PoorEustace！Whydidhetakethingssohardly？Ifhereallycarriedouthisresolve——andheneverchangedhismind——itwouldbetragic！Itwouldmeantheendofeverythingforhim！
PerhapsnowhewouldgettiredofMrs。Noel。Butshewasnotthesortofwomanamanwouldgettiredof。EvenBarbarainherinexperiencefeltthat。Shewouldalwaysbetoodelicatelycarefulnevertocloyhim,nevertoexactanythingfromhim,orlethimfeelthathewasboundtoherbysomuchasahair。Ah！whycouldn\'ttheygoonasifnothinghadhappened？Couldnobodypersuadehim？ShethoughtagainofCourtier。Ifhe,whoknewthemboth,andwassofondofMrs。Noel,wouldtalktoMiltoun,abouttherighttobehappy,therighttorevolt？Eustaceoughttorevolt！Itwashisduty。Shesatdowntowrite;then,puttingonherhat,tookthenoteandslippeddownstairs。
CHAPTERXIX
TheflowersofsummerinthegreatglasshouseatRavenshamwerekeepingthelastafternoon—watchwhenCliftonsummonedLadyCasterleywiththewords:
\"LadyValleysinthewhiteroom。\"
SincethenewsofMiltoun\'sillness,andofMrs。Noel\'snursing,thelittleoldladyhadpossessedhersoulinpatience;often,itistrue,afflictedwithpoignantmisgivingsastothisnewinfluenceinthelifeofherfavourite,affectedtoobyasortofjealousy,nottobeadmitted,eveninherprayers,which,thoughregularenough,wereperhapssomewhatformal。Havingsmalllikingnowforleavinghome,evenforCatton,hercountryplace,shewasstillatRavensham,whereLordDennishadcomeuptostaywithherassoonasMiltounhadleftSeaHouse。ButLadyCasterleywasneververydependentoncompany。
Sheretainedunimpairedherintenseinterestinpolitics,andstillcorrespondedfreelywithprominentmen。Oflate,too,aslightrevivaloftheJunewarscarehadmadeitsmarkonherinacertainrejuvenescence,whichalwaysaccompaniedhercontemplationofnationalcrises,evenwhensuchwerealittleintheair。Atblastoftrumpetherspiritstillleapedforward,unsheatheditssword,andstoodatthesalute。Atsuchtimes,sheroseearlier,wenttobedlater,wasfarlesssusceptibletodraughts,andrefusedwithasperityanyfoodbetweenmeals。Shewrotetoowithherownhandletterswhichshewouldotherwisehavedictatedtohersecretary。
Unfortunatelythescarehaddieddownagainalmostatonce;andthepassingofdangeralwaysleftherratherirritable。LadyValleys\'
visitcameasatimelyconsolation。
Shekissedherdaughtercritically;fortherewasthatabouthermannerwhichshedidnotlike。
\"Yes,ofcourseIamwell！\"shesaid。\"Whydidn\'tyoubringBarbara？\"
\"Shewastired！\"
\"H\'m！Afraidofmeetingme,sinceshecommittedthatpieceoffollyoverEustace。Youmustbecarefulofthatchild,Gertrude,orshewillbedoingsomethingsillyherself。Idon\'tlikethewayshekeepsClaudHarbingerhanginginthewind。\"
Herdaughtercuthershort:
\"ThereisbadnewsaboutEustace。\"
LadyCasterleylostthelittlecolourinhercheeks;lost,too,allhersuperfluityofirritableenergy。
\"Tellme,atonce！\"
Havingheard,shesaidnothing;butLadyValleysnoticedwithalarmthatoverhereyeshadcomesuddenlythepeculiarfilminessofage。
\"Well,whatdoyouadvise？\"sheasked。
Herselftired,andtroubled,shewasconsciousofaquiteunwontedfeelingofdiscouragementbeforethissilentlittlefigure,inthesilentwhiteroom。ShehadneverbeforeseenhermotherlookasifsheheardDefeatpassingonitsdarkwings。Andmovedbysuddentendernessforthelittlefrailbodythathadbornehersolongago,shemurmuredalmostwithsurprise:
\"Mother,dear！\"
\"Yes,\"saidLadyCasterley,asifspeakingtoherself,\"theboysavesthingsup;hestoreshisfeelings——theyburstandsweephimaway。
Firsthispassion;nowhisconscience。Therearetwomeninhim;butthiswillbethedeathofoneofthem。\"Andsuddenlyturningonherdaughter,shesaid:
\"DidyoueverhearabouthimatOxford,Gertrude？Hebrokeoutonce,andatehuskswiththeGadarenes。Youneverknew。Ofcourse——youneverhaveknownanythingofhim。\"
ResentmentroseinLadyValleys,thatanyoneshouldknewhersonbetterthanherself;butshelostitagainlookingatthelittlefigure,andsaid,sighing:
\"Well？\"
LadyCasterleymurmured:
\"Goaway,child;Imustthink。Yousayhe\'stoconsult\'Dennis？Doyouknowheraddress？AskBarbarawhenyougetbackandtelephoneittome。Andatherdaughter\'skiss,sheaddedgrimly:
\"Ishalllivetoseehiminthesaddleyet,thoughIamseventy—
eight。\"
Whenthesoundofherdaughter\'scarhaddied:away,sherangthebell。
\"IfLadyValleysringsup,Clifton,don\'ttakethemessage,butcallme。\"AndseeingthatCliftondidnotmovesheaddedsharply:\"Well？\"
\"Thereisnobadnewsofhisyounglordship\'shealth,Ihope？\"
\"No。\"
\"Forgiveme,mylady,butIhavehaditonmymindforsometimetoaskyousomething。\"
Andtheoldmanraisedhishandwithapeculiardignity,seemingtosay:YouwillexcusemethatforthemomentIamahumanbeingspeakingtoahumanbeing。
\"Thematterofhisattachment,\"hewenton,\"isknowntome;ithasgivenmeacuteanxiety,knowinghislordshipasIdo,andhavingheardhimsaysomethingsingularwhenhewashereinJuly。Ishouldbegratefulifyouwouldassure——methatthereistobenohitchinhiscareer,mylady。\"
TheexpressiononLadyCasterley\'sfacewasstrangelycompoundedofsurprise,kindliness,defence,andimpatienceaswithachild。
\"NotifIcanpreventit,Clifton,\"shesaidshortly;\"infact,youneednotconcernyourself。\"
Cliftonbowed。
\"Excusemementioningit,mylady;\"aquiverranoverhisfacebetweenitslongwhitewhiskers,\"buthisyounglordship\'scareerismoretomethanmyown。\"
Whenhehadlefther,LadyCasterleysatdowninalittlelowchair——
longshesattherebytheemptyhearth,tillthedaylight,wasallgone。
CHAPTERXX
Notfarfromthedark—haloedindeterminatelimbowheredweltthatbugbearofCharlesCourtier,thegreatHalf—TruthAuthority,hehimselfhadacoupleofroomsatfifteenshillingsaweek。TheirchiefattractionwasthatthegreatHalf—TruthLibertyhadrecommendedthem。Theytiedhimtonothing,andwereeverathisdisposalwhenhewasinLondon;forhislandlady,thoughnotboundbyagreementsotodo,lettheminsuchaway,thatshecouldturnanyoneelseoutataweek\'snotice。Shewasagentlesoul,marriedtoasocialisticplumbertwentyyearshersenior。Theworthymanhadgivenhertwolittleboys,andthethreeofthemkeptherinsuchpermanentorderthattobeinthepresenceofCourtierwasthegreatestpleasuresheknew。Whenhedisappearedononeofhisnomadicmissions,explorations,oradventures,sheenclosedthewholeofhisbelongingsintwotintrunksandplacedtheminacupboardwhichsmelledalittleofmice。Whenhereappearedthetrunkswerereopened,andapowerfulscentofdriedrose—leaveswouldescape。
For,recognizingthemortalityofthingshuman,sheprocuredeverysummerfromhersister,thewifeofamarketgardener,aconsignmentofthiscommodity,whichshepassionatelysewedupinbags,andcontinuedtodeposityearbyyear,inCourtier\'strunks。
This,andthewayshemadehistoast——verycrisp——andairedhislinen——verydry,werepracticallytheonlythingsshecoulddoforamannaturallyinclinedtoindependence,andaccustomedfromhismanneroflifetofendforhimself。
Atfirstsignsofhisdepartureshewouldgointosomeclosetorother,awayfromtheplumberandthetwomarksofhisaffection,andcryquietly;butneverinCourtier\'spresencedidshedreamofmanifestinggrief——assoonweepinthepresenceofdeathorbirth,oranyotherfundamentaltragedyorjoy。Infaceoftherealitiesoflifeshehadknownfromheryouthupthevalueofthesimpleverb\'sto——stare—tostandfast。\'
AndtoherCourtierwasareality,thechiefrealityoflife,thefocusofheraspiration,themorningandtheeveningstar。
Therequest,thenfivedaysafterhisfarewellvisittoMrs。Noel——
fortheelephant—hidetrunkwhichaccompaniedhisrovings,producedherhabitualperiodofseclusion,followedbyherhabitualappearanceinhissitting—roombearinganote,andsomebagsofdriedrose——
leavesonatray。Shefoundhiminhisshirtsleeves,packing。
\"Well,Mrs。Benton;offagain！\"
Mrs。Benton,plaitingherhands,forshehadnotyetlostsomethingofthelookandmannerofalittlegirl,answeredinherflat,butserenevoice:
\"Yes,sir;andIhopeyou\'renotgoinganywhereverydangerousthistime。Ialwaysthinkyougotosuchdangerousplaces。\"
\"ToPersia,Mrs。Benton,wherethecarpetscomefrom。\"
\"Oh！yes,sir。Yourwashing\'sjustcomehome。\"
Her,apparentlycast—down,eyesstoredupawealthoflittledetails;
thewayhishairgrew,thesetofhisback,thecolourofhisbraces。
Butsuddenlyshesaidinasurprisingvoice:
\"Youhaven\'taphotographyoucouldspare,sir,toleavebehind？Mr。
Bentonwasonlysayingtomeyesterday,we\'venothingtorememberhimby,incaseheshouldn\'tcomeback。\"
\"Here\'sanoldone。\"
Mrs。Bentontookthephotograph。
\"Oh！\"shesaid;\"youcanseewhoitis。\"Andholdingitperhapstootightly,forherfingerstrembled,sheadded:
\"Anote,please,sir;andthemessengerboyiswaitingfor——ananswer。\"
Whilehereadthenoteshenoticedwithconcernhowpackinghadbroughtthebloodintohishead……
When,inresponsetothatnote,Courtierenteredthewell—knownconfectioner\'scalledGustard\'s,itwasstillnotquitetea—time,andthereseemedtohimatfirstnooneintheroomsavethreemiddle—
agedwomenpackingsweets;theninthecornerhesawBarbara。Thebloodwasnolongerinhishead;hewaspale,walkingdownthatmahogany—colouredroomimpregnatedwiththescentofwedding—cake。
Barbara,too,waspale。
Soclosetoherthathecouldcounthereveryeyelash,andinhalethescentofherhairandclothestolistentoherstoryofMiltoun,sohesitatingly,sowistfullytold,seemedverylikebeingkeptwaitingwiththeropealreadyroundhisneck,tohearaboutanotherperson\'stoothache。HefeltthistohavebeenunnecessaryonthepartofFate！Andtherecametohimperverselythememoryofthatrideoverthesun—warmedheather,whenhehadparaphrasedtheoldSiciliansong:\'HerewillIsitandsing。\'Hewasalongwayfromsingingnow;norwasthereloveinhisarms。Therewasinsteadacupoftea;
andinhisnostrilsthescentofcake,withnowandthenawhiffoforange—flowerwater。
\"Isee,\"hesaid,whenshehadfinishedtellinghim:\"\'Liberty\'sagloriousfeast！\'Youwantmetogotoyourbrother,andquoteBums？
Youknow,ofcourse,thatheregardsmeasdangerous。\"
\"Yes;butherespectsandlikesyou。\"
\"AndIrespectandlikehim,\"answeredCourtier。
Oneofthemiddle—agedfemalespassed,carryingalargewhitecard—
boardbox;andthecreakingofherstaysbrokethehush。
\"Youhavebeenverysweettome,\"saidBarbara,suddenly。
Courtier\'sheartstirred,asifitwereturningoverwithinhim;andgazingintohisteacup,heanswered\"Allmenaredecenttotheeveningstar。Iwillgoatonceandfindyourbrother。WhenshallIbringyounews？\"
\"To—morrowatfiveI\'llbeathome。\"
Andrepeating,\"To—morrowatfive,\"herose。
Lookingbackfromthedoor,hesawherfacepuzzled,ratherreproachful,andwentoutgloomily。Thescentofcake,andorange—
flowerwater,thecreakingofthefemale\'sstays,thecolourofmahogany,stillclungtohisnoseandears,andeyes;butwithinhimitwasalldullbaffledrage。Whyhadhenotmadethemostofthisunexpectedchance;whyhadhenotmadedesperatelovetoher？A
conscientiousass！Andyet——thewholethingwasabsurd！Shewassoyoung！Godknewhewouldbegladtobeoutofit。Ifhestayedhewasafraidthathewouldplaythefool。Butthememoryofherwords:
\"Youhavebeenverysweettome！\"wouldnotleavehim;northememoryofherface,sopuzzled,andreproachful。Yes,ifhestayedhewouldplaythefool！Hewouldbeaskinghertomarryamandoubleherage,ofnopositionbutthatwhichhehadcarvedforhimself,andwithoutarap。Andhewouldbeaskingherinsuchawaythatshemightpossiblyhavesomelittledifficultyinrefusing。Hewouldbelettinghimselfgo。Andshewasonlytwenty——forallherwoman—of—
the—worldair,achild！No！Hewouldbeusefultoher,ifpossible,thisonce,andthenclearout！
CHAPTERXXI
WhenMiltounleftValleysHousehewalkedinthedirectionofWestminster。DuringthefivedaysthathehadbeenbackinLondonhehadnotyetenteredtheHouseofCommons。Aftertheseclusionofhisillness,hestillfeltayearning,almostpainful,towardsthemovementandstirofthetown。Everythingheheardandsawmadeanintenselyvividimpression。ThelionsinTrafalgarSquare,thegreatbuildingsofWhitehall,filledhimwithasortofexultation。Hewaslikeaman,who,afteralongseavoyage,firstcatchessightofland,andstandsstraininghiseyes,hardlybreathing,takinginonebyonethelostfeaturesofthatface。HewalkedontoWestminsterBridge,andgoingtoanembrasureintheverycentre,lookedbacktowardsthetowers。
Itwassaidthattheloveofthosetowerspassedintotheblood。Itwassaidthathewhohadsatbeneaththemcouldneveragainbequitethesame。Miltounknewthatitwastrue——desperatelytrue,ofhimself。Inpersonhehadsattherebutthreeweeks,butinsoulheseemedtohavebeensittingtherehundredsofyears。Andnowhewouldsittherenomore！Analmostfranticdesiretofreehimselffromthiscoilroseupwithinhim。Tobeheldaprisonerbythatmostsecretofallhisinstincts,theinstinctforauthority！Tobeunabletowieldauthoritybecausetowieldauthoritywastoinsultauthority。God！Itwashard！Heturnedhisbackonthetowers;andsoughtdistractioninthefacesofthepassers—by。
Eachofthese,heknew,hadhisstruggletokeepself—respect！Orwasitthattheywereunconsciousofstruggleorofself—respect,andjustletthingsdrift？Theylookedlikethat,mostofthem！Andallhisinherentcontemptfortheaverageorcommonwelledupashewatchedthem。Yes,theylookedlikethat！Ironically,thesightofthosefromwhomhehaddesiredthecomfortofcompromise,servedinsteadtostimulatethatpartofhimwhichrefusedtolethimcompromise。Theylookedsoft,soggy,withoutprideorwill,asthoughtheyknewthatlifewastoomuchforthem,andhadshamefullyacceptedthefact。Theysoobviouslyneededtobetoldwhattheymightdo,andwhichwaytheyshould,go;theywouldacceptordersastheyacceptedtheirwork,orpleasures:Andthethoughtthathewasnowdebarredfromtherighttogivethemorders,rankledinhimfuriously。They,intheirturn,glancedcasuallyathistallfigureleaningagainsttheparapet,notknowinghowtheirfatewastremblinginthebalance。Histhin,sallowface,andhungryeyesgaveoneortwoofthemperhapsafeelingofinterestordiscomfort;buttomosthewasassuredlynomorethananyothermanorwomaninthehurly—
burly。Thatdarkfigureofconsciouspowerstrugglinginthefettersofitsownbeliefinpower,wasapieceofsculpturetheyhadneithertimenorwishtounderstand,havingnotastefortragedy——forwitnessingthehumanspiritdriventothewall。
Itwasfiveo\'clockbeforeMiltounlefttheBridge,andpassed,likeanexile,beforethegatesofChurchandState,onhiswaytohisuncle\'sClub。HestoppedtotelegraphtoAudreythetimehewouldbecomingto—morrowafternoon;andonleavingthePost—Office,noticedinthewindowoftheadjoiningshopsomereproductionsofoldItalianmasterpieces,amongstthemoneofBotticelli\'s\'BirthofVenus。\'Hehadneverseenthatpicture;and,rememberingthatshehadtoldhimitwasherfavourite,hestoppedtolookatit。Averagelywellversedinsuchmatters,asbecameoneofhiscaste,Miltounhadnotthepoweroflettingaworkofartinsidiouslystealtheprivateselffromhissoul,andreplaceitwiththeselfofalltheworld;andheexaminedthisfar—famedpresentmentoftheheathengoddesswithaloofness,evenirritation。Thedrawingofthebodyseemedtohimcrude,thewholepicturealittleflatandEarly;hedidnotlikethefigureoftheFlora。Thegoldenserenity,andtenderness,ofwhichshehadspoken,lefthimcold。Thenhefoundhimselflookingattheface,andslowly,butwithuncannycertainty,begantofeelthathewaslookingatthefaceofAudreyherself。Thehairwasgoldenanddifferent,theeyesgreyanddifferent,themouthalittlefuller;
yet——itwasherface;thesameovalshape,thesamefar—apart,archedbrows,thesamestrangelytender,elusivespirit。And,asthoughoffended,heturnedandwalkedon。Inthewindowofthatlittleshopwastheeffigyofherforwhomhehadbarteredawayhislife——theincarnationofpassiveandentwininglove,thatgentlecreature,whohadgivenherselftohimsoutterly,forwhomlove,andtheflowers,andtrees,andbirds,music,thesky,andthequick—flowingstreams,wereall—sufficing;andwho,likethegoddessinthepicture,seemedwonderingatherownexistence。Hehadasuddenglimpseofunderstanding,strangeindeedinonewhohadsolittlepowerofseeingintoothers\'hearts:Oughtsheevertohavebeenbornintoaworldlikethis？Buttheflashofinsightyieldedquicklytothatsickeningconsciousnessofhisownposition,whichneverlefthimnow。Whateverelsehedid,hemustgetridofthatmalaise！Butwhatcouldhedointhatcominglife？Writebooks？Whatsortofbookscouldhewrite？Onlysuchasexpressedhisviewsofcitizenship,hispoliticalandsocialbeliefs。Aswellremainsittingandspeakingbeneaththosetowers！Hecouldneverjointhehappybandofartists,thosesoftandindeterminatespirits,forwhombarriershadnomeaning,content—tounderstand,interpret,andcreate。Whatshouldhebedoinginthatgalley？Thethoughtwasinconceivable。AcareerattheBar——yes,hemighttakethatup;buttowhatend？Tobecomeajudge！Aswellcontinuetositbeneaththosetowers！Toolatefordiplomacy。ToolatefortheArmy;
besides,hehadnotthefaintesttasteformilitaryglory。BuryhimselfinthecountrylikeUncleDennis,andadministeroneofhisfather\'sestates？Itwouldbedeath。Goamongstthepoor？Foramomenthethoughthehadfoundanewvocation。Butinwhatcapacity——toordertheirlives,whenhehimselfcouldnotorderhisown;or,asamereconduitpipeformoney,whenhebelievedthatcharitywasrottingthenationtoitscore？Attheheadofeveryavenuestoodanangelordevilwithdrawnsword。Andthentherecametohimanotherthought。SincehewasbeingcastforthfromChurchandState,couldhenotplaythefallenspiritlikeaman——beLucifer,anddestroy！
Andinstinctivelyheatoncesawhimselfreturningtothosetowers,andbeneaththemcrossingthefloor;joiningtherevolutionaries,theRadicals,thefreethinkers,scourginghispresentParty,thepartyofauthorityandinstitutions。Theideastruckhimassupremelycomic,andhelaughedoutloudinthestreet……
TheClubwhichLordDennisfrequentedwasinSt。James\'suntouchedbythetidesofthewatersoffashion——steadilyswingingtoitsmooringsinaquietbackwater,andMiltounfoundhisuncleinthelibrary。HewasreadingavolumeofBurton\'stravels,anddrinkingtea。
\"Nobodycomeshere,\"hesaid,\"so,inspiteofthatwordonthedoor,weshalltalk。Waiter,bringsomemoretea,please。\"
Impatiently,butwithasortofpity,MiltounwatchedLordDennis\'surbanemovements,whereinoldagewas,pathetically,tryingtomakeeachlittlethingseemimportant,ifonlytothedoer。Nothinghisgreat—unclecouldsaywouldoutweighthewarningofhispicturesqueoldfigure！Tobeabystander;toseeitallgopastyou;toletyourswordrustinitssheath,asthispooroldfellowhaddone！ThenotionofexplainingwhathehadcomeaboutwasparticularlyhatefultoMiltoun;butsincehehadgivenhisword,henervedhimselfwithsecretanger,andbegan:
\"Ipromisedmymothertoaskyouaquestion,UncleDennis。Youknowofmyattachment,Ibelieve？\"
LordDennisnodded。
\"Well,Ihavejoinedmylifetothislady\'s。Therewillbenoscandal,butIconsideritmydutytoresignmyseat,andleavepubliclifealone。Isthatrightorwrongaccordingto,yourview？\"
LordDennislookedathisnephewinsilence。Afaintflushcolouredhisbrowncheeks。Hehadtheappearanceofonetravellinginmindoverthepast。
\"Wrong,Ithink,\"hesaid,atlast。
\"Why,ifImayask？\"
\"Ihavenotthepleasureofknowingthislady,andamthereforesomewhatinthedark;butitappearstomethatyourdecisionisnotfairtoher。\"
\"Thatisbeyondme,\"saidMiltoun。
LordDennisansweredfirmly:
\"Youhaveaskedmeafrankquestion,expectingafrankanswer,I
suppose？\"
Miltounnodded。
\"Then,mydear,don\'tblamemeifwhatIsayisunpalatable。\"
\"Ishallnot。\"
\"Good！Yousayyouaregoingtogiveuppubliclifeforthesakeofyourconscience。Ishouldhavenocriticismtomakeifitstoppedthere。\"
Hepaused,andforquiteaminuteremainedsilent,evidentlysearchingforwordstoexpresssomeintricatethreadofthought。
\"Butitwon\'t,Eustace;thepublicmaninyouisfarstrongerthantheother。Youwantleadershipmorethanyouwantlove。Yoursacrificewillkillyouraffection;whatyouimagineisyourlossandhurt,willprovetobethislady\'sintheend。\"
Miltounsmiled。
LordDenniscontinuedverydrylyandwithatouchofmalice:
\"Youarenotlisteningtome;butIcanseeverywellthattheprocesshasbegunalreadyunderneath。There\'sacuriousstreakoftheJesuitinyou,Eustace。Whatyoudon\'twanttosee,youwon\'tlookat。\"
\"Youadviseme,then,tocompromise？\"
\"Onthecontrary,Ipointoutthatyouwillbecompromisingifyoutrytokeepbothyourconscienceandyourlove。Youwillbeseekingtohave,itbothways。\"
\"Thatisinteresting。\"
\"Andyouwillfindyourselfhavingitneither,\"saidLordDennissharply。
Miltounrose。\"Inotherwords,you,liketheothers,recommendmetodesertthisladywholovesme,andwhomIlove。Andyet,Uncle,theysaythatinyourowncase————\"
ButLordDennishadrisen,too,havinglostalltheappanageandmannerofoldage。
\"Ofmyowncase,\"hesaidbluntly,\"wewon\'ttalk。Idon\'tadviseyoutodesertanyone;youquitemistakeme。Iadviseyoutoknowyourself。AndItellyoumyopinionofyou——youwerecutoutbyNatureforastatesman,notalover！There\'ssomethingdried—upinyou,Eustace;I\'mnotsurethereisn\'tsomethingdried—upinallourcaste。We\'vehadtodowithformsandceremoniestoolong。We\'renotgoodattakingthelyricalpointofview。\"
\"Unfortunately,\"saidMiltoun,\"Icannot,tofitinwithatheoryofyours,commitabaseness。\"
LordDennisbeganpacingupanddown。Hewaskeepinghislipsclosedverytight。
\"Amanwhogivesadvice,\"hesaidatlast,\"isalwayssomethingofafool。Forallthat,youhavemistakenmine。Iamnotsopresumptuousastoattempttoentertheinnerchamberofyourspirit。
Ihavemerelytoldyouthat,inmyopinion,itwouldbemorehonesttoyourself,andfairertothislady,tocompoundwithyourconscience,andkeepbothyourloveandyourpubliclife,thantopretendthatyouwerecapableofsacrificingwhatIknowisthestrongerelementinyouforthesakeoftheweaker。Yourememberthesaying,DemocritusIthink:\'eachman\'snatureorcharacterishisfateorGod\'。Irecommendittoyou。\"
ForafullminuteMiltounstoodwithoutreplying,thensaid:
\"Iamsorrytohavetroubledyou,UncleDennis。Amiddlepolicyisnousetome。Good—bye！\"Andwithoutshakinghands,hewentout。
CHAPTERXXII
Inthehallsomeonerosefromasofa,andcametowardshim。ItwasCourtier。
\"Runyoutoearthatlast,\"hesaid;\"Iwishyou\'dcomeanddinewithme。I\'mleavingEnglandto—morrownight,andtherearethingsIwanttosay。\"
TherepassedthroughMiltoun\'smindtherapidthought:\'Doesheknow？\'Heassented,however,andtheywentouttogether。
\"It\'sdifficulttofindaquietplace,\"saidCourtier;\"butthismightdo。\"
Theplacechosenwasalittlehostel,frequentedbyracingmen,andfamedfortheexcellenceofitssteaks。Andastheysatdownoppositeeachotherinthealmostemptyroom,Miltounthought:Yes,hedoesknow！CanIstandanymoreofthis？Hewaitedalmostsavagelyfortheattackhefeltwascoming。
\"Soyouaregoingtogiveupyourseat？\"saidCourtier。
Miltounlookedathimforsomeseconds,beforereplying。
\"Fromwhattown—crierdidyouhearthat？\"
ButtherewasthatinCourtier\'sfacewhichcheckedhisanger;itsfriendlinesswastransparent。
\"Iamaboutheronlyfriend,\"Courtierproceededearnestly;\"andthisismylastchance——tosaynothingofmyfeelingtowardsyou,which,believeme,isverycordial。\"
\"Goon,then,\"Miltounmuttered。
\"Forgivemeforputtingitbluntly。Haveyouconsideredwhatherpositionwasbeforeshemetyou？\"
Miltounfeltthebloodrushingtohisface,buthesatstill,clenchinghisnailsintothepalmsofhishands。
\"Yes,yes,\"saidCourtier,\"butthatattitudeofmind——youusedtohaveityourself——whichdecreeseitherlivingdeath,orspiritualadulterytowomen,makesmybloodboil。Youcan\'tdenythatthosewerethealternatives,andIsayyouhadtherightfundamentallytoprotestagainstthem,notonlyinwordsbutdeeds。Youdidprotest,Iknow;butthispresentdecisionofyoursisaclimbdown,asmuchastosaythatyourprotestwaswrong。\"
Miltounrosefromhisseat。\"Icannotdiscussthis,\"hesaid;\"I
cannot。\"
\"Forhersake,youmust。Ifyougiveupyourpublicwork,you\'llspoilherlifeasecondtime。\"
Miltounagainsatdown。Attheword\'must\'asteelyfeelinghadcometohisaid;hiseyesbegantoresembletheoldCardinal\'s。\"Yournatureandmine,Courtier,\"hesaid,\"aretoofarapart;weshallneverunderstandeachother。\"
\"Nevermindthat,\"answeredCourtier。\"Admittingthosetwoalternativestobehorrible,whichyouneverwouldhavedoneunlessthefactshadbeenbroughthometoyoupersonally\"That,\"saidMiltounicily,\"Idenyyourrighttosay。\"
\"Anyway,youdoadmitthem——ifyoubelieveyouhadnottherighttorescueher,onwhatprincipledoyoubasethatbelief？\"
Miltounplacedhiselbowonthetable,andleaninghischinonhishand,regardedthechampionoflostcauseswithoutspeaking。Therewassuchaturmoilgoingonwithinhimthatwithdifficultyhecouldforcehislipstoobeyhim。
\"Bywhatrightdoyouaskmethat？\"hesaidatlast。HesawCourtier\'sfacegrowscarlet,andhisfingerstwistingfuriouslyatthoseflame—likemoustaches;buthisanswerwasassteadilyironicalasusual。
\"Well,Icanhardlysitstill,mylasteveninginEngland,withoutliftingafinger,whileyouimmolateawomantowhomIfeellikeabrother。I\'lltellyouwhatyourprincipleis:Authority,unjustorjust,desirableorundesirable,mustbeimplicitlyobeyed。Tobreakalaw,nomatteronwhatprovocation,orforwhosesake,istobreakthecommandment\"
\"Don\'thesitate——say,ofGod。\"
\"OfaninfalliblefixedPower。Isthatatruedefinitionofyourprinciple？\"
\"Yes,\"saidMiltoun,betweenhisteeth,\"Ithinkso。\"