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〃not just now！〃
〃No； no； my dear；〃 Lord Dennis murmured； 〃certainly notit is
enough。〃
〃It has been your sentimental folly；〃 came Lady Casterley's voice
from a far corner； 〃which has brought this on the boy。〃
Responding to the pressure of the hand； back now at her waist；
Barbara did not answer； and the sound of the little feet retracing
their steps rose in the stillness。 Neither of those two at the
window turned their heads； once more the feet receded； and again
began coming back。
Suddenly Barbara； pointing to the floor； cried：
〃Oh！ Granny； for Heaven's sake； stand still； haven't you squashed
the hornet enough； even if he did come in where he hadn't any
business？〃
Lady Casterley looked down at the debris of the insect。
〃Disgusting！〃 she said； but when she next spoke it was in a less
hard； more querulous voice。
〃That manwhat was his namehave you got rid of him？〃
Barbara went crimson。
〃Abuse my friends； and I will go straight home and never speak to you
again。〃
For a moment Lady Casterley looked almost as if she might strike her
granddaughter； then a little sardonic smile broke out on her face。
〃A creditable sentiment！〃 she said。
Letting fall her uncle's hand； Barbara cried：
〃In any case； I'd better go。 I don't know why you sent for me。〃
Lady Casterley answered coldly：
〃To let you and your mother know of this woman's most unselfish
behaviour； to put you on the 'qui vive' for what Eustace may do now；
to give you a chance to make up for your folly。 Moreover to warn you
against〃 she paused。
〃Yes？〃
〃Let me〃 interrupted Lord Dennis。
〃No； Uncle Dennis； let Granny take her shoe！〃
She had withdrawn against the wall； tall； and as it were； formidable；
with her head up。 Lady Casterley remained silent。
〃Have you got it ready？〃 cried Barbara： 〃Unfortunately he's flown！〃
A voice said：
〃Lord Miltoun。〃
He had come in quietly and quickly； preceding the announcement； and
stood almost touching that little group at the window before they
caught sight of him。 His face had the rather ghastly look of
sunburnt faces from which emotion has driven the blood； and his eyes；
always so much the most living part of him； were full of such
stabbing anger； that involuntarily they all looked down。
〃I want to speak to you alone；〃 he said to Lady Casterley。
Visibly； for perhaps the first time in her life； that indomitable
little figure flinched。 Lord Dennis drew Barbara away； but at the
door he whispered：
〃Stay here quietly； Babs； I don't like the look of this。〃
Unnoticed； Barbara remained hovering。
The two voices； low； and so far off in the long white room； were
uncannily distinct； emotion charging each word with preternatural
power of penetration； and every movement of the speakers had to the
girl's excited eyes a weird precision； as of little figures she had
once seen at a Paris puppet show。 She could hear Miltoun reproaching
his grandmother in words terribly dry and bitter。 She edged nearer
and nearer； till； seeing that they paid no more heed to her than if
she were an attendant statue； she had regained her position by the
window。
Lady Casterley was speaking。
〃I was not going to see you ruined before my eyes； Eustace。 I did
what I did at very great cost。 I did my best for you。〃
Barbara saw Miltoun's face transfigured by a dreadful smilethe
smile of one defying his torturer with hate。 Lady Casterley went on：
〃Yes； you stand there looking like a devil。 Hate me if you likebut
don't betray us； moaning and moping because you can't have the moon。
Put on your armour； and go down into the battle。 Don't play the
coward； boy！〃
Miltoun's answer cut like the lash of a whip。
〃By God！ Be silent！〃
And weirdly； there was silence。 It was not the brutality of the
words； but the sight of force suddenly naked of all disguiselike a
fierce dog let for a moment off its chainwhich made Barbara utter a
little dismayed sound。 Lady Casterley had dropped into a chair；
trembling。 And without a look Miltoun passed her。 If their
grandmother had fallen dead； Barbara knew he would not have stopped
to see。 She ran forward； but the old woman waved her away。
〃Go after him；〃 she said； 〃don't let him go alone。〃
And infected by the fear in that wizened voice； Barbara flew。
She caught her brother as he was entering the taxi…cab in which he
had come； and without a word slipped in beside him。 The driver's
face appeared at the window； but Miltoun only motioned with his head；
as if to say： Anywhere； away from here！
The thought flashed through Barbara： 〃If only I can keep him in here
with me！〃
She leaned out； and said quietly：
〃To Nettlefold； in Sussexnever mind your petrolget more on the
road。 You can have what fare you like。 Quick！〃
The man hesitated； looked in her face； and said：
〃Very well； miss。 By Dorking； ain't it？〃
Barbara nodded。
CHAPTER XXVIII
The clock over the stables was chiming seven when Miltoun and Barbara
passed out of the tall iron gates； in their swift…moving small world；
that smelled faintly of petrol。 Though the cab was closed； light
spurts of rain drifted in through the open windows； refreshing the
girl's hot face； relieving a little her dread of this drive。 For；
now that Fate had been really cruel； now that it no longer lay in
Miltoun's hands to save himself from suffering； her heart bled for
him； and she remembered to forget herself。 The immobility with which
he had received her intrusion； was ominous。 And though silent in her
corner； she was desperately working all her woman's wits to discover
a way of breaking into the house of his secret mood。 He appeared not
even to have noticed that they had turned their backs on London； and
passed into Richmond Park。
Here the trees； made dark by rain； seemed to watch gloomily the
progress of this whirring…wheeled red box； unreconciled even yet to
such harsh intruders on their wind…scented tranquillity。 And the
deer； pursuing happiness on the sweet grasses； raised disquieted
noses； as who should say： Poisoners of the fern； defilers of the
trails of air！
Barbara vaguely felt the serenity out there in the clouds； and the
trees； and wind。 If it would but creep into this dim； travelling
prison； and help her； if it would but come； like sleep； and steal
away dark sorrow； and in one moment make grief…joy。 But it stayed
outside on its wistful wings； and that grand chasm which yawns
between soul and soul remained unbridged。 For what could she say？
How make him speak of what he was going to do？ What alternatives
indeed were now before him？ Would he sullenly resign his seat； and
wait till he could find Audrey Noel again？ But even if he did find
her； they would only be where they were。 She had gone； in order not
to be a drag on himit would only be the same thing all over again！
Would he then； as Granny had urged him； put on his armour； and go
down into the fight？ But that indeed would mean the end； for if she
had had the strength to go away now； she would surely never come back
and break in on his life a second time。 And a grim thought swooped
down on Barbara。 What if he resigned everything！ W