CHAPTER XXV

Anglo-Indianladieswerealwayslast.Maids,courier,heavyluggage,hadalreadygoneonbyabranch-linetoastationnearerOniton,buttherewerefivehat-boxesandfourdressing-bagstobepacked,andfivedust-cloakstobeputon,andtobeputoffatthelastmoment,becauseCharlesdeclaredthemnotnecessary.Themenpresidedovereverythingwithunfailinggood-humour.Byhalf-pastfivethepartywasready,andwentoutofShrewsburybytheWelshBridge. ShropshirehadnotthereticenceofHertfordshire.Thoughrobbedofhalfitsmagicbyswiftmovement,itstillconveyedthesenseofhills.TheywerenearingthebuttressesthatforcetheSeverneastwardandmakeitanEnglishstream,andthesun,sinkingovertheSentinelsofWales,wasstraightintheireyes.Havingpickedupanotherguest,theyturnedsouthward,avoidingthegreatermountains,butconsciousofanoccasionalsummit,roundedandmild,whosecolouringdifferedinqualityfromthatofthelowerearth,andwhosecontoursalteredmoreslowly.Quietmysterieswereinprogressbehindthosetossinghorizons:theWest,asever,wasretreatingwithsomesecretwhichmaynotbeworththediscovery,butwhichnopracticalmanwilleverdiscover. TheyspokeofTariffReform. Mrs.WarringtonwasjustbackfromtheColonies.LikemanyothercriticsofEmpire,hermouthhadbeenstoppedwithfood,andshecouldonlyexclaimatthehospitalitywithwhichshehadbeenreceived,andwarntheMotherCountryagainsttriflingwithyoungTitans.“Theythreatentocutthepainter,”shecried,“andwhereshallwebethen?MissSchlegel,you’llundertaketokeepHenrysoundaboutTariffReform?Itisourlasthope.” Margaretplayfullyconfessedherselfontheotherside,andtheybegantoquotefromtheirrespectivehandbookswhilethemotorcarriedthemdeepintothehills.Curiousthesewereratherthanimpressive,fortheiroutlineslackedbeauty,andthepinkfieldsontheirsummitssuggestedthehandkerchiefsofagiantspreadouttodry.Anoccasionaloutcropofrock,anoccasionalwood,anoccasional“forest,”treelessandbrown,allhintedatwildnesstofollow,butthemaincolourwasanagriculturalgreen.Theairgrewcoolertheyhadsurmountedthelastgradient,andOnitonlaybelowthemwithitschurch,itsradiatinghouses,itscastle,itsriver-girtpeninsula.Closetothecastlewasagreymansionunintellectualbutkindly,stretchingwithitsgroundsacrossthepeninsula’sneck—thesortofmansionthatwasbuiltalloverEnglandinthebeginningofthelastcentury,whilearchitecturewasstillanexpressionofthenationalcharacter.ThatwastheGrange,remarkedAlbert,overhisshoulder,andthenhejammedthebrakeon,andthemotorsloweddownandstopped.“I’msorry,”saidhe,turninground.“Doyoumindgettingout—bythedoorontheright.Steadyon.” “What’shappened?”askedMrs.Warrington. Thenthecarbehindthemdrewup,andthevoiceofCharleswasheardsaying:“Getthewomenoutatonce.”Therewasaconcourseofmales,andMargaretandhercompanionswerehustledoutandreceivedintothesecondcar.Whathadhappened?Asitstartedoffagain,thedoorofacottageopened,andagirlscreamedwildlyatthem. “Whatisit?”theladiescried. Charlesdrovethemahundredyardswithoutspeaking.Thenhesaid:“It’sallright.Yourcarjusttouchedadog.” “Butstop!”criedMargaret,horrified. “Itdidn’thurthim.” “Didn’treallyhurthim?”askedMyra. “No.” “DoPLEASEstop!”saidMargaret,leaningforward.Shewasstandingupinthecar,theotheroccupantsholdingherkneestosteadyher.“Iwanttogoback,please.” Charlestooknonotice. “We’veleftMr.Fussellbehind,”saidanother“andAngelo,andCrane.” “Yes,butnowoman.” “Iexpectalittleof”—Mrs.Warringtonscratchedherpalm—“willbe