the patrician-第16节

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CHAPTER　XII

Lady　Casterley's　rather　malicious　diagnosis　of　Audrey　Noel　was
correct。　　The　unencumbered　woman　was　up　and　in　her　garden　when
Barbara　and　her　grandmother　appeared　at　the　Wicket　gate；　but　being
near　the　lime…tree　at　the　far　end　she　did　not　hear　the　rapid　colloquy
which　passed　between　them。

〃You　are　going　to　be　good；　Granny？〃

〃As　to　thatit　will　depend。〃

〃You　promised。〃

〃H'm！〃

Lady　Casterley　could　not　possibly　have　provided　herself　with　a　better
introduction　than　Barbara；　whom　Mrs。　Noel　never　met　without　the　sheer
pleasure　felt　by　a　sympathetic　woman　when　she　sees　embodied　in
someone　else　that　'joy　in　life'　which　Fate　has　not　permitted　to
herself。

She　came　forward　with　her　head　a　little　on　one　side；　a　trick　of　hers
not　at　all　affected；　and　stood　waiting。

The　unembarrassed　Barbara　began　at　once：

〃We've　just　had　an　encounter　with　a　bull。　　This　is　my　grandmother；
Lady　Casterley。〃

The　little　old　lady's　demeanour；　confronted　with　this　very　pretty
face　and　figure　was　a　thought　less　autocratic　and　abrupt　than　usual。
Her　shrewd　eyes　saw　at　once　that　she　had　no　common　adventuress　to
deal　with。　　She　was　woman　of　the　world　enough；　too；　to　know　that
'birth'　was　not　what　it　had　been　in　her　young　days；　that　even　money
was　rather　rococo；　and　that　good　looks；　manners；　and　a　knowledge　of
literature；　art；　and　music　（and　this　woman　looked　like　one　of　that
sort）；　were　often　considered　socially　more　valuable。　　She　was
therefore　both　wary　and　affable。

〃How　do　you　do？〃　she　said。　　〃I　have　heard　of　you。　　May　we　sit　down
for　a　minute　in　your　garden？　　The　bull　was　a　wretch！〃

But　even　in　speaking；　she　was　uneasily　conscious　that　Mrs。　Noel's
clear　eyes　were　seeing　very　well　what　she　had　come　for。　　The　look　in
them　indeed　was　almost　cynical；　and　in　spite　of　her　sympathetic
murmurs；　she　did　not　somehow　seem　to　believe　in　the　bull。　　This　was
disconcerting。　　Why　had　Barbara　condescended　to　mention　the　wretched
brute？　　And　she　decided　to　take　him　by　the　horns。

〃Babs；〃　she　said；　〃go　to　the　Inn　and　order　me　a　'fly。'　I　shall　drive
back；　I　feel　very　shaky；〃　and；　as　Mrs。　Noel　offered　to　send　her　maid；
she　added：

〃No；　no；　my　granddaughter　will　go。〃

Barbara　having　departed　with　a　quizzical　look；　Lady　Casterley　patted
the　rustic　seat；　and　said：

〃Do　come　and　sit　down；　I　want　to　talk　to　you：〃

Mrs。　Noel　obeyed。　　And　at　once　Lady　Casterley　perceived　that　〃she　had
a　most　difficult　task　before　her。　　She　had　not　expected　a　woman　with
whom　one　could　take　no　liberties。　　Those　clear　dark　eyes；　and　that
soft；　perfectly　graceful　mannerto　a　person　so　'sympathetic'　one
should　be　able　to　say　anything；　andone　couldn't！　　It　was　awkward。
And　suddenly　she　noticed　that　Mrs。　Noel　was　sitting　perfectly
upright；　as　uprightmore　upright；　than　she　was　herself。　　A　bad；
signa　very　bad　sign！　　Taking　out　her　handkerchief；　she　put　it　to
her　lips。

〃I　suppose　you　think；〃　she　said；　〃that　we　were　not　chased　by　a　bull。〃


〃I　am　sure　you　were。〃

〃Indeed！　　Ah！　　But　I've　something　else　to　talk　to　you　about。〃

Mrs。　Noel's　face　quivered　back；　as　a　flower　might　when　it　was　going
to　be　plucked；　and　again　Lady　Casterley　put　her　handkerchief　to　her
lips。　　This　time　she　rubbed　them　hard。　　There　was　nothing　to　come
off；　to　do　so；　therefore；　was　a　satisfaction。

〃I　am　an　old　woman；〃　she　said；〃　and　you　mustn't　mind　what　I　say。〃

Mrs。　Noel　did　not　answer；　but　looked　straight　at　her　visitor；　to　whom
it　seemed　suddenly　that　this　was　another　person。　　What　was　it　about
that　face；　staring　at　her！　　In　a　weird　way　it　reminded　her　of　a　child
that　one　had　hurtwith　those　great　eyes　and　that　soft　hair；　and　the
mouth　thin；　in　a　line；　all　of　a　sudden。　　And　as　if　it　had　been　jerked
out　of　her；　she　said：

〃I　don't　want　to　hurt　you；　my　dear。　　It's　about　my　grandson；　of
course。〃

But　Mrs。　Noel　made　neither　sign　nor　motion；　and　the　feeling　of
irritation　which　so　rapidly　attacks　the　old　when　confronted　by　the
unexpected；　came　to　Lady　Casterley's　aid。

〃His　name；〃　she　said；　〃is　being　coupled　with　yours　in　a　way　that's
doing　him　a　great　deal　of　harm。　　You　don't　wish　to　injure　him；　I'm
sure。〃

Mrs。　Noel　shook　her　head；　and　Lady　Casterley　went　on：

〃I　don't　know　what　they're　not　saying　since　the　evening　your　friend
Mr。　Courtier　hurt　his　knee。　　Miltoun　has　been　most　unwise。　　You　had
not　perhaps　realized　that。〃

Mrs。　Noel's　answer　was　bitterly　distinct：

〃I　didn't　know　anyone　was　sufficiently　interested　in　my　doings。〃

Lady　Casterley　suffered　a　gesture　of　exasperation　to　escape　her。

〃Good　heavens！〃　she　said；　〃every　common　person　is　interested　in　a
woman　whose　position　is　anomalous。　　Living　alone　as　you　do；　and　not　a
widow；　you're　fair　game　for　everybody；　especially　in　the　country。〃

Mrs。　Noel's　sidelong　glance；　very　clear　and　cynical；　seemed　to　say：
〃Even　for　you。〃

〃I　am　not　entitled　to　ask　your　story；〃　Lady　Casterley　went　on；　〃but
if　you　make　mysteries　you　must　expect　the　worst　interpretation　put　on
them。　　My　grandson　is　a　man　of　the　highest　principle；　he　does　not　see
things　with　the　eyes　of　the　world；　and　that　should　have　made　you
doubly　careful　not　to　compromise　him；　especially　at　a　time　like
this。〃

Mrs。　Noel　smiled。　　This　smile　startled　Lady　Casterley；　it　seemed；　by
concealing　everything；　to　reveal　depths　of　strength　and　subtlety。
Would　the　woman　never　show　her　hand？　　And　she　said　abruptly：

〃Anything　serious；　of　course；　is　out　of　the　question。〃

〃Quite。〃

That　word；　which　of　all　others　seemed　the　right　one；　was　spoken　so
that　Lady　Casterley　did　not　know　in　the　least　what　it　meant。　　Though
occasionally　employing　irony；　she　detested　it　in　others。　　No　woman
should　be　allowed　to　use　it　as　a　weapon！　　But　in　these　days；　when
they　were　so　foolish　as　to　want　votes；　one　never　knew　what　women
would　be　at。　　This　particular　woman；　however；　did　not　look　like　one
of　that　sort。　　She　was　femininevery　femininethe　sort　of　creature
that　spoiled　men　by　being　too　nice　to　them。　　And　though　she　had　come
determined　to　find　out　all　about　everything　and　put　an　end　to　it；　she
saw　Barbara　re…entering　the　wicket　gate　with　considerable　relief。

〃I　am　ready　to　walk　home　now；〃　she　said。　　And　getting　up　from　the
rustic　seat；　she　made　Mrs。　Noel　a　satirical　little　bow。

〃Thank　you　for　letting　me　rest。　　Give　me　your　arm；　child。〃

Barbara　gave　her　arm；　and　over　her　shoulder　threw　a　swift　smile　at
Mrs。　Noel；　who　did　not　answer　it；　but　stood　looking　quietly　after
them；　her　eyes　immensely　dark　and　large。

Out　in　the　lane　Lady　Casterley　walked　on；　very　silent；　digesting　her
emotions。

〃What　about　the　'fly；'　Granny？〃

〃What　'fly'？〃

〃The　one　you　told　me　to　order。〃

〃You　don't　mean　to　say　that　you　took　me　seriously？〃

〃No；〃　said　Barbara；。

〃Ha！〃

They　proceeded　some　little　way　farther　before　Lady　Casterley　said
suddenly：

〃She　is　deep。〃

〃And　dark；〃　said　Barbara。　　〃I　am　afraid　you　were　not　good！〃

Lady　Casterley　glanced　upwards。

〃I　detest　this　habit；〃　she　said；　〃amongst　you　young　people；　of　taking
nothing　seriously。　　Not　even　bulls；〃　she　added；　with　a　grim　smile。

Barbara　threw　back　her　head　and　sighed。

〃Nor　'flys；'〃　she　said。

Lady　Casterley　saw　that　she　had　closed　her　eyes　and　opened　her　lips。
And　she　thought：

〃She's　a　very　beautiful　girl。　　I　had　no　idea　she　was　so　beautiful
but　too　big！〃　And　she　added　aloud：

〃Shut　your　mouth！　　You　will　get　one　down！〃

They　spoke　no　more　till　they　had　entered　the　avenue；　then　Lady
Casterley　said　sharply：

〃Who　is　this　coming　down　the　drive？〃

〃Mr。　Courtier；　I　think。〃

〃What　does　he　mean　by　it；　with　that　leg？〃

〃He　is　coming　to　talk　to　you；　Granny。〃

Lady　Casterley　stopped　short。

〃You　are　a　cat；〃　she　said；　〃a　sly　cat。　　Now　mind；　Babs；　I　won't　have
it！〃

〃No；　darling；〃　murmured　Barbara；　〃you　shan't　have　itI'll　take　him
off　your　hands。〃

〃What　does　your　mother　mean；〃　stammered　Lady　Casterley；　〃letting　you
grow　up　like　this！　　You're　as　bad　as　she　was　at　your　age！〃

〃Worse！〃　said　Barbara。　　〃I　dreamed　last　night　that　I　could　fly！〃

〃If　you　try　that；〃　said　Lady　Casterley　grimly；　〃you'll　soon　come　to
grief。　　Good…morning；　sir；　you　ought　to　be　in　bed！〃

Courtier　raised　his　hat。

〃Surely　it　is　not　for　me　to　be　where　you　are　not！〃　And　he　added
gloomily：　〃The　war　scare's　dead！〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Lady　Casterley：　〃your　occupation's　gone　then。　　You'll　go
back　to　London　now；　I　suppose。〃　　Looking　suddenly　at　Barbara　she　saw
that　the　girl's　eyes　were　half…closed；　and　that　she　was　smiling；　it
seemed　to　Lady　Casterley　too　or　was　it　fancy？that　she　shook　her
head。




CHAPTER　XIII

Thanks　to　Lady　Valleys；　a　patroness　of　birds；　no　owl　was　ever　shot　on
the　Monkland　Court　estate；　and　those　soft…flying　spirits　of　the　dusk
hooted　and　hunted；　to　the　great　benefit　of　all　except　the　creeping
voles。　　By　every　farm；　cottage；　and　field；　they　passed　invisible；
quartering　the　dark　air。　　Their　voyages　of　discovery　stretched　up　on
to　the　moor　as　far　as　the　wild　stone　man；　whose　origin　their　wisdom
perhaps　knew。　　Round　Audrey　Noel's　cottage　they　were　as　thick　as
thieves；　for　they　had　just　there　two　habitations　in　a　long；　old；
holly…grown　wall；　and　almost　seemed　to　be　guarding　the　mistress　of
that　thatched　dwellin