the patrician-第44节

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He　looked　well；　and　his　greeting　was　the　same　as　usual。

〃Well；　my　dear　fellow；〃　said　Lord　Valleys；　〃you're　all　right　again
evidentlywhat's　the　news？〃

〃Only　that　I've　decided　to　resign　my　seat。〃

Lord　Valleys　stared。

〃What　on　earth　for？〃

But　Lady　Valleys；　with　the　greater　quickness　of　women；　divining
already　something　of　the　reason；　had　flushed　a　deep　pink。

〃Nonsense；　my　dear；〃　she　said；　〃it　can't　possibly　be　necessary；　even
if〃　Recovering　herself；　she　added　dryly：

〃Give　us　some　reason。〃

〃The　reason　is　simply　that　I've　joined　my　life　to　Mrs。　Noel's；　and　I
can't　go　on　as　I　am；　living　a　lie。　　If　it　were　known　I　should
obviously　have　to　resign　at　once。〃

〃Good　God！〃　exclaimed　Lord　Valleys。

Lady　Valleys　made　a　rapid　movement。　　In　the　face　of　what　she　felt　to
be　a　really　serious　crisis　between　these　two　utterly　different
creatures　of　the　other　sex；　her　husband　and　her　son；　she　had　dropped
her　mask　and　become　a　genuine　woman。　　Unconsciously　both　men　felt
this　change；　and　in　speaking；　turned　towards　her。

〃I　can't　argue　it；〃　said　Miltoun；　〃I　consider　myself　bound　in
honour。〃

〃And　then？〃　she　asked。

Lord　Valleys；　with　a　note　of　real　feeling；　interjected：

〃By　Heaven！　　I　did　think　you　put　your　country　above　your　private
affairs。〃

〃Geoff！〃　said　Lady　Valleys。

But　Lord　Valleys　went　on：

〃No；　Eustace；　I'm　out　of　touch　with　your　view　of　things　altogether。
I　don't　even　begin　to　understand　it。〃

〃That　is　true；〃　said　Miltoun。

〃Listen　to　me；　both　of　you！〃　said　Lady　Valleys：　〃You　two　are
altogether　different；　and　you　must　not　quarrel。　　I　won't　have　that。
Now；　Eustace；　you　are　our　son；　and　you　have　got　to　be　kind　and
considerate。　　Sit　down；　and　let's　talk　it　over。〃

And　motioning　her　husband　to　a　chair；　she　sat　down　in　the　embrasure
of　a　window。　　Miltoun　remained　standing。　　Visited　by　a　sudden　dread；
Lady　Valleys　said：

〃Is　ityou've　notthere　isn't　going　to　be　a　scandal？〃

Miltoun　smiled　grimly。

〃I　shall　tell　this　man；　of　course；　but　you　may　make　your　minds　easy；
I　imagine；　I　understand　that　his　view　of　marriage　does　not　permit　of
divorce　in　any　case　whatever。〃

Lady　Valleys　sighed　with　an　utter　and　undisguised　relief。

〃Well；　then；　my　dear　boy；〃　she　began；　〃　even　if　you　do　feel　you　must
tell　him；　there　is　surely　no　reason　why　it　should　not　otherwise　be
kept　secret。〃

Lord　Valleys　interrupted　her：

〃I　should　be　glad　if　you　would　point　out　the　connection　between　your
honour　and　the　resignation　of　your　seat；〃　he　said　stiffly。

Miltoun　shook　his　head。

〃If　you　don't　see　already；　it　would　be　useless。〃

〃I　do　not　see。　　The　whole　matter　isis　unfortunate；　but　to　give　up
your　work；　so　long　as　there　is　no　absolute　necessity；　seems　to　me
far…fetched　and　absurd。　　How　many　men　are；　there　into　whose　lives
there　has　not　entered　some　such　relation　at　one　time　or　another？
This　idea　would　disqualify　half　the　nation。〃　　His　eyes　seemed　in　that
crisis　both　to　consult　and　to　avoid　his　wife's；　as　though　he　were　at
once　asking　her　endorsement　of　his　point　of　view；　and　observing　the
proprieties。　　And　for　a　moment　in　the　midst　of　her　anxiety；　her　sense
of　humour　got　the　better　of　Lady　Valleys。　　It　was　so　funny　that　Geoff
should　have　to　give　himself　away；　she　could　not　for　the　life　of　her
help　fixing　him　with　her　eyes。

〃My　dear；〃　she　murmured；　〃you　underestimate　three…quarters；　at　the
very　least！〃

But　Lord　Valleys；　confronted　with　danger；　was　growing　steadier。

〃It　passes　my　comprehension；〃　he　said；　〃why　you　should　want　to　mix　up
sex　and　politics　at　all。〃

Miltoun's　answer　came　very　slowly；　as　if　the　confession　were　hurting
his　lips：

〃There　isforgive　me　for　using　the　wordsuch　a　thing　as　one's
religion。　　I　don't　happen　to　regard　life　as　divided　into　public　and
private　departments。　　My　vision　is　gonebrokenI　can　see　no　object
before　me　now　in　public　lifeno　goalno　certainty。〃

Lady　Valleys　caught　his　hand：

〃Oh！　my　dear；〃　she　said；　〃that's　too　dreadfully　puritanical！〃　　But　at
Miltoun's　queer　smile；　she　added　hastily：　〃LogicalI　mean。〃

〃Consult　your　common　sense；　Eustace；　for　goodness'　sake；〃　broke　in
Lord　Valleys。　　〃Isn't　it　your　simple　duty　to　put　your　scruples　in
your　pocket；　and　do　the　best　you　can　for　your　country　with　the　powers
that　have　been　given　you？〃

〃I　have　no　common　sense。〃

〃In　that　case；　of　course；　it　may　be　just　as　well　that　you　should
leave　public　life。〃

Miltoun　bowed。

〃Nonsense！〃　cried　Lady　Valleys。　　〃You　don't　understand；　Geoffrey。
I　ask　you　again；　Eustace；　what　will　you　do　afterwards？〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃You　will　eat　your　heart　out。〃

〃Quite　possibly。〃

〃If　you　can't　come　to　a　reasonable　arrangement　with　your　conscience；〃
again　broke　in　Lord　Valleys；　〃for　Heaven's　sake　give　her　up；　like　a
man；　and　cut　all　these　knots。〃

〃I　beg　your　pardon；　sir！〃　said　Miltoun　icily。

Lady　Valleys　laid　her　hand　on　his　arm。　　〃You　must　allow　us　a　little
logic　too；　my　dear。　　You　don't　seriously　imagine　that　she　would　wish
you　to　throw　away　your　life　for　her？　　I'm　not　such　a　bad　judge　of
character　as　that。〃

She　stopped　before　the　expression　on　Miltoun's　face。

〃You　go　too　fast；〃　he　said；　〃I　may　become　a　free　spirit　yet。〃

To　this　saying；　which　seemed　to　her　cryptic　and　sinister；　Lady
Valleys　did　not　know　what　to　answer。

〃If　you　feel；　as　you　say；〃　Lord　Valleys　began　once　more；　〃that　the
bottom　has　been　knocked　out　of　things　for　you　by　thisthis　affair；
don't；　for　goodness'　sake；　do　anything　in　a　hurry。　　Wait！　　Go　abroad！
Get　your　balance　back！　　You'll　find　the　thing　settle　itself　in　a　few
months。　　Don't　precipitate　matters；　you　can　make　your　health　an
excuse　to　miss　the　Autumn　session。〃

Lady　Valleys　chimed　in　eagerly

〃You　really　are　seeing　the　thing　out　of　all　proportion。　　What　is　a
love…affair。　　My　dear　boy；　do　you　suppose　for　a　moment　anyone　would
think　the　worse　of　you；　even　if　they　knew？　　And　really　not　a　soul
need　know。〃

〃It　has　not　occurred　to　me　to　consider　what　they　would　think。〃

〃Then；〃　cried　Lady　Valleys；　nettled；　〃it's　simply　your　own　pride。〃

〃You　have　said。〃

Lord　Valleys；　who　had　turned　away；　spoke　in　an　almost　tragic　voice

〃I　did　not　think　that　on　a　point　of　honour　I　should　differ　from　my
son。〃

Catching　at　the　word　honour；　Lady　Valleys　cried　suddenly：

〃Eustace；　promise　me；　before　you　do　anything；　to　consult　your　Uncle
Dennis。〃

Miltoun　smiled。

〃This　becomes　comic；〃　he　said。

At　that　word；　which　indeed　seemed　to　them　quite　wanton；　Lord　and　Lady
Valleys　turned　on　their　son；　and　the　three　stood　staring；　perfectly
silent。　　A　little　noise　from　the　doorway　interrupted　them。




CHAPTER　XVIII

Left　by　her　father　and　mother　to　the　further　entertainment　of
Harbinger；　Barbara　had　said：

〃Let's　have　coffee　in　here；〃　and　passed　into　the　withdrawing　room。

Except　for　that　one　evening；　when　together　by　the　sea　wall　they　stood
contemplating　the　populace；　she　had　not　been　alone　with　him　since　he
kissed　her　under　the　shelter　of　the　box　hedge。　　And　now；　after　the
first　moment；　she　looked　at　him　calmly；　though　in　her　breast　there
was　a　fluttering；　as　if　an　imprisoned　bird　were　struggling　ever　so
feebly　against　that　soft　and　solid　cage。　　Her　last　jangled　talk　with
Courtier　had　left　an　ache　in　her　heart。　　Besides；　did　she　not　know
all　that　Harbinger　could　give　her？

Like　a　nymph　pursued　by　a　faun　who　held　dominion　over　the　groves；
she；　fugitive；　kept　looking　back。　　There　was　nothing　in　that　fair
wood　of　his　with　which　she　was　not　familiar；　no　thicket　she　had　not
travelled；　no　stream　she　had　not　crossed；　no　kiss　she　could　not
return。　　His　was　a　discovered　land；　in　which；　as　of　right；　she　would
reign。　　She　had　nothing　to　hope　from　him　but　power；　and　solid
pleasure。　　Her　eyes　said：　How　am　I　to　know　whether　I　shall　not　want
more　than　you；　feel　suffocated　in　your　arms；　be　surfeited　by　all　that
you　will　bring　me？　　Have　I　not　already　got　all　that？

She　knew；　from　his　downcast　gloomy　face；　how　cruel　she　seemed；　and
was　sorry。　　She　wanted　to　be　good　to　him；　and　said　almost　shyly：

〃Are　you　angry　with　me；　Claud？〃

Harbinger　looked　up。

〃What　makes　you　so　cruel？〃

〃I　am　not　cruel。〃

〃You　are。　　Where　is　your　heart？〃

〃Here！〃　said　Barbara；　touching　her　breast。

〃Ah！〃　muttered　Harbinger；　〃I'm　not　joking。〃

She　said　gently：'

〃Is　it　as　bad　as　that；　my　dear？〃

But　the　softness　of　her　voice　seemed　to　fan　the　smouldering　fires　in
him。

〃There's　something　behind　all　this；〃　he　stammered；　〃you've　no　right
to　make　a　fool　of　me！〃

〃And　what　is　the　something；　please？〃

〃That's　for　you　to　say。　　But　I'm　not　blind。　　What　about　this　fellow
Courtier？〃

At　that　moment　there　was　revealed　to　Barbara　a　new　acquaintancethe
male　proper。　　No；　to　live　with　him　would　not　be　quite　lacking　in
adventure！

His　face　had　darkened；　his　eyes　were　dilated；　his　whole　figure　seemed
to　have　grown。　　She　suddenly　noticed　the　hair　which　covered　his
clenched　fists。　　All　his　suavity　had　left　him。　　He　came　very　close。

How　long　that　look　between　them　lasted；　and　of　all　there　was　in　it；
she　had　no　clear　knowledge；　thought　after　thought；　wave　after　wave　of
feeling；　rushed　through　her。　　Revolt　and　attraction；　contempt　and
admiration；　queer　sensations　of　disgust　and　pleasu