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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 h