the patrician-第44章
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〃I mean to be very nice to her； but one mustn't be romantic； you
know； Babs。〃
》From the little smile on Barbara's lips she derived no sense of
certainty； indeed she was visited by all her late disquietude about
her young daughter； by all the feeling that she； as well as Miltoun；
was hovering on the verge of some folly。
〃Well； my dear；〃 she said； 〃I am going down。〃
But Barbara lingered a little longer in that bedroom where ten nights
ago she had lain tossing； till in despair she went and cooled herself
in the dark sea。
Her last little interview with Courtier stood between her and a fresh
meeting with Harbinger； whom at the Valleys House gathering she had
not suffered to be alone with her。 She came down late。
That same evening； out on the beach road； under a sky swarming with
stars； the people were strollingfolk from the towns； down for their
fortnight's holiday。 In twos and threes； in parties of six or eight；
they passed the wall at the end of Lord Dennis's little domain； and
the sound of their sparse talk and laughter； together with the
sighing of the young waves； was blown over the wall to the ears of
Harbinger； Bertie； Barbara； and Lily Malvezin； when they strolled out
after dinner to sniff the sea。 The holiday…makers stared dully at
the four figures in evening dress looking out above their heads； they
had other things than these to think of； becoming more and more
silent as the night grew dark。 The four young people too were rather
silent。 There was something in this warm night； with its sighing；
and its darkness； and its stars； that was not favourable to talk； so
that presently they split into couples； drifting a little apart。
Standing there； gripping the wall； it seemed to Harbinger that there
were no words left in the world。 Not even his worst enemy could have
called this young man romantic； yet that figure beside him； the gleam
of her neck and her pale cheek in the dark； gave him perhaps the most
poignant glimpse of mystery that he had ever had。 His mind；
essentially that of a man of affairs； by nature and by habit at home
amongst the material aspects of things； was but gropingly conscious
that here； in this dark night； and the dark sea； and the pale figure
of this girl whose heart was dark to him and secret； there was
perhaps somethingyes； somethingwhich surpassed the confines of
his philosophy； something beckoning him on out of his snug compound
into the desert of divinity。 If so； it was soon gone in the aching
of his senses at the scent of her hair； and the longing to escape
from this weird silence。
〃Babs；〃 he said； 〃have you forgiven me？〃
Her answer came； without turn of head； natural； indifferent：
〃YesI told you so。〃
〃Is that all you have to say to a fellow？〃
〃What shall we talk aboutthe running of Casetta？〃
Deep down within him Harbinger uttered a noiseless oath。 Something
sinister was making her behave like this to him！ It was that fellow…
…that fellow！ And suddenly he said：
〃Tell me this〃 then speech seemed to stick in his throat。 No！
If there were anything in that； he preferred not to hear it。 There
was a limit！
Down below； a pair of lovers passed； very silent； their arms round
each other's waists。
Barbara turned and walked away towards the house。
CHAPTER XI
The days when Miltoun was first allowed out of bed were a time of
mingled joy and sorrow to her who had nursed him。 To see him sitting
up； amazed at his own weakness； was happiness； yet to think that he
would be no more wholly dependent； no more that sacred thing； a
helpless creature； brought her the sadness of a mother whose child no
longer needs her。 With every hour he would now get farther from her；
back into the fastnesses of his own spirit。 With every hour she
would be less his nurse and comforter； more the woman he loved。 And
though that thought shone out in the obscure future like a glamorous
flower； it brought too much wistful uncertainty to the present。 She
was very tired； too； now that all excitement was overso tired that
she hardly knew what she did or where she moved。 But a smile had
become so faithful to her eyes that it clung there above the shadows
of fatigue； and kept taking her lips prisoner。
Between the two bronze busts she had placed a bowl of lilies of the
valley； and every free niche in that room of books had a little vase
of roses to welcome Miltoun's return。
He was lying back in his big leather chair； wrapped in a Turkish gown
of Lord Valleys'on which Barbara had laid hands； having failed to
find anything resembling a dressing…gown amongst her brother's
austere clothing。 The perfume of lilies had overcome the scent of
books； and a bee； dusky； adventurer； filled the room with his
pleasant humming。
They did not speak； but smiled faintly； looking at one another。 In
this still moment； before passion had returned to claim its own；
their spirits passed through the sleepy air； and became entwined； so
that neither could withdraw that soft； slow； encountering glance。 In
mutual contentment； each to each； close as music to the strings of a
violin； their spirits clungso lost； the one in the other； that
neither for that brief time seemed to know which was self。
In fulfilment of her resolution； Lady Valleys； who had returned to
Town by a morning train； started with Barbara for the Temple about
three in the after noon； and stopped at the doctor's on the way。 The
whole thing would be much simpler if Eustace were fit to be moved at
once to Valleys House； and with much relief she found that the doctor
saw no danger in this course。 The recovery had been remarkable
touch and go for bad brain fever just avoided！ Lord Miltoun's
constitution was extremely sound。 Yes； he would certainly favour a
removal。 His rooms were too confined in this weather。 Well nursed
decidedly） Oh； yes！ Quite！ And the doctor's eyes became perhaps a
trifle more intense。 Not a professional； he understood。 It might be
as well to have another nurse； if they were making the change。 They
would have this lady knocking up。 Just so！ Yes； he would see to
that。 An ambulance carriage he thought advisable。 That could all be
arranged for this afternoonat oncehe himself would look to it。
They might take Lord Miltoun off just as he was； the men would know
what to do。 And when they had him at Valleys House； the moment he
showed interest in his food； down to the sea…down to the sea！ At
this time of year nothing like it！ Then with regard to nourishment；
he would be inclined already to shove in a leetle stimulant； a
thimbleful perhaps four times a day with foodnot withoutmixed
with an egg； with arrowroot； with custard。 A week would see him on
his legs； a fortnight at the sea make him as good a man as ever。
Overworkburning the candlea leetlemore would have seen a very
different state of things！ Quite so！ quite so！ Would come round
himself before dinner； and make sure。 His patient might feel it just
at first！ He bowed Lady Valleys out； and when she had gone； sat down
at his telephone with a smile flickering on his clean…cut lips；
Greatly fortified by this interview； Lady Valleys rejoined her
daughter in the ear； but while it slid on amongst the multitudinous
traffic； signs of unwonted nervousness began to start out through the
placidity of her face。
〃I wish； my dear；〃 she said suddenly； 〃that someone else had to do
this。 Suppose Eustace refuses！〃
〃He won't；〃 Barbara answered； 〃she looks so tired； poor dear。
Besides〃
Lady Valleys gazed with curiosity at that young face； which had
flushed pink。 Yes； this daughter of hers was a woman already； with
all a woman's intuitions。 She said gravely：
〃It was a rash stroke of yours； Babs； let's hope it won't lead to
disaster。〃
Barbara bit her lips。
〃If you'd seen him as I saw him！ And； what disaster？ Mayn't they
love each other； if they want？〃
Lady Valleys swallowed a grimace。 It was so exactly her own point of
view。 And yet！
〃That's only the beginning；〃 she said； 〃you forget the sort of boy
Eustace is。〃
〃Why can't the poor thing be let out of her cage？〃 cried Barbara。
〃What good does it do to anyone？ Mother； if ever； w
