第5章

"Toomuch！"exclaimedRosalie。"Theyhavelosteverything，youknow；theirhayricksandcattleaswellastheirhouse；Iguessitwon’tbehalfenough。"

Mrs。Brentdraggedherintothevicar’sstudyandtalkedtoher。ShetriedtoexplainthatinEnglishvillagessuchthingswerenotdoneinamannersocasual，asiftheywerethemereresultofunconsideredfeeling，asiftheywerequitenaturalthings，suchasanyhumanpersonmightdo。WhenRosaliecried："Butwhynot——whynot？Theyoughttobe。"Mrs。

Brentcouldnotseemtomakeherselfquiteclear。Rosalieonlygatheredinabewilderedwaythatthereoughttobemoreceremony，moredeliberation，moreholdingoff，beforeapersonofrankindulgedinsuchmunificence。Therecipientoughttobemadetofeelitmore，tounderstandfullywhatagreatthingwasbeingdone。

"Theywillthinkyouwilldoanythingforthem。"

"SoIwill，"saidyoungLadyAnstruthers，"ifIhavethemoneywhentheyareinsuchawfultrouble。Supposewelosteverythingintheworldandtherewerepeoplewhocouldeasilyhelpusandwouldn’t？"

"YouandSirNigel——thatisquitedifferent，"saidMrs。

Brent。"Iamafraidthatifyoudonotdiscussthematterandaskadvicefromyourhusbandandmother—in—lawtheywillbeverymuchoffended。"

"IfIweredoingitwiththeirmoneytheywouldhavetherighttobe，"repliedRosalie，withentireingenuousness。

"Iwouldn’tpresumetodosuchathingasthat。Thatwouldn’tberight，ofcourse。"

"Theywillbeangrywithme，"saidthevicaressawkwardly。Thisqueer，sillygirl，whoseemedtoseenothingintherightlight，frequentlymadeherfeelawkward。Mrs。Brenttoldherhusbandthatsheappearedtohavenosenseofdignityorproperappreciationofherposition。

Thewifeofthefarmer，JohnWilson，carriedawaythecheque，quitestunned。Shewasbreathlesswithamazementandturnedratherfaintwithexcitement，bewildermentandhersenseofrelief。Shehadtositdowninthevicaragekitchenforafewminutesanddrinkaglassofthethinvicaragebeer。

RosaliepromisedthatshewoulddiscussthematterandaskadvicewhenshereturnedtotheCourt。JustassheleftthehouseMrs。Brentsuddenlyrememberedsomethingshehadforgotten。

"TheWilsontroublecompletelydroveitoutofmymind，"

shesaid。"Itwasastupidmistakeofthepostboy’s。Heleftaletterofyoursamongminewhenhecamethismorning。Itwasmostcareless。Ishallspeaktohisfatheraboutit。Itmighthavebeenimportantthatyoushouldreceiveitearly。"

WhenshesawtheletterRosalieutteredanexclamation。Itwasaddressedinherfather’shandwriting。

"Oh！"shecried。"It’sfromfather！AndthepostmarkisHavre。Whatdoesitmean？"

Shewassoexcitedthatshealmostforgottoexpressherthanks。Herheartleapedupinherthroat。CouldtheyhavecomeoverfromAmerica——couldthey？WhywasitwrittenfromHavre？Couldtheybenearher？

Shewalkedalongtheroadchokedwithecstatic，laughingsobs。Herhandshooksothatshecouldscarcelytearopentheenvelope；shetoreacorneroftheletter，andwhenthesheetwasspreadopenhereyeswerefullofwild，delightedtears，whichmadeitimpossibleforhertoseeforthemoment。

Butshesweptthetearsawayandreadthis：

DEARDAUGHTER：

Itseemsasifwehadhadprettybadluckinnotseeingyou。

Wehadcountedonitverymuch，andyourmotherfeelsitallthemorebecausesheisweakafterherillness。Wedon’tquiteunderstandwhyyoudidnotseemtoknowaboutherhavinghaddiphtheriainParis。YoudidnotanswerBetty’sletter。Perhapsitmissedyouinsomeway。Thingsdosometimesgowronginthemail，andseveraltimesyourmotherhasthoughtaletterhasbeenlost。Shethoughtsobecauseyouseemedtoforgettorefertothings。WecameovertoleaveBettyataFrenchschoolandwehadexpectedtovisityoulater。Butyourmotherfellillofdiphtheriaandnothearingfromyouseemedtomakeherhomesick，sowedecidedtoreturntoNewYorkbythenextsteamer。IranovertoLondon，however，tomakesomeinquiriesaboutyou，andonthefirstdayIarrivedImetyourhusbandinBondStreet。HeatonceexplainedtomethatyouhadgonetoahousepartyatsomecastleinScotland，andsaidyouwerewellandenjoyingyourselfverymuch，andhewasonhiswaytojoinyou。

Iamsorry，daughter，thatithasturnedoutthatwecouldnotseeeachother。Itseemsalongtimesinceyouleftus。

ButIamveryglad，however，thatyouaresowellandreallylikeEnglishlife。IfwehadtimeforitIamsureitwouldbedelightful。Yourmothersendsherloveandwantsverymuchtohearofallyouaredoingandenjoying。Hopingthatwemayhavebetterluckthenexttimewecross——

Youraffectionatefather，REUBENL。VANDERPOEL。

Rosaliefoundherselfrunningbreathlesslyuptheavenue。

Shewasclutchingtheletterstillinherhand，andstaggeringfromsidetoside。Nowandthensheutteredhorriblelittleshortcries，likeananimal’s。Sheranandran，seeingnothing，andnowandthenwiththeclenchedhandinwhichtheletterwascrushedstrikingasharpblowatherbreast。

Shestumbledupthebigstonestepsshehadmountedonthedayshewasbroughthomeasabride。Herdresscaughtherfeetandshefellonherkneesandscrambledupagain，gasping；

shedashedacrossthehugedarkhall，and，hurlingherselfagainstthedoorofthemorningroom，appeared，dishevelled，haggard—eyed，andwithscarletpatchesonherwild，whiteface，beforetheDowager，whostartedangrilytoherfeet：

"WhereisNigel？WhereisNigel？"shecriedoutfrenziedly。

"Whatinheaven’snamedoyoumeanbysuchmanners？"

demandedherladyship。"Apologiseatonce！"

"WhereisNigel？Nigel！Nigel！"thegirlraved。"Iwillseehim——Iwill——Iwillseehim！"

Shewhohadbeenthemildestofsweet—temperedcreaturesallherlifehadsuddenlygonealmostinsanewithheartbroken，hystericgriefandrage。Shedidnotknowwhatshewassayinganddoing；sheonlyrealisedinanagonyofdespairthatshewasathingcaughtinatrap；thatthesepeoplehadherintheirpower，andthattheyhadtrickedandliedtoherandkeptherapartfromwhathergirl’sheartsocriedouttoandlongedfor。

Herfather，hermother，herlittlesister；theyhadbeennearherandhadbeenliedtoandsentaway"Youarequitemad，youviolent，uncontrolledcreature！"

criedtheDowagerfuriously。"Yououghttobeputinastraitjacketanddrenchedwithcoldwater。"

ThenthedooropenedagainandNigelstrodein。Hewasinridingdressandwasbreathlessandlividwithanger。Hewasinanicemoodtoconfrontawifeonthevergeofscreaminghysterics。Afterabadhalfhourwithhissteward，whohadbeentalkingofimpendingdisasters，hehadheardbychanceofWilson’sconflagrationandthehundred—poundcheque。Hehadgallopedhomeatthetopofhishorse’sspeed。

"Hereisyourwiferavingmad，"criedouthismother。

Rosaliestaggeredacrosstheroomtohim。Sheheldupherhandclenchingtheletterandshookitathim。

"Mymotherandfatherhavebeenhere，"sheshrieked。

Mymotherhasbeenill。Theywantedtocometoseeme。

Youknewandyoukeptitfromme。Youtoldmyfatherlies——lies——hideouslies！YousaidIwasawayinScotland——

enjoyingmyself——whenIwashereanddyingwithhomesickness。

YoumadethemthinkIdidnotcareforthem——orforNewYork！

Youhavekilledme！Whydidyoudosuchawickedthing！

Helookedatherwithglaringeyes。Ifamanbornagentlemaniseverinthemoodtokickhiswifetodeath，ascostermongersdo，hewasinthatmood。Hehadlostcontroloverhimselfascompletelyasshehad，andwhileshewasonlyadesperate，hystericgirl，hewasaviolentman。

"IdiditbecauseIdidnotmeantohavethemhere，"hesaid。"IdiditbecauseIwon’thavethemhere。"

"Theyshallcome，"shequaveredshrillyinherwildness。

"Theyshallcometoseeme。Theyaremyownfatherandmother，andIwillhavethem。"

Hecaughtherarminsuchagripthatshemusthavethoughthewouldbreakit，ifshecouldhavethoughtorfeltanything。

"No，youwillnothavethem，"hegroundforthbetweenhisteeth。"YouwilldoasIorderyouandlearntobehaveyourselfasadecentmarriedwomanshould。YouwilllearntoobeyyourhusbandandrespecthiswishesandcontrolyourdevilishAmericantemper。"

"Theyhavegone——gone！"wailedRosalie。"Yousentthemaway！Myfather，mymother，mysister！"

"Stopyourindecentravings！"orderedSirNigel，shakingher。"Iwillnotsubmittobedisgracedbeforetheservants。"

"Putyourhandoverhermouth，Nigel，"criedhismother。

"Theveryscullerymaidswillhear。"

Shewasasinfuriatedasherson。And，indeed，tobeholdcivilisedhumanbeingsinthestateofuncontrolledviolencethesethreehadreachedwasasighttoshudderat。

"Iwon’tstop，"criedthegirl。"Whydidyoutakemeawayfromeverything——Iwasquitehappy。Everybodywaskindtome。Ilovedpeople，Ihadeverything。Nooneever——

ever——everill—usedanyone————"

SirNigelclutchedherarmmorebrutallystillandshookherwithabsoluteviolence。Herhairbrokelooseandfellaboutherawfullittledistorted，sobbingface。

"Ididnottakeyoutogiveyouanopportunitytodisplayyourvulgarostentationbythrowingawayhundred—poundchequestovillagers，"hesaid。"Ididn’ttakeyoutogiveyouthepositionofaladyandbemadeafoolofbyyou。"

"Youhaveruinedhim，"burstforthhismother。"YouhaveputitoutofhispowertomarryanEnglishwomanwhowouldhaveknownitwasherdutytogivesomethinginreturnforhisnameandprotection。"

Herladyshiphadbeguntoravealso，andasmotherandsonwereofequalviolencewhentheyhadceasedtocontrolthemselves，Rosaliebegantofindherselfenlightenedunsparingly。Sheandherpeoplewerevulgarsharpers。TheyhadtrappedagentlemanintoalowAmericanmarriageandhadnotthedecencytopayforwhattheyhadgot。IfshehadbeenanEnglishwoman，wellborn，andofdecentbreeding，allherfortunewouldhavebeenproperlytransferredtoherhusbandandhewouldhavehadthedispensingofit。Herhusbandwouldhavebeeninthepositiontocontrolherexpenditureandseethatshedidnotmakeafoolofherself。Asitwasshewasthederisionofalldecentpeople，ofallpeoplewhohadbeenproperlybroughtupandknewwhatwasingoodtasteandofgoodmorality。

FirstitwastheDowagerwhopouredforth，andthenitwasSirNigel。Theybrokeinoneachother，theyinterruptedoneanotherwithexclamationsandinterpolations。Theyhadsofarlostthemselvesthattheydidnotknowtheybecamegrotesqueintheviolenceoftheirfury。Rosalie’sbrainwhirled。Herhysteriamountedandmounted。Shestaredfirstatoneandthenattheother，gaspingandsobbingbyturns；sheswayedonherfeetandclutchedatachair。

"Ididnotknow，"shebrokeforthatlast，tryingtomakehervoiceheardinthestorm。"Ineverunderstood。Iknewsomethingmadeyouhateme，butIdidn’tknowyouwereangryaboutmoney。"Shelaughedtremulouslyandwildly。

"Iwouldhavegivenittoyou——fatherwouldhavegivenyousome——ifyouhadbeengoodtome。"Thelaughbecamehystericalbeyondhermanagement。Pealafterpealbrokefromher，sheshookalloverwithherghastlymerriment，sobbingatoneandthesametime。

"Oh！oh！oh！"sheshrieked。"Yousee，Ithoughtyouweresoaristocratic。Iwouldn’thavedaredtothinkofsuchathing。IthoughtanEnglishgentleman——anEnglishgentleman——

oh！oh！tothinkitwasallbecauseIdidnotgiveyoumoney——justcommondollarsandcentsthat——thatIdaren’toffertoadecentAmericanwhocouldworkforhimself。"

SirNigelsprangather。Hestruckherwithhisopenhanduponthecheek，andasshereeledshehelduphersmall，feverish，shakinghand，laughingmorewildlythanbefore。

"Yououghtnottostrikeme，"shecried。"Yououghtn’t！

Youdon’tknowhowvaluableIam。Perhaps————"withalittle，crazyscream——"perhapsImighthaveason。"

Shefellinashudderingheap，andasshedroppedshestruckheavilyagainsttheprotrudingendofanoakchestandlayuponthefloor，herarmsflungoutandlimp，asifshewereadeadthing。

CHAPTERV

ONBOTHSIDESOFTHEATLANTIC

InthecourseoftwelveyearstheShuttlehadwovensteadilyand——itsmovementslubricatedbytimeandcustom——withincreasingrapidity。Threadsofcommerceitcaughtupandshottoandfro，withthreadsofliteratureandart，threadsoflifedrawnfromoneshoretotheotherandbackagain，untiltheywereboundinthefabricofitsweaving。Coldnesstherehadbeenbetweenbothlands，broaddivergenceoftasteandthought，argumentacrossseas，sometimesresentment，butthewebinFate’shandsbroadenedandstrengthenedandheldfast。Coldnessfaintlywarmeddespiteitself，tasteandthoughtdrawnintonearercontact，reflectingupontheirdivergences，grewintotoleranceandtheknowledgethatthediverging，seenmoreclearly，wasnotsobroad；argumentcomingwithinspeakingdistancereasoneditselftologicalandpracticalconclusions。

Problemswhichhadstirredangerbegantofindsolutions。

Books，inthefirstplace，didperhapsmorethanallelse。

Cheap，piratededitionsofEnglishworks，muchquarrelledoverbyauthorsandpublishers，beingscatteredovertheland，broughtbeforeAmericaneyessoft，home—likepicturesofplaceswhichwere，afterallwassaidanddone，thehomesofthosewhoreadofthem，atleastinthesenseofhavingbeenthebirthplacesoffathersorgrandfathers。Somesubtle，far—reachingpowerofnaturecausedastirringoftheblood，avague，unexpressedyearningandlingeringoverpageswhichdepictedsweet，greenlanes，broadacresrichwithcenturiesofnourishmentandcare；

greychurchtowers，redroofs，andvillagechildrenplayingbeforecottagedoors。Noneofthesethingswerenewtothosewhoponderedoverthem，kinsmenhaddweltonmemoriesofthemintheirfiresidetalk，andtheirchildrenhadseentheminfancyandindreams。Oldgrievanceshavinghadtimetofadeawayandtakeonlesspoignantcolour，thestirringofthebloodstirredalsoimaginations，andwakenedsomethingakintohomesickness，thoughnomancalledthefeelingbyitsname。Andthis，perhaps，wasthestrongestcordtheShuttlewoveandwasthetruemeaningofitspower。Beingdrawnbyit，Americansinincreasingnumbersturnedtheirfacestowardstheolderland。Graduallyitwasdiscoveredthatitwasthesimplestaffairintheworldtodrivedowntothewharvesandtakeasteamerwhichlandedone，afteramoreorlessinterestingvoyage，inLiverpool，oratsomeotherconvenientport。FromthereonewenttoLondon，orParis，orRome；infact，whither—

soeverone’sfancyguided，butfirstorlastitalwaysledthetravellertothetreadingofgreen，velvetEnglishturf。Andoncestandingonsuchvelvet，bothmenandwomen，lookingaboutthem，felt，despitethemselves，thestrangeoldthrillwhichsomeofthemhalfresentedandsomewarmlyloved。

Inthecourseoftwelveyears，alengthoftimewhichwilltransformalittlegirlwearingashortfrockintoayoungwomanwearingalongone，thepaceoflifeandtheorderingofsocietymaybecomesoalteredastoappearamazingwhenonefindstimetoreflectonthesubject。Butonedoesnotoftenfindtime。Changesoccursograduallythatonescarcelyobservesthem，orsoswiftlythattheytaketheformofakindofamazedshockwhichonegetsoverasquicklyasoneexperiencesitandrealisesthatitscauseisalreadyafixedfact。

IntheUnitedStatesofAmerica，whichhavenotyetacquiredtheserenesenseofconservativeself—satisfactionandreposewhichcenturiesofagemaybestow，thespiritoflifeitselfistheaspirationforchange。Ambitionitselfonlymeanstheinsistenceonchange。Eachdayistobebetterthanyesterdayfullerofplans，ofbriskness，ofinitiative。Eachto—daydemandsofto—morrownewmen，newminds，newwork。Ato—daywhichhasnotlaunchednewships，explorednewcountries，constructednewbuildings，addedstoriestooldones，mayconsideritselfafailure，unworthyevenofbeingconsignedtothelimboofrespectableyesterdays。Suchacountrylivesbyleapsandbounds，andthetenyearswhichfollowedthemarriageofReubenVanderpoel’seldestdaughtermademanysuchboundsandleaps。Theywereyearswhichinitiatedandestablishedinternationalsocialrelationsinamannerwhichcausedthemtoincorporatethemselveswiththehistoryofbothcountries。

AsAmericadiscoveredEurope，thatcontinentdiscoveredAmerica。

AmericanbeautiesbegantoappearinEnglishdrawing—roomsandContinentalsalons。TheywerepresentedatcourtandcommenteduponintheRowandtheBois。Theirlittletransatlantictricksofspeechandtheirmotswererepeatedwithgusto。Itbecameunderstoodthattheywereamusingandamazing。Americans"camein"astheheroesandheroinesofnovelsandstories。Punchdelightedinthemvastly。Shop—

keepersandhotelproprietorsstocked，furnished，andprovisionedforthem。Theyspentmoneyenormouslyandweresingularlyindifferent（attheoutset）underimposition。They"cameover"inamannerasepoch—making，thoughlesswar—likethanthatofWilliamtheConqueror。

Internationalmarriagesceasedtobeanovelty。AsBettinaVanderpoelgrewup，shegrewup，sotospeak，inthemidstofthem。Shesawhercountry，itspeople，itsnewspapers，itsliterature，innocentlyrejoicedbythealliancesitscharmingyoungwomencontractedwithforeignrank。Shesawitaffectionately，gleefully，rubbingitshandsoveritsduchesses，itscountesses，itsmiladies。TheAmericanEaglespreaditswingsandflappedthemsometimesatrifle，overthisnewbutsonaturalandinevitabletriumphofitsvirgins。Itwasofcourseonly"American"thatsuchthingsshouldhappen。Americaruledtheuniverse，anditswomenruledAmerica，bullyingitalittle，prettily，perhaps。WhatcouldbemoreamatterofcoursethanthatAmericanwomen，beingaidedbyadoringfathers，brothersandhusbands，sumptuouslytoshipthemselvestootherlands，shouldbegintoruletheselandsalso？Betty，inhergrowingup，heardallthisintimated。Attwelveyearsold，thoughshehaddetestedRosalie’smarriage，shehadratherlikedtohearpeopletalkofthepicturesquenessofplaceslikeStornhamCourt，andofthelifeledbywomenofrankintheirhousesintownandcountry。Suchtalknearlyalwaysinvolvedthedescriptionofthingsandpeople，whosecolourandtonehadonlyreachedherthroughthemediumofbooks，mostfrequentlyfiction。

Shewas，however，ofanunusuallyobservingmind，evenasachild，andthetimecamewhensherealisedthatthenationalbirdspreaditswingslessproudlywhenthesubjectofinternationalmatcheswastouchedupon，andevenatsuchtimesshowedsignsofrestlessness。Nowandthenthingshadnotturnedoutastheyappearedtopromise；twoorthreeseeminglybrilliantunionshadresultedindisaster。Shehadnotunderstoodallthedetailsthenewspaperscheerfullyprovided，butitwascleartoherthatmorethanonepreviouslyenviedyoungwomanhadhadpracticalreasonsfordiscoveringthatshehadmadeanastonishinglybadbargain。Thisbeingthecase，sheusedfrequentlytoponderoverthecaseofRosy——Rosy！whohadbeensweptawayfromthemandswallowedup，asitseemed，bythatotherandolderworld。Shewasincertainwaysasilentchild，andnoonebutherselfknewhowlittleshehadforgottenRosy，howoftensheponderedoverher，howsometimesshehadlainawakeinthenightandpuzzledoutlinesofargumentconcerningherandthingswhichmightbetrue。

TheonegriefofpoorMrs。Vanderpoel’slifehadbeentheapparentestrangementofhereldestchild。AfterherfirstsixmonthsinEnglandLadyAnstruthers’lettershadbecomefewerandfartherbetween，andhadgivensolittleinformationconnectedwithherselfthataffectionatecuriositybecamediscouraged。SirNigel’sbriefandrareepistlesrevealedsolittledesireforanyrelationshipwithhiswife’sfamilythatgraduallyRosy’simageseemedtofadeintofardistanceandbecomefainterwiththepassingofeachmonth。Itseemedalmostanincrediblething，whentheyallowedthemselvestothinkofit，butnomemberofthefamilyhadeverbeentoStornhamCourt。Twoorthreeeffortstoarrangeavisithadbeenmade，butoneachoccasionhadfailedthroughsomeapparentlyaccidentalcause。OnceLadyAnstruthershadbeenaway，oncealetterhadseeminglyfailedtoreachher，onceherchildrenhadhadscarletfeverandtheordersofthephysiciansinattendancehadbeenstringentinregardtovisitors，evenrelativeswhodidnotfearcontagion。

"IfshehadbeenlivinginNewYorkandherchildrenhadbeenillIshouldhavebeenwithherallthetime，"poorMrs。

Vanderpoelhadsaidwithtears。"Rosy’schangedawfully，somehow。Herlettersdon’tsoundabitlikesheusedtobe。

Itseemsasifshejustdoesn’tcaretoseehermotherandfather。"

Bettyhadfrownedagooddealandthoughtintenselyinsecret。ShedidnotbelievethatRosywasashamedofherrelations。Sheremembered，however，itistrue，thatClaraNewell（whohadbeenaschoolmate）hadbecomeverysuper—fineandindifferenttoherfamilyafterhermarriagetoanaristocraticandlearnedGerman。Hershadbeenoneofthesuccessfulalliances，andafterlivingafewyearsinBerlinshehadquitelookeddownuponNewYorkers，andhadmadeherselfexceedinglyunpopularduringheronebriefvisittoherrelatives。Sheseemedtothinkherfatherandmotherundignifiedanduncultivated，andshedisapprovedentirelyofhersistersdressandbearing。Shesaidthattheyhadnodistinctionofmannerandthatalltheirinterestswerefrivolousandunenlightened。

"ButClaraalwayswasaconceitedgirl，"thoughtBetty。

"Shewasalwayspatronisingpeople，andRosywasonlyprettyandsweet。Shealwayssaidherselfthatshehadnobrains。

Butshehadaheart。"

AfterthelapseofafewyearstherehadbeennofurtherdiscussionofplansforvisitingStornham。Rosaliehadbecomesoremoteastoappearalmostunreachable。ShehadbeenpresentedatCourt，shehadhadthreechildren，theDowagerLadyAnstruthershaddied。Onceshehadwrittentoherfathertoaskforalargesumofmoney，whichhehadsenttoher，becausesheseemedtowantitverymuch。Sherequiredittopayoffcertaindebtsontheestateandspoketouchinglyofherboywhowouldinherit。

"Heisadelicateboy，father，"shewrote，"andIdon’twanttheestatetocometohimburdened。"

Whenshereceivedthemoneyshewrotegratefullyofthegenerosityshownher，butshespokeveryvaguelyoftheprospectoftheirseeingeachotherinthefuture。Itwasasifshefeltherownremotenessevenmorethantheyfeltitthemselves。

InthemeantimeBettinahadbeentakentoFranceandplacedatschoolthere。Theresultingexperiencewasanenlighteningone，farmoreilluminatingtothequick—wittedAmericanchildthanitwouldhavebeentoanEnglish，French，orGermanone，whowouldnothavehadsomuchtolearn，andprobablywouldnothavebeensoquickatthelearning。

BettyVanderpoelknewnothingwhichwasnotAmerican，andonlyvaguelyafewthingswhichwerenotofNewYork。

ShehadlivedinFifthAvenue，attendedschoolinanumberedstreetnearherownhome，playedinandbeendrivenroundCentralPark。ShehadspentthehotmonthsofthesummerinplacesuptheHudson，oronLongIsland，andsuchresortsofpleasure。Shehadbelievedimplicitlyinallshesawandknew。Shehadbeensurroundedbywealthanddecentgoodnaturethroughoutherexistence，andhadenjoyedherlifefartoomuchtoadmitofanydoubtthatAmericawasthemostperfectcountryintheworld，Americansthecleverestandmostamusingpeople，andthatothernationswerealittleoutofit，andconsequentlysufficientlyscantofresourcetorenderpitywithoutcondemnationanaturalsentimentinconnectionwithone’soccasionalthoughtsofthem。

Butherswasamentalitybynomeansordinary。Inheritanceinhernaturehadcombinedwithcircumstances，asithasahabitofdoinginallhumanbeings。Butinhercasethecombinationswereunusualandproducedaresultsomewhatremarkable。Thequalityofbrainswhich，inthefirstReubenVanderpoelhadexpresseditselfinthemarvellouslysuccessfulplanningandcarryingtotheirendsofcommercialandfinancialschemes，theabsolutegeniusofpenetrationandcalculationofthesordidanduneducatedlittletraderinskinsandbartererofgoods，havingfilteredthroughtwogenerationsofgradualeducationandrefinementofexistence，whichwasnolongerthatofthemeretrader，hadbeentransformedinthegreat—granddaughterintokeen，clearsight，level—headedperceptivenessandalogicalsenseofvalues。AsthefirstReubenhadknownbyinstinctthevaluesofpeltsandlands，Bettinaknewbyinstinctthevaluesofqualities，ofbrains，ofhearts，ofcircumstances，andtheincidentswhichaffectthem。