第13章

AsMissVanderpoelwalkedatalight，swingingpacethroughtheonevillagestreetthegazersfeltwithKedgersthatsomethingnewwaspassingandstirringtheatmosphere。Shelookedstraight，andwithafriendlinesssomehowdominating，atthecuriouswomen；herhandsomeeyesmetthoseofthemeninahumanquestioning；shesmiledandnoddedtothebobbingchildren。Oneofthese，youngenoughtobeuncertainonitsfeet，inrunningtojoinsomeothersstumbledandfellonthepathbeforeher。Openingitsmouthintheinevitableresultantroar，itwasshockedalmostintosilencebythetallyoungladystoopingatonce，pickingitup，andcheerfullydustingitspinafore。

"Don’tcry，"shesaid；"youarenothurt，youknow。"

Thedeepdimplenearhermouthshoweditself，andthelaughinhereyeswassoreassuringthatthepennysheputintothegrubbyhandwaslessproductiveofeffectthanhermereself。Shewalkedon，leavingthegroupstaringafterherbreathless，becauseofasenseofhavingmetwithawonderfuladventure。Thegrandyoungladywiththeblackhairandthebluehatandtall，straightbodywastheadventure。Sheleftthesamesenseofeventwiththevillageitself。Theytalkedofheralldayovertheirgardenpalings，ontheirdoorsteps，inthestreet；ofherlooks，ofherheight，oftheblackrimoflashesroundhereyes，ofthechancethatshemightberichandreadytogivehalf—crownsandsovereigns，ofthe"Meriker"shehadcomefrom，andaboveallofthereasonforhercoming。

Bettyswungwiththelight，firmstepofagoodwalkeroutontothehighway。Towalkuponthefine，smootholdRomanroadwasapleasureinitself，butshesoonstruckawayfromitandwentthroughlanesandby—ways，followingsign—postsbecausesheknewwhereshewasgoing。HerwalkwastotakehertoMountDunstanandhomeagainbyanotherroad。Inwalking，anobjectivepointformsaninterest，andwhatshehadheardoftheestatefromRosaliewasavaguereasonforhercaringtoseeit。ItwasanotherplacelikeStornham，oncedignifiedandnoblyrepresentativeoffinethings，nowlosingtheirmeaningsandvalues。Valuesandmeanings，otherthanmeresignsofwealthandpower，therehadbeen。Centuriesagostrongcreatureshadplannedandbuiltitforsuchreasonsasstrengthhasforitsplanningandbuilding。InBettinaVanderpoel’simaginationtheFirstManheldpowerfulandmovingsway。Itwashewhomshealwayssaw。Inhistory，asachildatschool，shehadunderstoodanddrawnclosetohim。TherewasalwaysaFirstManbehindallthatonesaworwastold，onewhowasthefighter，thehumanthingwhosnatchedweaponsandtoolsfromstonesandtreesandwieldedtheminthecarryingoutofthethoughtwhichwashispossessionandhisstrength。HewastheGodmadehuman；otherswaited，withoutknowledgeoftheirwaiting，forthesignalhegave。A

manlikeothers——withman’sbody，hands，andlimbs，andeyes——

themovingofawholeworldwassubtlyalteredbyhisbirth。

Onecouldnotalwaystracehim，butwithstoneaxeandspearpointhehadwonsavagelandsinsavageways，andsoruledthemthat，leavingthemtootherhands，theirmarchtowardslesssavagelifecouldnotstayitself，butmustsweepon；othersofhiskind，strikingrudeharps，hadsosungthattheloudclearnessoftheirwildsongshadrungthroughtheages，andechostillinstrainswhicharetheirs，thoughvoicesofto—dayrepeatthenoteofthem。TheFirstMan，aBritonstainedwithwoadandhungwithskins，hadtilledthelusciousgreennessofthelandsrichlyrollingnowwithinhedgeboundaries。Thesquarechurchtowersrose，holdingtheirslendercornerspiresabovethetrees，asaresultoftheFirstMan，NormanWilliam。Thethoughtwhichhelditsplace，theworkwhichdidnotpassaway，hadpaiditsFirstManwages；butbeautiescrumbling，homesfallingtowaste，werebitterthings。TheFirstMan，who，havingwonhissplendidacres，hadbuilthishomeuponthemandrearedhisyoungandpassedhispossessiononwithaproudheart，seemedbutilltreated。Throughcenturiesthehomehadenricheditself，itsacreshadborneharvests，itstreeshadgrownandspreadhugebranches，fullliveshadbeenlivedwithintheembraceofthemassivewalls，therehadbeenlovesandlivesandmarriagesandbirths，thebreathingsofthemmadewarmandfulltheveryair。ToBettyitseemedthatthelanditselfwouldhavewornanotherfaceifithadnotbeentroddenbysomanyspringingfeet，ifsomanyharvestshadnotwavedaboveit，ifsomanyeyeshadnotlookeduponandlovedit。

ShepassedthroughvariationsoftherurallovelinessshehadseenonherwayfromthestationtotheCourt，andfeltthemgrowinbeautyasshesawthemagain。ShecameatlasttoavillagesomewhatlargerthanStornhamandmarkedbythesignsofthelackofmoney—spendingcarewhichStornhamshowed。Justbeyonditslimitsabigparkgateopenedontoanavenueofmassivetrees。Shestoppedandlookeddownit，butcouldseenothingbutitscurvesand，underthebranches，glimpsesofaspacioussweepofparkwithothertreesstandingingroupsoraloneinthesward。Theavenuewasunsweptanduntended，andhereandthereboughsbrokenoffbywindstormslayuponit。Sheturnedtotheroadagainandfollowedit，becauseitenclosedtheparkandshewantedtoseemoreofitsevidentbeauty。Itwasverybeautiful。Asshewalkedonshesawitrolledintowoodsanddeepsfilledwithbracken；shesawstretchesofhillocky，fine—grassedrabbitwarren，andhollowsholdingshadowypools；shecaughtthegleamofalakewithswanssailingslowlyuponitwithcurvednecks；therewerewonderfullightsandwonderfulshadows，andbroodingstillness，whichmadeherfootfallupontheroadatoomaterialthing。

Suddenlysheheardastirringinthebrackenayardortwoawayfromher。Somethingwasmovingslowlyamongthewavingmassesofhugefrondsandcausedthemtoswaytoandfro。Itwasanantleredstagwhorosefromhisbedinthemidstofthem，andwithmajesticdeliberationgotuponhisfeetandstoodgazingatherwithacalmnessofposesosplendid，andaliquiddarknessandlustreofeyesostillyandfearlesslybeautiful，thatshecaughtherbreath。Hesimplygazedasherasagreatkingmightgazeatanintruder，scarcelydeigningwonder。

Asshehadpassedonherway，Bettyhadseenthattheenclosingparkpalingsweredecaying，coveredwithlichenandfallingatintervals。Ithadevenpassedthroughhermindthatherewasoneofthedemandsforexpenditureonalargeestate，whichlimitedresourcescouldnotconfrontwithcomposure。Thedeerfenceitself，athingofwiretenfeethigh，toformanobstacletoleaps，shehadmarkedtobeinsuchconditionastothreatentobecomeshortlyauselessthing。Untilthismomentshehadseennodeer，butlookingbeyondthestagandacrosstheswardshenowsawgroupsneareachother，stagscroppingorlookingtowardsherwithliftedheads，doesatarespectfulbutaffectionatedistancefromthem，somecaringfortheirfawns。Thestagwhohadrisennearherhadmerelywalkedthroughagapintheboundaryandnowstoodfreetogowherehewould。

"Hewillgetaway，"saidBetty，knittingherblackbrows。

Ah！whatashame！

Evenwiththebestintentionsonecouldnotgivechasetoastag。Shelookedupanddowntheroad，butnoonewaswithinsight。Herbrowscontinuedtoknitthemselvesandhereyesrangedovertheparkitselfinthehopethatsomelabourerontheestate，somewoodmanorgame—keeper，mightbeabout。

"Itisnoaffairofmine，"shesaid，"butitwouldbetoobadtolethimgetaway，thoughwhathappenstostraystagsonedoesn’texactlyknow。"

Asshesaiditshecaughtsightofsomeone，amaninleggingsandshabbyclothesandwithagunoverhisshoulder，evidentlyanunderkeeper。Hewasabig，ratherrough—lookingfellow，butashelurchedoutintotheopenfromawoodBettysawthatshecouldreachhimifshepassedthroughanarrowgateafewyardsawayandwalkedquickly。

Hewasslouchingalong，hisheaddroopingandhisbroadshouldersexpressingthedefiniteantipodesofgoodspirits。

Bettystudiedhisbackasshestrodeafterhim，herconclusionbeingthathewasperhapsnotagood—humouredmantoapproachatanytime，andthatthiswasbyillluckoneofhislessfortunatehours。

"Waitamoment，ifyouplease，"herclear，mellowvoiceflungoutafterhimwhenshewaswithinhearingdistance。"I

wanttospeaktoyou，keeper。"

Heturnedwithanairoffarfrompleasedsurprise。Theafternoonsunwasinhiseyesandmadehimscowl。Foramomenthedidnotseedistinctlywhowasapproachinghim，buthehadatoncerecognisedacertaincooltoneofcommandinthevoicewhosesuddennesshadrousedhimfromablackmood。Afewstepsbroughtthemtoclosequarters，andwhenhefoundhimselflookingintotheeyesofhispursuerhemadeamovementasiftolifthiscap，thencheckinghimself，touchedit，keeperfashion。

"Oh！"hesaidshortly。"MissVanderpoel！Begpardon。"

Bettinastoodstillasecond。Shehadhersurprisealso。Herewastheunexpectedagain。Theunderkeeperwasthered—hairedsecond—classpassengeroftheMeridiana。

Hedidnotlookpleasedtoseeher，andthesuddennessofhisappearanceexcludedthepossibilityofherrealisingthatuponthewholeshewasatleastnotdispleasedtoseehim。

"Howdoyoudo？"shesaid，feelingtheremarkfantasticallyconventional，butnotbeinginspiredbyanyalternative。

"Icametotellyouthatoneofthestagshasgotthroughagapinthefence。"

"Damn！"sheheardhimsayunderhisbreath。Aloudhesaid，"Thankyou。"

"Heisasplendidcreature，"shesaid。"Ididnotknowwhattodo。Iwasgladtoseeakeepercoming。"

"Thankyou，"hesaidagain，andstrodetowardstheplacewherethestagstillstoodgazinguptheroad，asifreflectingastowhetheritalluredhimornot。

Bettywalkedbackmoreslowly，watchinghimwithinterest。

Shewonderedwhathewouldfinditnecessarytodo。Sheheardhimbeginalow，flute—likewhistling，andthensawtheantleredheadturntowardshim。Thewoodlandcreaturemoved，butitwasinhisdirection。Ithadwithoutdoubtansweredhiscallbeforeandknewitsmeaningtobefriendly。

Itwenttowardshim，stretchingoutatendersniffingnose，andheputhishandinthepocketofhisroughcoatandgaveitsomethingtoeat。Afterwardshewenttothegapinthefenceanddrewthewirestogether，fasteningthemwithotherwire，whichhealsotookoutofthecoatpocket。

"Heisnotafraidofmakinghimselfuseful，"thoughtBetty。

"Andtheanimalsknowhim。Heisnotasbadashelooks。"

Shelingeredamomentwatchinghim，andthenwalkedtowardsthegatethroughwhichshehadentered。Heglancedupasshenearedhim。

"Idon’tseeyourcarriage，"hesaid。"Yourmanisprobablyroundthetrees。"

"Iwalked，"answeredBetty。"Ihadheardofthisplaceandwantedtoseeit。"

Hestoodup，puttinghiswirebackintohispocket。

"Thereisnotmuchtobeseenfromtheroad，"hesaid。

"Wouldyouliketoseemoreofit？"

Hismannerwascivilenough，butnotthecorrectoneforaservant。Hedidnotsay"miss"ortouchhiscapinmakingthesuggestion。Bettyhesitatedamoment。

"Isthefamilyathome？"sheinquired。

"Thereisnofamilybut——hislordship。Heisofftheplace。"

"Doesheobjecttotrespassers？"

"Notiftheyarerespectableandtakenoliberties。"

"Iamrespectable，andIshallnottakeliberties，"saidMissVanderpoel，withatouchofhauteur。ThetruthwasthatshehadspentasufficientnumberofyearsontheContinenttohavebecomefamiliarwithconventionswhichledhernottoapprovewhollyofhisbearing。PerhapshehadlivedlongenoughinAmericatoforgetsuchconventionsandtolacksomethingwhichcenturiesofcustomhaddecidedshouldbelongtohisclass。Acertainsuggestionofroughforceinthemanratherattractedher，andherslightdistasteforhismannerarosefromtherealisationthatagentleman’sservantwhodidnotaddresshissuperiorsaswasrequiredbycustomwasnotdoinghisworkinafinishedway。Inhisplacesheknewherowndemeanourwouldhavebeenfinished。

"IfyouaresurethatLordMountDunstanwouldnotobjecttomywalkingabout，Ishouldlikeverymuchtoseethegardensandthehouse，"shesaid。"Ifyoushowthemtome，shallIbeinterferingwithyourduties？"

"No，"heanswered，andthenforthefirsttimeratherglumlyadded，"miss。"

"Iaminterested，"shesaid，astheycrossedthegrasstogether，"becauseplaceslikethisarequitenewtome。IhaveneverbeeninEnglandbefore。"

"Therearenotmanyplaceslikethis，"heanswered，"notmanyasoldandfine，andnotmanyasnearlygonetoruin。

EvenStornhamisnotquiteasfargone。"

"Itisfargone，"saidMissVanderpoel。"Iamstayingthere——withmysister，LadyAnstruthers。"

"Begpardon——miss，"hesaid。Thistimehetouchedhiscapinapology。

Enormousasthegulfbetweentheirpositionswas，heknewthathehadofferedtotakeherovertheplacebecausehewasinasensegladtoseeheragain。Whyhewasgladhedidnotprofesstoknoworeventoaskhimself。Coarselyspeaking，itmightbebecauseshewasoneofthehandsomestyoungwomenhehadeverchancedtomeetwith，andwhileheryouthwasapparentintherichredofhermouth，themassofherthick，softhairandthesplendidblueofhereyes，therespokeineverylineoffaceandposesomethingintenselymoreinterestingandcompellingthangirlhood。Also，sincethenighttheyhadcometogetherontheship’sdeckforanappallingmoment，hehadlikedherbetterandrebelledlessagainsttheunnaturalwealthsherepresented。Heledherfirsttothewoodfromwhichshehadseenhimemerge。

"Iwillshowyouthisfirst，"heexplained。"KeepyoureyesonthegrounduntilItellyoutoraisethem。"

Oddasthiswas，sheobeyed，andherloweredglanceshowedherthatshewasbeingguidedalonganarrowpathbetweentrees。Thelightwasmellowgolden—green，andbirdsweresingingintheboughsaboveher。Inafewminuteshestopped。

"Nowlookup，"hesaid。

Sheutteredanexclamationwhenshedidso。Shewasinafairydellthickwithferns，andatbeautifuldistancesfromeachotherincrediblysplendidoaksspreadandalmosttrailedtheirlovelygiantbranches。Theglowshiningthroughandbetweenthem，theshadowsbeneaththem，theirgreatbolesandmoss—coveredroots，andthestately，mellowdistancesrevealedundertheirbranches，theancientwildnessandrichness，whichmeant，afterall，centuriesofcultivation，madeapictureinthisexact，perfectmomentofripeningafternoonsunofanalmostunbelievablebeauty。

"Thereisnothinglovelier，"hesaidinalowvoice，"inallEngland。"

Bettinaturnedtolookathim，becausehistonewasacuriousoneforamanlikehimself。Hewasstandingrestingonhisgunandtakinginthelovelinesswithastrangelookinhisruggedface。

"You——youloveit！"shesaid。

"Yes，"butwithasuggestionofstubbornreluctanceintheadmission。

Shewasrathermoved。

"Haveyoubeenkeeperherelong？"sheasked。

"No——onlyafewyears。ButIhaveknowntheplaceallmylife。"

"DoesLordMountDunstanloveit？"

"Inhisway——yes。"

Hewasplainlynotdisposedtotalkofhismaster。Hewasperhapsnotonparticularlygoodtermswithhim。Heledherawayandvolunteerednofurtherinformation。Hewas，uponthewhole，uncommunicative。Hedidnotoncerefertothecircumstanceoftheirhavingmetbefore。Itwasplainthathehadnointentionofpresuminguponthefactthathe，asasecond—classpassengeronaship，hadoncebeenforcedbyaccidentacrossthebarriersbetweenhimselfandthesaloondeck。

Hewasstubbornlyresolvedtokeephisplace；sostubbornlythatBettinafeltthattobroachthesubjectherselfwouldvergeuponoffence。

Butthegoldenwaysthroughwhichheledhermadetheafternoononesheknewsheshouldneverforget。Theywanderedthroughmosswalksandalleys，throughtangledshrubberiesburstingintobloom，beneathavenuesofblossominghorse—

chestnutsandscentedlimes，betweenthicketsofbuddingredandwhitemay，andjunglesofneglectedrhododendrons；

throughsunkengardensandwalledones，pastterraceswithbrokenbalustradesofstone，andfallenFlorasandDianas，pastmoss—grownfountainssplashinginlovelycorners。Arches，overgrownwithyetunbloomingroses，crumbledintheirtimestainedbeauty。Stillnessbroodedoveritall，andtheymetnoone。Theyscarcelybrokethesilencethemselves。Themanledthewayasonewhoknewitbyheart，andBettinafollowed，notcaringforspeechherself，becausethestillnessseemedtoaddaspellofenchantment。Whatcouldonesay，toastranger，ofsuchbeautysolostandgivenovertoruinanddecay。

"But，oh！"shemurmuredonce，standingstill，within—

drawnbreath，"ifitweremine！——ifitweremine！"Andshesaidthethingforgettingthatherguidewasalivingcreatureandstoodnear。

Afterwardshermemoriesofitallseemedtoherlikethememoriesofadream。Thelackofspeechbetweenherselfandthemanwholedher，hisoftenavertedface，herownsenseofthedesertednessofeachbeauteousspotshepassedthrough，themossypathswhichgavebacknosoundoffootfallsastheywalked，suggested，oneandall，unreality。Whenatlasttheypassedthroughadoorhalfhiddeninaniviedwall，andcrossingagrassedbowlinggreen，mountedashortflightofbrokenstepswhichledthemtoapointthroughwhichtheysawthehousethroughabreakinthetrees，thislastwasthefinaltouchofall。Itwasagreatplace，statelyinitsmassesofgreystonetowhichthickivyclung。ToBettinaitseemedthatahundredwindowsstaredatherwithclosed，blindeyes。

Allwereshutteredbuttwoorthreeonthelowerfloors。Notoneshowedsignsoflife。Thesilentstonethingstoodsightlessamongallofwhichitwasdeadmaster——rollingacres，greattrees，lostgardensanddesertedgroves。

"Oh！"shesighed，"Oh！"

Hercompanionstoodstillandleaneduponhisgunagain，lookingashehadlookedbefore。

"Someofit，"hesaid，"washerebeforetheConquest。ItbelongedtoMountDunstansthen。"

"Andonlyoneofthemisleft，"shecried，"anditislikethis！"

"Theyhavebeenabadlot，thelasthundredyears，"wasthesurlylibertyofspeechhetook，"abadlot。"

Itwasnothisplacetospeakinsuchmannerofthoseofhismaster’shouse，anditwasnotthepartofMissVanderpoeltoencouragehimbyresponse。Sheremainedsilent，standingperhapsatriflemorelightlyerectasshegazedattherowsofblindwindowsinsilence。

Neitherofthemutteredawordforsometime，butatlengthBettinarousedherself。Shehadasix—milewalkbeforeherandmustgo。

"Iamverymuchobligedtoyou，"shebegan，andthenpausedasecond。Acurioushesitancecameuponher，thoughsheknewthatunderordinarycircumstancessuchhesitationwouldhavebeentotallyoutofplace。Shehadoccupiedtheman’stimeforanhourormore，hewasoftheworkingclass，andonemustnotbeguiltyoftheerrorofimaginingthatamanwhohasworktodocanjustlyspendhistimeinone’sserviceforthemerepleasureofit。Sheknewwhatcustomdemanded。

Whyshouldshehesitatebeforethisman，withhisnottoocourteous，surlyface。Shefeltslightlyirritatedbyherownunpracticalembarrassmentassheputherhandintothesmall，latchedbagatherbelt。

"Iamverymuchobliged，keeper，"shesaid。"Youhavegivenmeagreatdealofyourtime。Youknowtheplacesowellthatithasbeenapleasuretobetakenaboutbyyou。I

haveneverseenanythingsobeautiful——andsosad。Thankyou——thankyou。"Andsheputagoldpieceinhispalm。

Hisfingersclosedoveritquietly。Whyitwastohergreatreliefshedidnotknow——becausesomethinginthesimpleactannoyedher，evenwhileshecongratulatedherselfthatherhesitancehadbeenabsurd。Thenextmomentshewonderedifitcouldbepossiblethathehadexpectedalargerfee。Heopenedhishandandlookedatthemoneywithagrimsteadiness。

"Thankyou，miss，"hesaid，andtouchedhiscapinthepropermanner。

Hedidnotlookgraciousorgrateful，buthebegantoputitinasmallpocketinthebreastofhisworncorduroyshootingjacket。Suddenlyhestopped，asifwithabruptresolve。

Hehandedthecoinbackwithoutanychangeofhisglumlook。

"Hangitall，"hesaid，"Ican’ttakethis，youknow。IsupposeIoughttohavetoldyou。Itwouldhavebeenlessawkwardforusboth。Iamthatunfortunatebeggar，MountDunstan，myself。"

Apausewasinevitable。Itwasaratherlongone。Afterit，Bettytookbackherhalf—sovereignandreturnedittoherbag，butshepleasedacertainperversityinhimbylookingmoreannoyedthanconfused。

"Yes，"shesaid。"Yououghttohavetoldme，LordMountDunstan。"

Heslightlyshruggedhisbigshoulders。

"Whyshouldn’tyoutakemeforakeeper？YoucrossedtheAtlanticwithafourth—ratelookingfellowseparatedfromyoubybarriersofwoodandiron。Youcameuponhimtrampingoveranobleman’sestateinshabbycorduroysandgaiters，withagunoverhisshoulderandascowlonhisuglyface。WhyshouldyouleaptotheconclusionthatheisthebeltedEarlhimself？Thereisnocauseforembarrassment。"

"Iamnotembarrassed，"saidBettina。

"ThatiswhatIlike，"gruffly。

"Iampleased，"inhermellowestvelvetvoice，"thatyoulikeit。"

Theireyesmetwithasingulardirectnessofgaze。Betweenthemasparkpassedwhichwasnotafterwardstobeextinguished，thoughneitherofthemknewthemomentofitskindling，andMountDunstanslightlyfrowned。

"Ibegpardon，"hesaid。"Youarequiteright。Ithadadeucedlypatronisingsound。"

AshestoodbeforeherBettywasgivenheropportunitytoseehimasshehadnotseenhimbefore，toconfrontthesumtotalofhisphysique。Hisred—browneyeslookedoutfromratherfineheavybrows，hisfeatureswerestrongandclear，thoughruggedlycut，hisbuildshowedweightofbone，notofflesh，andhislimbswerebigandlong。Hewouldhavewieldedabattle—axewithpowerincenturiesinwhichmenhewedtheirwaywiththem。Alsoitoccurredtoherhewouldhavelookedwellinacoatofmail。Hedidnotlookillinhiscorduroysandgaiters。

"Iamaself—absorbedbeggar，"hewenton。"Ihadbeenslouchingabouttheplace，almostdrivenmadbymythoughts，andwhenIsawyoutookmeforaservantmyfancywasforlettingthethinggoon。IfIhadbeenarichmaninsteadofapauperIwouldhavekeptyourhalf—sovereign。"

"IshouldnothaveenjoyedthatwhenIfoundoutthetruth，"saidMissVanderpoel"No，Isupposeyouwouldn’t。ButIshouldnothavecared。"

Hewaslookingatherstraightlyandsummingherupasshehadsummedhimup。Amanandyoung，hedidnotmissalineoratintofherchinorcheek，shoulder，orbrow，ordense，liftedhair。Hehadalready，eveninhisguiseofkeeper，noticedonething，whichwasthatwhileattimeshereyesweretheblueofsteel，sometimestheymeltedtothecolourofbluebellsunderwater。Theyhadbeenofthislasthuewhenshehadstoodinthesunkengarden，forgettinghimandcryinglow：

"Oh，ifitweremine！Ifitweremine！"

HedidnotlikeAmericanwomenwithmillions，butwhilehewouldnothavesaidthathelikedher，hedidnotwishheryettomoveaway。Andshe，too，didnotwish，justyet，tomoveaway。Therewassomethingdramaticandabsorbinginthesituation。Shelookedoverthesoftlystirringgrassandsawthesunshinewasdeepeningitsgoldandtheshadowsweregrowinglong。Itwasnotahabitofherstoaskquestions，butsheaskedone。

"DidyounotlikeAmerica？"waswhatshesaid。

"Hatedit！Hatedit！Iwentthereluredbyabeliefthatamanlikemyself，withmuscleandwill，evenwithoutexperience，couldmakeafortuneoutofsmallcapitalonasheepranch。Windandweatheranddiseaseplayedthedevilwithme。IlostthelittleIhadandcamebacktobeginoveragain——

onnothing——here！"Andhewavedhishandovertheparkwithitsswardandcoppiceandbrackenandthedeercroppinginthelateafternoongold。

"Tobeginwhatagain？"saidBetty。Itwasanextraordinaryenoughthing，seeninthelightofconventions，thattheyshouldstandandtalklikethis。Butthesparkhadkindledbetweeneyeandeye，andbecauseofittheysuddenlyhadforgottenthattheywerestrangers。

"YouareanAmerican，soitmaynotseemasmadtoyouasitwouldtoothers。Tobegintobuildupagain，inoneman’slife，whathastakencenturiestogrow——andfallintothis。"

"Itwouldbeasplendidthingtodo，"shesaidslowly，andasshesaidithereyestookontheircolourofbluebells，becausewhatshehadseenhadmovedher。Shehadnotlookedathim，butatthecroppingdeerasshespoke，butathernextsentencesheturnedtohimagain。

"Whereshouldyoubegin？"sheasked，andinsayingitthoughtofStornham。

Helaughedshortly。

"ThatisAmericanenough，"hesaid。"Yourpeoplehavenotfinishedtheirbeginningsyetandliveinthespiritofthem。

Itellyouofawildfancy，andyouacceptitasapossibilityandturnonmewith，`Whereshouldyoubegin？’"