"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。"