“But，mygoodfellow，“protestedtheduke，despitefeelingatouchofthethrillagain，“unfortunately，shewouldnotsuspectyouoflookingatherbecauseyouwererecallingTorfredaandHerewardtheWake。Menstareatherforanotherreason。”
　　“That”swhatIknowabouthalfaswellagainasIknowanythingelse，“
　　answeredTembarom。Headded，withadeliberationholdingitsownmeaning，“That”swhatI”mcomingto。”
　　Thedukewaited。Whatwasithewascomingto？
　　“Readingthatnovelputmewisetothingsinanewway。She”sbeenwipingherfeetonmehardforagoodwhile，andIsortofmadeupmymindI”dgottoletheruntilIwassurewhereIwas。Iwon”tsayI
　　didn”tmindit，butIcouldstandit。Butthatnightshecaughtmelookingather，thewayshelookedbackatmemademeseeallofasuddenthatitwouldbeeasierforherifItoldherstraightthatshewasmistaken。”
　　“Thatsheismistakeninthinking——？“
　　“Whatshedoesthink。Shewouldn”thavethoughtitiftheoldladyhadn”tbeendrivinghermadbyhammeringitin。She”dhavehatedmeallright，andIdon”tblameherwhenIthinkofhowpoorJemwastreated；butshewouldn”thavethoughtthateverytimeItriedtobedecentandfriendlytoherIwasbuttinginandmakingasickfoolofmyself。She”sgottostaywherehermotherkeepsher，andshe”sgottolistentoher。Oh，hell！She”sgottobetold！“
　　Thedukesetthetipsofhisfingerstogether。
　　“Howwouldyoudoit？“heinquired。
　　“Juststraight，“repliedT。Tembarom。“There”snootherway。”
　　Fromtheoldworldlingbrokeforthaninvoluntarylowlaugh，whichwasasortofcackle。Sothiswaswhathewascomingto。
　　“Icannotthinkofanydeviousmethod，“hesaid，“whichwouldmakeitlessthanadelicatethingtodo。Abeautifulyoungwoman，whosehostyouare，hasfloutedyoufuriouslyforweeks，undertheimpressionthatyouareoffensivelyinlovewithher。Youproposetotellherthatherjudgmenthasbetrayedher，andthat，asyousay，`There”snothingdoing。”“
　　“Notadarnedthing，andneverhasbeen，“saidT。Tembarom。Helookedquitegraveandnotatallembarrassed。Heplainlydidnotseeitasasituationtoberegardedwithhumor。
　　“Ifshewilllisten”thedukebegan。
　　“Oh，she”lllisten，“putinTembarom。“I”llmakeher。”
　　Hiswasaself-contradictingcountenance，thedukereflected，ashetookhiminwithasomewhatlonglook。Onedidnotusuallyseeafacebuiltupofboyishnessandmaturity，simplenesswhichwasbaffling，andagoodnaturewhichcouldbehard。Atthemoment，itwasbothoftheselastatoneandthesametime。
　　“IknowsomethingofLadyJoanandIknowsomethingofyou，“hesaid，“butIdon”texactlyforeseewhatwillhappen。IwillnotsaythatI
　　shouldnotliketobepresent。”
　　“There”llbenobodypresentbutjustmeandher，“Tembaromanswered。
　　CHAPTERXXX
　　ThevisitsofLadyMalloweandCaptainPalliserhadhadtheirfeatures。Neitherofthepairhadcometooneofthemostimposing“places“inLancashiretolivealifeofhermit-likeseclusionanddullness。Theyhadarrivedwiththeintentionofavailingthemselvesofallsuchopportunitiesforentertainmentascouldbeguidedintheirdirectionbythedeftnessofexperience。Asaresult，therehadbeenhospitalitiesatTempleBarholmsuchasithadnotbeheldduringthelastgenerationatleast。T。Tembaromhadlookedon，aninterestedspectator，asthesefestivitieshadbeenadroitlyarrangedandmanagedforhim。Hehadnot，however，intheleastresentedactingasasortoffigureheadinthepositionofsponsorandhost。
　　“TheythinkIdon”tknowI”mnotdoingitallmyself，“washiseasymentalsumming-up。“They”vegottheideathatI”mpleasedbecauseI
　　believeI”mIt。Butthat”salltothemerry。It”swhatI”vesetmymindonhavinggoingonhere，andIcouldn”thavestarteditaswellmyself。Ishouldn”thaveknownhow。They”reteachingme。AllIhopeisthatAnn”sgrandmotheriskeepingtab。”
　　“DoyouandRoseknowoldMrs。Hutchinson？“hehadinquiredofPearsonthenightbeforethetalkwiththeduke。
　　“Well，nottosayexactlyknowher，sir，buteverybodyknowsofher。
　　Sheisamostremarkableoldperson，sir。”Then，afterwatchinghisfaceforamomentorso，headdedtentatively，“Wouldyouperhapswishustomakeheracquaintancefor——foranyreason？“
　　Tembaromthoughtthematteroverspeculatively。HehadlearnedthathisfirstlikingforPearsonhadbeenfoundeduponarock。Hewasalwaystobetrustedtounderstand，andalsotoapplyaquiteunusualintelligencetosuchmattersashebecameawareofwithouthavingbeentoldaboutthem。
　　“WhatI”dlikewouldbeforhertohearthatthere”splentydoingatTempleBarholm；thatpeoplearecomingandgoingallthetime；andthatthere”sladiestoburn——andmostofthemlookers，atthat，“washisanswer。
　　HowPearsonhaddiscoveredtheexoticsubtletiesofhismaster”ssituationandmentalattitudetowardit，onlythoseofhisclassandgiftedwithhisoccultpowerscouldexplainindetail。ThefactexiststhatPearsondidknowanimmensenumberofthingshisemployerhadnotmentionedtohim，andheldthemlockedinhisbosominhonoredsecurity，likealittlegentleman。Hemadehisreplywithapoliteconvictionwhichcarriedweight。
　　“ItwouldnotbenecessaryforeitherRoseormetomakeoldMrs。
　　Hutchinson”sacquaintancewithaviewtoinformingherofanythingwhichoccursontheestateorinthevillage，sir，“heremarked。“Mrs。
　　Hutchinsonknowsmoreofthingsthananyoneevertellsher。Shesitsinhercottagethere，andshejustknowsthingsandseesthroughpeopleinawaythat”dbealmostunearthly，ifshewasn”tagoodoldperson，andsorespectablethatthere”sthosethattouchestheirhatstoherasifshebelongedtothegentry。She”sgotablueeye，sir”
　　“Hasshe？“exclaimedTembarom。
　　“Yes，sir。Asblueasababy”s，sir，andasclear，thoughshe”spasteighty。Andtheytellmethere”saquiet，steadylookinitthatill-
　　doersdownrightquailbefore。It”sasifshewasakindofjudgethatsentencedthemwithoutspeaking。Theycan”tstandit。Oh，sir！youcandependuponoldMrs。Hutchinsonastowho”sbeenhere，andevenwhatthey”vethoughtaboutit。Thevillagejustflockstohertotellherthenewsandgetadviceaboutthings。She”dknow。”
　　ItwasasaresultofthisthatonhisreturnfromStoneHoverhedismissedthecarriageatthegatesandwalkedthroughthemtomakeavisitinthevillage。OldMrs。Hutchinson，sittingknittinginherchairbehindtheabnormallyflourishingfuchsias，geraniums，andcampanulacarpaticasinhercottage-window，lookedbetweenthebanked-
　　upflower-potstoseethatMr。TempleBarholmhadopenedherwicket-
　　gateandwaswalkingupthecleanbrickedpathtoherfrontdoor。WhenheknockedshecalledoutinthebroadLancashireshehadalwaysspoken，“Coomin！“Whenheenteredhetookoffhishatandlookedather，friendlybuthesitant，andwiththeexpressionofayoungmanwhohasnotquitemadeuphismindastowhatheisabouttoencounter。
　　“I”mTempleTempleBarholm，Mrs。Hutchinson，“heannounced。
　　“Iknowthat，“sheanswered。“Notthatthalooksloiketh”TempleBarholms，butI”vebeenwatchin”theewalkan”drivepasthereeversincethacoomtoth”place。”
　　Shewatchedhimsteadilywithanastonishinglylimpidpairofoldeyes。Theywereoldandyoungatthesametime；oldbecausetheyhelddeepsofwisdom，youngbecausetheyweresoaliveandfullofquestion。
　　“Idon”tknowwhetherIoughttohavecometoseeyouornot，“hesaid。
　　“Well，tha”stcoom，“shereplied，goingonwithherknitting。“Sittheedounandhaveabitofachat。”
　　“Say！“hebrokeout。“Ain”tyougoingtoshakehandswithme？“Heheldhishandoutimpetuously。Heknewhewasallrightifshe”dshakehands。
　　“Theer”snowtagenthatsurely，“sheanswered，withashrewdbitofasmile。Shegavehimherhand。“IfIwasnastiffinmylegs，it”smyplacetogetupan”mak”theeacurtsey，butth”rheumaticshasnorespectevenforth”lordo”th”manor。”
　　“Ifyougotupandmademeacurtsey，“Tembaromsaid，“Ishouldthrowafit。Say，Mrs。Hutchinson，IbetyouknowthataswellasIdo。”
　　Theshrewdbitofasmilelightedhereyesaswellastwinkledabouthermouth。
　　“Sittheedoun，“shesaidagain。
　　Sohesatdownandlookedatherasstraightasshelookedathim。
　　“Tha”dgiveagoodbit，“shesaidpresently，overherflashingneedles，“toknowhowmuchLittleAnn”stow”dmeaboutthee。”
　　“I”dgivealottoknowhowmuchit”dbesquaretoaskyoutotellmeabouther，“hegavebacktoher，hesitatingyeteager。
　　“Whatdoesthameanbysquare？“shedemanded。
　　“Imean`fair。”CanItalktoyouaboutheratall？IpromisedI”dstickitouthereanddoasshesaid。Shetoldmeshewasn”tgoingtowritetomeorletherfatherwrite。I”vepromised，andI”mnotgoingtofalldownwhenI”vesaidathing。”
　　“Sothacoomtoseehergrandmother？“
　　Hereddened，butheldhisheadup。
　　“I”mnotgoingtoaskhergrandmotherathingshedoesn”twantmetobetold。ButI”vebeenupagainstitprettyhardlately。IreadsomethingsintheNewYorkpapersaboutherfatherandhisinvention，andabouthertravelingroundwithhimandhelpinghimwithhisbusiness。”
　　“InGermanytheywur，“sheputin，forgettingherself。“They”rehavin”
　　bigdoin”soverth”invention。WhatJoe”u”ddowi”outth”lassI
　　cannatell。She”sdoin”everybito”th”managin”an”contrivin”wi”
　　themfurriners——buthe”llneverknowit。She”sgotachaptotravelwi”himascantalkawth”languagesunderth”sun。”
　　Herfaceflushedandshestoppedherselfsharply。
　　“I”mtalkin”abouthertothee！“shesaid。“Iwouldnaha”believedo”
　　mysen”。”
　　Hegotupfromhischair。
　　“IguessIoughtn”ttohavecome，“hesaid，restlessly。“Butyouhaven”ttoldmemorethanIgothereandthereinthepapers。Thatwaswhatstartedme。Itwaslikewatchingher。Icouldhearhertalkingandseethewayshewasdoingthingstillitdrovemehalfcrazy。Allofasudden，IjustgotwildandmadeupmymindI”dcomehere。I”vewantedtodoitmanyatime，butI”vekeptaway。”
　　“Thashowedsensei”doin”that，“remarkedMrs。Hutchinson。“She”dnotha”thowtwello”theeiftha”dcoomrunnin”tohergrandmothereverydayorso。Whatshelikesabouttheeisasshethinkstha”sgotastrongbackboneo”thyown。”
　　Shelookedupathimoverherknitting，lookedstraightintohiseyes，andtherewasthatinherownwhichmadehimreddenandfeelhispulsequicken。Itwasactuallysomethingwhichevenremotelysuggestedthatshewasnot——inthedeepsofherstrongoldmind——aswhollyunswervingasherwordsmightimply。Itwassomethingmoresubtlethanwords。Shewasnotkeepinghimwhollyinthedarkwhenshesaid“Whatshelikesaboutthee。”IfAnnsaidthingslikethattoher，hewasprettywelloff。
　　“Happenalookatalass”sgrandmother——whenthaconnagetatth”lasshersen——isabito”comfort，“sheadded。“Butdon”tthagowalkin”byheretolookinatth”windowtoooften。Shewouldnathinkwello”
　　thateither。”
　　“Say！There”sonethingI”mgoingtogetoffmychestbeforeIgo，“heannounced，“justonething。Shecangowhereshelikesanddowhatshelikes，butI”mgoingtomarryherwhenshe”sdoneit——unlesssomethingknocksmeontheheadandfinishesme。I”mgoingtomarryher。”
　　“Thaart，arttha？“laconically；buthereyeswerestillonhis，andthesomethingintheirdepthsbynomeansdiminished。
　　“I”mkeepingupmyendhere，andit”snoslouchofajob，butI”mnotforgettingwhatshepromisedforoneminute！AndI”mnotforgettingwhatherpromisemeans，“hesaidobstinately。
　　“Tha”dlikemetotellherthat？“shesaid。
　　“Ifshedoesn”tknowit，youtellingherwouldn”tcutanyice，“washisreply。“I”msayingitbecauseIwantyoutoknowit，andbecauseitdoesmegoodtosayitoutloud。I”mgoingtomarryher。”
　　“That”sforherandtheetosettle，“shecommented，impersonally。
　　“Itissettled，“heanswered。“There”snowayoutofit。WillyoushakehandswithmeagainbeforeIgo？“
　　“Aye，“sheconsented，“Iwill。”
　　Whenshetookhishandshehelditaminute。Herownwaswarm，andtherewasnolimpnessaboutit。Thesecretwhichhadseemedtoconcealitselfbehindhereyeshadsomedifficultyinkeepingitselfwhollyinthebackground。
　　“Sheknowsawtha”does，“shesaidcoolly，asifshewerenotsuddenlyrevealingimmensities。“Sheknowswhocoomsan”whogoes，an”whattheythinko”thee，an”howthagetsonwi””em。Nowgettheegone，lad，an”dunnotthacoombacktillherormesendsforthee。”
　　WithinanhourofthistimetheafternoonpostbroughttoLadyMallowealetterwhichshereadwithanexpressioninwhichherdaughterrecognizedrelief。Itwasinfactaletterforwhichshehadwaitedwithanxiety，andtheinvitationitcontainedwasatributetohersocialskillatitshighestwatermark。Inherlessheroicmoments，shehadfeltdoubtsofreceivingit，whichhadcausedshudderstoruntheentirelengthofherspine。
　　“I”mgoingtoBroomeHaughton，“sheannouncedtoJoan。
　　“When？“Joaninquired。
　　“Attheendoftheweek。Iaminvitedforafortnight。”
　　“AmIgoing？“Joanasked。
　　“No。YouwillgotoLondontomeetsomefriendswhoarecomingoverfromParis。”
　　Joanknewthatcommentwasunnecessary。BothsheandhermotherwereonintimatetermswiththesehypotheticalfriendswhosofrequentlyturnedupfromParisorelsewherewhenitwasnecessarythatsheshouldsuddenlygobacktoLondonandliveinsqualidseclusionintheunopenedhouse，withacharwomantoprovideherwithunderdoneorburntchops，andeggsateighteenashilling，whiletheshuttersofthefrontroomswereclosed，anddustydesolationreigned。Shekneweverydetailofthemelancholysqualorofit，thedragginghours，thenightsoflyingawakelisteningtotheoccasionalpassingofbelatedcabs，orthesqueaksandnibblingofmiceintheoldwalls。
　　“Ifyouhadconductedyourselfsensiblyyouneednothavegone，“
　　continuedhermother。“Icouldhavemadeanexcuseandleftyouhere。
　　Youwouldatleasthavebeensureofgoodfoodanddecentcomforts。”
　　“Afteryourvisit，arewetoreturnhere？“wasLadyJoan”ssolereply。
　　“Don”tlookatmelikethat，“saidLadyMallowe。“Ithoughtthecountrywouldfreshenyourcoloratleast；butyouaregoingoffmoreeveryday。YoulookliketheWitchofEndorsometimes。”
　　Joansmiledfaintly。Thiswasthebrandishingofanoldweapon，andsheunderstoodallitssignificance。Itmeantthatthetimeforopportunitieswasslippingpastherlikethewatersofarapidriver。
　　“IdonotknowwhatwillhappenwhenIleaveBroomeHaughton，“hermotheradded，anoteofraspeduncertaintyinhervoice。“Wemaybeobligedtocomehereforashorttime，orwemaygoabroad。”
　　“IfIrefusetocome，wouldyouletmestarvetodeathinPiersStreet？“Joaninquired。
　　LadyMallowelookedherover，feelingasortoffrenzyatthesightofher。Intruth，thefuturewasahideousthingtocontemplateifnorescueatallwasinsight。ItwouldbeworseforherthanforJoan，becauseJoandidnotcarewhathappenedordidnothappen，andshecareddesperately。Shehadindeedarrivedatamaddeningmoment。
　　“Yes，“shesnapped，fiercely。
　　AndwhenJoanfaintlysmiledagainsheunderstoodwhywomenofthelowerordersbeatoneanotheruntilpolicemeninterfere。SheknewperfectlywellthatthegirlhadsomehowfoundoutthatSirMosesMonaldiniwastobeatBroomeHaughton，andthatwhenhelefttherehewasgoingabroad。Sheknewalsothatshehadnotbeenabletoconcealthathisindifferencehadoflategivenhersomeghastlyhours，andthatherplayforthislagginginvitationhadbeenafranticallyboldone。Thatthemostingeniouseffortsanddeviceshadendedinsuccessonlyaftersuchdelaymadeitallthemorenecessarythatnostrawmustremainunseizedon。
　　“Icanwearsomeofyourthings，withalittlealteration，“shesaid。
　　“Rosewilldoitforme。Hatsandglovesandornamentsdonotrequirealtering。IshallneedthingsyouwillnotneedinLondon。Whereareyourkeys？“
　　LadyJoanroseandgotthemforher。Sheevenflushedslightly。Theywereoftenobligedtoborroweachother”spossessions，butforamomentshefeltherselfmovedbyasortofhardpity。
　　“Wearelikeratsinatrap，“sheremarked。“Ihopeyouwillgetout。”
　　“IfIdo，youwillbeleftinside。Getoutyourself！Getoutyourself！“saidLadyMalloweinafiercewhisper。
　　HerregretsatthenecessityoftheirleavingTempleBarholmwereexpressedwithfluenttouchingnessatthedinner-table。Thevisithadbeensodelightful。Mr。TempleBarholmandMissAliciahadbeensokind。Thelovelinessofthewholedearplacehadsoembracedthemthattheyfeltasiftheywereleavingahomeinsteadofendingadelightfulvisit。Itwasextraordinarywhataneffectthehousehadonone。Itwasasifonehadlivedinitalways——andalwayswould。Sofewplacesgaveonethesamefeeling。Theyshouldbothlookforward——
　　greedyasitseemed——tobeingallowedsometimetocomeagain。ShehaddecidedfromthefirstthatitwasnotnecessarytogotoanyextremeofcautionorsubtletywithherhostandMissAlicia。Hermethodofpavingthewayforfuturevisitswasperhapsmorethanashadetooelaborate。Shefelt，however，thatitsufficed。Forthemostpart，LadyJoansatwithlidsdroppedoverherburningeyes。Shetriedtoforceherselfnottolisten。Thiswasthekindofthingwhichmadehersickwithhumiliation。Howsoeverrudimentarythesepeoplewere，theycouldnotfailtocomprehendthatafootholdinthehousewasbeingbidfor。Theyshouldatleastseethatshedidnotjoininthebidding。Herownvisithadbeenfilledwithfeelingsatwarwithoneanother。Therehadbeenhourstoomanyinwhichshewouldhavebeenglad——evenwiththedingyhorrorsoftheclosedtownhousebeforeher——
　　tohaveflownfromthehundredthingswhichcalledouttoheroneveryside。Inthelong-pastthreemonthsofhappiness，Jemhaddescribedthemalltoher——therooms，gardens，pleachedwalks，pictures，theveryfurnitureitself。Shecouldenternoroom，walkinnospotshedidnotseemtoknow，andpassionatelyloveinspiteofherself。Shelovedthemsomuchthatthereweretimeswhensheyearnedtostayintheplaceatanycost，andotherswhenshecouldnotendurethemiseryitwokeinher——thepuremisery。Nowitwasoverforthetimebeing，andshewasfacingsomethingnew。Therewereendlessvarietiesofwretchedness。Shehadbeenwatchinghermotherforsomemonths，andhadunderstoodhervaryingmoodsoftemporaryelationorprolongedanxiety。EachonehadmeantsomephaseoftheepisodeofSirMosesMonaldini。ThepeoplewholivedatBroomeHaughtonwereenormouslyrichHebrews，whowererelatedtohim。Theyhadtakenthebeautifuloldcountry-seatandwerefillingitwithhugepartiesoftheirfriends。ThepartywhichLadyMallowewastojoinwouldnodoubtofferopportunitiesofthemostdesirablekind。Amongthisspecialclassofpeopleshewasagreatsuccess。Heramazinglyachievedtoilettes，herripegoodlooks，herairofbelongingtothegreatworld，impressedthemselvesimmensely。
　　T。TembaromthoughtheneverhadseenLadyJoanlookashandsomeasshelookedto-night。Thecoloronhercheekburned，hereyeshadadrivenlonelinessinthem。Shehadawonderfullybeautifulmouth，anditscurvedroopedinanewway。HewishedAnncouldgetherinacornerandsitdownandtalksensetoher。Herememberedwhathehadsaidtotheduke。Perhapsthiswasthetime。Ifshewasgoingaway，andhermothermeanttodragherbackagainwhenshewasready，itwouldmakeiteasierforhertoleavetheplaceknowingsheneednothatetocomeback。Butthedukewasn”tmakinganymisshitwhenhesaiditwouldn”tbeeasy。ShewasnotlikeAnn，whowouldfeelsomepityforthebiggestfoolonearthifshehadtothrowhimdownhard。
　　LadyJoanwouldfeelneithercompunctionsnorrelentings。Heknewthewayshecouldlookatafellow。Ifhecouldn”tmakeherunderstandwhathewasaimingat，theywouldbothbeworseoffthantheywouldbeifheleftthingsastheywere。But——thehardlineshoweditselfabouthismouth——hewasn”tgoingtoleavethingsastheywere。
　　Astheypassedthroughthehallafterdinner，LadyMalloweglancedataside-tableonwhichlaysomelettersarrivedbythelatepost。Animposingenvelopewasonthetopoftherest。Joansawherfacelightasshetookitup。
　　“IthinkthisisfromBroomeHaughton，“shesaid。“Ifyouwillexcuseme，Iwillgointothelibraryandreadit。Itmayrequireansweringatonce。”
　　Sheturnedhotandcold，poorwoman，andwentaway，sothatshemightbefreefromthedisasterofanaudienceifanythinghadgonewrong。
　　Itwouldbebettertobealoneevenifthingshadgoneright。TheletterwasfromSirMosesMonaldini。Grotesqueandignobleasitnaturallystrikestheuninitiatedasseeming，thesituationhaditstouchofhideouspathos。Shehadfoughtforherownhandforyears；
　　shecouldnotdig，andtobegshewasnotashamed；butatimehadcomewheneventhemostadroitbeggingbegantoborepeople。Theysawthroughit，andthenthereresultedstrainedrelations，slightstiffnessofmanner，eveninthemostusefulandamiablepersons，lackofdesiretobehospitable，orevencondescendinglygenerous。Coldshoulderswereturned，therewereominousthreateningsoficybackspresentingthemselves。Theverytradesmenhadfoundthisout，andcouldnotbepersuadedthattheadvertisementfurnishedbythefactthattwobeautifulwomenoffashionate，drank，andworethearticleswhichformedtheitemsintheirunpaidbills，wassufficientreturnfortheoutlayofcapitalrequired。EvenMrs。Mellish，whengraciouslyapproachedbythe“relativeofMissTempleBarholm，whoseperfectwardrobeyousupplied，“hadlistenedtoallseductionswithacivileyefixedunmovedlyandhadreferredtothe“rulesoftheestablishment。”Nearerandnearertheedgeoftheabysstheyearshadpushedthem，andnowifsomethingdidnothappen——something——
　　something——eventheincreasinglyshabbysmallhouseintownwouldbecomeathingofthepast。Andwhatthen？CouldanyonewondershesaidtoherselfthatshecouldhavebeatenJoanfuriously。Itwouldnotmattertoanyoneelseiftheydroppedoutoftheworldintosqualidoblivion——oh，sheknewthat——sheknewthatwithbittercertainty！——butoh，howitwouldmattertothem！——atleasttoherself。
　　ItwasallverywellforMudie”stopourforthstreamsofsentimentalnovelspreachingthehorrorsofgirlsmarryingformoney，butwhatwereyoutodo——whatinheaven”snamewereyoutodo？So，feelingterrifiedenoughactuallytoofferupaprayer，shetooktheimposinglyaddressedletterintothelibrary。
　　Themenhadcomeintothedrawing-roomwhenshereturned。Assheentered，Joandidnotglanceupfromthebookshewasreading，butatthefirstsoundofhervoicesheknewwhathadoccurred。
　　“IwasobligedtodashoffanotetoBroomeHaughtonsothatitwouldbereadyfortheearlypost，“LadyMallowesaid。Shewasatherbest。
　　Pallisersawthatsomeyearshadslippedfromhershoulders。Themomentwhichrelievesorevenpromisestorelievefearsdoesastonishingthings。Tembaromwonderedwhethershehadhadgoodnews，andMissAliciathoughtthathereveningdresswasmorebecomingthananyshehadeverseenherwearbefore。Herbrilliantairofsocialeasereturnedtoher，andshebegantotalkfluentlyofwhatwasbeingdoneinLondon，andtotouchlightlyuponthepossibilityoftakingpartingreatfunctions。Forsometimeshehadratherevadedtalkofthefuture。Palliserhadknownthatthefuturehadseemedtobeclosinginuponher，andleavingherstaringatahighblankwall。
　　Personswhosefortunatenameshadceasedtofalleasilyfromherlipsappearedagainuponthehorizon。MissAliciawasimpressedanewwiththefeelingthatshehadknowneverybrilliantorimportantpersonageinthebigworldofsocialLondon；thatshehadtakenpartineverydazzlingevent。Tembaromsomehowrealizedthatshehadbeenafraidofsomethingorother，andwasforsomereasonnotafraidanymore。Suchachange，whatsoeverthereasonforit，oughttohavehadsomeeffectonherdaughter。Surelyshewouldshareherluck，ifluckhadcometoher。
　　ButLadyJoansatapartandkepthereyesuponherbook。Thiswasoneofthethingssheoftenchosetodo，inspiteofhermother”sindignantprotest。
　　“Icameherebecauseyoubroughtme，“shewouldanswer。“Ididnotcometobeentertainingorpolite。”
　　Shewasreadingthisevening。SheheardeverywordofLadyMallowe”sagreeableandslightlyexcitedconversation。Shedidnotknowexactlywhathadhappened；butsheknewthatitwassomethingwhichhadbuoyedherupwithahopefulnesswhichexhilaratedheralmosttoomuch——asanextraglassofwinemighthavedone。Onceortwicesheevenlostherheadalittleandwasatrifleswaggering。T。Tembaromwouldnotrecognizetheslip，butJoansawPalliser”sfaintsmilewithoutlookingupfromherbook。Heobservedshadesintasteandbearing。
　　BeforeherownfutureJoansawtheblankwallofstonebuildingitselfhigherandhigher。IfSirMoseshadcapitulated，shewouldbecountedout。Withwhatdegreeofboldnesscouldamothercastherpennilessdaughterontheworld？Whatunendurableprovisionmakeforher？DaretheyofferapoundaweekandsendhertoliveintheslumsuntilshechosetomarrysomeHebrewfriendofherstep-father”s？Thatsheknewwouldbethefinalalternative。Acruellittlesmiletouchedherlips，asshereviewedthenumberofthingsshecouldnotdotoearnherliving。Shecouldnottakeinsewingorwashing，andtherewasnothingshecouldteach。Starvationormarriage。Thewallbuiltitselfhigherandyethigher。Whatahideousthingitwasforapennilessgirltobebroughtupmerelytobeabeauty，andinconsequencesupposablyagreatlady。Andyetifshewasborntoacertainrankandhadheightandfigure，alovelymouth，adelicatenose，unusualeyesandlashes，totrainhertobeadressmakerorahousemaidwouldbeastupidinvestmentofcapital。Ifnothingtragicinterferedandtherightmanwantedsuchagirl，shehadbeentrainedtopleasehim。Buttragicthingshadhappened，andbeforehergrewthewallwhileshepretendedtoreadherbook。
　　T。Tembaromwascomingtowardher。ShehadheardPallisersuggestagameofbilliards。
　　“Willyoucomeandplaybilliardswithus？“Tembaromasked。“Pallisersaysyouplaysplendidly。”
　　“Sheplaysbrilliantly，“putinLadyMallowe。“Come，Joan。”
　　“No，thankyou，“sheanswered。“Letmestayhereandread。”
　　LadyMalloweprotested。Shetriedanairofplayfulmaternalreproachbecauseshewasingoodspirits。JoansawPallisersmilingquietly，andtherewasthatinhissmilewhichsuggestedtoherthathewasthinkingheranobstinatefool。
　　“YouhadbettershowTempleBarholmwhatyoucando，“heremarked。
　　“Thiswillbeyourlastchance，asyouleavesosoon。Yououghtneverletalastchanceslipby。Ineverdo。”
　　Tembaromstoodstillandlookeddownatherfromhisgoodheight。HedidnotknowwhatPalliser”sspeechmeant，butaninstinctmadehimfeelthatitsomehowheldanugly，quiettaunt。
　　“WhatIwouldliketodo，“wastheunspokencruditywhichpassedthroughhismind，“wouldbetoswathimonthemouth。He”sgettingatherjustwhensheoughttobeletalone。”
　　“Wouldyoulikeitbettertostayhereandread？“heinquired。
　　“Muchbetter，ifyouplease，“washerreply。
　　“Thenthatgoes，“heanswered，andlefther。
　　Heswepttheothersoutoftheroomwithagood-naturedpromptnesswhichputanendtoargument。Whenhesaidofanything“Thenthatgoes，“itusuallydidso。
　　CHAPTERXXXI
　　WhenshewasaloneJoansatandgazednotatherwallbutatthepicturesthatcamebacktoheroutofapartofherlifewhichseemedtohavebeenlivedcenturiesago。Theywerethepicturesthatcamebackcontinuallywithoutbeingcalled，theclearnessofwhichalwaysstartledherafresh。Sometimesshethoughttheyspranguptoaddtohertorment，butsometimesitseemedasiftheycametosaveherfromherself——hermad，wickedself。Afterall，thereweremomentswhentoknowthatshehadbeenthegirlwhoseeighteen-year-oldhearthadleapedsowhensheturnedandmetJem”seyes，ashestoodgazingatherunderthebeech-tree，wassomethingtoclingto。ShehadbeenthatgirlandJemhadbeen——Jem。Andshehadbeenthegirlwhohadjoinedhiminthatyoung，ardentvowthattheywouldsaythesameprayersatthesamehoureachnighttogether。Ah！howyoungithadbeen——howYOUNG！Herthroatstraineditselfbecausesobsroseinit，andhereyeswerehotwiththeswelloftears。
　　Shecouldhearvoicesandlaughterandtheclickofballsfromthebilliard-room。HermotherandPalliserlaughedthemost，butsheknewthesoundofhermother”svoicewouldceasesoon，becauseshewouldcomebacktoher。Sheknewshewouldnotleaveherlong，andsheknewthekindofscenetheywouldpassthroughtogetherwhenshereturned。
　　Theoldthingswouldbesaid，theoldargumentsused，butanewonewouldbeadded。Itwasapleasantthingtowaithere，knowingthatitwascoming，andthatforallherfierceprideandfiercespiritshehadnodefense。Itwasatoncehorribleandridiculousthatshemustsitandlisten——andstareatthegrowingwall。ItwasasshecaughtherbreathagainstthechokingswelloftearsthatsheheardLadyMallowereturning。Shecameinwithanactualsweepacrosstheroom。
　　Hersocietyairhadfled，andshewasunadornedlyfuriouswhenshestoppedbeforeJoan”schair。Forafewsecondssheactuallyglared；
　　thenshebrokeforthinasuppressedundertone：
　　“Comeintothebilliard-room。Icommandit！“
　　Joanliftedhereyesfromherbook。Hervoicewasaslowashermother”s，butsteadier。
　　“No，“sheanswered。
　　“Isthisconducttocontinue？Isit？“LadyMallowepanted。
　　“Yes，“saidJoan，andlaidherbookonthetablenearher。Therewasnothingelsetosay。Wordsmadethingsworse。
　　LadyMallowehadlostherhead，butshestillspokeinthesuppressedvoice。
　　“YouSHALLbehaveyourself！“shecried，underherbreath，andactuallymadeapassionatehalf-starttowardher。“Youviolent-naturedvirago！
　　Theverylookonyourfaceisenoughtodriveonemad！“
　　“IknowIamviolent-natured，“saidJoan。“Butdon”tyouthinkitwisetorememberthatyoucannotmakethekindofsceneherethatyoucaninyourownhouse？Weareabad-temperedpair，andwebehaveratherlikefishwiveswhenweareinarage。Butwhenweareguestsinotherpeople”shouses”
　　LadyMallowe”stemperwasaselementalasanyBillingsgatecouldprovide。
　　“Youthinkyoucantakeadvantageofthat！“shesaid。“Don”ttrustyourselftoofar。DoyouimaginethatjustwhenallmightgowellformeIwillallowyoutospoileverything？“
　　“HowcanIspoileverything？“
　　“Bybehavingasyouhavebeenbehavingsincewecamehere——refusingtomakeahomeforyourself；byhangingroundmynecksothatitwillappearthatanyonewhotakesmemusttakeyoualso。”
　　“Thereareservantsoutside，“Joanwarnedher。
　　“Youshallnotstopme！“criedLadyMallowe。
　　“Youcannotstopyourself，“saidJoan。“Thatistheworstofit。Itisbadenoughwhenwestandandhissateachotherinastagewhisper；
　　butwhenyoulosecontroloveryourselfandraiseyourvoice”
　　“Icameinheretotellyouthatthisisyourlastchance。Ishallnevergiveyouanother。Doyouknowhowoldyouare？“
　　“Ishallsoonbetwenty-seven，“Joananswered。“IwishIwereahundred。Thenitwouldallbeover。”
　　“Butitwillnotbeoverforyearsandyearsandyears，“hermotherflungbackather。“Haveyouforgottenthattheveryragsyouweararenotpaidfor？“
　　“No，Ihavenotforgotten。”Thescenewasworkingitselfupontheoldlines，asJoanhadknownitwould。Hermotherneverfailedtosaythesamethings，everytimesuchascenetookplace。
　　“Youwillgetnomoresuchrags——paidorunpaidfor。Whatdoyouexpecttodo？Youdon”tknowhowtowork，andifyoudidnodecentwomanwouldemployyou。Youaretoogood-lookingandtoobad-
　　tempered。”
　　Joanknewshewasperfectlyright。Knowingit，sheremainedsilent，andhersilenceaddedtohermother”shelplessrage。Shemovedastepnearertoherandflungthejavelinwhichshealwaysknewwouldstrikedeep。
　　“Youhavemadeyourselfalaughing-stockforallLondonforyears。Youaremadaboutamanwhodisgracedandruinedhimself。”
　　Shesawthejavelinquiverasitstruck；butJoan”svoiceasitansweredherhadaqualityoflowanddeadlysteadiness。
　　“Youhavesaidthatathousandtimes，andyouwillsayitanotherthousand——thoughyouknowthestorywasalieandwasprovedtobeone。”
　　LadyMalloweknewherwaythoroughly。
　　“Whoremembersthedenials？WhattheworldremembersisthatJemTempleBarholmwasstampedasacheatandatrickster。Noonehastimetoremembertheotherthing。Heisdead——dead！Whenaman”sdeadit”stoolate。”
　　Shewasdesperateenoughtodriveherjavelinhomedeeperthanshehadeverchancedtodriveitbefore。Thetruth——theawfultruthsheutteredshookJoanfromheadtofoot。Shesprangupandstoodbeforeherinheart-wrungfury。
　　“Oh！Youareahideouslycruelwoman！“shecried。“Theysayeventigerscarefortheiryoung！Butyou——youcansaythatto_me_。”Whenaman”sdead，it”stoolate。”“
　　“It_is_toolate——itIStoolate！“LadyMallowepersisted。Whyhadnotshestruckthisnotebefore？Itwasbreakingherwill：“Iwouldsayanythingtobringyoutoyoursenses。”
　　Joanbegantomoverestlesslytoandfro。
　　“Oh，whatafoolIam！“sheexclaimed。“Asifyoucouldunderstand——asifyoucouldcare！“
　　Struggleasshemighttobedefiant，shewasbreaking，LadyMallowerepeatedtoherself。Shefollowedherasahuntermighthavefollowedayoungleopardesswithawoundinitsflank。
　　“Icameherebecauseit_is_yourlastchance。Palliserknewwhathewassayingwhenhemadeajokeofitjustnow。Heknewitwasn”tajoke。YoumighthavebeentheDuchessofMerthshire；youmighthavebeenLadySt。Maur，withahusbandwithmillions。Andhereyouare。
　　Youknowwhat”sbeforeyou——whenIamoutofthetrap。”
　　Joanlaughed。Itwasawildlittlelaugh，andshefelttherewasnosenseinit。
　　“ImightapplyforaplaceinMissAlicia”sHomeforDecayedGentlewomen，“shesaid。
　　LadyMallowenoddedherheadfiercely。
　　“Apply，then。TherewillbenoplaceforyouinthehomeIamgoingtolivein，“sheretorted。
　　Joanceasedmovingabout。Shewasabouttoheartheoneargumentthatwasnew。
　　“Youmayaswelltellme，“shesaid，wearily。
　　“IhavehadaletterfromSirMosesMonaldini。HeistobeatBroomeHaughton。Heisgoingtherepurposelytomeetme。Whathewritescanmeanonlyonething。Hemeanstoaskmetomarryhim。I”myourmother，andI”mnearlytwentyyearsolderthanyou；butyouseethatI”moutofthetrapfirst。”
　　“Iknewyouwouldbe，“answeredJoan。
　　“Hedetestsyou，“LadyMallowewenton。“Hewillnothearofyourlivingwithus——orevennearus。Hesaysyouareoldenoughtotakecareofyourself。Takemyadvice。Iamdoingyouagoodturningivingit。ThisNewYorknewsboyismadoveryou。Ifhehadn”tbeenweshouldhavebeenbundledoutofthehousebeforethis。Heneverhasspokentoaladybeforeinhislife，andhefeelsasifyouwereagoddess。Gointothebilliard-roomthisinstant，anddoallawomancan。Go！“Andsheactuallystampedherfootonthecarpet。
　　Joan”sthunder-coloredeyesseemedtogrowlargerasshestaredather。Herbreastlifteditself，andherfaceslowlyturnedpale。
　　Perhaps——shethoughtitwildly——peoplesometimesdiddieoffeelingslikethis。
　　“Hewouldcrawlatyourfeet，“hermotherwenton，pursuingwhatshefeltsurewasheradvantage。Shewassosureofitthatsheaddedwordsonlyafoolorawomanhalfhystericwithragewouldhaveadded。
　　“YoumightliveintheveryhouseyouwouldhavelivedinwithJemTempleBarholm，ontheincomehecouldhavegivenyou。”
　　Shesawthecrassnessofherblunderthenextmoment。Ifshehadhadanadvantage，shehadlostit。Wickedly，withoutatouchofmirth，Joanlaughedinherface。
　　“Jem”shouseandJem”smoney——andtheNewYorknewsboyinhisshoes，“
　　sheflungather。“T。Tembaromtolivewithuntilonelaydownonone”sdeathbed。T。Tembarom！“
　　Suddenly，somethingwasgivingwayinher，LadyMallowethoughtagain。
　　Joanslippedintoachairanddroppedherheadandhiddenfaceonthetable。
　　“Oh！Mother！Mother！“sheended。“Oh！Jem！Jem！“
　　Wasshesobbingortryingtochokesobbingback？Therewasnotimetobelost。Hermotherhadneverknownascenetoendinthiswaybefore。
　　“Crying！“therewasabsolutespiteinhervoice。“Thatshowsyouknowwhatyouareinfor，atallevents。ButI”vesaidmylastword。Whatdoesitmattertome，afterall？You”reinthetrap。I”mnot。Getoutasbestyoucan。I”vedonewithyou。”
　　Sheturnedherbackandwentoutoftheroom——asshehadcomeintoit——
　　withasweepJoanwouldhavesmiledatasrathervulgarifshehadseenit。Asachildinthenursery，shehadoftenseenthatherladyshipwasvulgar。
　　Butshedidnotseethesweepbecauseherfacewashidden。Somethinginherhadbrokenthistime，ashermotherhadfelt。Thatbitter，sordidtruth，drivenhomeasithadbeen，haddoneit。Whohadtimetorememberdenials，orliesprovedtobelies？Nobodyintheworld。Whohadtimetogivetothedefenseofadeadman？Therewasnottimeenoughtogivetolivingones。Itwastrue——true！Whenamanisdead，itistoolate。Thewallhadbuiltitselfuntilitreachedhersky；
　　butitwasnotthewallshebentherheadandsobbedover。ItwasthatsuddenlyshehadseenagainJem”sfaceashehadstoodwithslow-
　　growingpallor，andlookedroundattheringofeyeswhichstaredathim；Jem”sfaceashestrodebyherwithoutaglanceandwentoutoftheroom。Sheforgoteverythingelseonearth。Sheforgotwhereshewas。Shewaseighteenagain，andshesobbedinherarmsaseighteensobswhenitsheartistornfromit。
　　“OhJem！Jem！“shecried。“Ifyouwereonlyinthesameworldwithme！
　　Ifyouwerejustinthesameworld！“
　　Shehadforgottenallelse，indeed。Sheforgottoolong。Shedidnotknowhowlong。Itseemedthatnomorethanafewminuteshadpassedbeforeshewaswithoutwarningstruckwiththeshockoffeelingthatsomeonewasintheroomwithher，standingnearher，lookingather。
　　Shehadbeenmadnottorememberthatexactlythisthingwouldbesuretohappen，bysomeabominablechance。Hermovementassherosewasalmostviolent，shecouldnotholdherselfstill，andherfacewashorriblywetwithshameless，unconcealabletears。Shamelessshefeltthem——indecent——asortofnudityofthesoul。Ifithadbeenaservantwhohadintruded，orifithadbeenPalliseritwouldhavebeenintolerableenough。ButitwasT。Tembaromwhoconfrontedherwithhiscommonface，movedmysteriouslybysomefeelingsheresentedevenmorethansheresentedhispresence。Hewastoogrosslyignoranttoknowthatamanofbreeding，havingenteredbychance，wouldhaveturnedandgoneaway，professingnottohaveseen。Heseemedtothink——thedolt！——thathemustmakesomeapology。
　　“Say！LadyJoan！“hebegan。“Ibegyourpardon。Ididn”twanttobuttin。”
　　“Thengoaway，“shecommanded。“Instantly——instantly！“
　　Sheknewhemustseethatshespokealmostthroughherteethinherefforttocontrolhersobbingbreath。Buthemadenomovetowardleavingher。Heevendrewnearer，lookingatherinasortofmeditative，obstinateway。
　　“N-no，“hereplied，deliberately。“Iguess——Iwon”t。”
　　“Youwon”t？“LadyJoanrepeatedafterhim。“ThenIwill。”
　　Hemadeastrideforwardandlaidhishandonherarm。
　　“No。Notonyourlife。Youwon”t，either——ifIcanhelpit。Andyou”regoingtoLETmehelpit。”
　　Almostanyonebutherself——anyone，atleast，whodidnotresenthisveryexistence——wouldhavefeltthedropinhisvoicewhichsuddenlystruckthenoteofboyish，friendlyappealinthelastsentence。
　　“You”regoingtoLETme，“herepeated。
　　Shestoodlookingdownatthedaring，unconscioushandonherarm。
　　“Isuppose，“shesaid，withcuttingslowness，“thatyoudonoteven_know_thatyouareinsolent。Takeyourhandaway，“inarrogantcommand。
　　Heremoveditwithanunabashedhalf-smile。
　　“Ibegyourpardon，“hesaid。“Ididn”tevenknowI”dputitthere。Itwasabreak——butIwantedtokeepyou。”
　　Thathenotonlywantedtokeepher，butintendedtodosowasapparent。Hisairwasneitherroughnorbrutal，buthehadingeniouslyplacedhimselfintheoutletbetweenthebigtableandthewaytothedoor。Heputhishandsinhispocketsinhisvulgar，unconsciousway，andwatchedher。
　　“Say，LadyJoan！“hebrokeforth，inthefrankoutburstofamanwhowantstogetsomethingover。“IshouldbeafoolifIdidn”tseethatyou”reupagainstit——hard！What”sthematter？“Hisvoicedroppedagain。
　　Therewassomethinginthedropthistimewhich——perhapsbecauseofherrecentemotion——soundedtoheralmostasifhewereaskingthequestionwiththeprotectingsympathyofthetoneonewoulduseinspeakingtoachild。Howdarehe！ButitcamehometoherthatJemhadoncesaid“What”sthematter？“toherinthesameway。
　　“DoyouthinkitlikelythatIshouldconfideinyou？“shesaid，andinwardlyquakedatthememoryasshesaidit。
　　“No，“heanswered，consideringthemattergravely。“It”snotlikely——
　　thewaythingslooktoyounow。Butifyouknewmebetterperhapsitwouldbelikely。”
　　“IonceexplainedtoyouthatIdonotintendtoknowyoubetter，“shegaveanswer。
　　Henoddedacquiescently。
　　“Yes。Igotontothat。Andit”sbecauseit”suptomethatIcameoutheretotellyousomethingIwantyoutoknowbeforeyougoaway。I”mgoingtoconfideinyou。”
　　“CannotevenyouseethatIamnotinthemoodtoacceptconfidences？“
　　sheexclaimed。
　　“Yes，Ican。Butyou”regoingtoacceptthisone，“steadily。“No，“asshemadeaswiftmovement，“I”mnotgoingtoclearthewaytillI”vedone。”
　　“Iinsist！“shecried。“Ifyouwere”
　　Heputouthishand，butnottotouchher。
　　“Iknowwhatyou”regoingtosay。IfIwereagentleman——Well，I”mnotlayingclaimtothat——butI”masortofaman，anyhow，thoughyoumayn”tthinkit。Andyou”regoingtolisten。”
　　Shebegantostareathim。Itwasnottheridiculousboyishdropinhisvoicewhicharrestedherattention。Itwasafantastic，incongruous，whollydifferentthing。Hehadsuddenlydroppedhisslouchandstoodupright。Didherealizethathehadslunghiswordsatherasiftheywereanordergivenwiththeringofauthority？
　　“I”venotbuckedagainstanythingyou”vesaidordonesinceyou”vebeenhere，“hewenton，speakingfastandgrimly。“Ididn”tmeanto。I
　　hadmyreasons。TherewerethingsthatI”dhavegivenagooddealtosaytoyouandaskyouabout，butyouwouldn”tletme。Youwouldn”tgivemeachancetosquarethingsforyou——iftheycouldbesquared。
　　YouthrewmedowneverytimeItried！“
　　Hewastoowildlyincomprehensiblewithhischangesfromhumannesstofolly。Rememberingwhathehadattemptedtosayonthedayhehadfollowedherintheavenue，shewasinflamedagain。
　　“WhatinthenameofNewYorkslangdoesthatmean？“shedemanded。
　　“NevermindNewYork，“heanswered，coolaswellasgrim。“Afellowthat”slearnedslanginthestreetshaslearnedsomethingelseaswell。He”slearnedtokeephiseyesopen。He”sontoawayofseeingthings。AndwhatI”veseenisthatyou”resodoggonemiserablethat——
　　thatyou”realmostdownandout。”
　　Thistimeshespoketohiminthevoicewiththequalityofdeadlinessinitwhichshehadusedtohermother。
　　“Doyouthinkthatbecauseyouareinyourownhouseyoucanbeasintrusivelyinsultingasyouchoose？“shesaid。
　　“No，Idon”t，“heanswered。“WhatIthinkisquitedifferent。Ithinkthatifamanhasahouseofhisown，andthere”sanyoneinbigtroubleundertheroofofit——awomanmostofall——he”sacheapskateifhedon”tgetbusyandtrytohelp——justplain，straighthelp。”
　　Hesawinhereyesallherconcentrateddisdainofhim，buthewenton，stillobstinateandcoolandgrim。
　　“Iguess”help”istoobigawordjustyet。Thatmaycomelater，anditmayn”t。WhatI”mgoingtotryatnowismakingiteasierforyou——
　　justeasier。”
　　Hercontemptuousgestureregisterednoimpressiononhimashepausedamomentandlookedfixedlyather。
　　“Youjusthateme，don”tyou？“Itwasamerestatementwhichcouldn”thavebeenmoreimpersonaltohimselfifhehadbeenmadeofwood。
　　“That”sallright。Iseemlikealow-downintrudertoyou。Well，that”sallright，too。Butwhatain”tallrightiswhatyourmotherhassetyouontothinkingaboutme。You”dneverhavethoughtityourself。You”dhaveknownbetter。”
　　“What，“fiercely，“isthat？“
　　“ThatI”mmuttenoughtohaveamashonyou。”
　　Thecommonslangycrassnessofitwasakindofshock。Shecaughtherbreathandmerelystaredathim。Buthewasnotstaringather；hewassimplylookingstraightintoherface，anditamazinglyflasheduponherthattheextraordinarywordsweresoentirelyunembarrassedanddirectthattheywereactuallynotoffensive。
　　Hewasmerelytellinghersomethinginhisownway，notcaringtheleastabouthisowneffect，butabsolutelydeterminedthatsheshouldhearandunderstandit。
　　Hercaughtbreathendedinsomethingwhichwaslikeahalf-laugh。Hisqueer，sharp，incomprehensibleface，hisqueer，unmovedvoiceweretooextraordinarilyunlikeanythingshehadeverseenorheardbefore。
　　“Idon”twanttobebrash——andwhatIwanttosaymayseemkindofthatwaytoyou。Butitain”t。Anyhow，Iguessit”llrelieveyourmind。LadyJoan，you”realooker——you”reabeautfromBeautville。IfI
　　wereyourkind，andthingsweredifferent，I”dbecrazyaboutyou——
　　crazy！ButI”mnotyourkind——andthingsaredifferent。”Hedrewastepnearerstilltoherinhisintentness。“They”rethisdifferent。
　　Why，LadyJoan！I”mdeadstuckonanothergirl！“
　　Shecaughtherbreathagain，leaningforward。
　　“Another——！“
　　“Shesaysshe”snotalady；shethrewmedownjustbecauseallthisdarnedmoneycametome，“hehastenedon，andsuddenlyhewasimperturbablenolonger，butflushedandboyish，andmoreofNewYorkthanever。“She”salittlebitofaquietthingandshedropsherh”s，butgee——！You”realooker——you”reaqueenandshe”snot。ButLittleAnnHutchinson——Why，LadyJoan，asfarasthisboy”sconcerned“——andheoddlytouchedhimselfonthebreast”shemakesyoulooklikethirtycents。”
　　Joanquicklysatdownonthechairshehadjustleft。Sherestedanelbowonthetableandshadedherfacewithherhand。Shewasnotlaughing；shescarcelyknewwhatshewasdoingorfeeling。
　　“YouareinlovewithAnnHutchinson，“shesaid，inalowvoice。
　　“AmI？“heansweredhotly。“Well，Ishouldsmile！“Hedisdainedtosaymore。
　　Thenshebegantoknowwhatshefelt。Therecamebacktoherinflashesscenesfromthepastweeksinwhichshehaddoneherworstbyhim；inwhichshehadswepthimaside，loathedhim，setherfeetonhim，usedthedevicesofaningeniousdemontodiscomfitandshowhimathispoorestandleastready。Andhehadnotbeengivingathoughttothethingforwhichshehadstriventopunishhim。Andheplainlydidnotevenhateher。Hismindwasclear，aswaterisclear。Hehadcomebacktoherthiseveningtodoheragoodturn——agoodturn。
　　Knowingwhatshewascapableofinthewayofarroganceandvillainoustemper，hehaddeterminedtodoher——inspiteofherself——agoodturn。
　　“Idon”tunderstandyou，“shefaltered。
　　“Iknowyoudon”t。Butit”sonlybecauseI”msodeadeasytounderstand。There”snothingtofindout。I”mjustfriendly——friendly——
　　that”sall。”
　　“Youwouldhavebeenfriendswithme！“sheexclaimed。“Youwouldhavetoldme，andIwouldn”tletyou！Oh！“withanimpulsiveflingingoutofherhandtohim，“yougood——goodfellow！“
　　“Goodbedarned！“heanswered，takingthehandatonce。
　　“Youaregoodtotellme！Ihavebehavedlikeadeviltoyou。Butoh！
　　ifyouonlyknew！“
　　Hisfacebecamematureagain；buthetookamostinformalseatontheedgeofthetablenearher。
　　“Idoknow——partofit。That”swhyI”vebeentryingtobefriendswithyouallthetime。”Hesaidhisnextwordsdeliberately。“IfIwasthewomanJemTempleBarholmhadlovedwouldn”tithavedrivenmemadtoseeanothermaninhisplace——andrememberwhatwasdonetohim。I
　　neverevensawhim，but，goodGod！“——shesawhishandclenchitself——
　　“whenIthinkofitIwanttokillsomebody！Iwanttokillhalfadozen。Whydidn”ttheyknowitcouldn”tbetrueofafellowlikethat！“
　　Shesatupstifflyandwatchedhim。
　　“Do——you——feellikethat——abouthim？“
　　“DoI！“red-hotly。“Therewerementherethatknewhim！Therewerewomentherethatknewhim！Whywasn”ttherejustonetostandbyhim？
　　Amanthat”sbeensquareallhislifedoesn”tturnintoacard-sharpinanight。Damnfools！Ibegyourpardon，“hastily。Andthen，ashastilyagain：“No，Imeanit。Damnfools！“
　　“Oh！“shegasped，justonce。
　　Herpassionateeyesweresuddenlyblindedwithtears。Shecaughtathisclenchedhandanddraggedittoher，lettingherfacedroponitandcryinglikeachild。
　　Thewayhetookherutterbreakingdownwasjustlikehimandlikenooneelse。HeputtheotherhandonhershoulderandspoketoherexactlyashehadspokentoMissAliciaonthatfirstafternoon。
　　“Don”tyoumindme，LadyJoan，“hesaid。“Don”tyoumindmeabit。
　　I”llturnmyback。I”llgointothebilliard-roomandkeepthemplayinguntilyougetawayup-stairs。Nowweunderstandeachother，it”llbebetterforbothofus。”
　　“No，don”tgo！Don”t！“shebegged。“Itissowonderfultofindsomeonewhoseesthecrueltyofit。”Shespokefastandpassionately。“Noonewouldlistentoanydefenseofhim。MymothersimplyravedwhenI
　　saidwhatyouaresaying。”
　　“Doyouwant“——heputittoherwithacuriouscomprehendingofheremotion”totalkabouthim？Woulditdoyougood？“
　　“Yes！Yes！Ihavenevertalkedtoanyone。Therehasbeennoonetolisten。”
　　“Talkallyouwant，“heanswered，withimmensegentleness。“I”mhere。”
　　“Ican”tunderstanditevennow，buthewouldnotseeme！“shebrokeout。“Iwashalfmad。Iwrote，andhewouldnotanswer。IwenttohischamberswhenIheardhewasgoingtoleaveEngland。Iwenttobeghimtotakemewithhim，marriedorunmarried。Iwouldhavegoneonmykneestohim。Hewasgone！Oh，why？Why？“
　　“Youdidn”tthinkhe”dgonebecausehedidn”tloveyou？“heputittoherquiteliterallyandunsentimentally。“Youknewbetterthanthat？“
　　“HowcouldIbesureofanything！Whenhelefttheroomthatawfulnighthewouldnotlookatme！Hewouldnotlookatme！“
　　“SinceI”vebeenhereI”vebeenreadingalotofnovels，andI”vefoundoutalotofthingsaboutfellowsthatarenotthecommon，practicalkind。Now，hewasn”t。He”dlivedprettymuchlikeafellowinanovel，Iguess。What”sstruckmeaboutthatsortisthattheythinktheyhavetomakenoblesacrifices，andthey”lljustwalkalloverawomanbecausetheywon”tdoanythingtohurther。There”snotabitofsenseinit，butthatwaswhathewasdoing。Hebelievedhewasdoingthesquarethingbyyou——andyoumaybetyourlifeithurthimlikehell。Ibegyourpardon——butthat”stheword——justplainhell。”
　　“Iwasonlyagirl。Hewaslikeiron。Hewentawayalone。Hewaskilled，andwhenhewasdeadthetruthwastold。”
　　“That”swhatI”veremembered“——quiteslowly”everytimeI”velookedatyou。Bygee！I”dhavestoodanythingfromawomanthathadsufferedasmuchasthat。”
　　Itmadehercry——hisgenuineness——andshedidnotcareintheleastthatthetearsstreameddownhercheeks。Howhehadstoodthings！Howhehadborne，inthatodd，unimpressiveway，insolenceandarroganceforwhichsheoughttohavebeenbeatenandblackballedbydecentsociety！Shecouldscarcelybearit。
　　“Oh！tothinkitshouldhavebeenyou，“shewept，“justyouwhounderstood！“
　　“Well，“heansweredspeculatively，“Imightn”thaveunderstoodaswellifithadn”tbeenforAnn。Byjings！Iusedtolieawakeatnightsometimesthinking`supposingitbadbeenAnnandme！”I”dsortofworkitoutasitmighthavehappenedinNewYork——attheofficeoftheSundayEarth。Supposingsomefellowthat”dhadagrouchagainstmehadmanageditsothatGaltonthoughtI”dbeengettingawaywithmoneythatdidn”tbelongtome——fixingupmyexpenseaccount，orworse。AndGaltonwouldn”tlistentowhatIsaid，andfiredme；andIcouldn”tgetajobanywhereelsebecauseIwasdownandoutforgood。Andnobodywouldlisten。AndIwaskilledwithoutclearingmyself。AndLittleAnnwaslefttostandit——LittleAnn！OldHutchinsonwouldn”tlisten，Iknowthat。Anditwouldbeallshutupburninginherbiglittleheart——burning。AndT。T。dead，andnotawordtosayforhimself。Jehoshaphat！“——takingouthishandkerchiefandtouchinghisforehead”itusedtomakethecoldsweatstartoutonme。It”sdoingitnow。AnnandmemighthavebeenJemandyou。That”swhyI
　　understood。”
　　Heputouthishandandcaughthersandfranklysqueezedit——squeezedithard；andtheunconventionalclutchwasawonderfulthingtoher。
　　“It”sallrightnow，ain”tit？“hesaid。“We”vegotitstraightenedout。You”llnotbeafraidtocomebackhereifyourmotherwantsyouto。”Hestoppedforamomentandthenwentonwithsomethingofhesitation：“Wedon”twanttotalkaboutyourmother。Wecan”t。ButI
　　understandher，too。Folksaredifferentfromeachotherintheirways。She”sdifferentfromyou。I”ll——I”llstraightenitoutwithherifyoulike。”
　　“NothingwillneedstraighteningoutafterItellherthatyouaregoingtomarryLittleAnnHutchinson，“saidJoan，withahalf-smile。
　　“Andthatyouwereengagedtoherbeforeyousawme。”
　　“Well，thatdoessortoffinishthingsup，doesn”tit？“saidT。
　　Tembarom。
　　Helookedathersospeculativelyforamomentafterthisthatshewonderedwhetherhehadsomethingmoretosay。Hehad。
　　“There”ssomethingIwanttoaskyou，“heventured。
　　“Askanything。”
　　“Doyouknowanyone——justanyone——whohasaphoto——justanyoldphoto——ofJemTempleBarholm？“
　　Shewasratherpuzzled。
　　“Yes。Iknowawomanwhohaswornonefornearlyeightyears。Doyouwanttoseeit？“
　　“I”dgiveagooddealto，“washisanswer。
　　Shetookaflatlocketfromherdressandhandedittohim。
　　“Womendon”twearlocketsinthesedays。”Hecouldbarelyhearhervoicebecauseitwassolow。“ButI”venevertakenitoff。Iwanthimnearmyheart。It”sJem！“
　　Hehelditonthepalmofhishandandstoodunderthelight，studyingitasifhewantedtobesurehewouldn”tforgetit。
　　“It”s——sorterlikethatpictureofMilesHugo，ain”tit？“hesuggested。
　　“Yes。Peoplealwayssaidso。Thatwaswhyyoufoundmeinthepicture-
　　gallerythefirsttimewemet。”
　　“Iknewthatwasthereason——andIknewI”dmadeabreakwhenIbuttedin，“heanswered。Then，stilllookingatthephotograph，“You”dknowthisfaceagainmostanywhereyousawit，Iguess。”
　　“Therearenofaceslikeitanywhere，“saidJoan。
　　“Iguessthat”sso，“hereplied。“Andit”sonethatwouldn”tchangemucheither。Thankyou，LadyJoan。”
　　Hehandedbackthepicture，andsheputoutherhandagain。
　　“IthinkI”llgotomyroomnow，“shesaid。“You”vedoneastrangethingtome。You”vetakennearlyallthehatredandbitternessoutofmyheart。Ishallwanttocomebackherewhethermymothercomesornot——Ishallwantto。”
　　“Thesoonerthequicker，“hesaid。“AndsolongasI”mhereI”llbereadyandwaiting。”
　　“Don”tgoaway，“shesaidsoftly。“Ishallneedyou。”
　　“Isn”tthatgreat？“hecried，flushingdelightedly。“Isn”titjustgreatthatwe”vegotthingsstraightenedsothatyoucansaythat。
　　Gee！Thisisaqueeroldworld！There”ssuchalottodoinit，andsofewhoursintheday。Seemslikethereain”ttimetostoplongenoughtohateanybodyandkeepagrouchon。Afellow”sgottokeephustlingnottomissthethingsworthwhile。”
　　Thelikinginhereyeswasactuallywistful。
　　“That”syourwayofthinking，isn”tit？“shesaid。“Teachittomeifyoucan。Iwishyoucould。Good-night。”Shehesitatedasecond。“Godblessyou！“sheadded，quitesuddenly——almostfantasticasthewordssoundedtoher。Thatshe，JoanFayre，shouldbecallingdowndevoutbenisonsontheheadofT。Tembarom——T。Tembarom！
　　Hermotherwasinherroomwhenshereachedit。Shehadcomeupearlytolookoverherpossessions——andJoan”s——beforeshebeganherpacking。Thebed，thechairs，andtableswerespreadwithevening，morning，andwalking-dresses，andthemillinerycollectedfromtheircombinedwardrobes。Shewasexamininganxiouslyalaceappliquedandembroideredwhitecoat，andturnedaslightlyflushedfacetowardtheopeningdoor。
　　“Iamgoingoveryourthingsaswellasmyown，“shesaid。“IshalltakewhatIcanuse。YouwillrequirenothinginLondon。Youwillrequirenothinganywhereinfuture。Whatisthematter？“shesaidsharply，asshesawherdaughter”sface。
　　Joancameforwardfeelingitastrangethingthatshewasnotinthemoodtofight——tolashoutandbegladtodoit。
　　“CaptainPallisertoldmeasIcameupthatMr。TempleBarholmhadbeentalkingtoyou，“hermotherwenton。“Heheardyouhavingsomesortofsceneashepassedthedoor。Asyouhavemadeyourdecision，ofcourseIknowIneedn”thopethatanythinghashappened。”
　　“Whathashappenedhasnothingtodowithmydecision。Hewasn”twaitingforthat，“Joanansweredher。“Wewerebothentirelymistaken，Mother。”
　　“Whatareyoutalkingabout？“criedLadyMallowe，butshetemporarilylaidthewhitecoatonachair。“Whatdoyoumeanbymistaken？“
　　“Hedoesn”twantme——heneverdid，“Joanansweredagain。Ashadowofasmilehoveredoverherface，andtherewasnoderisioninit，onlyawarmingrecollectionofhisearnestnesswhenhehadsaidthewordsshequoted：“HeiswhattheycallinNewYork`deadstuckonanothergirl。””
　　LadyMallowesatdownonthechairthatheldthewhitecoat，andshedidnotpushthecoataside。
　　“Hetoldyouthatinhisvulgarslang！“shegaspeditout。“You——yououghttohavestruckhimdeadwithyouranswer。”
　　“ExceptpoorJemTempleBarholm，“wastheamazingreplyshereceived，“heistheonlyfriendIeverhadinmylife。”
　　CHAPTERXXXII
　　ItwasbusinessofseriousimportancewhichwastobringCaptainPalliser”svisittoaclose。HeexplaineditperfectlytoMissAliciaadayorsoafterLadyMalloweandherdaughterleftthem。HehadlatelybeenmostamiableinhismannertowardMissAlicia，andhadgivenhermuchvaluableinformationaboutcompaniesandstocks。HeratherunexpectedlyfounditimperativethatheshouldgotoLondonandBerlinto“seepeople“——dealersingreatfinancialschemeswhoweredeeplyinterestedinsolidbusinessspeculations，suchashisown，whichwerefundamentallydifferentfromallothersintheimpeccablefirmnessoftheirfoundations。
　　“Isupposehewillbeveryrichsomeday，“MissAliciaremarkedthefirstmorningsheandT。Tembaromtooktheirbreakfastalonetogetherafterhisdeparture。“Itwouldfrightenmetothinkofhavingasmuchmoneyasheseemslikelytohavequitesoon。”
　　“Itwouldscaremetodeath，“saidTembarom。Sheknewhewasmakingasortofjoke，butshethoughtthepointofitwashertremoratthethoughtofgreatfortune。
　　“Heseemedtothinkthatitwouldbeanexcellentthingforyoutoinvestin——I”mnotsurewhetheritwastheIndiaRubberTreeCompany，orthemahoganyforestsorthecopperminesthathavesomuchgoldandsilvermixedinthemthatitwillpayfortheexpenseofthedigging——
　　“shewenton。
　　“Iguessitwasthewholelot，“putinTembarom。
　　“Perhapsitwas。Theyareallgoingtomakeeverybodysorichthatitisquitebewildering。Heisverycleverinbusinessmatters。Andsokind。HeevensaidthatifIreallywishedithemightbeabletoinvestmyincomeformeandactuallytrebleitinayear。ButofcourseItoldhimthatmyincomewasyourgenerousgifttome，andthatitwasfarmorethansufficientformyneeds。”
　　Tembaromputdownhiscoffee-cupsosuddenlytolookatherthatshewasfearfulthatshehadappearedtodoCaptainPallisersomevagueinjustice。
　　“Iamsurehemeanttobemostobliging，dear，“sheexplained。“Iwasreallyquitetouched。Hesaidmostsympatheticallyanddelicatelythatwhenwomenwereunmarried，andunaccustomedtoinvestment，sometimesabusinessmancouldbeofusetothem。Heforgot“——affectionately——
　　“thatIhadyou。”
　　Tembaromregardedherwithtendercuriosity。SheoftenopenedupvistasforhimashehimselfopenedthemfortheDukeofStone。
　　“Ifyouhadn”thadme，wouldyouhavelethimtrebleyourincomeinayear？“heasked。
　　Herexpressionwasthatofasoft，woodlandrabbitoratrustingspinsterdove。
　　“Well，ofcourse，ifonewerequitealoneintheworldandhadonlyasmallincome，itwouldbenicetohaveitwonderfullyaddedtoinsuchashorttime，“sheanswered。“Butitwashisfriendlysolicitudewhichtouchedme。Ihavenotbeenaccustomedtosuchinteresteddelicacyonthepartof——ofgentlemen。”Herhesitancebeforethelastwordbeingtheresultoftraining，whichhadmadeherfeelthatitwasalittleboldfor“ladies“toreferquiteopenlyto“gentlemen。”
　　“Yousometimesreadinthenewspapers，“saidTembarom，butteringhistoast，“aboutladieswhoareallaloneintheworldwithalittleincome，butthey”renotoftenleftalonewithitlong。It”slikeyousaid——you”vegotme；butifthetimeevercomeswhenyouhaven”tgotmejustyoumakeadead-surethingofitthatyoudon”tletanysolicitousbusinessgentlemantrebleyourincomeinayear。Ifit”sanincomethatcomestomorethanfivecents，don”tyouhanditovertobemadeintofifteen。Fivecentsisaheapbetter——justplainfive。”
　　“Temple！“gaspedMissAlicia。“You——yousurelycannotmeanthatyoudonotthinkCaptainPalliseris——sincere！“
　　Tembaromlaughedoutright，hismosthilariousandcomfortinglaugh。Hehadnointentionofenlighteningherinsuchamanneraswouldleadheratoncetobeholdpicturesofhimasthepossiblevictimofappallingcatastrophes。Helikedhertoowellasshewas。
　　“Sincere？“hesaid。“He”ssinceredowntotheground——inwhathe”sreachingafter。Buthe”snotgoingtotrebleyourincome，normine。Ifheevermakesthatofferagain，youjusttellhimI”minterested，andthatI”lltalkitoverwithhim。”
　　“IcouldnothelpsayingtohimthatIdidn”tthinkyoucouldwantanymoremoneywhenyouhadsomuch，“sheadded，“buthesaidoneneverknewwhatmighthappen。HewasgreatlyinterestedwhenItoldhimyouhadoncesaidtheverysamethingyourself。”
　　Theirbreakfastwasatanend，andhegotup，laughingagain，ashecametoherendofthetableandputhisarmaroundhershouldersintheunconventionalyoungcaresssheadoredhimfor。
　　“It”snicetobebyourselvesagainforawhile，“hesaid。“Letusgoforawalktogether。Putonthelittlebonnetanddressthatarethecolorofamouse。Thoselittledudsjustgetme。Youlooksoprettyinthem。”
　　Thesixteen-year-oldblushranuptotherootsofhergrayside-
　　ringlets。Justimaginehisrememberingthecolorofherdressandbonnet，andthinkingthatanythingcouldmakeherlookpretty！Shewasoverwhelmedwithinnocentandgratefulconfusion。Therereallywasnooneelseintheleastlikehim。
　　“Youdolookwell，ma”am，“Rosesaid，whenshehelpedhertodress。
　　“You”vegotsuchanicecolor，andthattinybitofoldroseMrs。
　　Mellishputinthebonnetdoesbringitout。”
　　“Iwonderifitiswrongofmetobesopleased，“MissAliciathought。
　　“Imustmakeitasubjectofprayer，andasktobeaidedtoconquerahaughtyandvain-gloriousspirit。”
　　Shewaspatheticallyserious，havingbeentrainedtoaviewoftheGreatFirstCauseasfigurativelyembodiedintheimageofagigantic，irascible，omnipotentoldgentleman，especiallywroughttofurybyfemininefolliesconnectedwithbecomingheadgear。
　　“IthassometimesevenseemedtomethatourHeavenlyFatherhasaspecialobjectiontoladies，“shehadoncetimorouslyconfessedtoTembarom。“Isupposeitisbecausewearesomuchweakerthanmen，andsomuchmoregiventovanityandpettyvices。”
　　Hehadcaughtherinhisarmsandactuallyhuggedherthattime。Theirintimacyhadreachedthepointwheretheaffectionateoutburstdidnotalarmher。
　　“Say！“hehadlaughed。“It”snotthemenwhoaregoingtohavethebiggestpullwiththeauthoritieswhenfolkstrytogetintotheplacewherethingsareevenedup。WhatI”mgoingtoworkmypassagewithisalistofthefew”ladies”I”veknown。YouandAnnwillbeattheheadofit。Ishalljustslideitinatthebox-officewindowandsay，”Justlookoverthis，willyou？Thesewerefriendsofmine，andtheyweremightygoodtome。Iguessiftheydidn”tturnmedown，youneedn”t。Iknowthey”reinhere。Reservedseats。I”mnotexpectingtobeputwiththembutifI”mallowedtohangaroundwheretheyarethat”llbeheavenenoughforme。”“
　　“Iknowyoudon”tmeantobeirreverent，dearTemple，“shegasped。“I
　　amquitesureyoudon”t！Itis——itisonlyyourAmericanwayofexpressingyourkindthoughts。Andofcourse“——quitehastily”theAlmightymustunderstandAmericans——ashemadesomany。”Andhalffrightenedthoughshewas，shepattedhisarmwiththewarmthofcomfortinhersoulandmoistureinhereyes。Somehoworother，hewasalwayssocomforting。
　　Heheldherarmastheytooktheirwalk。Shehadbecomeusedtothatalso，andnolongerthoughtitodd。Itwasonlyoneofthewayshehadofmakingherfeelthatshewasbeingtakencareof。Theyhadnotbeenabletohavemanywalkstogethersincethearrivalofthevisitors，andthisoccasionwasatonceacauseofreliefandinwardrejoicing。
　　Theentiretruthwasthatshehadnotbeenaltogetherhappyabouthimoflate。Sometimes，whenhewasnottalkingandsayingamusingNewYorkthingswhichmadepeoplelaugh，heseemedalmosttoforgetwherehewasandtobethinkingofsomethingwhichbaffledandtriedhim。
　　Thewayinwhichhepulledhimselftogetherwhenherealizedthatanyonewaslookingathimwas，tohermind，themostdisturbingfeatureofhisfitsofabstraction。Itsuggestedthatifhereallyhadatroubleitwasaprivateoneonwhichhewouldnotlikehertointrude。Naturally，heradoringeyeswatchedhimoftenerthanheknew，andshetriedtofindplausibleandnottoopainfulreasonsforhismood。Healwaysmadelightofhisunaccustomednesstohisnewlife；
　　butperhapsitmadehimfeelmoreunrestfulthanhewouldadmit。
　　Astheywalkedthroughtheparkandthevillage，herheartwasgreatlywarmedbythewayinwhicheachpersontheymetgreetedhim。Theygreetednooneelseinthesameway，andyetitwasdifficulttoexplainwhatthedifferencewas。Theylikedhim——reallylikedhim，thoughhowhehadovercometheirnaturaldistrustofhisnewsboyandbootblackrecordnoonebuthimselfknew。Infact，shehadreasontobelievethatevenhehimselfdidnotknow——hadindeedneveraskedhimself。Theyhadgraduallybeguntolikehim，thoughnoneofthemhadeveraccusedhimofbeingagentlemanaccordingtotheirownacceptanceoftheword。Everymantouchedhiscaporforeheadwithafriendlygrinwhichspreaditselftheinstanthecaughtsightofhim。
　　Grinandsaluteweresynchronous。Itwasasifthereweresomeextremelyhumanjokebetweenthem。MissAliciahaddelightedlyrememberedaremarktheDukeofStonehadmadetoheronhisreturnfromoneoftheirlongdrives。
　　“Heisthemostpopularmaninthecounty，“hehadchuckled。“Ifwarbrokeoutandhewereinthearmy，hecouldraisearegimentathisowngateswhichwouldfollowhimwheresoeverhechosetoleadit——ifitwereintohottestHades。”
　　Tembaromwasrathersilentduringthefirstpartoftheirwalk，andwhenhespokeitwasofCaptainPalliser。
　　“He”safellowthat”sgotlotsofcuriosity。Iguesshe”saskedyoumorequestionsthanhe”saskedme，“hebeganatlast，andhelookedatherinterestedly，thoughshewasnotawareofit。
　　“Ithought”shehesitatedslightlybecauseshedidnotwishtobecritical”Isometimesthoughtheaskedmetoomany。”
　　“Whatwashetryingtogetontomostly？“
　　“HeaskedsomanythingsaboutyouandyourlifeinNewYork——butmore，Ithink，aboutyouandMr。Strangeways。HewasreallyquitepersistentonceortwiceaboutpoorMr。Strangeways。”
　　“Whatdidheask？“
　　“HeaskedifIhadseenhim，andifyouhadpreferredthatIshouldnot。HecallshimyourMystery，andthinksyourkeepinghimhereissoextraordinary。”
　　“Iguessitis——thewayhe”dlookatit，“Tembaromdroppedin。