"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。