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something so dramatically complete about it； the badness of the
fox； added to all the traditional guile of his race； seemed to
heighten the horror of the hen's fate； and there was such a
suggestion of masterful malice about the word 'got。' One felt that
a countryside in arms would not get that hen away from the bad fox。
They used to think me a slow dull reader for not getting on with my
lesson； but I used to sit and picture to myself the red hen； with
its wings beating helplessly； screeching in terrified protest； or
perhaps； if he had got it by the neck； with beak wide agape and
silent； and eyes staring； as it left the farm…yard for ever。 I
have seen blood…spillings and down…crushings and abject defeat here
and there in my time； but the red hen has remained in my mind as
the type of helpless tragedy。〃 He was silent for a moment as if he
were again musing over the three…letter drama that had so dwelt in
his childhood's imagination。 〃Tell me some of the things you have
seen in your time；〃 was the request that was nearly on Elaine's
lips； but she hastily checked herself and substituted another。
〃Tell me more about the farm； please。〃
And he told her of a whole world； or rather of several intermingled
worlds； set apart in this sleepy hollow in the hills； of beast lore
and wood lore and farm craft； at times touching almost the border
of witchcraft … passing lightly here； not with the probing
eagerness of those who know nothing； but with the averted glance of
those who fear to see too much。 He told her of those things that
slept and those that prowled when the dusk fell； of strange hunting
cats； of the yard swine and the stalled cattle； of the farm folk
themselves； as curious and remote in their way； in their ideas and
fears and wants and tragedies； as the brutes and feathered stock
that they tended。 It seemed to Elaine as if a musty store of old…
world children's books had been fetched down from some cobwebbed
lumber…room and brought to life。 Sitting there in the little
paddock； grown thickly with tall weeds and rank grasses； and
shadowed by the weather…beaten old grey barn； listening to this
chronicle of wonderful things； half fanciful； half very real； she
could scarcely believe that a few miles away there was a garden…
party in full swing； with smart frocks and smart conversation；
fashionable refreshments and fashionable music； and a fevered
undercurrent of social strivings and snubbings。 Did Vienna and the
Balkan Mountains and the Black Sea seem as remote and hard to
believe in； she wondered； to the man sitting by her side； who had
discovered or invented this wonderful fairyland？ Was it a true and
merciful arrangement of fate and life that the things of the moment
thrust out the after…taste of the things that had been？ Here was
one who had held much that was priceless in the hollow of his hand
and lost it all； and he was happy and absorbed and well…content
with the little wayside corner of the world into which he had
crept。 And Elaine； who held so many desirable things in the hollow
of her hand； could not make up her mind to be even moderately
happy。 She did not even know whether to take this hero of her
childhood down from his pedestal； or to place him on a higher one；
on the whole she was inclined to resent rather than approve the
idea that ill…health and misfortune could so completely subdue and
tame an erstwhile bold and roving spirit。
The mare was showing signs of delicately…hinted impatience； the
paddock； with its teasing insects and very indifferent grazing； had
not thrust out the image of her own comfortable well…foddered
loose…box。 Elaine divested her habit of some remaining crumbs of
bun…loaf and jumped lightly on to her saddle。 As she rode slowly
down the lane； with Keriway escorting her as far as its gate； she
looked round at what had seemed to her； a short while ago； just a
picturesque old farmstead； a place of bee…hives and hollyhocks and
gabled cart…sheds； now it was in her eyes a magic city； with an
under…current of reality beneath its magic。
〃You are a person to be envied；〃 she said to Keriway； 〃you have
created a fairyland； and you are living in it yourself。〃
〃Envied？〃
He shot the question out with sudden bitterness。 She looked down
and saw the wistful misery that had come into his face。
〃Once；〃 he said to her； 〃in a German paper I read a short story
about a tame crippled crane that lived in the park of some small
town。 I forget what happened in the story； but there was one line
that I shall always remember： 'it was lame； that is why it was
tame。'〃
He had created a fairyland； but assuredly he was not living in it。
CHAPTER IX
IN the warmth of a late June morning the long shaded stretch of
raked earth； gravel…walk and rhododendron bush that is known
affectionately as the Row was alive with the monotonous movement
and alert stagnation appropriate to the time and place。 The
seekers after health； the seekers after notoriety and recognition；
and the lovers of good exercise were all well represented on the
galloping ground； the gravel…walk and chairs and long seats held a
population whose varied instincts and motives would have baffled a
social catalogue…maker。 The children； handled or in perambulators；
might be excused from instinct or motive； they were brought。
Pleasingly conspicuous among a bunch of indifferent riders pacing
along by the rails where the onlookers were thickest was Courtenay
Youghal； on his handsome plum…roan gelding Anne de Joyeuse。 That
delicately stepping animal had taken a prize at Islington and
nearly taken the life of a stable…boy of whom he disapproved； but
his strongest claims to distinction were his good looks and his
high opinion of himself。 Youghal evidently believed in thorough
accord between horse and rider。
〃Please stop and talk to me；〃 said a quiet beckoning voice from the
other side of the rails； and Youghal drew rein and greeted Lady
Veula Croot。 Lady Veula had married into a family of commercial
solidity and enterprising political nonentity。 She had a devoted
husband； some blonde teachable children； and a look of unutterable
weariness in her eyes。 To see her standing at the top of an
expensively horticultured staircase receiving her husband's guests
was rather like watching an animal performing on a music…hall
stage。
One always tells oneself that the animal likes it； and one always
knows that it doesn't。
〃Lady Veula is an ardent Free Trader； isn't she？〃 someone once
remarked to Lady Caroline。
〃I wonder；〃 said Lady Caroline； in her gently questioning voice； 〃a
woman whose dresses are made in Paris and whose marriage has been
made in Heaven might be equally biassed for and against free
imports。〃
Lady Veula looked at Youghal and his mount with slow critical
appraiseme