That which disconcerted all who had dealings with Miltoun was the discovery made soon or late, that they could not be sure how anything would strike him.  In his mind, as in his face, there was a certain regularity, and then—­impossible to say exactly where—­it would, shoot off and twist round a corner.  This was the legacy no doubt of the hard-bitten individuality, which had brought to the front so many of his ancestors; for in Miltoun was the blood not only of the Caradocs and Fitz-Harolds, but of most other prominent families in the kingdom, all of whom, in those ages before money made the man, must have had a forbear conspicuous by reason of qualities, not always fine, but always poignant.

And now, though Lady Valleys had the audacity of her physique, and was not customarily abashed, she began by speaking of politics, hoping her son would give her an opening.  But he gave her none, and she grew nervous.  At last, summoning all her coolness, she said: 

“I’m dreadfully sorry about this affair, dear boy.  Your father told me of your talk with him.  Try not to take it too hard.”

Miltoun did not answer, and silence being that which Lady Valleys habitually most dreaded, she took refuge in further speech, outlining for her son the whole episode as she saw it from her point of view, and ending with these words: 

“Surely it’s not worth it.”

Miltoun heard her with his peculiar look, as of a man peering through a vizor.  Then smiling, he said: 

“Thank you;” and opened the door.

Lady Valleys, without quite knowing whether he intended her to do so, indeed without quite knowing anything at the moment, passed out, and Miltoun closed the door behind her.

Ten minutes later he and Bertie were seen riding down the drive.

CHAPTER XIX

That afternoon the wind, which had been rising steadily, brought a flurry of clouds up from the South-West.  Formed out on the heart of the Atlantic, they sailed forward, swift and fleecy at first, like the skirmishing white shallops of a great fleet; then, in serried masses, darkened the sun.  About four o’clock they broke in rain, which the wind drove horizontally with a cold whiffling murmur.  As youth and glamour die in a face before the cold rains of life, so glory died on the moor.  The tors, from being uplifted wild castles, became mere grey excrescences.  Distance failed.  The cuckoos were silent.  There was none of the beauty that there is in death, no tragic greatness—­all was moaning and monotony.  But about seven the sun tore its way back through the swathe, and flared out.  Like some huge star, whose rays were stretching down to the horizon, and up to the very top of the hill of air, it shone with an amazing murky glamour; the clouds splintered by its shafts, and tinged saffron, piled themselves up as if in wonder.  Under the sultry warmth of this new great star, the heather began to