protection。 He said gently：
〃Don't let them think you're down；〃 and； squeezing her hand hard：
〃Why should you be wasted like this？ It's a sin and shame！〃
But he stopped in what he felt to be an unlucky speech at sight of
her face； which without movement expressed so much more than his
words。 He was protesting as a civilized man； her face was the
protest of Nature； the soundless declaration of beauty wasted against
its will； beauty that was life's invitation to the embrace which gave
life birth。
〃I'm clearing out； myself；〃 he said： 〃You and I； you know； are not
good for these people。 No birds of freedom allowed！〃
Pressing his hand； she turned away into the house； leaving Courtier
gazing at the patch of air where her white figure had stood。 He had
always had a special protective feeling for Audrey Noel； a feeling
which with but little encouragement might have become something
warmer。 But since she had been placed in her anomalous position； he
would not for the world have brushed the dew off her belief that she
could trust him。 And； now that he had fixed his own gaze elsewhere；
and she was in this bitter trouble； he felt on her account the
rancour that a brother feels when Justice and Pity have conspired to
flout his sister。 The voice of Frith the chauffeur roused him from
gloomy reverie。
〃Lady Barbara； sir！〃
Following the man's eyes； Courtier saw against the sky…line on the
for above Ashman's Folly； an equestrian statue。 He stopped the car
at once； and got out。
He reached her at the ruin； screened from the road； by that divine
chance which attends on men who take care that it shall。 He could
not tell whether she knew of his approach； and he would have given
all he had； which was not much； to have seen through the stiff grey
of her coat； and the soft cream of her body； into that mysterious
cave； her heart。 To have been for a moment； like Ashman； done for
good and all with material things； and living the white life where
are no barriers between man and woman。 The smile on her lips so
baffled him； puffed there by her spirit； as a first flower is puffed
through the sur face of earth to mock at the spring winds。 How tell
what it signified！ Yet he rather prided himself on his knowledge of
women； of whom he had seen something。 But all he found to say was：
〃I'm glad of this chance。〃
Then suddenly looking up； he found her strangely pale and quivering。
〃I shall see you in London！〃 she said； and； touching her horse with
her whip； without looking back； she rode away over the hill。
Courtier returned to the moor road； and getting into the car；
muttered：
〃Faster； please； Frith！〃。。。。
CHAPTER XXII
Polling was already in brisk progress when Courtier arrived in
Bucklandbury； and partly from a not unnatural interest in the result；
partly from a half…unconscious clinging to the chance of catching
another glimpse of Barbara； he took his bag to the hotel； determined
to stay for the announcement of the poll。 Strolling out into the
High Street he began observing the humours of the day。 The bloom of
political belief had long been brushed off the wings of one who had
so flown the world's winds。 He had seen too much of more vivid
colours to be capable now of venerating greatly the dull and dubious
tints of blue and yellow。 They left him feeling extremely
philosophic。 Yet it was impossible to get away from them； for the
very world that day seemed blue and yellow； nor did the third colour
of red adopted by both sides afford any clear assurance that either
could see virtue in the other； rather； it seemed to symbolize the
desire of each to have his enemy's blood。 But Courtier soon observed
by the looks cast at his own detached； and perhaps sarcastic； face；
that even more hateful to either side than its antagonist； was the
philosophic eye。 Unanimous was the longing to heave half a brick at
it whenever it showed itself。 With its d…d impartiality； its habit
of looking through the integument of things to see if there might be
anything inside； he felt that they regarded it as the real adversary…
…the eternal foe to all the little fat 'facts；' who； dressed up in
blue and yellow； were swaggering and staggering； calling each other
names； wiping each other's eyes； blooding each other's noses。 To
these little solemn delicious creatures； all front and no behind； the
philosophic eye； with its habit of looking round the corner； was
clearly detestable。 The very yellow and very blue bodies of these
roistering small warriors with their hands on their tin swords and
their lips on their tin trumpets； started up in every window and on
every wall confronting each citizen in turn； persuading him that they
and they alone were taking him to Westminster。 Nor had they
apparently for the most part much trouble with electors； who； finding
uncertainty distasteful； passionately desired to be assured that the
country could at once be saved by little yellow facts or little blue
facts； as the case might be； who had； no doubt； a dozen other good
reasons for being on the one side or the other； as； for instance；
that their father had been so before them； that their bread was
buttered yellow or buttered blue； that they had been on the other
side last time； that they had thought it over and made up their
minds； that they had innocent blue or naive yellow beer within； that
his lordship was the man； or that the words proper to their mouths
were 'Chilcox for Bucklandbury'； and； above all； the one really
creditable reason； that； so far as they could tell with the best of
their intellect and feelings； the truth at the moment was either blue
or yellow。
The narrow high street was thronged with voters。 Tall policemen
stationed there had nothing to do。 The certainty of all； that they
were going to win； seemed to keep everyone in good humour。 There was
as yet no need to break anyone's head； for though the sharpest
lookout was kept for any signs of the philosophic eye； it was only to
be foundoutside Courtierin the perambulators of babies； in one
old man who rode a bicycle waveringly along the street and stopped to
ask a policeman what was the matter in the town； and in two rather
green…faced fellows who trundled barrows full of favours both blue
and yellow。
But though Courtier eyed the 'facts' with such suspicion； the
keenness of everyone about the business struck him as really
splendid。 They went at it with a will。 Having looked forward to it
for months； they were going to look back on it for months。 It was
evidently a religious ceremony； summing up most high feelings； and
this seemed to one who was himself a man of action； natural； perhaps
pathetic； but certainly no matter for scorn。
It was already late in the afternoon when there came debouching into
the high street a long string of sandwichmen； each bearing before and
behind him a poster containing these words beautifully situated in
large dark blue letters against a pale blue ground：
〃NEW COMPLICATIONS。
DANGER NOT PAST。
VOTE FOR MILTOUN AND THE GOVERNMENT；
AND SAVE THE EMPIRE。〃
Courtier stopped to look at them with peculiar indignation。 Not only
did this poster tramp in again on his cherished convictions about
Peace； but he saw in it something more than met the unphilosophic
eye。 It symbolized for him all that was catch…penny in the national
life…an epitaph on the grave of generosity； unutterably sad。 Yet
from a Party point of view what could be more justifiable？ Was it
not desperately important that every blue nerve should be strained
that day to turn yellow nerves； if not blue； at all events green；
before night fell？ Was it not perfectly true that the Empire could
only be saved by voting blue？ Could they help a blue paper printing
the words； 'New complications；' which he had read that morning？ No
more than the yellows could help a yellow journal printing the words
'Lord Miltoun's Evening Adventure。' Their only business was to win；
ever fighting fair。 The yellows had not fought fair； they never did；
and one of their most unfair tactics was the way they had of always
accusing the blues of unfair fighting； an accusation truly ludicrous！
As for truth！ That which helped the world to be blue； was obviously
true； that which didn't； as obviously not。 There was no middle
policy！ The man who saw things neither was a softy； and no proper
citizen。 And as for giving the yellows credit for sinceritythe
yellows never gave them credit！ But though Courtier knew all that；
this poster seemed to him particularly damnable； and he could not for
the life of him resist striking one of the sandwich…boards with his
cane。 The resounding thwack startled a butcher's pony standing by
the pavement。 It reared； and bolted forward； with Courtier； who had
naturally seized the rein； hanging on。 A dog dashed past。 Courtier
tripped and fell。 The pony； passing over； struck him on the head
with a hoof。 For a moment he lost consciousness； then coming to
himself； refused assistance； and went to his hotel。 He felt very
giddy； and； after bandaging a nasty cut； lay down on his bed。
Miltoun； returning from that necessary exhibition of himself； the
crowning fact； at every polling centre； found time to go and see him。
〃That last poster of yours！〃 Courtier began； at once。
〃I'm having it withdrawn。〃
〃It's done the trickcongratulationsyou'll get in！〃
〃I knew nothing of it。〃
〃My dear fellow； I didn't suppose you did。〃
〃When there is a desert； Courtier； between a man and the sacred city；
he doesn't renounce his journey because he has to wash in dirty water
on the way： The mobhow I loathe it！〃
There was such pent…up fury in those words as to astonish even one
whose life had been passed in conflict with majorities。
〃I hate its mean stupidities； I hate the sound of its voice； and the
look on its faceit's so ugly； it's so little。 Courtier； I suffer
purgatory from the thought that I shall scrape in by the votes of the
mob。 There is sin in using this creature and I am expiating it。〃
To this strange outburst； Courtier at first made no reply。
〃You've been working too hard；〃 h