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tanned face with its crisp grey moustache； his whole head indeed；
took on； unconsciously； a more than ordinarily soldierlike
appearance。 His eyelids drooped a little； his brows rose slightly。
She was wearing a blue wrap over her evening frock； and he seized
instinctively on that indifferent trifle to begin this talk。
〃Ah！ Babs； have you been out？〃
Alive to her very finger…nails； with every nerve tingling； but
showing no sign； Barbara answered：
〃No； on the roof of the tower。〃
It gave her a real malicious pleasure to feel the perplexity beneath
her father's dignified exterior。 And detecting that covert mockery；
Lord Valleys said dryly：
〃Star…gazing？〃
Then； with that sudden resolution peculiar to him； as though he were
bored with having to delay and temporize； he added：
〃Do you know； I doubt whether it's wise to make appointments in
confectioner's shops when Ann is in London。〃
The dangerous little gleam in Barbara's eyes escaped his vision but
not that of Lady Valleys； who said at once：
〃No doubt you had the best of reasons； my dear。〃
Barbara curled her lip。 Had it not been for the scene they had been
through that day with Miltoun； and for their very real anxiety； both
would have seen； then； that while their daughter was in this mood；
least said was soonest mended。 But their nerves were not quite
within control； and with more than a touch of impatience Lord Valleys
ejaculated：
〃It doesn't appear to you； I suppose； to require any explanation？〃
Barbara answered：
〃No。〃
〃Ah！〃 said Lord Valleys： 〃I see。 An explanation can be had no doubt
from the gentleman whose sense of proportion was such as to cause him
to suggest such a thing。〃
〃He did not suggest it。 I did。〃
Lord Valleys' eyebrows rose still higher。
〃Indeed！〃 he said。
〃Geoffrey！〃 murmured Lady Valleys； 〃I thought I was to talk to Babs。〃
〃It would no doubt be wiser。〃
In Barbara； thus for the first time in her life seriously
reprimanded； there was at work the most peculiar sensation she had
ever felt； as if something were scraping her very skina sick； and
at the same time devilish； feeling。 At that moment she could have
struck her father dead。 But she showed nothing； having lowered the
lids of her eyes。
〃Anything else？〃 she said。
Lord Valleys' jaw had become suddenly more prominent。
〃As a sequel to your share in Miltoun's business； it is peculiarly
entrancing。〃
〃My dear；〃 broke in Lady Valleys very suddenly； 〃Babs will tell me。
It's nothing； of course。〃
Barbara's calm voice said again：
〃Anything else？〃
The repetition of this phrase in that maddening； cool voice almost
broke down her father's sorely tried control。
〃Nothing from you；〃 he said with deadly coldness。 〃I shall have the
honour of telling this gentleman what I think of him。〃
At those words Barbara drew herself together； and turned her eyes
from one face to the other。
Under that gaze； which for all its cool hardness； was so furiously
alive； neither Lord nor Lady Valleys could keep quite still。 It was
as if she had stripped from them the well…bred mask of those whose
spirits； by long unquestioning acceptance of themselves； have become
inelastic； inexpansive； commoner than they knew。 In fact a rather
awful moment！ Then Barbara said：
〃If there's nothing else； I'm going to bed。 Goodnight！〃
And as calmly as she had come in； she went out。
When she had regained her room； she locked the door； threw off her
cloak； and looked at herself in the glass。 With pleasure she saw how
firmly her teeth were clenched； how her breast was heaving； and how
her eyes seemed to be stabbing herself。 And all the time she
thought：
〃Very well！ My dears！ Very well！〃
CHAPTER XXV
In that mood of rebellious mortification she fell asleep。 And；
curiously enough； dreamed not of him whom she had in mind been so
furiously defending； but of Harbinger。 She fancied herself in
prison； lying in a cell fashioned like the drawing…room at Sea house；
and in the next cell； into which she could somehow look； Harbinger
was digging at the wall with his nails。 She could distinctly see the
hair on the back of his hands； and hear him breathing。 The hole he
was making grew larger and larger。 Her heart began to beat
furiously； she awoke。
She rose with a new and malicious resolution to show no sign of
rebellion； to go through the day as if nothing had happened； to
deceive them all； and then！ Exactly what 'and then' meant； she did
not explain even to herself。
In accordance with this plan of action she presented an untroubled
front at breakfast； went out riding with little Ann； and shopping
with her mother afterwards。 Owing to this news of Miltoun the
journey to Scotland had been postponed。 She parried with cool
ingenuity each attempt made by Lady Valleys to draw her into
conversation on the subject of that meeting at Gustard's； nor would
she talk of her brother； in every other way she was her usual self。
In the afternoon she even volunteered to accompany her mother to old
Lady Harbinger's in the neighbourhood of Prince's Gate。 She knew
that Harbinger would be there； and with the thought of meeting that
other at 'five o'clock；' had a cynical pleasure in thus encountering
him。 It was so complete a blind to them all！ Then； feeling that she
was accomplishing a masterstroke； she even told him； in her mother's
hearing； that she would walk home； and he might come if he cared。 He
did care。
But when once she had begun to swing along in the mellow afternoon；
under the mellow trees； where the air was sweetened by the South…West
wind； all that mutinous； reckless mood of hers vanished； she felt
suddenly happy and kind； glad to be walking with him。 To…day too he
was cheerful； as if determined not to spoil her gaiety； and she was
grateful for this。 Once or twice she even put her hand up and
touched his sleeve； calling his attention to birds or trees；
friendly； and glad； after all those hours of bitter feelings； to be
giving happiness。 When they parted at the door of Valleys House； she
looked back at him with a queer； half…rueful smile。 For； now the
hour had come！
In a little unfrequented ante…room； all white panels and polish； she
sat down to wait。 The entrance drive was visible from here； and she
meant to encounter Courtier casually in the hall。 She was excited；
and a little scornful of her own excitement。 She had expected him to
be punctual； but it was already past five； and soon she began to feel
uneasy； almost ridiculous； sitting in this room where no one ever
came。 Going to the window； she looked out。
A sudden voice behind her； said：
〃Auntie Babs！〃。
Turning； she saw little Ann regarding her with those wide； frank；
hazel eyes。 A shiver of nerves passed through Barbara。
〃Is this your room？ It's a nice room； isn't it？〃
She answered：
〃Quite a nice room； Ann。〃
〃Yes。 I've never been in here before。 There's somebody just come；
so I must go now。〃
Barbara involuntarily put her hands up to her cheeks； and quickly
passed with her niece into the hall。 At the very door the footman
William handed her a note。 She looked at the superscripti