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character as that。〃
She stopped before the expression on Miltoun's face。
〃You go too fast；〃 he said； 〃I may become a free spirit yet。〃
To this saying； which seemed to her cryptic and sinister； Lady
Valleys did not know what to answer。
〃If you feel； as you say；〃 Lord Valleys began once more； 〃that the
bottom has been knocked out of things for you by thisthis affair；
don't； for goodness' sake； do anything in a hurry。 Wait！ Go abroad！
Get your balance back！ You'll find the thing settle itself in a few
months。 Don't precipitate matters； you can make your health an
excuse to miss the Autumn session。〃
Lady Valleys chimed in eagerly
〃You really are seeing the thing out of all proportion。 What is a
love…affair。 My dear boy； do you suppose for a moment anyone would
think the worse of you； even if they knew？ And really not a soul
need know。〃
〃It has not occurred to me to consider what they would think。〃
〃Then；〃 cried Lady Valleys； nettled； 〃it's simply your own pride。〃
〃You have said。〃
Lord Valleys； who had turned away； spoke in an almost tragic voice
〃I did not think that on a point of honour I should differ from my
son。〃
Catching at the word honour； Lady Valleys cried suddenly：
〃Eustace； promise me； before you do anything； to consult your Uncle
Dennis。〃
Miltoun smiled。
〃This becomes comic；〃 he said。
At that word； which indeed seemed to them quite wanton； Lord and Lady
Valleys turned on their son； and the three stood staring； perfectly
silent。 A little noise from the doorway interrupted them。
CHAPTER XVIII
Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of
Harbinger； Barbara had said：
〃Let's have coffee in here；〃 and passed into the withdrawing room。
Except for that one evening； when together by the sea wall they stood
contemplating the populace； she had not been alone with him since he
kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge。 And now； after the
first moment； she looked at him calmly； though in her breast there
was a fluttering； as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so
feebly against that soft and solid cage。 Her last jangled talk with
Courtier had left an ache in her heart。 Besides； did she not know
all that Harbinger could give her？
Like a nymph pursued by a faun who held dominion over the groves；
she； fugitive； kept looking back。 There was nothing in that fair
wood of his with which she was not familiar； no thicket she had not
travelled； no stream she had not crossed； no kiss she could not
return。 His was a discovered land； in which； as of right； she would
reign。 She had nothing to hope from him but power； and solid
pleasure。 Her eyes said： How am I to know whether I shall not want
more than you； feel suffocated in your arms； be surfeited by all that
you will bring me？ Have I not already got all that？
She knew； from his downcast gloomy face； how cruel she seemed； and
was sorry。 She wanted to be good to him； and said almost shyly：
〃Are you angry with me； Claud？〃
Harbinger looked up。
〃What makes you so cruel？〃
〃I am not cruel。〃
〃You are。 Where is your heart？〃
〃Here！〃 said Barbara； touching her breast。
〃Ah！〃 muttered Harbinger； 〃I'm not joking。〃
She said gently：'
〃Is it as bad as that； my dear？〃
But the softness of her voice seemed to fan the smouldering fires in
him。
〃There's something behind all this；〃 he stammered； 〃you've no right
to make a fool of me！〃
〃And what is the something； please？〃
〃That's for you to say。 But I'm not blind。 What about this fellow
Courtier？〃
At that moment there was revealed to Barbara a new acquaintancethe
male proper。 No； to live with him would not be quite lacking in
adventure！
His face had darkened； his eyes were dilated； his whole figure seemed
to have grown。 She suddenly noticed the hair which covered his
clenched fists。 All his suavity had left him。 He came very close。
How long that look between them lasted； and of all there was in it；
she had no clear knowledge； thought after thought； wave after wave of
feeling； rushed through her。 Revolt and attraction； contempt and
admiration； queer sensations of disgust and pleasure； all mingledas
on a May day one may see the hail fall； and the sun suddenly burn
through and steam from the grass。
Then he said hoarsely：
〃Oh！ Babs； you madden me so！〃
Smoothing her lips； as if to regain control of them； she answered：
〃Yes； I think I have had enough；〃 and went out into her father's
study。
The sight of Lord and Lady Valleys so intently staring at Miltoun
restored hex self…possession。
It struck her as slightly comic； not knowing that the little scene
was the outcome of that word。 In truth； the contrast between Miltoun
and his parents at this moment was almost ludicrous。
Lady Valleys was the first to speak。
〃Better comic than romantic。 I suppose Barbara may know； considering
her contribution to this matter。 Your brother is resigning his seat；
my dear； his conscience will not permit him to retain it； under
certain circumstances that have arisen。〃
〃Oh！〃 cried Barbara： 〃but surely〃
〃The matter has been argued； Babs；〃 Lord Valleys said shortly；
〃unless you have some better reason to advance than those of ordinary
common sense； public spirit； and consideration for one's family； it
will hardly be worth your while to reopen the discussion。〃
Barbara looked up at Miltoun；； whose face； all but the eyes； was like
a mask。
〃Oh； Eusty！〃 she said； 〃you're not going to spoil your life like
this！ Just think how I shall feel。〃
Miltoun answered stonily：
〃You did what you thought right； as I am doing。〃
〃Does she want you to？〃
〃No。〃
〃There is； I should imagine；〃 put in Lord Valleys； 〃not a solitary
creature in the whole world except your brother himself who would
wish for this consummation。 But with him such a consideration does
not weigh！〃
〃Oh！〃 sighed Barbara； 〃think of Granny！〃
〃I prefer not to think of her；〃 murmured Lady Valleys。
〃She's so wrapped up in you； Eusty。 She always has believed in you
intensely。〃
Miltoun sighed。 And； encouraged by that sound； Barbara went closer。
It was plain enough that； behind his impassivity； a desperate
struggle was going on in Miltoun。 He spoke at last：
〃If I have not already yielded to one who is naturally more to me
than anything； when she begged and entreated； it is because I feel
this in a way you don't realize。 I apologize for using the word
comic just now； I should have said tragic。 I'll enlighten Uncle
Dennis； if that will comfort you； but this is not exactly a matter
for anyone； except myself。〃 And； without another look or word； he
went out。
As the door closed； Barbara ran towards it； and； with a motion
strangely like the wringing of hands； said
〃Oh； dear！ Oh！ dear！〃 Then； turning away to a bookcase； she began to
cry。
This ebullition of feeling； surpassing even their own； came as a real
shock to Lady and Lord Valleys； ignorant of how strung…up she had
been before she entered the room。 They had not seen Barbara cry
since she was a tiny girl。 And in face of her emotion any animus
they might have shown her for having thrown Mi