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His sense of smell and hearing had become unnaturally acute； he
smelled the distant streets； flowers； dust； and the leather of his
books； even the scent left by Barbara's clothes； and a curious。
odour of river mud。 A clock struck six； he counted each stroke； and
instantly the whole world seemed full of striking clocks； the sound
of horses' hoofs； bicycle bells； people's footfalls。 His sense of
vision； on the contrary； was absorbed in consciousness of this white
blanket of cloud wherein he was lifted above the earth； in the midst
of a dull incessant hammering。 On the surface of the cloud there
seemed to be forming a number of little golden spots； these spots
were moving； and he saw that they were toads。 Then； beyond them； a
huge face shaped itself； very dark； as if of bronze； with eyes
burning into his brain。 The more he struggled to get away from these
eyes； the more they bored and burned into him。 His voice was gone；
so that he was unable to cry out； and suddenly the face marched over
him。
When he recovered consciousness his head was damp with moisture
trickling from something held to his forehead by a figure leaning
above him。 Lifting his hand he touched a cheek； and hearing a sob
instantly suppressed； he sighed。 His hand was gently taken； he felt
kisses on it。
The room was so dark； that he could scarcely see her facehis sight
too was dim； but he could hear her breathing and the least sound of
her dress and movementsthe scent too of her hands and hair seemed
to envelop him； and in the midst of all the acute discomfort of his
fever； he felt the band round his brain relax。 He did not ask how
long she had been there； but lay quite still； trying to keep his eyes
on her； for fear of that face； which seemed lurking behind the air；
ready to march on him again。 Then feeling suddenly that he could not
hold it back； he beckoned； and clutched at her； trying to cover
himself with the protection of her breast。 This time his swoon was
not so deep； it gave way to delirium； with intervals when he knew
that she was there； and by the shaded candle light could see her in a
white garment； floating close to him； or sitting still with her hand
on his； he could even feel the faint comfort of the ice cap； and of
the scent of eau de Cologne。 Then he would lose all consciousness of
her presence； and pass through into the incoherent world； where the
crucifix above his bed seemed to bulge and hang out； as if it must
fall on him。 He conceived a violent longing to tear it down； which
grew till he had struggled up in bed and wrenched it from off the
wall。 Yet a mysterious consciousness of her presence permeated even
his darkest journeys into the strange land； and once she seemed to be
with him； where a strange light showed them fields and trees； a dark
line of moor； and a bright sea； all whitened； and flashing with sweet
violence。
Soon after dawn he had a long interval of consciousness； and took in
with a sort of wonder her presence in the low chair by his bed。 So
still she sat in a white loose gown； pale with watching； her eyes
immovably fixed on him； her lips pressed together； and quivering at
his faintest motion。 He drank in desperately the sweetness of her
face； which had so lost remembrance of self。
CHAPTER X
Barbara gave the news of her brother's illness to no one else； common
sense telling her to run no risk of disturbance。 Of her own
initiative； she brought a doctor； and went down twice a day to hear
reports of Miltoun's progress。
As a fact； her father and mother had gone to Lord Dennis； for
Goodwood； and the chief difficulty had been to excuse her own neglect
of that favourite Meeting。 She had fallen back on the half…truth
that Eustace wanted her in Town； and； since Lord and Lady Valleys had
neither of them shaken off a certain uneasiness about their son； the
pretext sufficed：
It was not until the sixth day； when the crisis was well past and
Miltoun quite free from fever； that she again went down to
Nettlefold。
On arriving she at once sought out her mother； whom she found in her
bedroom； resting。 It had been very hot at Goodwood。
Barbara was not afraid of hershe was not； indeed； afraid of anyone；
except Miltoun； and in some strange way； a little perhaps of
Courtier； yet； when the maid had gone； she did not at once begin her
tale。 Lady Valleys； who at Goodwood had just heard details of a
Society scandal； began a carefully expurgated account of it suitable
to her daughter's earsfor some account she felt she must give to
somebody。
〃Mother；〃 said Barbara suddenly； 〃Eustace has been ill。 He's out of
danger now； and going on all right。〃 Then； looking hard at the
bewildered lady； she added： 〃Mrs。 Noel is nursing him。〃
The past tense in which illness had been mentioned； checking at the
first moment any rush of panic in Lady Valleys； left her confused by
the situation conjured up in Barbara's last words。 Instead of
feeding that part of man which loves a scandal； she was being fed；
always an unenviable sensation。 A woman did not nurse a man under
such circumstances without being everything to him； in the world's
eyes。 Her daughter went on：
〃I took her to him。 It seemed the only thing to dosince it's all
through fretting for her。 Nobody knows； of course； except the
doctor； andStacey。〃
〃Heavens！〃 muttered Lady Valleys。
〃It has saved him。〃
The mother instinct in Lady Valleys took sudden fright。 〃Are you
telling me the truth； Babs？ Is he really out of danger？ How wrong
of you not to let me know before？〃
But Barbara did not flinch； and her mother relapsed into rumination。
〃Stacey is a cat！〃 she said suddenly。 The expurgated details of the
scandal she had been retailing to her daughter had included the usual
maid。 She could not find it in her to enjoy the irony of this
coincidence。 Then； seeing Barbara smile； she said tartly：
〃I fail to see the joke。〃
〃Only that I thought you'd enjoy my throwing Stacey in； dear。〃
〃What！ You mean she doesn't know？〃
〃Not a word。〃
Lady Valleys smiled。
〃What a little wretch you are； Babs！ 〃Maliciously she added： 〃Claud
and his mother are coming over from Whitewater； with Bertie and Lily
Malvezin； you'd better go and dress；〃 and her eyes searched her
daughter's so shrewdly； that a flush rose to the girl's cheeks。
When she had gone； Lady Valleys rang for her maid again； and relapsed
into meditation。 Her first thought was to consult her husband； her
second that secrecy was strength。 Since no one knew but Barbara； no
one had better know。
Her astuteness and experience comprehended the far…reaching
probabilities of this affair。 It would not do to take a single false
step。 If she had no one's action to control but her own and
Barbara's； so much the less chance of a slip。 Her mind was a strange
medley of thoughts and feelings； almost comic； well…nigh tragic； of
worldly prudence； and motherly instinct； of warm…blooded sympathy
with all love…affairs； and cool…blooded concern for her son's career。
It was not yet too late perhaps to prevent real mischief； especially
since it was agreed by everyone that the woman was no adventuress。
Whate