Aristocracy (Social class) -- Fiction; Upper class -- England -- Fiction
Barbara sprang out of bed. Close by the statue of Diana Lady Casterley
was standing, gazing down at some flowers, a tiny, grey figure. Barbara
sighed. With her, in her dream, had been another buzzard hawk, and she
was filled with a sort of surprise, and queer pleasure that ran down her
in little shivers while she bathed and dressed.
In her haste she took no hat; and still busy with the fastening of her
linen frock, hurried down the stairs and Georgian corridor, towards the
garden. At the end of it she almost ran into the arms of Courtier.
Awakening early this morning, he had begun first thinking of Audrey
Noel, threatened by scandal; then of his yesterday's companion, that
glorious young creature, whose image had so gripped and taken possession
of him. In the pleasure of this memory he had steeped himself. She was
youth itself! That perfect thing, a young girl without callowness.
And his words, when she nearly ran into him, were: “The Winged Victory!”
Barbara's answer was equally symbolic: “A buzzard hawk! Do you know, I
dreamed we were flying, Mr. Courtier.”
Courtier gravely answered
“If the gods give me that dream——”
From the garden door Barbara turned her head, smiled, and passed
through.
Lady Casterley, in the company of little Ann, who had perceived that it
was novel to be in the garden at this hour, had been scrutinizing some
newly founded colonies of a flower with which she was not familiar. On
seeing her granddaughter approach, she said at once:
“What is this thing?”
“Nemesia.”
“Never heard of it.”
“It's rather the fashion, Granny.”
“Nemesia?” repeated Lady Casterley. “What has Nemesis to do with
flowers? I have no patience with gardeners, and these idiotic names.
Where is your hat? I like that duck's egg colour in your frock. There's
a button undone.” And reaching up her little spidery hand, wonderfully
steady considering its age, she buttoned the top button but one of
Barbara's bodice.
“You look very blooming, my dear,” she said. “How far is it to this
woman's cottage? We'll go there now.”
“She wouldn't be up.”
Lady Casterley's eyes gleamed maliciously.
“You tell me she's so nice,” she said. “No nice unencumbered woman lies
in bed after half-past seven. Which is the very shortest way? No, Ann,
we can't take you.”
Little Ann, after regarding her great-grandmother rather too intently,
replied:
“Well, I can't come, you see, because I've got to go.”
“Very well,” said Lady Casterley, “then trot along.”
Little Ann, tightening her lips, walked to the next colony of Nemesia,
and bent over the colonists with concentration, showing clearly that she
had found something more interesting than had yet been encountered.
“Ha!” said Lady Casterley, and led on at her brisk pace towards the
avenue.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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