WhenMiltoun'sshadowblottedthelightbywhichshewasseeingsolittle,shegaveaslightstart,andgotup。Butsheneitherwenttowardshim,norspoke。Andhe,withoutaword,cameinandstoodbythehearth,lookingdownattheemptygrate。Atortoise—shellcatwhichhadbeenwatchingswallows,disturbedbyhisentrance,withdrewfromthewindowbeneathachair。
　　Thissilence,inwhichthequestionoftheirfutureliveswastobedecided,seemedtobothinterminable;yet,neithercouldendit。
　　Atlast,touchinghissleeve,shesaid:"You'rewet！"
　　Miltounshiveredatthattimidsignofpossession。Andtheyagainstoodinsilencebrokenonlybythesoundofthecatlickingitspaws。
　　Butherfacultyfordumbnesswasstrongerthanhis,and——hehadtospeakfirst。
　　"Forgivemeforcoming;somethingmustbesettled。This——rumour————"
　　"Oh！that！"shesaid。"IsthereanythingIcandotostoptheharmtoyou？"
　　ItwastheturnofMiltoun'slipstocurl。"God！no;letthemtalk！"
　　Theireyeshadcometogethernow,and,oncetogether,seemedunabletopart。
　　Mrs。Noelsaidatlast:
　　"Willyoueverforgiveme？"
　　"Whatfor——itwasmyfault。"
　　"No;Ishouldhaveknownyoubetter。"
　　Thedepthofmeaninginthosewords——thetremendousandsubtleadmissiontheycontainedofallthatshehadbeenreadytodo,thedespairingknowledgeinthemthathewasnot,andneverhadbeen,readyto'bearitouteventotheedgeofdoom'——madeMiltounwinceaway。
　　"Itisnotfromfear——believethat,anyway。"
　　"Ido。"
　　Therefollowedanotherlong,longsilence！Butthoughsoclosethattheywerealmosttouching,theynolongerlookedatoneanother。
　　ThenMiltounsaid:
　　"Thereisonlytosaygood—bye,then。"
　　Atthoseclearwordsspokenbylipswhich,thoughjustsmiling,failedsoutterlytohidehismisery,Mrs。Noel'sfacebecamecolourlessasherwhitegown。Buthereyes,whichhadgrownimmense,seemedfromthesheerlackofallothercolour,tohavedrawnintothemthewholeofhervitality;tobepouringforthaproudandmournfulreproach。
　　Shivering,andcrushinghimselftogetherwithhisarms,Miltounwalkedtowardsthewindow。Therewasnotthefaintestsoundfromher,andhelookedback。Shewasfollowinghimwithhereyes。Hethrewhishandupoverhisface,andwentquicklyout。Mrs。Noelstoodforalittlewhilewherehehadlefther;then,sittingdownoncemoreatthepiano,beganagaintoconoverthelineofmusic。
　　Andthecatstolebacktothewindowtowatchtheswallows。Thesunlightwasdyingslowlyonthetopbranchesofthelime—tree;a,drizzlingrainbegantofall。
　　CHAPTERXX
　　ClaudFresnay,ViscountHarbingerwas,attheageofthirty—one,perhapstheleastencumberedpeerintheUnitedKingdom。Thankstoanancestorwhohadacquiredland,anddepartedthislifeonehundredandthirtyyearsbeforethetownofNettlefoldwasbuiltonasmallportionofit,andtoafatherwhohaddiedinhisson'sinfancy,afterjudiciouslysellingthesaidtown,hepossessedaverylargeincomeindependentlyofhislandedinterests。Tallandwell—built,withhandsome,strongly—markedfeatures,hegaveatfirstsightanimpressionofstrength——whichfadedsomewhatwhenhebegantotalk。
　　Itwasnotsomuchthemannerofhisspeech——withitsrapidslang,anditswayofturningeverythingtoajest——asthefeelingitproduced,thatthebrainbehindittooknaturallythepathofleastresistance。Hewasinfactoneofthosepersonalitieswhoareoftenenoughprominentinpoliticsandsociallife,byreasonoftheirappearance,position,assurance,andofacertainenergy,halfgenuine,andhalfmereinherentpredilectionforshortcuts。
　　Certainlyhewasnotidle,hadwrittenabook,travelled,wasaCaptainofYeomanry,aJusticeofthePeace,agoodcricketer,andaconstantandglibspeaker。Itwouldhavebeenunfairtocallhisenthusiasmforsocialreformspurious。Itwasrealenoughinitsway,anddidcertainlytestifythathewasnotaltogetherlackingeitherinimaginationorgood—heartedness。Butitwasoverandoverlaidwiththepublic—schoolhabit——thatpeculiar,extraordinarilyEnglishhabit,sopowerfulandbeguilingthatitbecomesasecondnaturestrongerthanthefirst——ofrelatingeverythingintheUniversetothestandardsandprejudicesofasingleclass。Sincepracticallyallhisintimateassociateswereimmersedinit,hewasnaturallynotintheleastconsciousofthishabit;indeedtherewasnothinghedeprecatedsomuchinpoliticsasthenarrowandprejudicedoutlook,suchashehadobservedintheNonconformist,orlabourpolitician。Hewouldneverhaveadmittedforamomentthatcertaindoorshadbeenbanged—toathisbirth,boltedwhenhewenttoEton,andpadlockedatCambridge。Noonewouldhavedeniedthattherewasmuchthatwasvaluableinhisstandards——ahighlevelofhonesty,candour,sportsmanship,personalcleanliness,andself—
　　reliance,togetherwithadislikeofsuchcrueltyashadbeenofficially（sotospeak）recognizedascruelty,andasenseofpublicservicetoaStaterunbyandforthepublicschools;butitwouldhaverequiredfarmoreoriginalitythanhepossessedevertolookatLifefromanyotherpointofviewthanthatfromwhichhehadbeenbornandbredtowatchHer。Tofullyunderstandharbinger,onemust,andwithunprejudicedeyesandbrain,haveattendedoneofthosegreatcricketmatchesinwhichhehadfiguredconspicuouslyasaboy,andlookingdownfromsomehighimpartialspothavewatchedthegroundatlunchtimecoveredfromropetoropeandstandtostandwithamarvellousswarm,allwalkinginpreciselythesamemanner,withpreciselythesameexpressionontheirfaces,underpreciselythesamehats——aswarmenshriningthegreatestidentityof,creedandhabiteverknownsincetheworldbegan。No,hisenvironmenthadnotbeenfavourabletooriginality。Moreoverhewasnaturallyrapidratherthandeep,andlifehardlyeverlefthimaloneorlefthimsilent。Broughtintocontactdayandnightwithpeopletowhompoliticsweremoreorlessagame;runaftereverywhere;subjectedtonoformofdiscipline——itwasawonderthathewasasseriousashewas。Norhadheeverbeeninlove,until,lastyear,duringherfirstseason,Barbarahad,ashemighthaveexpressedit——inthecaseofanother'bowledhimmiddlestump。Thoughsodeeplysmitten,he。
　　hadnotyetaskedhertomarryhim——hadnot,asitwere,hadtime,norperhapsquitethecourage,orconviction。Whenhewasnearher,itseemedimpossiblethathecouldgoonlongerwithoutknowinghisfate;whenhewasawayfromheritwasalmostarelief,becausethereweresomanythingstobedoneandsaid,andsolittletimetodoorsaythemin。Butnow,duringthisfortnight,which,forhersake,hehaddevotedtoMiltoun'scause,hisfeelinghadadvancedbeyondthepointofcomfort。
　　HedidnotadmitthatthereasonofthisuneasinesswasCourtier,for,afterall,Courtierwas,inasense,nobody,and'anextremist'
　　intothebargain,andanextremistalwaysaffectedthecentreofHarbinger'sanatomy,causingittogiveoffapeculiarsmileandtoneofvoice。Nevertheless,hiseyes,whenevertheyfellonthatsanguine,steady,ironicface,shonewithasortofcoldinquiry,orwereevendarkenedbytheshadeoffear。Theymetseldom,itistrue,formostofhisdaywasspentinmotoringandspeaking,andmostofCourtier'sinwritingandriding,hislegbeingstilltooweakforwalking。Butonceortwiceinthesmokingroomlateatnight,hehadembarkedonsomebanteringdiscussionwiththechampionoflostcauses;andverysoonanill—concealedimpatiencehadcreptintohisvoice。Whyamanshouldwastehistime,floggingdead。
　　horsesonajourneytothemoon,wasincomprehensible！Factswerefacts,humannaturewouldneverbeanythingbuthumannature！AnditwaspeculiarlygallingtoseeinCourtier'seyeagleam,tocatchinhisvoiceatone,asifhewerethinking:"Myyoungfriend,yoursoupiscold！"
　　Onamorningafteroneoftheseencounters,seeingBarbarasallyforthinridingclothes,heaskedifhetoomightgoroundthestables,andstartedforthbesideher,unwontedlysilent,withanoddfeelingabouthisheart,andhisthroatunaccountablydry。
　　ThestablesatMonklandCourtwereaslargeasmanycountryhouses。
　　Accommodatingthirtyhorses,theywereatpresentoccupiedbytwenty—
　　one,includingtheponyoflittleAnn。Forheight,perfectionoflighting,gloss,shine,andpurityofatmospheretheywereunequalledinthecounty。Itseemedindeedimpossiblethatanyhorsecouldeversofarforgethimselfinsuchaplaceastorememberthathewasahorse。Everymorningalittlebinofcarrots,apples,andlumpsofsugar,wassetclosetothemainentrance,readyforthosewhomightdesiretofeedthedearinhabitants。
　　Reineduptoabrassringoneithersideoftheirstallswiththeirnosestowardsthedoors,theywerealwaysonviewfromninetoten,andwouldstandwiththeirnecksarched,earspricked,andcoatsgleaming,wonderingaboutthings,soothedbythefainthissingofthestillbusygrooms,andreadytomovetheirnosesupanddownthemomenttheysawsomeoneenter。
　　Inalargeloose—boxattheendofthenorthwingBarbara'sfavouritechestnuthunter,allbutonesavingsixteenthofwhomhadbeenenteredinthestudbook,havingheardherfootstep,wasstandingquitestillwithhisneckturned。Hehadbeencrumpingupanappleplacedamongsthisfeed,andhissensesstruggledbetweenthelingeringflavourofthatdelicacy,——andtheperceptionofasoundwithwhichheconnectedcarrots。Whensheunlatchedhisdoor,andsaid"Hal,"heatoncewenttowardshismanger,toshowhisindependence,butwhenshesaid:"Oh！verywell！"heturnedroundandcametowardsher。Hiseyes,whichwerefullandofasoftbrilliance,underthickchestnutlashes,exploredherallover。
　　Perceivingthathercarrotswerenotinfront,heelongatedhisneck,lethisnosestrayroundherwaist,andgavehergauntlettedhandanipwithhislips。Nottastingcarrot,hewithdrewhisnose,andsnuffled。Thensteppingcarefullysoasnottotreadonherfoot,hebuntedhergentlywithhisshoulder,tillwithaquickmanoeuvrehegotbehindherandbreathedlowandlongonherneck。Eventhisdidnotsmellofcarrots,andputtinghismuzzleoverhershoulderagainsthercheek,heslobberedaverylittle。Acarrotappearedaboutthelevelofherwaist,andhanginghisheadover,hetriedtoreachit。Feelingitallfirmandsoftunderhischin,hesnuffledagain,andgaveheragentledigwithhisknee。Butstillunabletoreachthecarrot,hethrewhisheadup,withdrew,andpretendednottoseeher。Andsuddenlyhefelttwolongsubstancesroundhisneck,andsomethingsoftagainsthisnose。Hesufferedthisinsilence,layinghisearsback。Thesoftnessbeganpuffingonhismuzzle。
　　Prickinghisearsagain,hepuffedbackalittleharder,withmorecuriosity,andthesoftnesswaswithdrawn。Heperceivedsuddenlythathehadacarrotinhismouth。
　　Harbingerhadwitnessedthisepisode,oddlypale,leaningagainsttheloose—boxwall。Hespoke,asitcametoanend:
　　"LadyBabs！"
　　Thetoneofhisvoicemusthavebeenasstrangeasitsoundedtohimself,forBarbaraspunround。
　　"Yes？"
　　"HowlongamIgoingonlikethis？"
　　Neitherchangingcolournordroppinghereyes,sheregardedhimwithafaintlyinquisitiveinterest。Itwasnotacruellook,hadnotatraceofmischief,orsexmalice,andyetitfrightenedhimbyitssereneinscrutability。Impossibletotellwhatwasgoingonbehindit。Hetookherhand,bentoverit,andsaidinalowvoice:
　　"YouknowwhatIfeel;don'tbecrueltome！"
　　Shedidnotpullawayherhand;itwasasifshehadnotthoughtofit。
　　"Iamnotabitcruel。"
　　Lookingup,hesawhersmiling。
　　"Then——Babs！"
　　Hisfacewasclosetohers,butBarbaradidnotshrinkback。Shejustshookherhead;andHarbingerflushedup。
　　"Why？"heasked;andasthoughtheenormousinjusticeofthatrejectinggesturehadsuddenlystruckhim,hedroppedherhand。
　　"Why？"hesaidagain,sharply。
　　Butthesilencewasonlybrokenbythecheepingofsparrowsoutsidetheroundwindow,andthesoundofthehorse,Hal,munchingthelastmorselofhiscarrot。Harbingerwasawareinhiseverynerveofthesweetish,slightlyacrid,huskyodouroftheloosebox,minglingwiththescentofBarbara'shairandclothes。Andrathermiserably,hesaidforthethirdtime:
　　"Why？"
　　Butfoldingherhandsawaybehindherback。sheansweredgently:
　　"Mydear,howshouldIknowwhy？"
　　Shewascalmlyexposedtohisembraceifhehadonlydared;buthedidnotdare,andwentbacktotheloose—boxwall。Bitinghisfinger,hestaredathergloomily。Shewasstrokingthemuzzleofherhorse;andasortofdryragebeganwhiskingandrustlinginhisheart。Shehadrefusedhim——Harbinger！Hehadnotknown,hadnotsuspectedhowmuchhewantedher。Howcouldtherebeanybodyelseforhim,whilethatyoung,calm,sweet—scented,smilingthinglived,tomakehisheadgoround,hissensesache,andtofillhisheartwithlonging！Heseemedtohimselfatthatmomentthemostunhappyofallmen。
　　"Ishallnotgiveyouup,"hemuttered。
　　Barbara'sanswerwasasmile,faintlycurious,compassionate,yetalmostgrateful,asifshehadsaid:
　　"Thankyou——whoknows？"
　　Andratherquickly,ayardorsoapart,andtalkingofhorses,theyreturnedtothehouse。
　　Itwasaboutnoon,when,accompaniedbyCourtier,sherodeforth。
　　TheSou—Westerlyspell——amatterofthreedays——hadgivenwaybeforeradiantstillness;andmerelytobealivewastofeelemotion。Atalittlestreamrunningbesidethemoorunderthewildstoneman,theridersstoppedtheirhorses,justtolisten,and,inhaletheday。
　　Thefarsweetchorusoflifewastunedtoamostdelicaterhythm;notoneofthosesmallmingledpipingsofstreamsandthelazyair,ofbeasts,men;birds,andbees,jarredouttooharshlythroughthegarmentofsoundenwrappingtheearth。Itwasnoon——thestillmoment——butthishymntothesun,afterhistoolongabsence,neverforamomentceasedtobemurmured。Andtheearthworeanunder—robeofscent,delicious,veryfinelywovenoftheyoungfernsap,heatherbuds;larch—treesnotyetodourless,gorsejustgoingbrown,driftedwoodsmoke,andthebreathofhawthorn。AboveEarth'stwinvestmentsofsoundandscent,theblueenwrappingscarfofair,thatwistfulwidechampaign,wasspannedonlybythewingsofFreedom。
　　Afterthatlongdrinkoftheday,theridersmountedalmostinsilencetotheverytopofthemoor。Thereagaintheysatquitestillontheirhorses,examiningtheprospect。FarawaytoSouthandEastlaythesea,plainlyvisible。Twosmallgroupsofwildponieswereslowlygrazingtowardseachotheronthehillsidebelow。
　　Courtiersaid。inalowvoice:
　　"'ThuswillIsitandsing,withloveinmyarms;watchingourtwoherdsmingletogether,andbelowusthefar,divine,ceruleansea。'"
　　And,afteranothersilence,lookingsteadilyinBarbara'sface,headded:
　　"LadyBarbara,Iamafraidthisisthelasttimeweshallbealonetogether。WhileIhavethechance,therefore,Imustdohomage……
　　Youwillalwaysbethefixedstarformyworship。Butyourraysaretoobright;Ishallworshipfromafar。FromyourseventhHeaven,therefore,lookdownonmewithkindlyeyes,anddonotquiteforgetme:"
　　Underthatspeech,sostrangelycompoundedofironyandfervour,Barbarasatverystill,withglowingcheeks。
　　"Yes,"saidCourtier,"onlyanimmortalmustembraceagoddess。
　　OutsidethepurlieusofAuthorityIshallsitcross—legged,andprostratemyselfthreetimesaday。"
　　ButBarbaraanswerednothing。
　　"Intheearlymorning,"wentonCourtier,"leavingthedarkanddismalhomesofFreedomIshalllooktowardstheTemplesoftheGreat;therewiththeeyeoffaithIshallseeyou。"
　　Hestopped,forBarbara'slipsweremoving。
　　"Don'thurtme,please。"
　　Courtierleanedover,tookherhand,andputittohislips。"Wewillnowrideon……"
　　ThatnightatdinnerLordDennis,seatedoppositehisgreat—niece,wasstruckbyherappearance。
　　"Averybeautifulchild,"hethought,"amostlovelyyoungcreature！"
　　ShewasplacedbetweenCourtierandHarbinger。Andtheoldman'sstillkeeneyescarefullywatchedthosetwo。Thoughattentivetotheirneighboursontheotherside,theywerebothofthemkeepingthecornerofaneyeonBarbaraandoneachother。ThethingwastransparenttoLordDennis,andasmilesettledinthatnestofgravitybetweenhiswhitepeakedbeardandmoustaches。Buthewaited,theinstinctofafishermanbiddinghimtoneglectnopieceofwater,tillhesawthechildsilentandinrepose,andwatchedcarefullytoseewhatwouldrise。Althoughshewassocalmly,sohealthilyeating,hereyesstoleroundatCourtier。ThisquicklookseemedtoLordDennisperturbed,asifsomethingwereexcitingher。
　　ThenHarbingerspoke,andsheturnedtoanswerhim。Herfacewascalmnow,faintlysmiling,alittleeager,provocativeinitsjoyoflife。ItmadeLordDennisthinkofhisownyouth。Whatasplendidcouple！IfBabsmarriedyoungHarbingertherewouldnotbeafinerpairinallEngland。HiseyestravelledbacktoCourtier。Manlyenough！Theycalledhimdangerous！Therewasalookofeffervescence,carefullycorkeddown——mightperhapsbeattractivetoagirl！Tohisessentiallypracticalandsobermind,atypelikeCourtierwaspuzzling。Helikedthelookofhim,butdistrustedhisironicexpression,andthatappearanceofbloodtothehead。Fellow——nodoubt——thatwouldrideoffonhisideas,humanitarian！ToLordDennistherewassomethingqueerabouthumanitarians。Theyoffendedperhapshisdryandprecisesenseofform。Theywerealwayslookingoutforcrueltyorinjustice;seemeddelightedwhentheyfoundit——
　　swelledup,asitwere,whentheyscentedit,andastherewasagooddealabout,wereneverquiteofnormalsize。Menwholivedforideaswere,infact,tooneforwhomfactssufficedalwaysalittleworrying！AmovementfromBarbarabroughthimbacktoactuality。
　　WasthepossessorofthatcrownofhairandthosedivineyoungshouldersthelittleBabswhohadriddenwithhimintheRow？TimewascertainlytheDevil！Hereyesweresearchingforsomething;andfollowingthedirectionofthatglance,LordDennisfoundhimselfobservingMiltoun。Whatadifferencebetweenthosetwo！Bothnodoubtinthegreattroubleofyouth;whichsometimes,asheknewtoowell,lastedonalmosttooldage。Itwasacuriouslookthechildwasgivingherbrother,asifaskinghimtohelpher。LordDennishadseeninhisdaymanyyoungcreaturesleavetheshelteroftheirfreedomandenterthehouseofthegreatlottery;many,whohaddrawnaprizeandthereatlostforeverthecoldnessoflife;manytoo,thelightofwhoseeyeshadfadedbehindtheshuttersofthathouse,havingdrawnablank。Thethoughtof'little'Babsonthethresholdofthatinexorablesaloon,filledhimwithaneagersadness;andthesightofthetwomenwatchingforher,waitingforher,likehunters,wastohimdistasteful。Inanycase,lethernot,forHeaven'ssake,gorangingasfarasthatredfellowofmiddleage,whomighthaveideas,buthadnopedigree;lethersticktoyouthandherownorder,andmarrythe——youngman,confoundhim,wholookedlikeaGreekgod,ofthewrongperiod,havinggrownamoustache。Herememberedherwordstheothereveningaboutthesetwoandthedifferentlivestheylived。Someromanticnotionorotherwasworkinginher！AndagainhelookedatCourtier。AQuixotictype——thesortthatrodeslap—bangateverything！Allverywell——butnotforBabs！ShewasnotlikethegloriousGaribaldi'sgloriousAnita！ItwastrulycharacteristicofLordDennis——andindeedofotherpeople——thattohimchampionsofLibertywhendeadwerefardearerthanchampionsofLibertywhenliving。Yes,Babswouldwantmore,orwasitless,thanjustalifeofsleepingunderthestarsforthemansheloved,andthecausehefoughtfor。Shewouldwantpleasure,and,nottoomucheffort,andpresentlyalittlepower;nottheuncomfortableafter—fameofawomanwhowentthroughfire,butthefameandpowerofbeauty,andSocietyprestige。This,fancyofhers,ifitwereafancy,couldbenothingbuttheromanticismofayounggirl。Forthesakeofapassingshadow,togiveupsubstance？Itwouldn'tdo！。AndagainLordDennisfixedhisshrewdglanceonhisgreat—niece。Thoseeyes,thatsmile！Yes！Shewouldgrowoutofthis。AndtaketheGreekgod,thedyingGaul——whicheverthatyoungmanwas！
　　CHAPTERXXI
　　ItwasnottillthemorningofpollingdayitselfthatCourtierleftMonklandCourt。Hehadalreadysufferedforsometimefrombadconscience。Forhiskneewaspracticallycured,andheknewwellthatitwasBarbara,andBarbaraalone,whokepthimstayingthere。
　　Theatmosphereofthatbighousewithitsarmyofservants,theimpossibilityofdoinganythingforhimself,andthefeelingofhopelessinsulationfromthevividandnecessitoussidesoflife,galledhimgreatly。Hefeltaverygenuinepityforthesepeoplewhoseemedtoleadanexistenceasitweresmotheredundertheirownsocialimportance。Itwasnottheirfault。Herecognizedthattheydidtheirbest。Theyweregoodspecimensoftheirkind;neithersoftnorluxurious,asthingswentinadegenerateandextravagantage;
　　theyevidentlytriedtobesimple——andthisseemedtohimtoheightenthepathosoftheirsituation。Fatehadbeentoomuchforthem。
　　Whathumanspiritcouldemergeuntrammelledandunshrunkenfromthatgreatencompassinghostofmaterialadvantage？ToaBedouinlikeCourtier,itwasasthoughasubtle,butveryterribletragedywasallthetimebeingplayedbeforehiseyes;andin,theverycentreofthistragedywasthegirlwhosogreatlyattractedhim。Everynightwhenheretiredtothatloftyroom,whichsmeltsogood,andwhere,withoutostentation,everythingwassoperfectlyorderedforhiscomfort,hethought:
　　"MyGod,to—morrowI'llbeoff！"
　　Buteverymorningwhenhemetheratbreakfasthisthoughtwaspreciselythesame,andthereweremomentswhenhecaughthimselfwondering:"AmIfallingunderthespellofthisexistence——amI
　　gettingsoft？"Herecognizedasneverbeforethatthepeculiarartificial'hardness'ofthepatricianwasabrineorpickle,inwhich,withtheinstinctofself—preservationtheydeliberatelysoakedthemselves,topreventthedecayoftheiroverprotectedfibre。
　　HeperceivediteveninBarbara——asortofsentiment—proofoverall,aspeciesofmistrustoftheemotionalorlyrical,akindofcontemptofsympathyandfeeling。Andeverydayhewasmoreandmoretemptedtolayrudehandsonthisgarment;toseewhetherhecouldnotmakehercatchfire,andflareupwithsomeemotionoridea。Inspiteofhertantalizing,youthfulself—possession,hesawthatshefeltthislonginginhim,andnowandthenhecaughtaglimpseofastreakofrecklessnessinherwhichluredhimon:
　　Andyet,whenatlasthewassayinggood—byeonthenightbeforepollingday,hecouldnotflatterhimselfthathehadreallystruckanysparkfromher。Certainlyshegavehimnochance,atthatfinalinterview,butstoodamongsttheotherwomen,calmandsmiling,asifdeterminedthatheshouldnotagainmockherwithhisironicaldevotion。
　　Hegotupveryearlythenextmorning,intendingtopassawayunseen。
　　Inthecarputathisdisposal;hefoundasmallfigureinaholland—
　　frock,leaningbackagainstthecushionssothatsomesandalledtoespointedupatthechauffeur'sback。TheybelongedtolittleAnn,whointhecourseofbusinesshaddiscoveredthevehiclebeforethedoor。
　　Hersuddenlittlevoiceunderhersuddenlittlenose,friendlybutnottoofriendly,wascomfortingtoCourtier。
　　"Areyougoing？Icancomeas,farasthegate。""Thatislucky。"
　　"Yes。Isthatallyourluggage？"
　　"I'mafraiditis。"
　　"Oh！It'squitealot,really,isn'tit？"
　　"AsmuchasIdeserve。"
　　"Ofcourseyoudon'thavetotakeguinea—pigsaboutwithyou？"
　　"Notasarule。"
　　"Ialwaysdo。There'sgreat—Granny！"
　　TherecertainlywasLadyCasterley,standingalittlebackfromthedrive,anddirectingatallgardenerhowtodealwithanoldoak—
　　tree。Courtieralighted,andwenttowardshertosaygood—bye。Shegreetedhimwithacertaingrimcordiality。
　　"Soyouaregoing！Iamgladofthat,thoughyouquiteunderstandthatIlikeyoupersonally。"
　　"Quite！"
　　Hereyesgleamedmaliciously。
　　"Menwholaughlikeyouaredangerous,asI'vetoldyoubefore！"
　　Then,withgreatgravity;sheadded"MygranddaughterwillmarryLordHarbinger。Imentionthat,Mr。
　　Courtier,foryourpeaceofmind。Youareamanofhonour;itwillgonofurther。"
　　Courtier,bowingoverherhand,answered:
　　"Hewillbelucky。"
　　Thelittleoldladyregardedhimunflinchingly。
　　"Hewill,sir。Good—bye！"
　　Courtiersmilinglyraisedhishat。Hischeekswereburning。
　　Regainingthecar,helookedround。LadyCasterleywasbusyoncemoreexhortingthetallgardener。ThevoiceoflittleAnnbrokeinonhisthoughts:
　　"Ihopeyou'llcomeagain。BecauseIexpectIshallbehereatChristmas;andmybrotherswillbeherethen,thatis,JockandTiddy,notChristopherbecausehe'syoung。Imustgonow。Good—bye！