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since it was agreed by everyone that the woman was no adventuress。
Whatever was done； they must not forget that she had nursed him
saved him； Barbara had said！ She must be treated with all kindness
and consideration。
Hastening her toilette； she in turn went to her daughter's room。
Barbara was already dressed； leaning out of her window towards the
sea。
Lady Valleys began almost timidly：
〃My dear； is Eustace out of bed yet？〃
〃He was to get up to…day for an hour or two。〃
〃I see。 Now； would there be any danger if you and I went up and took
charge over from Mrs。 Noel？〃
〃Poor Eusty！〃
〃Yes； yes！ But； exercise your judgment。 Would it harm him？〃
Barbara was silent。 〃No；〃 she said at last； 〃I don't suppose it
would； now； but it's for the doctor to say。〃
Lady Valleys exhibited a manifest relief。
〃We'll see him first； of course。 Eustace will have to have an
ordinary nurse； I suppose； for a bit。〃
Looking stealthily at Barbara； she added：
〃I mean to be very nice to her； but one mustn't be romantic； you
know； Babs。〃
》From the little smile on Barbara's lips she derived no sense of
certainty； indeed she was visited by all her late disquietude about
her young daughter； by all the feeling that she； as well as Miltoun；
was hovering on the verge of some folly。
〃Well； my dear；〃 she said； 〃I am going down。〃
But Barbara lingered a little longer in that bedroom where ten nights
ago she had lain tossing； till in despair she went and cooled herself
in the dark sea。
Her last little interview with Courtier stood between her and a fresh
meeting with Harbinger； whom at the Valleys House gathering she had
not suffered to be alone with her。 She came down late。
That same evening； out on the beach road； under a sky swarming with
stars； the people were strollingfolk from the towns； down for their
fortnight's holiday。 In twos and threes； in parties of six or eight；
they passed the wall at the end of Lord Dennis's little domain； and
the sound of their sparse talk and laughter； together with the
sighing of the young waves； was blown over the wall to the ears of
Harbinger； Bertie； Barbara； and Lily Malvezin； when they strolled out
after dinner to sniff the sea。 The holiday…makers stared dully at
the four figures in evening dress looking out above their heads； they
had other things than these to think of； becoming more and more
silent as the night grew dark。 The four young people too were rather
silent。 There was something in this warm night； with its sighing；
and its darkness； and its stars； that was not favourable to talk； so
that presently they split into couples； drifting a little apart。
Standing there； gripping the wall； it seemed to Harbinger that there
were no words left in the world。 Not even his worst enemy could have
called this young man romantic； yet that figure beside him； the gleam
of her neck and her pale cheek in the dark； gave him perhaps the most
poignant glimpse of mystery that he had ever had。 His mind；
essentially that of a man of affairs； by nature and by habit at home
amongst the material aspects of things； was but gropingly conscious
that here； in this dark night； and the dark sea； and the pale figure
of this girl whose heart was dark to him and secret； there was
perhaps somethingyes； somethingwhich surpassed the confines of
his philosophy； something beckoning him on out of his snug compound
into the desert of divinity。 If so； it was soon gone in the aching
of his senses at the scent of her hair； and the longing to escape
from this weird silence。
〃Babs；〃 he said； 〃have you forgiven me？〃
Her answer came； without turn of head； natural； indifferent：
〃YesI told you so。〃
〃Is that all you have to say to a fellow？〃
〃What shall we talk aboutthe running of Casetta？〃
Deep down within him Harbinger uttered a noiseless oath。 Something
sinister was making her behave like this to him！ It was that fellow…
…that fellow！ And suddenly he said：
〃Tell me this〃 then speech seemed to stick in his throat。 No！
If there were anything in that； he preferred not to hear it。 There
was a limit！
Down below； a pair of lovers passed； very silent； their arms round
each other's waists。
Barbara turned and walked away towards the house。
CHAPTER XI
The days when Miltoun was first allowed out of bed were a time of
mingled joy and sorrow to her who had nursed him。 To see him sitting
up； amazed at his own weakness； was happiness； yet to think that he
would be no more wholly dependent； no more that sacred thing； a
helpless creature； brought her the sadness of a mother whose child no
longer needs her。 With every hour he would now get farther from her；
back into the fastnesses of his own spirit。 With every hour she
would be less his nurse and comforter； more the woman he loved。 And
though that thought shone out in the obscure future like a glamorous
flower； it brought too much wistful uncertainty to the present。 She
was very tired； too； now that all excitement was overso tired that
she hardly knew what she did or where she moved。 But a smile had
become so faithful to her eyes that it clung there above the shadows
of fatigue； and kept taking her lips prisoner。
Between the two bronze busts she had placed a bowl of lilies of the
valley； and every free niche in that room of books had a little vase
of roses to welcome Miltoun's return。
He was lying back in his big leather chair； wrapped in a Turkish gown
of Lord Valleys'on which Barbara had laid hands； having failed to
find anything resembling a dressing…gown amongst her brother's
austere clothing。 The perfume of lilies had overcome the scent of
books； and a bee； dusky； adventurer； filled the room with his
pleasant humming。
They did not speak； but smiled faintly； looking at one another。 In
this still moment； before passion had returned to claim its own；
their spirits passed through the sleepy air； and became entwined； so
that neither could withdraw that soft； slow； encountering glance。 In
mutual contentment； each to each； close as music to the strings of a
violin； their spirits clungso lost； the one in the other； that
neither for that brief time seemed to know which was self。
In fulfilment of her resolution； Lady Valleys； who had returned to
Town by a morning train； started with Barbara for the Temple about
three in the after noon； and stopped at the doctor's on the way。 The
whole thing would be much simpler if Eustace were fit to be moved at
once to Valleys House； and with much relief she found that the doctor
saw no danger in this course。 The recovery had been remarkable
touch and go for bad brain fever just avoided！ Lord Miltoun's
constitution was extremely sound。 Yes； he would certainly favour a
removal。 His rooms were too confined in this weather。 Well nursed
decidedly） Oh； yes！ Quite！ And the doctor's eyes became perhaps a
trifle more intense。 Not a professional； he understood。 It might be
as well to have another nurse； if they were making the change。 They
would have this lady knocking up。 Just so！ Yes； he would see to
that。 An ambulance carriage he thought advisable。 That could all be
arranged for this aft