the patrician-第58章
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〃No doubt you had the best of reasons； my dear。〃
Barbara curled her lip。 Had it not been for the scene they had been
through that day with Miltoun； and for their very real anxiety； both
would have seen； then； that while their daughter was in this mood；
least said was soonest mended。 But their nerves were not quite
within control； and with more than a touch of impatience Lord Valleys
ejaculated：
〃It doesn't appear to you； I suppose； to require any explanation？〃
Barbara answered：
〃No。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Lord Valleys： 〃I see。 An explanation can be had no doubt
from the gentleman whose sense of proportion was such as to cause him
to suggest such a thing。〃
〃He did not suggest it。 I did。〃
Lord Valleys' eyebrows rose still higher。
〃Indeed！〃 he said。
〃Geoffrey！〃 murmured Lady Valleys； 〃I thought I was to talk to Babs。〃
〃It would no doubt be wiser。〃
In Barbara； thus for the first time in her life seriously
reprimanded； there was at work the most peculiar sensation she had
ever felt； as if something were scraping her very skina sick； and
at the same time devilish； feeling。 At that moment she could have
struck her father dead。 But she showed nothing； having lowered the
lids of her eyes。
〃Anything else？〃 she said。
Lord Valleys' jaw had become suddenly more prominent。
〃As a sequel to your share in Miltoun's business； it is peculiarly
entrancing。〃
〃My dear；〃 broke in Lady Valleys very suddenly； 〃Babs will tell me。
It's nothing； of course。〃
Barbara's calm voice said again：
〃Anything else？〃
The repetition of this phrase in that maddening； cool voice almost
broke down her father's sorely tried control。
〃Nothing from you；〃 he said with deadly coldness。 〃I shall have the
honour of telling this gentleman what I think of him。〃
At those words Barbara drew herself together； and turned her eyes
from one face to the other。
Under that gaze； which for all its cool hardness； was so furiously
alive； neither Lord nor Lady Valleys could keep quite still。 It was
as if she had stripped from them the well…bred mask of those whose
spirits； by long unquestioning acceptance of themselves； have become
inelastic； inexpansive； commoner than they knew。 In fact a rather
awful moment！ Then Barbara said：
〃If there's nothing else； I'm going to bed。 Goodnight！〃
And as calmly as she had come in； she went out。
When she had regained her room； she locked the door； threw off her
cloak； and looked at herself in the glass。 With pleasure she saw how
firmly her teeth were clenched； how her breast was heaving； and how
her eyes seemed to be stabbing herself。 And all the time she
thought：
〃Very well！ My dears！ Very well！〃
CHAPTER XXV
In that mood of rebellious mortification she fell asleep。 And；
curiously enough； dreamed not of him whom she had in mind been so
furiously defending； but of Harbinger。 She fancied herself in
prison； lying in a cell fashioned like the drawing…room at Sea house；
and in the next cell； into which she could somehow look； Harbinger
was digging at the wall with his nails。 She could distinctly see the
hair on the back of his hands； and hear him breathing。 The hole he
was making grew larger and larger。 Her heart began to beat
furiously； she awoke。
She rose with a new and malicious resolution to show no sign of
rebellion； to go through the day as if nothing had happened； to
deceive them all； and then！ Exactly what 'and then' meant； she did
not explain even to herself。
In accordance with this plan of action she presented an untroubled
front at breakfast； went out riding with little Ann； and shopping
with her mother afterwards。 Owing to this news of Miltoun the
journey to Scotland had been postponed。 She parried with cool
ingenuity each attempt made by Lady Valleys to draw her into
conversation on the subject of that meeting at Gustard's； nor would
she talk of her brother； in every other way she was her usual self。
In the afternoon she even volunteered to accompany her mother to old
Lady Harbinger's in the neighbourhood of Prince's Gate。 She knew
that Harbinger would be there； and with the thought of meeting that
other at 'five o'clock；' had a cynical pleasure in thus encountering
him。 It was so complete a blind to them all！ Then； feeling that she
was accomplishing a masterstroke； she even told him； in her mother's
hearing； that she would walk home； and he might come if he cared。 He
did care。
But when once she had begun to swing along in the mellow afternoon；
under the mellow trees； where the air was sweetened by the South…West
wind； all that mutinous； reckless mood of hers vanished； she felt
suddenly happy and kind； glad to be walking with him。 To…day too he
was cheerful； as if determined not to spoil her gaiety； and she was
grateful for this。 Once or twice she even put her hand up and
touched his sleeve； calling his attention to birds or trees；
friendly； and glad； after all those hours of bitter feelings； to be
giving happiness。 When they parted at the door of Valleys House； she
looked back at him with a queer； half…rueful smile。 For； now the
hour had come！
In a little unfrequented ante…room； all white panels and polish； she
sat down to wait。 The entrance drive was visible from here； and she
meant to encounter Courtier casually in the hall。 She was excited；
and a little scornful of her own excitement。 She had expected him to
be punctual； but it was already past five； and soon she began to feel
uneasy； almost ridiculous； sitting in this room where no one ever
came。 Going to the window； she looked out。
A sudden voice behind her； said：
〃Auntie Babs！〃。
Turning； she saw little Ann regarding her with those wide； frank；
hazel eyes。 A shiver of nerves passed through Barbara。
〃Is this your room？ It's a nice room； isn't it？〃
She answered：
〃Quite a nice room； Ann。〃
〃Yes。 I've never been in here before。 There's somebody just come；
so I must go now。〃
Barbara involuntarily put her hands up to her cheeks； and quickly
passed with her niece into the hall。 At the very door the footman
William handed her a note。 She looked at the superscription。 It was
from Courtier。 She went back into the room。 Through its half…closed
door the figure of little Ann could be seen； with her legs rather
wide apart； and her hands clasped on her low…down belt； pointing up
at William her sudden little nose。 Barbara shut the door abruptly；
broke the seal； and read：
〃DEAR LADY BARBARA；
〃I am sorry to say my interview with your brother was fruitless。
〃I happened to be sitting in the Park just now； and I want to wish
you every happiness before I go。 It has been the greatest pleasure
to know you。 I shall never have a thought of you that will not be my
pride； nor a memory that will not help me to believe that life is
good。 If I am tempted to feel that things are dark； I shall remember
that you are breathing this same mortal air。 And to beauty and joy'
I shall take off my hat with the greater reverence； that once I was
permitted to walk and talk； with you。 And so； good…bye； and God
bless you。
Your faithful servant；
〃CHARLES COURTIER。〃
Her cheeks burned； quick sighs escaped her lips； she read the letter
again； but before getting to the end could not see the words for
mist。 If in that letter there had been a word of complaint or even
of regret！ She could not let him go like this； without good…bye；
without any explanation at all。 He should not think of her as a
cold； stony flirt； who had been merely stealing a few weeks'
amusement out of him。 She would explain to him at all events that it
had not been that。 She would make him understand that it was not
what he thoughtthat something in her wantedwanted！ Her mind
was all confused。 〃What was it？〃 she thought： 〃What did I do？〃 And
sore with anger at herself； she screwed the letter up in her glove；
and ran out。 She walked swiftly down to Piccadilly； and crossed into
the Green Park。 There she passed Lord Malvezin and a friend
strolling up towards Hyde Park Corner； and gave them a very faint
bow。 The composure of those two precise a
