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that speech。 Her good！ The good of a corse that the breath is just
abandoning； the good of a flower beneath a heel； the good of an old
dog whose master leaves it for the last time！ Slowly a weight like
lead stopped all that fluttering of her heart。 If she did not end it
at once！ The words had now been spoken that for so many hours； she
knew； had lain unspoken within her own breast。 Yes； if she did not；
she could never know a moment's peace； feeling that she was forcing
him to a death in life； desecrating her own love and pride！ And the
spur had been given by another！ The thought that someonethis hard
old woman of the hard worldshould have shaped in words the
hauntings of her love and pride through all those ages since Miltoun
spoke to her of his resolve； that someone else should have had to
tell her what her heart had so long known it must dothis stabbed
her like a knife！ This； at all events； she could not bear！
She stood up； and said：
〃Please leave me now！ I have a great many things to do； before I
go。〃
With a sort of pleasure she saw a look of bewilderment cover that old
face； with a sort of pleasure she marked the trembling of the hands
raising their owner from the chair； and heard the stammering in the
voice： 〃You are going？ Before…before he comes？ You…you won't be
seeing him again？〃 With a sort of pleasure she marked the
hesitation； which did not know whether to thank； or bless； or just
say nothing and creep away。 With a sort of pleasure she watched the
flush mount in the faded cheeks； the faded lips pressed together。
Then； at the scarcely whispered words： 〃Thank you； my dear！〃 she
turned； unable to bear further sight or sound。 She went to the
window and pressed her forehead against the glass； trying to think of
nothing。 She heard the sound of wheels…Lady Casterley had gone。 And
then； of all the awful feelings man or woman can know； she
experienced the worst： She could not cry！
At this most bitter and deserted moment of her life； she felt
strangely calm； foreseeing clearly； exactly； what she must do； and
where go。 Quickly it must be done； or it would never be done！
Quickly！ And without fuss！ She put some things together； sent the
maid out for a cab； and sat down to write。
She must do and say nothing that could excite him； and bring back his
illness。 Let it all be sober； reasonable！ It would be easy to let
him know where she was going； to write a letter that would bring him
flying after her。 But to write the calm； reasonable words that would
keep him waiting and thinking； till he never again came to her； broke
her heart。
When she had finished and sealed the letter； she sat motionless with
a numb feeling in hands and brain； trying to realize what she had
next to do。 To go； and that was all！
Her trunks had been taken down already。 She chose the little hat
that he liked her best in； and over it fastened her thickest veil。
Then； putting on her travelling coat and gloves； she looked in the
long mirror； and seeing that there was nothing more to keep her；
lifted her dressing bag； and went down。
Over on the embankment a child was crying； and the passionate
screaming sound； broken by the gulping of tears； made her cover her
lips； as though she had heard her own escaped soul wailing out there。
She leaned out of the cab to say to the maid：
〃Go and comfort that crying； Ella。〃
Only when she was alone in the train； secure from all eyes； did she
give way to desperate weeping。 The white smoke rolling past the
windows was not more evanescent than her joy had been。 For she had
no illusionsit was over！ From first to lastnot quite a year！
But even at this moment； not for all the world would she have been
without her love； gone to its grave； like a dead child that evermore
would be touching her breast with its wistful fingers。
CHAPTER XXVII
Barbara returning from her visit to Courtier's deserted rooms； was
met at Valleys House with the message： Would she please go at once to
Lady Casterley？
When； in obedience； she reached Ravensham； she found her grandmother
and Lord…Dennis in the white room。 They were standing by one of the
tall windows； apparently contemplating the view。 They turned indeed
at sound of Barbara's approach； but neither of them spoke or nodded。
Not having seen her grandfather since before Miltoun's illness；
Barbara found it strange to be so treated； she too took her stand
silently before the window。 A very large wasp was crawling up the
pane； then slipping down with a faint buzz。
Suddenly Lady Casterley spoke。
〃Kill that thing！〃
Lord Dennis drew forth his handkerchief。
〃Not with that； Dennis。 It will make a mess。 〃Take a paper knife。〃
〃I was going to put it out；〃 murmured Lord Dennis。
〃Let Barbara with her gloves。〃
Barbara moved towards the pane。
〃It's a hornet； I think；〃 she said。
〃So he is！〃 said Lord Dennis； dreamily：
〃Nonsense；〃 murmured Lady Casterley； 〃it's a common wasp。〃
〃I know it's a hornet； Granny。 The rings are darker。〃
Lady Casterley bent down； when she raised herself she had a slipper
in her hand。
〃Don't irritate him！〃 cried Barbara； catching her wrist。 But Lady
Casterley freed her hand。
〃I will；〃 she said； and brought the sole of the slipper down on the
insect； so that it dropped on the floor； dead。 〃He has no business
in here。〃
And； as if that little incident had happened to three other people；
they again stood silently looking through the window。
Then Lady Casterley turned to Barbara。
〃Well； have you realized the mischief that you've done？〃
〃Ann！〃 murmured Lord Dennis。
〃Yes； yes； she is your favourite； but that won't save her。 This
womanto her great creditI say to her great credithas gone away；
so as to put herself out of Eustace's reach； until he has recovered
his senses。〃
With a sharp…drawn breath Barbara said：
〃Oh！ poor thing！〃
But on Lady Casterley's face had come an almost cruel look。
〃Ah！〃 she said： 〃Exactly。 But； curiously enough； I am thinking of
Eustace。〃 Her little figure was quivering from head to foot： 〃This
will be a lesson to you not to play with fire！〃
〃Ann！〃 murmured Lord Dennis again； slipping his arm through
Barbara's。
〃The world；〃 went on Lady Casterley； 〃is a place of facts； not of
romantic fancies。 You have done more harm than can possibly be
repaired。 I went to her myself。 I was very much moved。' If it
hadn't been for your foolish conduct〃
〃Ann！〃 said Lord Dennis once more。
Lady Casterley paused； tapping the floor with her little foot。
Barbara's eyes were gleaming。
〃Is there anything else you would like to squash； dear？〃
〃Babs！〃 murmured Lord Dennis； but； unconsciously pressing his hand
against her heart； the girl went on。
〃You are lucky to be abusing me to…dayif it had been yesterday〃
At these dark words Lady Casterley turned away； her shoes leaving
little dull stains on the polished floor。
Barbara raised to her cheek the fingers which she had been so
convulsively embracing。 〃Don't let her go on； uncle；〃 she whispered；
〃not just now！〃
〃No； no； my dear；〃 Lord Dennis murmured； 〃certainly notit is
enough。〃
〃It has been your sent