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since she was a tiny girl。 And in face of her emotion any animus
they might have shown her for having thrown Miltoun into Mrs。 Noel's
arms； now melted away。 Lord Valleys； especially moved； went up to
his daughter； and stood with her in that dark corner； saying nothing；
but gently stroking her hand。 Lady Valleys； who herself felt very
much inclined to cry； went out of sight into the embrasure of the
window。
Barbara's sobbing was soon subdued。
〃It's his face；〃 she said： 〃And why？ Why？ It's so unnecessary！〃
Lord Valleys； continually twisting his moustache； muttered：
〃Exactly！ He makes things for himself！〃
〃Yes；〃 murmured Lady Valleys from the window； 〃he was always
uncomfortable； like that。 I remember him as a baby。 Bertie never
was。〃
And then the silence was only broken by the little angry sounds of
Barbara blowing her nose。
〃I shall go and see mother；〃 said Lady Valleys； suddenly： 〃The boy's
whole life may be ruined if we can't stop this。 Are you coming；
child？〃
But Barbara refused。
She went to her room； instead。 This crisis in Miltoun's life had
strangely shaken her。 It was as if Fate had suddenly revealed all
that any step out of the beaten path might lead to； had brought her
sharply up against herself。 To wing out into the blue！ See what it
meant！ If Miltoun kept to his resolve； and gave up public life； he
was lost！ And she herself！ The fascination of Courtier's chivalrous
manner； of a sort of innate gallantry； suggesting the quest of
everlasting dangerwas it not rather absurd？ Andwas she
fascinated？ Was it not simply that she liked the feeling of
fascinating him？ Through the maze of these thoughts； darted the
memory of Harbinger's face close to her own； his clenched hands； the
swift revelation of his dangerous masculinity。 It was all a
nightmare of scaring queer sensations； of things that could never be
settled。 She was stirred for once out of all her normal conquering
philosophy。 Her thoughts flew back to Miltoun。 That which she had
seen in their faces； then； had come to pass！ And picturing Agatha's
horror； when she came to hear of it； Barbara could not help a smile。
Poor Eustace！ Why did he take things so hardly？ If he really
carried out his resolveand he never changed his mindit would be
tragic！ It would mean the end of everything for him！
Perhaps now he would get tired of Mrs。 Noel。 But she was not the
sort of woman a man would get tired of。 Even Barbara in her
inexperience felt that。 She would always be too delicately careful
never to cloy him； never to exact anything from him； or let him feel
that he was bound to her by so much as a hair。 Ah！ why couldn't they
go on as if nothing had happened？ Could nobody persuade him？ She
thought again of Courtier。 If he； who knew them both； and was so
fond of Mrs。 Noel； would talk to Miltoun； about the right to be
happy； the right to revolt？ Eustace ought to revolt！ It was his
duty。 She sat down to write； then； putting on her hat； took the note
and slipped downstairs。
CHAPTER XIX
The flowers of summer in the great glass house at Ravensham were
keeping the last afternoon…watch when Clifton summoned Lady Casterley
with the words：
〃Lady Valleys in the white room。〃
Since the news of Miltoun's illness； and of Mrs。 Noel's nursing； the
little old lady had possessed her soul in patience； often； it is
true； afflicted with poignant misgivings as to this new influence in
the life of her favourite； affected too by a sort of jealousy； not to
be admitted； even in her prayers； which； though regular enough； were
perhaps somewhat formal。 Having small liking now for leaving home；
even for Catton； her country place； she was still at Ravensham； where
Lord Dennis had come up to stay with her as soon as Miltoun had left
Sea House。 But Lady Casterley was never very dependent on company。
She retained unimpaired her intense interest in politics； and still
corresponded freely with prominent men。 Of late； too； a slight
revival of the June war scare had made its mark on her in a certain
rejuvenescence； which always accompanied her contemplation of
national crises； even when such were a little in the air。 At blast
of trumpet her spirit still leaped forward； unsheathed its sword； and
stood at the salute。 At such times； she rose earlier； went to bed
later； was far less susceptible to draughts； and refused with
asperity any food between meals。 She wrote too with her own hand
letters which she would otherwise have dictated to her secretary。
Unfortunately the scare had died down again almost at once； and the
passing of danger always left her rather irritable。 Lady Valleys'
visit came as a timely consolation。
She kissed her daughter critically； for there was that about her
manner which she did not like。
〃Yes； of course I am well！〃 she said。 〃Why didn't you bring
Barbara？〃
〃She was tired！〃
〃H'm！ Afraid of meeting me； since she committed that piece of folly
over Eustace。 You must be careful of that child； Gertrude； or she
will be doing something silly herself。 I don't like the way she
keeps Claud Harbinger hanging in the wind。〃
Her daughter cut her short：
〃There is bad news about Eustace。〃
Lady Casterley lost the little colour in her cheeks； lost； too； all
her superfluity of irritable energy。
〃Tell me； at once！〃
Having heard； she said nothing； but Lady Valleys noticed with alarm
that over her eyes had come suddenly the peculiar filminess of age。
〃Well； what do you advise？〃 she asked。
Herself tired； and troubled； she was conscious of a quite unwonted
feeling of discouragement before this silent little figure； in the
silent white room。 She had never before seen her mother look as if
she heard Defeat passing on its dark wings。 And moved by sudden
tenderness for the little frail body that had borne her so long ago；
she murmured almost with surprise：
〃Mother； dear！〃
〃Yes；〃 said Lady Casterley； as if speaking to herself； 〃the boy saves
things up； he stores his feelingsthey burst and sweep him away。
First his passion； now his conscience。 There are two men in him； but
this will be the death of one of them。〃 And suddenly turning on her
daughter； she said：
〃Did you ever hear about him at Oxford； Gertrude？ He broke out once；
and ate husks with the Gadarenes。 You never knew。 Of courseyou
never have known anything of him。〃
Resentment rose in Lady Valleys； that anyone should knew her son
better than herself； but she lost it again looking at the little
figure； and said； sighing：
〃Well？〃
Lady Casterley murmured：
〃Go away； child； I must think。 You say he's to consult' Dennis？ Do
you know her address？ Ask Barbara when you get back and telephone it
to me。 And at her daughter's kiss； she added grimly：
〃I shall live to see him in the saddle yet； though I am seventy…
eight。〃
When the sound of her daughter's car had died ：away； she rang the
bell。
〃If Lady Valleys rings up； Clifton； don't take the message； but call
me。〃 And seeing that Clifton did not move she added sharply： 〃Well？〃
〃There is no bad news of his young lordship's health； I hope？〃
〃No。〃
〃Forgive me； my lady； but I have