第10章

TheperceptionsshehadbroughtwithherfilledherjourneyintoKentwithdeliciousthings，deliciousrecognitionofbeautiesshehadbeforeknowntheexistenceofonlythroughthereadingofbooks，andthedwellingupontheircharmsasreproduced，moreorlessperfectly，oncanvas。Shesawrollbyher，withthepassingofthetrain，thelovelinessoflandandpicturesquenessoflivingwhichshehadsavedforherselfwithepicureanintentionforyears。Herfancy，whendetachedfromherthoughtsofhersister，hadbeenepicurean，andshehadbeenquiteawarethatitwasso。Whenshehadleftthesuburbsandthosevillagesalreadytouchedwithsuburbanitybehind，shefeltherselfsettleintoaglowofluxuriousenjoymentinthefreshnessofherpleasureinthefamiliar，andyetunfamiliar，objectsinthethick—hedgedfields，whosebroad—

branched，thick—foliagedoaksandbeechesweremoreemboweringintheirshade，andsweeterintheirgreenthananythingsherememberedthatothercountrieshadofferedher，evenattheirbest。Withinthefieldsthehawthornhedgesbeautifullyenclosedweregroupsofresignedmothersheepwiththeiryounglambsaboutthem。Thecuriouspointedtopsoftheredhopkilns，piercingthetreesnearthefarmhouses，woreanalmostintentionalairofaddingpicturesquedetail。

Therewereclustersofoldbuildingsanddotsofcottagesandcottagegardenswhichmadehernowandthenutterexclamationsofdelight。LittleinarticulateRosyhadseenandfeltitalltwelveyearsbeforeonherhopelessbridalhome—comingwhenNigelhadsathuddledunbecominglyinthecorneroftherailwaycarriage。Herpowerofexpressionhadbeenlimitedtolittlejoyfulgaspsandobviouslaudatoryadjectives，smotheredintheirbirthbyherfirstglanceatherbridegroom。

Betty，inseeingit，knewalltheexquisitenessofherownpleasure，andallthemeaningsofit。

Yes，itwasEngland——England。ItwastheEnglandofConstableandMorland，ofMissMitfordandMissAusten，theBrontesandGeorgeEliot。Thelandwhichsoftlyrolledandclotheditselfintherichverdureofmanytrees，sometimesinlovelyclusters，sometimesincoveringcopse，wasConstable’s；theripeyoungwomanwiththefat—leggedchildrenandthefarmyardbeastsabouther，asshefedthehensfromthewoodenpigginunderherarm，wasMorland’sown。

ThevillagestreetmightbeMissMitford’s，thewell—to—dohouseJaneAusten’sownfancy，initswarmbrickandcomfortabledecorum。Shelaughedalittleasshethoughtit。

"ThatisAmerican，"shesaid，"thehabitofcomparingeverystickandstoneandbreathingthingtosomeliteraryparallel。Wealmostinvariablysaythatthingsremindusofpicturesorbooks——mostusuallybooks。Itseemsalittlecrude，butperhapsitmeansthatweareanintenselyliteraryandartisticpeople。"

Shecontinuedtofindcomparisonsrevealingtohertheirappositeness，untilherjourneyhadendedbythetrain’sslackeningspeedandcomingtoastandstillbeforetherural—lookinglittlestationwhichhadpresenteditsquaintaspecttoLadyAnstruthersonherhome—comingofyearsbefore。

Ithadnot，duringtheyearswhichcertainlyhadgiventimeforchange，alteredintheleast。Thestationmasterhadgrownstouterandmorerosy，andcameforwardwithhisrespectful，hospitableair，toattendtotheunusual—lookingyounglady，whowastheonlyfirst—classpassenger。Hethoughtshemustbeavisitorexpectedatsomecountryhouse，butnoneofthecarriages，whosecoachmenwerehisfamiliaracquaintances，wereinwaiting。Thatsuchafineyoungladyshouldbepayingavisitatanyhousewhoseownersdidnotsendanequipagetoattendhercoming，struckhimasunusual。

Thebroughamfromthe"Crown，"thoughadecentcountrytownvehicle，seemedinadequate。Yet，thereitstooddrawnupoutsidethestation，andshewenttoitwiththemannerofayoungladywhohadordereditsattendanceandknewitwouldbethere。

Wellsfeltagooddealofinterest。Amongthemanyyoungladieswhodescendedfromthefirst—classcompartmentsandpassedthroughthelittlewaiting—roomontheirwaytothecarriagesofthegentrytheyweregoingtovisit，hedidnotknowwhenayoungladyhad"caughthiseye，"sotospeak，asthisonedid。Shewasnotexactlythekindofyoungladyonewouldimmediatelyclassmentallyas"aforeigner，"buttheblueofhereyeswassodeep。andherhairandeyelashessodark，thatthesethings，combiningthemselveswithacertain"way"shehad，madehimfeelhertobeofatypeunfamiliartotheregion，atleast。

Hewasstruck，also，bythefactthattheyoungladyhadnomaidwithher。ThetruthwasthatBettinahadpurposelylefthermaidintown。Ifawkwardthingsoccurred，thepresenceofanattendantwouldbeasortofcomplication。Itwasbetter，onthefirstapproach，tobewhollyunencumbered。

"HowfararewefromStornhamCourt？"sheinquired。

"Fivemiles，mylady，"heanswered，touchinghiscap。Sheexpressedsomethingwhichtotheruralandingenuous，whosestandardsweredefined，demandedarecognitionofprobablerank。

"I’dliketoknow，"washiscommenttohiswifewhenhewenthometodinner，"whohasgonetoStornhamCourtto—day。

There’sfewenoughvisitorsgothere，andnonesuchasher，forcertain。Shedon’tliveanywhereonthelineabovehere，either，forI’veneverseenherfacebefore。Shewasatall，handsomeone——shewas，butitisn’tjustthatmadeyoulookafterher。

Shewasacleveronewithaspirit，I’llbebound。Iwaswonderingwhatherladyshipwouldhavetosaytoher。"

"PerhapsshewasoneofHISfineladies？"suggestively。

"Thatshewasn’t，either。And，asforthat，Iwonderwhathe’dhavetosaytosuchassheis。"

Therewascomplexityofelementenoughinthethingshewasonherwaytodo，Bettinawasthinking，asshewasdrivenoverthewhiteribbonofcountryroadthatunrolledoverriseandhollow，betweenthesheep—dottedgreennessoffieldsandthescentedhedges。Thesoftbeautyenclosingherwasalittleshutoutfromherbyhermentalattitude。Shebroughtforwardforherowndecisionsuponsuitableactionanumberofpossiblesituationsshemightfindherselfcalledupontoconfront。Theonethingnecessarywasthatsheshouldbepreparedforanythingwhatever，evenforRosy’snotbeingpleasedtoseeher，orforfindingSirNigelathoroughlyreformedandamiablecharacter"ItisthethingwhichseeminglyCANNOThappenwhichoneismostlikelytofindone’sselffacetofacewith。Itwillbealittleawkwardtoarrange，ifhehasdevelopedeverydomesticvirtue，andisdelightedtoseeme。"

Undersuchratherconfusingconditionsherplanwouldbetopresenttothem，asanaffectionatesurprise，theunheraldedvisit，whichmightappearatrifleuncalledfor。Shefelthappilysureofherselfunderanycircumstancesnotpartakingofthenatureofcollisionsatsea。YetshehadnotbehavedabsolutelyillatthetimeofthethreatenedcatastropheintheMeridiana。Herremembrance，anoddlysuddenone，ofthedefinitemannerofthered—hairedsecond—classpassenger，assuredherofthat。Hehadcertainlyhadallhissensesabouthim，andhehadspokentoherasapersontobecountedon。

HerpulsebeatalittlemorehurriedlyasthebroughamenteredStornhamvillage。Itwaspicturesque，butstruckheraslookingneglected。Manyofthecottageshadanairofdilapidation。Thereweremanybrokenwindowsandunmendedgardenpalings。Asuggestedlackofwhitewashinseveralcaseswasnotcheerful。

"IknownothingofthedutiesofEnglishlandlords，"shesaid，lookingthroughhercarriagewindow，"butIshoulddoitmyself，ifIwereRosy。"

Shesaw，asshewastakenthroughtheparkgateway，thatthatstructurewasoutoforder，andthatdamageddiamondpanespeeredoutfromunderthethicknessoftheivymassingitselfoverthelodge。

"Ah！"washerthought，"itdoesnotpromiseasitshould。

Happypeopledonotletthingsfalltopieces。"

Evenwindingavenue，andspreadingsward，andgorse，andbroom，andbracken，enfoldingalltheearthbeneathhugetrees，werenotfairenoughtoremoveasuddenremotefearwhicharoseinherrapidlyreasoningmind。Itsuggestedtoherapointofviewsonewthat，whileshewasamazedatherselffornothavingcontemplateditbefore，shefoundherselfwishingthatthecoachmanwoulddriverathermoreslowly，actuallythatshemighthavemoretimetoreflect。

Theywerenearingadipinthepark，wheretherewasalonelylookingpool。Thebrackenwasthickandhighthere，andthesun，whichhadjustbrokenthroughacloud，hadpiercedthetreeswithagoldengleam。

Alittlewithdrawnfromthisshaftofbrightnessstoodtwofigures，adowdylittlewomanandahunchbackedboy。Thewomanheldsomefernsinherhand，andtheboywassittingdownandrestinghischinonhishands，whichwerefoldedonthetopofastick。

"Stophereforamoment，"Bettinasaidtothecoachman。

"Iwanttoaskthatwomanaquestion。"

ShehadthoughtthatshemightdiscoverifhersisterwasattheCourt。Sherealisedthattoknowwouldbeapointofadvantage。Sheleanedforwardandspoke。

"Ibegyourpardon，"shesaid，"Iwonderifyoucantellme————"

Thewomancameforwardalittle。Shehadalistlessstepandafaded，listlessface。

"Whatdidyouask？"shesaid。

Bettyleanedstillfurtherforward。

"Canyoutellme————"shebeganandstopped。Asenseofstrictureinthethroatstoppedher，ashereyestookinthewashed—outcolourofthethinface，thewashed—outcolourofthethinhair——thindrabhair，draggedinstraight，hardunbecomingnessfromtheforeheadandcheeks。

Wasittruethatherheartwasthumping，asshehadhearditsaidthatagitationmadeheartsthump？

Shebeganagain。

"Canyou——tellmeif——LadyAnstruthersisathome？"

sheinquired。Asshesaiditshefeltthebloodsurgeupfromthefuriousheart，andthehandshehadlaidonthehandleofthedoorofthebroughamclutcheditinvoluntarily。

Thedowdylittlewomanansweredherindifferently，staringatheralittle。

"IamLadyAnstruthers，"shesaid。

Bettinaopenedthecarriagedoorandstoodupontheground。

"Goontothehouse，"shegaveordertothecoachman，and，withasomewhatstartledlook，hedroveaway。

"Rosy！"Bettina’svoicewasahushed，almostawed，thing。

"YOUareRosy？"

Thefadedlittlewreckofacreaturebegantolookfrightened。

"Rosy！"sherepeated，withasmall，wry，painfulsmile。

Shewasthenextmomentheldinthefoldingofstrong，youngarms，againstaquicklybeatingheart。Shewasbeingwildlykissed，andtheveryairseemedrichwithwarmthandlife。

"IamBetty，"sheheard。"Lookatme，Rosy！IamBetty。Lookatmeandremember！"

LadyAnstruthersgasped，andbrokeintoafaint，hystericlaugh。ShesuddenlyclutchedatBettina’sarm。Foraminutehergazewaswildasshelookedup。

"Betty，"shecriedout。"No！No！No！Ican’tbelieveit！Ican’t！Ican’t！"

Thatjustthisthingcouldhavetakenplaceinher，Bettinahadneverthought。Asshehadreflectedonherwayfromthestation，theimpossibleiswhatonefindsone’sselffacetofacewith。Twelveyearsshouldnothavechangedaprettyblondethingofnineteentoaworn，unintelligent—lookingdowdyoftheorderofdowdinesswhichseemstohavelivedbeyondageandsex。Shelookedevenstupid，oratleaststupefied。Atthismomentshewasasilly，middle—agedwoman，whodidnotknowwhattodo。ForafewsecondsBettinawonderedifshewasgladtoseeher，oronlyfeltawkwardandunequaltothesituation。

"Ican’tbelieveyou，"shecriedoutagain，andbegantoshiver。"Betty！LittleBetty？No！No！itisn’t！"

Sheturnedtotheboy，whohadliftedhischinfromhisstick，andwasstaring。

"Ughtred！Ughtred！"shecalledtohim。"Come！Shesays——shesays————"

Shesatdownuponaclumpofheatherandbegantocry。

Shehidherfaceinhersparehandsandbrokeintosobbing。

"Oh，Betty！No！"shegasped。"It’ssolongago——it’ssofaraway。Younevercame——noone——noone——came！"

Thehunchbackedboydrewnear。Hehadlimpeduponhisstick。Hespokelikeanelderly，affectionategnome，notlikeachild。

"Don’tdothat，mother，"hesaid。"Don’tletitupsetyouso，whateveritis。"

"It’ssolongago；it’ssofaraway！"shewept，withcatchesinherbreathandvoice。"Younevercame！"

Bettykneltdownandenfoldedheragain。Herbell—likevoicewasfirmandclear。

"Ihavecomenow，"shesaid。"Anditisnotfaraway。

Acablewillreachfatherintwohours。"

Pursuingacertainvividthoughtinhermind，shelookedatherwatch。

"Ifyouspoketomotherbycablethismoment，"sheadded，withaccustomedcoolness，andshefelthersisteractuallystartasshespoke，"shecouldansweryoubyfiveo’clock。"

LadyAnstruther’sstartendedinalaughandgaspmorehystericthanherfirst。Therewasevenakindofwanawakeninginherface，assheliftedittolookatthewonderfulnewcomer。Shecaughtherhandandheldit，trembling，assheweaklylaughed。

"ItmustbeBetty，"shecried。"Thatlittlesternway！

Itissolikeher。Betty——Betty——dear！"Shefellintoasobbing，shakenheapupontheheather。TheharrowingthoughtpassedthroughBetty’smindthatshelookedalmostlikealimpbundleofshabbyclothes。Shewassohelplessinherpathetic，apologetichysteria。

"Ishall——bebetter，"shegasped。"It’snothing。Ughtred，tellher。"

"She’sveryweak，really，"saidtheboyUghtred，inhismatureway。"Shecan’thelpitsometimes。I’llgetsomewaterfromthepool。"

"Letmego，"saidBetty，andshedarteddowntothewater。

Shewasbackinamoment。Theboywasrubbingandpattinghismother’shandstenderly。

"Atanyrate，"heremarked，asoneconsoledbyareflection，"fatherisnotathome。"

CHAPTERXI

"ITHOUGHTYOUHADALLFORGOTTEN"

As，afterasingularhalfhourspentamongthebrackenunderthetrees，theybegantheirreturntothehouse，Bettinafeltthathersenseofadventurehadaltereditscharacter。Shewasstillinthemidstofaremarkablesortofexploit，whichmightendanywhereorinanything，butithadbecomeatoncemoreprosaicindetailandmoreintenseinitssignificance。Whatitssignificancemightprovelikelytobewhenshefacedit，shehadnotknown，itistrue。Butthiswasdifferentfrom——

fromanything。Astheywalkedupthesun—dappledavenueshekeptglancingasideatRosy，andendeavouringtodrawusefulconclusions。Thepoorgirl’sairofbeingaplain，insignificantfrump，longpastyouth，struckanextraordinaryand，forthetime，unexplainablenote。Herill—cut，out—of—

datedress，thecheapsuitofthehunchbackedboy，wholimpedpatientlyalong，helpedbyhiscrutch，suggestedpossibleexplanationswhichwerewithoutdoubtconnectedwiththethoughtwhichhadriseninBettina’smind，asshehadbeendriventhroughthebroken—hingedentrancegate。WhatextraordinarydisposalwasbeingmadeofRosy’smoney？Buthereachglanceathersisteralsosuggestedcomplicationuponcomplication。

Thesingularhalfhourunderthetreesbythepool，spent，afterthefirsthystericmomentswereover，invagueexclaimingsandquestions，whichseemedhalffrightenedandallatsea，hadgraduallyshownherthatshewastalkingtoacreaturewhollyotherthantheRosaliewhohadsowellknownandlovedthemall，andwhomtheyhadsowelllovedandknown。

Theydidnotknowthisone，andshedidnotknowthem，shewasevenalittleafraidofthestirandmovementoftheirlifeandbeing。TheRosytheyhadknownseemedtobeimprisonedwithinthewalltheyearsofherseparatedlifehadbuiltabouther。AteachbreathshedrewBettinasawhowlongtheyearshadbeentoher，andhowfarherhomehadseemedtolieaway，sofarthatitcouldnottouchher，andwasonlyasortofdream，therecallingofwhichmadehersuddenlybegintocryagaineveryfewminutes。ToBettina’ssensitivelyalertminditwasplainthatitwouldnotdointheleasttodraghersuddenlyoutofherprison，orcloister，whichsoeveritmightbe。Todosowouldbelikeforcingacreatureaccustomedonlytodarkness，tostareattheblazingsun。Tohaveburstuponherwiththeoldimpetuous，candidfondnesswouldhavebeentofrightenandshockherasifwithsomethingborderingonindecency。Shecouldnothavestoodit；perhapssuchfondnesswassoremotefromherinthesedaysthatshehadevenceasedtobeabletounderstandit。

"Whereareyourlittlegirls？"Bettinaasked，rememberingthattherehadbeennoticegivenoftheadventoftwogirlbabies。

"Theydied，"LadyAnstruthersansweredunemotionally。"Theybothdiedbeforetheywereayearold。ThereisonlyUghtred。"

Bettyglancedattheboyandsawasmallflameofredcreepuponhischeek。Instinctivelysheknewwhatitmeant，andsheputoutherhandandlightlytouchedhisshoulder。

"Ihopeyou’lllikeme，Ughtred，"shesaid。

Healmoststartedatthesoundofhervoice，butwhenheturnedhisfacetowardsherheonlygrewredder，andlookedawkwardwithoutanswering。Hismannerwasthatofaboywhowasunusedtotheamenitiesofpolitesociety，andwhowasonlymadeshybythem。

Withoutwarning，amomentorsolater，Bettinastoppedinthemiddleoftheavenue，andlookedupatthearchinggiantbranchesofthetreeswhichhadreachedoutfromonesidetotheother，asiftoclasphandsorencompassaninterlacingembrace。Asfarastheeyereached，theydidthis，andthebeholderstoodasinahighstatelypergola，withbreaksofdeepazureskybetween。Severalmellow，cawingrookswerefloatingsolemnlybeneathorabovethebranches，nowwandthensettlinginsomehighestoneordisappearinginthethickgreenness。

LadyAnstruthersstoppedwhenhersisterdidso，andglancedatherinvagueinquiry。Itwasplainthatshehadoutlivedevenhersenseofthebeautysurroundingher。

"Whatareyoulookingat，Betty？"sheasked。

"Atallofit，"Bettyanswered。"Itissowonderful。"

"Shelikesit，"saidUghtred，andthenratherslunkastepbehindhismother，asifhewereashamedofhimself。

"Thehouseisjustbeyondthosetrees，"saidLadyAnstruthers。

Theycameinfullviewofitthreeminuteslater。Whenshesawit，Bettyutteredanexclamationandstoppedagaintoenjoyeffects。

"Shelikesthat，too，"saidUghtred，and，althoughhesaiditsheepishly，therewasimperfectlyconcealedbeneaththeawkwardnessapleasureinthefact。

"Doyou？"askedRosalie，withhersmall，painfulsmile。

Bettylaughed。

"Itistoopicturesque，initsspecialway，tobequitecredible，"shesaid。

"IthoughtthatwhenIfirstsawit，"saidRosy。

"Don’tyouthinkso，now？"

"Well，"wastheratheruncertainreply，"asNigelsays，there’snotmuchgoodinaplacethatisfallingtopieces。"

"Whyletitfalltopieces？"Bettyputittoherwithimpartialpromptness。

"Wehaven’tmoneyenoughtoholdittogether，"resignedly。

Astheyclimbedthelow，broad，lichen—blotchedsteps，whosebrokenstonebalustradeswerealmosthiddeninclutching，untrimmedivy，Bettyfeltthemtobealmostincredible，too。Theunevenstonesoftheterracethestepsmountedtowerelichen—

blotchedandbrokenalso。Tuftsofgreengrowthshadforcedthemselvesbetweentheflags，andaddedanuntidybeauty。

Theivytossedinbranchesovertheredroofandwallsofthehouse。Ithadbeenleftunclipped，untilitwasratheranendlesslyclamberingtreethanacreeper。Thehalltheyenteredhadthebeautyofspaciousformandgood，oldoakenpanelling。Thereweredeepwindowseatsandanancienthigh—backedsettleorso，andamassivetablebythefirelesshearth。Buttherewerenopicturesinplaceswherepictureshadevidentlyoncehung，andtheonlycoveringsonthestonefloorwerethefadedremnantsofacentralrugandaworntigerskin，theheadalmostbaldandaglasseyeknockedout。

Bettinatookintheunpromisingdetailswithoutaquiveroftheextravagantlashes。These，indeed，andtheeyespertainingtothem，seemedrathertosweepthefineroof，andacertainminstrel’sgalleryandstaircase，thanwhichnothingcouldhavebeenmuchfiner，withthelookofanappreciativeadmirerofarchitecturalfeaturesandoldoak。ShehadnotjourneyedtoStornhamCourtwiththeintentionofdisturbingRosy，orofbeingherselfobviouslydisturbed。Shehadcometoobservesituationsandrearrangethemwiththatintelligenceofwhichunconsideredemotionorexclamationformnopart。

"ItisthefirstoldEnglishhouseIhaveseen，"shesaid，withasighofpleasure。"Iamsoglad，Rosy——Iamsogladthatitisyours。"

SheputahandoneachofRosy’sthinshoulders——shefeltsharplydefinedbonesasshedidso——andbenttokissher。Itwasthenaturalaffectionateexpressionofherfeeling，buttearsstartedtoRosy’seyes，andtheboyUghtred，whohadsatdowninawindowseat，turnedredagain，andshiftedinhisplace。

"Oh，Betty！"wasRosy’sfaintnervousexclamation，"youseemsobeautifuland——so——sostrange——thatyoufrightenme。"

Bettylaughedwiththesoftestpossiblecheerfulness，shakingheralittle。

"Ishallnotseemstrangelong，"shesaid，"afterIhavestayedwithyouafewweeks，ifyouwillletmestaywithyou。"

"Letyou！Letyou！"inasortofgasp。

PoorlittleLadyAnstrutherssankontoasettleandbegantocryagain。Itwasplainthatshealwayscriedwhenthingsoccurred。Ughtred’sspeechfromhiswindowseattestifiedatoncetothat。

"Don’tcry，mother，"hesaid。"Youknowhowwe’vetalkedthatovertogether。It’shernerves，"heexplainedtoBettina。"Weknowitonlymakesthingsworse，butshecan’tstopit。"

Bettinasatonthesettle，too。Sheherselfwasnotthenawareofthewonderfulfeelingthepoorlittlesparefigureexperienced，ashersoftlystrongyoungarmscurvedaboutit。Shewasonlyawarethatsheherselffeltthatthiswasaheart—breakingthing，andthatshemustnot——MUSTnotletitbeseenhowmuchsherecogniseditswoefulness。Thiswaspretty，fairRosy，whohadneverdoneaharminherhappylife——thisforlornthingwasherRosy。

"Nevermind，"shesaid，halflaughingagain。"Iratherwanttocrymyself，andIamstrongerthansheis。Iamimmenselystrong。"

"Yes！Yes！"saidLadyAnstruthers，wipinghereyes，andmakingatremendouseffortatself—respectingcomposure。

"Youarestrong。Ihavegrownsoweakin——well，ineveryway。Betty，I’mafraidthisisapoorwelcome。Yousee——I’mafraidyou’llfinditallsodifferentfrom——fromNewYork。"

"Iwantedtofinditdifferent，"saidBetty。

"But——but——Imean——youknow————"LadyAnstruthersturnedhelplesslytotheboy。Bettinawasstruckwiththepainfultruththatshelookedevensillyassheturnedtohim。

"Ughtred——tellher，"sheended，andhungherhead。

Ughtredhadgotdownatoncefromhisseatandlimpedforward。Hisunprepossessingfacelookedasifhepulledhischildishnesstogetherwithanunchildisheffort。

"Shemeans，"hesaid，inhisawkwardway，"thatshedoesn’tknowhowtomakeyoucomfortable。Theroomsareallsoshabby——everythingissoshabby。Perhapsyouwon’tstaywhenyousee。"

Bettinaperceptiblyincreasedthefirmnessofherholdonhersister’sbody。Itwasasifshedrewitnearertohersideinakindoftakingpossession。Sheknewthatthemomenthadcomewhenshemightgothisfar，atleast，withoutexpressingalarmingthings。

"Youcannotshowmeanythingthatwillfrightenme，"

wastheanswershemade。"Ihavecometostay，Rosy。Wecanmakethingsrightiftheyrequireit。Whynot？"

LadyAnstruthersstartedalittle，andstaredather。Sheknewtenthousandreasonswhythingshadnotbeenmaderight，andthecasualinferencethatsuchreasonscouldbelightlysweptawayasifbythemerewaveofahand，impliedapowerappertainingtoatimeseemingsolostforeverthatitwastoomuchforher。