按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that。 An ambulance carriage he thought advisable。 That could all be
arranged for this afternoonat oncehe himself would look to it。
They might take Lord Miltoun off just as he was； the men would know
what to do。 And when they had him at Valleys House； the moment he
showed interest in his food； down to the sea…down to the sea！ At
this time of year nothing like it！ Then with regard to nourishment；
he would be inclined already to shove in a leetle stimulant； a
thimbleful perhaps four times a day with foodnot withoutmixed
with an egg； with arrowroot； with custard。 A week would see him on
his legs； a fortnight at the sea make him as good a man as ever。
Overworkburning the candlea leetlemore would have seen a very
different state of things！ Quite so！ quite so！ Would come round
himself before dinner； and make sure。 His patient might feel it just
at first！ He bowed Lady Valleys out； and when she had gone； sat down
at his telephone with a smile flickering on his clean…cut lips；
Greatly fortified by this interview； Lady Valleys rejoined her
daughter in the ear； but while it slid on amongst the multitudinous
traffic； signs of unwonted nervousness began to start out through the
placidity of her face。
〃I wish； my dear；〃 she said suddenly； 〃that someone else had to do
this。 Suppose Eustace refuses！〃
〃He won't；〃 Barbara answered； 〃she looks so tired； poor dear。
Besides〃
Lady Valleys gazed with curiosity at that young face； which had
flushed pink。 Yes； this daughter of hers was a woman already； with
all a woman's intuitions。 She said gravely：
〃It was a rash stroke of yours； Babs； let's hope it won't lead to
disaster。〃
Barbara bit her lips。
〃If you'd seen him as I saw him！ And； what disaster？ Mayn't they
love each other； if they want？〃
Lady Valleys swallowed a grimace。 It was so exactly her own point of
view。 And yet！
〃That's only the beginning；〃 she said； 〃you forget the sort of boy
Eustace is。〃
〃Why can't the poor thing be let out of her cage？〃 cried Barbara。
〃What good does it do to anyone？ Mother； if ever； when I am married；
I want to get free； I will！〃
The tone of her voice was so quivering； and unlike the happy voice of
Barbara； that Lady Valleys involuntarily caught hold of her hand and
squeezed it hard。
〃My dear sweet；〃 she said； 〃don't let's talk of such gloomy things。〃
〃I mean it。 Nothing shall stop me。〃
But Lady Valleys' face had suddenly become rather grim。
〃So we think； child； it's not so simple。〃
〃It can't be worse； anyway；〃 muttered Barbara； 〃than being buried
alive as that wretched woman is。〃
For answer Lady Valleys only murmured：
〃The doctor promised that ambulance carriage at four o'clock。 What
am I going to say？〃
〃She'll understand when you look at her。 She's that sort。〃
The door was opened to them by Mrs。 Noel herself。
It was the first time Lady Valleys had seen her in a house； and there
was real curiosity mixed with the assurance which masked her
nervousness。 A pretty creature； even lovely！ But the quite genuine
sympathy in her words： 〃I am truly grateful。 You must be quite worn
out；〃 did not prevent her adding hastily： 〃The doctor says he must be
got home out of these hot rooms。 We'll wait here while you tell
him。〃
And then she saw that it was true； this woman was the sort who
understood。
Left in the dark passage； she peered round at Barbara。
The girl was standing against the wall with her head thrown back。
Lady Valleys could not see her face； but she felt all of a sudden
exceedingly uncomfortable； and whispered：
〃Two murders and a theft； Babs； wasn't it 'Our Mutual Friend'？〃
〃Mother！〃
〃What？〃
〃Her face！ When you're going to throw away a flower； it looks at
you！〃
〃My dear！〃 murmured Lady Valleys； thoroughly distressed； 〃what things
you're saying to…day！〃
This lurking in a dark passage； this whispering girlit was all
queer； unlike an experience in proper life。
And then through the reopened door she saw Miltoun； stretched out in
a chair； very pale； but still with that look about his eyes and lips；
which of all things in the world had a chastening effect on Lady
Valleys； making her feel somehow incurably mundane。
She said rather timidly：
〃I'm so glad you're better； dear。 What a time you must have had！
It's too bad that I knew nothing till yesterday！〃
But Miltoun's answer was； as usual； thoroughly disconcerting。
〃Thanks； yes！ I have had a perfect timeand have now to pay for it；
I suppose。〃
Held back by his smile from bending to kiss him； poor Lady Valleys
fidgeted from head to foot。 A sudden impulse of sheer womanliness
caused a tear to fall on his hand。
When Miltoun perceived that moisture； he said：
〃It's all right； mother。 I'm quite willing to come。〃
Still wounded by his voice； Lady Valleys hardened instantly。 And
while preparing for departure she watched the two furtively。 They
hardly looked at one another； and when they did； their eyes baffled
her。 The expression was outside her experience； belonging as it were
to a different world； with its faintly smiling； almost shining；
gravity。
Vastly relieved when Miltoun； covered with a fur； had been taken down
to the carriage； she lingered to speak to Mrs。 Noel。
〃We owe you a great debt。 It might have been so much worse。 You
mustn't be disconsolate。 Go to bed and have a good long rest。〃 And
from the door； she murmured again： 〃He will come and thank you； when
he's well。〃
Descending the stone stairs； she thought： 〃'Anonyma''Anonyma'yes；
it was quite the name。〃 And suddenly she saw Barbara come running up
again。
〃What is it； Babs？〃
Barbara answered：
〃Eustace would like some of those lilies。〃 And； passing Lady
Valleys； she went on up to Miltoun's chambers。
Mrs。 Noel was not in the sitting…room； and going to the bedroom door；
the girl looked in。
She was standing by the bed； drawing her hand over and over the white
surface of the pillow。 Stealing noiselessly back； Barbara caught up
the bunch of lilies； and fled。
CHAPTER XII
Miltoun； whose constitution； had the steel…like quality of Lady
Casterley's； had a very rapid convalescence。 And； having begun to
take an interest in his food； he was allowed to travel on the seventh
day to Sea House in charge of Barbara。
The two spent their time in a little summer…house close to the sea；
lying out on the beach under the groynes； and； as Miltoun grew
stronger； motoring and walking on the Downs。
To Barbara； keeping a close watch； he seemed tranquilly enough
drinking in from Nature what was necessary to restore balance after
the struggle； and breakdown of the past weeks。 Yet she could never
get rid of a queer feeling that he was not really there at all； to
look at him was like watching an uninhabited house that was waiting
for someone to enter。
During a whole fortnight he did not make a single allusion to Mrs。
Noel； till； on the very last morning； as they were watching the sea；；
he said with his queer smile：
〃It almost makes one believe her theory； that the old gods are not
dead。 Do you ever see them； Babs； or are you； like me； obtuse？〃
Certainly about those lithe invasio