第8章

"Howmanymillions。Howmanyhundredmillions！"saidhiscompanion，gloatingcheerfullyoverthevastnessofunknownpossibilities。"I’vecrossedwithMissVanderpoeloften，twoorthreetimeswhenshewasinshortfrocks。She’sthekindofgirlyoureadabout。Andshe’sgotmoneyenoughtobuyinhalfadozenprinces。"

"ThereareNewYorkerswhowon’tlikeitifshedoes，"

returnedtheother。"There’sbeentoomuchmoneygoingoutofthecountry。HersuiteiscrammedfullofJackroses，now，andthereareboxeswaitingoutside。"

Saltermovedawayandheardnomore。Hemovedaway，infact，becausehewasconsciousthattoamaninhiscase，thisdwellinguponmillions，thisplethoraofwealth，wasalittlerevolting。HehadwalkeddownBroadwayandseenthepriceofJacqueminotroses，andhewasnotsoothedoralluredatthisparticularmomentbythepictureofagirlwhosehalf—dozencabinswerecrowdedwiththem。

"Oh，thedevil！"hesaid。"Itsoundsvulgar。"Andhewalkedupanddownfast，squaringhisshoulders，withhishandsinthepocketsofhisrough，well—worncoat。HehadseeninEnglandsomethingoftheAmericanyoungwomanwithmillionairerelatives。HehadbeenscarcelymorethanaboywhentheAmericanfloodfirstbegantorise。Hehadbeenoldenough，however，tohearpeopletalk。Ashehadgrownolder，Salterhadobserveditsadvance。EnglishmenhadmarriedAmericanbeauties。AmericanfortuneshadbuiltupEnglishhouses，whichotherwisethreatenedtofallintodecay。ThentheAmericanfacultyofadaptabilitycameintoplay。Anglo—

AmericanwivesbecamesometimesmoreEnglishthantheirhusbands。TheyproceededtoAnglicisetheirrelations，theirrelations’clothes，even，intime，theirspeech。TheycarriedorsentEnglishconventionstotheStates，theirbrothersorderedtheirclothesfromWestEndtailors，theirsistersbegantowearwalkingdresses，toplayout—of—doorgamesandtakeactiveexercise。TheirmotherstentativelytookhousesinLondonorParis，therecameaperiodwhentheirfathersoruncles，seriousoranxiousbusinessmen，themostunsportingofhumanbeings，rentedcastlesormanorswithhugemoorsandcoversattachedandentertainedlargepartiesofshootersorfisherswhocouldbeluredtoanyquarterbythepromiseoftheparticularformofslaughterforwhichtheyburned。

"SheerAmericanbusinessperspicacity，that，"saidSalter，ashemarchedupanddown，thinkingofaparticularcaseofthisorder。"There’ssomethingadmirableinthepracticalwaytheymakeforwhattheywant。TheywanttoamalgamatewithEnglishpeople，notfortheirownsake，butbecausetheirwomenlikeit，andsotheyofferthementhousandsofacresfullofthingstokill。Theycangetthembypayingforthem，andtheyknowhowtopay。"Helaughedalittle，liftinghissquareshoulders。"Balthamor’ssixthousandacresofgrousemoorandElsty’ssalmonfishingarerentedbytheChicagoman。Hedoesn’tcaretwopenceforthem，anddoesnotknowapheasantfromacaper—cailzie，buthiswifewantstoknowmenwhodo。"

ItmustbeconfessedthatSalterwasoftheEnglishwhowerenotpleasedwiththeAmericanInvasion。Insomeofhisviewsofthematterhewasalittleprehistoricandsavage，butthemodernsideofhischaracterwastoointelligenttolackreason。Hewasbynomeansentirelymodern，however；alargepartofhisnaturebelongedtotheageinwhichmenhadfoughtfiercelyforwhattheywantedtogetorkeep，andwhentheamenitiesofcommercehadnotbecomepowerfulfactorsinexistence。

"They’renotabadlot，"hewasthinkingatthismoment。

"Theyareratherfineinaway。Theyarecleverandpowerfulandinteresting——moresothantheyknowthemselves。Butitisallcommerce。Theydon’tcomeandfightwithusandgetpossessionofusbyforce。Theycomeandbuyus。Theybuyourlandandourhomes，andourlandowners，forthatmatter——

whentheydon’tbuythem，theysendtheirwomentomarrythem，confoundit！"

Hetookhalfadozenmorestridesandliftedhisshouldersagain。

"BeggarlylotasIam，"hesaid，"unlikelyasitseemsthatIcanmarryatall，I’mhangedifIdon’tmarryanEnglishwoman，ifIgivemylifetoawomanatall。"

But，infact，hewasoftheopinionthatheshouldnevergivehislifetoanywoman，andthiswasbecausehewas，atthisperiod，alsooftheopinionthattherewassmallprospectofitseverbeingworththegivingortaking。Ithadbeenoneofthoseliveswhichbeginuntowardlyandareruledbyunfaircircumstances。

Hehadaparticularlywell—cutandexpressivemouth，and，ashewentbacktotheship’ssideandleanedonhisfoldedarmsontherailagain，itscurvesconcealedagooddealofstrongfeeling。

Thewharfwasbusierthanbefore。Inlessthanhalfanhourtheshipwastosail。Thebustleandconfusionhadincreased。Therewerepeoplehurryingaboutlookingforfriends，andtherewerepeoplescribblingoffexcitedfarewellmessagesatthetelegraphoffice。Thesituationwasworkinguptoitsclimax。Anobservinglooker—onmightcatchglimpsesofemotionalscenes。Manyofthepassengerswerealreadyonboard，partiesofthemaccompaniedbytheirfriendsweremakingtheirwayupthegangplank。

Salterhadjustbeenwatchingaluxuriouslycared—forlittleinvalidwomanbeingcarriedondeckinarecliningchair，whenhisattentionwasattractedbythesoundoftramplinghoofsandrollingwheels。Twonoticeablybigandsmartcarriageshaddrivenuptothestopping—placeforvehicles。Theyweregorgeouslyofthelatestmode，andtheirtall，satin—skinnedhorsesjangledsilverchainsandsteppeduptotheirnoses。

"HerecometheWorthingtons，whosoevertheymaybe，"

thoughtSalter。"Thefineup—standingyoungwomanis，nodoubt，themulti—millionairess。"

Thefine，up—standingyoungwomanWASthemulti—millionairess。

Bettinawalkedupthegangwayinthesunshine，andthepassengersupontheupperdeckcranedtheirneckstolookather。Hercarriageofherheadandshouldersinvariablymadepeopleturntolook。

"My，ain’tshefine—looking！"exclaimedanexcitedladybeholderabove。"IguessthatmustbeMissVanderpoel，themulti—millionaire’sdaughter。Janetoldmeshe’dheardshewascrossingthistrip。"

Bettinaheardher。Shesometimeswonderedifshewaseverpointedout，ifhernamewasevermentionedwithouttheadditionoftheexplanatorystatementthatshewasthemulti—millionaire’sdaughter。Asachildshehadthoughtitridiculousandtiresome，asshehadgrownoldershehadfeltthatonlyaremarkableindividualitycouldsurmountafactsoeverpresent。

Itwaslikeatremendousqualitywhichovershadowedeverythingelse。

"Itwoundsmyvanity，Ihavenodoubt，"shehadsaidtoherfather。"Nobodyeverseesme，theyonlyseeyouandyourmillionsandmillionsofdollars。"

Salterwatchedherpassupthegangway。Thephasethroughwhichhewaslivingwasnotoftheorderwhichleadsamantodwelluponthebeautifulandinspiritingasexpressedbythefemaleimage。Successandthehopefulnesswhichengenderwarmthofsoulandquicknessofheartarerequiredforthedevelopmentofsuchallurements。HethoughtoftheVanderpoelmillionsastheladyonthedeckhadthoughtofthem，andinhismindsomehowthegirlherselfappearedtoexpressthem。Therichup—springingsweepofherabundanthair，herheight，hercolouring，theremarkableshadeandlengthofherlashes，thefullcurveofhermouth，all，hetoldhimself，lookedexpensive，asifevennatureherselfhadbeengivencarteblanche，andthebestpossiblearticlesprocuredforthemoney。

"Shemoves，"hethoughtsardonically，"asifshewereperfectlyawarethatshecouldpayforanything。Anunlimitedincome，nodoubt，establishesintheownertheequivalenttoasenseofrank。"

Hechangedhispositionforoneinwhichhecouldcommandaviewofthepromenadedeckwherethearrivingpassengersweregraduallyappearing。Hedidthisfromtheidleandcarelesscuriositywhich，thoughitisnotamatterofabsoluteinterest，doesnotobjecttobeingentertainedbypassingobjects。HesawtheWorthingtonpartyreappear。ItstruckSalterthattheylookednotsomuchlikepersonscomingonboardaship，aslikepeoplewhowerereturningtoahoteltowhichtheywereaccustomed，andwhichwasalsoaccustomedtothem。HearguedthattheyhadprobablycrossedtheAtlanticinnumerabletimesinthisparticularsteamer。Thedeckstewardsknewthemandmadeobeisancewithempressement。MissVanderpoelnoddedtothestewardSalterhadhearddiscussingher。Shegavehimasmileofrecognitionandpausedamomenttospeaktohim。Saltersawhersweepthedeckwithherglanceandthendesignateasequesteredcorner，suchastheexperiencedvoyagerwouldrecogniseasbeingdesirablysheltered。Shewasevidentlygivinganorderconcerningtheplacingofherdeckchair，whichwaspresentlybrought。Anelegantlyneatanddecorouspersoninblack，whowasevidentlyhermaid，appearedlater，followedbyastewardwhocarriedcushionsandsumptuousfurrugs。Thesebeingarranged，adelightfulcornerwasleftalluringlyprepared。MissVanderpoel，afterherinstructionstothedecksteward，hadjoinedherpartyandseemedtobeawaitingsomearrivalanxiously。

"Sheknowshowtodoherselfwell，"Saltercommented，"andsherealisesthatforethoughtisapracticalfactor。Millionshavebeenproductiveofcomposure。Itisnotunnatural，either。"

Itwasbutashorttimelaterthatthewarningbellwasrung。Stewardspassedthroughthecrowdscallingout，"Allashore，ifyouplease——allashore。"Finalembraceswereinorderonallsides。Peopleshookhandswithfervourandlaughedalittlenervously。WomenkissedeachotherandpouredforthhurriedmessagestobedeliveredontheothersideoftheAtlantic。Havingkissedandparted，someofthemrushedbackandindulgedinlittleclutchesagain。NotwithstandingthatthetideofhumanitysurgesacrosstheAtlanticalmostasregularlyasthedailytidesurgesinonitsshores，awaveofemotionsweepsthrougheveryshipatsuchpartings。

Salterstoodondeckandwatchedthecrowddispersing。

Someofthepeoplewerelaughingandsomehadredeyes。

Groupscollectedonthewharfandtriedtosaystillmorelastwordstotheirfriendscrowdingagainsttherail。

TheWorthingtonskepttheirplacesandwerestilllookingout，bythistimedisappointedly。Itseemedthatthefriendorfriendstheyexpectedwerenotcoming。SaltersawthatMissVanderpoellookedmoredisappointedthantherest。Sheleanedforwardandstrainedhereyestosee。Justatthelastmomenttherewasthesoundoftramplinghorsesandrollingwheelsagain。Fromthearrivingcarriagedescendedhastilyanelderlywoman，wholiftedoutalittleboyexcitedalmosttotears。Hewasadear，chubbylittlepersoninflappingsailortrousers，andhecarriedasplendidly—caparisonedtoydonkeyinhisarms。

Saltercouldnothelpfeelingslightlyexcitedhimselfastheyrushedforward。Hewonderediftheywerepassengerswhowouldbeleftbehind。

Theywerenotpassengers，butthearrivalsMissVanderpoelhadbeenexpectingsoardently。Theyhadcometosaygood—byetoherandweretoolateforthat，atleast，asthegangwaywasjustabouttobewithdrawn。

MissVanderpoelleanedforwardwithanamazinglyfervidexpressiononherface。

"Tommy！Tommy！"shecriedtothelittleboy。"HereIam，Tommy。Wecansaygood—byefromhere。"

Thelittleboy，lookingup，brokeintoawailofdespair。

"Betty！Betty！Betty！"hecried。"Iwantedtokissyou，Betty。"

Bettyheldoutherarms。Shediditwithentireforgetfulnessoftheexistenceofanylookers—on，andwithsuchoutreachingloveonherfacethatitseemedasifthechildmustfeelhertouch。Shemadeabeautiful，warm，consolingbudofhermouth。

"We’llkisseachotherfromhere，Tommy，"shesaid。

"See，wecan。Kissme，andIwillkissyou。"

Tommyheldouthisarmsandthemagnificentdonkey。

"Betty，"hecried，"Ibroughtyoumydonkey。Iwantedtogiveittoyouforapresent，becauseyoulikedit。"

MissVanderpoelbentfurtherforwardandaddressedtheelderlywoman。

"Matilda，"shesaid，"pleasepackMasterTommy’spresentandsendittome！Iwantitverymuch。"

Tendersmilesirradiatedthesmallface。Thegangwaywaswithdrawn，and，amidthefamiliarsoundsofabigcraft’sfirststruggle，theshipbegantomove。MissVanderpoelstillbentforwardandheldoutherarms。

"Iwillsooncomeback，Tommy，"shecried，"andwearealwaysfriends。"

Thechildheldouthisshortbluesergearmsalso，andSalterwatchinghimcouldnotbutbetouchedforallhisgloomofmind。

"Iwantedtokissyou，Betty，"heheardinfarewell。"I

didsowanttokissyou。"

Andsotheysteamedawayupontheblue。

CHAPTERVIII

THESECOND—CLASSPASSENGER

Uptoacertainpointthevoyagewaslikeallothervoyages。

Duringthefirsttwodaystherewerepassengerswhodidnotappearondeck，butastheweatherwasfairfortheseasonoftheyear，therewerefewerabsenteesthanisusual。Indeed，onthethirddaythedeckchairswereallfilled，peoplewhoweregiventotrampingduringtheirvoyageshadbeguntowalktheircustomaryquotaofcarefully—measuredmilestheday。

Therewereafewpalefacesdozinghereandthere，butthegeneralaspectofthingshadbeguntobesprightly。Shuffleboardplayersandquoitenthusiastsbegantobestirthemselves，thedeckstewardappearedregularlywithlightrepastsofbeefteaandbiscuits，andthebrillianthuesofred，blue，oryellownovelsmadefrequentspotsofcolouruponthepromenade。

Personsofsomeinitiativewenttothelengthofmakingtentativeobservationstotheirnext—chairneighbours。Thesecond—cabinpassengerswerecheerful，andthesteeragepassengers，havingtumbledup，formedfriendlygroupsandbegantojokewitheachother。

TheWorthingtonshadplainlythegoodfortunetoberespectablesailors。Theyreappearedontheseconddayandestablishedregularhabits，afterthemannerofaccustomedtravellers。MissVanderpoel’shabitswereregularfromthefirst，andwhenSaltersawherhewasimpressedevenmoreattheoutsetwithherairofbeingathomeinsteadofonboardship。Herpracticallywell—chosencornerwasanagreeableplacetolookat。Herchairwasbuiltforeaseofangleandwidth，hercushionswereofdarkrichcolours，hertravellingrugswereofblackfoxfur，andsheownedanadjustabletableforbooksandaccompaniments。Sheappearedearlyinthemorningandwalkeduntiltheseaaircrimsonedhercheeks，shesatandreadwithevidentenjoyment，shetalkedtohercompanionsandplainlyentertainedthem。

Salter，beingboredandinbadspirits，foundhimselfwatchingherratheroften，butheknewthatbutforthesmall，comicepisodeofTommy，hewouldhavedefinitelydislikedher。Thedislikewouldnothavebeenfair，butitwouldhaveexistedinspiteofhimself。Itwouldnothavebeenfairbecauseitwouldhavebeenfoundedsimplyupontheignobleresentmentofenvy，uponthepoortruththathewasnotinthestateofmindtoavoidresentingtheinjusticeoffateinbestowingmulti—millionsupononepersonandhisoffspring。Heresentedhisownresentment，butwasobligedtoacknowledgeitsexistenceinhishumour。Hehimself，especiallyandpeculiarly，hadalwaysknownthebitternessofpoverty，thehumiliationofseeingwheremoneycouldbewellused，indeed，oughttobeused，andatthesametimehavinggroundintohimthefactthattherewasnomoneytolayone’shandon。Hehadhateditevenasaboy，becauseinhiscase，andthatofhispeople，thewholethingwasundignifiedandunbecoming。Itwashumiliatingtohimnowtobringhometohimselfthefactthatthethingforwhichhewasinclinedtodislikethistall，up—standinggirlwasherunconscious（herealisedtheunconsciousnessofit）airofhavingalwayslivedintheatmosphereofmillions，ofneverhavingknownareasonwhysheshouldnothaveanythingshehadadesirefor。Perhaps，uponthewhole，hesaidtohimself，itwashisownillluckandsenseofdefeatwhichmadehercorner，withitscushionsandcomforts，herproperlyattentivemaid，andhercoldweathersablesexpressiveofafortunetoocolossaltobedecent。

Theepisodeoftheplump，despairingTommyhehadliked，however。Therehadbeenafinenaturalnessaboutitandafinepracticalnessinherpromptordertotheelderlynursethattherichly—caparisoneddonkeyshouldbesenttoher。Thishadatoncemadeitcleartothedonorthathisgiftwastoovaluabletobeleftbehind。

"Shedidnotcaretwopenceforthelotofus，"washissummingup。"Shemighthavebeennothingbutthenicestpossiblewarm—heartednursemaidoracottagewomanwholovedthechild。"

Hewasquiteawarethatthoughhehadfoundhimselfmorethanonceobservingher，sheherselfhadprobablynotrecognisedthetrivialfactofhisexistinguponthatothersideofthebarrierwhichseparatedthehighergradeofpassengerfromthelower。Therewas，indeed，noreasonwhysheshouldhavesingledhimoutforobservation，andshewas，infact，toofrequentlyabsorbedinherownreflectionstobeintheframeofmindtoremarkherfellowpassengerstotheextentwhichwasgenerallycustomarywithher。DuringhercrossingsoftheAtlanticsheusuallymadementalobservationofthepeopleonboard。Thistime，whenshewasnottalkingtotheWorthingtons，orreading，shewasthinkingofthepossibilitiesofhervisittoStornham。Sheusedtowalkaboutthedeckthinkingofthemand，sittinginherchair，sumthemupashereyesrestedontherollingandbreakingwaves。

Thereweremanythingstobeconsidered，andoneofthefirstwastheperfectlysanesuggestionherfatherhadmade。

"Supposeshedoesnotwanttoberescued？Supposeyoufindheracomfortablefineladywhoadoresherhusband。"

Suchathingwaspossible，thoughBettinadidnotthinkitprobable。Sheintended，however，toprepareherselfevenforthis。IfshefoundLadyAnstruthersplumpandroseate，pleasedwithherselfandherposition，shewasquiteequaltomakinghervisitappearacasualandconventionalaffair。

"Ioughttowishittobeso，"shethought，"and，yet，howdisappointinglyIshouldfeelshehadchanged。Still，evenethicalreasonswouldnotexcuseoneforwishinghertobemiserable。"Shewasacreaturewithanumberofpassionateidealswhichwarredfrequentlywiththepracticalsideofhermentality。Oftensheusedtowalkupanddownthedeckorleanupontheship’sside，hereyesstormywithemotions。

"IdonotwanttofindRosyaheartlesswoman，andIdonotwanttofindherwretched。WhatdoIwant？Onlytheusualthing——thatwhatcannotbeundonehadneverbeendone。

Peoplearealwayswishingthat。"

Shewasstandingnearthesecond—cabinbarrierthinkingthis，thefirsttimeshesawthepassengerwiththeredhair。

Shehadpausedbymerechance，andwhilehereyeswerestormywithherthought，shesuddenlybecameconsciousthatshewaslookingdirectlyintoothereyesasdarklingasherown。Theywerethoseofamanonthewrongsideofthebarrier。Hehadatroubled，broodingface，and，astheirgazemet，eachofthemstartedslightlyandturnedawaywiththesenseofhavingunconsciouslyintrudedandhavingbeenintrudedupon。

"Thatrough—lookingman，"shecommentedtoherself，"isasanxiousanddisturbedasIam。"

Salterdidlookrough，itwastrue。Hiswell—wornclotheshadsufferedsomewhatfromtherestrictionsofasecond—classcabinsharedwithtwoothermen。Buttheaspectwhichhadpresenteditselftoherbriefglancehadbeennotsomuchroughnessofclothingasofmoodexpressingitselfinhiscountenance。Hewasthinkingharshlyandangrilyofthelifeaheadofhim。

Theselooksoftheirswhichhadsoinadvertentlyencounteredeachotherwereofthatorderwhichsometimesstartlesonewheninpassingastrangeronefindsone’seyesentangledforasecondinhisorhers，asthecasemaybe。Atsuchtimesitseemsforthatinstantdifficulttodisentangleone’sgaze。

Butneitherofthesetwothoughtoftheothermuch，afterhurryingaway。Eachwastoofullymasteredbypersonalmood。

Therewould，indeed，havebeennoreasonfortheirencounteringeachotherfurtherbutfor"theaccident，"asitwascalledwhenspokenofafterwards，theaccidentwhichmightsoeasilyhavebeenacatastrophe。Itoccurredthatnight。Thiswastwonightsbeforetheyweretoland。

Everybodyhadbeguntocomeundertheinfluenceofthatcheerfulnessofhumour，thesenseofreliefborderingongaiety，whichgenerallyelatespeoplewhenavoyageisdrawingtoaclose。Ifonehasbeendull，onebeginstogatherone’sselftogether，rejoicedthattheboredomisover。Inanycase，thereareplanstobemade，thoughtof，ordiscussed。

"YouwishtogotoStornhamatonce？"Mrs。WorthingtonsaidtoBettina。"HowpleasedLadyAnstruthersandSirNigelmustbeattheideaofseeingyouwiththemaftersolong。"

"IcanscarcelytellyouhowIamlookingforwardtoit，"

Bettyanswered。

Shesatinhercorneramonghercushionslookingatthedarkwaterwhichseemedtosweeppasttheship，andlisteningtothethroboftheengines。Shewasnotgay。Shewaswonderinghowfartheplansshehadmadewouldprovefeasible。

Mrs。WorthingtonwasnotawarethathervisittoStornhamCourtwastobeunannounced。Ithadnotbeennecessarytoexplainthematter。Thewholeaffairwassimpleanddecorousenough。MissVanderpoelwastobidgood—byetoherfriendsandgoatoncetohersister，LadyAnstruthers，whosehusband’scountryseatwasbutashortjourneyfromLondon。

Bettinaandherfatherhadarrangedthatthefactshouldbekeptfromthesocietyparagraphist。Thishadrequiredsomeadroitmanagement，buthadactuallybeenaccomplished。

Asthewavesswishedpasther，Bettinawassayingtoherself，"WhatwillRosysaywhensheseesme！WhatshallIsaywhenIseeRosy？Wearedrawingnearertoeachotherwitheverywavethatpasses。"

Afogwhichsweptupsuddenlysentthemallbelowratherearly。TheWorthingtonslaughedandtalkedalittleintheirstaterooms，butpresentlybecamequietandhadevidentlygonetobed。Bettinawasrestlessandmovedaboutherroomaloneaftershehadsentawayhermaid。Sheatlastsatdownandfinishedalettershehadbeenwritingtoherfather。

"AsIneartheland，"shewrote，"Ifeelasortofexcitement。

Severaltimesto—dayIhaverecalledsodistinctlythepictureofRosyasIsawherlast，whenweallstoodcrowdeduponthewharfatNewYorktoseeheroff。SheandNigelwereleaningupontherailoftheupperdeck。Shelookedsuchadelicate，airylittlecreature，quitelikeaprettyschoolgirlwithtearsinhereyes。Shewaslaughingandcryingatthesametime，andkissingbothherhandstousagainandagain。Iwascryingpassionatelymyself，thoughItriedtoconcealthefact，andIrememberthateachtimeIlookedfromRosytoNigel’sheavyfacethepoignancyofmyanguishmademebreakforthagain。IwonderifitwasbecauseIwasachild，thathelookedsuchacontemptuousbrute，evenwhenhepretendedtosmile。

Itistwelveyearssincethen。Iwonder——howIwonder，whatIshallfind。"

Shestoppedwritingandsatafewmoments，herchinuponherhand，thinking。Suddenlyshesprangtoherfeetinalarm。

Thestillnessofthenightwasbrokenbywildshouts，arunningoffeetoutside，atumultofmingledsoundsandmotion，adashandrushofsurgingwater，astrangethumpingandstrainingofengines，andamomentlatershewashurledfromonesideofherstateroomtotheotherbyacrashingshockwhichseemedtoheavetheshipoutofthesea，shudderingasiftheendofallthingshadcome。

Itwassosuddenandhorribleathingthat，thoughshehadonlybeenflunguponapileofrugsandcushionsandwasunhurt，shefeltasifshehadbeenstruckontheheadandplungedintowilddelirium。Abovethesoundofthedashingandrockingwaves，thestrainingandroaringofhackingenginesandthepandemoniumofvoicesrosefromoneendoftheshiptotheother，onewild，despairing，long—drawnshriekofwomenandchildren。Bettinaturnedsickatthemadterrorinit——

theinsensate，awfulhorror。

"Somethinghasrunintous！"shegasped，gettingupwithherheartleapinginherthroat。

ShecouldheartheWorthingtons’tempestofterrifiedconfusionthroughthepartitionsbetweenthem，andsherememberedafterwardsthatinthespaceoftwoorthreeseconds，andinthemidstoftheirclamour，ahundredincongruousthoughtsleapedthroughherbrain。Perhapstheywerethismomentgoingdown。Nowsheknewwhatitwaslike！Thisthingshehadreadofinnewspapers！Nowshewasgoingdowninmid—ocean，she，BettyVanderpoel！And，asshesprangtoclutchherfurcoat，thereflashedbeforehermentalvisionagruesomepictureoftheheadlinesinthenewspapersandtheinevitablereferencetothemillionssherepresented。

"Imustkeepcalm，"sheheardherselfsay，asshefastenedthelongcoat，clenchingherteethtokeepthemfromchattering。

"PoorDaddy——poorDaddy！"