Barnaby Part 14

"If Barnaby isn't in the first three he's down."

Who said that? She gave one shudder and was quite still.

"Oh, G.o.d, don't let him be killed. Don't let him be killed!" she was crying to herself.

The fir trees spread their dark plumes overhead; in the boughs there was a strange sighing.... If he was not in the first three, if he was missing--her one friend in a land of strangers, lying there crushed and lifeless in the dark:--

"Oh G.o.d--!" she cried under her breath.

And then out of the blackness shot a headlong figure, cleaving it like an arrow. That blur beneath was the final jump, the last hedge that barred the way with its ragged line. And he charged it as if it were not there, keeping on in his tremendous rush.

"Barnaby!" they shouted. They knew his laugh before they could see his face.

"A near thing," he said, and pulled up the black mare, who turned her head towards him as he dismounted, her eye-b.a.l.l.s glistening in the darkness with something like human pride.

"You didn't steady her there," said Kilgour.

"Steady her?--We had to come for all we were worth!" he said.

The d.u.c.h.ess, striding afoot, made her way into the circle round him.

Barnaby was explaining how he had ridden into one of the lantern-bearers, a silly fool who had turned his light and was standing into the hedge; and how he had got off to make sure the poor devil wasn't injured. He had had to ride after that like fury; no leisure to grope his way....

"Since you are not smashed up," said the d.u.c.h.ess, shaking him by the arm, "go and show yourself to your wife. You nearly frightened her to death."

She piloted him to the buggy, and stood by, with her unsentimental countenance considerately averted.

"I am so glad you won," said Susan. She spoke steadily, controlling the traitorous catch in her throat. How was she to a.s.sure him that she was not guilty of causing him to be dragged to her side?

The man smiled at her stiff politeness. He was still hot, still breathing a little hard, the spell of his ride still on him;--and Julia's wisp of muslin was twisted round his neck.

"I'm sorry you were scared," he said. "I'm rather in the habit of doing ridiculous things like this. There wasn't much danger really ...

and I didn't think you would mind."

His casual apology struck her like a blow. What right had she--? How it must amuse him that she should affect to care.

"I did not mind," she said proudly. "It was--funny."

One of his friends was coming up with a coat to throw over him. The men who had come to grief were straggling in, bruised and dirty, but miraculously sound. Kitty Drake leaned over the wheel on the other side, hailing them, calling to each man to ask if he was alive....

"Was it?" said Barnaby, and smiled. The glint in his eyes reminded her of his face as the light flashed on him, dare-devil, reckless, down there when he jumped the water.

Perhaps the joke was a little too much for him.

"You are not altogether a callous person," he said slowly. "I don't believe you, Susan. You fainted when I came home...."

CHAPTER VI

"Dull?" said Lady Henrietta.

The girl became aware of her with a start.

Barnaby had just gone, and the house was quiet. Late as usual, he had come clinking down in his spurs, and run out to his waiting horse; and she had seen him off, but had not yet turned away from the door. Lady Henrietta's uncommon earliness had surprised her. She did not know how wistful her aspect was.

"No," she said. "Oh no. I was only watching----"

"To see the last of him," retorted Lady Henrietta smartly. "I know--I know. One glimpse of him as he crosses the wooden bridge, and again a peep before he cuts across by the willows. How dare you let him set off day after day without you?"

She paused. There was mischief in her eye, an unwonted touch of excitement. One would have said she was plotting.

"You are too lamb-like," she said. "I'll give you a horse. Tell him you'll go hunting with him to-morrow."

She laughed outright at the girl's look of consternation.

"No," she said, "you wouldn't. My dear, you have got him, and you must keep him. It's a woman's business to look after her husband, to throw herself into his occupations, and rescue him from the ravening lions that run up and down in the earth. Why didn't you back me up when I attacked him last night, and he put me off with his nonsense about a quiet pony? Why didn't you insist?"

Susan flushed scarlet, remembering Lady Henrietta's unexpected onslaught and Barnaby's good-humoured amazement; his vague promise of giving her a riding lesson. He glanced at her mirthfully, and that look of his had called up a hot disclaimer of any wish. Was it not in their bargain that as far as possible they were not to haunt each other?

"Since you are so meek," said Lady Henrietta, who did not miss her confusion, "_I_ must put my finger in the pie."

Her eyes were not young, but they were far-seeing; she turned from the prospect at which Susan had been gazing, and laid authoritative fingers on her sleeve.

"Run upstairs," she said, "and get into your habit. I've told Margaret to have it ready. It won't fit, probably, but you are not vain;--it's borrowed. Don't stare at me, you baby! Rackham and I settled it the night he dined here, while you and Barnaby were trying not to talk to each other. I don't know whether you can ride or not, but you must begin."

She finished up with a chuckle. The sight of Susan's face--well, that was enough for her. She had turned a more potent key than she knew.

Two horses were pawing the gravel beside the door, and one of them had a side-saddle on his back. She had seen them coming when she despatched her daughter-in-law to dress. Rackham himself was waiting on the steps. Lady Henrietta beckoned to him with the joy of a bad child firing a train of powder.

"I've told her," she said. "She'll be down in a minute. Take her once or twice round the park, and if she doesn't fall off----"

"She won't fall off," said Rackham.

"You brought her a quiet horse?"--the conspirator was feeling a slight compunction.

Barnaby's cousin, his ancient rival, smiled under his moustache. "I'll take good care of her, my aunt," he said.

"You are an obliging demon, Rackham," she observed. "It was good of you to give up your hunting."

"They'll be at Ranksboro' about twelve," he said significantly. "If you really wanted us to give Barnaby a surprise----"

Lady Henrietta favoured him with an enlightening nod. Whether or no he was bent on furthering her purposes, a.s.suredly she might trust him.

"Villain," she said. "You understand me; it's an experiment,--it's a squib!"

Twice Susan rode solemnly round the park. To her, remembering how, as a child, she had ridden, cross-legged, bare-backed, anyhow, anything--their solicitude was absurd. She swung her foot in the stirrup, lifting a transfigured face.

"_You_ are all right," said Rackham, glancing backwards towards the distant windows. "I knew you could ride."