InBarbara,thusforthefirsttimeinherlifeseriouslyreprimanded,therewasatworkthemostpeculiarsensationshehadeverfelt,asifsomethingwerescrapingherveryskin——asick,andatthesametimedevilish,feeling。Atthatmomentshecouldhavestruckherfatherdead。Butsheshowednothing,havingloweredthelidsofhereyes。
　　"Anythingelse？"shesaid。
　　LordValleys'jawhadbecomesuddenlymoreprominent。
　　"AsasequeltoyourshareinMiltoun'sbusiness,itispeculiarlyentrancing。"
　　"Mydear,"brokeinLadyValleysverysuddenly,"Babswilltellme。
　　It'snothing,ofcourse。"
　　Barbara'scalmvoicesaidagain:
　　"Anythingelse？"
　　Therepetitionofthisphraseinthatmaddening,coolvoicealmostbrokedownherfather'ssorelytriedcontrol。
　　"Nothingfromyou,"hesaidwithdeadlycoldness。"IshallhavethehonouroftellingthisgentlemanwhatIthinkofhim。"
　　AtthosewordsBarbaradrewherselftogether,andturnedhereyesfromonefacetotheother。
　　Underthatgaze,whichforallitscoolhardness,wassofuriouslyalive,neitherLordnorLadyValleyscouldkeepquitestill。Itwasasifshehadstrippedfromthemthewell—bredmaskofthosewhosespirits,bylongunquestioningacceptanceofthemselves,havebecomeinelastic,inexpansive,commonerthantheyknew。Infactaratherawfulmoment！ThenBarbarasaid:
　　"Ifthere'snothingelse,I'mgoingtobed。Goodnight！"
　　Andascalmlyasshehadcomein,shewentout。
　　Whenshehadregainedherroom,shelockedthedoor,threwoffhercloak,andlookedatherselfintheglass。Withpleasureshesawhowfirmlyherteethwereclenched,howherbreastwasheaving,andhowhereyesseemedtobestabbingherself。Andallthetimeshethought:
　　"Verywell！Mydears！Verywell！"
　　CHAPTERXXV
　　Inthatmoodofrebelliousmortificationshefellasleep。And,curiouslyenough,dreamednotofhimwhomshehadinmindbeensofuriouslydefending,butofHarbinger。Shefanciedherselfinprison,lyinginacellfashionedlikethedrawing—roomatSeahouse;
　　andinthenextcell,intowhichshecouldsomehowlook,Harbingerwasdiggingatthewallwithhisnails。Shecoulddistinctlyseethehaironthebackofhishands,andhearhimbreathing。Theholehewasmakinggrewlargerandlarger。Herheartbegantobeatfuriously;sheawoke。
　　Sherosewithanewandmaliciousresolutiontoshownosignofrebellion,togothroughthedayasifnothinghadhappened,todeceivethemall,andthen——！Exactlywhat'andthen'meant,shedidnotexplaineventoherself。
　　Inaccordancewiththisplanofactionshepresentedanuntroubledfrontatbreakfast,wentoutridingwithlittleAnn,andshoppingwithhermotherafterwards。OwingtothisnewsofMiltounthejourneytoScotlandhadbeenpostponed。SheparriedwithcoolingenuityeachattemptmadebyLadyValleystodrawherintoconversationonthesubjectofthatmeetingatGustard's,norwouldshetalkofherbrother;ineveryotherwayshewasherusualself。
　　IntheafternoonsheevenvolunteeredtoaccompanyhermothertooldLadyHarbinger'sintheneighbourhoodofPrince'sGate。SheknewthatHarbingerwouldbethere,andwiththethoughtofmeetingthatotherat'fiveo'clock,'hadacynicalpleasureinthusencounteringhim。Itwassocompleteablindtothemall！Then,feelingthatshewasaccomplishingamasterstroke;sheeventoldhim,inhermother'shearing,thatshewouldwalkhome,andhemightcomeifhecared。Hedidcare。
　　Butwhenonceshehadbeguntoswingalonginthemellowafternoon,underthemellowtrees,wheretheairwassweetenedbytheSouth—Westwind,allthatmutinous,recklessmoodofhersvanished,shefeltsuddenlyhappyandkind,gladtobewalkingwithhim。To—daytoohewascheerful,asifdeterminednottospoilhergaiety;andshewasgratefulforthis。Onceortwicesheevenputherhandupandtouchedhissleeve,callinghisattentiontobirdsortrees,friendly,andglad,afterallthosehoursofbitterfeelings,tobegivinghappiness。WhentheypartedatthedoorofValleysHouse,shelookedbackathimwithaqueer,half—ruefulsmile。For,nowthehourhadcome！
　　Inalittleunfrequentedante—room,allwhitepanelsandpolish,shesatdowntowait。Theentrancedrivewasvisiblefromhere;andshemeanttoencounterCourtiercasuallyinthehall。Shewasexcited,andalittlescornfulofherownexcitement。Shehadexpectedhimtobepunctual,butitwasalreadypastfive;andsoonshebegantofeeluneasy,almostridiculous,sittinginthisroomwherenooneevercame。Goingtothewindow,shelookedout。
　　Asuddenvoicebehindher,said:
　　"AuntieBabs！"。
　　Turning,shesawlittleAnnregardingherwiththosewide,frank,hazeleyes。AshiverofnervespassedthroughBarbara。
　　"Isthisyourroom？It'saniceroom,isn'tit？"
　　Sheanswered:
　　"Quiteaniceroom,Ann。"
　　"Yes。I'veneverbeeninherebefore。There'ssomebodyjustcome,soImustgonow。"
　　Barbarainvoluntarilyputherhandsuptohercheeks,andquicklypassedwithhernieceintothehall。AttheverydoorthefootmanWilliamhandedheranote。Shelookedatthesuperscription。ItwasfromCourtier。Shewentbackintotheroom。Throughitshalf—closeddoorthefigureoflittleAnncouldbeseen,withherlegsratherwideapart,andherhandsclaspedonherlow—downbelt,pointingupatWilliamhersuddenlittlenose。Barbarashutthedoorabruptly,broketheseal,andread:
　　"DEARLADYBARBARA,"Iamsorrytosaymyinterviewwithyourbrotherwasfruitless。
　　"IhappenedtobesittingintheParkjustnow,andIwanttowishyoueveryhappinessbeforeIgo。Ithasbeenthegreatestpleasuretoknowyou。Ishallneverhaveathoughtofyouthatwillnotbemypride;noramemorythatwillnothelpmetobelievethatlifeisgood。IfIamtemptedtofeelthatthingsaredark,Ishallrememberthatyouarebreathingthissamemortalair。Andtobeautyandjoy'
　　Ishalltakeoffmyhatwiththegreaterreverence,thatonceIwaspermittedtowalkandtalk,withyou。Andso,good—bye,andGodblessyou。
　　Yourfaithfulservant,"CHARLESCOURTIER。"
　　Hercheeksburned,quicksighsescapedherlips;shereadtheletteragain,butbeforegettingtotheendcouldnotseethewordsformist。Ifinthatlettertherehadbeenawordofcomplaintorevenofregret！Shecouldnotlethimgolikethis,withoutgood—bye,withoutanyexplanationatall。Heshouldnotthinkofherasacold,stonyflirt,whohadbeenmerelystealingafewweeks'
　　amusementoutofhim。Shewouldexplaintohimatalleventsthatithadnotbeenthat。Shewouldmakehimunderstandthatitwasnotwhathethought——thatsomethinginherwanted——wanted————！Hermindwasallconfused。"Whatwasit？"shethought:"WhatdidIdo？"Andsorewithangeratherself,shescrewedtheletterupinherglove,andranout。ShewalkedswiftlydowntoPiccadilly,andcrossedintotheGreenPark。ThereshepassedLordMalvezinandafriendstrollinguptowardsHydeParkCorner,andgavethemaveryfaintbow。Thecomposureofthosetwopreciseandwell—groomedfiguressickenedherjustthen。Shewantedtorun,toflytothismeetingthatshouldremovefromhimtheodiousfeelingshemusthave,thatshe,BarbaraCaradoc,wasavulgarenchantress,acommontraitressandcoquette！Andhisletter——withoutasyllableofreproach！Hercheeksburnedso,thatshecouldnothelptryingtohidethemfrompeoplewhopassed。
　　Asshedrewnearertohisroomsshewalkedslower,forcingherselftothinkwhatsheshoulddo,whatsheshouldlethimdo！Butshecontinuedresolutelyforward。Shewouldnotshrinknow——whatevercameofit！Herheartfluttered,seemedtostopbeating,flutteredagain。Shesetherteeth;asortofdesperatehilarityroseinher。
　　Itwasanadventure！Thenshewasgrippedbythefeelingthathadcometoherontheroof。Thewholethingwasbizarre,ridiculous！
　　Shestopped,anddrewtheletterfromherglove。Itmightberidiculous,butitwasduefromher;andclosingherlipsverytight,shewalkedon。Inthoughtshewasalreadystandingclosetohim,hereyesshut,waiting,withherheartbeatingwildly,toknowwhatshewouldfeelwhenhislipshadspoken,perhapstouchedherfaceorhand。Andshehadasortofmiragevisionofherself,witheyelashesrestingonhercheeks,lipsalittleparted,armshelplessathersides。Yet,incomprehensibly,hisfigurewasinvisible。Shediscoveredthenthatshewasstandingbeforehisdoor。
　　Sherangthebellcalmly,butinsteadofdroppingherhand,pressedthelittlebarepatchofpalmleftopenbytheglovetoherface,toseewhetheritwasindeedherowncheekflamingso。
　　Thedoorhadbeenopenedbysomeunseenagency,disclosingapassageandflightofstairscoveredbyaredcarpet,atthefootofwhichlayanold,tangled,brown—whitedogfulloffleasandsorrow。
　　UnreasoningterrorseizedonBarbara;herbodyremainedrigid,butherspiritbeganflyingbackacrosstheGreenPark,totheveryhallofValleysHouse。Thenshesawcomingtowardsherayoungishwomaninablueapron,withmild,reddenedeyes。
　　"IsthiswhereMr。Courtierlives？"
　　"Yes,miss。"Theteethoftheyoungwomanwerefewinnumberandratherblack;andBarbaracouldonlystandtheresayingnothing,asifherbodyhadbeendesertedbetweenthesunlightandthisdimredpassage,whichledto—what？
　　Thewomanspokeagain:
　　"I'msorryifyouwaswantinghim,miss,he'sjustgoneaway。"
　　Barbarafeltamovementinherheart,likethetwangandquiverofanelasticband,suddenlyrelaxed。Shebenttostroketheheadoftheolddog,whowassmellinghershoes。Thewomansaid:
　　"And,ofcourse,Ican'tgiveyouhisaddress,becausehe'sgonetoforeignparts。"
　　Withamurmur,ofwhosesensesheknewnothing,Barbarahurriedoutintothesunshine。Wassheglad？Wasshesorry？Atthecornerofthestreetsheturnedandlookedback;thetwoheads,ofthewomanandthedog,weretherestill,pokedoutthroughthedoorway。
　　Ahorribleinclinationtolaughseizedher,followedbyashorribleadesiretocry。
　　CHAPTERXXVI
　　BytherivertheWestwind,whosemurmuringhadvisitedCourtierandMiltounthenightbefore,wasbringingupthefirstskyofautumn。
　　Slow—creepingandfleecygrey,thecloudsseemedtryingtooverpowerasunthatshonebutfitfullyeventhusearlyintheday。WhileAudreyNoelwasdressingsunbeamsdanceddesperatelyonthewhitewall,likelittlelostsoulswithnoto—morrow,orgnatsthatwheelandwheelinbriefjoy,leavingnofootmarksontheair。Throughthechinksofasidewindowcoveredbyadarkblindsomesmokyfilamentsoflightweretetheredtothebackofhermirror。Compoundedoftremblinggreyspirals,sothicktotheeyethatherhandfeltastonishmentwhenitfailedtograspthem,andsojealousasghostsofthespacetheyoccupied,theybroughtamoment'sdistractiontoaheartnothappy。Forhowcouldshebehappy,herloverawayfromhernowthirtyhours,withouthavingovercomewithhislastkissesthefeelingofdisasterwhichhadsettledonherwhenhetoldherofhisresolve。Hereyeshadseendeeperthanhis;herinstincthadreceivedamessagefromFate。
　　Tobethedragger—down,thedestroyerofhisusefulness;tobenotthehelpmate,buttheclog;nottheinspiringsky,butthecloud！
　　Andbecauseofascruplewhichshecouldnotunderstand！Shehadnoangerwiththatunintelligiblescruple;butherfatalism,andhersympathyhadfolloweditoutintohisfuture。Thingsbeingso,itcouldnotbelongbeforehefeltthatherlovewasmaiminghim;evenifhewentondesiringher,itwouldbeonlywithhisbody。Andif,forthisscruple,hewerecapableofgivinguphispubliclife,hewouldbecapableoflivingonwithherafterhislovewasdead！Thisthoughtshecouldnotbear。Itstungtotheverymarrowofhernerves。AndyetsurelyLifecouldnotbesocruelastohavegivenhersuchhappinessmeaningtotakeitfromher！Surelyherlovewasnottobeonlyonesummer'sday;hislovebutanembrace,andthen——
　　forevernothing！
　　Thismorning,fortifiedbydespair,sheadmittedherownbeauty。Hewould,hemustwanthermorethanthatotherlife,attheverythoughtofwhichherfacedarkened。Thatotherlifesohard,andfarfromher！Soloveless,formal,andyet——tohimsoreal,sodesperately,accursedlyreal！Ifhemustindeedgiveuphiscareer,thensurelythelifetheycouldlivetogetherwouldmakeuptohim——
　　alifeamongsimpleandsweetthings,allovertheworld,withmusicandpictures,andtheflowersandallNature,andfriendswhosoughtthemforthemselves,andinbeingkindtoeveryone,andhelpingthepoorandtheunfortunate,andlovingeachother！Buthedidnotwantthatsortoflife！Whatwasthegoodofpretendingthathedid？Itwasrightandnaturalheshouldwant,tousehispowers！Toleadandserve！Shewouldnothavehimotherwise:Withthesethoughtshoveringanddartingwithinher,shewentontwistingandcoilingherdarkhair,andburyingherheartbeneathitslacedefences。Shenotedtoo,withherusualcare,twofadingblossomsinthebowlofflowersonherdressing—table,and,removingtheir,emptiedoutthewaterandrefilledthebowl。
　　Beforesheleftherbedroomthesunbeamshadalreadyceasedtodance,thegreyfilamentsoflightweregone。Autumnskyhadcomeintoitsown。Passingthemirrorinthehallwhichwasalwaysroughwithher,shehadnotcouragetoglanceatit。Thensuddenlyawoman'sbeliefinthepowerofhercharmcametoheraid;shefeltalmosthappy——
　　surelyhemustloveherbetterthanhisconscience！Butthatconfidencewasverytremulous,readytoyieldtothefirstrebuff。
　　Eventhefriendlyfresh——cheekedmaidseemedthatmorningtoberegardingherwithcompassion;andalltheinnatesense,notof'goodform,'butofform,whichmadehershrinkfromanythingthatshoulddisturborhurtanother,ormakeanyonethinkshewastobepitied,roseupatoncewithinher;shebecamemorethanevercarefultoshownothingeventoherself。Soshepassedthemorning,mechanicallydoingthelittleusualthings。Anoverpoweringlongingwaswithherallthetime,togethimawaywithherfromEngland,andseewhetherthethousandbeautiesshecouldshowhimwouldnotfirehimwithloveofthethingssheloved。Asagirlshehadspentnearlythreeyearsabroad。AndEustacehadneverbeentoItaly,nortoherbelovedmountainvalleys！Then,theremembranceofhisroomsattheTemplebrokeinonthatvision,andshatteredit。NoTitian'sfeastofgentian,tawnybrown,andalpen—rosecouldintoxicatetheloverofthosebooks,thosepapers,thatgreatmap。Andthescentofleathercametohernowaspoignantlyasifshewereoncemoreflittingaboutnoiselesslyonherbusinessofnursing。Thenthererushedthroughheragainthewarmwonderfulsensethathadbeenwithherallthosepreciousdays——oflovethatknewsecretlyofitsapproachingtriumphandfulfilment;thedelicioussenseofgivingeveryminuteofhertime,everythought,andmovement;andallthesweetunconsciouswaitingforthedivine,irrevocablemomentwhenatlastshewouldgiveherselfandbehis。Theremembrancetooofhowtired,howsacredlytiredshehadbeen,andofhowshehadsmiledallthetimewithherinnerjoyofbeingtiredforhim。
　　Thesoundofthebellstartledher。Histelegramhadsaid,theafternoon！Shedeterminedtoshownothingofthetroubledarkeningthewholeworldforher,anddrewadeepbreath,waitingforhiskiss。
　　ItwasnotMiltoun,butLadyCasterley。
　　Theshocksentthebloodbuzzingintohertemples。Thenshenoticedthatthelittlefigurebeforeherwasalsotrembling;drawingupachair,shesaid:"Won'tyousitdown？"
　　Thetoneofthatoldvoice,thankingher,broughtbacksharplythememoryofhergarden,atMonkland,bathedinthesweetnessandshimmerofsummer,andofBarbarastandingathergatetoweringabovethislittlefigure,whichnowsattheresosilent,withverywhiteface。Thosecarvedfeatures,thosekeen,yetveiledeyes,hadtoooftenhauntedherthoughts;theywerelikeabaddreamcometrue。
　　"Mygrandsonisnothere,ishe？"
　　Audreyshookherhead。
　　"Wehaveheardofhisdecision。Iwillnotbeataboutthebushwithyou。Itisadisasterformeacalamity。Ihaveknownandlovedhimsincehewasborn,andIhavebeenfoolishenoughtodream,dreamsabouthim。Iwonderedperhapswhetheryouknewhowmuchwecountedonhim。Youmustforgiveanoldwoman'scomingherelikethis。Atmyagetherearefewthingsthatmatter,buttheymatterverymuch。"
　　AndAudreythought:"Andatmyagethereisbutonethingthatmatters,andthatmattersworsethandeath。"Butshedidnotspeak。
　　Towhom,towhatshouldshespeak？Tothishardoldwoman,whopersonifiedtheworld？Ofwhatuse,words？,,"Icansaytoyou,"wentonthevoiceofthelittlefigure,thatseemedsotofilltheroomwithitsgreypresence,"whatIcouldnotbringmyselftosaytoothers;foryouarenothard—hearted。"
　　Aquiverpassedupfromtheheartsopraisedtothestilllips。No,shewasnothard—hearted！Shecouldevenfeelforthisoldwomanfromwhosevoiceanxietyhadstolenitsdespotism。
　　"Eustacecannotlivewithouthiscareer。Hiscareerishimself,hemustbedoing,andleading,andspendinghispowers。Whathehasgivenyouisnothistrueself。Idon'twanttohurtyou,butthetruthisthetruth,andwemustallbowbeforeit。Imaybehard,butIcanrespectsorrow。"
　　Torespectsorrow！Yes,thisgreyvisitorcoulddothat,asthewindpassingoverthesearespectsitssurface,astheairrespectsthesurfaceofarose,buttopenetratetotheheart,tounderstandhersorrow,thatoldagecouldnotdoforyouth！Aswelltrytotrackoutthesecretofthetwistingsintheflightofthoseswallowsoutthereabovetheriver,ortofollowtoitssourcethefaintscentoftheliliesinthatbowl！Howshouldsheknowwhatwaspassinginhere——thislittleoldwomanwhosebloodwascold？AndAudreyhadthesensationofwatchingsomeonepeltherwiththerindandhusksofwhatherownspirithadlongdevoured。Shehadalongingtogetup,andtakethehand,thechill,spideryhandofage,andthrustitintoherbreast,andsay:"Feelthat,andcease！"
　　But,withal,sheneverlostherqueerdullcompassionfortheownerofthatwhitecarvedface。Itwasnothervisitor'sfaultthatshehadcome！AgainLadyCasterleywasspeaking。
　　"Itisearlydays。Ifyoudonotenditnow,atonce,itwillonlycomeharderonyoupresently。Youknowhowdeterminedheis。Hewillnotchangehismind。Ifyoucuthimofffromhisworkinlife,itwillbutrecoilonyou。Icanonlyexpectyourhatred,fortalkinglikethis,butbelieveme,it'sforyourgood,aswellashis,inthelongrun。"
　　Atumultuousheart—beatingofironicalrageseizedonthelistenertothatspeech。Hergood！Thegoodofacorsethatthebreathisjustabandoning;thegoodofaflowerbeneathaheel;thegoodofanolddogwhosemasterleavesitforthelasttime！Slowlyaweightlikeleadstoppedallthatflutteringofherheart。Ifshedidnotenditatonce！Thewordshadnowbeenspokenthatforsomanyhours,sheknew,hadlainunspokenwithinherownbreast。Yes,ifshedidnot,shecouldneverknowamoment'speace,feelingthatshewasforcinghimtoadeathinlife,desecratingherownloveandpride！Andthespurhadbeengivenbyanother！Thethoughtthatsomeone——thishardoldwomanofthehardworld——shouldhaveshapedinwordsthehauntingsofherloveandpridethroughallthoseagessinceMiltounspoketoherofhisresolve;thatsomeoneelseshouldhavehadtotellherwhatherhearthadsolongknownitmustdo——thisstabbedherlikeaknife！This,atallevents,shecouldnotbear！
　　Shestoodup,andsaid:
　　"Pleaseleavemenow！Ihaveagreatmanythingstodo,beforeI
　　go。"
　　Withasortofpleasureshesawalookofbewildermentcoverthatoldface;withasortofpleasureshemarkedthetremblingofthehandsraisingtheirownerfromthechair;andheardthestammeringinthevoice:"Youaregoing？Before—beforehecomes？You—youwon'tbeseeinghimagain？"Withasortofpleasureshemarkedthehesitation,whichdidnotknowwhethertothank,orbless,orjustsaynothingandcreepaway。Withasortofpleasureshewatchedtheflushmountinthefadedcheeks,thefadedlipspressedtogether。
　　Then,atthescarcelywhisperedwords:"Thankyou,mydear！"sheturned,unabletobearfurthersightorsound。Shewenttothewindowandpressedherforeheadagainsttheglass,tryingtothinkofnothing。Sheheardthesoundofwheels—LadyCasterleyhadgone。Andthen,ofalltheawfulfeelingsmanorwomancanknow,sheexperiencedtheworst:Shecouldnotcry！
　　Atthismostbitteranddesertedmomentofherlife,shefeltstrangelycalm,foreseeingclearly,exactly;whatshemustdo,andwherego。Quicklyitmustbedone,oritwouldneverbedone！
　　Quickly！Andwithoutfuss！Sheputsomethingstogether,sentthemaidoutforacab,andsatdowntowrite。
　　Shemustdoandsaynothingthatcouldexcitehim,andbringbackhisillness。Letitallbesober,reasonable！Itwouldbeeasytolethimknowwhereshewasgoing,towritealetterthatwouldbringhimflyingafterher。Buttowritethecalm,reasonablewordsthatwouldkeephimwaitingandthinking,tillheneveragaincametoher,brokeherheart。
　　Whenshehadfinishedandsealedtheletter,shesatmotionlesswithanumbfeelinginhandsandbrain,tryingtorealizewhatshehadnexttodo。Togo,andthatwasall！
　　Hertrunkshadbeentakendownalready。Shechosethelittlehatthathelikedherbestin,andoveritfastenedherthickestveil。
　　Then,puttingonhertravellingcoatandgloves,shelookedinthelongmirror,andseeingthattherewasnothingmoretokeepher,liftedherdressingbag,andwentdown。
　　Overontheembankmentachildwascrying;andthepassionatescreamingsound,brokenbythegulpingoftears,madehercoverherlips,asthoughshehadheardherownescapedsoulwailingoutthere。
　　Sheleanedoutofthecabtosaytothemaid:
　　"Goandcomfortthatcrying,Ella。"
　　Onlywhenshewasaloneinthetrain,securefromalleyes,didshegivewaytodesperateweeping。Thewhitesmokerollingpastthewindowswasnotmoreevanescentthanherjoyhadbeen。Forshehadnoillusions——itwasover！Fromfirsttolast——notquiteayear！
　　Butevenatthismoment,notforalltheworldwouldshehavebeenwithoutherlove,gonetoitsgrave,likeadeadchildthatevermorewouldbetouchingherbreastwithitswistfulfingers。
　　CHAPTERXXVII
　　BarbarareturningfromhervisittoCourtier'sdesertedrooms,wasmetatValleysHousewiththemessage:WouldshepleasegoatoncetoLadyCasterley？
　　When,inobedience,shereachedRavensham,shefoundhergrandmotherandLord—Dennisinthewhiteroom。Theywerestandingbyoneofthetallwindows,apparentlycontemplatingtheview。TheyturnedindeedatsoundofBarbara'sapproach,butneitherofthemspokeornodded。
　　NothavingseenhergrandfathersincebeforeMiltoun'sillness,Barbarafounditstrangetobesotreated;shetootookherstandsilentlybeforethewindow。Averylargewaspwascrawlingupthepane,thenslippingdownwithafaintbuzz。
　　SuddenlyLadyCasterleyspoke。
　　"Killthatthing！"
　　LordDennisdrewforthhishandkerchief。
　　"Notwiththat,Dennis。Itwillmakeamess。"Takeapaperknife。"
　　"Iwasgoingtoputitout,"murmuredLordDennis。
　　"LetBarbarawithhergloves。"
　　Barbaramovedtowardsthepane。
　　"It'sahornet,Ithink,"shesaid。
　　"Soheis！"saidLordDennis,dreamily:
　　"Nonsense,"murmuredLadyCasterley,"it'sacommonwasp。"
　　"Iknowit'sahornet,Granny。Theringsaredarker。"
　　LadyCasterleybentdown;whensheraisedherselfshehadaslipperinherhand。
　　"Don'tirritatehim！"criedBarbara,catchingherwrist。ButLadyCasterleyfreedherhand。
　　"Iwill,"shesaid,andbroughtthesoleoftheslipperdownontheinsect,sothatitdroppedonthefloor,dead。"Hehasnobusinessinhere。"
　　And,asifthatlittleincidenthadhappenedtothreeotherpeople,theyagainstoodsilentlylookingthroughthewindow。
　　ThenLadyCasterleyturnedtoBarbara。
　　"Well,haveyourealizedthemischiefthatyou'vedone？"
　　"Ann！"murmuredLordDennis。
　　"Yes,yes;sheisyourfavourite,butthatwon'tsaveher。Thiswoman——tohergreatcredit——Isaytohergreatcredit——hasgoneaway,soastoputherselfoutofEustace'sreach,untilhehasrecoveredhissenses。"
　　Withasharp—drawnbreathBarbarasaid:
　　"Oh！poorthing！"
　　ButonLadyCasterley'sfacehadcomeanalmostcruellook。
　　"Ah！"shesaid:"Exactly。But,curiouslyenough,IamthinkingofEustace。"Herlittlefigurewasquiveringfromheadtofoot:"Thiswillbealessontoyounottoplaywithfire！"
　　"Ann！"murmuredLordDennisagain,slippinghisarmthroughBarbara's。
　　"Theworld,"wentonLadyCasterley,"isaplaceoffacts,notofromanticfancies。Youhavedonemoreharmthancanpossiblyberepaired。Iwenttohermyself。Iwasverymuchmoved。'Ifithadn'tbeenforyourfoolishconduct————"
　　"Ann！"saidLordDennisoncemore。
　　LadyCasterleypaused,tappingthefloorwithherlittlefoot。
　　Barbara'seyesweregleaming。
　　"Isthereanythingelseyouwouldliketosquash,dear？"
　　"Babs！"murmuredLordDennis;but,unconsciouslypressinghishandagainstherheart,thegirlwenton。
　　"Youareluckytobeabusingmeto—day——ifithadbeenyesterday————"
　　AtthesedarkwordsLadyCasterleyturnedaway,hershoesleavinglittledullstainsonthepolishedfloor。
　　Barbararaisedtohercheekthefingerswhichshehadbeensoconvulsivelyembracing。"Don'tlethergoon,uncle,"shewhispered,"notjustnow！"
　　"No,no,mydear,"LordDennismurmured,"certainlynot——itisenough。"
　　"Ithasbeenyoursentimentalfolly,"cameLadyCasterley'svoicefromafarcorner,"whichhasbroughtthisontheboy。"
　　Respondingtothepressureofthehand,backnowatherwaist,Barbaradidnotanswer;andthesoundofthelittlefeetretracingtheirstepsroseinthestillness。Neitherofthosetwoatthewindowturnedtheirheads;oncemorethefeetreceded,andagainbegancomingback。