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〃So be it！ I am。〃
〃Yes？〃； said Miltoun。
〃Eustace！〃
Nursing one knee； Miltoun faced that appeal without the faintest
movement。 His eyes continued to burn into his father's face。 A
tremor passed over Lord Valleys' heart。 What intensity of feeling
there was in the fellow； that he could look like this at the first
breath of opposition！
He reached out and took up the cigar…box； held it absently towards
his son； and drew it quickly back。
〃I forgot；〃 he said； 〃you don't。〃
And lighting a cigar； he smoked gravely； looking straight before him；
a furrow between his brows。 He spoke at last：
〃She looks like a lady。 I know nothing else about her。〃
The smile deepened round Miltoun's mouth。
〃Why should you want to know anything else？〃
Lord Valleys shrugged。 His philosophy had hardened。
〃I understand for one thing；〃 he said coldly； 〃that there is a matter
of a divorce。 I thought you took the Church's view on that subject。〃
〃She has not done wrong。〃
〃You know her story； then？〃
〃No。〃
Lord Valleys raised his brows； in irony and a sort of admiration。
〃Chivalry the better part of discretion？〃
Miltoun answered：
〃You don't； I think； understand the kind of feeling I have for Mrs。
Noel。 It does not come into your scheme of things。 It is the only
feeling； however； with which I should care to marry； and I am not
likely to feel it for anyone again。〃
Lord Valleys felt once more that uncanny sense of insecurity。 Was
this true？ And suddenly he felt Yes； it is true！ The face before
him was the face of one who would burn in his own fire sooner than
depart from his standards。 And a sudden sense of the utter
seriousness of this dilemma dumbed him。
〃I can say no more at the moment；〃 he muttered and got up from the
table。
CHAPTER XI
Lady Casterley was that inconvenient thingan early riser。 No woman
in the kingdom was a better judge of a dew carpet。 Nature had in her
time displayed before her thousands of those pretty fabrics； where
all the stars of the past night； dropped to the dark earth； were
waiting to glide up to heaven again on the rays of the sun。 At
Ravensham she walked regularly in her gardens between half…past seven
and eight； and when she paid a visit； was careful to subordinate
whatever might be the local custom to this habit。
When therefore her maid Randle came to Barbara's maid at seven
o'clock； and said： 〃My old lady wants Lady Babs to get up；〃 there was
no particular pain in the breast of Barbara's maid； who was doing up
her corsets。 She merely answered 〃I'll see to it。 Lady Babs won't
be too pleased！〃 And ten minutes later she entered that white…walled
room which smelled of pinks…a temple of drowsy sweetness； where the
summer light was vaguely stealing through flowered chintz curtains。
Barbara was sleeping with her cheek on her hand； and her tawny hair；
gathered back； streaming over the pillow。 Her lips were parted； and
the maid thought： 〃I'd like to have hair and a mouth like that！〃 She
could not help smiling to herself with pleasure； Lady Babs looked so
prettyprettier asleep even than awake！ And at sight of that
beautiful creature； sleeping and smiling in her sleep； the earthy；
hothouse fumes steeping the mind of one perpetually serving in an
atmosphere unsuited to her natural growth； dispersed。 Beauty； with
its queer touching power of freeing the spirit from all barriers and
thoughts of self； sweetened the maid's eyes； and kept her standing；
holding her breath。 For Barbara asleep was a symbol of that Golden
Age in which she so desperately believed。 She opened her eyes； and
seeing the maid； said：
〃Is it eight o'clock； Stacey？〃
〃No； but Lady Casterley wants you to walk with her。〃
〃Oh！ bother！ I was having such a dream！〃
〃Yes； you were smiling。〃
〃I was dreaming that I could fly。〃
〃Fancy！〃
〃I could see everything spread out below me； as close as I see you； I
was hovering like a buzzard hawk。 I felt that I could come down
exactly where I wanted。 It was fascinating。 I had perfect power；
Stacey。〃
And throwing her neck back； she closed her eyes again。 The sunlight
streamed in on her between the half…drawn curtains。
The queerest impulse to put out a hand and stroke that full white
throat shot through the maid's mind。
〃These flying machines are stupid；〃 murmured Barbara； 〃the pleasure's
in one's body…wings！〃
〃I can see Lady Casterley in the garden。〃
Barbara sprang out of bed。 Close by the statue of Diana Lady
Casterley was standing； gazing down at some flowers； a tiny； grey
figure。 Barbara sighed。 With her； in her dream； had been another
buzzard hawk； and she was filled with a sort of surprise； and queer
pleasure that ran down her in little shivers while she bathed and
dressed。
In her haste she took no hat； and still busy with the fastening of
her linen frock； hurried down the stairs and Georgian corridor；
towards the garden。 At the end of it she almost ran into the arms of
Courtier。
Awakening early this morning； he had begun first thinking of Audrey
Noel； threatened by scandal； then of his yesterday's companion； that
glorious young creature； whose image had so gripped and taken
possession of him。 In the pleasure of this memory he had steeped
himself。 She was youth itself！ That perfect thing； a young girl
without callowness。
And his words； when she nearly ran into him； were： 〃The Winged
Victory！〃
Barbara's answer was equally symbolic： 〃A buzzard hawk！ Do you know；
I dreamed we were flying； Mr。 Courtier。〃
Courtier gravely answered
〃If the gods give me that dream〃
》From the garden door Barbara turned her head； smiled； and passed
through。
Lady Casterley； in the company of little Ann； who had perceived that
it was novel to be in the garden at this hour； had been scrutinizing
some newly founded colonies of a flower with which she was not
familiar。 On seeing her granddaughter approach； she said at once：
〃What is this thing？〃
〃Nemesia。〃
〃Never heard of it。〃
〃It's rather the fashion； Granny。〃
〃Nemesia？〃 repeated Lady Casterley。 〃What has Nemesis to do with
flowers？ I have no patience with gardeners； and these idiotic names。
Where is your hat？ I like that duck's egg colour in your frock。
There's a button undone。〃 And reaching up her little spidery hand；
wonderfully steady considering its age； she buttoned the top button
but one of Barbara's bodice。
〃You look very blooming； my dear；〃 she said。 〃How far is it to this
woman's cottage？ We'll go there now。〃
〃She wouldn't be up。〃
Lady Casterley's eyes gleamed maliciously。
〃You tell me she's so nice；〃 she said。 〃No nice unencumbered woman
lies in bed after half…past seven。 Which is the very shortest way？
No； Ann； we can't take you。〃
Little Ann； after regarding her great…grandmother rather too
intently； replied：
〃Well； I can't come； you see； because I've got to go。〃
〃Very well；〃 said Lady Casterley；〃 then trot along。〃
Little Ann； tightening her lips； walked to the next colony of
Nemesia； and bent over the colonists with concentration； showing
clearly that she had found something more interesting than had yet
been encountered