the patrician-第10章
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But into Lady Valleys' answer； 〃I don't agree with it a bit； you
know！〃 there had crept a touch of asperity； as though she knew that
he had smiled inside。 〃What we want preached in these days are the
warlike virtuesespecially by a warrior。〃
〃Believe me； Lady Valleys； the warlike virtues are best left to men
of more virgin imagination。〃
He received a quick look； and the words： 〃Anyway； I'm sure you don't
care a rap for politics。 You know Mrs。 Lees Noel； don't you？ What a
pretty woman she is！〃
But as she spoke Courtier saw a young girl coming along the terrace。
She had evidently been riding； for she wore high boots and a skirt
which had enabled her to sit astride。 Her eyes were blue； and her
hairthe colour of beech…leaves in autumn with the sun shining
throughwas coiled up tight under a small soft hat。 She was tall；
and moved towards them like one endowed with great length from the
hip joint to the knee。 Joy of life； serene； unconscious vigour；
seemed to radiate from her whole face and figure。
At Lady Valleys' words：
〃Ah； Babs！ My daughter BarbaraMr。 Courtier；〃 he put out his hand；
received within it some gauntleted fingers held out with a smile； and
heard her say：
〃Miltoun's gone up to Town； Mother； I was going to motor in to
Bucklandbury with a message he gave me； so I can fetch Granny out
from the station：〃
〃You had better take Ann； or she'll make our lives a burden； and
perhaps Mr。 Courtier would like an airing。 Is your knee fit； do you
think？〃
Glancing at the apparition； Courtier replied：
〃It is。〃
Never since the age of seven had he been able to look on feminine
beauty without a sense of warmth and faint excitement； and seeing now
perhaps the most beautiful girl he had ever beheld； he desired to be
with her wherever she might be going。 There was too something very
fascinating in the way she smiled； as if she had a little seen
through his sentiments。
〃Well then；〃 she said； 〃we'd better look for Ann。〃
After short but vigorous search little Ann was foundin the car；
instinct having told her of a forward movement in which it was her
duty to take part。 And soon they had started； Ann between them in
that peculiar state of silence to which she became liable when really
interested。
》From the Monkland estate； flowered； lawned； and timbered； to the open
moor； was like passing to another world； for no sooner was the last
lodge of the Western drive left behind； than there came into sudden
view the most pagan bit of landscape in all England。 In this wild
parliament…house； clouds； rocks； sun； and winds met and consulted。
The 'old' men； too； had left their spirits among the great stones；
which lay couched like lions on the hill…tops； under the white
clouds； and their brethren； the hunting buzzard hawks。 Here the very
rocks were restless； changing form； and sense； and colour from day to
day； as though worshipping the unexpected； and refusing themselves to
law。 The winds too in their passage revolted against their courses；
and came tearing down wherever there were combes or crannies； so that
men in their shelters might still learn the power of the wild gods。
The wonders of this prospect were entirely lost on little Ann； and
somewhat so on Courtier； deeply engaged in reconciling those two
alien principles； courtesy； and the love of looking at a pretty face。
He was wondering too what this girl of twenty； who had the self…
possession of a woman of forty； might be thinking。 It was little Ann
who broke the silence。
〃Auntie Babs； it wasn't a very strong house； was it？〃
Courtier looked in the direction of her small finger。 There was the
wreck of a little house； which stood close to a stone man who had
obviously possessed that hill before there were men of flesh。 Over
one corner of the sorry ruin； a single patch of roof still clung； but
the rest was open。
〃He was a silly man to build it； wasn't he； Ann？ That's why they
call it Ashman's Folly。〃
〃Is he alive？〃
〃Not quiteit's just a hundred years ago。〃
〃What made him build it here？〃
〃He hated women； andthe roof fell in on him。〃
〃Why did he hate women？〃
〃He was a crank。〃
〃What is a crank？〃
〃Ask Mr。 Courtier。〃
Under this girl's calm quizzical glance； Courtier endeavoured to find
an answer to that question。
〃A crank；〃 he said slowly； 〃is a man like me。〃
He heard a little laugh； and became acutely conscious of Ann's
dispassionate examining eyes。
〃Is Uncle Eustace a crank？〃
〃You know now； Mr。 Courtier； what Ann thinks of you。 You think a
good deal of Uncle Eustace； don't you； Ann？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ann； and fixed her eyes before her。 But Courtier gazed
sidewaysover her hatless head。
His exhilaration was increasing every moment。 This girl reminded him
of a two…year…old filly he had once seen； stepping out of Ascot
paddock for her first race； with the sun glistening on her satin
chestnut skin； her neck held high； her eyes all fireas sure to win；
as that grass was green。 It was difficult to believe her Miltoun's
sister。 It was difficult to believe any of those four young Caradocs
related。 The grave ascetic Miltoun； wrapped in the garment of his
spirit； mild； domestic； strait…laced Agatha； Bertie； muffled； shrewd；
and steely； and this frank； joyful conquering Barbarathe range was
wide。
But the car had left the moor； and； down a steep hill； was passing
the small villas and little grey workmen's houses outside the town of
Bucklandbury。
〃Ann and I have to go on to Miltoun's headquarters。 Shall I drop you
at the enemy's； Mr。 Courtier？ Stop； please； Frith。〃
And before Courtier could assent； they had pulled up at a house on
which was inscribed with extraordinary vigour： 〃Chilcox for
Bucklandbury。〃
Hobbling into the Committee…room of Mr。 Humphrey Chilcox； which
smelled of paint； Courtier took with him the scented memory of youth；
and ambergris； and Harris tweed。
In that room three men were assembled round a table； the eldest of
whom； endowed with little grey eyes； a stubbly beard； and that
mysterious something only found in those who have been mayors； rose
at once and came towards him。
〃Mr。 Courtier； I believe；〃 he said bluffly。 〃Glad to see you； sir。
Most distressed to hear of this outrage。 Though in a way； it's done
us good。 Yes； really。 Grossly against fair play。 Shouldn't be
surprised if it turned a couple of hundred votes。 You carry the
effects of it about with you； I see。〃
A thin； refined man； with wiry hair； also came up； holding a
newspaper in his hand。
〃It has had one rather embarrassing effect；〃 he said。 〃Read this
'OUTRAGE ON A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR。
'LORD MILTOUN'S EVENING ADVENTURE。'〃
Courtier read a paragraph。
The man with the little eyes broke the ominous silence which ensued。
〃One of our side must have seen the whole thing； jumped on his
bicycle and brought in the account before they went to press。 They
make no imputation on the ladysimply state the facts。 Quite
enough；〃 he added with impersonal grimness； 〃I think he's done for
himself； sir。〃
The man with the refined face added nervously：
〃We couldn't help it； Mr。 Courtier； I really don't know what we can
do。 I don't like it a bit。〃
〃Has your candidate seen this？〃 Courtier asked。
〃Can't have；〃 struck in the third Committee…man； 〃we hadn't seen it
ourselves until an hour ago。〃
〃I should never have permitted it；〃 said the man with the refined
face； 〃I blame the editor greatly。〃
〃Come to that〃 said the little…eyed man； 〃it's a plain piece of
news。 If it makes a stir； that's not our fault。 The paper imputes
nothing； it states。 Position of the lady happens to do the rest。
Can't help it； and moreover； sir； speaking for self； don't want to。
We'll have no loose morals in public life down here； please God！〃
There was real feeling in his words； then； catching sight of
Courtier's face； he added： 〃Do you know this lady？〃
〃Ever since she was a child。 Anyone who speaks evil of her； has to
reckon with me。〃
The man with the refined face said earnestly：
〃Believe me； Mr。 Courtier； I entirely sympathize。 We had nothing to
do with the paragraph。 It's one of those incidents
