第11章

"Oh，Betty，Betty！"shecried，"youtalkasif——youareso————！"

Thefact，sosimpletothemembersoftheabnormalclasstowhichsheofatruthbelonged，theclasswhichheapedupitsmillions，theabsoluteknowledgethattherewasagreatdealofmoneyintheworldandthatshewasofthosewhowereamongitschiefowners，hadceasedtoseemafact，andhadvanishedintotheregionoffairystories。

ThatshecouldnotbelieveitarealityrevealeditselftoBettina，asbyaflash，whichwasalsoarevelationofmanythings。Therewouldbeunpleasingtruthstobelearned，andshehadnotmadeherpilgrimagefornothing。But——inanyevent——therewereadvantageswithoutdoubtinthecircumstancewhichsubjectedonetobeingperpetuallypointedoutasadaughterofamulti—millionaire。Asthisargueditselfoutforherwithrapidlucidity，shebentandkissedRosyoncemore。Sheeventriedtodoitlightly，andnottoallowtherushofloveandpityinhersoultobetrayher。

"Italkasif——asifIwereBetty，"shesaid。"Youhaveforgotten。Ihavenot。Ihavebeenlookingforwardtothisforyears。IhavebeenplanningtocometoyousinceIwaselevenyearsold。Andherewesit。"

"Youdidn’tforget？Youdidn’t？"falteredthepoorwreckofRosy。"Oh！Oh！Ithoughtyouhadallforgottenme——quite——quite！"

Andherfacewentdowninherspare，smallhands，andshebegantocryagain。

CHAPTERXII

UGHTRED

Bettinastoodaloneinherbedroomacoupleofhourslater。

LadyAnstruthershadtakenhertoit，preparingherforitslimitationsbyexplainingthatshewouldfinditquitedifferentfromherroominNewYork。Shehadbeenpatheticallynervousandflushedaboutit，andBettinahadalsobeenawarethattheapartmentitselfhadbeenhastily，andwithmuchmovingofobjectsfromonechambertoanother，madereadyforher。

Theroomwaslargeandsquareandlow。Itwaspanelledinsmallsquaresofwhitewood。Thepanelswereoldenoughtobecrackedhereandthere，andthepaintwasstainedandyellowwithtime，whereitwasnotknockedorwornoff。

Therewasasmallpaned，leadedwindowwhichfilledalargepartofonesideoftheroom，anditsdeepseatwasanagreeablefeature。Sittinginit，onelookedoutoverseveralred—

walledgardens，andthroughbreaksinthetreesoftheparktoafairbeyond。Bettinastoodbeforethiswindowforafewmoments，andthentookaseatintheembrasure，thatshemightgazeoutandreflectatleisure。

Hergenius，ashasbeforebeenmentioned，wasthegeniusforliving，forbeingvital。Manypeoplemerelyexist，arekeptalivebyothers，orcontinuetovegetatebecausethepersistentactionofnormalfunctionswillallowoftheirdoingnoless。BettinaVanderpoelhadlivedvividly，andinthemidstofaself—createdatmosphereofactionfromherfirsthour。Itwasnotpossibleforhertobeoneofthehordeofmerespectators。Wheresoevershemovedtherewassomeoccultstirringofthemental，andevenphysical，air。Herpulsesbeattoostrongly，herbloodrantoofasttoallowofinactionofmindorbody。When，inpassingthroughthevillage，shehadseenthebrokenwindowsandthehangingpalingsofthecottages，ithadbeeninevitablethat，atonce，sheshould，inthought，repairthem，setthemstraight。Disorderfilledherwithasortofimpatiencewhichwasakintophysicaldistress。Ifshehadbeenbornapoorwomanshewouldhaveworkedhardforherliving，andfoundaninterest，almostanexhilaration，inherlabour。Suchgiftsasshehadwouldhavebeenappliedtothetaskssheundertook。Ithadfrequentlygivenherpleasuretoimagineherselfearningherlivelihoodasaseamstress，ahousemaid，anurse。Sheknewwhatshecouldhaveputintoherservice，andhowshecouldhavefounditabsorbing。Imaginationandinitiativecouldmakeanyserviceabsorbing。Theactualtruthwasthatifshehadbeenahousemaid，theroomshesetinorderwouldhavetakenacharacterunderhertouch；ifshehadbeenaseamstress，herworkwouldhavebeenswiftlydone，herimaginationwouldhaveinventedforhercombinationsofformandcolour；ifshehadbeenanursemaid，thechildrenunderhercarewouldneverhavebeensufficientlyboredtobecometiresomeorintractable，andtheyalsowouldhavegainedcharactertowhichwouldhavebeenaddedanundeniablevividnessofoutlook。

Shecouldnothaveleftthemalone，sotospeak。Inobeyingthemerelawsofherbeing，shewouldhavestimulatedthem。

Unconsciouslyshehadstimulatedherfellowpupilsatschool；

whenshewashiscompanion，herfatherhadalwaysfelthimselfstirredtointerestandenterprise。

"Yououghttohavebeenaman，Betty，"heusedtosaytohersometimes。

ButBettyhadnotagreedwithhim。

"Yousaythat，"sheoncerepliedtohim，"becauseyouseeIaminclinedtodothings，tochangethem，iftheyneedchanging。Well，oneiseitherbornlikethat，oroneisnot。

SometimesIthinkthatperhapsthepeoplewhomustACTareofadistinctrace。Akindofvigorousrestlessnessdrivesthem。

IrememberthatwhenIwasachildIcouldnotseeapinlyinguponthegroundwithoutpickingitup，orpassadrawerwhichneededclosing，withoutgivingitapush。Buttherehasalwaysbeenasmuchforwomentodoasformen。"

Therewasmuchtobedonehereofonesortofthingandanother。Thatwascertain。Asshegazedthroughthesmallpanesofherlargewindows，shefoundherselfoverlookingpartofawildernessofgarden，whichrevealeditselfthroughanarchinanovergrownlaurelhedge。Shehadglimpsesofunkemptgrasspathsandunclippedtopiaryworkwhichhadlostitsoriginalform。Amongatangleofweedsrosetheheadsofclumpsofdaffodils，stirredbyapassingwindofspring。Intheparkbeyondacuckoowascalling。

Shewasconsciousbothoftheforlornbeautyandsignificanceoftheneglectedgarden，andoftheclearquaintnessofthecuckoocall，asshethoughtofotherthings。

"Herspiritandherhealtharebroken，"washersummingup。"Herprettinesshasfadedtoarag。Sheisasnervousasanill—treatedchild。Shehaslostherwits。Idonotknowwheretobeginwithher。Imustlethertellmethingsasgraduallyasshechooses。UntilIseeNigelIshallnotknowwhathismethodwithherhasbeen。Shelooksasifshehadceasedtocareforthings，evenforherself。WhatshallIwritetomother？"

Sheknewwhatsheshouldwritetoherfather。Withhimshecouldbeexplicit。Shecouldrecordwhatshehadfoundandwhatitsuggestedtoher。Shecouldalsomakeclearherreasonforhesitanceanddeliberation。Hisdiscretionandaffectionwouldcomprehendthethingwhichsheherselffeltandwhichaffectionnotcombinedwithdiscretionmightnottakein。Hewouldunderstand，whenshetoldhimthatoneofthefirstthingswhichhadstruckher，hadbeenthatRosyherself，herhelplessnessandtimidity，might，foraperiodatleast，formobstaclesintheirpathofaction。HenotonlylovedRosy，butrealisedhowslightasweetthingshehadalwaysbeen，andhewouldknowhowfaraslightcreature’sgentlenessmightbeoverpoweredandbeatendown。

Therewassomuchthathermothermustbespared，therewasindeedsolittlethatitwouldbewisetotellher，thatBettinasatgentlyrubbingherforeheadasshethoughtofit。

Thetruthwasthatshemusttellhernothing，untilallwasover，accomplished，decided。Whatsoevertherewastobe"over，"whatsoevertheactionfinallytaken，mustbeamatterlyingasfaraspossiblebetweenherfatherandherself。

Mrs。Vanderpoel’stroublewouldbetookeen，heranxietytoogreattokeeptoherself，evenifshewerenotoverwhelmedbythem。ShemustbetoldofthebeautiesanddimensionsofStornham，allrelatabledetailsofRosy’slifemustbegenerouslydwelton。AboveallRosymustbemadetowriteletters，andwithanairoffreedomhoweverspecious。

Aknockonthedoorbrokethethreadofherreflection。Itwasalow—soundingknock，andsheansweredthesummonsherself，becauseshethoughtitmightbeRosy’s。

ItwasnotLadyAnstrutherswhostoodoutside，butUghtred，whobalancedhimselfonhiscrutches，andliftedhissmall，toomature，face。

"MayIcomein？"heasked。

Herewastheunexpectedagain，butshedidnotallowhimtoseehersurprise。

"Yes，"shesaid。"Certainlyyoumay。"

Heswunginandthenturnedtospeaktoher。

"Pleaseshutthedoorandlockit，"hesaid。

Therewassuddenilluminationinthis，butofanorderalmostwhimsical。Thatmodernpeopleinmoderndaysshouldfeelboltsandbarsanecessityofordinaryintercoursewassuggestive。Shewasplainlyabouttoreceiveenlightenment。Sheturnedthekeyandfollowedthehaltingfigureacrosstheroom。

"Whatareyouafraidof？"sheasked。

"WhenmotherandItalkthingsover，"hesaid，"wealwaysdoitwherenoonecanseeorhear。It’stheonlywaytobesafe。"

"Safefromwhat？"

Hiseyesfixedthemselvesonherasheansweredheralmostsullenly。

"Safefrompeoplewhomightlistenandgoandtellthatwehadbeentalking。"

Inhisthwarted—looking，oddchild—facetherewasashadeofappealnotwhollyhiddenbyhisevidentwishnottobeboylike。Bettyfeltadesiretokneeldownsuddenlyandembracehim，butsheknewhewasnotpreparedforsuchademonstration。Helookedlikeacreaturewhohadlivedcontinuallyatbay，andhadlearnedtoadjusthimselftoanysituationwithcautionandrestraint。

"Sitdown，Ughtred，"shesaid，andwhenhedidsosheherselfsatdown，butnottoonearhim。

Restinghischinonthehandleofacrutch，hegazedatheralmostprotestingly。

"Ialwayshavetodothesethings，"hesaid，"andIamnotcleverenough，oroldenough。Iamonlyeleven。"

Thementionofthenumberofhisyearswasplainlynotapologetic，butwasamerestatementofhislimitations。Therethefactwas，andhemustmakethebestofithecould。

"Whatthingsdoyoumean？"

"Tryingtomakethingseasier——explainingthingswhenshecannotthinkofexcuses。To—dayitistellingyouwhatsheistoofrightenedtotellyouherself。Isaidtoherthatyoumustbetold。Itmadehernervousandmiserable，butIknewyoumust。"

"Yes，Imust，"Bettyanswered。"Iamgladshehasyoutodependon，Ughtred。"

Hiscrutchgratedonthefloorandhisboyeyesforbadehertobelievethattheirsuddenlustrewasinanywayconnectedwithrestrainedemotion。

"IknowIseemqueerandlikealittleoldman，"hesaid。

"Mothercriesaboutitsometimes。Butitcan’tbehelped。

Itisbecauseshehasneverhadanyonebutmetohelpher。

WhenIwasverylittle，Ifoundouthowfrightenedandmiserableshewas。Afterhisrages，"heusednoname，"sheusedtorunintomynurseryandsnatchmeupinherarmsandhideherfaceinmypinafore。Sometimesshestuffeditintohermouthandbitittokeepherselffromscreaming。Once——

beforeIwasseven——Iranintotheirroomandshoutedout，andtriedtofightforher。Hewasgoingout，andhadhisridingwhipinhishand，andhecaughtholdofmeandstruckmewithit——untilhewastired。"

Bettystoodupright。

"What！What！What！"shecriedout。

Hemerelynoddedhisheadshortly。Shesawwhatthethinghadbeenbythewayhisfacelostcolour。

"OfcoursehesaiditwasbecauseIwasimpudent，andneededpunishment，"hesaid。"HesaidshehadencouragedmeinAmericanimpudence。Itwasworseforherthanforme。Shekneeleddownandscreamedoutasifshewascrazy，thatshewouldgivehimwhathewantedifhewouldstop。"

"Wait，"saidBetty，drawinginherbreathsharply。"`He，’

isSirNigel？Andhewantedsomething。"

Henoddedagain"Tellme，"shedemanded，"hasheeverstruckher？"

"Once，"heansweredslowly，"beforeIwasborn——hestruckherandshefellagainstsomething。ThatiswhyIamlikethis。"Andhetouchedhisshoulder。

ThefeelingwhichsurgedthroughBettyVanderpoel’sbeingforcedhertogoandstandwithherfaceturnedtowardsthewindows，herhandsholdingeachothertightlybehindherback。

"Imustkeepstill，"shesaid。"Imustmakemyselfkeepstill。"

Shespokeunconsciouslyhalfaloud，andUghtredheardherandrepliedhurriedly。

"Yes，"hesaid，"youmustmakeyourselfkeepstill。Thatiswhatwehavetodowhateverhappens。Thatisoneofthethingsmotherwantedyoutoknow。Sheisafraid。Shedaren’tletyou————"

Sheturnedfromthewindow，standingatherfullheightandlookingverytallforagirl。

"Sheisafraid？Shedaren’t？See——thatwillcometoanendnow。Therearethingswhichcanbedone。"

Heflushednervously。

"Thatiswhatshewasafraidyouwouldsay，"hespokefastandhishandstrembled。"Sheisnearlywildaboutit，becausesheknowshewilltrytodosomethingthatwillmakeyoufeelasifshedoesnotwantyou。"

"Sheisafraidofthat？"Bettyexclaimed。

"He’ddoit！He’ddoit——ifyoudidnotknowbeforehand。"

"Oh！"saidBetty，withunflinchingclearness。"Heisaliar，ishe？"

Thehelplessrageintheunchildisheyes，theshakingvoice，ashecriedoutinanswer，wereashock。Itwasasifhewildlyrejoicedthatshehadspokentheword。

"Yes，he’saliar——aliar！"heshrilled。"He’saliarandabullyandacoward。He’d——he’dbeamurdererifhedared——buthedaren’t。"Andhisfacedroppedonhisarmsfoldedonhiscrutch，andhebrokeintoapassionofcrying。ThenBettyknewshemightgotohim。Shewentandkneltdownandputherarmroundhim。

"Ughtred，"shesaid，"cry，ifyoulike，Ishoulddoit，ifIwereyou。ButItellyouitcanallbealtered——anditshallbe。"

Heseemedquitelikealittleboywhenheputouthishandtohersandspokesobbingly：

"She——shesays——thatbecauseyouhaveonlyjustcomefromAmerica——andinAmericapeople——candothings——youwillthinkyoucandothingshere——andyoudon’tknow。Hewilltellliesaboutyouliesyoucan’tbear。Shesatwringingherhandswhenshethoughtofit。Shewon’tletyoubehurtbecauseyouwanttohelpher。"Hestoppedabruptlyandclutchedhershoulder。

"AuntBetty！AuntBetty——whateverhappens——whateverhemakesherseemlike——youaretoknowthatitisnottrue。

Nowyouhavecome——nowshehasseenyouitwouldKILLherifyouweredrivenawayandthoughtshewantedyoutogo。"

"Ishallnotthinkthat，"sheanswered，slowly，becausesherealisedthatitwaswellthatshehadbeenwarnedintime。

"Ughtred，areyoutryingtotellmethataboveallthingsI

mustnotlethimthinkthatIcameheretohelpyou，becauseifheisangryhewillmakeusallsuffer——andyourmothermostofall？"

"He’llfindaway。Wealwaysknowhewill。Hewouldeitherbesorudethatyouwouldnotstayhere——orhewouldmakemotherseemrude——orhewouldwriteliestograndfather。

AuntBetty，shescarcelybelievesyouarerealyet。Ifshewon’ttellyouthingsatfirst，pleasedon’tmind。"Helookedquitelikeachildagaininhisappealtoher，totrytounderstandastateofaffairssocomplicated。"Couldyou——

couldyouwaituntilyouhaveletherget——getusedtoyou？"

"Usedtothinkingthattheremaybesomeoneintheworldtohelpher？"slowly。"Yes，Iwill。Hasanyoneevertriedtohelpher？"

"Onceortwicepeoplefoundoutandweresorryatfirst，butitonlymadeitworse，becausehemadethembelievethings。"

"IshallnotTRY，Ughtred，"saidBetty，aremotesparkkindlinginthedeepsofthepupilsofhersteel—blueeyes。"I

shallnotTRY。NowIamgoingtoaskyousomequestions。"

Beforehelefthershehadaskedmanyquestionswhichwerepertinentandsearching，andshehadlearnedthingssherealisedshecouldhavelearnedinnootherwayandfromnootherperson。Butforhisuncannysenseoftheresponsibilityheclearlyhadassumedinthedayswhenheworepinafores，andwhichhadbroughthimtoherroomtopreparehermindforwhatshewouldfindherselfconfrontedwithinthewayofapparentlyunexplainableobstacles，therewasastronglikelihoodthatattheoutsetshemighthavefoundherselfmorethanoncedangerouslyataloss。Yes，shewouldhavebeenataloss，puzzled，perhapsgreatlydiscouraged。Shewasfacetofacewithacomplicationsoextraordinary。

Thatoneman，throughmerepersistentsteadinessineviltemperanddomestictyranny，shouldhavesobrokenthecreaturesofhishouseholdintoabjectsubmissionandhopelessness，seemedtooincredible。SuchapowerappearedasremotefromcivilisedexistenceinLondonandNewYorkasdidthatwhichhadinflictedtorturesinthedungeonsofcastlesofold。

Prisonersinsuchdungeonscouldutternocrywhichcouldreachtheoutsideworld；theprisonersatStornhamCourt，notfourhoursfromHydeParkCorner，couldutternonetheworldcouldhear，orcomprehendifitheardit。Sheerlackofpowertoresistboundthemhandandfoot。Andshe，BettyVanderpoel，washereuponthespot，and，asfarasshecouldunderstand，wasbeingimploredtotakenosteps，todonothing。

Theatmosphereinwhichshehadspentherlife，theworldshehadbeenborninto，hadnotmadeforfearfulnessthatonewouldbeatanytimedefencelessagainstcircumstancesandbeobligedtosubmittooutrage。TobeaVanderpoelwas，itwastrue，tobeashiningmarkforenvyasforadmiration，butthefactremovedobstaclesasarule，andtofindone’sselfstandingbeforeasituationwithone’shands，figurativelyspeaking，tied，wasnewenoughtoarouseunusualsensations。Sherecalled，withanironicsenseofbewilderment，asasortofmaterialevidenceofherownreality，thefactthatnotaweekagoshehadsteppedontoEnglishsoilfromthegangwayofasolidAtlanticliner。ItaidedhertoresistthefeelingthatshehadbeensweptbackintotheMiddleAges。

"Whenheisangry，"wasoneofthefirstquestionssheputtoUghtred，"whatdoeshegiveashisreason？Hemustprofesstohaveareason。"

"Whenhegetsinaragehesaysitisbecausemotherissillyandcommon，andIambadlybroughtup。Butwealwaysknowhewantsmoney，anditmakeshimfurious。Hecouldkilluswithrage。"

"Oh！"saidBetty。"Isee。"

"Itbeganthattimewhenhestruckher。Hesaidthenthatitwasnotdecentthatawomanwhowasmarriedshouldkeepherownmoney。Hemadehergivehimalmosteverythingshehad，butshewantstokeepsomeforme。Hetriestomakehergetmorefromgrandfather，butshewillnotwritebeggingletters，andshewon’tgivehimwhatsheissavingforme。"

Itwasasimpleandsordidenoughexplanationinonesense，anditwasoneofwhichBettinahadknown，notoneparallel，butseveral。Havingmarriedtoensurehimselfpoweroverunquestionedresources，themanhadfelthimselfdisgustinglytakenin，andavengedhimselfaccordingly。Inhimhadbeenbornthemakingsofadomestictyrantwho，evenhadhebeenfavouredbyfortune，wouldhavewreakedhishumoursuponthedefencelessthingsmadehispropertybytiesofbloodandmarriage，andwho，beingunfavoured，woulddoworse。BettycouldseewhattheyearshadheldforRosy，andhowherweaknessandtimidityhadbeenconsideredaspositiveassets。A

womanwhowillcrywhensheisbullied，maybecountedupontosubmitaftershehascried。Rosyhadsubmitteduptoacertainpointandthen，withthestubbornnessofaweakcreature，hadstoodattimidbayforheryoung。

WhatBettygatheredwasthat，afterthelongandterribleillnesswhichhadfollowedUghtred’sbirth，shehadrisenfromwhathadbeensonearlyherdeathbed，prostratedinbothmindandbody。Ughtreddidnotknowallthatherevealedwhenhetoucheduponthetimewhichhesaidhismothercouldnotquiteremember——whenshehadsatformonthsstaringvacantlyoutofherwindow，tryingtorecallsomethingterriblewhichhadhappened，andwhichshewantedtotellhermother，ifthedayevercamewhenshecouldwritetoheragain。Shehadneverrememberedclearlythedetailsofthethingshehadwantedtotell，andNigelhadinsistedthatherfancywaspartofherpastdelirium。Hehadsaidthatatthebeginningofherdeliriumshehadattackedandinsultedhismotherandhimselfbuttheyhadexcusedherbecausetheyrealisedafterwardswhatthecauseofherexcitementhadbeen。Foralongtimeshehadbeentoobrokenlyweaktoquestionordisbelieve，but，latershehadvaguelyknownthathehadbeenlyingtoher，thoughshecouldnotrefutewhathesaid。Sherecalled，incourseoftime，ahorriblesceneinwhichallthreeofthemhadravedateachother，andsheherselfhadshriekedandlaughedandhurledwildwordsatNigel，andhehadstruckher。Thatsheknewandneverforgot。Shehadbeenillayear，herhairhadfallenout，herskinhadfadedandshehadbeguntofeellikeanervous，tiredoldwomaninsteadofagirl。Girlhood，withallthepast，hadbecomeunrealandtoofarawaytobemorethanadream。NothinghadremainedrealbutStornhamandNigelandthelittlehunchbackedbaby。ShewasgladwhentheDowagerdiedandwhenNigelspenthistimeinLondonorontheContinentandleftherwithUghtred。Whenhesaidthathemustspendhermoneyontheestate，shehadacquiescedwithoutcomment，becausethatinsuredhisgoingaway。Shesawthatnoimprovementorrepairsweremade，butshecoulddonothingandwastoolistlesstomaketheattempt。SheonlywantedtobeleftalonewithUghtred，andsheexhibitedwill—

poweronlyindefenceofherchildandinherobstinacywithregardtoaskingmoneyofherfather。

"Shethought，somehow，thatgrandfatherandgrandmotherdidnotcareforheranymore——thattheyhadforgottenherandonlycaredforyou，"Ughtredexplained。"Sheusedtotalktomeaboutyou。Shesaidyoumustbesocleverandsohandsomethatnoonecouldrememberher。Sometimesshecriedandsaidshedidnotwantanyofyoutoseeheragain，becauseshewasonlyahideous，little，thin，yellowoldwoman。

WhenIwasverylittleshetoldmestoriesaboutNewYorkandFifthAvenue。Ithoughttheywerenotrealplaces——I

thoughtheywereplacesinfairyland。"

Bettypattedhisshoulderandlookedawayforamomentwhenhesaidthis。Inherremoteandhelplessloneliness，toRosy’shomesick，yearningsoul，noisy，rattlingNewYork，FifthAvenuewithitstrafficandpeople，itsbrown—stonehousesandrickettystages，hadseemedlikeTHAT——sosplendidandbrightandheart—filling，thatshehadpaintedthemincolourswhichcouldbelongonlytofairyland。Itsaidsomuch。

Thethingshehadsuspectedasshehadtalkedtohersisterwas，beforetheinterviewended，madecuriouslyclear。Thefirstobstacleinherpathwaywouldbetheshrinkingofacreaturewhohadbeensolongunderdominionthatthemerethoughtofseeinganystepstakentowardsherrescuefilledherwithalarm。Onemightbepreparedforheralmostprayingtobeletalone，becauseshefeltthattheprocessofhersalvationwouldbringaboutsuchshocksandtormentsasshecouldnotendurethefacingof。

"Shewillhavetogetusedtoyou，"Ughtredkeptsaying。

"Shewillhavetogetusedtothinkingthings。"

"Iwillbecareful，"Bettinaanswered。"Sheshallnotbetroubled。Ididnotcometotroubleher，"

CHAPTERXIII

ONEOFTHENEWYORKDRESSES

Asshewentdownthestaircaselater，onherwaytodinner，MissVanderpoelsawonallsidessignsoftheextentofthenakednessoftheland。Shewasinafineoldhouse，strippedofmostofitssaleablebelongings，uncaredfor，deterioratingyearbyyear，graduallygoingtoruin。Oneneednotpossessparticularkeennessofsighttoobservethis，andshehadchancedtoseeoldhousesinlikeconditioninothercountriesthanEngland。Aman—servant，inashabbylivery，openedthedrawing—

roomdoorforher。Hewasnotapicturesqueservitoroffallenfortunes，butanawkwardpersonwhowasnotaccustomedtohisduties。Bettywonderedifhehadbeencalledinfromthegardenstomeetthenecessitiesofthemoment。Hisfurtiveglanceatthetallyoungwomanwhopassedhim，tookinwithsuddenembarrassmentthefactthatsheplainlydidnotbelongtothedispiritedworldboundedbyStornhamCourt。Withoutsparklinggemsortrailingrichnessinherwake，shewassuggestivelysplendid。Hedidnotknowwhetheritwasherhairorthebuildofherneckandshouldersthatdidit，butitwasrevealedtohimthattiarasandcollarsofstoneswhichblazedbelongedwithoutdoubttoherequipment。HerecalledthattherewasalegendtotheeffectthatthepresentLadyAnstruthers，wholookedlikearagdoll，hadbeenthedaughterofarichAmerican，andthatbetterthingsmighthavebeenexpectedofherifshehadnotbeensuchapoor—spiritedcreature。

Ifthiswashersister，sheperhapswasayoungwomanoffortune，andthatshewasnotofpoorspiritwasplain。

Thelargedrawing—roompresentedbutanotheraspectofthebarenessoftherestofthehouse。Intimesprobablylongpast，possiblyintheDowagerLadyAnstruthers’earlyyearsofmarriage，thewallshadbeenhungwithwhiteandgoldpaperofapatternwhichdominatedthescene，andhadbeenfurnishedwithgildedchairs，tables，andottomans。Someoftheselasthadevidentlybeenremovedastheybecametoomuchoutofrepairforuseorornament。Suchasremained，tarnishedastogildingandworninthematterofupholstery，stoodsparselyscatteredonadesertofcarpet，whosehuge，floweredmedallionshadfadedalmostfromview。

LadyAnstruthers，lookingshyandawkwardasshefingeredanornamentonasmalltable，seemedsingularlyapartofherbackground。Hereveningdress，slippingoffherthinshoulders，wasasfadedandoutofdateashercarpet。Ithadoncebeendelicatelyblueandgauzy，butitsgauzinesshungincrushedfoldsanditsbluewasalmostgrey。Itwasalsothedressofagirl，notthatofacolourless，wornwoman，andherconsciousnessofitsunfitnessshowedinhersmall—featuredfaceasshecameforward。

"Doyou——recogniseit，Betty？"sheaskedhesitatingly。"ItwasoneofmyNewYorkdresses。Iputitonbecause——

because————"andherstammeringendedhelplessly。

"Becauseyouwantedtoremindme，"Bettysaid。Ifshefeltiteasiertobeginwithanexcusesheshouldbeprovidedwithone。

PerhapsbutforthisreadinesstofallintoanytoneshechosetoadoptRosymighthaveendeavouredtocarryherpoorfarceon，butasitwasshesuddenlygaveitup。

"IputitonbecauseIhavenoother，"shesaid。"WeneverhavevisitorsandIhaven’tdressedfordinnerforsolongthatIseemtohavenothingleftthatisfittowear。Idraggedthisoutbecauseitwasbetterthananythingelse。Itwasprettyonce————"shegavealittlelaugh，"twelveyearsago。Howlongyearsseem！WasI——wasIpretty，Betty——twelveyearsago？"

"Twelveyearsisnotsuchalongtime。"Bettytookherhandanddrewhertoasofa。"Letussitdownandtalkaboutit。"

"Thereisnothingmuchtotalkabout。Thisisit————"

takingintheroomwithawaveofherhand。"Iamit。

Ughtredisit。"