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quite whether they were glad to see her； she went forward and began
at once：
〃Is this where you sit； Grandpapa？〃
〃It is。〃
〃It's nice； isn't it； Granny？ Where does the stone staircase go to？〃
〃To the roof of the tower； Ann。〃
〃Oh！ I have to give a message； so I must go now。〃
〃Sorry to lose you。〃
〃Yes； good…bye！〃
Hearing the door shut behind her； Lord and Lady Valleys looked at
each other with a dubious smile。
The little interview which she had interrupted； had arisen in this
way。
Accustomed to retire to this quiet and homely room； which was not his
official study where he was always liable to the attacks of
secretaries； Lord Valleys had come up here after lunch to smoke and
chew the cud of a worry。
The matter was one in connection with his Pendridny estate； in
Cornwall。 It had long agitated both his agent and himself； and had
now come to him for final decision。 The question affected two
villages to the north of the property； whose inhabitants were solely
dependent on the working of a large quarry； which had for some time
been losing money。
A kindly man； he was extremely averse to any measure which would
plunge his tenants into distress； and especially in cases where there
had been no question of opposition between himself and them。 But；
reduced to its essentials； the matter stood thus： Apart from that
particular quarry the Pendridny estate was not only a going； but even
a profitable concern； supporting itself and supplying some of the
sinews of war towards Valleys House and the racing establishment at
Newmarket and other general expenses； with this quarry still running；
allowing for the upkeep of Pendridny； and the provision of pensions
to superannuated servants； it was rather the other way。
Sitting there； that afternoon； smoking his favourite pipe； he had at
last come to the conclusion that there was nothing for it but to
close down。 He had not made this resolution lightly； though； to do
him justice； the knowledge that the decision would be bound to cause
an outcry in the local； and perhaps the National Press； had secretly
rather spurred him on to the resolve than deterred him from it。 He
felt as if he were being dictated to in advance； and he did not like
dictation。 To have to deprive these poor people of their immediate
living was； he knew； a good deal more irksome to him than to those
who would certainly make a fuss about it； his conscience was clear；
and he could discount that future outcry as mere Party spite。 He had
very honestly tried to examine the thing all round； and had reasoned
thus： If I keep this quarry open； I am really admitting the principle
of pauperization； since I naturally look to each of my estates to
support its own house； grounds； shooting； and to contribute towards
the support of this house； and my family； and racing stable； and all
the people employed about them both。
To allow any business to be run on my estates which does not
contribute to the general upkeep； is to protect and really pauperize
a portion of my tenants at the expense of the rest； it must therefore
be false economics and a secret sort of socialism。 Further； if
logically followed out； it might end in my ruin； and to allow that；
though I might not personally object； would be to imply that I do not
believe that I am by virtue of my traditions and training； the best
machinery through which the State can work to secure the welfare of
the people。。。。
When he had reached that point in his consideration of the question；
his mind； or rather perhaps； his essential self； had not unnaturally
risen up and said： Which is absurd！
Impersonality was in fashion； and as a rule he believed in thinking
impersonally。 There was a point； however； where the possibility of
doing so ceased； without treachery to oneself； one's order； and the
country。 And to the argument which he was quite shrewd enough to put
to himself； sooner than have it put by anyone else； that it was
disproportionate for a single man by a stroke of the pen to be able
to dispose of the livelihood of hundreds whose senses and feelings
were similar to his ownhe had answered： 〃If I didn't； some
plutocrat or company wouldor； worse still； the State！〃 Cooperative
enterprise being； in his opinion； foreign to the spirit of the
country； there was； so far as he could see； no other alternative。
Facts were facts and not to be got over！
Notwithstanding all this； the necessity for the decision made him
sorry； for if he had no great sense of proportion； he was at least
humane。
He was still smoking his pipe and staring at a sheet of paper covered
with small figures when his wife entered。 Though she had come to ask
his advice on a very different subject； she saw at once that he was
vexed； and said：
〃 What's the matter； Geoff？〃
Lord Valleys rose； went to the hearth； deliberately tapped out his
pipe； then held out to her the sheet of paper。
〃That quarry！ Nothing for itmust go！〃
Lady Valleys' face changed。
〃Oh； no！ It will mean such dreadful distress。〃
Lord Valleys stared at his nails。 〃It's putting a drag on the whole
estate；〃 he said。
〃I know； but how could we face the peopleI should never be able to
go down there。 And most of them have such enormous families。〃
Since Lord Valleys continued to bend on his nails that slow； thought…
forming stare； she went on earnestly：
〃Rather than that I'd make sacrifices。 I'd sooner Pendridny were let
than throw all those people out of work。 I suppose it would let。〃
〃Let？ Best woodcock shooting in the world。〃
Lady Valleys； pursuing her thoughts； went on：
〃In time we might get the people drafted into other things。 Have you
consulted Miltoun？〃
〃No；〃 said Lord Valleys shortly； 〃and don't mean tohe's too
unpractical。〃
〃He always seems to know what he wants very well。〃
〃I tell you；〃 repeated Lord Valleys； 〃Miltoun's no good in a matter
of this sorthe and his ideas throw back to the Middle Ages。〃
Lady Valleys went closer； and took him by the lapels of his collar。
〃Geoff…really； to please me； some other way！〃
Lord Valleys frowned； staring at her for some time； and at last
answered：
〃To please youI'll leave it over another year。〃
〃You think that's better than letting？〃
〃I don't like the thought of some outsider there。 Time enough to
come to that if we must。 Take it as my Christmas present。〃
Lady Valleys； rather flushed； bent forward and kissed his ear。
It was at this moment that little Ann had entered。
When she was gone； and they had exchanged that dubious look； Lady
Valleys said：
〃I came about Babs。 I don't know what to make of her since we came
up。 She's not putting her heart into things。〃
Lord Valleys answered almost sulkily：
〃It's the heat probablyor Claud Harbinger。〃 In spite of his easy…
going parentalism； he disliked the thought of losing the child whom
he so affectionately admired。
〃Ah！〃 said Lady Valleys slowly；〃 I'm not so sure。〃
〃How do you mean？〃
〃There's something queer about her。 I'm by no means certain she
hasn't got some sort of feeling for that Mr。 Courtier。〃
〃What！〃 said Lord Valleys； growing most unphilosophically red。
〃