"ThenletustalkaboutEngland，"wasBettina’slightskimoverthethinice。
　　AredspotgrewoneachofLadyAnstruthers’cheekbonesandmadeherfadedeyeslookintense。
　　"LetustalkaboutAmerica，"herlittlebirdclawofahandclingingfeverishly。"IsNewYorkstill——still————"
　　"Itisstillthere，"Bettyansweredwithoneoftheadorablesmileswhichshowedadeepdimplenearherlip。"ButitismuchnearerEnglandthanitusedtobe。"
　　"Nearer！"ThehandtightenedasRosycaughtherbreath。
　　Bettybentrathersuddenlyandkissedher。Itwastheeasiestwayofhidingthelooksheknewhadrisentohereyes。
　　Shebegantotalkgaily，halflaughingly。
　　"Itisquitenear，"shesaid。"Don’tyourealiseit？
　　Americansswoopoverherebythousandseveryyear。Theycomeforbusiness，theycomeforpleasure，theycomeforrest。Theycannotkeepaway。Theycometobuyandsell——picturesandbooksandluxuriesandlands。Theycometogiveandtake。
　　Theyarebuildingabridgefromshoretoshoreoftheirwork，andtheirthoughts，andtheirplannings，outofthelivesandsoulsofthem。Itwillbeagreatbridgeandgreatthingswillpassoverit。"Shekissedthefadedcheekagain。ShewantedtosweepRosyawayfromthedrearinessof"it。"LadyAnstrutherslookedatherwithfaintlysmilingeyes。Shedidnotfollowallthisquitereadily，butshefeltpleasedandvaguelycomforted。
　　"Iknowhowtheycomehereandmarry，"shesaid。"ThenewDuchessofDownesisanAmerican。Shehadafortuneoftwomillionpounds。"
　　"Ifshechoosestorebuildagreathouseandagreatname，"
　　saidBetty，liftinghershoulderslightly，"whynot——ifitisanhonestbargain？Isupposeitispartofthebuildingofthebridge。"
　　LittleLadyAnstruthers，tryingtopullupthesleevesofthegauzybodiceslippingoffhersmall，sharpbones，staredatherhalfinwonderingadoration，halfinalarm。
　　"Betty——you——youaresohandsome——andsocleverandstrange，"shefluttered。"Oh，Betty，standupsothatIcanseehowtallandhandsomeyouare！"
　　Bettydidasshewastold，anduponherfeetshewasayoungwomanoflonglines，andfinecurvessoinspiringtobeholdthatLadyAnstruthersclaspedherhandstogetheronherkneesinanexcitedgesture。
　　"Oh，yes！Oh，yes！"shecried。"YouarejustaswonderfulasyoulookedwhenIturnedandsawyouunderthetrees。Youalmostmakemeafraid。"
　　"BecauseIamwonderful？"saidBetty。"ThenIwillnotbewonderfulanymore。"
　　"ItisnotbecauseIthinkyouwonderful，butbecauseotherpeoplewill。Wouldyourebuildagreathouse？"hesitatingly。
　　ThefinelineofBetty’sblackbrowsdrewitselfslightlytogether。
　　"No，"shesaid。
　　"Wouldn’tyou？"
　　"Howcouldthemanwhoowneditpersuademethathewasinearnestifhesaidhelovedme？HowcouldIpersuadehimthatIwasworthcaringforandnotamereambitiousfool？
　　Therewouldbetoomuchagainstus。"
　　"Againstyou？"repeatedLadyAnstruthers。
　　"Idon’tsayIamfair，"saidBetty。"Peoplewhoareproudareoftennotfair。Butweshouldbothofushaveseenandknowntoomuch。"
　　"Youhaveseenmenow，"saidLadyAnstruthersinherlistlessvoice，andatthesamemomentdinnerwasannouncedandshegotupfromthesofa，sothat，luckily，therewasnotimefortheimpersonalansweritwouldhavebeendifficulttoinventatamoment’snotice。Astheywentintothedining—
　　roomBettywasthinkingrestlessly。SherememberedallthematerialshehadcollectedduringhereducationinFranceandGermany，andtherewasaddedtoitthefactthatsheHAD
　　seenRosy，andhavingherbeforehereyesshefeltthattherewassmallprospectofhercontemplatingtherebuildingofanygreathouserequiringreconstruction。
　　Therewasfinepanellinginthedining—roomandagreatfireplaceandafewfamilyportraits。Theserviceuponthetablewasshabbyandthedinnerwasnotabounteousmeal。
　　LadyAnstruthersinhergirlish，gauzydressandlookingtoosmallforherbig，high—backedchairtriedtotalkrapidly，andeveryfewminutesforgotherselfandsankintosilence，withhereyesunconsciouslyfixeduponhersister’sface。UghtredwatchedBettyalso，andwithahungryquestioning。Theman—
　　servantinthewornliverywasnotasufficientlywell—trainedandexperienceddomestictomakeanyefforttokeephiseyesfromher。Hewasyoungenoughtobeexcitedbyaninnovationsounusualasthepresenceofayoungandbeautifulpersonsurroundedbyanunmistakableatmosphereofeaseandfearlessness。Hehadbeentalkingofherbelowstairsandfeltthathehadfailedindescribingher。HehadfoundhimselfbarelysupportedbythesuggestionofahousemaidthatsometimesthesedressesthatlookedplainhadbeenmadeinParisatexpensiveplacesandhadcost"alot。"Hefurtivelyexaminedthedresswhichlookedplain，andwhileheadmittedthatforsomemysteriousreasonitmightrepresentexpensiveness，itwasnotthedresswhichwasthesecretoftheeffect，butasomething，notaltogethermeregoodlooks，expressedbythewearer。Itwas，infact，thethingwhichthesecond—classpassenger，Salter，hadbeenatonceattractedandstirredtorebellionbywhenMissVanderpoelcameonboardtheMeridiana。
　　Bettydidnotlooktoosmallforherhigh—backedchair，andshedidnotforgetherselfwhenshetalked。Inspiteofallshehadfound，herimaginationwasstirredbythesurroundings。
　　Hersenseofthefinespacesandpossibilitiesofdignityinthebarrenhouse，herknowledgethatoutsidethewindowstherelaystretchedbroadviewsoftheparkanditsheavy—
　　branchedtrees，andthatoutsidethegatesstoodtheneglectedpicturesquenessofthevillageandalltheruraland——toher——
　　interestinglifeitslowlylived——thispleasedandattractedher。
　　IfshehadbeenashelplessanddiscouragedasRosalieshecouldseethatitwouldallhavemeantatotallydifferentanddepressingthing，but，strongandspirited，andwiththepoweroffullhands，shewasremotelyrejoicinginwhatmightbedonewithitall。Asshetalkedshewasgraduallylearningdetail。
　　SirNigelwasontheContinent。Apparentlyheoftenwentthere；alsoitrevealeditselfthatnooneknewatwhatmomenthemightreturn，forwhatreasonhewouldreturn，orifhewouldreturnatallduringthesummer。Itwasevidentthatnoonehadbeenatanytimeencouragedtoaskquestionsastohisintentions，ortofeelthattheyhadarighttodoso。
　　Thissheknew，andanumberofotherthings，beforetheyleftthetable。Whentheydidsotheywentouttostrolluponthemoss—grownstoneterraceandlistenedtothenightingalesthrowingmintotheairsilverfountainsoftrillingsong。WhenBettinapaused，leaningagainstthebalustradeoftheterracethatshemighthearallthebeautyofit，andfeelallthebeautyofthewarmspringnight，Rosywentonmakingherefforttotalk。
　　"Itisnotmuchofaneighbourhood，Betty，"shesaid。"Youaretooaccustomedtolivelierplacestolikeit。"
　　"ThatismyreasonforfeelingthatIshalllikeit。Idon’tthinkIcouldbecalledalivelyperson，andIratherhatelivelyplaces。"
　　"Butyouareaccustomed——accustomed————"Rosyharkedbackuncertainly。
　　"IhavebeenaccustomedtowishingthatIcouldcometoyou，"saidBetty。"AndnowIamhere。"
　　LadyAnstrutherslaidahandonherdress。
　　"Ican’tbelieveit！Ican’tbelieveit！"shebreathed。
　　"Youwillbelieveit，"saidBetty，drawingthehandaroundherwaistandenclosinginherownarmthenarrowshoulders。
　　"Tellmeabouttheneighbourhood。"
　　"Thereisn’tany，really，"saidLadyAnstruthers。"Thehousesaresofarawayfromeachother。Thenearestissixmilesfromhere，anditisonethatdoesn’tcount。
　　"Why？"
　　"Thereisnofamily，andthemanwhoownsitissopoor。
　　Itisabigplace，butitisfallingtopiecesasthisis。
　　"Whatisitcalled？"
　　"MountDunstan。Thepresentearlonlysucceededaboutthreeyearsago。Nigeldoesn’tknowhim。Heisqueerandnotliked。
　　Hehasbeenaway。"
　　"Where？"
　　"Nooneknows。ToAustraliaorsomewhere。Hehasoddideas。TheMountDunstanshavebeenawfulpeoplefortwogenerations。Thisman’sfatherwasalmostmadwithwickedness。
　　Sowastheelderson。Thisisasecondson，andhecameintonothingbutdebt。Perhapshefeelsthedisgraceanditmakeshimrudeandill—tempered。Hisfatherandelderbrotherhadbeeninsuchscandalsthatpeopledidnotinvitethem。
　　"Dotheyinvitethisman？"
　　"No。Heprobablywouldnotgototheirhousesiftheydid。Andhewentawaysoonafterhecameintothetitle。"
　　"Istheplacebeautiful？"
　　"Thereisafinedeerpark，andthegardenswerewonderfulalongtimeago。Thehouseisworthlookingat——outside。"
　　"Iwillgoandlookatit，"saidBetty。
　　"Thecarriageisoutoforder。ThereisonlyUghtred’scart。"
　　"Iamagoodwalker，"saidBetty。
　　"Areyou？Itwouldbetwelvemiles——thereandback。WhenIwasinNewYorkpeopledidn’twalkmuch，particularlygirls。"
　　"Theydonow，"Bettyanswered。"TheyhavelearnedtodoitinEngland。Theyliveoutofdoorsandplaygames。
　　Theyhavegrownathleticandtall。"
　　Astheytalkedthenightingalessang，sometimesnear，sometimesinthedistance，andscentsofdewygrassandleavesandearthwerewaftedtowardsthem。Sometimestheystrolledupanddowntheterrace，sometimestheypausedandleanedagainstthestonebalustrade。BettyallowedRosytotalkasshechose。Sheherselfaskednoobviouslyleadingquestionsandpassedovertryingmomentswithlightness。Herdesirewastoplaceherselfinapositionwhereshemighthearthethingswhichwouldaidhertodrawconclusions。LadyAnstruthersgraduallygrewlessnervousandafraidofhersubjects。Inthewonderoftheluxuryoftalkingtosomeonewholistenedwithsympathy，sheonceortwicealmostforgotherselfandmaderevelationsshehadnotintendedtomake。Shehadoftenthemannerofapersonwhowasafraidofbeingoverheard；
　　sometimes，evenwhenshewasmakingspeechesquitesimpleinthemselves，hervoicedroppedandsheglancedfurtivelyasideasiftherewerechancesthatsomethingshedreadedmightstepoutoftheshadow。
　　Whentheywentupstairstogetherandpartedforthenight，theclingingofRosy’sembracewasforamomentalmostconvulsive。
　　Butshetriedtolaughoffitssuggestionofintensity。
　　"IheldyoutightsothatIcouldfeelsurethatyouwererealandwouldnotmeltaway，"shesaid。"Ihopeyouwillbehereinthemorning。"
　　"Ishallneverreallygoquiteawayagain，nowIhavecome，"
　　Bettyanswered。"ItisnotonlyyourhouseIhavecomeinto。
　　Ihavecomebackintoyourlife。"
　　Aftershehadenteredherroomandlockedthedoorshesatdownandwrotealettertoherfather。Itwasalongletter，butaclearone。Shepaintedadefiniteanddetailedpictureandmadedistinctherchiefpoint。
　　"Sheisafraidofme，"shewrote。"Thatisthefirstandworstobstacle。SheisactuallyafraidthatIwilldosomethingwhichwillonlyaddtohertrouble。Shehaslivedunderdominionsolongthatshehasforgottenthattherearepeoplewhohavenoreasonforfear。Heroldlifeseemsnothingbutadream。ThefirstthingImustteachheristhatIamtobetrustednottodofutilethings，andthatsheneedneitherbeafraidofnorforme。"
　　Afterwritingthesesentencesshefoundherselfleavingherdeskandwalkingupanddowntheroomtorelieveherself。
　　Shecouldnotsitstill，becausesuddenlythebloodranfastandhotthroughherveins。Sheputherhandsagainsthercheeksandlaughedalittle，lowlaugh。
　　"Ifeelviolent，"shesaid。"IfeelviolentandImustgetoverit。Thisisrage。Rageisworthnothing。"
　　Itwasrage——therageofsplendidhotbloodwhichsurgedinanswertoleapinghotthoughts。Therewouldhavebeenasortofluxuryingivingwaytotheswayofit。Buttheself—
　　indulgencewouldhavebeennoaidtofutureaction。Ragewasworthnothing。ShesaiditasthefirstReubenVanderpoelmighthavesaidofauselessbutglitteringweapon。"Thisgunisworthnothing，"andcastitaside。
　　CHAPTERXIV
　　INTHEGARDENS
　　Shecameoutuponthestoneterraceagainratherearlyinthemorning。Shewantedtowanderaboutinthefirstfreshnessoftheday，whichwasalwaysanupliftingthingtoher。Shewantedtoseethedewonthegrassandontheraggedflowerbordersandtohearthetender，brokenflutingofbirdsinthetrees。Onecuckoowascallingtoanotherinthepark，andshestoppedandlistenedintently。Untilyesterdayshehadneverheardacuckoocall，anditshollowmellownessgaveherdelight。ItmeantthespringinEngland，andnowhereelse。
　　Therewasspaceenoughtorambleaboutinthegardens。
　　Pathsandbedswerealikeovergrownwithweeds，butsomestrong，early—bloomingthingswerefightingforlife，refusingtobestrangled。Againstthebeautifuloldredwalls，overwhichagehadstolenwithawonderfulgreybloom，venerablefruittreeswerespreadandnailed，andhereandthereshowedbloom，clumpsoflow—growingthingssturdilyadvancedtheiryellownessorwhiteness，asifdefyingneglect。Inoneplaceawallslantedandthreatenedtofall，bearingitsnectarinetreeswithit；inanothertherewasagapsoevidentlynotofto—daythattheheapofitsmasonryupontheborderbedwasalreadycoveredwithgreenery，andtherootsofthefruittreeithadsupportedhadsentupstrong，insistentshoots。
　　Shepasseddownbroadpathsandnarrowones，sometimeswalkingundertrees，sometimespushingherwaybetweenencroachingshrubs；shedescendeddelightfulmossyandbrokenstepsandcameupondilapidatedurns，inwhichweedsgrewinsteadofflowers，andoverwhichrampantbutlovely，savagelittlecreepersclamberedandclung。
　　Inoneofthewalledkitchengardensshecameuponanelderlygardeneratwork。Atthesoundofherapproachingstepsheglancedroundandthenstoodup，touchinghisforelockinrespectfulbutstartledsalute。Hewassoplainlyamazedatthesightofherthatsheexplainedherself。
　　"Good—morning，"shesaid。"Iamherladyship’ssister，MissVanderpoel。Icameyesterdayevening。Iamlookingoveryourgardens。"
　　Hetouchedhisforeheadagainandlookedroundhim。Hismannerwasnotcheerful。Hecastatroubledeyeabouthim。
　　"They’renotmuchtosee，miss，"hesaid。"They’doughttobe，butthey’renot。Growingthingshastobefedandtookcareof。
　　Amanandaboycan’tdoit——noryetfourorfiveof’em。"
　　"Howmanyoughttheretobe？"Bettyinquired，withbusiness—likedirectness。Itwasnotonlythedewonthegrassshehadcomeouttosee。
　　"Iftherewaseightortenofuswemightputitinorderandkeepitthatway。It’sabigplace，miss。"
　　Bettylookedaboutherashehaddone，butwithalessdiscouragedeye。
　　"Itisabeautifulplace，aswellasalargeone，"shesaid。
　　"Icanseethatthereoughttobemoreworkers。"
　　"There’snoone，"saidthegardener，"ashasasmanyenemiesasagardener，an’asmanythingstofight。There’sgrubsan’there’sgreenfly，an’there’sdrout’，an’wetan’cold，an’mildew，an’
　　there’swhatthesoilwantsandstarveswithout，an’ifyouhaven’tgotitnoryethandsan’feetan’toolsenough，how’sthingstofeed，an’fightan’live——letaloneblooman’bear？"
　　"Idon’tknowmuchaboutgardens，"saidMissVanderpoel，"butIcanunderstandthat。"
　　Thescentoffreshbedewedthingswasintheair。Itwastruethatshehadnotknownmuchaboutgardens，butherestandinginthemidstofoneshebegantoawakentoanew，practicalinterest。Acreatureofinitiativecouldnotletsuchaplaceasthisalone。Itwasbeautybeingslowlyslain。Onecouldnotpassitbyanddonothing。
　　"Whatisyourname？"sheasked"Kedgers，miss。I’veonlybeenhereaboutatwelve—month。
　　IwastookonbecauseI’mgettingoninyearsan’can’taskmuchwage。"
　　"Canyousparetimetotakemethroughthegardensandshowmethings？"
　　Yes，hecoulddoit。Intruth，heprivatelywelcomedanopportunityofferingaprospectofexcitementsonovel。Hehadshownmoreflourishinggardenstootheryoungladiesinhispastyearsofservice，butyoungladiesdidnotcometoStornham，andthatonehaving，withsuchextraordinaryunexpectednessarrived，shouldwanttolookoverthedesolationofthese，wascuriousenoughtorouseanyonetoasenseofabreakinaccustomedmonotony。Theyoungladyherselfmystifiedhimbyherdifferencefromsuchothersashehadseen。
　　Whatthemanintheshabbyliveryhadfelt，hefeltalso，andaddedtothiswasasenseofthepracticalnessofthequestionssheaskedandtheinterestsheshowedandawayshehadofseemingsingularlytosuggestbythelookinhereyesandthetoneofhervoicethatnothingwasnecessarilywithoutremedy。
　　Whenherladyshipwalkedthroughtheplaceandlookedatthings，apaleresignationexpresseditselfintheverydroopofherfigure。Whenthisonewalkedthroughthetumbled—downgrape—houses，potting—shedsandconservatories，shesawwhereglasswasbroken，wherebencheshadfallenandwhereroofssaggedandleaked。Sheinquiredabouttheheatingapparatusandaskedthatshemightseeit。Sheaskedaboutthevillageanditsresources，aboutlabourersandtheirwages。
　　"Asif，"commentedKedgersmentally，"shewaswhatSirNigelis——leastwayswhathe’doughttobean’ain’t。"
　　Sheledthewaybacktothefallenwallandstoodandlookedatit。
　　"It’sabeautifuloldwall，"shesaid。"Itshouldberebuiltwiththeoldbrick。Newwouldspoilit。"
　　"Someofthisisbrokenandcrumbledaway，"saidKedgers，pickingupapiecetoshowittoher。
　　"Perhapsoldbrickcouldbeboughtsomewhere，"repliedtheyoungladyspeculatively。"OneoughttobeabletobuyoldbrickinEngland，ifoneiswillingtopayforit。"
　　Kedgersscratchedhisheadandgazedatherinrespectfulwonderwhichwasalmosttrouble。Whowasgoingtopayforthings，andwhowasgoingtolookforthingswhichwerenotonthespot？Enterpriselikethiswasnottobeexplained。
　　Whenshelefthimhestoodandwatchedheruprightfiguredisappearthroughtheivy—growndoorofthekitchengardenswithadisturbedbutelatedexpressiononhiscountenance。Hedidnotknowwhyhefeltelated，buthewasconsciousofelation。Somethingnewhadwalkedintotheplace。Hestoppedhisworkandgrinnedandscratchedhisheadseveraltimesafterhewentbacktohispotteringamongthecabbageplants。
　　"Myword，"hemuttered。"She’safine，straightyoungwoman。Ifshewasherladyshipthings’udbedifferent。SirNigel’udbedifferent，too——orthere’dbesomefineupsets。"
　　Therewasahugestableyard，andBettypassedthroughthatonherwayback。Thedoorofthecarriagehousewasopenandshesawtwoorthreetumbled—downvehicles。Onewasalandauwithawheeloff，onewasashabby，old—fashioned，lowphaeton。Shecaughtsightofapatentlyvenerablecobinoneofthestables。Thestallsnearhimwereempty。
　　"Isupposethatisalltheyhavetodependupon，"shethought。"Andthestablesarelikethegardens。"
　　ShefoundLadyAnstruthersandUghtredwaitingforherupontheterrace，eachofthemregardingherwithanexpressionsuggestiveofrepressedcuriosityassheapproached。LadyAnstruthersflushedalittleandwenttomeetherwithaneagerkiss。
　　"Youlooklike——Idon’tknowquitewhatyoulooklike，Betty！"sheexclaimed。
　　Thegirl’sdimpledeepenedandhereyessaidsmilingthings。
　　"Itisthemorning——andyourgardens，"sheanswered。"I
　　havebeenroundyourgardens。"
　　"Theywerebeautifulonce，Isuppose，"saidRosydeprecatingly。
　　"Theyarebeautifulnow。ThereisnothingliketheminAmericaatleast。"
　　"Idon’trememberanygardensinAmerica，"LadyAnstruthersownedreluctantly，"buteverythingseemedsocheerfulandwellcaredforand——andnew。Don’tlaugh，Betty。I
　　havebeguntolikenewthings。Youwouldifyouhadwatchedoldonestumblingtopiecesfortwelveyears。"
　　"Theyoughtnottobeallowedtotumbletopieces，"saidBetty。Sheaddedhernextwordswithsimpledirectness。Shecouldonlydiscoverhowanyadvancingstepswouldbetakenbytakingthem。"Whydoyouallowthemtodoit？"
　　LadyAnstrutherslookedaway，butasshelookedhereyespassedUghtred’s。
　　"I！"shesaid。"Therearesomanyotherthingstodo。
　　Itwouldcostsomuch——suchanenormitytokeepitallinorder。"
　　"Butitoughttobedone——forUghtred’ssake。"
　　"Iknowthat，"falteredRosy，"butIcan’thelpit。"
　　"Youcan，"answeredBetty，andsheputherarmroundherastheyturnedtoenterthehouse。"WhenyouhavebecomemoreusedtomeandmydrivingAmericanwaysIwillshowyouhow。"
　　ThelightnesswithwhichshesaidithadanoddeffectonLadyAnstruthers。Suchcasualreadinesswassofullofthesuggestionofunheardofpossibilitiesthatitwasakindofshock。
　　"Ihavebeentwelveyearsingettingun—usedtoyou——Ifeelasifitwouldtaketwelveyearsmoretogetusedagain，"shesaid。
　　"Itwon’ttaketwelveweeks，"saidBetty。
　　CHAPTERXV
　　THEFIRSTMAN
　　ThemysteryoftheapparentlyoccultmethodsofcommunicationamongthenativesofIndia，betweenwhom，itissaid，newsfliesbymeanstoostrangeandsubtletobehumanlyexplainable，isnomoredifficultaproblemtosolvethanthatofthelightningrapiditywithwhichaknowledgeofthetranspiringofanynewlocaleventdartsthroughtheslowest，and，asfarasoutwardsignsgo，theleastcommunicativeEnglishvillageslumberingdrowsilyamongitspasturesandtrees。
　　ThatwhichtheHallorManorHousebelievedlastnight，knownonlytothefourwallsofitsdrawing—room，isdiscussedoverthecottagebreakfasttablesasthoughpresentedindetailthroughthecolumnsoftheMorningPost。Thevicarage，thesmithy，thepostoffice，thelittleprovisionshop，areinstantaneouslyinformedasbymagicofsuchincidentsofinterestasoccur，andarepreparedtoassistvicariouslyatanyfuturedevelopments。Throughwhatagencyinformationisgivennoonecantell，and，indeed，theagencyisofsmallmoment。Factsofinterestareperhapslikeflightsofswallowsanddartchatteringfromoneredrooftoanother，proclaimingthemselvesaloud。Nothingissotrueasthatinsuchvillagestheyarethepropertyandinnocentplaythingsofman，woman，andchild，providingconversationanddramaotherwiselikelytobelacked。
　　WhenMissVanderpoelwalkedthroughStornhamvillagestreetshebecameawarethatshewasanexcitingobjectofinterest。Facesappearedatcottagewindows，womensaunteredtodoors，meninthetaproomoftheClockInnleftbeermugstocastaneyeonher；childrenpushedopengatesandstaredastheybobbedtheircurtsies；theyoungwomanwhokepttheshoplefthercounterandcameoutuponherdoorsteptopickupherstrayingbabyandglanceoveritsshoulderatthefacewiththeredmouth，andthemassofblackhairrolledupwardunderaroughbluestrawhat。Everyoneknewwhothisexotic—lookingyoungladywas。ShehadarrivedyesterdayfromLondon，andaweekagobymeansofashipfromfar—awayAmerica，fromthecountryinconnectionwithwhichtheruralmindcuriouslymixeduplargewages，greatfortunesandIndians。"Gaarge"Lunsden，havingspentfiveyearsofhisyouthlabouringheavilyforsixteenshillingsaweek，hadgoneto"Meriker"andhadearnedthereeightshillingsaday。Thiswasawell—knownandmuch—talkedoverfact，andhadelevatedthewesterncontinenttoapositionoftrustandimportanceithadseriouslylackedbeforetheemigrationofLunsden。Aplacewhereamancouldearneightshillingsadayinspiredinterestaswellasconfidence。WhenSirNigel’swifehadarrivedtwelveyearsagoasthenewLadyAnstruthers，thestorythatsheherself"hadmoney"hadbeenverifiedbyherfineclothesandherwayofhandingoutsovereignsincaseswheretherestofthegentry，iftheygaveatall，wouldhavebestowedteaandflannelorshillings。Therehadbeenforafewmonthsaperiodofunheardofwell—beinginStornhamvillage；everyonerememberedthehundredpoundsthebridehadgiventopoorWilsonwhenhisplacehadburneddown，butthevillagehadofcourselearned，byitsoccultmeans，thatSirNigelandtheDowagerhadbeenangryandthattherehadbeenaquarrel。Afterwardsherladyshiphadbeendangerouslyill，thebabyhadbeenbornahunchback，andayearhadpassedbeforeitsmotherhadbeenseenagain。Sincethenshehadbeenachangedcreature；shehadlostherlooksandseemedtocarefornothingbutthechild。Stornhamvillagesawnexttonothingofher，anditcertainlywasnotshewhohadthedispensingofherfortune。RumoursaidSirNigellivedhighinLondonandforeignparts，buttherewasnohighlivingattheCourt。Herladyship’sfamilyhadneverbeennearher，andbeliefinthemandtheirwealthalmostceasedtoexist。
　　Iftheywererich，Stornhamfeltthatitwastheirbusinesstomendroofsandwindowsandnotallowchimneysandkitchenboilerstofallintoruin，thesimple，leadingarticleoffaithbeingthatevenAmericanmoneybelongedproperlytoEngland。