the patrician-第8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！


observed　to　be　buying　a　little　bit　more。

But；　since　in　this　life　one　notices　only　what　interests　him；　all　this
gossip；　half　complimentary；　half　not；　had　fallen　but　lightly　on　the
ears　of　the　champion　of　Peace　during　his　campaign；　for　he　was；　as
has；　been　said；　but　a　poor　politician；　and　rode　his　own　horse　very
much　his　own　way。

While　he　stood　there　enjoying　the　view；　he　heard　a　small　high　voice；
and　became　conscious　of　a　little　girl　in　a　very　shady　hat　so　far　back
on　her　brown　hair　that　it　did　not　shade　her；　and　of　a　small　hand　put
out　in　front。　　He　took　the　hand；　and　answered：

〃Thank　you；　I　am　welland　you？〃　perceiving　the　while　that　a　pair　of
wide　frank　eyes　were　examining　his　leg。

〃Does　it　hurt？〃

〃Not　to　speak　of。〃

〃My　pony's　leg　was　blistered。　　Granny　is　coming　to　look　at　it。〃

〃I　see。〃

〃I　have　to　go　now。　　I　hope　you'll　soon　be　better。　　Good…bye！〃

Then；　instead　of　the　little　girl；　Courtier　saw　a　tall　and　rather
florid　woman　regarding　him　with　a　sort　of　quizzical　dignity。　　She
wore　a　stiffish　fawn…coloured　dress　that　seemed　to　be　cut　a　little
too　tight　round　her　substantial　hips；　for　it　quite　neglected　to
embrace　her　knees。　　She　had　on　no　hat；　no　gloves；　no　ornaments；
except　the　rings　on　her　fingers；　and　a　little　jewelled　watch　in　a
leather　bracelet　on　her　wrist。　　There　was；　indeed；　about　her　whole
figure　an　air　of　almost　professional　escape　from　finery。

Stretching　out　a　well…shaped　but　not　small　hand；　she　said：


〃I　most　heartily　apologize　to　you；　Mr。　Courtier。〃

〃Not　at　all。〃

〃I　do　hope　you're　comfortable。　　Have　they　given　you　everything　you
want？〃

〃More　than　everything。〃

〃It　really　was　disgraceful！　　However　it's　brought　us　the　pleasure　of
making　your　acquaintance。　　I've　read　your　book；　of　course。〃

To　Courtier　it　seemed　that　on　this　lady's　face　had　come　a　look　which
seemed　to　say：　Yes；　very　clever　and　amusing；　quite　enjoyable！　　But
the　ideas　What？　　You　know　very　well　they　won't　doin　fact　they
mustn't　do！

〃That's　very　nice　of　you。〃

But　into　Lady　Valleys'　answer；　〃I　don't　agree　with　it　a　bit；　you
know！〃　there　had　crept　a　touch　of　asperity；　as　though　she　knew　that
he　had　smiled　inside。　　〃What　we　want　preached　in　these　days　are　the
warlike　virtuesespecially　by　a　warrior。〃

〃Believe　me；　Lady　Valleys；　the　warlike　virtues　are　best　left　to　men
of　more　virgin　imagination。〃

He　received　a　quick　look；　and　the　words：　〃Anyway；　I'm　sure　you　don't
care　a　rap　for　politics。　　You　know　Mrs。　Lees　Noel；　don't　you？　　What　a
pretty　woman　she　is！〃

But　as　she　spoke　Courtier　saw　a　young　girl　coming　along　the　terrace。
She　had　evidently　been　riding；　for　she　wore　high　boots　and　a　skirt
which　had　enabled　her　to　sit　astride。　　Her　eyes　were　blue；　and　her
hairthe　colour　of　beech…leaves　in　autumn　with　the　sun　shining
throughwas　coiled　up　tight　under　a　small　soft　hat。　　She　was　tall；
and　moved　towards　them　like　one　endowed　with　great　length　from　the
hip　joint　to　the　knee。　　Joy　of　life；　serene；　unconscious　vigour；
seemed　to　radiate　from　her　whole　face　and　figure。

At　Lady　Valleys'　words：

〃Ah；　Babs！　　My　daughter　BarbaraMr。　Courtier；〃　he　put　out　his　hand；
received　within　it　some　gauntleted　fingers　held　out　with　a　smile；　and
heard　her　say：

〃Miltoun's　gone　up　to　Town；　Mother；　I　was　going　to　motor　in　to
Bucklandbury　with　a　message　he　gave　me；　so　I　can　fetch　Granny　out
from　the　station：〃

〃You　had　better　take　Ann；　or　she'll　make　our　lives　a　burden；　and
perhaps　Mr。　Courtier　would　like　an　airing。　　Is　your　knee　fit；　do　you
think？〃

Glancing　at　the　apparition；　Courtier　replied：

〃It　is。〃

Never　since　the　age　of　seven　had　he　been　able　to　look　on　feminine
beauty　without　a　sense　of　warmth　and　faint　excitement；　and　seeing　now
perhaps　the　most　beautiful　girl　he　had　ever　beheld；　he　desired　to　be
with　her　wherever　she　might　be　going。　　There　was　too　something　very
fascinating　in　the　way　she　smiled；　as　if　she　had　a　little　seen
through　his　sentiments。

〃Well　then；〃　she　said；　〃we'd　better　look　for　Ann。〃

After　short　but　vigorous　search　little　Ann　was　foundin　the　car；
instinct　having　told　her　of　a　forward　movement　in　which　it　was　her
duty　to　take　part。　　And　soon　they　had　started；　Ann　between　them　in
that　peculiar　state　of　silence　to　which　she　became　liable　when　really
interested。

》From　the　Monkland　estate；　flowered；　lawned；　and　timbered；　to　the　open
moor；　was　like　passing　to　another　world；　for　no　sooner　was　the　last
lodge　of　the　Western　drive　left　behind；　than　there　came　into　sudden
view　the　most　pagan　bit　of　landscape　in　all　England。　　In　this　wild
parliament…house；　clouds；　rocks；　sun；　and　winds　met　and　consulted。
The　'old'　men；　too；　had　left　their　spirits　among　the　great　stones；
which　lay　couched　like　lions　on　the　hill…tops；　under　the　white
clouds；　and　their　brethren；　the　hunting　buzzard　hawks。　　Here　the　very
rocks　were　restless；　changing　form；　and　sense；　and　colour　from　day　to
day；　as　though　worshipping　the　unexpected；　and　refusing　themselves　to
law。　　The　winds　too　in　their　passage　revolted　against　their　courses；
and　came　tearing　down　wherever　there　were　combes　or　crannies；　so　that
men　in　their　shelters　might　still　learn　the　power　of　the　wild　gods。

The　wonders　of　this　prospect　were　entirely　lost　on　little　Ann；　and
somewhat　so　on　Courtier；　deeply　engaged　in　reconciling　those　two
alien　principles；　courtesy；　and　the　love　of　looking　at　a　pretty　face。
He　was　wondering　too　what　this　girl　of　twenty；　who　had　the　self…
possession　of　a　woman　of　forty；　might　be　thinking。　　It　was　little　Ann
who　broke　the　silence。

〃Auntie　Babs；　it　wasn't　a　very　strong　house；　was　it？〃

Courtier　looked　in　the　direction　of　her　small　finger。　　There　was　the
wreck　of　a　little　house；　which　stood　close　to　a　stone　man　who　had
obviously　possessed　that　hill　before　there　were　men　of　flesh。　　Over
one　corner　of　the　sorry　ruin；　a　single　patch　of　roof　still　clung；　but
the　rest　was　open。

〃He　was　a　silly　man　to　build　it；　wasn't　he；　Ann？　　That's　why　they
call　it　Ashman's　Folly。〃

〃Is　he　alive？〃

〃Not　quiteit's　just　a　hundred　years　ago。〃

〃What　made　him　build　it　here？〃

〃He　hated　women；　andthe　roof　fell　in　on　him。〃

〃Why　did　he　hate　women？〃

〃He　was　a　crank。〃

〃What　is　a　crank？〃

〃Ask　Mr。　Courtier。〃

Under　this　girl's　calm　quizzical　glance；　Courtier　endeavoured　to　find
an　answer　to　that　question。

〃A　crank；〃　he　said　slowly；　〃is　a　man　like　me。〃

He　heard　a　little　laugh；　and　became　acutely　conscious　of　Ann's
dispassionate　examining　eyes。

〃Is　Uncle　Eustace　a　crank？〃

〃You　know　now；　Mr。　Courtier；　what　Ann　thinks　of　you。　　You　think　a
good　deal　of　Uncle　Eustace；　don't　you；　Ann？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Ann；　and　fixed　her　eyes　before　her。　　But　Courtier　gazed
sidewaysover　her　hatless　head。

His　exhilaration　was　increasing　every　moment。　　This　girl　reminded　him
of　a　two…year…old　filly　he　had　once　seen；　stepping　out　of　Ascot
paddock　for　her　first　race；　with　the　sun　glistening　on　her　satin
chestnut　skin；　her　neck　held　high；　her　eyes　all　fireas　sure　to　win；
as　that　grass　was　green。　　It　was　difficult　to　believe　her　Miltoun's
sister。　　It　was　difficult　to　believe　any　of　those　four　young　Caradocs
related。　　The　grave　ascetic　Miltoun；　wrapped　in　the　garment　of　his
spirit；　mild；　domestic；　strait…laced　Agatha；　Bertie；　muffled；　shrewd；
and　steely；　and　this　frank；　joyful　conquering　Barbarathe　range　was
wide。

But　the　car　had　left　the　moor；　and；　down　a　steep　hill；　was　passing
the　small　villas　and　little　grey　workmen's　houses　outside　the　town　of
Bucklandbury。

〃Ann　and　I　have　to　go　on　to　Miltoun's　headquarters。　　Shall　I　drop　you
at　the　enemy's；　Mr。　Courtier？　　Stop；　please；　Frith。〃

And　before　Courtier　could　assent；　they　had　pulled　up　at　a　house　on
which　was　inscribed　with　extraordinary　vigour：　〃Chilcox　for
Bucklandbury。〃

Hobbling　into　the　Committee…room　of　Mr。　Humphrey　Chilcox；　which
smelled　of　paint；　Courtier　took　with　him　the　scented　memory　of　youth；
and　ambergris；　and　Harris　tweed。

In　that　room　three　men　were　assembled　round　a　table；　the　eldest　of
whom；　endowed　with　little　grey　eyes；　a　stubbly　beard；　and　that
mysterious　something　only　found　in　those　who　have　been　mayors；　rose
at　once　and　came　towards　him。

〃Mr。　Courtier；　I　believe；〃　he　said　bluffly。　　〃Glad　to　see　you；　sir。
Most　distressed　to　hear　of　this　outrage。　　Though　in　a　way；　it's　done
us　good。　　Yes；　really。　　Grossly　against　fair　play。　　Shouldn't　be
surprised　if　it　turned　a　couple　of　hundred　votes。　　You　carry　the
effects　of　it　about　with　you；　I　see。〃

A　thin；　refined　man；　with　wiry　hair；　also　came　up；　holding　a
newspaper　in　his　hand。

〃It　has　had　one　rather　embarrassing　effect；〃　he　said。　　〃Read　this

　　　　　　　　　　'OUTRAGE　ON　A　DISTINGUISHED　VISITOR。

　　　　　　　　　　'LORD　MILTOUN'S　EVENING　ADVENTURE。'〃

Courtier　read　a　paragraph。

The　man　with　the　little　eyes　broke　the　ominous　silence　which　ensued。

〃One　of　our　side　must　have　seen　the　whole　thing；　jumped　on　his
bicycle　and　brought　in　the　account　before　they　went　to　press。　　They
make　no　imputation　on　the　ladysimply　state　the　facts。　　Quite
enough；〃　he　added　with　impersonal　grimness；　〃I　think　he's　done　for
himself；　sir。〃

The　man　with　the　refined　face　added　nervously：

〃We　couldn't　help　it；　Mr。　Courtier；　I　really　don't　know　what　we　can
do。　　I　don't　like　it　a　bit。〃

〃Has　your　candidate　seen　this？〃　Courtier　asked。

〃Can't　have；〃　struck　in　the　third　Committee…man；　〃we　hadn't　seen　it
ourselves　until　an　hour　ago。〃

〃I　should　never　have　permitted　it；〃　said　the　man　with　the　refined
face；　〃I　blame　the　editor　greatly。〃

〃Come　to　that〃　said　the　little…eyed　man；　〃it's　a　plain　piece　of
news。　　If　it　makes　a　stir；　that's　not　our　fault。　　The　paper　imputes
nothing；　it　states。　　Position　of　the　lady　happens　to　do　the　rest。
Can't　help　it；　and　moreover；　sir；　speaking　for　self；　don't　want　to。
We'll　have　no　loose　morals　in　public　life　down　here；　please　God！〃
There　was　real　feeling　in　his　words；　then；　catching　sight　of
Courtier's　face；　he　added：　〃Do　you　know　this　lady？〃

〃Ever　since　she　was　a　child。　　Anyone　who　speaks　evil　of　her；　has　to
reckon　with　me。〃

The　man　with　the　refined　face　said　earnestly：

〃Believe　me；　Mr。　Courtier；　I　entirely　sympathize。　　We　had　nothing　to
do　with　the　paragraph。　　It's　one　of　those　incidents　where　on