\"It\'snogood;stupidofmetobeworryingyou。\"
\"Itisquiteimpossibleforyoutoworryme。\"
Hereyesliftedsuddenlyfromherglove,andlookedstraightintohis。
\"AreyoureallygoingtoPersia？\"
\"Yes。\"
\"ButIdon\'twantyouto,notyet！\"andturningsuddenly,shelefthim。
Strangelydisturbed,Courtierremainedmotionless,consultingthegravestareofthegroupofGeorgianCaradocs。
Avoicesaid:
\"Goodpainting,isn\'tit？\"
BehindhimwasLordHarbinger。AndoncemorethememoryofLadyCasterley\'swords;thememoryofthetwofigureswithjoinedhandsonthebalconyabovetheelectioncrowd;allhislatentjealousyofthishandsomeyoungColossus,hisanimusagainstonewhomhecould,asitwere,smellouttobealwaysfightingonthewinningside;allhisconsciousnesstooofwhatalostcausehisownwas,hisdoubtwhetherhewerehonourabletolookonitasacauseatall,flaredupinCourtier,sothathisanswerwasastare。OnHarbinger\'sface,too,therehadcomealookofstubbornviolenceslowlyworkinguptowardsthesurface。
\"Isaid:\'Good,isn\'tit？\'Mr。Courtier。\"
\"Iheardyou。\"
\"Andyouwerepleasedtoanswer？\"
\"Nothing。\"
\"Withthecivilitywhichmightbeexpectedofyourhabits。\"
Coldlydisdainful,Courtieranswered:
\"Ifyouwanttosaythatsortofthing,pleasechooseaplacewhereI
canreplytoyou,\"andturnedabruptlyonhisheel。
Buthegroundhisteethashemadehiswayoutintothestreet。
InHydeParkthegrasswasparchedanddewlessunderaskywhosestarswereveiledbytheheatanddusthaze。NeverhadCourtiersobitterlywantedthesky\'sconsolation——theblessedsenseofinsignificanceinthefaceofthenight\'sdarkbeauty,which,dwarfingallpettyrageandhunger,mademenpartofitsmajesty,exaltedthemtoasenseofgreatness。
CHAPTERVII
Itwaspastfouro\'clockthefollowingdaywhenBarbaraissuedfromValleysHouseonfoot;cladinapalebufffrock,chosenforquietness,sheattractedeveryeye。Verysoonenteringataxi—cab,shedrovetotheTemple,stoppedattheStrandentrance,andwalkeddownthelittlenarrowlaneintotheheartoftheLaw。ItsvotarieswerehurryingbackfromtheCourts,streamingupfromtheirChambersfortea,orescapingdesperatelytoLord\'sorthePark——youngvotaries,unboundasyetbythefascinationoffameorfees。Andeach,ashepassed,lookedatBarbara,withhisfingersitchingtoremovehishat,andafeelingthatthiswasShe。Afteradayspentamongstprecedentsandpractice,aftersixhoursatleastoftryingtodiscoverwhatchanceAhadofstandingonhisrights,orBhadofpreventinghim,itwasdifficulttofeelotherwiseaboutthatcalmapparition——likeagoldenslimtreewalking。Oneofthem,askedbyherthewaytoMiltoun\'sstaircase,precededherwithshyceremony,andwhenshehadvanishedupthosedustystairs,lingeredon,hopingthatshemightfindhervisiteeout,andbeobligedtoreturnandaskhimthewayback。Butshedidnotcome,andhewentsadlyaway,disturbedtotheverybottomofallthatheownedinfeesimple。
Infact,nooneansweredBarbara\'sknock,anddiscoveringthatthedooryielded,shewalkedthroughthelobbypasttheclerk\'sden,convertedtoakitchen,intothesitting—room。Itwasempty。ShehadneverbeentoMiltoun\'sroomsbefore,andshestaredabouthercuriously。Sincehedidnotpractise,muchofthepropergearwasabsent。Theroomindeedhadaworncarpet,afewoldchairs,andwaslinedfromfloortoceilingwithbooks。ButthewallspacebetweenthewindowswasoccupiedbyanenormousmapofEngland,scoredalloverwithfiguresandcrosses;andbeforethismapstoodanimmensedesk,onwhichwerepilesofdoublefoolscapcoveredwithMiltoun\'sneatandratherpointedwriting。Barbaraexaminedthem,puckeringupherforehead;sheknewthathewasworkingatabookonthelandquestion;butshehadneverrealizedthatthemakingofabookrequitedsomuchwriting。Papers,too,andBlueBookslitteredalargebureauonwhichstoodbronzebustsofAEschylusandDante。
\"Whatanuncomfortableplace！\"shethought。Theroom,indeed,hadanatmosphere,aspirit,whichdepressedherhorribly。Seeingafewflowersdowninthecourtbelow,shehadalongingtogetouttothem。Thenbehindhersheheardthesoundofsomeonetalking。Buttherewasnooneintheroom;andtheeffectofthisdisruptedsoliloquy,whichcamefromnowhere,wassouncanny,thatsheretreatedtothedoor。Thesound,asoftwospiritsspeakinginonevoice,grewlouder,andinvoluntarilysheglancedatthebusts。Theyseemedquiteblameless。Thoughthesoundhadbeenbehindherwhenshewasatthewindow,itwasagainbehindhernowthatshewasatthedoor;andshesuddenlyrealizedthatitwasissuingfromabookcaseinthecentreofthewall。Barbarahadherfather\'snerve,andwalkinguptothebookcasesheperceivedthatithadbeenaffixedto,andcovered,adoorthatwasnotquiteclosed。Shepulledittowardsher,andpassedthrough。AcrossthecentreofanunkemptbedroomMiltounwasstriding,dressedonlyinhisshirtandtrousers。
Hisfeetwerebare,andhisheadandhairdrippingwet;thelookonhisthindarkfacewenttoBarbara\'sheart。Sheranforward,andtookhishand。Thiswasburninghot,butthesightofherseemedtohavefrozenhistongueandeyes。Andthecontrastofhisburninghandwiththisfrozensilence,frightenedBarbarahorribly。Shecouldthinkofnothingbuttoputherotherhandtohisforehead。
Thattoowasburninghot！
\"Whatbroughtyouhere？\"hesaid。
Shecouldonlymurmur:
\"Oh！Eusty！Areyouill？\"
Miltountookholdofherwrists。
\"It\'sallright,I\'vebeenworkingtoohard;gotatouchoffever。\"
\"SoIcanfeel,\"murmuredBarbara。\"Yououghttobeinbed。Comehomewithme。\"
Miltounsmiled。\"It\'snotacaseforleeches。\"
Thelookofhissmile,thesoundofhisvoice,sentashudderthroughher。
\"I\'mnotgoingtoleaveyouherealone。
ButMiltoun\'sgrasptightenedonherwrists。
\"MydearBabs,youwilldowhatItellyou。Gohome,holdyourtongue,andleavemetoburnoutinpeace。\"
Barbarasustainedthatpainfulgripwithoutwincing;shehadregainedhercalmness。
\"Youmustcome！Youhaven\'tanythinghere,notevenacooldrink。\"
\"MyGod！Barleywater！\"
Thescornheputintothosetwowordswasmorewitheringthanawholephilippicagainstredemptionbycreaturecomforts。Andfeelingitdartintoher,Barbaraclosedherlipstight。Hehaddroppedherwrists,andagain,begunpacingupanddown;suddenlyhestopped:
\"\'Thestars,sun,moonallshrinkaway,Adesertvast,withoutabound,Andnothinglefttoeatordrink,Andadarkdesertallaround。\'
YoushouldreadyourBlake,Audrey。\"
Barbaraturnedquickly,andwentoutfrightened。Shepassedthroughthesitting—roomandcorridorontothestaircase。Hewasill—
raving！ThefeverinMiltoun\'sveinsseemedtohavestolenthroughtheclutchofhishandsintoherownveins。Herfacewasburning,shethoughtconfusedly,breathedunevenly。Shefeltsore,andatthesametimeterriblysorry;andwithaltherekeptrisinginherthegustymemoryofHarbingerskiss。
Shehurrieddownthestairs,turnedbyinstinctdown—hillandfoundherselfontheEmbankment。Andsuddenly,withherinherentpowerofswiftdecision,shehailedacab,anddrovetothenearesttelephoneoffice。
CHAPTERVIII
ToawomanlikeAudreyNoel,borntobethecounterpartandcomplementofanother,——whoseoccupationsandeffortwereinherentlydivorcedfromthecontinuityofanystiffandstrenuouspurposeofherown,theuprootingshehadvoluntarilyundergonewasaseriousmatter。
Bereavedofthefacesofherflowers,thefriendlysighingofherlime—tree,thewantsofhercottagers;bereavedofthatbusymonotonyoflittlehomethingswhichisthestayandsolaceoflonelywomen,shewasextraordinarilylost。Evenmusicforreviewseemedtohavefailedher。ShehadneverlivedinLondon,sothatshehadnottherefugeofoldhauntsandhabits,buthadtomakeherown——andtomakehabitsandhauntsrequiredaheartthatcouldatleaststretchoutfeelersandlayholdofthings,andherheartwasnotnowable。WhenshehadstruggledwithherEdwardianflat,andlaiddownhersimpleroutineofmeals,shewasasstrandedaseverwas,convictletoutofprison。Shehadnoteventhatgreatsupport,thenecessityofhidingherfeelingsforfearofdisturbingothers。Shewasplantedthere,withherlongingandgrief,andnothing,nobody,totakeheroutofherself。Havingwilfullyembracedthisposition,shetriedtomakethebestofit,feelingitlessintolerable,atallevents,thanstayingonatMonkland,whereshehadmadethatgrievous,andunpardonableerror——fallinginlove。
Thisoffence,onthepartofonewhofeltwithinherselfagreatcapacitytoenjoyandtoconferhappiness,hadarisen——liketheothergrievousandunpardonableoffence,hermarriage——fromtoomuchdispositiontoyieldherselftothepersonalityofanother。Butitwascoldcomforttoknowthatthedesiretogiveandtoreceivelovehadtwiceoverlefther——adeadwoman。Whateverthenatureofthoseimmaturesensationswithwhich,asagirloftwenty,shehadacceptedherhusband,inherfeelingtowardsMiltountherewasnotonlyabandonment,butthehigherflameofself—renunciation。Shewantedtodothebestforhim,andhadnoteventheconsolationoftheknowledgethatshehadsacrificedherselfforhisadvantage。Allhadbeentakenoutofherhands！Yetwithcharacteristicfatalismshedidnotfeelrebellious。Ifitwereordainedthatsheshould,forfifty,perhapssixtyyears,repentinsterilityandashesthatfirsterrorofhergirlhood,rebellionwas,nonetheless,toofar—fetched。
Ifsherebelled,itwouldnotbeinspirit,butinaction。Generalprincipleswerenothingtoher;shelostnoforcebroodingoverthejusticeorinjusticeofhersituation,butmerelytriedtodigestitsfacts。
Thewholeday,succeedingCourtier\'svisit,wasspentbyherintheNationalGallery,whoseroof,aloneofallinLondon,seemedtoofferherprotection。Shehadfoundonepainting,byanItalianmaster,thesubjectofwhichremindedherofMiltoun;andbeforethisshesatforaverylongtime,attractingatlastthegoutystareofanofficial。Thestillfigureofthislady,withtheovalfaceandgravebeauty,bothpiquedhiscuriosity,andstimulatedcertainmoralqualms。She,wasundoubtedlywaitingforherlover。Nowoman,inhisexperience,hadeversatsolongbeforeapicturewithoutulteriormotive;andhekepthiseyeswellopenedtoseewhatthismotivewouldbelike。Itgavehim,therefore,asensationalmostamountingtochagrinwhencomingroundoncemore,hefoundtheyhadeludedhimandgoneofftogetherwithoutcomingunderhisinspection。
Feelinghisfeetagooddeal,forhehadbeenonthemallday,hesatdowninthehollowwhichshehadleftbehindher;andagainsthiswillfoundhimselfalsolookingatthepicture。Itwaspaintedinastylehedidnotcarefor;thefaceofthesubject,too,gavehimthequeerfeelingthatthegentlemanwasbeingroastedinside。Hehadnotbeensittingtherelong,however,beforeheperceivedtheladystandingbythepicture,andthelipsofthegentlemaninthepicturemoving。Itseemedtohimagainsttherules,andhegotupatonce,andwenttowardsit;butashedidso,hefoundthathiseyeswereshut,andopenedthemhastily。Therewasnoonethere。
>FromtheNationalGallery,AudreyhadgoneintoanA。B。C。fortea,andthenhome。BeforetheMansionswasataxi—cab,andthemaidmetherwiththenewsthat\'LadyCaradoc\'wasinthesitting—room。
Barbarawasindeedstandinginthemiddleoftheroomwithalookonherfacesuchasherfatherworesometimesontheracecourse,inthehuntingfield,oratstormyCabinetMeetings,alookbothresoluteandsharp。Shespokeatonce:
\"IgotyouraddressfromMr。Courtier。Mybrotherisill。I\'mafraidit\'llbebrainfever,IthinkyouhadbettergoandseehimathisroomsintheTemple;there\'snotimetobelost。\"
ToAudreyeverythingintheroomseemedtogoround;yetallhersenseswerepreternaturallyacute,sothatshecoulddistinctlysmellthemudoftheriveratlowtide。Shesaid,withashudder:
\"Oh！Iwillgo;yes,Iwillgoatonce。\"
\"He\'squitealone。Hehasn\'taskedforyou;butIthinkyourgoingistheonlychance。Hetookmeforyou。Youtoldmeonceyouwereagoodnurse。\"
\"Yes。\"
Theroomwassteadyenoughnow,butshehadlostthepreternaturalacutenessofhersenses,andfeltconfused。SheheardBarbarasay:
\"Icantakeyoutothedoorinmycab,\"andmurmuring:\"Iwillgetready,\"wentintoherbedroom。Foramomentshewassoutterlybewilderedthatshedidnothing。Theneveryotherthoughtwaslostinastrange,soft,almostpainfuldelight,asifsomenewinstinctwerebeingborninher;andquickly,butwithoutconfusionorhurry,shebeganpacking。Sheputintoavaliseherowntoiletthings;thenflannel,cotton—wool,eaudeCologne,hot—waterbottle,Etna,shawls,thermometer,everythingshehadwhichcouldserveinillness。
Changingtoaplaindress,shetookupthevaliseandreturnedtoBarbara。Theywentouttogethertothecab。Themomentitbegantobearhertothisordealatoncesolonged—forandsoterrible,fearcameoverheragain,sothatshescrewedherselfintothecorner,verywhiteandstill。ShewasawareofBarbaracallingtothedriver:\"GobytheStrand,andstopatapoulterer\'sforice！\"And,whenthebagoficehadbeenhandedin,heardhersaying:\"Iwillbringyouallyouwant——ifheisreallygoingtobeill。\"
Then,asthecabstopped,andtheopendoorwayofthestaircasewasbeforeher,allhercouragecameback。
Shefeltthegirl\'swarmhandagainstherown,andgraspinghervaliseandthebagofice,gotout,andhurriedupthesteps。
CHAPTERIX
OnleavingNettlefold,Miltounhadgonestraightbacktohisrooms,andbegunatoncetoworkathisbookonthelandquestion。Heworkedallthroughthatnight——histhirdnightwithoutsleep,andallthefollowingday。Intheevening,feelingqueerinthehead,hewentoutandwalkedupanddowntheEmbankment。Then,fearingtogotobedandliesleepless,hesatdowninhisarm—chair。Fallingasleepthere,hehadfearfuldreams,andawokeunrefreshed。Afterhisbath,hedrankcoffee,andagainforcedhimselftowork。Bythemiddleofthedayhefeltdizzyandexhausted,bututterlydisinclinedtoeat。HewentoutintothehotStrand,boughthimselfanecessarybook,andafterdrinkingmorecoffee,camebackandagainbegantowork。Atfouro\'clockhefoundthathewasnottakinginthewords。Hisheadwasburninghot,andhewentintohisbedroomtobatheit。Thensomehowhebeganwalkingupanddown,talkingtohimself,asBarbarahadfoundhim。
Shehadnosoonergone,thanhefeltutterlyexhausted。Asmallcrucifixhungoverhisbed,andthrowinghimselfdownbeforeit,heremainedmotionlesswithhisfaceburiedinthecoverlet,andhisarmsstretchedouttowardsthewall。Hedidnotpray,butmerelysoughtrestfromsensation。Acrosshishalf—hypnotizedconsciousnesslittlethreadsofburningfancykeptshooting。Thenhecouldfeelnothingbututterphysicalsickness,andagainstthishiswillrevolted。Heresolvedthathewouldnotbeill,aridiculouslogforwomentohangover。Butthemomentsofsicknessgrewlongerandmorefrequent;andtodrivethemawayherosefromhisknees,andforsometimeagainwalkedupanddown;then,seizedwithvertigo,hewasobligedtositonthebedtosavehimselffromfalling。Frombeingburninghothehadbecomedeadlycold,gladtocoverhimselfwiththebedclothes。Theheatsoonflamedupinhimagain;butwithasickman\'sinstincthedidnotthrowofftheclothes,andstayedquitestill。Theroomseemedtohaveturnedtoathickwhitesubstancelikeacloud,inwhichhelayenwrapped,unabletomovehandorfoot。
Hissenseofsmellandhearinghadbecomeunnaturallyacute;hesmelledthedistantstreets,flowers,dust,andtheleatherofhisbooks,eventhescentleftbyBarbara\'sclothes,andacurious。
odourofrivermud。Aclockstrucksix,hecountedeachstroke;andinstantlythewholeworldseemedfullofstrikingclocks,thesoundofhorses\'hoofs,bicyclebells,people\'sfootfalls。Hissenseofvision,onthecontrary,wasabsorbedinconsciousnessofthiswhiteblanketofcloudwhereinhewasliftedabovetheearth,inthemidstofadullincessanthammering。Onthesurfaceofthecloudthereseemedtobeforminganumberoflittlegoldenspots;thesespotsweremoving,andhesawthattheyweretoads。Then,beyondthem,ahugefaceshapeditself,verydark,asifofbronze,witheyesburningintohisbrain。Themorehestruggledtogetawayfromtheseeyes,themoretheyboredandburnedintohim。Hisvoicewasgone,sothathewasunabletocryout,andsuddenlythefacemarchedoverhim。
Whenherecoveredconsciousnesshisheadwasdampwithmoisturetricklingfromsomethingheldtohisforeheadbyafigureleaningabovehim。Liftinghishandhetouchedacheek;andhearingasobinstantlysuppressed,hesighed。Hishandwasgentlytaken;hefeltkissesonit。
Theroomwassodark,thathecouldscarcelyseeherface——hissighttoowasdim;buthecouldhearherbreathingandtheleastsoundofherdressandmovements——thescenttooofherhandsandhairseemedtoenvelophim,andinthemidstofalltheacutediscomfortofhisfever,hefeltthebandroundhisbrainrelax。Hedidnotaskhowlongshehadbeenthere,butlayquitestill,tryingtokeephiseyesonher,forfearofthatface,whichseemedlurkingbehindtheair,readytomarchonhimagain。Thenfeelingsuddenlythathecouldnotholditback,hebeckoned,andclutchedather,tryingtocoverhimselfwiththeprotectionofherbreast。Thistimehisswoonwasnotsodeep;itgavewaytodelirium,withintervalswhenheknewthatshewasthere,andbytheshadedcandlelightcouldseeherinawhitegarment,floatingclosetohim,orsittingstillwithherhandonhis;hecouldevenfeelthefaintcomfortoftheicecap,andofthescentofeaudeCologne。Thenhewouldloseallconsciousnessofherpresence,andpassthroughintotheincoherentworld,wherethecrucifixabovehisbedseemedtobulgeandhangout,asifitmustfallonhim。Heconceivedaviolentlongingtotearitdown,whichgrewtillhehadstruggledupinbedandwrencheditfromoffthewall。Yetamysteriousconsciousnessofherpresencepermeatedevenhisdarkestjourneysintothestrangeland;andoncesheseemedtobewithhim,whereastrangelightshowedthemfieldsandtrees,adarklineofmoor,andabrightsea,allwhitened,andflashingwithsweetviolence。
Soonafterdawnhehadalongintervalofconsciousness,andtookinwithasortofwonderherpresenceinthelowchairbyhisbed。Sostillshesatinawhiteloosegown,palewithwatching,hereyesimmovablyfixedonhim,herlipspressedtogether,andquiveringathisfaintestmotion。Hedrankindesperatelythesweetnessofherface,whichhadsolostremembranceofself。
CHAPTERX
Barbaragavethenewsofherbrother\'sillnesstonooneelse,commonsensetellinghertorunnoriskofdisturbance。Ofherowninitiative,shebroughtadoctor,andwentdowntwiceadaytohearreportsofMiltoun\'sprogress。
Asafact,herfatherandmotherhadgonetoLordDennis,forGoodwood,andthechiefdifficultyhadbeentoexcuseherownneglectofthatfavouriteMeeting。Shehadfallenbackonthehalf—truththatEustacewantedherinTown;and,sinceLordandLadyValleyshadneitherofthemshakenoffacertainuneasinessabouttheirson,thepretextsufficed:
Itwasnotuntilthesixthday,whenthecrisiswaswellpastandMiltounquitefreefromfever,thatsheagainwentdowntoNettlefold。
Onarrivingsheatoncesoughtouthermother,whomshefoundinherbedroom,resting。IthadbeenveryhotatGoodwood。
Barbarawasnotafraidofher——shewasnot,indeed,afraidofanyone,exceptMiltoun,andinsomestrangeway,alittleperhapsofCourtier;yet,whenthemaidhadgone,shedidnotatoncebeginhertale。LadyValleys,whoatGoodwoodhadjusthearddetailsofaSocietyscandal,beganacarefullyexpurgatedaccountofitsuitabletoherdaughter\'sears——forsomeaccountshefeltshemustgivetosomebody。
\"Mother,\"saidBarbarasuddenly,\"Eustacehasbeenill。He\'soutofdangernow,andgoingonallright。\"Then,lookinghardatthebewilderedlady,sheadded:\"Mrs。Noelisnursinghim。\"
Thepasttenseinwhichillnesshadbeenmentioned,checkingatthefirstmomentanyrushofpanicinLadyValleys,leftherconfusedbythesituationconjuredupinBarbara\'slastwords。Insteadoffeedingthatpartofmanwhichlovesascandal,shewasbeingfed,alwaysanunenviablesensation。Awomandidnotnurseamanundersuchcircumstanceswithoutbeingeverythingtohim,intheworld\'seyes。Herdaughterwenton:
\"Itookhertohim。Itseemedtheonlythingtodo——sinceit\'sallthroughfrettingforher。Nobodyknows,ofcourse,exceptthedoctor,and——Stacey。\"
\"Heavens！\"mutteredLadyValleys。
\"Ithassavedhim。\"
ThemotherinstinctinLadyValleystooksuddenfright。\"Areyoutellingmethetruth,Babs？Ishereallyoutofdanger？Howwrongofyounottoletmeknowbefore？\"
ButBarbaradidnotflinch;andhermotherrelapsedintorumination。
\"Staceyisacat！\"shesaidsuddenly。Theexpurgateddetailsofthescandalshehadbeenretailingtoherdaughterhadincludedtheusualmaid。Shecouldnotfinditinhertoenjoytheironyofthiscoincidence。Then,seeingBarbarasmile,shesaidtartly:
\"Ifailtoseethejoke。\"
\"OnlythatIthoughtyou\'denjoymythrowingStaceyin,dear。\"
\"What！Youmeanshedoesn\'tknow？\"
\"Notaword。\"
LadyValleyssmiled。
\"Whatalittlewretchyouare,Babs！\"Maliciouslysheadded:\"ClaudandhismotherarecomingoverfromWhitewater,withBertieandLilyMalvezin,you\'dbettergoanddress;\"andhereyessearchedherdaughter\'ssoshrewdly,thataflushrosetothegirl\'scheeks。
Whenshehadgone,LadyValleysrangforhermaidagain,andrelapsedintomeditation。Herfirstthoughtwastoconsultherhusband;hersecondthatsecrecywasstrength。SincenooneknewbutBarbara,noonehadbetterknow。
Herastutenessandexperiencecomprehendedthefar—reachingprobabilitiesofthisaffair。Itwouldnotdototakeasinglefalsestep。Ifshehadnoone\'sactiontocontrolbutherownandBarbara\'s,somuchthelesschanceofaslip。Hermindwasastrangemedleyofthoughtsandfeelings,almostcomic,well—nightragic;ofworldlyprudence,andmotherlyinstinct;ofwarm—bloodedsympathywithalllove—affairs,andcool—bloodedconcernforherson\'scareer。
Itwasnotyettoolateperhapstopreventrealmischief;especiallysinceitwasagreedbyeveryonethatthewomanwasnoadventuress。
Whateverwasdone,theymustnotforgetthatshehadnursedhim——
savedhim,Barbarahadsaid！Shemustbetreatedwithallkindnessandconsideration。
Hasteninghertoilette,sheinturnwenttoherdaughter\'sroom。
Barbarawasalreadydressed,leaningoutofherwindowtowardsthesea。
LadyValleysbeganalmosttimidly:
\"Mydear,isEustaceoutofbedyet？\"
\"Hewastogetupto—dayforanhourortwo。\"
\"Isee。Now,wouldtherebeanydangerifyouandIwentupandtookchargeoverfromMrs。Noel？\"
\"PoorEusty！\"
\"Yes,yes！But,exerciseyourjudgment。Woulditharmhim？\"
Barbarawassilent。\"No,\"shesaidatlast,\"Idon\'tsupposeitwould,now;butit\'sforthedoctortosay。\"
LadyValleysexhibitedamanifestrelief。
\"We\'llseehimfirst,ofcourse。Eustacewillhavetohaveanordinarynurse,Isuppose,forabit。\"
LookingstealthilyatBarbara,sheadded:
\"Imeantobeverynicetoher;butonemustn\'tberomantic,youknow,Babs。\"
>FromthelittlesmileonBarbara\'slipsshederivednosenseofcertainty;indeedshewasvisitedbyallherlatedisquietudeaboutheryoungdaughter,byallthefeelingthatshe,aswellasMiltoun,washoveringonthevergeofsomefolly。
\"Well,mydear,\"shesaid,\"Iamgoingdown。\"
ButBarbaralingeredalittlelongerinthatbedroomwheretennightsagoshehadlaintossing,tillindespairshewentandcooledherselfinthedarksea。
HerlastlittleinterviewwithCourtierstoodbetweenherandafreshmeetingwithHarbinger,whomattheValleysHousegatheringshehadnotsufferedtobealonewithher。Shecamedownlate。
Thatsameevening,outonthebeachroad,underaskyswarmingwithstars,thepeoplewerestrolling——folkfromthetowns,downfortheirfortnight\'sholiday。Intwosandthrees,inpartiesofsixoreight,theypassedthewallattheendofLordDennis\'slittledomain;andthesoundoftheirsparsetalkandlaughter,togetherwiththesighingoftheyoungwaves,wasblownoverthewalltotheearsofHarbinger,Bertie,Barbara,andLilyMalvezin,whentheystrolledoutafterdinnertosniffthesea。Theholiday—makersstareddullyatthefourfiguresineveningdresslookingoutabovetheirheads;theyhadotherthingsthanthesetothinkof,becomingmoreandmoresilentasthenightgrewdark。Thefouryoungpeopletoowererathersilent。Therewassomethinginthiswarmnight,withitssighing,anditsdarkness,anditsstars,thatwasnotfavourabletotalk,sothatpresentlytheysplitintocouples,driftingalittleapart。
Standingthere,grippingthewall,itseemedtoHarbingerthattherewerenowordsleftintheworld。Notevenhisworstenemycouldhavecalledthisyoungmanromantic;yetthatfigurebesidehim,thegleamofherneckandherpalecheekinthedark,gavehimperhapsthemostpoignantglimpseofmysterythathehadeverhad。Hismind,essentiallythatofamanofaffairs,bynatureandbyhabitathomeamongstthematerialaspectsofthings,wasbutgropinglyconsciousthathere,inthisdarknight,andthedarksea,andthepalefigureofthisgirlwhoseheartwasdarktohimandsecret,therewasperhapssomething——yes,something——whichsurpassedtheconfinesofhisphilosophy,somethingbeckoninghimonoutofhissnugcompoundintothedesertofdivinity。Ifso,itwassoongoneintheachingofhissensesatthescentofherhair,andthelongingtoescapefromthisweirdsilence。
\"Babs,\"hesaid;\"haveyouforgivenme？\"
Heranswercame,withoutturnofhead,natural,indifferent:
\"Yes——Itoldyouso。\"
\"Isthatallyouhavetosaytoafellow？\"
\"Whatshallwetalkabout——therunningofCasetta？\"
DeepdownwithinhimHarbingerutteredanoiselessoath。Somethingsinisterwasmakingherbehavelikethistohim！Itwasthatfellow—
—thatfellow！Andsuddenlyhesaid:
\"Tellmethis————\"thenspeechseemedtostickinhisthroat。No！
Iftherewereanythinginthat,hepreferrednottohearit。Therewasalimit！
Downbelow,apairofloverspassed,verysilent,theirarmsroundeachother\'swaists。
Barbaraturnedandwalkedawaytowardsthehouse。