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Continuing to twirl his moustache； Lord Valleys answered：
〃I think it is not improbable； Ann。〃
〃Why do you like them spotted like that？ Oh！ they're kissing Sambo
I must go！〃
Lord Valleys followed her； his eyebrows a little raised。
As he approached the terrace his wife came； towards him。 Her colour
was； deeper than usual； and she had the look； higher and more
resolute； peculiar to her when she had been opposed。 In truth she
had just been through a passage of arms with Courtier； who； as the
first revealer of Mrs。 Noel's situation； had become entitled to a
certain confidence on this subject。 It had arisen from what she had
intended as a perfectly natural and not unkind remark； to the effect
that all the trouble had come from Mrs。 Noel not having made her
position clear to Miltoun from the first。
He had at once grown very red。
〃It's easy； Lady Valleys； for those who have never been in the
position of a lonely woman； to blame her。〃
Unaccustomed to be withstood； she had looked at him intently：
〃I am the last person to be hard on a woman for conventional〃
reasons。 But I think it showed lack of character。〃
Courtier's reply had been almost rude。
〃Plants are not equally robust； Lady Valleys。 Some； as we know； are
actually sensitive。〃
She had retorted with decision
〃If you like to so dignify the simpler word 'weak' 〃
He had become very rigid at that； biting deeply into his moustache。
〃What crimes are not committed under the sanctity of that creed
'survival of the fittest；' which suits the book of all you fortunate
people so well！〃
Priding herself on her restraint； Lady Valleys answered：
〃Ah！ we must talk that out。 On the face of them your words sound a
little unphilosophic； don't they？
He had looked straight at her with a queer； unpleasant smile； and she
had felt at once disturbed and angry。 It was all very well to pet
and even to admire these original sort of men； but there were limits。
Remembering； however； that he was her guest； she had only said：
〃Perhaps after all we had better not talk it out；〃 and moving away；
she heard him answer： 〃In any case； I'm certain Audrey Noel never
wilfully kept your son in the dark； she's much too proud。〃
Though rude； she could not help liking the way he stuck up for this
woman； and she threw back at him the words：
〃You and I； Mr。 Courtier； must have a good fight some day！〃
She went towards her husband conscious of the rather pleasurable
sensation which combat always roused in her。
These two were very good comrades。 Theirs had been a love match； and
making due allowance for human nature beset by opportunity； had
remained； throughout； a solid and efficient alliance。 Taking； as
they both did； such prominent parts in public and social matters； the
time they spent together was limited； but productive of mutual
benefit and reinforcement。 They had not yet had an opportunity of
discussing their son's affair； and； slipping her hand through his
arm； Lady Valleys drew him away from the house。
〃I want to talk to you about Miltoun； Geoff。〃
〃H'm！〃 said Lord Valleys； 〃yes。 The boy's looking worn。 Good thing
when this election's over。〃
〃If he's beaten and hasn't something new and serious to concentrate
himself on； he'll fret his heart out over that woman。〃
Lord Valleys meditated a little before replying。
〃I don't think that； Gertrude。 He's got plenty of spirit。〃
〃Of course！ But it's a real passion。 And； you know； he's not like
most boys； who'll take what they can。〃
She said this rather wistfully。
〃I'm sorry for the woman；〃 mused Lord Valleys； 〃I really am。〃
〃They say this rumour's done a lot of harm。〃
〃Our influence is strong enough to survive that。〃
〃It'll be a squeak； I wish I knew what he was going to do。 Will you
ask him？〃
〃You're clearly the person to speak to him；〃 replied Lord Valleys。
〃I'm no hand at that sort of thing。〃
But Lady Valleys； with genuine discomfort； murmured：
〃My dear； I'm so nervous with Eustace。 When he puts on that smile of
his I'm done for； at once。〃
〃This is obviously a woman's business； nobody like a mother。〃
〃If it were only one of the others；〃 muttered Lady Valleys： 〃Eustace
has that queer way of making you feel lumpy。〃
Lord Valleys looked at her askance。 He had that kind of critical
fastidiousness which a word will rouse into activity。 Was she lumpy？
The idea had never struck him。
〃Well； I'll do it； if I must；〃 sighed Lady Valleys。
When after breakfast she entered Miltoun's 'den；' he was buckling on
his spurs preparatory； to riding out to some of the remoter villages。
Under the mask of the Apache chief； Bertie was standing； more
inscrutable and neat than ever； in a perfectly tied cravatte；
perfectly cut riding breeches； and boots worn and polished till a
sooty glow shone through their natural russet。 Not specially
dandified in his usual dress； Bertie Caradoc would almost sooner have
died than disgrace a horse。 His eyes； the sharper because they had
only half the space of the ordinary eye to glance from； at once took
in the fact that his mother wished to be alone with 'old Miltoun；'
and he discreetly left the room。
That which disconcerted all who had dealings with Miltoun was the
discovery made soon or late； that they could not be sure how anything
would strike him。 In his mind； as in his face； there was a certain
regularity； and thenimpossible to say exactly whereit would；
shoot off and twist round a corner。 This was the legacy no doubt of
the hard…bitten individuality； which had brought to the front so many
of his ancestors； for in Miltoun was the blood not only of the
Caradocs and Fitz…Harolds； but of most other prominent families in
the kingdom； all of whom； in those ages before money made the man；
must have had a forbear conspicuous by reason of qualities； not
always fine； but always poignant。
And now； though Lady Valleys had the audacity of her physique； and
was not customarily abashed； she began by speaking of politics；
hoping her son would give her an opening。 But he gave her none； and
she grew nervous。 At last； summoning all her coolness； she said：
〃I'm dreadfully sorry about this affair； dear boy。 Your father told
me of your talk with him。 Try not to take it too hard。〃
Miltoun did not answer； and silence being that which Lady Valleys
habitually most dreaded； she took refuge in further speech； outlining
for her son the whole episode as she saw it from her point of view；
and ending with these words：
〃Surely it's not worth it。〃
Miltoun heard her with his peculiar look； as of a man peering through
a vizor。 Then smiling； he said：
〃Thank you；〃 and opened the door。
Lady Valleys； without quite knowing whether he intended her to do so；
indeed without quite knowing anything at the moment； passed out； and
Miltoun closed the door behind her。
Ten minutes later he and Bertie were seen riding down the drive。
CHAPTER XIX
That afternoon the wind； which had been rising steadily； brought a
flurry of clouds up from the South…West。 Formed out on the heart of
the Atlantic； they sailed forward； swift and fleecy at first； like
the skirmishing whi