第7章

"Yes，"answeredBettina。"Ithinkso。AndIamtall。Itisthefashiontobetallnow。ItwasEarlyVictoriantobelittle。TheQueenbroughtinthe`dearlittlewoman，’andnowthetypehasgoneout。"

"Theywillcometolookatyouprettysoon，"saidVanderpoel。"Whatshallyousaythen？"

"I？"saidBettina，andhervoicesoundedparticularlylowandmellow。"Ihavealittlemonomania，father。Somepeoplehaveamonomaniaforonethingandsomeforanother。

MineisforNOTtakingabargainfromtheducalremnantcounter。"

CHAPTERVI

ANUNFAIRENDOWMENT

ToBettinaVanderpoelhadbeengiven，toanextraordinaryextent，theextraordinarythingwhichiscalledbeauty——whichisathingentirelysetapartfrommeregoodlooksorprettiness。

Thisthingisextraordinarybecause，ifstatisticsweretaken，theresultwouldprobablybethediscoverythatnotthreehumanbeingsinamillionreallypossessit。Thatitshouldbebestowedatall——sinceitissorare——seemsasunfairathingasappearstothemeremortalmindthebestowalofunboundedwealth，sinceitquiteasinevitablyplacesthelifeofitsowneruponanabnormalplane。Therearemillionsofprettywomen，andbillionsofpersonablemen，butthemanorwomanofentirephysicalbeautymaycrossone’spathwayonlyonceinalife—

time——ornotatall。Inthelattercaseitisnaturaltodoubttheabsolutetruthoftherumoursthatthethingexists。Theabnormalcreatureseemsamerefreakofnatureandmaychancetobeangel，criminal，totalinsipidity，viragoorenchanter，butletsuchanoneenteraroomorappearinthestreet，andheadsmustturn，eyeslightandfollow，soulsyearnorenvy，orsinkunderthediscouragementofcomparison。Withthecompleteharmonyandperfectbalanceofthesingularthing，itwouldbefollyfortherestoftheworldtocompete。A

humanbeingwhohadlivedinpovertyforhalfalifetime，might，ifsuddenlyendowedwithlimitlessfortune，retain，toacertainextent，balanceofmind；butthesamecreaturehavinglivedthesamenumberofyearsawhollyunlovelything，suddenlyawakeningtothepossessionofentirephysicalbeauty，mightfindthestrainuponpuresanitygreaterandthebalancelesseasytopreserve。Therelieffromtheconsciousorunconscioustensionbredbythesenseofimperfection，thecalmsuretyofthefearlessnessofmeetinginanyeyealooknotlightedbypleasure，wouldbelessnormalthantheknowledgethatnowishneedremainunfulfilled，nofancyungratified。

EvenatsixteenBettywasalong—limbedyoungnymphwhosesmallhead，sethighonafineslimcolumnofthroat，mightwellhavebeencrownedwiththegarlandofsomegoddessofhealthandthejoyoflife。Shewaslightandswift，andbeingacreatureoflonglinesandtendercurves，therewaspleasureinthemereseeinghermove。Thecutofherspiritedlip，anddelicatenostril，madeforaprofileatwhichoneturnedtolookmorethanonce，despiteone’sself。Herhairwassoftandblackandrepeateditscolourintheextravagantlashesofherchildhood，whichmademysteriousthechangefuldenseblueofhereyes。Theywereeyeswithlaughterinthemandpride，andasuggestionofmanydeepthingsyetunstirred。Shewasratherunusuallytall，andherbodyhadthesupplenessofayoungbamboo。Thedeepcornersofherredmouthcurledgenerously，andthechin，meltingintothefinelineofthelovelythroat，wasatoncestrongandsoftandlovely。Shewasacreatureofharmony，warmrichnessofcolour，andbrilliantlyalluringlife。

WhenherschooldayswereovershereturnedtoNewYorkandgaveherselfintohermother’shands。Hermother’skindnessofheartandsweet—temperedlovingnessweretouchingthingstoBettina。InthemidstofhermillionsMrs。Vanderpoelwaswhollyunworldly。Bettinaknewthatshefeltaperpetualhomesicknesswhensheallowedherselftothinkofthedaughterwhoseemedlosttoher，andthegirl’srealisationofthiscausedhertowishtobeespeciallyaffectionateandamenable。Shewasgladthatshewastallandbeautiful，notmerelybecausesuchphysicalgiftsaddedtothecolourandagreeablenessoflife，butbecausehersgavecomfortandhappinesstohermother。ToMrs。Vanderpoel，tointroducetotheworldtheloveliestdebutanteofmanyyearswastobelaunchedintoanewfuture。Toconcernone’sselfaboutherexquisitewardrobewastohaveanenliveningoccupation。Toseehersurrounded，towatcheyesastheyfollowedher，tohearherpraised，wastofeelsomethingofthehappinessshehadknowninthoseyoungerdayswhenNewYorkhadbeenlessadvancedinitsnewsandmethods，andslimlittleblondeRosaliehadcomeoutinwhitetulleandwaltzedlikeafairywithahundredpartners。

"IwonderwhatRosylookslikenow，"thepoorwomansaidinvoluntarilyoneday。Bettinawasnotafairy。WhenhermotherutteredherexclamationBettinawasonthepointofgoingout，andasshestoodnearher，wrappedinsplendidfurs，shehadtheairofaRussianprincess。

"Shecouldnothavewornthethingsyoudo，Betty，saidtheaffectionatematernalcreature。"Shewassuchalittle，slightthing。Butshewasverypretty。Iwonderiftwelveyearshavechangedhermuch？"

Bettyturnedtowardsherrathersuddenly。

"Mother，"shesaid，"sometime，beforeverylong，Iamgoingtosee。"

"Tosee！"exclaimedMrs。Vanderpoel。"ToseeRosy！"

"Yes，"Bettyanswered。"Ihaveaplan。Ihavenevertoldyouofit，butIhavebeenthinkingoveriteversinceI

wasfifteenyearsold。"

Shewenttohermotherandkissedher。Sheworeabecomingbutresoluteexpression。

"Wewillnottalkaboutitnow，"shesaid。"TherearesomethingsImustfindout。"

Whenshehadlefttheroom，whichshedidalmostimmediately，Mrs。Vanderpoelsatdownandcried。ShenearlyalwaysshedafewtearswhenanyonetoucheduponthesubjectofRosy。Onherdeskweresomephotographs。OnewasofRosyasalittlegirlwithlonghair，onewasofLadyAnstruthersinherweddingdress，andonewasofSirNigel。

"IneverfeltasifIquitelikedhim，"shesaid，lookingatthislast，"butIsupposeshedoes，orshewouldnotbesohappythatshecouldforgethermotherandsister。

Therewasanotherpictureshelookedat。Rosaliehadsentitwiththelettershewrotetoherfatherafterhehadforwardedthemoneysheaskedfor。Itwasalittlestudyinwatercoloursoftheheadofherboy。Itwasnothingbutahead，theshouldersbeingfancifullydraped，butthefacewasapeculiarone。Itwasover—mature，andunlovely，butforamouthatoncepatheticandsweet。

"Heisnotaprettychild，"sighedMrs。Vanderpoel。"I

shouldhavethoughtRosywouldhavehadprettybabies。

Ughtredismorelikehisfatherthanhismother。"

Shespoketoherhusbandlater，ofwhatBettyhadsaid。

"Whatdoyouthinkshehasinhermind，Reuben？"sheasked。

"WhatBettyhasinhermindisusuallygoodsense，"washisresponse。"Shewillbegintotalktomeaboutitpresently。

Ishallnotaskquestionsyet。Sheisprobablythinking：thingsover。"

Shewas，intruth，thinkingthingsover，asshehadbeendoingforsometime。ShehadaskedquestionsonseveraloccasionsofEnglishpeopleshehadmetabroad。Butaschool—

girlcannotaskmanyquestions，andthoughshehadoncemetsomeonewhoknewSirNigelAnstruthers，itwasapersonwhodidnotknowhimwell，forthereasonthatshehadnotdesiredtoincreaseherslightacquaintance。ThisladywastheauntofoneofBettina’sfellowpupils，andshewasnotawareofthegirl’srelationshiptoSirNigel。WhatBettygatheredwasthatherbrother—in—lawwasregardedasadecidedlybadlot，thatsincehismarriagetosomeAmericangirlhehadseemedtohavemoneywhichhespentinriotousliving，andthatthewife，whowassaidtobeasillycreature，waskeptinthecountry，eitherbecauseherhusbanddidnotwantherinLondon，orbecauseshepreferredtostayatStornham。Aboutthewifenooneappearedtoknowanything，infact。

"Sheisratherafool，Ibelieve，andSirNigelAnstruthersisthekindofmanasimpletonwouldbeobligedtosubmitto，"

Bettinahadheardtheladysay。

Herownreflectionsuponthesecommentshadledherthroughvariouspathsofthought。ShecouldrecallRosalie’sgirlhood，andwhatsheherself，asanunconsciouslyobservingchild，hadknownofhercharacter。Sherememberedthesimpleimpressionabilityofhermind。Shehadbeenthemostamenablelittlecreatureintheworld。Heryieldingamiabilitycouldalwaysbecounteduponasafactorbythecalculating；

sweet—temperedtoweakness，shecouldbebeguiledordistressedintoanycoursethedesiresofothersdictated。Anill—temperedorself—pityingpersoncouldalteranylineofconductsheherselfwishedtopursue。

"Shewasneitherclevernorstrong—minded，"Bettysaidtoherself。"AmanlikeSirNigelAnstrutherscouldmakewhathechoseofher。Iwonderwhathehasdonetoher？"

Ofonethingshethoughtshewassure。ThiswasthatRosalie’saloofnessfromherfamilywastheresultofhisdesign。

Shecomprehended，inhermatureryears，thedislikeofherchildhood。Sherememberedacertainlookinhisfacewhichshehaddetested。Shehadnotknownthenthatitwasthelookofarathercleverbrute，whowasmalignant，butsheknewnow。

"Heusedtohateusall，"shesaidtoherself。"HedidnotmeantoknowuswhenhehadtakenRosalieaway，andhedidnotintendthatsheshouldknowus。"

Shehadheardrumoursofcasessomewhatparallel，casesinwhichgirls’liveshadbecomeswampedinthoseoftheirhusbands，andtheirhusbands’families。Andshehadalsoheardunpleasantdetailsofthemeansemployedtoreachthedesiredresults。AnnieButterfield’shusbandhadforbiddenhertocorrespondwithherAmericanrelatives。Hehadarguedthatsuchcorrespondencewasdisturbingtohermind，andtothedomesticdutieswhichshouldbeeverydecentwoman’sreligion。Oneoftheoccasionsofhisbeatingherhadbeeninconsequenceofhisfindingherwritingtohermotheraletterblottedwithtears。Husbandsfrequentlyobjectedtotheirwives’relatives，buttherewasaspecialorderofEuropeanhusbandwhoopposedviolentlyanyintimacywithAmericanrelationsonthepracticalgroundthattheirviewsofawife’sposition，withregardtoherhusband，wereofarevolutionarynature。

Mrs。VanderpoelhadinherpossessioneveryletterRosalieorherhusbandhadeverwritten。Bettinaaskedtobeallowedtoreadthem，andonemorningseatedherselfinherownroombeforeablazingfire，withthecollectiononatableatherside。Shereadtheminorder。Nigel’sbeganastheywenton。

Theywereallinonetone，formal，uninteresting，andrequiringnoanswers。Therewasnotasuggestionofhumanfeelinginoneofthem。

"Hewrotethem，"saidBetty，"sothatwecouldnotsaythathehadneverwritten。"

Rosalie’sfirstepistleswereaffectionate，buttimid。Attheoutsetshewasevidentlytryingtoconcealthefactthatshewashomesick。Graduallyshebecamebrieferandmoreconstrained。Inoneshesaidpathetically，"Iamsuchabadletterwriter。IalwaysfeelasifIwanttotearupwhatI

havewritten，becauseIneversayhalfthatisinmyheart。

Mrs。Vanderpoelhadkissedthatlettermanyatime。Shewassurethatamarkonthepapernearthisparticularsentencewaswhereatearhadfallen。Bettinawassureofthis，too，andsatandlookedatthefireforsometime。

Thatnightshewenttoaball，andwhenshereturnedhome，shepersuadedhermothertogotobed。

"Iwanttohaveatalkwithfather，"sheexclaimed。"I

amgoingtoaskhimsomething。"

Shewenttothegreatman’sprivateroom，wherehesatatwork，evenafterthehourswhenlessseriouslyengagedpeoplecomehomefromballs。Theroomhesatinwasoneoftheapartmentsnewspapershadwithmuchdetaildescribed。Itwasluxuriouslycomfortable，anditseffectwassoberandrichandfine。

WhenBettinacamein，Vanderpoel，lookinguptosmileatherinwelcome，wasstruckbythefactthatasabackgroundtoanenteringfigureoftall，splendidgirlhoodinaballdressitwasadmirable，throwingupallitswhitenessandgraceandsweepofline。HewasalwaysgladtoseeBetty。Therichstrengthoftheliferadiatingfromher，therealityandglowofherweregoodforhimandhadthepowerofdetachinghimfromworkofwhichhewastired。

Shesmiledbackathim，and，comingforwardtookherplaceinabigarmchairclosetohim，herlace—frilledcloakslippingfromhershoulderswithasoftrustlingsoundwhichseemedtoconveyherintentiontostay。

"Areyoutoobusytobeinterrupted？"sheasked，hermellowvoicecaressinghim。"IwanttotalktoyouaboutsomethingIamgoingtodo。"Sheputoutherhandandlaiditonhiswithaclingingfirmnesswhichmeantstrongfeeling。

"Atleast，Iamgoingtodoitifyouwillhelpme，"sheended。

"Whatisit，Betty？"heinquired，hisusualinterestinheraccentuatedbyhermanner。

Shelaidherotherhandonhisandheclaspedbothwithhisown。

"WhentheWorthingtonssailforEnglandnextmonth，"

sheexplained，"Iwanttogowiththem。Mrs。WorthingtonisverykindandwillbegoodenoughtotakecareofmeuntilIreachLondon。"

Mr。Vanderpoelmovedslightlyinhischair。Thentheireyesmetcomprehendingly。Hesawwhathersheld。

"FromthereyouaregoingtoStornhamCourt！"heexclaimed。

"ToseeRosy，"sheanswered，leaningalittleforward。"ToSEEher。

"Youbelievethatwhathashappenedhasnotbeenherfault？"hesaid。Therewasalookinherfacewhichwarmedhisblood。

"IhavealwaysbeensurethatNigelAnstruthersarrangedit。"

"Doyouthinkhehasbeenunkindtoher？"

"Iamgoingtosee，"sheanswered。

"Betty，"hesaid，"tellmeallaboutit。"

Heknewthatthiswasnosuddenly—formedplan，andheknewitwouldbewellworthwhiletohearthedetailsofitsgrowth。Itwassointerestinglylikehertohaveremainedsilentthroughtheprocessofthinkingathingout，evolvingherfinalideawithouthavingdisturbedhimbybringingtohimanychaoticuncertainties。

"It’sasortofconfession，"sheanswered。"Father，Ihavebeenthinkingaboutitforyears。IsaidnothingbecauseforsolongIknewIwasonlyachild，andachild’sjudgmentmightbeworthsolittle。ButthroughallthoseyearsIwaslearningthingsandgatheringevidence。WhenIwasatschool，firstinonecountryandthenanother，IusedtotellmyselfthatIwasgrowingupandpreparingmyselftodoaparticularthing——togotorescueRosy。"

"Iusedtoguessyouthoughtofherinawayofyourown，"

Vanderpoelsaid，"butIdidnotguessyouwerethinkingthatmuch。Youwerealwaysasolid，loyallittlething，andtherewasbusinesscapacityinyourkeepingyourschemetoyourself。

Letuslookthematterintheface。Supposeshedoesnotneedrescuing。Suppose，afterall，sheisacomfortable，fineladyandadoresherhusband。Whatthen？"

"IfIshouldfindthattobetrue，Iwillbehavemyselfverywell——asifwehadexpectednothingelse。Iwillmakeherashortvisitandcomeaway。LadyCeciliaOrme，whomI

knewinFlorence，hasaskedmetostaywithherinLondon。I

willgotoher。Sheisacharmingwoman。ButImustfirstseeRosy——SEEher。"

Mr。Vanderpoelthoughtthematteroverduringafewmomentsofsilence。

"Youdonotwishyourmothertogowithyou？"hesaidpresently。

"Ibelieveitwillbebetterthatsheshouldnot，"sheanswered。"Iftherearedifficultiesordisappointmentsshewouldbetoounhappy。"

"Yes，"hesaidslowly，"andshecouldnotcontrolherfeelings。Shewouldgivethewholethingaway，poorgirl。"

Hehadbeenlookingatthecarpetreflectively，andnowhelookedatBettina。

"Whatareyouexpectingtofind，attheworst？"heaskedher。"Thekindofthingwhichwillneedmanagementwhileitisbeinglookedinto？"

"IdonotknowwhatIamexpectingtofind，"washerreply。

"Weknowabsolutelynothing；butthatRosywasfondofus，andthathermarriagehasseemedtomakeherceasetocare。

Shewasnotlikethat；shewasnotlikethat！Wasshe，father？"

"No，shewasn’t，"heexclaimed。Thememoryofherinhershort—frockedandearlygirlishdays，apretty，smiling，effusivething，giventolavishcaressesandaffectionatelittlesurprisesforthemall，camebacktohimvividly。"ShewasthemostaffectionategirlIeverknew，"hesaid。"Shewasmoreaffectionatethanyou，Betty，"withasmile。

Bettinasmiledinreturnandbentherheadtoputakissonhishand，awarm，lovely，comprehendingkiss。

"IfshehadbeendifferentIshouldnothavethoughtsomuchofthechange，"shesaid。"IbelievethatpeoplearealwaysmoreorlessLIKEthemselvesaslongastheylive。WhathasseemedtohappenhasbeensounlikeRosythattheremustbesomereasonforit。"

"Youthinkthatshehasbeenpreventedfromseeingus？"

"IthinkitsopossiblethatIamnotgoingtoannouncemyvisitbeforehand。"

"Youhaveagoodhead，Betty，"herfathersaid。

"IfSirNigelhasputobstaclesinourwaybefore，hewilldoitagain。Ishalltrytofindout，whenIreachLondon，ifRosalieisatStornham。WhenIamsuresheisthere，Ishallgoandpresentmyself。IfSirNigelmeetsmeattheparkgatesandordershisgamekeeperstodrivemeoffthepremises，weshallatleastknowthathehassomereasonfornotwishingtoregardtheusualsocialanddomesticamenities。Ifeelratherlikeadetective。Itentertainsmeandexcitesmealittle。"

Thedeepblueofhereyesshoneundertheshadowoftheextravagantlashesasshelaughed。

"AreyouwillingthatIshouldgo，father？"shesaidnext。

"Yes，"heanswered。"Iamwillingtotrustyou，Betty，todothingsIwouldnottrustothergirlstotryat。Ifyouwerenotmygirlatall，ifyouwereamanonWallStreet，Ishouldknowyouwouldbeprettysafetocomeoutalittlemorethaneveninanyventureyoumade。Youknowhowtokeepcool。"

Bettinapickedupherfallencloakandlaiditoverherarm。

ItwasmadeofbillowyfrillsofMalineslace，suchasonlyVanderpoelscouldbuy。Shelookeddownattheamazingthingandtouchedupthefrillswithherfingersasshewhimsicallysmiled。

"Thereareagoodmanygirlswhocanhetrustedtodothingsinthesedays，"shesaid。"Womenhavefoundoutsomuch。Perhapsitisbecausetheheroinesofnovelshaveinformedthem。Heroinesandheroesalwaysbringinthenewfashionsincharacter。Ibelieveitisyearssinceaheroine`burstintoafloodoftears。’Ithasbeendiscovered，really，thatnothingistobegainedbyit。WhatsoeverIfindatStornhamCourt，Ishallneitherweepnorbehelpless。ThereistheAtlanticcable，youknow。Perhapsthatisoneofthereasonswhyheroineshavechanged。Whentheycouldnotescapefromtheirpersecutorsexceptinastagecoach，andcouldnotsendtelegrams，theyweremoreorlessineveryone’shands。Itisdifferentnow。Thankyou，father，youareverygoodtobelieveinme。"

CHAPTERVII

ONBOARDTHE"MERIDIANA"

Alargetransatlanticsteamerlyingatthewharfonabrilliant，sunnymorningjustbeforeitsdepartureisaninterestingandsuggestiveobjecttothosewhoarefondoffollowingsuggestiontoitsend。Onesometimeswondersifitispossiblethattheexcitementinthedockatmospherecouldeverbecomeathingtowhichonewassufficientlyaccustomedtobeabletoregarditasamongthingscommonplace。Therumblingandrattlingofwaggonsandcarts，theloadingandunloadingofboxesandbales，thepeoplewhoarelate，andthepeoplewhoareearly，thefaceswhichareexcited，andthefaceswhicharesad，thetrunksandbales，andcraneswhichcreakandgroan，theshoutsandcries，thehurryandconfusionofmovement，notwithstandingthateverydayhasseenthemallforyears，haveasortofperennialinteresttothelooker—on。

Thisis，perhaps，moreespeciallythecasewhenthelooker—onistobeapassengerontheoutgoingship；andtheexhilarationofhispointofviewmaygreatlydependuponthereasonforhisvoyageandtheclassbywhichhetravels。Gaietyandyouthusuallyappearuponthepromenadedeck，havingtakensaloonpassage。Dulness，commerce，andeldminglingwiththem，itistrue，butwithadiscretionwhichdoesnotseemtodominate。

Second—classpassengerswearamorepracticalaspect，andyouthamongthemisrarerandmoregrave。Peoplewhomusttravelsecondandthirdclassmakevoyagesforutilitarianreasons。

Theirobjectisusuallytobetterthemselvesinonewayoranother。WhentheyaregoingfromLiverpooltoNewYork，itisusuallytoenteruponneweffortsandnewlabours。WhentheyarereturningfromNewYorktoLiverpool，itisoftenbecausethenewlifehasprovedlesstobedependeduponthantheold，andtheyarebearingbackwiththembitternessofsoulanddiscouragementofspirit。

OnthebrilliantspringmorningwhenthehugelinerMeridianawastosailforEnglandayoungman，whowasasecond—classpassenger，leanedupontheship’srailandwatchedtheturmoilonthewharfwithadetachedandnotatallbuoyantair。

Hisairwasdetachedbecausehehadotherthingsinhismindthanthosemerelypassingbeforehim，andhewasnotbuoyantbecausetheywerenotcheerfulorencouragingsubjectsforreflection。Hewasabigyoungman，wellhungtogether，andcarryinghimselfwell；hisfacewassquare—jawedandrugged，andhehaddarkredhairrestrainedbyitsclosecutfromwavingstronglyonhisforehead。Hiseyeswereredbrown，andafewdarkfrecklesmarkedhisclearskin。Hewasoftheorderofmanonelooksattwice，havinglookedathimonce，thoughonedoesnotintheleastknowwhy，unlessonefinallyreachessomedegreeofintimacy。

Hewatchedthevehicles，heavyandlight，rollintothebigshed—likebuildinganddeposittheirfreight；heheardthevoicesandcaughtthesentencesofinstructionandcomment；hesawboxesandbaleshauledfromthedocksidetothedeckandswungbelowwiththerattlingofmachineryandchains。Buttheseformedmerelyanoisybackgroundtohismood，whichwasself—centredandgloomy。Hewasoneofthosewhogobacktotheirnativelandknowingthemselvesconquered。HehadleftEnglandtwoyearsbefore，feelingobstinatelydeterminedtoaccomplishacertaindifficultthing，butforcesofnaturecombiningwiththecircumstancesofpreviouseducationandlivinghadbeatenhim。Hehadlosttwoyearsandallthemoneyhehadventured。Hewasgoingbacktotheplacehehadcomefrom，andhewascarryingwithhimasenseofhavingbeenusedhardlybyfortune，andinawayhehadnotdeserved。

HehadgoneouttotheWestwiththeintentionofworkinghardandusinghishandsaswellashisbrains；hehadnotbeensqueamish；hehad，infact，labouredlikeaploughman；andtobeobligedtogiveinhadbeengallingandbitter。Therearehumanbeingsintowhoseconsciousnessofthemselvesthepossibilityofbeingbeatendoesnotenter。Thismanwasoneofthem。

Theshipwasofthehugeandluxuriously—fittedclassbywhichtherichandfortunatearetransportedfromonecontinenttoanother。Passengerscouldindulgethemselvesinsuitesofroomsandlivesumptuously。Asthemanleaningontheraillookedon，hesawmessengersbearingbasketsandboxesoffruitandflowerswithcardsandnotesattached，hurryingupthegangwaytodeliverthemtowaitingstewards。Thesewerethefarewellofferingstobeplacedinstaterooms，ortoawaittheirownersonthesaloontables。Salter——thesecond—classpassenger’snamewasSalter——hadseenafewsuchofferingsbeforeonthefirstcrossing。ButtherehadnotbeensuchlavishnessatLiverpool。ItwastheNewYorkerswhoweresumptuousinsuchmatters，ashehadbeentold。Hehadalsoheardcasuallythatthepassengerlistonthisvoyagewastorecordimportantnames，thenamesofmulti—millionairepeoplewhoweregoingoverfortheLondonseason。

Twostewardstalkingnearhim，earlierinthemorning，hadbeenexultingovertheprobablelargessesuchalistwouldresultinattheendofthepassage。

"TheWorthingtonsandtheHiramsandtheJohnWilliamSpayters，"saidone。"Theytravelallright。Theyknowwhattheywantandtheywantagooddeal，andthey’rewillingtopayforit。"

"Yes。They’renotschoolteachersgoingovertoimprovetheirmindsandcontrivingtocrossinabigshipbyeconomisingineverythingelse。MissVanderpoel’ssailingwiththeWorthingtons。She’sgotthebestsuitealltoherself。She’llbringbackadukeoroneofthoseprincefellows。HowmanymillionshasVanderpoel？"