Hallo,Susie！"
　　Courtiersawherslideaway,andjointhelittlepaleadoringfigureofthelodge—keeper'sdaughter。
　　Thecarpassedoutintothelane。
　　IfLadyCasterleyhadplannedthisdisclosure,whichindeedshehadnot,fortheimpulsehadonlycomeoverheratthesoundofCourtier'slaugh,shecouldnothave,devisedonemoreeffectual,fortherewasdeepdowninhimallawanderer'sveryrealdistrust,,amountingalmosttocontempt,ofpeoplesosettledanddonefor;asaristocratsorbourgeois,andallamanofaction'shorrorofwhathecalledpukingandmuling。ThepursuitofBarbarawithanyotherobjectbutthatofmarriagehadnaturallynotoccurredtoonewhohadlittlesenseofconventionalmorality,butmuchself—respect;andasecretendeavourtocutoutHarbinger,endinginamarriagewhereathewouldfigureasasortofpirate,wasquiteaslittletothetasteofamannotunaccustomedtothinkhimselfasgoodasotherpeople。
　　HecausedthecartodeviateupthelanethatledtoAudreyNoel's,hatingtogoawaywithoutahailofcheertothatshipindistress。
　　Shecameouttohimontheverandah。Fromtheclaspofherhand,thinandfaintlybrowned——thehandofawomanneverquiteidle——hefeltthatshereliedonhimtounderstandandsympathize;andnothingsoawakenedthebestinCourtierassuchmuteappealstohisprotection。Hesaidgently:
　　"Don'tletthemthinkyou'redown;"and,squeezingherhandhard:
　　"Whyshouldyoubewastedlikethis？It'sasinandshame！"
　　Buthestoppedinwhathefelttobeanunluckyspeechatsightofherface,whichwithoutmovementexpressedsomuchmorethanhiswords。Hewasprotestingasacivilizedman;herfacewastheprotestofNature,thesoundlessdeclarationofbeautywastedagainstitswill,beautythatwaslife'sinvitationtotheembracewhichgavelifebirth。
　　"I'mclearingout,myself,"hesaid:"YouandI,youknow,arenotgoodforthesepeople。Nobirdsoffreedomallowed！"
　　Pressinghishand,sheturnedawayintothehouse,leavingCourtiergazingatthepatchofairwhereherwhitefigurehadstood。HehadalwayshadaspecialprotectivefeelingforAudreyNoel,afeelingwhichwithbutlittleencouragementmighthavebecomesomethingwarmer。Butsinceshehadbeenplacedinheranomalousposition,hewouldnotfortheworldhavebrushedthedewoffherbeliefthatshecouldtrusthim。And,nowthathehadfixedhisowngazeelsewhere,andshewasinthisbittertrouble,hefeltonheraccounttherancourthatabrotherfeelswhenJusticeandPityhaveconspiredtoflouthissister。ThevoiceofFriththechauffeurrousedhimfromgloomyreverie。
　　"LadyBarbara,sir！"
　　Followingtheman'seyes,Courtiersawagainstthesky—lineontheforaboveAshman'sFolly,anequestrianstatue。Hestoppedthecaratonce,andgotout。
　　Hereachedherattheruin,screenedfromtheroad,bythatdivinechancewhichattendsonmenwhotakecarethatitshall。Hecouldnottellwhethersheknewofhisapproach,andhewouldhavegivenallhehad,whichwasnotmuch,tohaveseenthroughthestiffgreyofhercoat,andthesoftcreamofherbody,intothatmysteriouscave,herheart。Tohavebeenforamoment,likeAshman,doneforgoodandallwithmaterialthings,andlivingthewhitelifewherearenobarriersbetweenmanandwoman。Thesmileonherlipssobaffledhim,puffedtherebyherspirit,asafirstflowerispuffedthroughthesurfaceofearthtomockatthespringwinds。Howtellwhatitsignified！Yetheratherpridedhimselfonhisknowledgeofwomen,ofwhomhehadseensomething。Butallhefoundtosaywas:
　　"I'mgladofthischance。"
　　Thensuddenlylookingup,hefoundherstrangelypaleandquivering。
　　"IshallseeyouinLondon！"shesaid;and,touchingherhorsewithherwhip,withoutlookingback,sherodeawayoverthehill。
　　Courtierreturnedtothemoorroad,andgettingintothecar,muttered:
　　"Faster,please,Frith！"……
　　CHAPTERXXII
　　PollingwasalreadyinbriskprogresswhenCourtierarrivedinBucklandbury;andpartlyfromanotunnaturalinterestintheresult,partlyfromahalf—unconsciousclingingtothechanceofcatchinganotherglimpseofBarbara,hetookhisbagtothehotel,determinedtostayfortheannouncementofthepoll。StrollingoutintotheHighStreethebeganobservingthehumoursoftheday。Thebloomofpoliticalbeliefhadlongbeenbrushedoffthewingsofonewhohadsoflowntheworld'swinds。Hehadseentoomuchofmorevividcolourstobecapablenowofveneratinggreatlythedullanddubioustintsofblueandyellow。Theylefthimfeelingextremelyphilosophic。Yetitwasimpossibletogetawayfromthem,fortheveryworldthatdayseemedblueandyellow,nordidthethirdcolourofredadoptedbybothsidesaffordanyclearassurancethateithercouldseevirtueintheother;rather,itseemedtosymbolizethedesireofeachtohavehisenemy'sblood。ButCourtiersoonobservedbythelookscastathisowndetached,andperhapssarcastic,face,thatevenmorehatefultoeithersidethanitsantagonist,wasthephilosophiceye。Unanimouswasthelongingtoheavehalfabrickatitwheneveritshoweditself。Withitsd———dimpartiality,itshabitoflookingthroughtheintegumentofthingstoseeiftheremightbeanythinginside,hefeltthattheyregardeditastherealadversary—
　　—theeternalfoetoallthelittlefat'facts,'who,dressedupinblueandyellow,wereswaggeringandstaggering,callingeachothernames,wipingeachother'seyes,bloodingeachother'snoses。Totheselittlesolemndeliciouscreatures,allfrontandnobehind,thephilosophiceye,withitshabitoflookingroundthecorner,wasclearlydetestable。Theveryyellowandverybluebodiesoftheseroisteringsmallwarriorswiththeirhandsontheirtinswordsandtheirlipsontheirtintrumpets,startedupineverywindowandoneverywallconfrontingeachcitizeninturn,persuadinghimthattheyandtheyaloneweretakinghimtoWestminster。Norhadtheyapparentlyforthemostpartmuchtroublewithelectors,who,findinguncertaintydistasteful,passionatelydesiredtobeassuredthatthecountrycouldatoncebesavedbylittleyellowfactsorlittlebluefacts,asthecasemightbe;whohad,nodoubt,adozenothergoodreasonsforbeingontheonesideortheother;as,forinstance,thattheirfatherhadbeensobeforethem;thattheirbreadwasbutteredyelloworbutteredblue;thattheyhadbeenontheothersidelasttime;thattheyhadthoughtitoverandmadeuptheirminds;thattheyhadinnocentblueornaiveyellowbeerwithin;thathislordshipwastheman;orthatthewordspropertotheirmouthswere'ChilcoxforBucklandbury';and,aboveall,theonereallycreditablereason,that,sofarastheycouldtellwiththebestoftheirintellectandfeelings,thetruthatthemomentwaseitherblueoryellow。
　　Thenarrowhighstreetwasthrongedwithvoters。Tallpolicemenstationedtherehadnothingtodo。Thecertaintyofall,thattheyweregoingtowin,seemedtokeepeveryoneingoodhumour。Therewasasyetnoneedtobreakanyone'shead,forthoughthesharpestlookoutwaskeptforanysignsofthephilosophiceye,itwasonlytobefound——outsideCourtier——intheperambulatorsofbabies,inoneoldmanwhorodeabicyclewaveringlyalongthestreetandstoppedtoaskapolicemanwhatwasthematterinthetown,andintworathergreen—facedfellowswhotrundledbarrowsfulloffavoursbothblueandyellow。
　　ButthoughCourtiereyedthe'facts'withsuchsuspicion,thekeennessofeveryoneaboutthebusinessstruckhimasreallysplendid。Theywentatitwithawill。Havinglookedforwardtoitformonths,theyweregoingtolookbackonitformonths。Itwasevidentlyareligiousceremony,summingupmosthighfeelings;andthisseemedtoonewhowashimselfamanofaction,natural,perhapspathetic,butcertainlynomatterforscorn。
　　Itwasalreadylateintheafternoonwhentherecamedebouchingintothehighstreetalongstringofsandwichmen,eachbearingbeforeandbehindhimapostercontainingthesewordsbeautifullysituatedinlargedarkbluelettersagainstapaleblueground:
　　"NEWCOMPLICATIONS。
　　DANGERNOTPAST。
　　VOTEFORMILTOUNANDTHEGOVERNMENT,ANDSAVETHEEMPIRE。"
　　Courtierstoppedtolookatthemwithpeculiarindignation。NotonlydidthispostertrampinagainonhischerishedconvictionsaboutPeace,buthesawinitsomethingmorethanmettheunphilosophiceye。Itsymbolizedforhimallthatwascatch—pennyinthenationallife—anepitaphonthegraveofgenerosity,unutterablysad。YetfromaPartypointofviewwhatcouldbemorejustifiable？Wasitnotdesperatelyimportantthateverybluenerveshouldbestrainedthatdaytoturnyellownerves,ifnotblue,atalleventsgreen,beforenightfell？WasitnotperfectlytruethattheEmpirecouldonlybesavedbyvotingblue？Couldtheyhelpabluepaperprintingthewords,'Newcomplications,'whichhehadreadthatmorning？Nomorethantheyellowscouldhelpayellowjournalprintingthewords'LordMiltoun'sEveningAdventure。'Theironlybusinesswastowin,everfightingfair。Theyellowshadnotfoughtfair,theyneverdid,andoneoftheirmostunfairtacticswasthewaytheyhadofalwaysaccusingthebluesofunfairfighting,anaccusationtrulyludicrous！
　　Asfortruth！Thatwhichhelpedtheworldtobeblue,wasobviouslytrue;thatwhichdidn't,asobviouslynot。Therewasnomiddlepolicy！Themanwhosawthingsneitherwasasofty,andnopropercitizen。Andasforgivingtheyellowscreditforsincerity——theyellowsnevergavethemcredit！ButthoughCourtierknewallthat,thisposterseemedtohimparticularlydamnable,andhecouldnotforthelifeofhimresiststrikingoneofthesandwich—boardswithhiscane。Theresoundingthwackstartledabutcher'sponystandingbythepavement。Itreared,andboltedforward,withCourtier,whohadnaturallyseizedtherein,hangingon。Adogdashedpast。Courtiertrippedandfell。Thepony,passingover,struckhimontheheadwithahoof。Foramomenthelostconsciousness;thencomingtohimself,refusedassistance,andwenttohishotel。Hefeltverygiddy,and,afterbandaginganastycut,laydownonhisbed。
　　Miltoun,returningfromthatnecessaryexhibitionofhimself,thecrowningfact,ateverypollingcentre,foundtimetogoandseehim。
　　"Thatlastposterofyours！"Courtierbegan,atonce。
　　"I'mhavingitwithdrawn。"
　　"It'sdonethetrick——congratulations——you'llgetin！"
　　"Iknewnothingofit。"
　　"Mydearfellow,Ididn'tsupposeyoudid。"
　　"Whenthereisadesert,Courtier,betweenamanandthesacredcity,hedoesn'trenouncehisjourneybecausehehastowashindirtywaterontheway:Themob——howIloatheit！"
　　Therewassuchpent—upfuryinthosewordsastoastonishevenonewhoselifehadbeenpassedinconflictwithmajorities。
　　"Ihateitsmeanstupidities,Ihatethesoundofitsvoice,andthelookonitsface——it'ssougly,it'ssolittle。Courtier,IsufferpurgatoryfromthethoughtthatIshallscrapeinbythevotesofthemob。ThereissininusingthiscreatureandIamexpiatingit。"
　　Tothisstrangeoutburst,Courtieratfirstmadenoreply。
　　"You'vebeenworkingtoohard,"hesaidatlast,"you'reoffyourbalance。Afterall,themob'smadeupofmenlikeyouandme。"
　　"No,Courtier,themobisnotmadeupofmenlikeyouandme。Ifitwereitwouldnotbethemob。"
　　"Itlooks,"Courtieransweredgravely,"asifyouhadnobusinessinthisgalley。I'vealwayssteeredclearofitmyself。"
　　"Youfollowyourfeelings。Ihavenotthathappiness。"
　　Sosaying,Miltounturnedtothedoor。
　　Courtier'svoicepursuedhimearnestly。
　　"Dropyourpolitics——ifyoufeellikethisaboutthem;don'twasteyourlifefollowingwhateveritisyoufollow;don'twastehers！"
　　ButMiltoundidnotanswer。
　　Itwasawondrousstillnight,when,afewminutesbeforetwelve,withhisforeheadbandagedunderhishat,thechampionoflostcausesleftthehotelandmadehiswaytowardstheGrammarSchoolforthedeclarationofthepoll。Asoundasofsomemonsterbreathingguidedhim,till,fromasteepemptystreethecameinsightofasurgingcrowd,spreadoverthetownsquare,likeadarkcarpetpatternedbysplashesoflamplight。Highupabovethatcrowd,onthelittlepeakedtoweroftheGrammarSchool,abrightlylightedclockfacepresided;andoverthepassionatehopesinthosethousandsofheartsknittogetherbysuspensetheskyhadlifted;andshowednocloudbetweenthemandthepurplefieldsofair。ToCourtierdescendingtowardsthesquare,theswayingwhitefaces,turnedalloneway,seemedliketheheadsofgiantwildflowersinadarkfield,shiveredbywind。Thenighthadcharmedawaytheblueandyellowfacts,andbreatheddownintothatthrongthespiritofemotion。Andherealizedallatoncethebeautyandmeaningofthisscene——expressionofthequiveringforces,whoseperpetualflux,controlledbytheSpiritofBalance,wasthesouloftheworld。Thousandsofheartswiththethoughtofselflostinoneover—masteringexcitement！
　　Anoldmanwithalonggreybeard,standingclosetohiselbow,murmured:
　　"'Tisanxiouswork——Iwouldn'tha'missedthisforanythingintheworld。"
　　"Fine,eh？"answeredCourtier。
　　"Aye,"saidtheoldman,"'tisfine。I'venotseenthelikeo'thissincethegreatyear——forty—eight。Theretheyare——thearistocrats！"
　　FollowingthedirectionofthatskinnyhandCourtiersawonabalconyLordandLadyValleys,sidebyside,lookingsteadilydownatthecrowd。Theretoo,leaningagainstawindowandtalkingtosomeonebehind,wasBarbara。Theoldmanwentonmuttering,andCourtiercouldseethathiseyeshadgrownverybright,hiswholefacetransfiguredbyintensehostility;hefeltdrawntothisoldcreature,thusmovedtotheverysoul。ThenhesawBarbaralookingdownathim,withherhandraisedtohertempletoshowthatshesawhisbandagedhead。Hehadthepresenceofmindnottolifthishat。
　　Theoldmanspokeagain。
　　"Youwouldn'trememberforty—eight,Isuppose。Therewasafeelinginthepeoplethen——wewouldha'diedforthingsinthosedays。I'meighty—four,"andheheldhisshakinghanduptohisbreast,"butthespirit'salivehereyet！GodsendtheRadicalgetsin！"Therewaswaftedfromhimascentasofpotatoes。
　　Farbehind,attheveryedgeofthevastdarkthrong,somevoicesbegansinging:"WaydownupontheSwaneeribber。"Thetunefloatedforth,ceased,spurteduponcemore,anddied。
　　Then,intheverycentreofthesquareastentorianbaritoneroaredforth:"Shouldauldacquaintancebeforgot！"
　　Thesongswelled,tilleverykindofvoice,fromtrebletotheoldChartist'squaveringbass,waschantingit;hereandtherethecrowdheavedwiththemovementoflinkedarms。Courtierfoundthesoftfingersofayoungwomaninhisrighthand,theoldChartist'sdrytremblingpawinhisleft。Hehimselfsangloudly。Thegraveandfearfulmusicsprangstraightupintotheyair,rolledoutrightandleft,andwaslostamongthehills。Butithadnosoonerdiedawaythanthesamehugebaritoneyelled"GodsaveourgraciousKing！"Thestatureofthecrowdseemedatoncetoleapuptwofeet,andfromunderthatplatformofraisedhatsroseastupendousshouting。
　　"This,"thoughtCourtier,"isreligion！"
　　Theyweresingingevenonthebalconies;bythelamplighthecouldseeLordValleysmouthnotopenedquiteenough,asthoughhisvoicewerejustalittleashamedofcomingout,andBarbarawithherheadflungbackagainstthepillar,pouringoutherheart。Nomouthinallthecrowdwassilent。ItwasasthoughthesouloftheEnglishpeoplewereescapingfromitsdungeonofreserve,onthepinionsofthatchant。
　　Butsuddenly,likeashotbirdclosingwings,thesongfellsilentanddivedheadlongbacktoearth。Outfromundertheclock—facehadmovedathindarkfigure。Morefigurescamebehind。CourtiercouldseeMiltoun。Avoicefarawaycried:"Up;Chilcox！"Ahuge:
　　"Husill"followed;thensuchasilence,thatthesoundofanengineshuntingamileawaycouldbeheardplainly。
　　Thedarkfiguremovedforward,andatinysquareofpapergleamedoutwhiteagainsttheblackofhisfrock—coat。
　　"Ladiesandgentlemen。ResultofthePoll:
　　MiltounFourthousandeighthundredandninety—eight。ChilcoxFourthousandeighthundredandtwo。"
　　Thesilenceseemedtofalltoearth,andbreakintoathousandpieces。Throughthepandemoniumofcheersandgroaning,Courtierwithallhisstrengthforcedhimselftowardsthebalcony。HecouldseeLordValleysleaningforwardwithabroadsmile;LadyValleyspassingherhandacrosshereyes;BarbarawithherhandinHarbinger's,lookingstraightintohisface。Hestopped。TheoldChartistwasstillbesidehim,tearsrollingdownhischeeksintohisbeard。
　　CourtiersawMiltouncomeforward,andstand,unsmiling,deathlypale。
　　PARTII
　　CHAPTERI
　　Atthreeo'clockintheafternoonofthenineteenthofJulylittleAnnShroptoncommencedtheascentofthemainstaircaseofValleysHouse,London。Sheclimbedslowly,intheverymiddle,anextremelysmallwhitefigureonthosewideandshiningstairs,countingthemaloud。Theirnumberwasneveraliketwodaysrunning,whichmadethemattractivetooneforwhomnoveltywasthesaltoflife。
　　Comingtothatspotwheretheybranched,shepausedtoconsiderwhichofthetwoflightsshehadusedlast,andunabletoremember,satdown。Shewasthebearerofamessage。Ithadbeennewwhenshestarted,butwasalreadycomparativelyold,andlikelytobecomeolder,inviewofadesignnowconceivedbyheroftravellingthewholelengthofthepicturegallery。Andwhileshesatmaturingthisplan,sunlightfloodingthroughalargewindowdroveawhiterefulgencedownintotheheartofthewidepolishedspaceofwoodandmarble,whenceshehadcome。ThenatureoflittleAnnhabituallyrejectedfairiesandallfantasticthings,findingthemquitetoomuchintheair,anddevoidofsufficientrealityand'go';andthisrefulgence,almostunearthlyinitstravellingglory,passedoverhersmallheadandplayedstrangelywiththepillarsinthehall,withoutexcitinginheranyfanciesoranysentiment。Theintentionofdiscoveringwhatwasattheendofthepicturegalleryabsorbedthewholeofheressentiallypracticalandactivemind。Decidingontheleft—handflightofstairs,sheenteredthatimmenselylong,narrow,and——withblindsdrawn——ratherdarksaloon。Shewalkedcarefully,becausethefloorwasveryslipperyhere,andwithakindofseriousnessduepartlytothedarknessandpartlytothepictures。
　　Theywereindeed,inthislight,ratherformidable,thoseoldCaradocsblack,armouredcreatures,someofthem,whoseemedtoeyewithasortofburning,grim,defensivegreedthesmallwhitefigureoftheirdescendantpassingalongbetweenthem。ButlittleAnn,whoknewtheywereonlypictures,maintainedhercoursesteadily,andeverynowandthen,asshepassedonewhoseemedtoherratheruglierthantheothers,wrinkledhersuddenlittlenose。Attheend,asshehadthought;appearedadoor。Sheopenedit,andpassedontoalanding。Therewasastonestaircaseinthecorner,andthereweretwodoors。Itwouldbenicetogoupthestaircase,butitwouldalsobenicetoopenthedoors。Goingtowardsthefirstdoor,withalittlethrill,sheturnedthehandle。Itwasoneofthoserooms,necessaryinhouses,forwhichshehadnogreatliking;andclosingthisdoorratherloudlysheopenedtheotherone,findingherselfinachambernotresemblingtheroomsdownstairs,whichwereallhighandnicelygilded,butmorelikewhereshehadlessons,low,andfilledwithbooksandleatherchairs。Fromtheendoftheroomwhichshecouldnotsee,sheheardasoundasofsomeonekissingsomething,andinstincthadalmostmadeherturntogoawaywhentheword:
　　"Hallo！"suddenlyopenedherlips。AndalmostdirectlyshesawthatGrannyandGrandpapawerestandingbythefireplace。Notknowingquitewhethertheyweregladtoseeher,shewentforwardandbeganatonce:
　　"Isthiswhereyousit,Grandpapa？"
　　"Itis。"
　　"It'snice,isn'tit,Granny？Wheredoesthestonestaircasegoto？"
　　"Totheroofofthetower,Ann。"
　　"Oh！Ihavetogiveamessage,soImustgonow。"
　　"Sorrytoloseyou。"
　　"Yes;good—bye！"
　　Hearingthedoorshutbehindher,LordandLadyValleyslookedateachotherwithadubioussmile。
　　Thelittleinterviewwhichshehadinterrupted,hadariseninthisway。
　　Accustomedtoretiretothisquietandhomelyroom,whichwasnothisofficialstudywherehewasalwaysliabletotheattacksofsecretaries,LordValleyshadcomeuphereafterlunchtosmokeandchewthecudofaworry。
　　ThematterwasoneinconnectionwithhisPendridnyestate,inCornwall。Ithadlongagitatedbothhisagentandhimself,andhadnowcometohimforfinaldecision。Thequestionaffectedtwovillagestothenorthoftheproperty,whoseinhabitantsweresolelydependentontheworkingofalargequarry,whichhadforsometimebeenlosingmoney。
　　Akindlyman,hewasextremelyaversetoanymeasurewhichwouldplungehistenantsintodistress,andespeciallyincaseswheretherehadbeennoquestionofoppositionbetweenhimselfandthem。But,reducedtoitsessentials,thematterstoodthus:ApartfromthatparticularquarrythePendridnyestatewasnotonlyagoing,butevenaprofitableconcern,supportingitselfandsupplyingsomeofthesinewsofwartowardsValleysHouseandtheracingestablishmentatNewmarketandothergeneralexpenses;withthisquarrystillrunning,allowingfortheupkeepofPendridny,andtheprovisionofpensionstosuperannuatedservants,itwasrathertheotherway。
　　Sittingthere,thatafternoon,smokinghisfavouritepipe,hehadatlastcometotheconclusionthattherewasnothingforitbuttoclosedown。Hehadnotmadethisresolutionlightly;though,todohimjustice,theknowledgethatthedecisionwouldbeboundtocauseanoutcryinthelocal,andperhapstheNationalPress,hadsecretlyratherspurredhimontotheresolvethandeterredhimfromit。Hefeltasifhewerebeingdictatedtoinadvance,andhedidnotlikedictation。Tohavetodeprivethesepoorpeopleoftheirimmediatelivingwas,heknew,agooddealmoreirksometohimthantothosewhowouldcertainlymakeafussaboutit,hisconsciencewasclear,andhecoulddiscountthatfutureoutcryasmerePartyspite。Hehadveryhonestlytriedtoexaminethethingallround;andhadreasonedthus:IfIkeepthisquarryopen,Iamreallyadmittingtheprincipleofpauperization,sinceInaturallylooktoeachofmyestatestosupportitsownhouse,grounds,shooting,andtocontributetowardsthesupportofthishouse,andmyfamily,andracingstable,andallthepeopleemployedaboutthemboth。
　　Toallowanybusinesstoberunonmyestateswhichdoesnotcontributetothegeneralupkeep,istoprotectandreallypauperizeaportionofmytenantsattheexpenseoftherest;itmustthereforebefalseeconomicsandasecretsortofsocialism。Further,iflogicallyfollowedout,itmightendinmyruin,andtoallowthat,thoughImightnotpersonallyobject,wouldbetoimplythatIdonotbelievethatIambyvirtueofmytraditionsandtraining,thebestmachinerythroughwhichtheStatecanworktosecurethewelfareofthepeople……
　　Whenhehadreachedthatpointinhisconsiderationofthequestion,hismind,orratherperhaps,hisessentialself,hadnotunnaturallyrisenupandsaid:Whichisabsurd！
　　Impersonalitywasinfashion,andasarulehebelievedinthinkingimpersonally。Therewasapoint,however,wherethepossibilityofdoingsoceased,withouttreacherytooneself,one'sorder,andthecountry。Andtotheargumentwhichhewasquiteshrewdenoughtoputtohimself,soonerthanhaveitputbyanyoneelse,thatitwasdisproportionateforasinglemanbyastrokeofthepentobeabletodisposeofthelivelihoodofhundredswhosesensesandfeelingsweresimilartohisown——hehadanswered:"IfIdidn't,someplutocratorcompanywould——or,worsestill,theState！"Cooperativeenterprisebeing,inhisopinion,foreigntothespiritofthecountry,therewas,sofarashecouldsee,nootheralternative。
　　Factswerefactsandnottobegotover！
　　Notwithstandingallthis,thenecessityforthedecisionmadehimsorry,forifhehadnogreatsenseofproportion,hewasatleasthumane。
　　Hewasstillsmokinghispipeandstaringatasheetofpapercoveredwithsmallfigureswhenhiswifeentered。Thoughshehadcometoaskhisadviceonaverydifferentsubject,shesawatoncethathewasvexed,andsaid:
　　"What'sthematter,Geoff？"
　　LordValleysrose,wenttothehearth,deliberatelytappedouthispipe,thenheldouttoherthesheetofpaper。
　　"Thatquarry！Nothingforit——mustgo！"
　　LadyValleys'facechanged。
　　"Oh,no！Itwillmeansuchdreadfuldistress。"
　　LordValleysstaredathisnails。"It'sputtingadragonthewholeestate,"hesaid。
　　"Iknow,buthowcouldwefacethepeople——Ishouldneverbeabletogodownthere。Andmostofthemhavesuchenormousfamilies。"
　　SinceLordValleyscontinuedtobendonhisnailsthatslow,thought—
　　formingstare,shewentonearnestly:
　　"RatherthanthatI'dmakesacrifices。I'dsoonerPendridnywereletthanthrowallthosepeopleoutofwork。Isupposeitwouldlet。"
　　"Let？Bestwoodcockshootingintheworld。"
　　LadyValleys,pursuingherthoughts,wenton:
　　"Intimewemightgetthepeopledraftedintootherthings。HaveyouconsultedMiltoun？"
　　"No,"saidLordValleysshortly,"anddon'tmeanto——he'stoounpractical。"
　　"Healwaysseemstoknowwhathewantsverywell。"
　　"Itellyou,"repeatedLordValleys,"Miltoun'snogoodinamatterofthissort——heandhisideasthrowbacktotheMiddleAges。"
　　LadyValleyswentcloser,andtookhimbythelapelsofhiscollar。
　　"Geoff—really,topleaseme;someotherway！"
　　LordValleysfrowned,staringatherforsometime;andatlastanswered:
　　"Topleaseyou——I'llleaveitoveranotheryear。"
　　"Youthinkthat'sbetterthanletting？"
　　"Idon'tlikethethoughtofsomeoutsiderthere。Timeenoughtocometothatifwemust。TakeitasmyChristmaspresent。"
　　LadyValleys,ratherflushed,bentforwardandkissedhisear。
　　ItwasatthismomentthatlittleAnnhadentered。
　　Whenshewasgone,andtheyhadexchangedthatdubiouslook,LadyValleyssaid:
　　"IcameaboutBabs。Idon'tknowwhattomakeofhersincewecameup。She'snotputtingherheartintothings。"
　　LordValleysansweredalmostsulkily:
　　"It'stheheatprobably——orClaudHarbinger。"Inspiteofhiseasy—
　　goingparentalism,hedislikedthethoughtoflosingthechildwhomhesoaffectionatelyadmired。
　　"Ah！"saidLadyValleysslowly,"I'mnotsosure。"
　　"Howdoyoumean？"
　　"There'ssomethingqueerabouther。I'mbynomeanscertainshehasn'tgotsomesortoffeelingforthatMr。Courtier。"
　　"What！"saidLordValleys,growingmostunphilosophicallyred。
　　"Exactly！"
　　"Confoundit,Gertrude,Miltoun'sbusinesswasquiteenoughforoneyear。"
　　"Fortwenty,"murmuredLadyValleys。"I'mwatchingher。He'sgoingtoPersia,theysay。"
　　"Andleavinghisbonesthere,Ihope,"mutteredLordValleys。
　　"Really,it'stoomuch。Ishouldthinkyou'reallwrong,though。"
　　LadyValleysraisedhereyebrows。Menwereveryqueeraboutsuchthings！Veryqueerandworsethanhelpless！
　　"Well,"shesaid,"Imustgotomymeeting。I'lltakeher,andseeifIcangetatsomething,"andshewentaway。