第6章

Shewasasunawareofthesignificanceofhergreatpossessionaswerethosearoundher。Neverthelessitwasanunerringthing。Asamerechild，unformedanduneducatedbylife，shehadnotbeenoneofthesmallcreaturestobedeceivedorflattered。

"She’sanawfullysmartlittlething，thatBetty，"herNewYorkauntsandcousinsoftenremarked。"Sheseemstoseewhatpeoplemean，itdoesn’tmatterwhattheysay。Shelikespeopleyouwouldnotexpecthertolike，andthenagainshesometimesdoesn’tcaretheleastforpeoplewhoarethoughtawfullyattractive。"

Ashasbeenalreadyintimated，thechildwascrudeenoughandnotparticularlywellbred，buthersmallbrainhadalwaysbeenatwork，andeachdayofherliferecordedforhervaluableimpressions。Thepageofheryoungmindhadceasedtobeablankmuchearlierthanisusual。

ThecomparingoftheseimpressionswithsuchasshereceivedwhenherlifeintheFrenchschoolwasnewaffordedheractivementalexerciseShebeganwithnatural，secretindignationandrebellion。

TherewasnootherAmericanpupilintheestablishmentbesidesherself。ButforthefactthatthenameofVanderpoelrepresentedwealthsoenormousastoamounttoasortofrankinitself，Bettinawouldnothavebeenreceived。TheproprietressoftheinstitutionhadgravelydisquietingdoubtsoftheproprietyofAmerica。Herpupilswerenotaccustomedtofreedomofopinionsandcustoms。AnAmericanchildmighteitherconsciouslyorunconsciouslyintroducethem。Asthismustbeguardedagainst，Betty’sfirstfewmonthsattheschoolwerenotagreeabletoher。Shewassupervisedandexpurgated，asitwere。SpecialSistersweretoldofftoconverseandwalkwithher，andshesoonperceivedthatconversationswerenotonlyFrenchlessonsindisguise，butwerelecturesonethics，morals，andgoodmanners，imperfectlyconcealedbythemaskanddominoofamiableentertainment。ShetranslatedintoEnglishafterthefollowingmannerthefactsherswiftyoungperceptionsgathered。Therewerethingsitwassoineleganttosaythatonlythemostimpossiblepersonssaidthem；therewerethingsitwassoinexcusabletodothatwhendonetheirinexcusabilityassumedtheproportionsofacrime。Thereweremovements，expressions，pointsofview，whichonemustavoidasonewouldavoidtheplague。Andtheywereallthings，acts，expressions，attitudesofmindwhichBettinahadbeenfamiliarwithfromherinfancy，andwhichshewaswellawarewereconsideredalmostentirelyharmlessandunobjectionableinNewYork，inherbelovedNewYork，whichwasthecentreoftheworld，whichwasbigger，richer，gayer，moreadmirablethananyothercityknownupontheearth。

Ifshehadnotsolovedit，ifshehadeverdreamedoftheexistenceofanyotherplaceasbeingabsolutelynecessary，shewouldnothavefeltthethingsobitterly。ButitseemedtoherthatalltheseamiablediatribesinexquisiteFrenchweredirectedatherNewYork，anditmustbeadmittedthatshewashumiliatedandenraged。Itwasapersonal，indeed，afamilymatter。Herfather，hermother，herrelatives，andfriendswereallinsomedegreeexactlythekindofpersonswhosespeech，habits，andopinionsshemustconscientiouslyavoid。Butfortheinstinctofsummingupvalues，circumstances，andintentions，itisprobablethatshewouldhavelostherhead，letloosehertemperandhertongue，andhavebecomeinsubordinate。

ButthequicknessofperceptionwhichhadrevealedpracticalpotentialitiestooldReubenVanderpoel，revealedtoherthevalueofFrenchwhichwasperfectlyfluent，avoicewhichwasmusical，movementswhichweregrace，mannerswhichhadastillbeauty，andcomparingthesethingswithotherslesscharmingshelistenedandrestrainedherself，learning，marking，andinwardlydigestingwithaclevernessmostenviable。

Amongherfellowpensionnairesshemetwithdiscomfortingilluminations，whichwerefinedisciplinealso，thoughifsheherselfhadbeenalessintellectualcreaturetheymighthavebeenembittering。WithoutdoubtBetty，evenattwelveyears，wasintellectual。Herswasthepracticalworkingintellectwhichbeginsdutyatbirthanddoesnotlaydownitstoolsbecausethesunsets。Thelittleandbiggirlswhowrotetheirexercisesathersidedidnotdeliberatelyenlightenher，butshelearnedfromtheminvaguewaysthatitwasnotNewYorkwhichwasthecentreoftheearth，butParis，orBerlin，Madrid，London，orRome。ParisandLondonwereperhapsmorecalmlypositiveofthemselvesthanothercapitals，andwerealittleinclinedtosmileatthelackofseriousnessinotherclaims。

Butonestrangefactwasmorepredominantthananyother，andthiswasthatNewYorkwasnotcountedasacivilisedcentreatall；ithadnoparticularexistence。Nobodyexpressedthisrudely；infact，itdidnotacquiretheformofactualstatementatanytime。Itwasmerelyrevealedbyamiableandingenuousunconsciousnessofthecircumstancethatsuchapartoftheworldexpectedtoberegardedorreferredtoatall。

BettybeganearlytorealisethatashercompanionsdidnottalkofTimbuctooorZanzibar，sotheydidnottalkofNewYork。StockholmorAmsterdamseemed，despitetheirsmallness，tobeconsidered。NoonedeniedthepresenceofZanzibaronthemap，butasitconveyednothingmorethantheimpressionofbeingameregeographicalfact，therewasnoreasonwhyoneshoulddwellonitinconversation。Rememberingallshehadleftbehind，thecrowdedstreets，thebrilliantshopwindows，thebuzzofindividualpeople，thereweremomentswhenBettygroundherstronglittleteeth。Shewantedtoexpressallthesethings，tocallout，toexplain，andcommandrecognitionforthem。Butherclevernessshowedtoherthatargumentorprotestationwouldbeuseless。Shecouldnotmakesuchhearersunderstand。ThereweregirlswhoseinterestinAmericawasfoundedontheirimpressionthatmagnificentIndianchieftainsinblanketsandfeathersstalkedaboutthestreetsofthetowns，andthatBetty’sownthickblackhairhadbeenhandeddowntoherbysomebeautifulMinnehahaorPocahontas。Whenfirstshewasapproachedbytimid，tentativequestioningsrevealingthispointofview，Bettyfelthotandansweredwithunamiablecurtness。No，therewerenoredIndiansinNewYork。TherehadbeennoredIndiansinherfamily。Shehadneithergrandmothersnorauntswhoweresquaws，iftheymeantthat。

Shefeltsoscornfully，sodisgustedlyindignantattheirbenightedignorance，thatsheknewshebehavedverywellinsayingsolittleinreply。Shecouldhavesaidsomuch，butwhatsoevershehadsaidwouldhaveconveyednothingtothem，soshethoughtitalloutalone。Shewentoverthewholegroundandlittlerealisedhowmuchshewasteachingherselfassheturnedandtossedinhernarrow，spotlesslywhitebedatnight，arguing，comparing，drawingdeductionsfromwhatsheknewanddidnotknowofthetwocontinents。Herchildishanger，combiningitselfwiththepractical，alertbrainofReubenVanderpoelthefirst，developedinheralogicalreasoningpowerwhichledhertoarriveatmanyanexcellentandcuriouslymatureconclusion。Theresultwasfinelyeducational。Allthemoresothatinherfevereddesireforjustificationofthethingssheloved，shebegantoreadbookssuchaslittlegirlsdonotusuallytakeinterestin。Shefoundsomedifficultyinobtainingthematfirst，butaletterortwowrittentoherfatherobtainedforherpermissiontoreadwhatshechose。ThethirdReubenVanderpoelwasdeeplyfondofhisyoungerdaughter，andfeltinsecretaprofoundadmirationforher，whichwassavedfrombecomingtooobviousbytheeverpresentAmericansenseofhumour。

"Bettyseemstobegoinginforpolitics，"hesaidafterreadingthelettercontainingherrequestandherfirstlistofbooks。"She’saboutasmadasshecanbeattheignoranceoftheFrenchgirlsaboutAmericaandAmericans。Shewantstofilluponsolidfacts，sothatshecancomeoutstronginargument。

She’sgotanunderstandingofthepowerofsolidfactsthatwouldbeafortunetoherifshewereaman。"

Itwasnodoubtherunderstandingofthepoweroffactswhichledhertolearneverythingwellandtodevelopinmanydirections。Shebegantodipintopoliticalandhistoricalvolumesbecauseshewasfurious，andwishedtobeabletorefuteidiocy，butshefoundherselfcontinuingtoreadbecauseshewasinterestedinawayshehadnotexpected。Shebegantoseethings。Onceshemadearemarkwhichwasprophetic。

ShemadeitinanswertoaguilelessobservationconcerningthegoldmineswithwhichBostonwassupposedtobeenriched。

"Youdon’tknowanythingaboutAmerica，youothers，"shesaid。"ButyouWILLknow！"

"DoyouthinkitwillbecomethefashiontotravelinAmerica？"askedaGermangirl。

"Perhaps，"saidBetty。"But——itisn’tsomuchthatyouwillgotoAmerica。Ibelieveitwillcometoyou。It’slikethat——America。Itdoesn’tstandstill。Itgoesandgetswhatitwants。"

Shelaughedassheended，andsodidtheothergirls。Butintenyears’time，whentheywereyoungwomen，someofthemmarried，someofthemcourtbeauties，oneofthemrecalledthisspeechtoanother，whomsheencounteredinanimportanthouseinSt。Petersburg，thewifeofthecelebrateddiplomatwhowasitsownerbeinganAmericanwoman。

BettinaVanderpoel’seducationwasaratherfinething。Sheherselfhadmoretodowithitthangirlsusuallyhavetodowiththeirowntraining。Inafewmonths’timethoseinauthorityintheFrenchschoolfoundthatitwasnotnecessarytosuperviseandexpurgateher。Shelearnedwithaninterestedrapacitywhichwasatonceunusualandamazing。Andsheevidentlydidnotlearnfrombooksalone。Hervoice，asanorgan，hadbeenmusicalandfullfrombabyhood。Itbegantomodulateitselfandtoexpressthingsmostvoicesareincapableofexpressing。Shehadbeensobuiltbynaturethatthecarriageofherheadandlimbswasgoodtobehold。Sheacquiredaharmonyofmovementwhichcausedhertolosenoshadeofgraceandspirit。Hereyeswerefullofthought，ofspeculation，andintentness。

"Shethinksagreatdealforonesoyoung，"wassaidofherfrequentlybyoneortheotherofherteachers。Onefinallywentfurtherandadded，"Shehasgenius。"

Thiswastrue。Shehadgenius，butitwasnotspecialised。

Itwasnotgeniuswhichexpresseditselfthroughanyoneart。Itwasageniusforlife，forlivingherself，foraidingotherstolive，forvivifyingmereexistence。Sheherselfwas，however，awareonlyofaneagernessoftemperament，apassionforseeing，doing，andgainingknowledge。Everythinginterestedher，everybodywassuggestiveandmoreorlessenlightening。

Herrelativesthoughtheroriginalinherfancies。Theycalledthemfanciesbecauseshewassoyoung。Fortunatelyforher，therewasnoreasonwhysheshouldnotbegratified。MostgirlspreferredtospendtheirholidaysontheContinent。SheelectedtoreturntoAmericaeveryalternateyear。Sheenjoyedthevoyageandshelikedtheentirechangeofatmosphereandpeople。

"Itmakesmelikebothplacesmore，"shesaidtoherfatherwhenshewasthirteen。"Itmakesmeseethings。"

Herfatherdiscoveredthatshesaweverything。Shewasthepleasureofhislife。Hewasattractedgreatlybytheinterestsheexhibitedinallordersofthings。Hesawhermakebold，ingenuousplungesintoallwaters，withoutanyapparentconsciousnessthatthescrapsofknowledgeshebroughttothesurfacewereunusualpossessionsforaschoolgirl。Shehadyoungviewsonthepoliticsandcommerceofdifferentcountries，asshehadviewsontheirliterature。WhenReubenVanderpoelswoopedacrosstheAmericancontinentonjourneysofthousandsofmiles，takingherasacompanion，hediscoveredthatheactuallyplacedasortofconfidenceinhersummingupofmenandschemes。Hetookhertoseeminesandrailroadsandthosewhoworkedthem，andhetalkedthemoverwithherafterward，halfwithasenseofhumour，halfwithasenseoffindingcomfortinherintelligentcomprehensionofallhesaid。

Sheenjoyedherselfimmenselyandgainedastrongpicturesquenessofcharacter。AfteranAmericanholidaysheusedtoreturntoFrance，Germany，orItaly，witharenewedzestoffeelingforallthingsromanticandantique。AfterafewyearsintheFrenchconventsheaskedthatshemightbesenttoGermany。

"IamgraduallychangingintoaFrenchgirl，"shewrotetoherfather。"OnemorningIfoundIwasthinkingitwouldbenicetogointoaconvent，andanotherdayIalmostentirelyagreedwithoneofthegirlswhowasdeclaimingagainstherbrotherwhohadfalleninlovewithaCalifornian。

YouhadbettertakemeawayandsendmetoGermany。

ReubenVanderpoellaughed。HeunderstoodBettymuchbetterthanmostofherrelationsdid。Heknewwhenseriousnessunderlayherjestsandhisrespectforherseriousnesswasgreat。HesenthertoschoolinGermany。DuringtheearlyyearsofherschooldaysBettyhadobservedthatAmericaappeareduponthewholetoberegardedbyherschoolfellowsprincipallyasaplacetowhichthemoreunfortunateamongthepeasantryemigratedassteeragepassengerswhenthingscouldbecomenoworseforthemintheirowncountry。TheUnitedStateswasnotmentallydetachedfromanyotherportionofthehugeWesternContinent。Quitewell—educatedpersonsspokecasuallyofindividualshaving"gonetoAmerica，"

asiftherewerenoparticulardifferencebetweenBrazilandMassachusetts。

"IwonderifyoueversawmycousinGaston，"aFrenchgirlonceaskedherastheysatattheirdesks。"Hebecameverypoorthroughillliving。HewasquitewithoutmoneyandhewenttoAmerica。"

"ToNewYork？"inquiredBettina。

"Iamnotsure。ThetowniscalledConcepcion。"

"ThatisnotintheUnitedStates，"Bettyanswereddisdainfully。"ItisinChili。"

Shedraggedheratlastowardsherandfoundtheplace。

"See，"shesaid。"ItisthousandsofmilesfromNewYork。"

Hercompanionwasanear—sighted，ratherslowgirl。Shepeeredatthemap，drawingalinewithherfingerfromNewYorktoConcepcion。

"Yes，theyareatagreatdistancefromoneanother，"sheadmitted，"buttheyarebothinAmerica。"

"ButnotbothintheUnitedStates，"criedBetty。"FrenchgirlsalwaysseemtothinkthatNorthandSouthAmericaarethesame，thattheyareboththeUnitedStates。"

"Yes，"saidtheslowgirlwithdeliberation。"Wedomakeoddmistakessometimes。"Towhichsheaddedwithentireinnocenceofanyironicintention。"ButyouAmericans，youseemtofeeltheUnitedStates，yourNewYork，tobeallAmerica。

Bettystartedalittleandflushed。Duringafewminutesofrapidreflectionshesatboltuprightatherdeskandlookedstraightbeforeher。Hermentalitywasoftheorderwhichiscapableofmakingdiscoveriesconcerningitselfaswellasconcerningothers。Shehadneverthoughtofthisviewofthematterbefore，butitwasquitetrue。Topassionateyoungpatriotssuchasherselfatleast，thatportionofthemapcoveredbytheUnitedStateswasAmerica。ShesuddenlysawalsothattoherNewYorkhadbeenAmerica。FifthAvenueBroadway，CentralPark，evenTiffany’shadbeen"America。"

Shelaughedandreddenedashadeassheputtheatlasasidehavingrecordedanewidea。ShehadfoundoutthatitwasnotonlyEuropeanswhowerelocal，whichwasadiscoveryofsomeimportancetoherfervidyouth。

BecauseshethoughtsooftenofRosalie，herattentionwas，duringthepassingyears，naturallyattractedbythemanythingssheheardofsuchmarriagesasweremadebyAmericanswithmenofothercountriesthantheirown。Shediscoveredthatnotwithstandingcertaincommercialviewsofmatrimony，allforeignerswhounitedthemselveswithAmericanheiresseswerenottheentirebrutesprimitiveprejudicemightleadonetoimagine。Therewereratherone—sidedallianceswhichprovedthemselvesfarfromhappy。TheCousinGaston，forinstance，broughthomeabridewhosefortunerebuiltandrefurnishedhisdilapidatedchateauandwhoendedbymakingofhimawell—behavedandcheerycountrygentlemannotatalltobedespisedinhisamiable，iflight—mindedgoodnatureandgoodspirits。Hiswife，fortunately，wasnotayoungwomanwhoyearnedforsentiment。Shewasanice—tempered，practicalAmericangirl，whoadoredFrenchcountrylifeandknewhowtoamuseandmanageherhusband。Itwasagenialsortofmenageandyetthoughthiswasanundeniablefact，Bettinaobservedthatwhentheunionwasspokenofitwasalwaysreferredtowithacertaintonewhichconveyedthatthoughonedidnotexactlycomplainofitshavingbeenundesirable，itwasnotquitewhatGastonmighthaveexpected。

Hiswifehadmoneyandwasgood—natured，buttherewerelimitationstoone’sappreciationofamarriageinwhichhusbandandwifewerenotonthesameplane。

"Sheisanexcellentperson，andithasbeengoodforGaston，"

saidBettina’sfriend。"Welikeher，butsheisnot——sheisnot————"Shepausedthere，evidentlyseeingthattheremarkwasunlucky。Bettina，whowasstillinshortfrocks，tookherup。

"Whatisshenot？"sheasked。

"Ah！——itisdifficulttoexplain——toAmericans。Itisreallynotexactlyafault。Butsheisnotofhisworld。"

"Butifhedoesnotlikethat，"saidBettinacoolly，"whydidheletherbuyhimandpayforhim？"

Itwasyoungandbrutal，butthereweretimeswhenthebusinessperspicuityofthefirstReubenVanderpoel，combiningwiththefiery，woundedspiritofhisyoungdescendant，renderedBettinabrutal。Shesawcertainunadornedfactswithunsparingyoungeyesandwantedtostatethem。Afterherfrockswerelengthened，shelearnedhowtostatethemwithmorefinenessofphrase，buteventhenshewassometimesstillratherunsparing。

Inthiscasehercompanion，whowasnotfieryoftemperament，onlycolouredslightly。

"Itwasnotquitethat，"sheanswered。"Gastonreallyisfondofher。Sheamuseshim，andhesayssheisfarclevererthanheis。"

Buttherewereunionslesssatisfactory，andBettinahadopportunitiestoreflectuponthesealso。TheEnglishandContinentalpapersdidnotgiveenthusiastic，detaileddescriptionsofthemarriagesNewYorkjournalsdweltuponwithsuchdelight。Theywerepassedoverwithaparagraph。

WhenBettyheardthemspokenofinFrance，GermanyorItaly，sheobservedthattheywerenot，asarule，spokenofrespectfully。Itseemedtoherthatthebridegroomswere，inconversation，treatedbytheirequalswithscantrespect。Itappearedthattherehadalwaysbeensomeextremelypracticalreasonforthepassionwhichhadledthemtothealtar。

Onegenerallygatheredthattheyortheirestateswereverymuchoutatelbow，andfrequentlytheircharacterswerenotconsideredadmirablebytheirrelativesandacquaintances。

Somehadbeenrathercoldshoulderedincertaincapitalsonaccountofembarrassinglittle，orbig，stories。Somehadspenttheirpatrimoniesinriotousliving。Thosewhohadmerelybegunbycomingintoimpoverishedestates，andhadlaterattenuatedtheirresourcesbycomparativelydecentfollies，wereofthemoredesirableorder。Bythetimeshewasnineteen，Bettinahadfeltthebloodsurgeinherveinsmorethanoncewhensheheardsomecommentsonalliancesoverwhichshehadseenhercompatriotsglowwithaffectionatedelight。

"ItwastimeLudlowmarriedsomegirlwithmoney，"sheheardsaidofonesuchunion。"Hehadbeenplayingthefooleversincehecameintotheestate。Horsesandalotofstupidwomen。Hehadcomesomeawfulcroppersduringthelasttenyears。Good—enoughlookinggirl，theytellme——theAmericanhehasmarried——tremendouslotofmoney。Couldn’thavepickedituponthisside。Englishyoungwomenoffortunearenotlookingforthatkindofthing。PooroldBillywasn’tgoodenough。’

Bettinatoldthestorytoherfatherwhentheynextmet。

Shehadgrownintoatallyoungcreaturebythistime。Herlow，fullvoicewaslikeabellandwascapableofringingforthsomefine，mellowtonesofirony"AndinAmericawearepleased，"shesaid，"andflatterourselvesthatwearereceivingthepropertributeofadorationofourAmericanwitandbeauty。Weplumeourselvesonourconquests。

"No，Betty，"saidherfather，andhisreflectivedeliberationhadmeaning。"Therearealotofuswhodon’tplumeourselvesparticularlyinthesedays。Wearenotasinnocentaswewerewhenthissortofthingbegan。WearenotasinnocentaswewerewhenRosywasmarried。"Andhesighedandrubbedhisforeheadwiththehandleofhispen。"NotasinnocentaswewerewhenRosywasmarried，"herepeated。

Bettinawenttohimandslidherfineyoungarmroundhisneck。Itwasalong，slim，roundarmwithawonderfulpowertocaressinitscurves。ShekissedVanderpoel’slinedcheek。

"HaveyouhadtimetothinkmuchaboutRosy？"shesaid。

"I’venothadtime，butI’vedoneit，"heanswered。

"Anythingthathurtsyourmotherhurtsme。Sometimesshebeginstocryinhersleep，andwhenIwakehershetellsmeshehasbeendreamingthatshehasseenRosy。"

"Ihavehadtimetothinkofher，"saidBettina。"Ihaveheardsomuchofthesethings。IwasatschoolinGermanywhenAnnieButterfieldandBaronvonSteindahlweremarried。

Iheardittalkedaboutthere，andthenmymothersentmesomeAmericanpapers。"

Shelaughedalittle，andforamomentherlaughdidnotsoundlikeagirl’s。

"Well，it’sturnedoutbadlyenough，"herfathercommented。

"Thepapershadplentytosayaboutitlater。Therewasn’tmuchhewastoogoodtodotohiswife，apparently。"

"Therewasnothingtoobadforhimtodobeforehehadawife，"saidBettina。"Hewasblack。ItwasaninsolencethatheshouldhavedaredtospeaktoAnnieButterfield。

Somebodyoughttohavebeatenhim。"

"Hebeatherinstead。"

"Yes，andIthinkhisfamilythoughtitquitenatural。

TheysaidthatshewassovulgarandAmericanthatsheexasperatedFrederickbeyondendurance。Shewasnotgeboren，thatwasit。"Shelaughedherseverelittlelaughagain。

"Perhapsweshallgettiredintime，"sheadded。"Ithinkwearelearning。Ifitismadeamatterofbusinessquiteopenandaboveboard，itwillbefair。Youknow，father，youalwayssaidthatIwasbusinesslike。"

TherewasinterestedcuriosityinVanderpoel’ssteadylookather。ThereweretimeswhenhefeltthatBetty’ssummingupofthingswaswellworthlisteningto。Hesawthatnowshewasinoneofhermoodswhenitwouldpayonetohearherout。

Sheheldherchinupalittle，andherfacetookonafinestillnessatoncesweetandunrelenting。Shewasverygoodtolookatinsuchmoments。

"Yes，"heanswered，"youhaveaparticularlylevelheadforagirl。"

"Well，"shewenton。"WhatIseeisthatthesethingsarenotbusiness，andtheyoughttobe。IfamancomestoarichAmericangirlandsays，`Iandmytitleareforsale。Willyoubuyus？’Ifthegirlis——isthatkindofagirlandwantsthatkindofman，shecanlookthembothoverandsay，`Yes，Iwillbuyyou，’anditcanbearranged。Hewillnotreturnthemoneyifheisunsatisfactory，butshecannotcomplainthatshehasbeendeceived。Shecanonlycomplainofthatwhenhepretendsthatheaskshertomarryhimbecausehewantsherforhiswife，becausehewouldwantherforhiswifeifshewereaspoorashimself。Letitbeunderstoodthatheispropertyforsale，lethermakesurethatheisthekindofpropertyshewantstobuy。Then，if，whentheyaremarried，heisbrutalorimpudent，orhispeoplearebrutalorimpudent，shecansay，`I

willforfeitthepurchasemoney，butIwillnotforfeitmyself。

Iwillnotstaywithyou。’"

"Theywouldnotliketohearyousaythat，Betty，"saidherfather，rubbinghischinreflectively。

"No，"sheanswered。"Neitherthegirlnorthemanwouldlikeit，anditistheirbusiness，notmine。Butitispracticalandwouldpreventsillymistakes。Itwouldpreventthegirlsbeinglaughedat。Itiswhentheyareflatteredbythechoicemadeofthemthattheyarelaughedat。Noonecansneeratamanorwomanforbuyingwhattheythinktheywant，andthrowingitasideifitturnsoutabadbargain。"

Shehadseatedherselfnearherfather。Sherestedherelbowslightlyonthetableandherchininthehollowofherhand。

Shewasabeautifulyoungcreature。Shehadasoftcurvingmouth，andasoftcurvingcheekwhichwaswarmrose。Takeninconjunctionwiththoseyoungcharms，hernextwordshadanairofincongruity。

"YouthinkIamhard，"shesaid。"WhenIthinkofthesethingsIamhard——ashardasnails。ThatisanAmericanism，butitisagoodexpression。IamangryforAmerica。Ifwearesordidandundignified，letusgetwhatwepayforandmaketheothersacknowledgethatwehavepaid。"

Shedidnotsmile，nordidherfather。Mr。Vanderpoel，onthecontrary，sighed。HehadadrearysuspicionthatRosy，atleast，hadnotreceivedwhatshehadpaidfor，andheknewshehadnotbeenintheleastawarethatshehadpaidorthatshewasexpectedtodoso。Severaltimesduringthelastfewyearshehadthoughtthatifhehadnotbeensohardworked，ifhehadhadtime，hewouldhaveseriouslyinvestigatedthecaseofRosy。Butwhoisnotawarethattheprofessionofmultimillionairedoesnotallowofanyswervingfromdutyorofanyinterestsrequiringleisure？

"Iwonder，Betty，"hesaidquitedeliberately，"ifyouknowhowhandsomeyouare？"