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dead。 Do you ever see them； Babs； or are you； like me； obtuse？〃
Certainly about those lithe invasions of the sea…nymph waves； with
ashy； streaming hair； flinging themselves into the arms of the land；
there was the old pagan rapture； an inexhaustible delight； a
passionate soft acceptance of eternal fate； a wonderful acquiescence
in the untiring mystery of life。
But Barbara； ever disconcerted by that tone in his voice； and by this
quick dive into the waters of unaccustomed thought； failed to find an
answer。
Miltoun went on：
〃She says； too； we can hear Apollo singing。 Shall we try。〃
But all that came was the sigh of the sea； and of the wind in the
tamarisk。
〃No；〃 muttered Miltoun at last； 〃she alone can hear it。〃
And Barbara saw； once more on his face that look； neither sad nor
impatient； but as of one uninhabited and waiting。
She left Sea House next day to rejoin her mother； who； having been to
Cowes； and to the Duchess of Gloucester's； was back in Town waiting
for Parliament to rise； before going off to Scotland。 And that same
afternoon the girl made her way to Mrs。 Noel's flat。 In paying this
visit she was moved not so much by compassion； as by uneasiness； and
a strange curiosity。 Now that Miltoun was well again； she was
seriously disturbed in mind。 Had she made a mistake in summoning
Mrs。 Noel to nurse him？
When she went into the little drawing…room Audrey was sitting in the
deep…cushioned window…seat with a book on her knee； and by the fact
that it was open at the index； Barbara judged that she had not been
reading too attentively。 She showed no signs of agitation at the
sight of her visitor； nor any eagerness to hear news of Miltoun。 But
the girl had not been five minutes in the room before the thought
came to her： 〃 Why！ She has the same look as Eustace！〃 She； too；
was like an empty tenement； without impatience； discontent； or grief…
…waiting！ Barbara had scarcely realized this with a curious sense of
discomposure； when Courtier was announced。 Whether there was in this
an absolute coincidence or just that amount of calculation which
might follow on his part from receipt of a note written from Sea
Housesaying that Miltoun was well again； that she was coming up and
meant to go and thank Mrs。 Noelwas not clear； nor were her own
sensations； and she drew over her face that armoured look which she
perhaps knew Courtier could not bear to see。 His face； at all
events； was very red when he shook hands。 He had come； he told Mrs。
Noel； to say good…bye。 He was definitely off next week。 Fighting
had broken out； the revolutionaries were greatly outnumbered。 Indeed
he ought to have been there long before！
Barbara had gone over to the window； she turned suddenly； and said：
〃You were preaching peace two months ago！〃
Courtier bowed。
〃We are not all perfectly consistent； Lady Barbara。 These poor
devils have a holy cause。〃
Barbara held out her hand to Mrs。 Noel。
〃You only think their cause holy because they happen to be weak。
Good…bye； Mrs。 Noel； the world is meant for the strong； isn't it！〃
She intended that to hurt him； and from the tone of his voice； she
knew it had。
〃Don't； Lady Barbara； from your mother； yes； not from you！〃
〃It's what I believe。 Good…bye！〃 And she went out。
She had told him that she did not want him to gonot yet； and he was
going！
But no sooner had she got outside； after that strange outburst； than
she bit her lips to keep back an angry； miserable feeling。 He had
been rude to her； she had been rude to him； that was the way they had
said good…bye！ Then； as she emerged into the sunlight； she thought：
〃Oh！ well； he doesn't care； and I'm sure I don't！〃
She heard a voice behind her。
〃May I get you a cab？〃 and at once the sore feeling began to die
away； but she did not look round； only smiled； and shook her head；
and made a little room for him on the pavement。
But though they walked； they did not at first talk。 There was rising
within Barbara a tantalizing devil of desire to know the feelings
that really lay behind that deferential gravity； to make him show her
how much he really cared。 She kept her eyes demurely lowered； but
she let the glimmer of a smile flicker about her lips； she knew too
that her cheeks were glowing； and for that she was not sorry。 Was
she not to have anyanywas he calmly to go awaywithout And
she thought： 〃He shall say something！ He shall show me； without that
horrible irony of his！〃
She said suddenly：
〃Those two are just waitingsomething will happen！〃
〃It is probable；〃 was his grave answer。
She looked at him thenit pleased her to see him quiver as if that
glance had gone right into him； and she said softly：
〃And I think they will be quite right。〃
She knew those were reckless words； nor cared very much what they
meant； but she knew the revolt in them would move him。 She saw from
his face that it had； and after a little pause； said：
〃Happiness is the great thing；〃 and with soft； wicked slowness：
〃Isn't it； Mr。 Courtier？〃
But all the cheeriness had gone out of his face； which had grown
almost pale。 He lifted his hand； and let it drop。 Then she felt
sorry。 It was just as if he had asked her to spare him。
〃As to that；〃 he said： 〃The rough； unfortunately； has to be taken
with the smooth。 But life's frightfully jolly sometimes。〃
〃As now？〃
He looked at her with firm gravity； and answered
〃As now。〃
A sense of utter mortification seized on Barbara。 He was too strong
for herhe was quixotiche was hateful！ And； determined not to
show a sign； to be at least as strong as he； she said calmly：
〃Now I think I'll have that cab！〃
When she was in the cab； and he was standing with his hat lifted； she
looked at him in the way that women can； so that he did not realize
that she had looked。
CHAPTER XIII
When Miltoun came to thank her； Audrey Noel was waiting in the middle
of the room； dressed in white； her lips smiling； her dark eyes
smiling； still as a flower on a windless day。
In that first look passing between them； they forgot everything but
happiness。 Swallows； on the first day of summer； in their discovery
of the bland air； can neither remember that cold winds blow； nor
imagine the death of sunlight on their feathers； and； flitting hour
after hour over the golden fields； seem no longer birds； but just the
breathing of a new seasonswallows were no more forgetful of
misfortune than were those two。 His gaze was as still as her very
self； her look at him had in at the quietude of all emotion。
When they' sat down to talk it was as if they had gone back to those
days at Monkland； when he had come to her so often to discuss
everything in heaven and earth。 And yet； over that tranquil eager
drinkingin of each other's presence； hovered a sort of awe。 It was
the mood of morning before the sun has soared。 The dew…grey cobwebs
enwrapped the flowers of their heartsyet every prisoned flower
could be seen。 And he and she seemed looking through that web at the
colour and the deep…down forms enshrouded so jealously； each feared
too much to unveil the other's heart。 They were like lovers who；
ram