第4章

Asshedescendedfromthecarriagethegirlwastremulousanduncertainofherselfandmuchoverpoweredbytheunbendingairoftheman—servantwhoreceivedherasifshewereaparcelinwhichitwasnopartofhisdutytotakethesmallestinterest。Asshemountedthestonestepsshecaughtaglimpseofbroadgloomwithinthethreshold，abig，square，dingyhallwheresomeotherservantsweredrawnupinarow。ShehadreadofsomethingofthesortinEnglishnovels，andshewassuddenlyembarrassedafreshbyherrealisationofthefactthatshedidnotknowwhattodoandthatifshemadeamistakeNigelwouldneverforgiveher。

Anelderlywomancameoutofaroomopeningintothehall。Shewasanuglywomanofarigidcarriage，which，withtheobviousintentionofbeingseverelymajestic，wasonlyantagonistic。Shehadaflaccidchin，andwascuriouslylikeNigel。Shehadalsohisexpressionwhenheintendedtobedisagreeable。ShewastheDowagerLadyAnstruthers，andbeinganentirelyrevoltingoldpersonatherbest，sheobjectedextremelytothetransatlanticbridewhohadmadeheradowager，thoughshewasdeterminedlypreparedtoprofitbyanypracticalbenefitlikelytoaccrue。

"Well，Nigel，"shesaidinadeepvoice。"Hereyouareatlast。"

Thiswasofcourseastatementnottoberefuted。Sheheldoutaleatherncheek，andasSirNigelalsopresentedhis，theircaressofgreetingwasasingularandnoteffusiveone。

"Isthisyourwife？"sheasked，givingRosalieabonyhand。

Andashedidnotindignantlydenythistobethefact，sheadded，"Howdoyoudo？"

Rosaliemurmuredareplyandtriedtocontrolherselfbymakinganotherefforttoswallowthelumpinherthroat。

Butshecouldnotswallowit。Shehadbeenkeepingadesperateholdonherselftoolong。Thebewilderedmiseryofherawakening，theawkwardnessofthepublicrowatthestation，thesulkswhichhadfilledthecarriagetorepletionthroughallthelongdrive，andfinallythejanglingbellswhichhadsorecalledthatlastjoyousdayathome——athome——hadbroughthertoapointwherethismeetingbetweenmotherandson——thesetwostony，unpleasantcreaturesexchangingareluctantrubofuninvitingcheeks——astwosavagesmighthaverubbednoses——provedthefinishingimpetustohysteria。Theyweresohideous，thesetwo，andsoghastlycomicandfantasticintheirunresponsiveglumness，thatthepoorgirllostallholduponherselfandbrokeintoatremblingshriekoflaughter。

"Oh！"shegaspedinterroratwhatshefelttobeherindecentmadness。"Oh！how——how————"AndthenseeingNigel’sfuriousstart，hismother’sglareandalltheservants’

alarmedstareather，sherushedstaggeringtotheonlycreatureshefeltsheknew——hermaidHannah，clutchedherandbrokedownintowildsobbing。

"Oh，takemeaway！"shecried。"Oh，do！Oh，do！Oh，Hannah！

Oh，mother——mother！"

"Takeyourmistresstoherroom，"commandedSirNigel。

"Godownstairs，"hecalledouttotheservants。"Takeherupstairsatonceandthrowwaterinherface，"totheexcitedHannah。

AndasthenewLadyAnstrutherswashalfled，halfdragged，inhumiliatedhystericdisorderupthestaircase，hetookhismotherbytheelbow，marchedherintothenearestroomandshutthedoor。Theretheystoodandstaredateachother，breathingquick，enragedbreathsandlookingparticularlyalikewiththeirheavy—featured，thick—skinned，infuriatedfaces。

ItwastheDowagerwhospokefirst，andherwholevoiceandmannerexpressedallsheintendedthattheyshould，allthederision，dislikeandscathingresignmenttoagrotesquefate。

"Well，"saidherladyship。"SoTHISiswhatyouhavebroughthomefromAmerica！"

CHAPTERIV

AMISTAKEOFTHEPOSTBOY’S

AstheweekspassedatStornhamCourttheAtlanticOceanseemedtoRosalieAnstrutherstowidenendlessly，andgay，happy，noisyNewYorktorecedeuntilitwasasfarawayassomememoryofheaven。Thegirlhadbeenborninthemidstoftherattling，rumblingbustle，andithadneverstruckherasassumingthecharacterofnoise；shehadonlythoughtofitasbeingthecheerfulconfusioninseparablefromtown。

ShehadbeensecretlyoffendedandhurtwhenstrangerssaidthatNewYorkwasnoisyanddirty；whentheycalleditvulgar，sheneverwhollyforgavethem。ShewasoftheNewYorkerswhoadoretheirNewYorkasParisiansadoreParisandwhofeelthatonlywithinitsbelovedboundariescanthebreathoflifebebreathed。Peoplewereoftentoohotortoocoldthere，buttherewasusuallyplentyofbrightglaringsun，andtheextremesoftheweatherhadatleastsomethingratherdramaticaboutthem。Thereweredramaticincidentsconnectedwiththem，atanyrate。Peoplefelldeadofsunstrokeorwerefrozentodeath，andthenewspaperswerefullofanecdotesduringa"coldsnap"ora"torridwave，"whichallmadeforexcitementandconversation。

ButatStornhamtherainseemedtoyoungLadyAnstrutherstodescendceaselessly。Theseasonwasawetone，andwhensheroseinthemorningandlookedoutoverthehugestretchoftreesandswardshethoughtshealwayssawtherainfallingeitherinhopelesssheetsormorehopelessdrizzle。Theoccasionsuponwhichthiswasadrearytruthblottedoutorblurredtheexceptions，wheninliquidultramarinedeepsofsky，floatedislandsandmountainsofsnow—whitefleece，ofabeautyofwhichshehadbeforehadnoconception。

IntheEnglishnovelsshehadread，placessuchasStornhamCourtwerealwaysfilledwith"houseparties，"madeupofwonderfultownwitsandbeauties，whoprovidedendlessentertainmentforeachother，whoplayedgames，whohuntedandshotpheasantsandshoneindazzlingamateurtheatricals。Therewere，however，novisitorsatStornham，andtherewereinfact，noaccommodationsforany。Therewerenumberlessbedrooms，butnonereallyfitforgueststooccupy。Carpetsandcurtainswereancientandragged，furniturewasdilapidated，chimneyswouldnotdraw，bedswerefallingtopieces。

TheDowagerLadyAnstruthershadnevereitherattracteddesired，orbeenabletoaffordcompany。Herson’swifesufferedfromtheresultingboredomandunpopularitywithoutbeingabletocomprehendthesignificanceofthesituation。

AstheweeksdraggedbyafewheavycarriagesdepositedattheCourtafewcallers。Someofthevisitorsboreimposingtitles，whichmadeRosalieverynervousandcausedherhastilytoarrayherselftoreceivethemintoilettesmuchtooprettyanddelicatefortheoccasion。Herinnocentideawasthatshemustdoherhusbandcreditbyappearingas"stylish"aspossible。

Asaresultshewasstaredat，eitherwithopendisfavour，orwithwell—bred，furtivecriticism，andwasdescribedafterwardsasbeingeither"veryAmerican"or"veryover—

dressed。"WhenshehadlivedinhugeroomsinFifthAvenue，Rosaliehadchangedherattireasmanytimesadayasshehadchangedherfancy；everyhourhadbeenfilledwithengagementsandamusements；theVanderpoelcarriageshaddrivenuptothedooranddrivenawayagainandagainthroughthemorningsandafternoonsanduntilmidnightandlater。Someonewasalwaysgoingoutorcomingin。Therehadbeeninthebighandsomehousenotmuchmoreofanairofreposethanonemightexpecttofindatarailwaystation；buttheflurry，thecomingandgoing，thecallingandchattinghadallbeencheery，amiable。AtStornham，Rosaliesatatbreakfastbeforeunchangingboiledeggs，unfailingtoastandunalterablebroiledbacon，morningaftermorning。SirNigelsatandmunchedoverthenewspapers，hismother，withanairofrelentlessdisapprovalfromaloftyheightofbothherfoodandcompanions，disposedofhereggsandherrasheratRosalie’srighthand。Shehadtransferredtoherdaughter—in—lawherpreviouslyoccupiedseatattheheadofthetable。Thishadbeendonewithacarefullypreparedsceneofintensethoughcorrectdisagreeableness，inwhichshehadmanagedtoconveyalltherancourofherdethronedspiritandherdisapprovalanddisdainofinternationalalliances。

"Itisofcourseproperthatyoushouldsitattheheadofyourhusband’stable，"shehadsaid，amongotheragreeablethings。"Awomanhavingdevotedherlifetohersonmustrelinquishherpositiontothepersonhechoosestomarry。

Ifyoushouldhaveasonyouwillgiveupyourpositiontohiswife。SinceNigelhasmarriedyou，hehas，ofcourse，arighttoexpectthatyouwillatleastmakeanefforttolearnsomethingofwhatisrequiredofwomenofyourposition。"

"Sitdown，Rosalie，"saidNigel。"Ofcourseyoutaketheheadofthetable，andnaturallyyoumustlearnwhatisexpectedofmywife，butdon’ttalkconfoundedrubbish，mother，aboutdevotingyourlifetoyourson。Wehaveseenaboutaslittleofeachotheraswecouldhelp。Weneveragreed。"Theywerebothbulliesandeachmadeoccasionaleffortsatbullyingtheotherwithoutanyparticularresult。Buteachcouldatleastbullytheotherintointensifiedunpleasantness。

Thevicar’swifehavingmadehercallofceremonyuponthenewLadyAnstruthers，followeduptheacquaintance，andfoundherquiteexoticallyunlikehermother—in—law，whosecharitiesonemaybesurehadneitherbeenlavishnordispensedbyanyhandlessimpressivethanherown。Theyoungerwomanwasofwhollymalleablematerial。Hersympathieswereeasilyawakenedandherpursewaswellfilledandreadilyopened。

Smallfamiliesorlargeones，newlyborninfantsornewlyburiedones，oldwomenwith"badlegs"andoldmenwhoneededcomforts，equallytouchedherheart。SheinnocentlybestowedsovereignswhereanEnglishwomanwouldhaveknownthathalf—crownswouldhavebeensufficient。Asthevicaresswasheralmonerthatladyfeltherimportancerapidlyontheincrease。Whensheleftacottagesaying，"I’llspeaktoyoungLadyAnstruthersaboutyou，"thegoodwomanofthehousecurtsiedlowandherhusbandtouchedhisforeheadrespectfully。

ButthisdidnotadvancethefortunesofSirNigel，whopersonallyrequiredofherverydifferentthings。TwoweeksafterherarrivalatStornham，Rosaliebegantoseethatsomehowshewasregardedasapersonalmostimpudentlyinthewrong。

ItappearedthatifshehadbeenanEnglishgirlshewouldhavebeenquitedifferent，thatshewouldhavebeenanadvantageinsteadofadetriment。AsanAmericanshewasadetriment。

Thatseemedtogowithoutsaying。Shetriedtodoeverythingshewastold，andlearnsomethingfromeachcoldinsinuation。Shedidnotknowthatherveryamenabilityandtimiditywereherundoing。SirNigelandhismotherthoroughlyenjoyedthemselvesatherexpense。Theyknewtheycouldsayanythingtheychose，andthatatthemostshewouldonlybreakdownintocryingandafterwardsapologiseforbeingsobadlybehaved。Ifsomepractical，strong—mindedpersonhadbeenneartodefendhershemighthavebeenrescuedpromptlyandhertyrantsrouted。Butshewasayounggirl，tenderofheartandweakofnature。Sheusedtocryagreatdealwhenshewasalone，andwhenshewrotetohermothershewastoofrightenedtotellthetruthconcerningherunhappiness。

"Oh，ifIcouldjustseesomeofthem！"shewouldwailtoherself。"IfIcouldjustseemotherorfatheroranybodyfromNewYork！Oh，IknowIshallneverseeNewYorkagain，orBroadwayorFifthAvenueorCentralPark——Inever——never——nevershall！"Andshewouldgrovelamongherpillows，buryingherfaceandhalfstiflingherselflesthersobsshouldbeheard。Herfeelingforherhusbandhadbecomeoneofterrorandrepulsion。Shewasalmostmoreafraidofhispatronising，affectionatemomentsthanshewasofhistemper。

Hisconjugalcondescensionsmadeherfeelvaguely——

withoutknowingwhy——asifsheweresomelowerorderoflittleanimal。

Americanwomen，hesaid，hadnoconceptionofwifelydutiesandaffection。Hehadagreatdealtosayonthesubjectofwifelyduty。Itwaspartofherdutyasawifetobeentirelysatisfiedwithhissociety，andtobecompletelyhappyinthepleasureitaffordedher。ItwasherwifelydutynottotalkaboutherownfamilyandpalpitatinglyexpectlettersbyeveryAmericanmail。Heobjectedintenselytothisletterwritingandreceiving，andhismothersharedhisprejudices。

"YouhavemarriedanEnglishman，"herladyshipsaid。

"YouhaveputitoutofhispowertomarryanEnglishwoman，andtheleastconsiderationyoucanshowistoletNewYorkandNine—hundredthstreetremainupontheothersideoftheAtlanticandnotinsistondraggingthemintoStornhamCourt。"

TheDowagerLadyAnstrutherswasveryfineinherpictureofhermentalcondition，whensherealised，assheseemedperiodicallytodo，thatitwasnolongerpossibleforhersontomakearespectablemarriagewithawomanofhisownnation。TheunadornedfactwasthatbothsheandSirNigelwereinfuriatedbythesimplicitywhichmadeRosalieslowincomprehendingthatitwasproperthatthemoneyherfatherallowedhershouldbeplacedinherhusband’shands，andlefttherewithnoindelicatequestioning。IfshehadbeenanEnglishgirlmatterswouldhavebeenmadeplaintoherfromthefirstandarrangedsatisfactorilybeforehermarriage。SirNigel’smotherconsideredthathehadplayedthefool，andwouldnotbelievethatNewYorkfathersweresuchtouchy，sentimentalidiotsasnottoknowwhatwasexpectedofthem。

Theywastednotime，however，incomingtothepoint，andinameasureitwasthevicaresswhoaidedthem。Notsheentirely，however。

Sincehermother—in—law’sfirstmentionofapossiblesonwhosewifewouldeventuallythrustherfromherseatattheheadofthetable，Rosaliehadseveraltimesheardthissonreferredto。ItstruckherthatinEnglandsuchthingsseemeddiscussedwithmorefreedomthaninAmerica。Shehadneverheardayoungwoman’spossiblefamilyarrangedforandmadethesubjectofconversationinthemorecrudeatmosphereofNewYork。Itmadeherfeelratherawkwardatfirst。Thenshebegantorealisethatthesonwaspartofherwifelydutyalso；thatshewasexpectedtoprovideone，andthathewasinsomewayexpectedtoprovidefortheestate——torehabilitateit——andthatthiswasbecauseherfather，beingarichman，wouldprovideforhim。IthadalsostruckherthatinEnglandtherewasatendencytoexpectationthatsomeonewould"provide"forsomeoneelse，thatrelativesevenbymarriageweresupposedto"makeallowances"onwhichitwasquiteproperforotherpersonstolive。Rosaliehadbeenaccustomedtoacommunityinwhichevenrichmenworked，andinwhichyoungandable—bodiedmenwouldhavefeltratherindignantifauntsoruncleshadthoughtitnecessarytopensionthemoffasiftheyhadbeenimpotentpaupers。ItwasRosalie’ssonwhowastobe"providedfor"inthiscase，andwhowasto"providefor"hisfather。

"Whenyouhaveason，"hermother—in—lawhadremarkedseverely，"IsupposesomethingwillbedoneforNigelandtheestate。"

Thishadbeensaidbeforeshehadbeentendaysinthehouse，andhadsethernot—too—quickbrainworking。ShehadalreadybeguntoseethatlifeatStornhamCourtwasnottheluxuriousaffairitwasinthehouseinFifthAvenue。Thingswereshabbyandqueerandnotatallcomfortable。Fireswerenotlightedbecauseadaywaschillyandgloomy。Shehadonceaskedforoneinherbedroomandhermother—in—lawhadreprovedherforindecentextravaganceinamannerwhichtookherbreathaway。

"IsupposeinAmericayouhaveyourhouseatfurnaceheatinJuly，"shesaid。"Merewastefulnessandself—indulgence！

ThatiswhyAmericansareoldwomenattwenty。Theyareshrivelledandwitheredbytheunhealthylivestheylead。

Stuffingthemselveswithsweetsandhotbreadandneverbreathingthefreshair。"

Rosaliecouldnotatthemomentrecallanywitheredandshrivelledoldwomenoftwenty，butsheblushedandstammeredasusual。

"ItisnevercoldenoughforfiresinJuly，"sheanswered，"butwe——weneverthinkfiresextravagantwhenwearenotcomfortablewithoutthem。"

"CoalmustbecheaperthanitisinEngland，"saidherladyship。"Whenyouhaveadaughter，IhopeyoudonotexpecttobringherupasgirlsarebroughtupinNewYork。"

ThiswasthefirsttimeRosaliehadheardofherdaughter，andshewasnotreadyenoughtoreply。Shenaturallywentintoherroomandcriedagain，wonderingwhatherfatherandmotherwouldsayiftheyknewthatbedroomfireswereconsideredvulgarlyextravagantbyanimpressivememberoftheBritisharistocracy。

Shewasnotatallstrongatthetimeandwasgiventofeelingchillyandmiserableonwet，windydays。Sheusedtocrymorethaneverandwassodesolatethatthereweredayswhensheusedtogotothevicarageforcompanionship。Onsuchdaysthevicar’swifewouldentertainherwithstoriesofthevillagers’catastrophes，andshewouldemptyherpurseupontheteatableandfeelalittleconsoledbecauseshewasthemeansofconsolingsomeoneelse。

"IsupposeitgratifiesyourvanitytoplaytheLadyBountiful，"SirNigelsneeredoneevening，havingheardinthevillagewhatshewasdoing。

"I——neverthoughtofsuchathing，"shestammeredfeebly。

"Mrs。Brentsaidtheyweresopoor。"

"Youthrowyourmoneyaboutasifyouwereachild，"

saidhermother—in—law。"Itisapityitisnotputinthehandsofsomepersonwithdiscretion。"

IthadbeguntodawnuponRosaliethatherladyshipwasdeeplyconvincedthateitherherselforhersonwouldbeadmirablydiscreetcustodiansofthemoneyreferredto。Andeventhedawningofthisideahadfrightenedthegirl。ShewassoinexperiencedandignorantthatshefeltitmightbepossiblethatinEnglandone’shusbandandone’smother—in—lawcoulddowhattheyliked。Itmightbethattheycouldtakepossessionofone’smoneyastheyseemedtotakepossessionofone’sselfandone’sverysoul。Shewouldhavebeenverygladtogivethemmoney，andhadindeedwonderedfrequentlyifshemightdaretoofferittothem，iftheywouldbeoutragedandinsultedandslayherintheirwrathatherpurse—prouddaring。

Shehadtriedtoinventwaysinwhichshecouldapproachthesubject，buthadnotbeenabletoscrewuphercouragetoanystickingpoint。ShewassooverpoweredbyherconsciousnessthattheyseemedcontinuallytointimatethatAmericanswithmoneywereostentatiousandalwayslayingstressupontheamountoftheirpossessions。Shehadnoconceptionoftheprimevalsimplenessoftheirattitudeinsuchmatters，andthatnoceremonieswerenecessarysavetheprocessoftransferringsufficientlylargesumsasthoughtheywerethemererightoftherecipients。Shewastaughttounderstandthislater。Inthemeantime，however，readyasshewouldhavebeentogivelargesumsifshehadknownhow，shewasterrifiedbythethoughtthatitmightbepossiblethatshecouldbedeprivedofherbankaccountandreducedtotheconditionofasortofdependentuponthehumoursofherlatelyacquiredrelations。

Shethoughtoverthisagooddeal，andwouldhavefoundimmensereliefifshedaredhaveconsultedanyone。Butshecouldnotmakeuphermindtorevealherunhappinesstoherpeople。Shehadbeenmarriedsorecently，everybodyhadthoughthermarriagesodelightful，shecouldnotbearthatherfatherandmothershouldbedistressedbyknowingthatshewaswretched。ShealsoreflectedwithmiserythatNewYorkwouldtalkthematteroverexcitedlyandthatfinallythenewspaperswouldgetholdofthegossip。ShecouldevenimagineinterviewerscallingatthehouseinFifthAvenueandendeavouringtoobtainparticularsofthesituation。Herfatherwouldbeangryandrefusetogivethem，butthatwouldmakenodifference；thenewspaperswouldgivethemandeverybodywouldreadwhattheysaid，whetheritwastrueornot。Shecouldnotpossiblywritefacts，shethought，soherpoorlittleletterswererestrainedandunlikeherself，andtothewarm—heartedsoulsinNewYork，evenappearingstiffandunaffectionate，asifheraristocraticsurroundingshadchilledherloveforthem。Infact，itbecamefarfromeasyforhertowriteatall，sinceSirNigelsodisapprovedofherinterestintheAmericanmail。Hisobjectionshadindeedtakentheformofhisfeelinghimselfquitewithinhisrightswhenheoccasionallyinterceptedlettersfromherrelations，withaviewoffindingoutwhethertheycontainedcriticismsofhimself，whichwouldbetraythatshehadbeenguiltyofindiscreetconfidences。Hediscoveredthatshehadnotapparentlybeensoguilty，butitwasevidentthatthereweremomentswhenMrs。Vanderpoelwasuneasyanddisposedtoaskanxiousquestions。Whenthisoccurredhedestroyedtheletters，andasaresultofthisprecautiononhisparthermotherlyqueriesseemedtobeignored，andsheseveraltimesshedtearsinthebeliefthatRosyhadgrownsopatricianthatshewascapableofsnubbinghermotherinherresentmentatfeelingherprivacyintrudeduponandanunrefinedeffusivenessshown。

"Ijustfeelasifshewasbeginningnottocareaboutusatall，Betty，"shesaid。"Icouldn’thavebelieveditofRosy。

Shewasalwayssuchanaffectionategirl。"

"Idon’tbelieveitnow，"repliedBettysharply。"Rosycouldn’tgrowhatefulandstuckup。It’sthatnastyNigelIknowitis。"

SirNigel’sintentionwasthatthereshouldbeaslittleintercoursebetweenFifthAvenueandStornhamCourtaswaspossible。Amongotherthings，hedidnotintendthatalotofAmericanrelationsshouldcometumblinginwhentheychosetocrosstheAtlantic。Hewouldnothaveit，andtookdiscreetstepstopreventanyaccidentofthesort。HewrotetoAmericaoccasionallyhimself，andknowingwellhowtomakehimselfcivillyrepellent，sosubtlychilledhisparents—in—lawastodiscourageinthemmorethanoncetheirhalf—formedplanofpayingavisittotheirchildinhernewhome。Heopened，readandreclosedallepistlestoandfromNewYork，andwhileMrs。VanderpoelwasmuchhurttofindthatRosalienevercondescendedtomakeanyresponsetohertentativesconcerningherpossiblevisit，Rosalieherselfwasmystifiedbythefactthatthejourney"toEurope"wasneverspokenof。

"Idon’tseewhytheyneverseemtothinkofcomingover，"

shesaidplaintivelyoneday。"Theyusedtotalksomuchaboutit。"

"They？"ejaculatedtheDowagerLadyAnstruthers。"Whommayyoumean？"

"MotherandfatherandBettyandsomeoftheothers。"

Hermother—in—lawputuphereye—glassestostareather。

"Thewholefamily？"sheinquired。

"Therearenotsomanyofthem，"Rosalieanswered。

"Afamilyisalwaystoomanytodescenduponayoungwomanwhensheismarried，"observedherladyshipunmovedly。

NigelglancedoverthetopofhisTimes。

"Imayaswelltellyouthatitwouldnotdoatall，"heputin。

"Why——whynot？"exclaimedRosalie，aghast。

"Americansdon’tdoinEnglishsociety，"slightingly。

"Buttheyarecomingoversomuch。TheylikeLondonso——

allAmericanslikeLondon。"

"Dothey？"withadrawlwhichmadeRosalieblushuntilthetearsstartedtohereyes。"Iamafraidthesentimentisscarcelymutual。"

Rosalieturnedandfledfromtheroom。Sheturnedandfledbecausesherealisedthatsheshouldburstoutcryingifshewaitedtohearanotherword，andsherealisedthatoflatesheseemedalwaystobeburstingoutcryingbeforeoneortheotherofthosetwo。Shecouldnothelpit。Theyalwaysseemedtobeimplyingsomethingslightingorscathing。Theywerealwaysputtingherinthewrongandhurtingherfeelings。

Thedaywasdampandchill，butsheputonherhatandranoutintothepark。Shewentdowntheavenueandturnedintoacoppice。There，amongthewetbracken，shesankdownonthemossytrunkofafallentreeandhuddledherselfinasmallheap，herheadonherarms，actuallywailing。

"Oh，mother！Oh，mother！"shecriedhysterically。"Oh，Idowishyouwouldcome。I’msocold，mother；I’msoill！

Ican’tbearit！Itseemsasifyou’dforgottenallaboutme！

You’reallsohappyinNewYorkthatperhapsyouhaveforgotten——

perhapsyouhave！Oh，don’t，mother——don’t！"

Itwasamonthlaterthatthroughthevicar’swifeshereachedadiscoveryandaclimax。Shehadheardonemorningfromthisladyofamisfortunewhichhadbefallenasmallfarmer。Itwasamisfortunewhichwasanactualcatastrophetoamaninhisposition。Hishousehadcaughtfireduringagaleofwindandthefirehadspreadtotheoutbuildingsandrickyardandsweptawayallhisbelongings，hishouse，hisfurniture，hishayricks，andstoredgrain，andevenhisfewcowsandhorses。Hehadbeenapoor，hard—workingfellow，andhissmallinsurancehadlapsedthedaybeforethefire。Hewasabsolutelyruined，andwithhiswifeandsixchildrenstoodfacetofacewithbeggaryandstarvation。

RosalieAnstruthersenteredthevicaragetofindthepoorwomanwhowashiscompanionincalamitysobbinginthehall。Achildofafewweekswasinherarms，andtwosmallcreaturesclungcryingtoherskirts。

"We’veworkedhard，"shewept；"wehave，ma’am。Father，he’salwaysbeensteady，an’upearlyan’late。P’r’apsit’stheLord’s’and，asyousay，ma’am，butwe’vebeendecentpeoplean’nevermissedchurchwhenwecould’elpit——fatherdidn’tdeserveit——thathedidn’t。"

Shewasheartbrokeninherdowntroddenhopelessness。Rosalieliterallyquakedwithsympathy。Shepouredforthherpityinsuchwordsasthepoorwomanhadneverheardspokenbyagreatladytoahumblecreaturelikeherself。ThevillagersfoundthenewLadyAnstruthers’interviewswiththemcuriouslysimpleandsuggestiveofanequalitytheycouldnotunderstand。

Stornhamwasaconservativeoldvillage，wherethedistinctionbetweenthegentryandthepeasantswasclearlymarked。ThecottagerswerepuzzledbySirNigel’swife，buttheydecidedthatshewaskind，ifunusual。

AsRosalietalkedtothefarmer’swifeshelongedforherfather’spresence。Shehadrememberedatimewhenamaninhisemployhadlosthisallbyfire，thesmallhousehehadjustmadehislastpaymentuponhavingbeenburnedtotheground。Hehadlostoneofhischildreninthefire，andthedetailshadbeenheartrending。TheentireVanderpoelhouseholdhadweptonhearingthem，andMr。Vanderpoelhaddrawnachequewhichhadseemedlikeafortunetothesufferer。Anewhousehadbeenbought，andMrs。Vanderpoelandherdaughtersandfriendshadbestowedfurnitureandclothingenoughtomakethefamilycomfortabletothevergeofluxury。

"See，youpoorthing，"saidRosalie，glowingwithmemoriesofthisincident，herhomesickyoungsoulcomfortedbythemerelikenessinthetwocalamities。"IbroughtmychequebookwithmebecauseImeanttohelpyou。Amanworkedformyfatherhadhishouseburned，justasyourswas，andmyfathermadeeverythingallrightforhimagain。

I’llmakeitallrightforyou；I’llmakeyouachequeforahundredpoundsnow，andthenwhenyourhusbandbeginstobuildI’llgivehimsomemore。"

Thewomangaspedforbreathandturnedpale。Shewasfrightened。Itreallyseemedasifherladyshipmusthavelostherwitsalittle。Shecouldnotmeanthis。Thevicaressturnedpalealso。

"LadyAnstruthers，"shesaid，"LadyAnstruthers，it——itistoomuch。SirNigel————"