第3章

RosalieVanderpoelwasaclean—mindedlittleperson，herpeoplewereoftheclean—mindedtype，thereforeshedidnotunderstandallthatthisironicspeechimplied，butshegatheredenoughofitssignificancetocausehertoturnfirstredandthenpaleandthentoburstintotears。ShewascryingandtryingtoconcealthefactwhenHannahreturned。Shebentherheadandtouchedhereyesfurtivelywhilehertoilettewascompleted。

SirNigelhadretiredfromthescene，buthehaddonesofeelingthathehadplantedaseedandbestowedapracticallesson。Hehad，itistrue，bestowedone，butagainshehadnotunderstooditssignificanceandwasonlyleftbewilderedandunhappy。Shebegantobenervousanduncertainaboutherselfandabouthismoodsandpointsofview。Shehadneverbeenmadetofeelsoathome。Everyonehadbeenkindtoherandlenienttoherlackofbrilliancy。Noonehadexpectedhertobebrilliant，andshehadbeenquitesweet—

temperedlyresignedtothefactthatshewasnotthekindofgirlwhoshoneeitherinsocietyorelsewhere。Shedidnotresentthefactthatsheknewpeoplesaidofher，"Sheisn’tintheleastbitbright，RosyVanderpoel，butshe’sanice，sweetlittlething。"Shehadtriedtobeniceandsweetandhadaspiredtonothinghigher。

Butnowthatseemedsomuchlessthanenough。PerhapsNigeloughttohavemarriedoneofthecleverones，someonewhowouldhaveknownhowtounderstandhimandwhowouldhavebeenmoreentertainingthanshecouldbe。Perhapsshewasbeginningtoborehim，perhapshewasfindingheroutandbeginningtogettired。Atthispointthealwaystooreadytearswouldrisetohereyesandshewouldbeoverwhelmedbyasenseofhomesickness。Oftenshecriedherselfsilentlytosleep，longingforhermother——hernice，comfortable，ordinarymother，whomshehadseveraltimesfeltNigelhadsomedifficultyinbeingunreservedlypoliteto——thoughhehadbeenpoliteonthesurface。

Bythetimetheylandedshehadbeenlivingundersomuchstraininherefforttoseemquiteunchanged，thatshehadlosthernerve。Shedidnotfeelwellandwassometimesafraidthatshemightdosomethingsillyandhystericalinspiteofherself，begintocryforinstancewhentherewasreallynoexplanationforherdoingit。ButwhenshereachedLondonthenoveltyofeverythingsoexcitedherthatshethoughtshewasgoingtobebetter，andthenshesaidtoherselfitwouldbeprovedtoherthatallherfearshadbeennonsense。Thisreturnofhopemadeherquitelight—spirited，andshewasalmostgayinherlittleoutburstsofdelightandadmirationasshedroveaboutthestreetswithherhusband。Shedidnotknowthatheringenuousignoranceofthingshehadknownallhislife，herraptureovercommonmonumentsofhistory，ledhimtosaytohimselfthathefeltratherasifheweretakingahousemaidtoseeaLordMayor’sShow。

BeforegoingtoStornhamCourttheyspentafewdaysintown。Therehadbeennointentionofproclaimingtheirpresencetotheworld，andtheydidnotdoso，butunluckilycertaintradesmendiscoveredthefactthatSirNigelAnstruthershadreturnedtoEnglandwiththebridehehadsecuredinNewYork。Theconclusiontobededucedfromthiscircumstancewasthattheparticularmomentwasagoodoneatwhichtosendinbillsfor"acct。rendered。"ThetradesmenquitesharedAnstruthers’pointofview。Theirreasoningwasdelightfullysimpleandtheywerewhollyunawarethatitmighthavebeencalledgross。Amanoverhisheadandearsindebtnaturallyexpectedhiscreditorswouldbepaidbytheyoungwomanwhohadmarriedhim。Americahadinthesedaysbeensolittleexploredbythethriftyimpecuniouswell—bornthatitsingenuoussentimentalityincertainmatterswasbynomeanscomprehended。

ByeachpostSirNigelreceivednumerousbills。Sometimeslettersaccompaniedthem，andonceortwicerespectfulbutfirmmalepersonsbroughtthembyhandanddemandedinterviewswhichirritatedSirNigelextremely。GiventimetoarrangematterswithRosalie，totrainhertosomesenseofherduty，hebelievedthatthe"acct。rendered"couldbewipedoff，buthesawhemusthavetime。Shewassuchalittlefool。Againandagainhewasfuriousatthefatewhichhadforcedhimtotakeher。

ThetruthwasthatRosalieknewnothingwhateveraboutunpaidbills。ReubenVanderpoel’sdaughtershadneverencounteredanindignanttradesmanintheirlives。Whentheywentinto"stores"theywerereceivedwithunfeignedrapture。

Everythingwasdraggedforthtobedisplayedtothem，attendantswaitedtoleapforthtosupplytheirsmallestbehest。

Theyknewnootherphaseofexistencethantheoneinwhichonecouldbuyanythingonewantedandpayanypricedemandedforit。

ConsequentlyRosaliedidnotrecognisesignswhichwouldhavebeenobviouslyrecognisablebytheinitiated。IfSirNigelAnstruthershadbeenaniceyoungfellowwhohadlovedher，andhehadbeenhonestenoughtomakeacleanbreastofhisdifficulties，shewouldhavethrownherselfintohisarmsandimploredhimeffusivelytomakeuseofallheravailablefunds，andifthesupplyhadbeeninsufficient，wouldhaveimmediatelywrittentoherfatherforfurtherdonations，knowingthatherappealwouldberespondedtoatonce。ButSirNigelAnstrutherscherishednosentimentforanyotherindividualthanhimself，andhehadnointentionofexplainingthathismerevanityhadcausedhimtomisleadher，thathisrankandestatecountedfornothingandthathewasinfactapauperloadedwithdishonestdebts。Hewantedmoney，buthewantedittobegiventohimasifheconferredafavourbyreceivingit。

Itmustbetransferredtohimasthoughitwerehisbyright。

Whatdidamanmarryfor？Thereforehiswife’sunconsciousnessthatshewasinflictingoutrageuponhimbyhermerementalattitudefilledhisbeingwithslowlyrisinggall。

PoorRosaliewentjoyfullyforthshoppingafterthemannerofallnewlyarrivedAmericans。SheboughtnewtoilettesandgewgawsandpresentsforherfriendsandrelationsinNewYork，andeachpackagewhichwasdeliveredatthehoteladdedtoSirNigel’srage。

Thatthelittleblockheadshouldbeallowedtodowhatshelikedwithhermoneyandthatheshouldnotbeabletoforbidher！Thishesaidtohimselfatintervalsoffiveminutesthroughtheday——whichledtoanothersmallepisode。

"Youarespendingagreatdealofmoney，"hesaidonemorninginhiscondemnatorymanner。Rosalielookedupfromthelaceflouncewhichhadjustbeendeliveredandgavethelittlenervouslaugh，whichwasbecomingentirelyuncertainofpropitiating。

"AmI？"sheanswered。"TheysayallAmericansspendagooddeal。"

"Yourmoneyoughttobeinproperhandsandproperlymanaged，"hewentonwithcoldprecision。"IfyouwereanEnglishwoman，yourhusbandwouldcontrolit。"

"Wouldhe？"Thesimple，sweet—temperedobtusenessofhertonewasaninfuriatingthingtohim。Therewastheusualshadeoftroubledsurpriseinhereyesastheymethis。

"Idon’tthinkmeninAmericaeverdothat。Idon’tbelievetheniceoneswantto。Youseetheyhavesuchaprideaboutalwaysgivingthingstowomen，andtakingcareofthem。I

believeaniceAmericanmanwouldbreakstonesinthestreetratherthantakemoneyfromawoman——evenhiswife。Imeanwhilehecouldwork。Ofcourseifhewasillorhadillluckoranythinglikethat，hewouldn’tbesoproudasnottotakeitfromthepersonwholovedhimmostandwantedtohelphim。

Youdosometimeshearofamanwhowon’tworkandletshiswifesupporthim，butit’sveryseldom，andtheyarealwaysthelowkindthatothermenlookdownon。"

"Wantedtohelphim。"SirNigelselectedthephraseandquoteditbetweenpuffsofthecigarheheldinhisfine，rathercruel—lookinghands，andhisvoiceexpressedanottoosubtlesneer。"Awomanisnot`helping’herhusbandwhenshegiveshimcontrolofherfortune。Sheisonlydoingherdutyandacceptingherproperpositionwithregardtohim。Thelawusedtosettlethethingdefinitely。"

"Did—didit？"Rosyfalteredweakly。Sheknewhewasoffendedagainandthatshewasoncemoresomehowinthewrong。Somanythingsaboutherseemedtodispleasehim，andwhenhewasdispleasedhealwaysremindedherthatshewasstupidly，objectionablyguiltyofnotbeinganEnglishwoman。

Whatsoeverithappenedtobe，thefaultshehadcommittedoutofherdepthofignorance，hedidnotforgetit。Itwasnohabitofhistoendeavourtodismissoffences。Hepreferredtoholdtheminpossessionasiftheyweretreasuresandtoturnthemoverandover，inthementalseclusionwhichnourishesthegrowthofinjuries，sincewithinitsbarriersthereisnochanceoftheirbeingpalliatedbytheapologiesorexplanationsoftheoffender。

DuringtheirjourneytoStornhamCourtthenextdayhewasinoneofhisblackmoods。Onceintherailwaycarriagehepaidsmallattentiontohiswife，butsatrigidlyreadinghisTimes，untilaboutmidwaytotheirdestinationhedescendedatastationandpaidavisittothebuffetinthesmallrefreshmentroom，afterwhichhesettledhimselftodozeinanexceedinglyunbecomingattitude，histravellingcappulleddown，hisratherheavyfacecongestedwiththedarkflushRosaliehadnotyetlearnedwasduetothefactthathehadhastilytossedofftwoorthreewhiskiesandsodas。Thoughhewasnevereitherthickofutteranceorunsteadyonhisfeet，whiskyandsodaformedanimportantfactorinhisexistence。Whenhewasannoyedordullheatoncetookthenecessaryprecautionsagainstbeingovercomebythesefeelings，andtheeffectuponaconstitutionallyeviltemperwastotransformitintoaninfernalone。ThenighthadbeenabadoneforRosy。Suchfloodsofhomesicklonginghadoverpoweredherthatshehadnotbeenabletosleep。ShehadrisenfeelingshakyandhystericalandhernervousnesshadbeenaddedtobyherfearthatNigelmightobserveherandmakecomment。OfcourseshetoldherselfitwasnaturalthatheshouldnotwishhertoappearatStornhamCourtlookingapale，pink—nosedlittlefright。Hereffortstobecheerfulhadindeedbeensomewhattouching，buttheyhadmetwithsmallencouragement。

Shethoughtthegreen—clothedcountrylovelyasthetrainspedthroughit，andalumproseinhersmallthroatbecausesheknewshemighthavebeensohappyifshehadnotbeensofrightenedandmiserable。Thethingwhichhadbeendawninguponhertookclearer，moreawfulform。Incidentsshehadtriedtoexplainandexcusetoherself，uponallsortsoffutile，simplegrounds，begantoloomupbeforeherinsomethingliketheiractualproportions。Shehadheardofmenwhohadchangedtheirmannertowardsgirlsaftertheyhadmarriedthem，butshedidnotknowtheyhadbeguntochangesosoon。Thiswassoearlyinthehoneymoontobesittinginarailwaycarriage，inacornerremotefromthatoccupiedbyabridegroom，whoreadhispaperinwhatwasobviouslyintentional，resentfulsolitude。EmilySoame’sfather，sheremembereditagainstherwill，hadbeenobligedtogetadivorceforEmilyafterhertwoyearsofwretchedmarriedlife。ButAlfredSoameshadbeenquiteniceforsixmonthsatleast。Itseemedasifallthismustbeadream，oneofthosenightmarethings，inwhichyousuddenlyfindyourselfmarriedtosomeoneyoucannotbear，andyoudon’tknowhowithappened，becauseyouyourselfhavehadnothingtodowiththematter。Shefeltthatpresentlyshemustwakenwithastartandfindherselfbreathingfast，andpantingout，halflaughing，halfcrying，"Oh，Iamsogladit’snottrue！Iamsogladit’snottrue！"

Butthiswastrue，andtherewasNigel。Andshewasinanew，unexploredworld。Herlittletremblinghandsclutchedeachother。Thehappy，lightgirlishdaysfullofeaseandfriendlinessanddecencyseemedgoneforever。ItwasnotRosalieVanderpoelwhopressedhercolourlessfaceagainsttheglassofthewindow，lookingoutattheflyingtrees；itwasthewifeofNigelAnstruthers，andsuddenly，bysomehideousmagic，shehadbeensnatchedfromtheworldtowhichshebelongedandwasbeingdraggedbyagaolertoaprisonfromwhichshedidnotknowhowtoescape。AlreadyNigelhadmanagedtoconveytoherthatinEnglandawomanwhowasmarriedcoulddonothingtodefendherselfagainstherhusband，andthattoendeavourtodoanythingwasthelastimpossibletouchofvulgarignominy。

Thevividrealisationofthesituationseizeduponherlikeapossessionassheglancedsidewaysatherbridegroomandhurriedlyglancedawayagainwithalittlehystericalshudder。

NewYork，good—tempered，lenient，freeNewYork，wasmillionsofmilesawayandNigelwassoloathlynearand——andsougly。Shehadneverknownbeforethathewassougly，thathisfacewassoheavy，hisskinsothickandcoarseandhisexpressionsoevillyill—tempered。Shewasnotsufficientlyanalyticaltobeconsciousthatshehadwithoneboundleapedtotheappallingpointoffeelinguncontrollablephysicalabhorrenceofthecreaturetowhomshewaschainedforlife。Shewasterrifiedatfindingherselfforcedtocombattherealisationthattherewerecertainexpressionsofhiscountenancewhichmadeherfeelsickwithrepulsion。Herself—reproachalsowasasgreatasherterror。Hewasherhusband——herhusband——andshewasawickedgirl。Sherepeatedthewordstoherselfagainandagain，butremotelysheknewthatwhenshesaid，"Heismyhusband，"thatwastheworstthingofall。

Thisinwardstrugglewasabadpreparationforanyaddedmisery，andwhentheirrailroadjourneyterminatedatStornhamStationshewasmetbynewbewilderment。

Thestationitselfwasarusticplacewherewildrosesclimbeddownabanktomeettheverytrainitself。Thestationmaster’scottagehadrosesandclustersoflilieswavinginitstinygarden。Thestationmaster，agood—natured，red—facedman，cameforward，baringhishead，toopentherailroadcarriagedoorwithhisownhand。Rosythoughthimdelightfulandbowedandsmiledsweet—temperedlytohimandtohiswifeandlittlegirls，whowerecurtseyingatthegardengate。Shewassufficientlyhomesicktobeactuallygratefultothemfortheirairofwelcomingher。ButasshesmiledsheglancedfurtivelyatNigeltoseeifshewasdoingexactlytherightthing。

Hehimselfwasnotsmilinganddidnotunbendevenwhenthestationmaster，whohadknownhimfromhisboyhood，feltatlibertytoofferadeferentialwelcome。

"Happytoseeyouhomewithherladyship，SirNigel，"hesaid；"veryhappy，ifImaysayso。"

SirNigelrespondedtotherespectfulamiabilitywithahalf—

militaryliftingofhisrighthand，accompaniedbyagrunt。

"D’yedo，Wells，"hesaid，andstrodepasthimtospeaktothefootmanwhohadcomefromStornhamCourtwiththecarriage。

ThenewandnervouslittleLadyAnstruthers，whowaslefttotrotafterherhusband，smiledagainattheruddy，kind—

lookingfellow，thistimeinconsciousdeprecation。Inthesimplicityofherrepublicansympathywithawell—meaningfellowcreaturewhomightfeelhimselfsnubbed，shecouldhaveshakenhimbythehand。ShehadevenpartedherlipstoventureawordofcivilitywhenshewasstartledbyhearingSirNigel’svoiceraisedinangryrating。

"Damnedbadmanagementnottobringsomethingelse，"

sheheard。"Kindofthingyoufellowsarealwaysdoing。"

Shemadeherwaytothecarriage，flurriedagainbynotknowingwhethershewasdoingrightorwrong。SirNigelhadgivenhernoinstructionsandshehadnotyetlearnedthatwhenhewasinacertainhumourtherewasequalfaultinobeyingordisobeyingsuchordersashegave。

ThecarriagefromtheCourt——notintheleastaneworsmartequipage——wasdrawnupbeforetheentranceofthestationandSirNigelwasinaragebecausethevehiclebroughtfortheluggagewastoosmalltocarryitall。

"Verysorry，SirNigel，"saidthecoachman，touchinghishattwoorthreetimesinhisagitation。"Verysorry。Theomnibuswasalittleoutoforder——thesprings，SirNigel——andIthought————"

"Youthought！"wastheheatedinterruption。"Whatrighthadyoutothink，damnit！Youarenotpaidtothink，youarepaidtodoyourworkproperly。Herearealotofdamnedboxeswhichoughttogowithusand——where’syourmaid？"

wheelingrounduponhiswife。

Rosalieturnedtowardsthewoman，whowasapproachingfromthewaitingroom。

"Hannah，"shesaidtimorously。

"Dropthoseconfoundedbundles，"orderedSirNigel，"andshowJamestheboxesherladyshipisobligedtohavethisevening。Bequickaboutitanddon’tpickouthalfadozen。Thecartcan’ttakethem。"

Hannahlookedfrightened。Thissortofthingwasnewtoher，too。Sheshuffledherpackagesontoaseatandfollowedthefootmantotheluggage。SirNigelcontinuedratingthecoachman。Anyformofviolentself—assertionwaswelcometohimatanytime，andwhenhewasirritatedhefounditadistinctluxurytokickadogorthrowabootatacat。Thespringsoftheomnibus，heargued，hadnorighttobebrokenwhenitwasknownthathewascominghome。Hisangerwasonlyaddedtobythecoachman’shaltingendeavoursinhisexcusestoveilafactheknewhismasterwasawareof，thateverythingatStornhamwasmoreorlessoutoforder，andthatdilapidationsweretheinevitableresultoftherebeingnomoneytopayforrepairs。Themanleanedforwardonhisboxandspokeatlastinalowtone。

"Thebushasbeenbrokensometime，"hesaid。"It’s——it’sanexpensivejob，SirNigel。Herladyshipthoughtitbetterto————"SirNigelturnedwhiteaboutthemouth。

"Holdyourtongue，"hecommanded，andthecoachmangotredintheface，saluted，bitinghislips，andsatverystiffanduprightonhisbox。

Thestationmasteredgedawayuneasilyandtriedtolookasifhewerenotlistening。ButRosaliecouldseethathecouldnothelphearing，norcouldthecountrypeoplewhohadbeenpassengersbythetrainandwhowerecollectingtheirbelongingsandgettingintotheirtraps。

LadyAnstrutherswasignoredandremainedstandingwhilethescenewenton。ShecouldnothelprecallingthemannerinwhichshehadbeeninvariablyreceivedinNewYorkonherreturnfromanyjourney，howshewasmetbycomfortable，merrypeopleandtakencareofatonce。Thiswassostrange，itwassoqueer，sodifferent。

"Oh，nevermind，Nigeldear，"shesaidatlast，withinnocentindiscretion。"Itdoesn’treallymatter，youknow。"

SirNigelturneduponherablazeofhaughtyindignation。

"Ifyou’llpardonmysayingso，itdoesmatter，"hesaid。

"Itmattersconfoundedly。Begoodenoughtotakeyourplaceinthecarriage。"

Hemovedtothecarriagedoor，andnottoocivillyputherin。Shegaspedalittleforbreathasshesatdown。Hehadspokentoherasifshehadbeenanimpertinentservantwhohadtakenaliberty。Thepoorgirlwasbewilderedtothevergeofpanic。Whenhehadendedhistiradeandtookhisplacebesideherheworehismosthaughtilyintolerantair。

"MayIrequestthatinfutureyouwillbegoodenoughnottointerferewhenIamreprovingmyservants，"heremarked。

"Ididn’tmeantointerfere，"sheapologisedtremulously。

"Idon’tknowwhatyoumeant。Ionlyknowwhatyoudid，"washisresponse。"YouAmericanwomenaretoofondofcuttingin。AnEnglishmancanthinkforhimselfwithouthiswife’sassistance。"

Thetearsrosetohereyes。Theintroductionoftheinternationalquestionoverpoweredherasalways。

"Don’tbegintobehysterical，"wastheamelioratingtendernesswithwhichheobservedthetwohotsaltdropswhichfelldespiteher。"Ishouldscarcelywishtopresentyoutomymotherbathedintears。"

Shewipedthesaltdropshastilyawayandsatforamomentsilentinthecornerofthecarriage。Beingwhollyprimitiveandunanalytical，shewasashamedandbegantoblameherself。

Hewasright。Shemustnotbesillybecauseshewasunusedtothings。Sheoughtnottobedisturbedbytrifles。Shemusttrytobeniceandlookcheerful。Shemadeaneffortanddidnospeakforafewminutes。Whenshehadrecoveredherselfshetriedagain。

"Englishcountryissopretty，"shesaid，whenshethoughtshewasquitesurethathervoicewouldnottremble。"Idosolikethehedgesandthedarlinglittlered—roofedcottages。"

Itwasaninnocenttentativeatsayingsomethingagreeablewhichmightpropitiatehim。Shewasbeginningtorealisethatshewascontinuallymakingeffortstopropitiatehim。Butoneoftheformsofunpleasantnessmostenjoyabletohimwasthesnubbingofanygentleeffortatpalliatinghismood。Hecondescendedinthiscasenoresponsewhatever，butmerelycontinuedstaringcontemptuouslybeforehim。

"Itissopicturesque，andsounlikeAmerica，"wasthepatheticlittlecommonplacesheventurednext。"Ain’tit，Nigel？"

Heturnedhisheadslowlytowardsher，asifshehadtakenanewlibertyindisturbinghismeditations。

"Wha——at？"hedrawled。

Itwasalmosttoomuchforhertosustainherselfunder。

Hercouragecollapsed。

"Iwasonlysayinghowprettythecottageswere，"shefaltered。"Andthatthere’snothinglikethisinAmerica。"

"Youendedyourremarkbyadding，`ain’tit，’"herhusbandcondescended。"ThereisnothinglikethatinEngland。

IshallaskyoutodomethefavourofleavingAmericanismsoutofyourconversationwhenyouareinthesocietyofEnglishladiesandgentlemen。Itwon’tdo。"

"Ididn’tknowIsaidit，"Rosyansweredfeebly。

"Thatisthedifficulty，"washisresponse。"Youneverknow，buteducatedpeopledo。"

Therewasnothingmoretobesaid，atleastforagirlwhohadneverknownwhatitwastobebullied。Thisonefeltlikeabeggarorascullerymaid，who，beingratedbyhermaster，hadnottherefugeofbeingableto"givewarning。"

Shecouldnevergivewarning。TheAtlanticOceanwasbetweenherandthosewhohadlovedandprotectedherallhershortlife，andthecarriagewasbearingheronwardstothehomeinwhichshewastolivealoneasthisman’scompaniontotheendofherexistence。

Shemadenofurtherpropitiatoryefforts，butsatandstaredinsimpleblanknessatthecountry，whichseemedtoincreaseinlovelinessateachnewpointofview。Sometimesshesawsweetwooded，rollinglandsmadelovelierbythehomelyfarm—

housesandcottagesenclosedandshelteredbythickhedgesandtrees；onceortwicetheydrovepastaparkenfoldingagreathouseguardedbyitshugesentineloaksandbeeches；oncethecarriagepassedthroughanadorablelittlevillage，wherechildrenplayedonthegreenandasquare—toweredgreychurchseemedtowatchoverthesteep—roofedcottagesandcreeper—

coveredvicarage。IfshehadbeenahappyAmericantouristtravellingincompanywithimpressionablefriends，shewouldhavebrokenintoecstaticlittleexclamationsofadmirationeveryfiveminutes，butithadbeendrivenhometoherthattoherpresentcompanion，towhomnothingwasnew，herrapturewouldmerelyrepresentthecrudenesswhichhadexistedincontentmentinabrown—stonehouseonanoisythoroughfare，throughalifewhichhadbeenpassedtrampingupanddownnumberedstreetsandavenues。

Theyapproachedatlastasecondvillagewithagreen，agrass—grownstreetandtheirregularred—tiledcottages，whichtotheunaccustomedeyeseemedrathertorepresentstudiesforsketchesthanabsoluterealities。Thebellsinthechurchtowerbrokeforthintoachimeandpeopleappearedatthedoorsofthecottages。Thementouchedtheirforeheadsasthecarriagepassed，andthechildrenmadebobbingcurtsies。SirNigelcondescendedtostraightenhimselfatrifleinhisseat，andrecognisedthegreetingswiththestiff，half—militarysalute。Thepoorgirlathissidefeltthatheputaslittlefeelingaspossibleintothemovement，andthatifsheherselfhadbeenabowingvillagershewouldalmosthavepreferredtobewhollyignored。Shelookedathimquestioningly。

"Arethey——must_I_？"shebegan。

"Makesomecivilrecognition，"answeredSirNigel，asifhewereinstructinganignorantchild。"Itiscustomary。"

Soshebowedandtriedtosmile，andthejoyousclamourofthebellsbroughttheawfullumpintoherthroatagain。ItremindedheroftheringingofthechimesattheNewYorkchurchonthatdayofhermarriage，whichhadbeensofullofgay，luxuriousbustle，socrowdedwithweddingpresents，andflowers，andwarm—hearted，affectionatecongratulations，andgoodwishesutteredinmerryAmericanvoices。

TheparkatStornhamCourtwaslargeandbeautifulandold。Thetreesweremagnificent，andthebroadsweepofswardandrichdipoffernydellallthattheimaginationcoulddesire。TheCourtitselfwasold，andmany—gabledandmellow—redandfine。Rosaliehadlearnedfromnoprecedentasyetthathousesofitskindmayrepresenttheapotheosisofdiscomfortanddilapidationwithin，andonlybecomemorebeautifulwithout。Tumbled—downchimneysandbrokentiles，beingclamberedoverbytossingivy，arepicturestodelightthesoul。