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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
who had long perceived that Lord Dennis was the biggest fish he ever
caught； all these； with occasional visitors； and little runs to
London； to Monkland； and other country houses； made up the sum of a
life which； if not desperately beneficial； was uniformly kind and
harmless； and； by its notorious simplicity； had a certain negative
influence not only on his own class but on the relations of that
class with the country at large。 It was commonly said in Nettlefold；
that he was a gentleman； if they were all like him there wasn't much
in all this talk against the Lords。 The shop people and lodging…
house keepers felt that the interests of the country were safer in
his hands： than in the hands of people who wanted to meddle with
everything for the good of those who were only anxious to be let
alone。 A man too who could so completely forget he was the son of a
Duke； that other people never forgot it； was the man for their money。
It was true that he had never had a say in public affairs； but this
was overlooked； because he could have had it if he liked； and the
fact that he did not like； only showed once more that he was a
gentleman。
Just as he was the one personality of the little town against whom
practically nothing was ever； said； so was his house the one house
which defied criticism。 Time had made it utterly suitable。 The
ivied walls； and purplish roof lichened yellow in places； the quiet
meadows harbouring ponies and kine； reaching from it to the seaall
was mellow。 In truth it made all the other houses of the town seem
shoddystanding alone beyond them； like its； master； if anything a
little too esthetically remote from common wants。
He had practically no near neighbours of whom he saw anything； except
once in a way young Harbinger three miles distant at Whitewater。 But
since he had the faculty of not being bored with his own society；
this did not worry him。 Of local charity； especially to the fishers
of the town； whose winter months were nowadays very bare of profit；
he was prodigal to the verge of extravagance； for his income was not
great。 But in politics； beyond acting as the figure…head of certain
municipal efforts； he took little or no part。 His Toryism indeed was
of the mild order； that had little belief in the regeneration of the
country by any means but those of kindly feeling between the classes。
When asked how that was to be brought about； he would answer with his
dry； slightly malicious； suavity； that if you stirred hornets' nests
with sticks the hornets would come forth。 Having no land； he was shy
of expressing himself on that vexed question； but if resolutely
attacked would give utterance to some such sentiment as this： 〃The
land's best in our hands on the whole； but we want fewer dogs…in…the…
manger among us。〃
He had； as became one of his race； a feeling for land； tender and
protective； and could not bear to think of its being put out to farm
with that cold Mother； the State。 He was ironical over the views of
Radicals or Socialists； but disliked to hear such people personally
abused behind their backs。 It must be confessed； however； that if
contradicted he increased considerably the ironical decision of his
sentiments。 Withdrawn from all chance in public life of enforcing
his views on others； the natural aristocrat within him was forced to
find some expression。
Each year； towards the end of July； he placed his house at the
service of Lord Valleys； who found it a convenient centre for
attending Goodwood。
It was on the morning after the Duchess of Gloucester's Ball； that he
received this note：
〃VALLEYS HOUSE。
〃DEAREST UNCLE DENNIS；
〃May I come down to you a little before time and rest？ London is so
terribly hot。 Mother has three functions still to stay for； and I
shall have to come back again for our last evening； the political
oneso I don't want to go all the way to Monkland； and anywhere
else； except with you； would be rackety。 Eustace looks so seedy。
I'll try and bring him； if I may。 Granny is terribly well。
〃Best love； dear； from your。
〃BABS。〃
The same afternoon she came； but without Miltoun； driving up from the
station in a fly。 Lord Dennis met her at the gate； and； having
kissed her； looked at her somewhat anxiously； caressing his white
peaked beard。 He had never yet known Babs sick of anything； except
when he took her out in John Bogle's boat。 She was certainly looking
pale； and her hair was done differentlya fact disturbing to one who
did not discover it。 Slipping his arm through hers he led her out
into a meadow still full of buttercups； where an old white pony； who
had carried her in the Row twelve years ago； came up to them and
rubbed his muzzle against her waist。 And suddenly there rose in Lord
Dennis the thoroughly discomforting and strange suspicion that；
though the child was not going to cry； she wanted time to get over
the feeling that she was。 Without appearing to separate himself from
her； he walked to the wall at the end of the field； and stood looking
at the sea。
The tide was nearly up； the South wind driving over it brought him
the scent of the sea…flowers； and the crisp rustle of little waves
swimming almost to his feet。 Far out； where the sunlight fell； the
smiling waters lay white and mysterious in July haze； giving him a
queer feeling。 But Lord Dennis； though he had his moments of poetic
sentiment； was on the whole quite able to keep the sea in its proper
placefor after all it was the English Channel； and like a good
Englishman he recognized that if you once let things get away from
their names； they ceased to be facts； and if they ceased to be facts；
they becamethe devil！ In truth he was not thinking much of the
sea； but of Barbara。 It was plain that she was in trouble of some
kind。 And the notion that Babs could find trouble in life was
extraordinarily queer； for he felt； subconsciously； what a great
driving force of disturbance was necessary to penetrate the hundred
folds of the luxurious cloak enwrapping one so young and fortunate。
It was not Death； therefore it must be Love； and he thought at once
of that fellow with the red moustaches。 Ideas were all very wellno
one would object to as many as you liked； in their proper placethe
dinner…table； for example。 But to fall in love； if indeed it were
so； with a man who not only had ideas； but an inclination to live up
to them； and on them； and on nothing else； seemed to Lord Dennis
'outre'。
She had followed him to the wall； and he lookedat her dubiously。
〃To rest in the waters of Lethe； Babs？ By the way； seen anything of
our friend Mr。 Courtier？ Very picturesquethat Quixotic theory of
life！〃
And in saying that； his voice （like so many refined voices which have
turned their backs on speculation） was triple…toned…mocking at ideas；
mocking at itself for mocking at ideas； yet showing plainly that at
bottom it only mocked at itself for mocking at ideas； because it
would be； as it were； crude not to do so。
But Barbara did not answer his question； and began to speak of