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Courtier； for your peace of mind。 You are a man of honour； it will
go no further。〃
Courtier； bowing over her hand； answered：
〃He will be lucky。〃
The little old lady regarded him unflinchingly。
〃He will； sir。 Good…bye！〃
Courtier smilingly raised his hat。 His cheeks were burning。
Regaining the car； he looked round。 Lady Casterley was busy once
more exhorting the tall gardener。 The voice of little Ann broke in
on his thoughts：
〃I hope you'll come again。 Because I expect I shall be here at
Christmas； and my brothers will be here then； that is； Jock and
Tiddy； not Christopher because he's young。 I must go now。 Good…bye！
Hallo； Susie！〃
Courtier saw her slide away； and join the little pale adoring figure
of the lodge…keeper's daughter。
The car passed out into the lane。
If Lady Casterley had planned this disclosure； which indeed she had
not； for the impulse had only come over her at the sound of
Courtier's laugh； she could not have； devised one more effectual； for
there was deep down in him all a wanderer's very real distrust；；
amounting almost to contempt； of people so settled and done for； as
aristocrats or bourgeois； and all a man of action's horror of what he
called puking and muling。 The pursuit of Barbara with any other
object but that of marriage had naturally not occurred to one who had
little sense of conventional morality； but much self…respect； and a
secret endeavour to cut out Harbinger； ending in a marriage whereat
he would figure as a sort of pirate； was quite as little to the taste
of a man not unaccustomed to think himself as good as other people。
He caused the car to deviate up the lane that led to Audrey Noel's；
hating to go away without a hail of cheer to that ship in distress。
She came out to him on the verandah。 From the clasp of her hand；
thin and faintly brownedthe hand of a woman never quite idlehe
felt that she relied on him to understand and sympathize； and nothing
so awakened the best in Courtier as such mute appeals to his
protection。 He said gently：
〃Don't let them think you're down；〃 and； squeezing her hand hard：
〃Why should you be wasted like this？ It's a sin and shame！〃
But he stopped in what he felt to be an unlucky speech at sight of
her face； which without movement expressed so much more than his
words。 He was protesting as a civilized man； her face was the
protest of Nature； the soundless declaration of beauty wasted against
its will； beauty that was life's invitation to the embrace which gave
life birth。
〃I'm clearing out； myself；〃 he said： 〃You and I； you know； are not
good for these people。 No birds of freedom allowed！〃
Pressing his hand； she turned away into the house； leaving Courtier
gazing at the patch of air where her white figure had stood。 He had
always had a special protective feeling for Audrey Noel； a feeling
which with but little encouragement might have become something
warmer。 But since she had been placed in her anomalous position； he
would not for the world have brushed the dew off her belief that she
could trust him。 And； now that he had fixed his own gaze elsewhere；
and she was in this bitter trouble； he felt on her account the
rancour that a brother feels when Justice and Pity have conspired to
flout his sister。 The voice of Frith the chauffeur roused him from
gloomy reverie。
〃Lady Barbara； sir！〃
Following the man's eyes； Courtier saw against the sky…line on the
for above Ashman's Folly； an equestrian statue。 He stopped the car
at once； and got out。
He reached her at the ruin； screened from the road； by that divine
chance which attends on men who take care that it shall。 He could
not tell whether she knew of his approach； and he would have given
all he had； which was not much； to have seen through the stiff grey
of her coat； and the soft cream of her body； into that mysterious
cave； her heart。 To have been for a moment； like Ashman； done for
good and all with material things； and living the white life where
are no barriers between man and woman。 The smile on her lips so
baffled him； puffed there by her spirit； as a first flower is puffed
through the sur face of earth to mock at the spring winds。 How tell
what it signified！ Yet he rather prided himself on his knowledge of
women； of whom he had seen something。 But all he found to say was：
〃I'm glad of this chance。〃
Then suddenly looking up； he found her strangely pale and quivering。
〃I shall see you in London！〃 she said； and； touching her horse with
her whip； without looking back； she rode away over the hill。
Courtier returned to the moor road； and getting into the car；
muttered：
〃Faster； please； Frith！〃。。。。
CHAPTER XXII
Polling was already in brisk progress when Courtier arrived in
Bucklandbury； and partly from a not unnatural interest in the result；
partly from a half…unconscious clinging to the chance of catching
another glimpse of Barbara； he took his bag to the hotel； determined
to stay for the announcement of the poll。 Strolling out into the
High Street he began observing the humours of the day。 The bloom of
political belief had long been brushed off the wings of one who had
so flown the world's winds。 He had seen too much of more vivid
colours to be capable now of venerating greatly the dull and dubious
tints of blue and yellow。 They left him feeling extremely
philosophic。 Yet it was impossible to get away from them； for the
very world that day seemed blue and yellow； nor did the third colour
of red adopted by both sides afford any clear assurance that either
could see virtue in the other； rather； it seemed to symbolize the
desire of each to have his enemy's blood。 But Courtier soon observed
by the looks cast at his own detached； and perhaps sarcastic； face；
that even more hateful to either side than its antagonist； was the
philosophic eye。 Unanimous was the longing to heave half a brick at
it whenever it showed itself。 With its d…d impartiality； its habit
of looking through the integument of things to see if there might be
anything inside； he felt that they regarded it as the real adversary…
…the eternal foe to all the little fat 'facts；' who； dressed up in
blue and yellow； were swaggering and staggering； calling each other
names； wiping each other's eyes； blooding each other's noses。 To
these little solemn delicious creatures； all front and no behind； the
philosophic eye； with its habit of looking round the corner； was
clearly detestable。 The very yellow and very blue bodies of these
roistering small warriors with their hands on their tin swords and
their lips on their tin trumpets； started up in every window and on
every wall confronting each citizen in turn； persuading him that they
and they alone were taking him to Westminster。 Nor had they
apparently for the most part much trouble with electors； who； finding
uncertainty distasteful； passionately desired to be assured that the
country could at once be saved by little yellow facts or little blue
facts； as the case might be； who had； no doubt； a dozen other good
reasons for being on the one side or the other； as； for instance；
that their father had been so before them；