the patrician-第12部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



〃Shrewd　old　dreamer；〃　muttered　Miltoun；　〃the　Socialists　haven't　got
beyond　him；　even　now。〃

The　little　man's　eyes　blinked；　as　though　apologizing　for　the　views　of
Thomas　More。

〃Well；〃　he　said；　〃I　suppose　he　was　one　of　them。　　I　forget　if　your
lordship's　very　strong　on　politics？〃

Miltoun　smiled。

〃I　want　to　see　an　England；　Rimall；　something　like　the　England　of
Mores　dream。　　But　my　machinery　will　be　different。　　I　shall　begin　at
the　top。〃

The　little　man　nodded。

〃Quite　so；　quite　so；〃　he　said；　〃we　shall　come　to　that；　I　dare　say。〃

〃We　must；　Rimall。〃　　　And　Miltoun　turned　the　page。

The　little　man's　face　quivered。

〃I　don't　think；〃　he　said；　〃that　book's　quite　strong　enough　for　you；
my　lord；　with　your　taste　for　reading。　　Now　I've　a　most　curious　old
volume　hereon　Chinese　temples。　　It's　rarebut　not　too　old。　　You
can　peruse　it　thoroughly。　　It's　what　I　call　a　book　to　browse　on　just
suit　your　palate。　　Funny　principle　they　built　those　things　on；〃　he
added；　opening　the　volume　at　an　engraving；　〃in　layers。　　We　don't
build　like　that　in　England。〃

Miltoun　looked　up　sharply；　the　little　man's　face　wore　no　signs　of
understanding。

〃Unfortunately　we　don't；　Rimall；〃　he　said；　〃we　ought　to；　and　we
shall。　　I'll　take　this　book。〃

Placing　his　finger　on　the　print　of　the　pagoda；　he　added：　〃A　good
symbol。〃

The　little　bookseller's　eye　strayed　down　the　temple　to　the　secret
price　mark。

〃Exactly；　my　lord；〃　he　said；　〃I　thought　it'd　be　your　fancy。　　The
price　to　you　will　be　twenty…seven　and　six。〃

Miltoun；　pocketing　the　bargain；　walked　out。　　He　made　his　way　into　the
Temple；　left　the　book　at　his　Chambers；　and　passed　on　down　to　the　bank
of　Mother　Thames。　　The　Sun　was　loving　her　passionately　that
afternoon；　he　had　kissed　her　into　warmth　and　light　and　colour。　　And
all　the　buildings　along　　her　banks；　as　far　as　the　towers　at
Westminster；　seemed　to　be　smiling。　　It　was　a　great　sight　for　the　eyes
of　a　lover。　　And　another　vision　came　haunting　Miltoun；　of　a　soft…eyed
woman　with　a　low　voice；　bending　amongst　her　flowers。　　Nothing　would
be　complete　without　her；　no　work　bear　fruit；　no　scheme　could　have
full　meaning。

Lord　Valleys　greeted　his　son　at　dinner　with　good　fellowship　and　a
faint　surprise。

〃Day　off；　my　dear　fellow？　　Or　have　you　come　up　to　hear　Brabrook　pitch
into　us？　　He's　rather　late　this　timewe've　got　rid　of　that　balloon
business　no　trouble　after　all。〃

And　he　eyed　Miltoun　with　that　clear　grey　stare　of　his；　so　cool；
level；　and　curious。　　Now；　what　sort　of　bird　is　this？　　it　seemed
saying。　　Certainly　not　the　partridge　I　should　have　expected　from　its
breeding！

Miltoun's　answer：　〃I　came　up　to　tell　you　some　thing；　sir；〃　riveted
his　father's　stare　for　a　second　longer　than　was　quite　urbane。

It　would　not　be　true　to　say　that　Lord　Valleys　was　afraid　of　his　son。
Fear　was　not　one　of　his　emotions；　but　he　certainly　regarded　him　with
a　respectful　curiosity　that　bordered　on　uneasiness。　　The　oligarchic
temper　of　Miltoun's　mind　and　political　convictions　almost　shocked　one
who　knew　both　by　temperament　and　experience　how　to　wait　in　front。
This　instruction　he　had　frequently　had　occasion　to　give　his　jockeys
when　he　believed　his　horses　could　best　get　home　first　in　that　way。
And　it　was　an　instruction　he　now　longed　to　give　his　son。　　He　himself
had　'waited　in　front'　for　over　fifty　years；　and　he　knew　it　to　be　the
finest　way　of　insuring　that　he　would　never　be　compelled　to　alter　this
desirable　policyfor　something　in　Lord　Valleys'　character　made　him
fear　that；　in　real　emergency；　he　would　exert　himself　to　the　point　of
the　gravest　discomfort　sooner　than　be　left　to　wait　behind。　　A　fellow
like　young　Harbinger；　of　course；　he　understoodversatile；　'full　of
beans；'　as　he　expressed　it　to　himself　in　his　more　confidential
moments；　who　had　imbibed　the　new　wine　（very　intoxicating　it　was）　of
desire　for　social　reform。　　He　would　have　to　be　given　his　head　a
littlebut　there　would　be　no　difficulty　with　him；　he　would　never
'run　out'light　handy　build　of　horse　that　only　required　steadying　at
the　corners。　　He　would　want　to　hear　himself　talk；　and　be　let　feel
that　he　was　doing　something。　　All　very　well；　and　quite　intelligible。
But　with　Miltoun　（and　Lord　Valleys　felt　this　to　be　no；　mere　parental
fancy）　it　was　a　very　different　business。　　His　son　had　a　way　of
forcing　things　to　their　conclusions　which　was　dangerous；　and　reminded
him　of　his　mother…in…law。　　He　was　a　baby　in　public　affairs；　of
course；　as　yet；　but　as　soon　as　he　once　got　going；　the　intensity　of
his　convictions；　together　with　his　position；　and　real　giftnot　of
the　gab；　like　Harbinger'sbut　of　restrained；　biting　oratory；　was
sure　to　bring　him　to　the　front　with　a　bound　in　the　present　state　of
parties。　　And　what　were　those　convictions？　　Lord　Valleys　had　tried　to
understand　them；　but　up　to　the　present　he　had　failed。　　And　this　did
not　surprise　him　exactly；　since；　as　he　often　said；　political
convictions　were　not；　as　they　appeared　on　the　surface；　the　outcome　of
reason；　but　merely　symptoms　of　temperament。　　And　he　could　not
comprehend；　because　he　could　not　sympathize　with；　any　attitude
towards　public　affairs　that　was　not　essentially　level；　attached　to
the　plain；　common…sense　factors　of　the　case　as　they　appeared　to
himself。　　Not　that　he　could　fairly　be　called　a　temporizer；　for　deep
down　in　him　there　was　undoubtedly　a　vein　of　obstinate；　fundamental
loyalty　to　the　traditions　of　a　caste　which　prized　high　spirit　beyond
all　things。　　Still　he　did　feel　that　Miltoun　was　altogether　too　much
the　'pukka'　aristocratno　better　than　a　Socialist；　with　his
confounded　way　of　seeing　things　all　cut　and　dried；　his　ideas　of
forcing　reforms　down　people's　throats　and　holding　them　there　with　the
iron　hand！　　With　his　way　too　of　acting　on　his　principles！　　Why！　　He
even　admitted　that　he　acted　on　his　principles！　　This　thought　always
struck　a　very　discordant　note　in　Lord　Valleys'　breast。　　It　was　almost
indecent；　worse…ridiculous！　　The　fact　was；　the　dear　fellow　had
unfortunately　a　deeper　habit　of　thought　than　was　wanted　in　politics
dangerousvery！　　Experience　might　do　something　for　him！　　And　out　of
his　own　long　experience　the　Earl　of　Valleys　tried　hard　to　recollect
any　politician　whom　the　practice　of　politics　had　left　where　he　was
when　he　started。　　He　could　not　think　of　one。　　But　this　gave　him
little　comfort；　and；　above　a　piece　of　late　asparagus　his　steady　eyes
sought　his　son's。　　What　had　he　come　up　to　tell　him？

The　phrase　had　been　ominous；　he　could　not　recollect　Miltoun's　ever
having　told　him　anything。　　For　though　a　really　kind　and　indulgent
father；　he　hadlike　so　many　men　occupied　with　public　and　other
livesa　little　acquired　towards　his　offspring　the　look　and　manner：
Is　this　mine？　　Of　his　four　children；　Barbara　alone　he　claimed　with
conviction。　　He　admired　her；　and；　being　a　man　who　savoured　life；　he
was　unable　to　love　much　except　where　he　admired。　　But；　the　last
person　in　the　world　to　hustle　any　man　or　force　a　confidence；　he
waited　to　hear　his　son's　news；　betraying　no　uneasiness。

Miltoun　seemed　in　no　hurry。　　He　described　Courtier's　adventure；　which
tickled　Lord　Valleys　a　good　deal。

〃Ordeal　by　red　pepper！　　Shouldn't　have　thought　them　equal　to　that；〃
he　said。　　〃So　you've　got　him　at　Monkland　now。　　Harbinger　still　with
you？〃

〃Yes。　　I　don't　think　Harbinger　has　much　stamina。

〃Politically？〃

Miltoun　nodded。

〃I　rather　resent　his　being　on　our　sideI　don't　think　he　does　us　any
good。　　You've　seen　that　cartoon；　I　suppose；　it　cuts　pretty　deep。　　I
couldn't　recognize　you　amongst　the　old　women；　sir。〃

Lord　Valleys　smiled　impersonally。

〃Very　clever　thing。　　By　the　way；　I　shall　win　the　Eclipse；　I　think。〃

And　thus；　spasmodically；　the　conversation　ran　till　the　last　servant
had　left　the　room。

Then　Miltoun；　without　preparation；　looked　straight　at　his　father　and
said：

〃I　want　to　marry　Mrs。　Noel；　sir。〃

Lord　Valleys　received　the　shot　with　exactly　the　same　expression　as
that　with　which　he　was　accustomed　to　watch　his　horses　beaten。　　Then
he　raised　his　wineglass　to　his　lips；　and　set　it　down　again　untouched。
This　was　the　only　sign　he　gave　of　interest　or　discomfiture。

〃Isn't　this　rather　sudden？〃

Miltoun　answered：　〃I've　wanted　to　from　the　moment　I　first　saw　her。〃

Lord　Valleys；　almost　as　good　a　judge　of　a　man　and　a　situation　as　of　a
horse　or　a　pointer　dog；　leaned　back　in　his　chair；　and　said　with　faint
sarcasm：

〃My　dear　fellow；　it's　good　of　you　to　have　told　me　this；　though；　to　be
quite　frank；　it's　a　piece　of　news　I　would　rather　not　have　heard。〃

A　dusky　flush　burned　slowly　up　in　Miltoun's　cheeks。　　He　had
underrated　his　father；　the　man　had　coolness　and　courage　in　a　crisis。

〃What　is　your　objection；　sir？〃　And　suddenly　he　noticed　that　a　wafer
in　Lord　Valleys'　hand　was　quivering。　　This　brought　into　his　eyes　no
look　of　compunction；　but　such　a　smouldering　gaze　as　the　old　Tudor
Churchman　might　have　bent　on　an　adversary　who　showed　a　sign　of
weakness。　　Lord　Valleys；　too；　noticed　the　quivering　of　that　wafer；
and　ate　it。

〃We　are　men　of　the　world；〃　he　said。

Miltoun　answered：　〃I　am　not。〃

Showing　his　first　real　symptom　of　impatience　Lord　Valleys　rapped　out：

〃So　be　it！　　I　am。〃

〃Yes？〃；　said　Miltoun。

〃Eustace！〃

Nursing　one　knee；　Miltoun　faced　that　appeal　without　the　faintest
movement。　　His　eyes　continued　to　burn　into　his　father's　face。　　A
tremor　passed　over　Lord　Valleys'　heart。　　What　intensity　of　feeling
there　was　in　the　fellow；　that　he　could　look　like　this　at　the　first
breath　of　opposition！

He　reached　out　and　took　up　the　cigar…box；　held　it　absently　towards
his　son；　and　drew　it　quickly　back。

〃I　forgot；〃　he　said；　〃you　don't。〃

And　lighting　a　cigar；　he　smoked　gravely；　looking　straight　before　him；
a　furrow　between　his　brows。　　He　spoke　at　last：

〃She　looks　like　a　lady。　　I　know　nothing　else　about　her。〃

The　smile　deepened　round　Miltoun's　mouth。

〃Why　should　you　want　to　know　anything　else？〃

Lord　Valleys　shrugged。　　His　philosophy　had　hardened。

〃I　understand　for　one　thing；〃　he　said　coldly；　〃that　there　is　a　matter
of　a　divorce。　　I　thought　you　took　the　Church's　view　on　that　subject。〃

〃She　has　not　done　wrong。〃

〃You　know　her　story；　then？〃

〃No。〃

Lord　Valleys　raised　his　brows；　in　irony　and　a　sort　of　admiration。

〃Chiva