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〃Perfectly；〃 she answered。
〃Then； dear；〃 said Barbara； 〃stand still a minute； while I dust you
behind。〃
This having been accomplished； they proceeded in the direction of
Mrs。 Noel's cottage。
At sight of it； Lady Casterley said：
〃I shall put my foot down。 It's out of the question for a man of
Miltoun's prospects。 I look forward to seeing him Prime Minister
some day。〃 Hearing Barbara's voice murmuring above her； she paused：
〃What's that you say？〃
〃I said： What is the use of our being what we are； if we can't love
whom we like？〃
〃Love！〃 said Lady Casterley； 〃I was talking of marriage。〃
〃I am glad you admit the distinction； Granny dear。〃
〃You are pleased to be sarcastic；〃 said Lady Casterley。 〃Listen to
me！ It's the greatest nonsense to suppose that people in our caste
are free to do as they please。 The sooner you realize that； the
better； Babs。 I am talking to you seriously。 The preservation of
our position as a class depends on our observing certain decencies。
What do you imagine would happen to the Royal Family if they were
allowed to marry as they liked？ All this marrying with Gaiety girls；
and American money； and people with pasts； and writers； and so forth；
is most damaging。 There's far too much of it； and it ought to be
stopped。 It may be tolerated for a few cranks； or silly young men；
and these new women； but for Eustace 〃Lady Casterley paused again；
and her fingers pinched Barbara's arm； 〃or for youthere's only one
sort of marriage possible。 As for Eustace； I shall speak to this
good lady； and see that he doesn't get entangled further。〃
Absorbed in the intensity of her purpose； she did not observe a
peculiar little smile playing round Barbara's lips。
〃You had better speak to Nature； too； Granny！〃
Lady Casterley stopped short； and looked up in her granddaughter's
face。
〃Now what do you mean by that？〃 she said 〃Tell me！〃
But noticing that Barbara's lips had closed tightly； she gave her arm
a hardif unintentional…pinch； and walked on。
CHAPTER XII
Lady Casterley's rather malicious diagnosis of Audrey Noel was
correct。 The unencumbered woman was up and in her garden when
Barbara and her grandmother appeared at the Wicket gate； but being
near the lime…tree at the far end she did not hear the rapid colloquy
which passed between them。
〃You are going to be good； Granny？〃
〃As to thatit will depend。〃
〃You promised。〃
〃H'm！〃
Lady Casterley could not possibly have provided herself with a better
introduction than Barbara； whom Mrs。 Noel never met without the sheer
pleasure felt by a sympathetic woman when she sees embodied in
someone else that 'joy in life' which Fate has not permitted to
herself。
She came forward with her head a little on one side； a trick of hers
not at all affected； and stood waiting。
The unembarrassed Barbara began at once：
〃We've just had an encounter with a bull。 This is my grandmother；
Lady Casterley。〃
The little old lady's demeanour； confronted with this very pretty
face and figure was a thought less autocratic and abrupt than usual。
Her shrewd eyes saw at once that she had no common adventuress to
deal with。 She was woman of the world enough； too； to know that
'birth' was not what it had been in her young days； that even money
was rather rococo； and that good looks； manners； and a knowledge of
literature； art； and music （and this woman looked like one of that
sort）； were often considered socially more valuable。 She was
therefore both wary and affable。
〃How do you do？〃 she said。 〃I have heard of you。 May we sit down
for a minute in your garden？ The bull was a wretch！〃
But even in speaking； she was uneasily conscious that Mrs。 Noel's
clear eyes were seeing very well what she had come for。 The look in
them indeed was almost cynical； and in spite of her sympathetic
murmurs； she did not somehow seem to believe in the bull。 This was
disconcerting。 Why had Barbara condescended to mention the wretched
brute？ And she decided to take him by the horns。
〃Babs；〃 she said； 〃go to the Inn and order me a 'fly。' I shall drive
back； I feel very shaky；〃 and； as Mrs。 Noel offered to send her maid；
she added：
〃No； no； my granddaughter will go。〃
Barbara having departed with a quizzical look； Lady Casterley patted
the rustic seat； and said：
〃Do come and sit down； I want to talk to you：〃
Mrs。 Noel obeyed。 And at once Lady Casterley perceived that 〃she had
a most difficult task before her。 She had not expected a woman with
whom one could take no liberties。 Those clear dark eyes； and that
soft； perfectly graceful mannerto a person so 'sympathetic' one
should be able to say anything； andone couldn't！ It was awkward。
And suddenly she noticed that Mrs。 Noel was sitting perfectly
upright； as uprightmore upright； than she was herself。 A bad；
signa very bad sign！ Taking out her handkerchief； she put it to
her lips。
〃I suppose you think；〃 she said； 〃that we were not chased by a bull。〃
〃I am sure you were。〃
〃Indeed！ Ah！ But I've something else to talk to you about。〃
Mrs。 Noel's face quivered back； as a flower might when it was going
to be plucked； and again Lady Casterley put her handkerchief to her
lips。 This time she rubbed them hard。 There was nothing to come
off； to do so； therefore； was a satisfaction。
〃I am an old woman；〃 she said；〃 and you mustn't mind what I say。〃
Mrs。 Noel did not answer； but looked straight at her visitor； to whom
it seemed suddenly that this was another person。 What was it about
that face； staring at her！ In a weird way it reminded her of a child
that one had hurtwith those great eyes and that soft hair； and the
mouth thin； in a line； all of a sudden。 And as if it had been jerked
out of her； she said：
〃I don't want to hurt you； my dear。 It's about my grandson； of
course。〃
But Mrs。 Noel made neither sign nor motion； and the feeling of
irritation which so rapidly attacks the old when confronted by the
unexpected； came to Lady Casterley's aid。
〃His name；〃 she said； 〃is being coupled with yours in a way that's
doing him a great deal of harm。 You don't wish to injure him； I'm
sure。〃
Mrs。 Noel shook her head； and Lady Casterley went on：
〃I don't know what they're not saying since the evening your friend
Mr。 Courtier hurt his knee。 Miltoun has been most unwise。 You had
not perhaps realized that。〃
Mrs。 Noel's answer was bitterly distinct：
〃I didn't know anyone was sufficiently interested in my doings。〃
Lady Casterley suffered a gesture of exasperation to escape her。
〃Good heavens！〃 she said； 〃every common person is interested in a
woman whose position is anomalous。 Living alone as you do； and not a
widow； you're fair game for everybody； especially in the country。〃
Mrs。 Noel's sidelong glance； very clear and cynical； seemed to say：
〃Even for you。〃
〃I am not entitled to ask your story；〃 Lady Casterley went on； 〃but
if you make mysteries you must expect the worst interpretation put on
them。 My grandson is a man of the highest principle； he does not see
things with the eyes of the world； and that should have made you
doubly careful not to compromise him； especial