第9章

Maddeningnewsoundswereallabouther，soundsofwaterdashingandchurning，soundsofvoicesbellowingoutcommands，strainingandleapingsoundsoftheengines。Whatwasit——whatwasit？Shemustatleastfindout。Everybodywasgoingmadinthestaterooms，thestewardswererushingabout，tryingtoquietpeople，theirownvoicesshakingandbreakingintocrackednotes。Iftheworsthadhappened，everyonewouldbefightingforlifeinafewminutes。Outondeckshemustgetandfindoutforherselfwhattheworstwas。

Shewasthefirstwomanoutside，thoughthewailsandshrieksswelledbelow，andhalf—dressed，ghastlycreaturestumbledgaspingupthecompanion—way。

"Whatisit？"sheheard。"MyGod！what’shappened？Where’stheCaptain！Arewegoingdown！Theboats！Theboats！"

Itwasuselesstospeaktotheseamenrushingby。Theydidnotsee，muchlesshear！Shecaughtsightofamanwhocouldnotbeasailor，sincehewasstandingstill。Shemadeherwaytohim，thankfulthatshehadmanagedtostopherteethchattering。

"Whathashappenedtous？"shesaid。

Heturnedandlookedatherstraitly。Hewasthesecond—

cabinpassengerwiththeredhair。

"Atrampsteamerhasrunintousinthefog，"heanswered。

"Howmuchharmisdone？"

"Theyaretryingtofindout。Iamstandinghereonthechanceofhearingsomething。Itismadnesstoaskanymanquestions。"

Theyspoketoeachotherinshort，sharpsentences，knowingtherewasnotimetolose。

"Areyouhorriblyfrightened？"heasked。

Shestampedherfoot。

"Ihateit——Ihateit！"shesaid，flingingoutherhandtowardstheblack，heavingwater。"Theplunge——thechoking！Noonecouldhateitmore。ButIwanttoDOsomething！"

Shewasturningawaywhenhecaughtherhandandheldher。

"Waitasecond，"hesaid。"Ihateitasmuchasyoudo，butIbelievewetwocankeepourheads。Thosewhocandothatmayhelp，perhaps。Letustrytoquietthepeople。

AssoonasIfindoutanythingIwillcometoyourfriends’

stateroom。Youareneartheboatsthere。ThenIshallgobacktothesecondcabin。YouworkonyoursideandI’llworkonmine。That’sall。"

"Thankyou。TelltheWorthingtons。I’mgoingtothesaloondeck。"Shewasoffasshespoke。

Uponthestairwayshefoundherselfinthemidstofastrugglingpanic—strickenmob，trippingovereachotheronthesteps，andclutchingatanygarmentnearest，todragthemselvesupastheyfell，orwereonthepointoffalling。Everyonewascryingoutinquestionandappeal。

Bettinastoodstill，afirm，tallobstacle，andclutchedatthehystericwomanwhowashurledagainsther。

"I’vebeenondeck，"shesaid。"Atrampsteamerhasrunintous。Noonehastimetoanswerquestions。Thefirstthingtodoistoputonwarmclothesandsecurethelifebeltsincaseyouneedthem。"

Atonceeveryoneturneduponherasifshewasanauthority。

Sherepliedwithalmostfiercedeterminationtothetorrentofwordspouredforth。

"Iknownothingfurther——onlythatifoneisnotafoolonemustmakesureofclothesandbelts。"

"Quiteright，MissVanderpoel，"saidoneyoungman，touchinghiscapinnervouspropitiation。

"Stopscreaming，"Bettysaidmercilesslytothewoman。"It’sidiotic——themorenoiseyoumakethelesschanceyouhave。Howcanmenkeeptheirwitsamongamobofshrieking，madwomen？"

ThattheremoteMissVanderpoelshouldhaveemergedfromherluxuriouscornertofranklybullythelotofthemwasanexcellentshockforthecrowd。Men，whohadbeenindangeroflosingtheirheadsandbecomingasuncontrolledasthewomen，suddenlyrealisedthefactandpulledthemselvestogether。BettinamadeherwayatoncetotheWorthingtons’

staterooms。

Thereshefoundfrenzyreigning。BlancheandMarieWorthingtonweredartingtoandfro，draggingaboutfirstonethingandthenanother。Theyweresillywithfright，anddashedat，anddroppedalternately，lifebelts，shoes，jewelcases，andwraps，whiletheysobbedandcriedouthysterically。

"Oh，whatshallwedowithmother！Whatshallwedo！"

ThemannersofBettyVanderpoel’ssharpschoolgirldaysreturnedtoherinfullforce。SheseizedBlanchebytheshoulderandshookher。

"Whatadonkeyyouare！"shesaid。"Putonyourclothes。Theretheyare，"pushinghertotheplacewheretheyhung。"Marie——dressyourselfthismoment。Wemaybeinnorealdangeratall。"

"Doyouthinknot！Oh，Betty！"theywailedinconcert。

"Oh，whatshallwedowithmother！"

"Whereisyourmother？"

"Shefainted——Louise————"

BettywasinMrs。Worthington’scabinbeforetheyhadfinishedspeaking。Thepoorwomanhadfainted，andstruckhercheekagainstachair。Shelayonthefloorinhernightgown，withbloodtricklingfromacutonherface。Hermaid，Louise，waswringingherhands，anddoingnothingwhatever。

"Ifyoudon’tbringthebrandythisminute，"saidthebeautifulMissVanderpoel，"I’llboxyourears。Believeme，mygirl。"Shelookedsocapableofdoingitthatthewomanwasstartledandactuallyoffendedintoareturnofhersenses。

MissVanderpoelhadusuallythebestpossiblemannersindealingwithherinferiors。

BettypouredbrandydownMrs。Worthington’sthroatandappliedstrongsmellingsaltsuntilshegaspedbacktoconsciousness。Shehadjustburstintofrightenedsobs，whenBettyheardconfusionandexclamationsintheadjoiningroom。

BlancheandMariehadcriedout，andaman’svoicewasspeaking。

Bettywenttothem。Theywereinvariousstagesofundress，andthered—hairedsecond—cabinpassengerwasstandingatthedoor。

"IpromisedMissVanderpoel————"hewassaying，whenBettycameforward。Heturnedtoherpromptly。

"Icometotellyouthatitseemsabsolutelytobereliedonthatthereisnoimmediatedanger。Thetrampismoreinjuredthanweare。"

"Oh，areyousure？Areyousure？"pantedBlanche，catchingathissleeve。

"Yes，"heanswered。"CanIdoanythingforyou？"hesaidtoBettina，whowasonthepointofspeaking。

"WillyoubegoodenoughtohelpmetoassistMrs。

Worthingtonintoherberth，andthentrytofindthedoctor。"

Hewentintothenextroomwithoutspeaking。ToMrs。

Worthingtonhespokebrieflyafewwordsofreassurance。Hewasapowerfulman，andlaidheronherberthwithoutdraggingheraboutuncomfortably，ormakingherfeelthatherweightwasgreaterthaneveninhermostdespondingmomentsshehadsuspected。Evenherhelplesslyhystericmoodwasilluminatedbyarayofgratefulappreciation。

"Oh，thankyou——thankyou，"shemurmured。"Andyouarequitesurethereisnoactualdanger，Mr。————？"

"Salter，"heterminatedforher。"Youmayfeelsafe。Thedamageisreallyonlyslight，afterall。"

"Itissogoodofyoutocomeandtellus，"saidthepoorlady，stilltremulous。"Theshockwasawful。Ourintroductionhasbeenanalarmingone。I——Idon’tthinkwehavemetduringthevoyage。"

"No，"repliedSalter。"Iaminthesecondcabin。"

"Oh！thankyou。It’ssogoodofyou，"shefalteredamiably，forwantofinspiration。Ashewentoutofthestateroom，SalterspoketoBettina。

"Iwillsendthedoctor，ifIcanfindhim，"hesaid。"I

think，perhaps，youhadbettertakesomebrandyyourself。

Ishall。"

"It’squeerhowlittleoneseemstorealiseeventhattherearesecond—cabinpassengers，"commentedMrs。Worthingtonfeebly。"Thatwasaniceman，andperfectlyrespectable。Heevenhadakindof——ofmanner。"

CHAPTERIX

LADYJANEGREY

Itseemeduponthewholeevenabsurdthatafterashocksoawfulandapanicwildenoughtocausepeopletoexposetheirverysouls——fortherewere，ofcourse，endlessanecdotestoberelatedafterwards，illustrativeofgrotesqueterror，cowardice，andutterabandonmentofallshadowsofconvention——

thatallshouldendinananticlimaxoftriflingdanger，uponwhich，inadayortwo，jokesmightbemade。Eventhetrampsteamerhadnotbeenseriouslyinjured，thoughitsinjurieswerelikelytobelesseasyofrepairthanthoseoftheMeridiana。

"Still，"asapassengerremarked，whenshesteamedintothedockatLiverpool，"wemightallbeatthebottomoftheAtlanticOceanthismorning。Justthinkwhatcolumnstherewouldhavebeeninthenewspapers。ImagineMissVanderpoel’sbeingdrowned。"

"IwasveryrudetoLouise，whenIfoundherwringingherhandsoveryou，andIwasrudetoBlanche，"BettinasaidtoMrs。Worthington。"InfactIbelieveIwasrudetoanumberofpeoplethatnight。Iamratherashamed。"

"Youcalledmeadonkey，"saidBlanche，"butitwasthebestthingyoucouldhavedone。Youfrightenedmeintoputtingonmyshoes，insteadoftryingtocombmyhairwiththem。Itwasstartlingtoseeyoumarchintothestateroom，theonlypersonwhohadnotbeenturnedintoagibberingidiot。

IknowIwasgibbering，andIknowMariewas。"

"Webothgibberedatthered—hairedmanwhenhecamein，"saidMarie。"Weclutchedathimandgibberedtogether。

Whereisthered—hairedman，Betty？Perhapswemadehimill。I’venotseenhimsincethatmoment。"

"Heisinthesecondcabin，Isuppose，"Bettinaanswered，"butIhavenotseenhim，either。"

"Weoughttogetupatestimonialandgiveittohim，becausehedidnotgibber，"saidBlanche。"Hewasasrudeandassensibleasyouwere，Betty。"

Theydidnotseehimagain，infact，atthattime。Hehadreasonsofhisownforpreferringtoremainunseen。Thetruthwasthatthenearerhisapproachtohisnativeshores，thenastier，hewasperfectlyconscious，histemperbecame，andhedidnotwishtoexposehimselfbyanyincidentwhichmightcausehimstupidlyandobviouslytoloseit。

Themaid，Louise，however，recognisedhimamonghercompanionsinthethird—classcarriageinwhichshetravelledtotown。Tohermind，whoseopinionswereregulatedbyneatlyarrangedstandards，helookedmoroseandshabbilydressed。Someoftheothersecond—cabinpassengershadmadethemselvesquitesmartinvarious，nottoodistinguishedways。

Hehadnotchangedhisdressatall，andthelargevaliseupontheluggagerackwaswornandbatteredasifwithlongandroughusage。Thewomanwonderedalittleifhewouldaddressher，andinquireafterthehealthofhermistress。But，beinganastutecreature，sheonlywonderedthisforaninstant，thenextsherealisedthat，foronereasonoranother，itwasclearthathewasnotofthetribeofsecond—ratepersonswhopursueanaccidentalacquaintancewiththeirsuperiorsinfortune，throughsociableinterchangewiththeirfootmenormaids。

Whenthetrainslackeneditsspeedattheplatformofthestation，hegotup，reachingdownhisvaliseandleavingthecarriage，strodetothenearesthansomcab，wavingtheporteraside。

"CharingCross，"hecalledouttothedriver，jumpedin，andwasrattledaway……

DuringtheyearswhichhadpassedsinceRosalieVanderpoelfirstcametoLondonasLadyAnstruthers，numbersofhugeluxurioushotelshadgrownup，principally，asitseemed，thatAmericansshouldswarmintothemandliveatanexpensewhichremindedthemoftheirnativeland。SuchestablishmentswouldneverhavebeenbuiltforEnglishpeople，whosehabititismerelyto"stop"athotels，nottoLIVEinthem。ThetendencyoftheAmericanistoliveinhishotel，eventhoughhisintentionmaybeonlytoremaininittwodays。Heisaccustomedtodoinghimselfextremelywellinproportiontohisresources，whethertheybegreatorsmall，andthecomforts，asalsotheluxuries，heallowshimselfandhisdomesticappendagesareinaproportionmuchhigherinitsrelationtotheseresourcesthanitwouldbewereheEnglish，French，German，orItalians。Asaconsequence，heexpects，whenhegoesforth，whetherholiday—makingoronbusiness，thathishostelryshallsurroundhim，eitherwithholidayluxuriesandgaiety，orwithsuchlavishnessofcomfortasshallalleviatethewearandtearofbusinesscaresandfatigues。Therichmandemandssomethingalmostasgoodashehasleftathome，themanofmoderatemeanssomethingmuchbetter。Certainpersonsgiventoregardingpublicwantsanddesiresasfoundationsforthefortuneofbusinessschemeshavingdiscoveredthis，theenormousandsumptuoushotelevolveditselffromtheirastuteknowledgeofcommonfacts。

Attheentrancesofthesehotels，omnibusesandcabs，ladenwithtrunksandpackagesfrequentlybearinglabelsmarkedwithredletters"S。S。So—and—So，Stateroom——Hold——Baggage—

room，"drewupanddepositedtheircontentsandburdensatregularintervals。Thenmenwithkeen，andoftenhumorousfacesoralmostpainfullyanxiousones，theirexceedinglywell—dressedwives，andmoreorlessattractiveandvivacious—lookingdaughters，theireagerlittlegirls，andun—

English—lookinglittleboys，passedthroughthecorridorsinflocksandtookpossessionofsuitesofrooms，sometimesfortwenty—fourhours，sometimesforsixweeks。

TheWorthingtonstookpossessionofsuchasuiteinsuchahotel。BettinaVanderpoel’sapartmentsfacedtheEmbankment。

Fromherwindowsshecouldlookoutatthebroadsplendid，muddyThames，slowlyrollinginitsgrave，statelywaybeneathitsbridges，bearingwithitheavylumberingbarges，excitedtootinglittlepennysteamersandcraftofvariousshapesandsizes，theerrandorburdenofeachmeaningadifferentstory。

IthadbeentoBettinaoneofherpleasuresofthefinestepicureanflavourtoreflectthatshehadneverhadanybriefandsuperficialknowledgeofEngland，asshehadneverbeentothecountryatallinthoseearlieryears，whenherknowledgeofplacesmustnecessarilyhavebeenalwaystheincompleteoneofeitheraschoolgirltravelleroraschoolgirlresident，whoseviewswerelimitedbythewallsofrestrictionbuiltaroundher。

IfrelationsoftheusualeaseandfriendlinesshadexistedbetweenLadyAnstruthersandherfamily，Bettinawould，doubtless，haveknownhersister’sadoptedcountrywell。Itwouldhavebeenathingsonaturalastobealmostinevitable，thatshewouldhavecrossedtheChanneltospendherholidaysatStornham。Asmattershadstood，however，thechildherself，inthedayswhenshehadbeenachild，hadhadmostdefiniteprivateviewsonthesubjectofvisitstoEngland。

Shehadmadeupheryoungmindabsolutelythatshewouldnot，ifitweredecentlypossibletoavoidit，setherfootuponEnglishsoiluntilshewasoldenoughandstrongenoughtocarryoutwhathadbeenatfirstherpassionatelyromanticplansfordiscoveringandfacingthetruthofthereasonfortheapparentchangeinRosy。WhenshewenttoEngland，shewouldgotoRosy。Asshehadgrownolder，havinginthecourseofeducationandtravelseenmostContinentalcountries，shehadlikedtothinkthatshehadsaved，putasideforlesshastyconsumptionandmoredelicateappreciationofflavours，asitwere，thecountryshewasconsciousshecaredformost。

"ItisEnglandwelove，weAmericans，"shehadsaidtoherfather。"Whatcouldbemorenatural？Webelongtoit——itbelongstous。Icouldneverbeconvincedthattheoldtieofblooddoesnotcount。Allnationalitieshavecometoussincewebecameanation，butmostofusinthebeginningcamefromEngland。Wearetouchingaboutit，too。WetriflewithFranceandlabourwithGermany，wesentimentaliseoverItalyandecstaciseoverSpain——butEnglandwelove。

Howitmovesuswhenwegotoit，howwegushifwearesimpleandeffusive，howwearestirredimaginativelyifweareoftheperceptiveclass。Ihaveheardthecommonestlittlehalf—educatedwomansaytheprettiest，clumsy，emotionalthingsaboutwhatshehasseenthere。ANewEnglandschoolma’am，whohasmadeaCook’stour，willalmosthavetearsinhervoiceasshewandersonwithhercommonplacesabouthawthornhedgesandthatchedcottagesandwhiteorredfarms。WhyarewenotunconsciouslypatheticaboutGermancottagesandItalianvillas？Becausewehavenot，incenturiespast，hadthehabitofbeingborninthem。ItisonlyanEnglishcottageandanEnglishlane，whetherwhitewithhawthornblossomsorbarewithwinter，thatwakesinusthatlittleyearning，grovellingtendernessthatissosweet。

Itisonlynaturecallingushome。"

Mrs。WorthingtoncameinduringthecourseofthemorningtofindherstandingbeforeherwindowlookingoutattheThames，theEmbankment，thehansomcabsthemselves，withanabsolutelyseriousabsorption。Thischangedtoasmileassheturnedtogreether。

"Iamdelighted，"shesaid。"Icouldscarcelytellyouhowmuch。TheimpressionisallnewandIamexcitedalittlebyeverything。IamsointenselygladthatIhavesaveditsolongandthatIhaveknownitonlyaspartofliterature。

Iamevencharmedthatitrains，andthatthecabmen’smackintoshesareshiningandwet。"Shedrewforwardachair，andMrs。Worthingtonsatdown，lookingatherwithinvoluntaryadmiration。

"Youlookasifyouweredelighted，"shesaid。"Youreyes——youhaveamazingeyes，Betty！IamtryingtopicturetomyselfwhatLadyAnstrutherswillfeelwhensheseesyou。Whatwereyoulikewhenshemarried？"

Bettinasatdown，smilingandlooking，indeed，quiteincrediblylovely。Shewascapableofawarmthandasweetnesswhichwereasembracingasotherqualitiesshepossessedwerepowerful。

"Iwaseightyearsold，"shesaid。"Iwasarudelittlegirl，withlonglegsandahigh，determinedvoice。IknowI

wasrude。Irememberansweringback。"

"Iseemtohaveheardthatyoudidnotlikeyourbrother—

in—law，andthatyouwereopposedtothemarriage。"

"Imaginetheundisciplinedaudacityofachildofeight`opposing’themarriageofhergrown—upsister。Iwasquitecapableofit。Youseeinthosedayswehadnotbeentrainedatall（onehadonlybeenallowedtremendousliberty），andinterferedconversationallywithone’seldersandbettersatanymoment。IwasanAmericanlittlegirl，andAmericanlittlegirlswerereally——theyreallywere！"withalaugh，whosemusicalsoundwasafterallwhollynon—committal。

"YoudidnottreatSirNigelAnstruthersasoneofyourbetters。"

"Hewasoneofmyelders，atallevents，andbecomingnessofbearingshouldhavetaughtmetoholdmylittletongue。IamgivingsomethoughtnowtothekindofthingImustinventasasuitableapologywhenIfindhimareallydelightfulperson，fullofvirtuesandaccomplishments。Perhapshehasahorrorofme。"

"Ishouldliketobepresentatyourfirstmeeting，"Mrs。

Worthingtonreflected。"YouaregoingdowntoStornhamto—morrow？"

"Thatismyplan。WhenIwritetoyouonmyarrival，I

willtellyouifIencounteredthehorror。"Then，withaswiftchangeofsubjectandaliftingofherslender，velvetlineofeyebrow，"IamonlydeploringthatIhavenottimetovisittheTower。"

Mrs。Worthingtonwasbetrayedintoamomentaryglanceofuncertainty，almostverginginitssignificanceonagasp。

"TheTower？OfLondon？DearBetty！"

Bettina’slaughwasmellowwithrevelation。

"Ah！"shesaid。"Youdon’tknowmypointofview；it’splainenough。Yousee，whenIdelightinthesethings，IthinkIdelightmostinmydelightinthem。ItmeansthatIamalmosthavingthekindoffeelingthefreshAmericansoulshadwholandedherethirtyyearsagoandrevelledintheresemblancetoDickens’scharacterstheymetwithinthestreets，andwerehistoricallythrilledbytheplaceswherepeople’sheadswerechoppedoff。ImaginetheirreflectionsonCharlesI。，whentheystoodinWhitehallgazingontheveryspotwherethatpoorlastwordwasuttered——`Remember。’Andthinkoftheirjoywheneachcrossingsweepertheygavedisproportionatelargessto，seemedJoeAllAlonesintheslightestdisguise。"

"Youdon’tmeantosay————"Mrs。Worthingtonwasvaguelyawakeningtothesituation。

"Thatthecharmofmyvisit，tomyself，isthatIrealisethatIamratherlikethat。IhavepositivelypreservedsomethingbecauseIhavekeptaway。Youhavebeenheresooftenandknowthingssowell，andyouwereevensosophisticatedwhenyoubegan，thatyouhaveneverreallyhadtheflavoursandemotions。Iamsophisticated，too，sophisticatedenoughtohavecherishedmyflavoursasagourmettriestosavethebouquetofoldwine。YouthinkthattheToweristhepleasureofhousemaidsonaBankHoliday。Butitquitemakesmequivertothinkofit，"laughingagain。"ThatI

laugh，isthesignthatIamnotasbeautifully，freshlycapableofenjoymentasthosegenuinefirstAmericanswere，andinawayIamsorryforit。"

Mrs。Worthingtonlaughedalso，andwithanenjoyment。

"Youareveryclever，Betty，"shesaid。

"No，no，"answeredBettina，"or，ifIam，almosteverybodyiscleverinthesedays。Wearenearlyallofuscomparativelyintelligent。"

"Youareveryinterestingatallevents，andtheAnstrutherswillexultinyou。Iftheyaredullinthecountry，youwillsavethem。"

"Iamveryinterested，atallevents，"saidBettina，"andinterestlikemineisquitepasse。AcleverAmericanwholivesinEngland，andisthepetofduchesses，oncesaidtome（healwaysspeaksofAmericansasiftheywereadistantandrecentlydiscoveredspecies），`Whentheyfirstcameovertheywereanovelty。Theirenthusiasmamusedpeople，butnow，yousee，ithasbecomevieuxjeu。Youngwomen，whosespecialtywastobeexcitedbytheTowerofLondonandWestminsterAbbey，arenotnoveltiesanylonger。Infact，it’sbeendone，andit’sdoneFORasaspecialty。’AndIamexcitedabouttheTowerofLondon。ImaybeabletorestrainmyfeelingsatthesightoftheBeefEaters，buttheywillupsetmealittle，andImustbracemyself，Imustindeed。"

"Truly，Betty？"saidMrs。Worthington，regardingherwithcuriosity，arisingfromafaintdoubtofherentireseriousness，mingledwithafainterdoubtofherentirelevity。

Bettyflungoutherhandsinaslight，butveryinvoluntary—

looking，gesture，andshookherhead。

"Ah！"shesaid，"itwasallTRUE，youknow。Theywereallhorriblyreal——thethingsthatwereshudderedoverandsentimentalisedabout。Sophistication，combinedwithimagination，makesthemmaterialiseagain，tome，atleast，nowI

amhere。Thegulfbetweenahistoricalfigureandamanorwomanwhocouldbleedandcryoutinhumanwordswasbroadwhenonewasatschool。LadyJaneGrey，forinstance，hownebulousshewasandhowlittleonecared。Sheseemedinventedmerelytoaddadetailtoone’slessoninEnglishhistory。But，aswedroveacrossWaterlooBridge，IcaughtaglimpseoftheTower，andwhatdoyousupposeIbegantothinkof？Itwasmonstrous。IsawadoorintheTowerandthestonesteps，andthesquarespace，andinthechillclear，earlymorningalittleslender，helplessgirlledout，alittle，fair，realthinglikeRosy，allalone——everyoneshebelongedtofaraway，notamannearwhodaredutterawordofpitywhensheturnedherawful，meek，young，desperateeyesuponhim。Shewasapiouschild，and，nodoubt，sheliftedhereyestothesky。Iwonderifitwasblueanditsbluenessbrokeherheart，becauseitlookedasifitmighthavepitiedsuchayoung，patientgirlthingledoutinthefairmorningtowalktothehackedblockandgivehertremblingpardontotheblack—visoredmanwiththeaxe，andthen`commendinghersoultoGod’tostretchhersweetslimneckoutuponit。"

"Oh，Betty，dear！"Mrs。Worthingtonexpostulated。

Bettinasprangtoherandtookherhandinprettyappeal。

"Ibegpardon！Ibegpardon，Ireallydo，"sheexclaimed。

"Ididnotintenddeliberatelytobepainful。Butthat——

beneaththesophistication——issomethingofwhatIbringtoEngland。"

CHAPTERX

"ISLADYANSTRUTHERSATHOME？"

AllthatshehadbroughtwithhertoEngland，combinedwithwhatshehadcalled"sophistication，"butwhichwasratherherexquisiteappreciationofvaluesandeffects，shetookwithherwhenshewentthenextdaytoCharingCrossStationandarrangedherselfathereaseintherailwaycarriage，whilehermaidboughttheirticketsforStornham。

Whatthepeopleinthestationsaw，theguardsandporters，themeninthebookstalls，thetravellershurryingpast，wasastriking—lookinggirl，whosecolouringandcarriagemadeoneturntoglanceafterher，andwho，havingboughtsomeperiodicalsandpapers，tookherplaceinafirst—classcompartmentandwatchedthepassersbyinterestedlythroughtheopenwindow。Havingbeenlookedatandremarkedonduringherwholelife，Bettinadidnotfinditdisturbingthatmorethanonecorduroy—clothedporterandfresh—coloured，elderlygentleman，orfreshlyattiredyoungone，havingcaughtaglimpseofherthroughherwindow，madeitconvenienttosaunterpastorhoverround。Shelookedatthemmuchmorefranklythantheylookedather。Tohertheywereallspecimensofthetypesshewasatpresentinterestedin。ForpracticalreasonsshewassummingupEnglishcharacterwithmoredeliberateintentionthanshehadfeltintheyearswhenshehadgraduallylearnedtoknowContinentaltypesanddifferentiatesuchpeculiaritiesasweresignificantoftheirranksandnations。AsthefirstReubenVanderpoelhadstudiedthecountenancesandindicativemethodsoftheinhabitantsofthenewpartsofthecountryinwhichitwashisintentiontodobusiness，sothemodernityofhisdescendantapplieditselftoobservationforreasonsparallelinnaturethoughnotinactualkind。Ashehadbroughtbeadsandfirewatertobearasagentsuponsavageswhowouldbarterforthemskinsandproductswhichmightbeturnedintomoney，soshebroughthernineteenth—centurybeauty，steadfastnessofpurposeandalertnessofbraintobearuponthematterthepracticaldealingwithwhichwastheendsheheldinview。Tobearherselfinthismatterwithaspracticalacontrolofsituationsasthatwithwhichhergreat—grandfatherwouldhavebornehimselfinmakingatradewithapreviouslyunknowntribeofIndianswasquiteherintention，thoughithadnotoccurredtohertoputittoherselfinanysuchform。Still，whethershewasawareofthefactornot，herpointofviewwasexactlywhatthefirstReubenVanderpoel’shadbeenonmanyverydifferentoccasions。Shehadbeforeherthetaskofdealingwithfactsandfactorsofwhichatpresentsheknewbutlittle。Astutenessofperception，self—command，andadaptabilitywereherchiefresources。Shewasready，eitherforcalm，boldapproach，orequallycalmandwhollynon—committalretreat。