Then,suddenlyallthatdreamcreaturehadvanished;hewasonhisfeet,withathumpingheart,speaking。
Soonhehadnotremors,onlyadimconsciousnessthathiswordssoundedstrange,andaqueericypleasureinflingingthemoutintothesilence。Roundhimthereseemednolongermen,onlymouthsandeyes。Andhehadenjoymentinthefeelingthatwiththesewordsofhishewasholdingthosehungrymouthsandeyesdumbandunmoving。
Thenheknewthathehadreachedtheendofwhathehadtosay,andsatdown,remainingmotionlessinthecentreofavarioussound;
staringatthebackoftheheadinfrontofhim,withhishandsclaspedroundhisknee。Andsoon,whenthatlittlefarawayvoicewasoncemorespeaking,hetookhishat,andglancingneithertorightnorleft,wentout。
Insteadofthesensationofreliefandwildelationwhichfillstheheartofthosewhohavetakenthefirstplunge,Miltounhadnothinginhisdeepdarkwellbutthewatersofbitterness。Intruth,withthedeliveryofthatspeechhehadbutpartedwithwhathadbeenasortofanodynetosuffering。Hehadonlyputthefinepointonhisconviction,ofhowvainwashiscareernowthathecouldnotshareitwithAudreyNoel。HewalkedslowlytowardstheTemple,alongtheriverside,wherethelampswerepalingintonothingnessbeforethatdailycelebrationofDivinity,themeetingofdarkandlight。
ForMiltounwasnotoneofthosewhotakethingslyingdown;hetookthingsdesperately,deeply,andwithrevolt。Hetookthemlikeariderridinghimself,plungingatthedigofhisownspurs,chafingandwincingatthecrueltugsofhisownbitt;bearinginhisfriendless,proudheartalltheburdenofstruggleswhichshallowerormoregenialnaturessharedwithothers。
Helookedhardlylesshaggard,walkinghome,thansomeofthosehomelessoneswhosleptnightlybytheriver,asthoughtheyknewthattolienearonewhocouldsoreadilygrantoblivion,alonecouldsavethemfromseekingthatconsolation。Hewasperhapsunhappierthanthey,whosespirits,atallevents,hadlongceasedtoworrythem,havingoozedoutfromtheirbodiesunderthefootofLife:
NowthatAudreyNoelwaslosttohim,herlovelinessandthatindescribablequalitywhichmadeherlovable,floatedbeforehim,theverytorture—flowersofabeautynevertobegrasped——yet,thathecouldgrasp,\'ifheonlywould！Thatwastheheartandfervourofhissuffering。Tobegraspedifheonlywould！Hewassuffering,too,physicallyfromakindofslowfever,theresultofhiswettingonthedaywhenhelastsawher。Andthroughthatlatentfever,thingsandfeelings,likehissensationsintheHousebeforehisspeech,wereallasitweremuffledinahorribleway,asiftheyallcametohimwrappedinasortofflannelcoating,throughwhichhecouldnotcut。Andallthetimethereseemedtobewithinhimtwomenatmortalgripswithoneanother;themanoffaithindivinesanctionandauthority,onwhichallhisbeliefshadhithertohinged,andadesperatewarm—bloodedhungrycreature。Hewasverymiserable,cravingstrangelyforthesocietyofsomeonewhocouldunderstandwhathewasfeeling,。and,fromlonghabitofmakingnoconfidants,notknowinghowtosatisfythatcraving。
Itwasdawnwhenhereachedhisrooms;and,surethathewouldnotsleep,hedidnotevengotobed,butchangedhisclothes,madehimselfsomecoffee,andsatdownatthewindowwhichoverlookedthefloweredcourtyard。
InMiddleTempleHallaBallwasstillinprogress,thoughtheglamourfromitsChineselanternswasalreadydarkenedandgone。
Miltounsawamanandagirl,shelteredbyanoldfountain,sittingouttheirlastdance。Herheadhadsunkonherpartner\'sshoulder;
theirlipswerejoined。Andtherefloateduptothewindowthescentofheliotrope,withthetuneofthewaltzthatthosetwoshouldhavebeendancing。Thiscouplesostealthilyenlaced,thegleamoftheirfurtivelyturnedeyes,thewhisperingoftheirlips,thatstonynichebelowthetwitteringsparrows,socunninglysoughtout——itwastheworldhehadabjured！Whenhelookedagain,they——likeavisionseen——hadstolenawayandgone;themusictoohadceased,therewasnoscentofheliotrope。Inthestonynichecrouchedastraycatwatchingthetwitteringsparrows。
Miltounwentout,and,turningintotheemptyStrand,walkedon——
withoutheedingwhere,tilltowardsfiveo\'clockhefoundhimselfonPutneyBridge。
Herestedthere,leaningovertheparapet,lookingdownatthegreywater。Thesunwasjustbreakingthroughtheheathaze;earlywaggonswerepassing,andalreadymenwerecomingintowork。Towhatenddidtheriverwanderupanddown;andahumanriverflowacrossittwiceeveryday？Towhatendweremenandwomensuffering？
OfthefullcurrentofthislifeMiltouncouldnomoreseetheaim,thanthatofthewheelinggullsintheearlysunlight。
LeavingthebridgehemadetowardsBarnesCommon。Thenightwasstillensnaredthereonthegorsebushesgreywithcobwebsandstarrydewdrops。Hepassedatrampfamilystillsleeping,huddledalltogether。Eventhehomelesslayineachother\'sarms！
>FromtheCommonheemergedontheroadnearthegatesofRavensham;
turninginthere,hefoundhiswaytothekitchengarden,andsatdownonabenchclosetotheraspberrybushes。Theywereprotectedfromthieves,butatMiltoun\'sapproachtwoblackbirdsflusteredoutthroughthenettingandflewaway。
Hislongfigurerestingsomotionlessimpresseditselfontheeyesofagardener,whocausedareporttobecirculatedthathisyounglordshipwasinthefruitgarden。ItreachedtheearsofClifton,whohimselfcameouttoseewhatthismightmean。TheoldmantookhisstandinfrontofMiltounveryquietly。
\"Youhavecometobreakfast,mylord？\"
\"Ifmygrandmotherwillhaveme,Clifton。\"
\"Iunderstoodyourlordshipwasspeakinglastnight。\"
\"Iwas。\"
\"YoufindtheHouseofCommonssatisfactory,Ihope。\"
\"Fairly,thankyou,Clifton。\"
\"Theyarenotwhattheywereinthegreatdaysofyourgrandfather,I
believe。Hehadaverygoodopinionofthem。Theyvary,nodoubt。\"
\"Temporamutantur。\"
\"Thatisso。Ifindquiteanewspirittowardspublicaffairs。Theha\'pennyPress;onetakesitin,butonehardlyapproves。Ishallbeanxioustoreadyourspeech。Theysayafirstspeechisagreatstrain。\"
\"Itisrather。\"
\"Butyouhadnoreasontobeanxious。I\'msureitwasbeautiful。\"
Miltounsawthattheoldman\'sthinsallowcheekshadflushedtoadeeporangebetweenhissnow—whitewhiskers。
\"Ihavelookedforwardtothisday,\"hestammered,\"eversinceIknewyourlordship——twenty—eightyears。Itisthebeginning。\"
\"Ortheend,Clifton。\"
Theoldman\'sfacefellinalookofdeepandconcernedastonishment。
\"No,no,\"hesaid;\"withyourantecedents,never。\"
Miltountookhishand。
\"Sorry,Clifton——didn\'tmeantoshockyou。\"
Andforaminuteneitherspoke,lookingattheirclaspedhandsasifsurprised。
\"Wouldyourlordshiplikeabath——breakfastisstillateight。Icanprocureyouarazor。\"
WhenMiltounenteredthebreakfastroom,hisgrandmother,withacopyoftheTimesinherhands,wasseatedbeforeagrapefruit,which,withashreddedwheatbiscuit,constitutedherfirstmeal。HerappearancehardlywarrantedBarbara\'sdescriptionof\'terriblywell\';
intruthshelookedalittlewhite,asifshehadbeenfeelingtheheat。Buttherewasnolackofanimationinherlittlesteel—greyeyes,norofdecisioninhermanner。
\"Isee,\"shesaid,\"thatyou\'vetakenalineofyourown,Eustace。
I\'venothingtosayagainstthat;infact,quitethecontrary。Butrememberthis,mydear,howeveryoumaychangeyoumustn\'twobble。
Onlyonethingcountsinthatplace,hittingthesamenailontheheadwiththesamehammerallthetime。Youaren\'tlookingatallwell。\"
Miltoun,bendingtokissher,murmured:
\"Thanks,I\'mallright。\"
\"Nonsense,\"repliedLadyCasterley。\"Theydon\'tlookafteryou。WasyourmotherintheHouse？\"
\"Idon\'tthinkso。\"
\"Exactly。AndwhatisBarbaraabout？Sheoughttobeseeingtoyou。\"
\"BarbaraisdownwithUncleDennis。\"
LadyCasterleysetherjaw;thenlookinghergrandsonthroughandthrough,said:
\"Ishalltakeyoudowntherethisveryday。Ishallhavetheseatoyou。Whatdoyousay,Clifton？\"
\"Hislordshipdoeslookpale。\"
\"Havethecarriage,andwe\'llgofromClaphamJunction。Thomascangoinandfetchyousomeclothes。Or,better,thoughIdislikethem,wecantelephonetoyourmotherforacar。It\'sveryhotfortrains。
Arrangethat,please,Clifton！\"
TothisprojectMiltounraisednoobjection。AndallthroughthedriveheremainedsunkinanindifferenceandlassitudewhichtoLadyCasterleyseemedinthehighestdegreeominous。Forlassitude,toher,wasthestrange,theunpardonable,state。Thelittlegreatlady——casketofthearistocraticprinciple——waspermeatedtotheverybackbonewiththeinstinctofartificialenergy,ofthatalertvigourwhichthosewhohavenothingsociallytohopeforareforcedtodevelop,lesttheyshoulddecayandbeagainobligedtohope。Tospeakhonesttruth,shecouldnotforbearanitchtorunsomesharpandforeignsubstanceintohergrandson,torousehimsomehow,forsheknewthereasonofhisstate,andwastemperamentallyoutofpatiencewithsuchacauseforbacksliding。Haditbeenanyotherofhergrandchildrenshewouldnothavehesitated,buttherewasthatinMiltounwhichheldevenLadyCasterleyincheck,andonlyonceduringthefourhoursoftraveldidsheattempttobreakdownhisreserve。
Shediditinamannerverysoftforher——washenotofalllivingthingsthehopeandprideofherheart？Tuckingherlittlethinsharphandunderhisarm,shesaidquietly:
\"Mydear,don\'tbroodoverit。Thatwillneverdo。\"
ButMiltounremovedherhandgently,andlaiditbackonthedustrug,nordidheanswer,orshowothersignofhavingheard。
AndLadyCasterley,deeplywounded,pressedherfadedlipstogether,andsaidsharply:
\"Slower,please,Frith！\"
CHAPTERV
ItwastoBarbarathatMiltoununfolded,ifbutlittle,thetroubleofhisspirit,lyingthatsameafternoonunderaraggedtamariskhedgewiththetidefarout。HecouldneverhavedonethisiftherehadnotbeenbetweenthemtheaccidentalrevelationofthatnightatMonkland;noreventhenperhapshadhenotfeltinthisyoungsisterofhisthewarmthoflifeforwhichhewasyearning。InsuchamatterasloveBarbarawastheelderofthesetwo。For,besidesthemotherlyknowledgeoftheheartpeculiartomostwomen,shehadtheinherentwoman—of—the—worldlinesstobeexpectedofadaughterofLordandLadyValleys。Ifsheherselfwereindoubtastothestateofheraffections,itwasnotaswithMiltoun,onthescoreofthesensesandtheheart,butonthescoreofherspiritandcuriosity,whichCourtierhadawakenedandcausedtoflaptheirwingsalittle。
SheworriedoverMiltoun\'sforlorncase;ithurthertootothinkofMrs。Noeleatingherheartoutinthatlonelycottage。Asisterso——
goodandearnestasAgathahadeverinclinedBarbaratoarebelliousviewofmorals,anddisinclinedheraltogethertoreligion。Andso,shefeltthatifthosetwocouldnotbehappyapart,theyshouldbehappytogether,inthenameofallthejoytherewasinlife！
Andwhileherbrotherlayfacetotheskyunderthetamarisks,shekepttryingtothinkofhowtoconsolehim,consciousthatshedidnotintheleastunderstandthewayhethoughtaboutthings。Overthefieldsbehind,thelarkswerehymningthepromiseoftheunripecorn;theforeshorewaspaintedallcolours,fromvividgreentomushroompink;bytheedgeofthebluesealittleblackfiguresstooped,gatheringsapphire。Theairsmelledsweetintheshadeofthetamarisk;therewasineffablepeace。AndBarbara,coveredbythenetworkofsunlight,couldnothelpimpatiencewithasufferingwhichseemedtohersocorrigiblebyaction。Atlastsheventured:
\"Lifeisshort,Eusty！\"
Miltoun\'sanswer,givenwithoutmovement,startledher:
\"Persuademethatitis,Babs,andI\'llblessyou。Ifthesingingoftheselarksmeansnothing,ifthatblueupthereisamorassofourinvention,ifwearepettily,creepingonfurtheringnothing,ifthere\'snopurposeinourlives,persuademeofit,forGod\'ssake！\"
Carriedsuddenlybeyondherdepth,Barbaracouldonlyputoutherhand,andsay:\"Oh！don\'ttakethingssohard！\"
\"Sinceyousaythatlifeisshort,\"Miltounmuttered,withhissmile,\"youshouldn\'tspoilitbyfeelingpity！InolddayswewenttotheTowerforourconvictions。Wecanstandalittleprivateroasting,I
hope;orhasthesandrunoutofusaltogether？\"
Stungbyhistone,Barbaraansweredinratherahardvoice:
\"Whatwemustbear,wemust,Isuppose。Butwhyshouldwemaketrouble？That\'swhatIcan\'tstand！\"
\"Oprofoundwisdom！\"
Barbaraflushed。
\"IloveLife！\"shesaid。
Thegalleonsofthewesteringsunwerealreadysailinginabroadgoldfleetstraightforthatforeshorewherethelittleblackstoopingfigureshadnotyetfinishedtheirtoil,thelarksstillsangovertheunripecorn——whenHarbinger,gallopingalongthesandsfromWhitewatertoSeaHouse,cameonthatsilentcouplewalkinghometodinner。
Itwouldnotbesafetosayofthisyoungmanthathereadilydiagnosedaspiritualatmosphere,butthiswasthelesshisdemerit,sinceeverythingfromhiscradleuphadconspiredtokeepthespiritualthermometerofhissurroundingsat60intheshade。Andthefactthathisownspiritualthermometerhadnowrunupsothatitthreatenedtoburstthebulb,renderedhimlesslikelythanevertoseewhatwashappeningwithotherpeople\'s。Yet,hedidnoticethatBarbarawaslookingpale,and——itseemed——sweeterthanever……Withhereldestbrotherhealwayssomehowfeltillatease。Hecouldnotexactlyaffordtodespiseanuncompromisingspiritinoneofhisownorder,buthewasnomoreimperviousthanotherstoMiltoun\'scaustic,thinly—veiledcontemptforthecommonplace;andhavingafull—bloodedbeliefinhimself———usualwithmenoffinephysique,whoselotsaresocastthatthisbeliefcanneveroralmostneverbereallyshaken——hegreatlydislikedthefeelingofbeingalittlelookeddownon。Itwasanintenserelief,when,sayingthathewantedacertainmagazine,Miltounstrodeoffintothetown。
ToHarbinger,nolessthantoMiltounandBarbara,lastnighthadbeenbitterandrestless。Thesightofthatpaleswayingfigure,withthepartedlips,whirlingroundinCourtier\'sarms,hadclungtohisvisioneversince,theBall。Duringhisownlastdancewithherhehadbeenalmostsavagelysilent;onlybyagreateffortrestraininghistonguefrommordantallusionstothat\'prancing,red—
hairedfellow,\'ashesecretlycalledthechampionoflostcauses。
Infact,hissensationsthereandsincehadbeenarevelation,orwouldhaveteenifhecouldhavestoodaparttoseethem。True,hehadgoneaboutnextdaywithhisusualcool,off—handmanner,becauseonenaturallydidnotletpeoplesee,butitwaswithsuchaninnerachingandrageofwantandjealousyastoreallymeritpity。Menofhisphysicallybig,ratherrushing,type,arethelasttopossesstheirsoulsinpatience。WalkinghomeaftertheBallhehaddeterminedtofollowherdowntothesea,whereshehadsaid,somaliciously;thatshewasgoing。Afterasecondalmostsleeplessnighthehadnolongeranyhesitation。Hemustseeher！Afterall,amanmightgotohisown\'place\'withimpunity;hedidnotcareifitwereapointedthingtodo……Pointed！Themorepointedthebetter！Therewasbeginningtoberousedinhimanuglystubbornnessofmaledetermination。Sheshouldnotescapehim！
Butnowthathewaswalkingatherside,allthatdeterminationandassurancemeltedtoperplexedhumility。Hemarchedalongbyhishorsewithhisheaddown,justfeelingtheacheofbeingsoclosetoherandyetsofar;angrywithhisownsilenceandawkwardness,almostangrywithherforherloveliness,andthepainitmadehimsuffer。Whentheyreachedthehouse,andshelefthimatthestable—
yard,sayingshewasgoingtogetsomeflowers,hejerkedthebeast\'sbridleandsworeatitforitsslownessinenteringthestable。He,wasterrifiedthatshewouldbegonebeforehecouldgetintothegarden;yethalfafraidoffindingherthere。Butshewasstillpluckingcarnationsbytheboxhedgewhichledtotheconservatories。
Andassherosefromgatheringthoseblossoms,beforeheknewwhathewasdoing,Harbingerhadthrownhisarmaroundher,heldherasinavice,kissedherunmercifully。
Sheseemedtooffernoresistance,hersmoothcheeksgrowingwarmerandwarmer,evenherlipspassive;butsuddenlyherecoiled,andhisheartstoodstillathisownoutrageousdaring。Whathadhedone？
Hesawherleaningbackalmostburiedintheclippedboxhedge,andheardhersaywithasortoffaintmockery:\"Well！\"
Hewouldhaveflunghimselfdownonhiskneestoaskforpardonbutforthethoughtthatsomeonemightcome。Hemutteredhoarsely:\"ByGod,Iwasmad！\"andstoodgloweringinsullensuspensebetweenhardihoodandfear。Heheardhersay,quietly:
\"Yes,youwere—rather。\"
Thenseeingherputherhanduptoherlipsasifhehadhurtthem,hemutteredbrokenly:
\"Forgiveme,Babs！\"
Therewasafullminute\'ssilencewhilehestoodthere,nolongerdaringtolookather,beatenalloverbyhisemotions。Then,withbewilderment,heheardhersay:
\"Ididn\'tmindit——foronce！\"
Helookedupatthat。Howcouldshelovehim,andspeaksocoolly！
Howcouldshenotmind,ifshedidnotlovehim！Shewaspassingherhandsoverherfaceandneckandhair,repairingthedamageofhiskisses。
\"Nowshallwegoin？\"shesaid。
Harbingertookastepforward。
\"Iloveyouso,\"hesaid;\"Iwillputmylifeinyourhands,andyoushallthrowitaway。\"
Atthosewords,ofwhoseexactnaturehehadverylittleknowledge,hesawhersmile。
\"IfIletyoucomewithinthreeyards,willyoubegood？\"
Hebowed;and,insilence,theywalkedtowardsthehouse。
Dinnerthateveningwasastrange,uncomfortablemeal。Butitscomedy,toosubtlyplayedforMiltounandLordDennis,seemedtransparenttotheeyesofLadyCasterley;for,whenHarbingerhadsalliedforthtoridebackalongthesands,shetookhercandleandinvitedBarbaratoretire。Then,havingadmittedhergranddaughtertotheapartmentalwaysreservedforherself,andspeciallyfurnishedwithpracticallynothing,shesatdownoppositethattall,young,solidfigure,asitweretakingstockofit,andsaid:
\"Soyouarecomingtoyoursenses,atallevents。Kissme！\'
Barbara,stoopingtoperformthisrite,sawatearstealingdownthecarvedfinenose。Knowingthattonoticeitwouldbetoodreadful,sheraisedherself,andwenttothewindow。There,staringoutoverthedarkfieldsanddarksea,bythesideofwhichHarbingerwasridinghome,sheputherhanduptoher,lips,andthoughtforthehundredthtime:
\"Sothat\'swhatit\'slike！\"
CHAPTERVI
Threedaysafterhisfirst,andashepromisedhimself,hislastSocietyBall,CourtierreceivedanotefromAudreyNoel,sayingthatshehadleftMonklandforthepresent,andcomeuptoalittleflat——
ontheriversidenotfarfromWestminster。
WhenhemadehiswaytherethatsameJulyday,theHousesofParliamentwerebrightunderasunwhichwarmedallthegraveairemanatingfromtheircounselsofperfection:Courtierpassedbydubiously。Hisfeelingsinthepresenceofthosetowerswerealwaysalittlemixed。Therewasnotsomuchofthepoetinhimastocausehimtoseenothingthereatallsaveonlysamelinesagainstthesky,buttherewasenoughofthepoettomakehimlongtokicksomething;
andinthismoodhewendedhiswaytotheriverside。
Mrs。Noelwasnotathome,butsincethemaidinformedhimthatshewouldbeindirectly,hesatdowntowait。Herflat,whichwason—
thefirstfloor,overlookedtheriverandhadevidentlybeentakenfurnished,fortherewerevisiblemarksofarecentstrugglewithanEdwardiantastewhich,flushedfromtriumphoverVictorianism,hadfilledtheroomswithearlyGeorgianremains。Ontheonlydefinitevictory,arose—colouredwindowseatofgreatcomfortandlittleage,Courtiersatdown,andresignedhimselftodoingnothingwiththeeaseofanoldsoldier。
Totheprotectivefeelinghehadoncehadforaverygraceful,dark—
hairedchild,hejoinednotonlythechampioningpityofamanofwarmheartwatchingawomanindistress,buttheimpatienceofone,who,thoughtemperamentallyincapableoffeelingoppressedhimself,rebelledatsightofallformsoftyrannyaffectingothers。
Thesightofthegreytowers,stilljustvisible,underwhichMiltounandhisfathersat,annoyedhimdeeply;symbolizingtohim,Authority——foetohisdeathlessmistress,thesweet,invinciblelostcauseofLiberty。Butpresentlytheriver;bringingupinfloodtheunboundwaterthathadbathedeveryshore,touchedallsands,andseentherisingandfallingofeachmortalstar,sosoothedhimwithitssoundlesshymntoFreedom,thatAudreyNoelcominginwithherhandsfullofflowers,foundhimsleepingfirmly,withhismouthshut。
Noiselesslyputtingdowntheflowers,shewaitedforhisawakening。
Thatsanguinevisage,withitsprominentchin,flaringmoustaches,andeyebrowsraisedratherV—shapedabovehisclosedeyes,woreanexpressionofcheerydefianceeveninsleep;andperhapsnofaceinallLondonwassoutterlyitsobverse,asthatofthisdark,soft—
hairedwoman,delicate,passive,andtremulouswithpleasureatsightoftheonlypersonintheworldfromwhomshefeltshemightlearnofMiltoun,withoutlosingherself—respect。
Hewokeatlast,andmanifestingnodiscomfiture,said:
\"Itwaslikeyounottowakeme。\"
Theysatforalongwhiletalking,theriversidetrafficdrowsilyaccompanyingtheirvoices,theflowersdrowsilyfillingtheroomwithscent;andwhenCourtierleft,hisheartwassore。Shehadnotspokenofherselfatall,buthadtalkednearlyallthetimeofBarbara,praisingherbeautyandhighspirit;growingpaleonceortwice,andevidentlydrinkinginwithsecretavidityeveryallusiontoMiltoun。Clearly,herfeelingshadnotchanged,thoughshewouldnotshowthem！Courtier\'spityforherbecamewell—nighviolent。
Itwasinsuchamood,mingledwithverydifferentfeelings,thathedonnedeveningclothesandsetouttoattendthelastgatheringoftheseasonatValleysHouse,afunctionwhich,heldsolateinJuly,wasperforcealmostperfectlypolitical。
Mountingthewideandshiningstaircase,thathadsooftenbaffledthearithmeticoflittleAnn,hewasremindedofapictureentitled\'TheStepstoHeaven\'inhisnurseryfour—and—thirtyyearsbefore。
Atthetopofthisstaircase,andsurroundedbyacquaintances,hecameonHarbinger,whonoddedcurtly。Theyoungman\'shandsomefaceandfigureappearedtoCourtier\'sjaundicedeyemoreobviouslysuccessfulandcomplacentthanever;sothathepassedhimbysardonically,andmanoeuvredhiswaytowardsLadyValleys,whomhecouldperceivestationed,likeageneral,inalittleclearedspace,wheretoandfroflowedconstantstreamsofpeople,liketheraysofastar。Shewaslookingherverybest,goingwellwithgreatandhighly—polishedspaces;andshegreetedCourtierwithaspecialcordialityoftone,whichhadinit,besideskindnesstowardsonewhomustbefeelingastrangebird,acertaindiplomaticquality,compoundedofdesire,asitwere,to\'warnhimoff,\'andfearofsayingsomethingthatmightirritateandmakehimmoredangerous。
Shehadheard,shesaid,thathewasboundforPersia;shehopedhewasnotgoingtotryandmakethingsmoredifficultthere;thenwiththewords:\"Sogoodofyoutohavecome！\"shebecameoncemorethecentreofherbattlefield。
Perceivingthathewasfinishedwith,Courtierstoodbackagainstawallandwatched。Thusisolated,hewaslikeasolitarycuckoocontemplatingthegyrationsofaflockofrooks。TheirmotionsseemedalittlemeaninglesstoonesofarremovedfromallthefetishesandshibbolethsofWestminster。HeheardthemdiscussingMiltoun\'sspeech,therealsignificanceofwhichapparentlyhadonlyjustbeengrasped。Thewords\'doctrinaire,\'\'extremist,\'cametohisears,togetherwiththesaying\'anewforce。\'Peoplewereevidentlypuzzled,disturbed,notpleased——asifsomestarnothithertoaccountedforhadsuddenlyappearedamongsttheproperconstellations。
SearchingthiscrowdforBarbara,Courtierhadallthetimeanuneasysenseofshame。Whatbusinesshadhetocomeamongstthesepeoplesostrangetohim,justforthesakeofseeingher！Whatbusinesshadhetobehankeringafterthisgirlatall,knowinginhisheartthathecouldnotstandtheatmosphereshelivedinforaweek,andthatshewasutterlyunsuitedforanyatmospherethathecouldgiveher;
tosaynothingoftheunlikelihoodthathecouldflutterthepulsesofonehalfhisage！
Avoice,behindhimsaid:\"Mr。Courtier！\"
Heturned,andtherewasBarbara。
\"Iwanttotalktoyouaboutsomethingserious:Willyoucomeintothepicturegallery？\"
WhenatlasttheywereclosetoafamilygroupofGeorgianCaradocs,andcouldasitwereshutoutthethrongsufficientlyforprivatespeech,shebegan:
\"Miltoun\'ssohorriblyunhappy;Idon\'tknowwhattodoforhim:He\'smakinghimselfill！\"
Andshesuddenlylookedup,inCourtier\'sface。Sheseemedtohimveryyoung,andtouching,atthatmoment。Hereyeshadagleamoffaithinthem,likeachild\'seyes;asifshereliedonhimtostraightenoutthistangle,totellhernotonlyaboutMiltoun\'strouble,butaboutalllife,itsmeaning,andthesecretofitshappiness:Andhesaidgently:
\"WhatcanIdo？Mrs。NoelisinTown。Butthat\'snogood,unless——\"
Notknowinghowtofinishthissentence;hewassilent。
\"IwishIwereMiltoun,\"shemuttered。
Atthatquaintsaying,Courtierwashardputtoitnottotakeholdofthehandssoclosetohim。Thisflashofrebellioninherhadquickenedallhisblood。Butsheseemedtohaveseenwhathadpassedinhim,forhernextspeechwaschilly。