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be complete without her； no work bear fruit； no scheme could have
full meaning。
Lord Valleys greeted his son at dinner with good fellowship and a
faint surprise。
〃Day off； my dear fellow？ Or have you come up to hear Brabrook pitch
into us？ He's rather late this timewe've got rid of that balloon
business no trouble after all。〃
And he eyed Miltoun with that clear grey stare of his； so cool；
level； and curious。 Now； what sort of bird is this？ it seemed
saying。 Certainly not the partridge I should have expected from its
breeding！
Miltoun's answer： 〃I came up to tell you some thing； sir；〃 riveted
his father's stare for a second longer than was quite urbane。
It would not be true to say that Lord Valleys was afraid of his son。
Fear was not one of his emotions； but he certainly regarded him with
a respectful curiosity that bordered on uneasiness。 The oligarchic
temper of Miltoun's mind and political convictions almost shocked one
who knew both by temperament and experience how to wait in front。
This instruction he had frequently had occasion to give his jockeys
when he believed his horses could best get home first in that way。
And it was an instruction he now longed to give his son。 He himself
had 'waited in front' for over fifty years； and he knew it to be the
finest way of insuring that he would never be compelled to alter this
desirable policyfor something in Lord Valleys' character made him
fear that； in real emergency； he would exert himself to the point of
the gravest discomfort sooner than be left to wait behind。 A fellow
like young Harbinger； of course； he understoodversatile； 'full of
beans；' as he expressed it to himself in his more confidential
moments； who had imbibed the new wine （very intoxicating it was） of
desire for social reform。 He would have to be given his head a
littlebut there would be no difficulty with him； he would never
'run out'light handy build of horse that only required steadying at
the corners。 He would want to hear himself talk； and be let feel
that he was doing something。 All very well； and quite intelligible。
But with Miltoun （and Lord Valleys felt this to be no； mere parental
fancy） it was a very different business。 His son had a way of
forcing things to their conclusions which was dangerous； and reminded
him of his mother…in…law。 He was a baby in public affairs； of
course； as yet； but as soon as he once got going； the intensity of
his convictions； together with his position； and real giftnot of
the gab； like Harbinger'sbut of restrained； biting oratory； was
sure to bring him to the front with a bound in the present state of
parties。 And what were those convictions？ Lord Valleys had tried to
understand them； but up to the present he had failed。 And this did
not surprise him exactly； since； as he often said； political
convictions were not； as they appeared on the surface； the outcome of
reason； but merely symptoms of temperament。 And he could not
comprehend； because he could not sympathize with； any attitude
towards public affairs that was not essentially level； attached to
the plain； common…sense factors of the case as they appeared to
himself。 Not that he could fairly be called a temporizer； for deep
down in him there was undoubtedly a vein of obstinate； fundamental
loyalty to the traditions of a caste which prized high spirit beyond
all things。 Still he did feel that Miltoun was altogether too much
the 'pukka' aristocratno better than a Socialist； with his
confounded way of seeing things all cut and dried； his ideas of
forcing reforms down people's throats and holding them there with the
iron hand！ With his way too of acting on his principles！ Why！ He
even admitted that he acted on his principles！ This thought always
struck a very discordant note in Lord Valleys' breast。 It was almost
indecent； worse…ridiculous！ The fact was； the dear fellow had
unfortunately a deeper habit of thought than was wanted in politics
dangerousvery！ Experience might do something for him！ And out of
his own long experience the Earl of Valleys tried hard to recollect
any politician whom the practice of politics had left where he was
when he started。 He could not think of one。 But this gave him
little comfort； and； above a piece of late asparagus his steady eyes
sought his son's。 What had he come up to tell him？
The phrase had been ominous； he could not recollect Miltoun's ever
having told him anything。 For though a really kind and indulgent
father； he hadlike so many men occupied with public and other
livesa little acquired towards his offspring the look and manner：
Is this mine？ Of his four children； Barbara alone he claimed with
conviction。 He admired her； and； being a man who savoured life； he
was unable to love much except where he admired。 But； the last
person in the world to hustle any man or force a confidence； he
waited to hear his son's news； betraying no uneasiness。
Miltoun seemed in no hurry。 He described Courtier's adventure； which
tickled Lord Valleys a good deal。
〃Ordeal by red pepper！ Shouldn't have thought them equal to that；〃
he said。 〃So you've got him at Monkland now。 Harbinger still with
you？〃
〃Yes。 I don't think Harbinger has much stamina。
〃Politically？〃
Miltoun nodded。
〃I rather resent his being on our sideI don't think he does us any
good。 You've seen that cartoon； I suppose； it cuts pretty deep。 I
couldn't recognize you amongst the old women； sir。〃
Lord Valleys smiled impersonally。
〃Very clever thing。 By the way； I shall win the Eclipse； I think。〃
And thus； spasmodically； the conversation ran till the last servant
had left the room。
Then Miltoun； without preparation； looked straight at his father and
said：
〃I want to marry Mrs。 Noel； sir。〃
Lord Valleys received the shot with exactly the same expression as
that with which he was accustomed to watch his horses beaten。 Then
he raised his wineglass to his lips； and set it down again untouched。
This was the only sign he gave of interest or discomfiture。
〃Isn't this rather sudden？〃
Miltoun answered： 〃I've wanted to from the moment I first saw her。〃
Lord Valleys； almost as good a judge of a man and a situation as of a
horse or a pointer dog； leaned back in his chair； and said with faint
sarcasm：
〃My dear fellow； it's good of you to have told me this； though； to be
quite frank； it's a piece of news I would rather not have heard。〃
A dusky flush burned slowly up in Miltoun's cheeks。 He had
underrated his father； the man had coolness and courage in a crisis。
〃What is your objection； sir？〃 And suddenly he noticed that a wafer
in Lord Valleys' hand was quivering。 This brought into his eyes no
look of compunction； but such a smouldering gaze as the old Tudor
Churchman might have bent on an adversary who showed a sign of
weakness。 Lord Valleys； too； noticed the quivering of that wafer；
and ate it。
〃We are men of the world；〃 he said。
Miltoun answered： 〃I am not。〃
Showing his first real symptom of impatience Lord Valleys rapped out：
〃So be it！ I am。〃
〃Yes？〃； said Miltoun。
〃Eustace！〃
Nursing one knee； Miltoun faced that appeal without the fainte