andpurplishrooflichenedyellowinplaces,thequietmeadowsharbouringponiesandkine,reachingfromittothesea——allwasmellow。Intruthitmadealltheotherhousesofthetownseemshoddy——standingalonebeyondthem,likeits,master,ifanythingalittletooestheticallyremotefromcommonwants。
Hehadpracticallynonearneighboursofwhomhesawanything,exceptonceinawayyoungHarbingerthreemilesdistantatWhitewater。Butsincehehadthefacultyofnotbeingboredwithhisownsociety,thisdidnotworryhim。Oflocalcharity,especiallytothefishersofthetown,whosewintermonthswerenowadaysverybareofprofit,hewasprodigaltothevergeofextravagance,forhisincomewasnotgreat。Butinpolitics,beyondactingasthefigure—headofcertainmunicipalefforts,hetooklittleornopart。HisToryismindeedwasofthemildorder,thathadlittlebeliefintheregenerationofthecountrybyanymeansbutthoseofkindlyfeelingbetweentheclasses。
Whenaskedhowthatwastobebroughtabout,hewouldanswerwithhisdry,slightlymalicious,suavity,thatifyoustirredhornets\'nestswithsticksthehornetswouldcomeforth。Havingnoland,hewasshyofexpressinghimselfonthatvexedquestion;butifresolutelyattackedwouldgiveutterancetosomesuchsentimentasthis:\"Theland\'sbestinourhandsonthewhole,butwewantfewerdogs—in—the—
mangeramongus。\"
Hehad,asbecameoneofhisrace,afeelingforland,tenderandprotective,andcouldnotbeartothinkofitsbeingputouttofarmwiththatcoldMother,theState。HewasironicalovertheviewsofRadicalsorSocialists,butdislikedtohearsuchpeoplepersonallyabusedbehindtheirbacks。Itmustbeconfessed,however,thatifcontradictedheincreasedconsiderablytheironicaldecisionofhissentiments。Withdrawnfromallchanceinpubliclifeofenforcinghisviewsonothers,thenaturalaristocratwithinhimwasforcedtofindsomeexpression。
Eachyear,towardstheendofJuly,heplacedhishouseattheserviceofLordValleys,whofounditaconvenientcentreforattendingGoodwood。
ItwasonthemorningaftertheDuchessofGloucester\'sBall,thathereceivedthisnote:
\"VALLEYSHOUSE。
\"DEARESTUNCLEDENNIS,\"MayIcomedowntoyoualittlebeforetimeandrest？Londonissoterriblyhot。Motherhasthreefunctionsstilltostayfor,andI
shallhavetocomebackagainforourlastevening,thepoliticalone——soIdon\'twanttogoallthewaytoMonkland;andanywhereelse,exceptwithyou,wouldberackety。Eustacelookssoseedy。
I\'lltryandbringhim,ifImay。Grannyisterriblywell。
\"Bestlove,dear,fromyour。
\"BABS。\"
Thesameafternoonshecame,butwithoutMiltoun,drivingupfromthestationinafly。LordDennismetheratthegate;and,havingkissedher,lookedathersomewhatanxiously,caressinghiswhitepeakedbeard。HehadneveryetknownBabssickofanything,exceptwhenhetookheroutinJohnBogle\'sboat。Shewascertainlylookingpale,andherhairwasdonedifferently——afactdisturbingtoonewhodidnotdiscoverit。Slippinghisarmthroughhersheledheroutintoameadowstillfullofbuttercups,whereanoldwhitepony,whohadcarriedherintheRowtwelveyearsago,cameuptothemandrubbedhismuzzleagainstherwaist。AndsuddenlythereroseinLordDennisthethoroughlydiscomfortingandstrangesuspicionthat,thoughthechildwasnotgoingtocry,shewantedtimetogetoverthefeelingthatshewas。Withoutappearingtoseparatehimselffromher,hewalkedtothewallattheendofthefield,andstoodlookingatthesea。
Thetidewasnearlyup;theSouthwinddrivingoveritbroughthimthescentofthesea—flowers,andthecrisprustleoflittlewavesswimmingalmosttohisfeet。Farout,wherethesunlightfell,thesmilingwaterslaywhiteandmysteriousinJulyhaze,givinghimaqueerfeeling。ButLordDennis,thoughhehadhismomentsofpoeticsentiment,wasonthewholequiteabletokeeptheseainitsproperplace——forafterallitwastheEnglishChannel;andlikeagoodEnglishmanherecognizedthatifyouonceletthingsgetawayfromtheirnames,theyceasedtobefacts,andiftheyceasedtobefacts,theybecame——thedevil！Intruthhewasnotthinkingmuchofthesea,butofBarbara。Itwasplainthatshewasintroubleofsomekind。AndthenotionthatBabscouldfindtroubleinlifewasextraordinarilyqueer;forhefelt,subconsciously,whatagreatdrivingforceofdisturbancewasnecessarytopenetratethehundredfoldsoftheluxuriouscloakenwrappingonesoyoungandfortunate。
ItwasnotDeath;thereforeitmustbeLove;andhethoughtatonceofthatfellowwiththeredmoustaches。Ideaswereallverywell——noonewouldobjecttoasmanyasyouliked,intheirproperplace——thedinner—table,forexample。Buttofallinlove,ifindeeditwereso,withamanwhonotonlyhadideas,butaninclinationtoliveuptothem,andonthem,andonnothingelse,seemedtoLordDennis\'outre\'。
Shehadfollowedhimtothewall,andhelooked——atherdubiously。
\"TorestinthewatersofLethe,Babs？Bytheway,seenanythingofourfriendMr。Courtier？Verypicturesque——thatQuixotictheoryoflife！\"
Andinsayingthat,hisvoice（likesomanyrefinedvoiceswhichhaveturnedtheirbacksonspeculation）wastriple—toned—mockingatideas,mockingatitselfformockingatideas,yetshowingplainlythatatbottomitonlymockedatitselfformockingatideas,becauseitwouldbe,asitwere,crudenottodoso。
ButBarbaradidnotanswerhisquestion,andbegantospeakofotherthings。AndallthatafternoonandeveningshetalkedawaysolightlythatLordDennis,butforhisinstinct,wouldhavebeendeceived。
Thatwonderfulsmilingmask——theinscrutabilityofYouth——waslaidasidebyheratnight。Sittingatherwindow,underthemoon,\'agold—brightmothslow—spinningupthesky,\'shewatchedthedarknesshungrily,asthoughitwereagreatthoughtintowhoseheartshewastryingtosee。Nowandthenshestrokedherself,gettingstrangecomfortoutofthepresenceofherbody。Shehadthatoldunhappyfeelingofhavingtwoselveswithinher。Andthissoftnightfullofthequietstirofthesea,andofdarkimmensity,wokeinheraterriblelongingtobeatonewithsomething,somebody,outsideherself。AttheBalllastnightthe\'flyingfeeling\'hadseizedonheragain;andwasstillthere——aqueermanifestationofherstreakofrecklessness。AndthisresultofhercontactswithCourtier,this\'cacoethesvolandi\',andfeelingofclippedwings,hurther——asbeingforbiddenhurtsachild。
Sherememberedhowinthehousekeeper\'sroomatMonklandtherelivedamagpiewhohadoncesoughtshelterinanorchid—housefromsomepursuer。Assoonastheythoughthimweddedtocivilization,theyhadlethimgo,toseewhetherhewouldcomeback。Forhourshehadsatupinahightree,andatlastcomedownagaintohiscage;
whereupon,fearinglesttherooksshouldattackhimwhenhenexttookthisvoyageofdiscovery,theyclippedoneofhiswings。Afterthatthetwilightbird,thoughhelivedhappilyenough,hoppingabouthiscageandtheterracewhichservedhimforexerciseyard,wouldseemattimesrestiveandfrightened,movinghiswingsasifflyinginspirit,andsadthathemuststayonearth。
So,too,atherwindowBarbaraflutteredherwings;then,gettingintobed,laysighingandtossing。Aclockstruckthree;andseizedbyanintolerableimpatienceatherowndiscomfort,sheslippedamotorcoatoverhernight—gown,putonslippers,andstoleoutintothepassage。Thehousewasverystill。Shecreptdownstairs,smotheringherfootsteps。Gropingherwaythroughthehall,inhabitedbythethinghostsofwould—belight,sheslidbackthechainofthedoor,andfledtowardsthesea。Shemadenomorenoiserunninginthedew,thanabirdfollowingthepathsofair;andthetwoponies,whofeltherfigurepassinthedarkness,snuffled,sendingoutsoftsighsofalarmamongsttheclosedbuttercups。Sheclimbedthewallovertothebeach。Whileshewasrunning,shehadfullymeanttodashintotheseaandcoolherself,butitwassoblack,withjustathinedgingscarfofwhite,andtheskywasblack,bereftoflights,waitingfortheday！
Shestood,andlooked。Andalltheleapingsandpulsingsoffleshandspiritslowlydiedinthatwidedarkloneliness,wheretheonlysoundwasthewistfulbreakingofsmallwaves。Shewaswellusedtothesedeadhours——onlylastnight,atthisverytime,Harbinger\'sarmhadbeenroundherinalastwaltz！Butherethedeadhourshadsuchdifferentfaces,wide—eyed,solemn,andtherecametoBarbara,staringoutatthem,asensethatthedarknesssawherverysoul,sothatitfeltlittleandtimidwithinher。Sheshiveredinherfur—
linedcoat,asifalmostfrightenedatfindingherselfsomarvellouslynothingbeforethatblackskyanddarksea,whichseemedallone,relentlesslygreat……Andcrouchingdown,shewaitedforthedawntobreak。
ItcamefromovertheDowns,sweepingarushofcoldaironitswings,flightingtowardsthesea。Withitthedaringsooncreptbackintoherblood。Shestripped,andrandownintothedarkwater,fastgrowingpale。Itcoveredherjealously,andshesettoworktoswim。
Thewaterwaswarmerthantheair。Shelayonherbackandsplashed,watchingtheskyflush。Tobathelikethisinthehalf—dark,withherhairfloatingout,andnowetclothesclingingtoherlimbs,gaveherthejoyofachilddoinganaughtything。Sheswamoutofherdepth,thenscaredatherownadventure,swaminagainasthesunrose。
Shedashedintohertwogarments,climbedthewall,andscurriedbacktothehouse。Allherdejection,andfeverishuncertaintyweregone;
shefeltkeen,fresh,terriblyhungry,andstealingintothedarkdining—room,beganrummagingforfood。Shefoundbiscuits,andwasstillmunching,whenintheopendoorwayshesawLordDennis,apistolinonehandandalightedcandleintheother。Withhiscarvedfeaturesandwhitebeardaboveanoldbluedressing—gown,helookedimpressive,havingatthemomentadistinctresemblancetoLadyCasterley,asthoughdangerhadarmouredhiminsteel。
\"Youcallthisresting！\"hesaid,dryly;then,lookingatherdrownedhair,added:\"IseeyouhavealreadyentrustedyourtroubletothewatersofLethe。\"
ButwithoutanswerBarbaravanishedintothedimhallandupthestairs。
CHAPTERIV
WhileBarbarawasswimmingtomeetthedawn,MiltounwasbathinginthosewatersofmansuetudeandtruthwhichrollfromwalltowallintheBritishHouseofCommons。
InthatlongdebateontheLandquestion,forwhichhehadwaitedtomakehisfirstspeech,hehadalreadyrisenninetimeswithoutcatchingtheSpeaker\'seye,andslowlyasenseofunrealitywascreepingoverhim。SurelythisgreatChamber,wherewithoutendrosethesmallsoundofasinglehumanvoice,andqueermechanicalburstsofapprobationandresentment,didnotexistatallbutasagiganticfancyofhisown！Andallthesefigureswerefigmentsofhisbrain！
Andwhenheatlastspoke,itwouldbehimselfalonethatheaddressed！Thetorpidairtaintedwithhumanbreath,theunwinkingstareofthecountlesslights,thelongrowsofseats,thequeerdistantroundsofpalelisteningfleshperchedupsohigh,theywereallemanationsofhimself！Eventhecomingandgoinginthegangwaywasbutthecomingandgoingoflittlewilfulpartsofhim！AndrustlingdeepdowninthisTitaniccreatureofhisfancywas\'themurmuration\'ofhisownunspokenspeech,sweepingawaythepuffballsofwordsflungupbythatfar—away,small,varyingvoice。