"Thatisonewayofbeginning，"saidBettina。"Infact，itistheonlyway。"
　　Hedidnottellherthathelikedthat，butheknewthathedidlikeitandthathermerewordstouchedhimlikeaspur。
　　Itwas，ofcourse，herlifelongbreathingoftheatmosphereofmillionswhichmadeforthisfashionofmovingatonceinthedirectionofobstaclespresentingtotherestoftheworldbarriersseeminglyinsurmountable。Andyettherewassomethingelseinit，somequalityofnaturewhichdidnotalonesuggesttheomnipotenceofwealth，butanotherthingwhichmightbeevenstrongerandthereforecarriedconviction。Hewhohadragedandclenchedhishandsinthefaceofhisknowledgeoftheaspecthisdreamwouldhavepresentedifhehadrevealedittotheordinarypracticalmind，feltthatapointofviewlikethiswasgoodforhim。Therewasinitstimulusforafleetingmomentatleast。
　　"Thatisagoodidea，"heanswered。"Whereshouldyoubegin？"
　　Sherepliedquiteseriously，thoughhecouldhaveimaginedsomegirlsrathersimperingoverthequestionasacasualjoke。
　　"Onewouldbeginatthefences，"shesaid。"Don’tyouthinkso？"
　　"Thatispractical。"
　　"ThatiswhereIshallbeginatStornham，"reflectively。
　　"YouaregoingtobeginatStornham？"
　　"Howcouldonehelpit？Itisnotaslargeorassplendidasthishasbeen，butitislikeitinaway。Anditwillbelongtomysister’sson。No，Icouldnothelpit。"
　　"Isupposeyoucouldnot。"Therewasahintofwhollyunconsciousresentmentinhistone。Hewasthinkingthattheeffectproducedbytheirboundlesswealthwastomakethesepeoplefeelasaraceofgiantsmight——eventheirwomenunknowinglyrevealedit。
　　"No，Icouldnot，"washerreply。"IsupposeIamonthewholeasortofcommercialworkingperson。Ihavenodoubtitiscommercial，thatinstinctwhichmakesoneresentseeingthingslosetheirvalue。"
　　"Shallyoubeginitforthatreason？"
　　"Partlyforthatone——partlyforanother。"Sheheldoutherhandtohim。"Lookatthelengthoftheshadows。I
　　mustgo。Thankyou，LordMountDunstan，forshowingmetheplace，andthankyouforundeceivingme。"
　　Heheldthesidegateopenforherandliftedhiscapasshepassedthrough。Headmittedtohimself，withsomereluctance，thathewasnotcontentthatsheshouldgoevenyet，but，ofcourse，shemustgo。Therepassedthroughhismindaremotewonderwhyhehadsuddenlyunbosomedhimselftoherinawaysoextraordinarilyunlikehimself。Itwas，hethoughtnext，becauseashehadtakenheraboutfromoneplacetoanotherhehadknownthatshehadseeninthingswhathehadseeninthemsolong——themelancholyloneliness，thesignificanceofit，thelosthopesthatlaybehindit，thetouchingpainofthestatelinesswrecked。Shehadshownitinthewayinwhichshetenderlylookedfromsidetoside，intheverylightnessofherfootfall，inthebluebellsofteningofhereyes。Oh，yes，shehadunderstoodandcared，Americanasshewas！Shehadfeltitall，evenwithherhideousbackgroundofFifthAvenuebehindher。
　　Whenhehadspokenithadbeenininvoluntaryresponsetoanemotioninherself。
　　Sohestood，thinking，asheforsometimewatchedherwalkingupthesunset—glowingroad。
　　CHAPTERXVI
　　THEPARTICULARINCIDENT
　　BettyVanderpoel’swalkbacktoStornhamdidnot，longthoughitwas，givehertimetofollowtoitsendthethreadofherthoughts。Mentallyshewalkedagainwithheruncommunicativeguide，throughwoodpathsandgardens，andstoodgazingatthegreatblind—facedhouse。Shehadnotgiventhemanmorethananoccasionalglanceuntilhehadtoldherhisname。Shehadbeentoomuchabsorbed，toomuchmoved，bywhatshehadbeenseeing。Shewondered，ifshehadbeenmoreawareofhim，whetherhisfacewouldhaverevealedagreatdeal。Shebelieveditwouldnot。Hehadmadehimselfoutwardlystolid。Butthethingmusthavebeenbitter。
　　Tohimthewholestoryofthesplendidpastwasfamiliarevenifthroughhisownlifehehadlookedononlyatgradualdecay。Theremustbestoriesenoughofmenandwomenwhohadlivedintheplace，ofwhattheyhaddone，ofhowtheyhadloved，ofwhattheyhadcountedforintheircountry’swarsandpeacemakings，greatfunctionsandlaw—building。Tobeabletolookbackthroughcenturiesandknowofone’sbloodthatsometimesithadbeenshedinthedoingofgreatdeeds，mustbeathingtoremember。Torealisethatthecourageandhonourhadbeenlostinignoblemodernvices，whichnosenseofdignityandreverenceforraceandnamehadrestrained——
　　mustbebitter——bitter！Andintheroleofaservanttoleadastrangeraboutamongtheruinsofwhathadbeen——thatmusthavebeenbitter，too。ForamomentBettyfeltthebitternessofitherselfandherredmouthtookuponitselfagrimline。
　　Theworstofitforhimwasthathewasnotofthatstrainofhisracewhohadbeenthe"badlot。"The"badlot"hadbeentheweaklot，thevicious，theself—degrading。
　　Scandalswhichhadshutmenoutfromtheirclassandkindwereusuallyofanuglytype。Thismanhadastrongjaw，apowerful，healthybody，andclean，thoughperhapshard，eyes。
　　TheFirstManofthem，whohewedhiswaytothefront，whostoodfierceinthefaceofthings，whowonthefirstlandsandlaidthefirststones，mighthavebeenlikehiminbuildandlook。
　　"It’sadisgustingthing，"shesaidtoherself，"tothinkofthecorruptweaklingsthestrongonesdwindleddownto。I
　　hatethem。Sodoeshe。"
　　Therehadbeenmanysuchoflateyears，sheknew。ShehadseentheminParis，inRome，eveninNewYork。Thingswiththinorover—thickbodiesandrecedingchinsandforeheads；
　　thingshauntingplacesofamusementandfindinginordinateentertainmentinstrangejokesandhorseplay。Sheherselfhadhotbloodandafiercestrengthofrebellion，andshewaswonderinghow，ifthefatherandelderbrotherhadbeenthe"badlot，"hehadmanagedtostandstill，lookingon，andkeepinghishandsoffthem。
　　ThelastgoldofthesunwasmellowingthegreystoneoftheterraceandenrichingthegreenoftheweedsthrustingthemselvesintolifebetweentheunevenflagswhenshereachedStornham，andpassingthroughthehousefoundLadyAnstrutherssittingthere。Insustenanceofherefforttokeepupappearances，shehadputonaweirdlittlemuslindressandhadelaboratedthedressingofherthinhair。Itwasnolongerdraggedbackstraightfromherface，andshelookedatriflelessabject，evenashadeprettier。Bettinasatupontheedgeofthebalustradeandtouchedthehairwithlightfingers，rufflingitalittlebecomingly。
　　"Ifyouhadwornitlikethisyesterday，"shesaid，"Ishouldhaveknownyou。"
　　"Shouldyou，Betty？IneverlookintoamirrorifIcanhelpit，butwhenIdoIneverknowmyself。ThethingthatstaresbackatmewithitspaleeyesisnotRosy。But，ofcourse，everyonegrowsold。"
　　"Notnow！Peoplearejustdiscoveringhowtogrowyounginstead。"
　　LadyAnstrutherslookedintotheclearcourageofherlaughingeyes。
　　"Somehow，"shesaid，"yousaystrangethingsinsuchawaythatonefeelsasiftheymustbetrue，however——howeverunlikeanythingelsetheyare。"
　　"Theyarenotasnewastheyseem，"saidBetty。"Ancientphilosopherssaidthingslikethemcenturiesago，butpeopledidnotbelievethem。Wearejustbeginningtodragthemoutofthedustandfurbishthemupandpretendtheyareours，justaspeoplerubupandadornthemselveswithjewelsdugoutofexcavations。"
　　"InAmericapeoplethinksomanynewthings，"saidpoorlittleLadyAnstrutherswithyearninghumbleness。
　　"Thewholecivilisedworldisthinkingwhatyoucallnewthings，"saidBetty。"Theoldoneswon’tdo。Theyhavebeentried，andthoughtheyhavehelpedustotheplacewehavereached，theycannothelpusanyfarther。Wemustbeginagain。"
　　"ItissuchalongtimesinceIbegan，"saidRosy，"suchalongtime。"
　　"Thentheremustbeanotherbeginningforyou，too。Thehourhasstruck。"
　　LadyAnstruthersrosewithasinvoluntaryamovementasifastronghandhaddrawnhertoherfeet。ShestoodfacingBetty，apatheticlittlefigureinherwashed—outmuslinfrockandwithherwashed—outfaceandeyesandbeing，thoughonherfadedcheeksaflushwasrising。
　　"Oh，Betty！"shesaid，"Idon’tknowwhatthereisaboutyou，butthereissomethingwhichmakesonefeelasifyoubelievedeverythingandcoulddoeverything，andasifonebelievesYOU。Whateveryouweretosay，youwouldmakeitseemTRUE。IfyousaidthewildestthingintheworldIshouldBELIEVEyou。"
　　Bettygotup，too，andtherewasanextraordinarysteadinessinhereyes。
　　"Youmay，"sheanswered。"Ishallneversayonethingtoyouwhichisnotatruth，notonesinglething。"
　　"Ibelievethat，"saidRosyAnstruthers，withaquiveringmouth。"Idobelieveitso。"
　　"IwalkedtoMountDunstan，"Bettysaidlater。
　　"Really？"saidRosy。"Thereandback？"
　　"Yes，andallroundtheparkandthegardens。"
　　Rosylookedratheruncertain。
　　"Weren’tyoualittleafraidofmeetingsomeone？"
　　"Ididmeetsomeone。AtfirstItookhimforagame—
　　keeper。ButheturnedouttobeLordMountDunstan。"
　　LadyAnstruthersgasped。
　　"Whatdidhedo？"sheexclaimed。"Didhelookangryatseeingastranger？Theysayheissoill—temperedandrude。"
　　"Ishouldfeelill—temperedifIwereinhisplace，"saidBetty。"Hehasenoughtorousehisevilpassionsandmakehimsavage。Whatafateforamanwithanysenseanddecencyoffeeling！Whatfoolsandcriminalsthelastgenerationofhishousemusthaveproduced！Iwonderhowsuchthingsevolvethemselves。Butheisdifferent——different。Onecanseeit。Ifhehadachance——justhalfachance——hewouldbuilditallupagain。AndIdon’tmeanmerelytheplace，butallthatonemeanswhenonesays`hishouse。’"
　　"Hewouldneedagreatdealofmoney，"sighedLadyAnstruthers。
　　Bettynoddedslowlyasshelookedout，reflecting，intothepark。
　　"Yes，itwouldrequiremoney，"washeradmission。
　　"Andhehasnone，"LadyAnstruthersadded。"Nonewhatever。"
　　"Hewillgetsome，"saidBetty，stillreflecting。"Hewillmakeit，ordigitup，orsomeonewillleaveittohim。Thereisagreatdealofmoneyintheworld，andwhenastrongcreatureoughttohavesomeofithegetsit。"
　　"Oh，Betty！"saidRosy。"Oh，Betty！"
　　"Watchthatman，"saidBetty；"youwillsee。Itwillcome。"
　　LadyAnstruthers’mind，workingatnotimeoncomplexlines，presentedherwithasimplemodernsolution。
　　"PerhapshewillmarryanAmerican，"shesaid，andsayingit，sighedagain。
　　"Hewillnotdoitonpurpose。"BettinaansweredslowlyandwithsuchanairofabsenceofmindthatRosylaughedalittle。
　　"Willhedoitaccidentally，oragainsthiswill？"shesaid。
　　Bettyherselfsmiled。
　　"Perhapshewill，"shesaid。"ThereareEnglishmenwhoratherdislikeAmericans。Ithinkheisoneofthem。"
　　ItapparentlybecamenecessaryforLadyAnstruthers，amomentlater，toleanuponthestonebalustradeandpickoffayoungleaforso，fornoreasonwhatever，unlessthatindoingsosheavertedherlookfromhersisterasshemadehernextremark。
　　"Areyou——whenareyougoingtowritetofatherandmother？"
　　"Ihavewritten，"withunembarrassedevennessoftone。
　　"Motherwillbecountingthedays。"
　　"Mother！"Rosybreathed，withasoftlittlegasp。"Mother！"andturnedherfacefartheraway。"Whatdidyoutellher？"
　　Bettymovedovertoherandstoodcloseatherside。Thepowerofherpersonalityenvelopedthetremulouscreatureasifithadbeenasenseofwarmth。
　　"Itoldherhowbeautifultheplacewas，andhowUghtredadoredyou——andhowyoulovedusall，andlongedtoseeNewYorkagain。"
　　ThereliefinthepoorlittlefacewassoimmensethatBetty’sheartshookbeforeit。LadyAnstrutherslookedupatherwithadoringeyes。
　　"Imighthaveknown，"shesaid；"Imighthaveknownthat——thatyouwouldonlysaytherightthing。Youcouldn’tsaythewrongthing，Betty。"
　　Bettybentoverherandspokealmostyearningly。
　　"Whateverhappens，"shesaid，"wewilltakecarethatmotherisnothurt。She’stookind——she’stoogood——she’stootender。"
　　"ThatiswhatIhaveremembered，"saidLadyAnstruthersbrokenly。"SheusedtoholdmeonherlapwhenIwasquitegrownup。Oh！hersoft，warmarms——herwarmshoulder！
　　Ihavesowantedher。"
　　"Shehaswantedyou，"Bettyanswered。"Shethinksofyoujustasshedidwhensheheldyouonherlap。"
　　"Butifshesawmenow——lookinglikethis！Ifshesawme！SometimesIhaveevenbeengladtothinksheneverwould。"
　　"Shewill。"Betty’stonewascoolandclear。"ButbeforeshedoesIshallhavemadeyoulooklikeyourself。"
　　LadyAnstruthers’thinhandclosedonherpluckedleavesconvulsively，andthenopeningletthemdropuponthestoneoftheterrace。
　　"Weshallneverseeeachother。Itwouldn’tbepossible，"
　　shesaid。"Andthereisnomagicintheworldnow，Betty。
　　Youcan’tbringback————"
　　"Yes，youcan，"saidBettina。"Andwhatusedtobecalledmagicisonlythecontrolledworkingofthelawandorderofthingsinthesedays。Wemusttalkitallover。"
　　LadyAnstruthersbecamealittlepale。
　　"What？"sheasked，lowandnervously，andBettysawherglancesidewaysatthewindowsoftheroomwhichopenedontotheterrace。
　　Bettytookherhandanddrewherdownintoachair。Shesatnearherandlookedherstraightintheface。
　　"Don’tbefrightened，"shesaid。"Itellyouthereisnoneedtobefrightened。WearenotlivingintheMiddleAges。ThereisapolicemaneveninStornhamvillage，andwearewithinfourhoursofLondon，wheretherearethousands。"
　　LadyAnstrutherstriedtolaugh，butdidnotsucceedverywell，andherforeheadflushed。
　　"Idon’tquiteknowwhyIseemsonervous，"shesaid。
　　"It’sverysillyofme。"
　　Shewasstilltimidenoughtoclingtosomeragofpretence，butBettyknewthatitwouldfallaway。Shedidthewisestpossiblething，whichwastomakeanapparentlyimpersonalremark。
　　"Iwantyoutogoovertheplacewithmeandshowmeeverything。Wallsandfencesandgreenhousesandoutbuildingsmustnotbeallowedtocrumbleaway。"
　　"What？"criedRosy。"Haveyouseenallthatalready？"
　　Sheactuallystaredather。"Howpracticaland——andAmerican！"
　　"Toseethatawallhasfallenwhenyoufindyourselfobligedtowalkroundapileofgrass—grownbrickwork？"saidBetty。
　　LadyAnstruthersstillsoftlystared。
　　"What——whatareyouthinkingof？"sheasked。
　　"Thinkingthatitisalltoobeautiful————"Betty’slooksweptthelovelinessspreadabouther，"toobeautifulandtoovaluabletobeallowedtoloseitsvalueanditsbeauty。"SheturnedhereyesbacktoRosyandthedeepdimplenearhermouthshoweditselfdelightfully。"Itisathrowingawayofcapital，"
　　sheadded。
　　"Oh！"criedLadyAnstruthers，"howcleveryouare！
　　Andyoulooksodifferent，Betty。"
　　"DoIlookstupid？"thedimpledeepening。"Imusttrytoalterthat。"
　　"Don’ttrytoalteryourlooks，"saidRosy。"Itisyourlooksthatmakeyouso——sowonderful。Butusuallywomen——
　　girls————"Rosypaused。
　　"Oh，Ihavebeentrained，"laughedBetty。"Iamthespoileddaughterofabusinessmanofgenius。Hisbusinessisanartandascience。Ihavehadadvantages。Hehasletmehearhimtalk。Ievenknowsometriflingthingsaboutstocks。
　　Notenoughtodomevitalinjury——butsomething。WhatI
　　knowbestofall，"——herlaughendedandhereyeschangedtheirlook，——"isthatitisablundertothinkthatbeautyisnotcapital——thathappinessisnot——andthatbotharenotthegreatestassetsinthescheme。This，"withawaveofherhand，takinginalltheysaw，"isbeauty，anditoughttobehappiness，anditmustbetakencareof。ItisyourhomeandUghtred’s————"
　　"ItisNigel’s，"putinRosy。
　　"Itisentailed，isn’tit？"turningquickly。"Hecannotsellit？"
　　"Ifhecouldweshouldnotbesittinghere，"ruefully。
　　"Thenhecannotobjecttoitsbeingrescuedfromruin。"
　　"Hewillobjectto——tomoneybeingspentonthingshedoesnotcarefor。"LadyAnstruthers’voicelowereditself，asitalwaysdidwhenshespokeofherhusband，andsheindulgedintheinvoluntaryhastyglanceabouther。
　　"Iamgoingtomyroomtotakeoffmyhat，"Bettysaid。
　　"Willyoucomewithme？"
　　Shewentintothehouse，talkingquietlyofordinarythings，andinthiswaytheymountedthestairwaytogetherandpassedalongthegallerywhichledtoherroom。Whentheyentereditsheclosedthedoor，lockedit，and，takingoffherhat，laiditaside。Afterdoingwhichshesat。
　　"Noonecanhearandnoonecancomein，"shesaid。"Andiftheycould，youareafraidofthingsyouneednotbeafraidofnow。TellmewhathappenedwhenyouweresoillafterUghtredwasborn。"
　　"Youguessedthatithappenedthen，"gaspedLadyAnstruthers。
　　"Itwasagoodtimetomakeanythinghappen，"repliedBettina。"Youwereprostrated，youwereachild，andfeltyourselfcastoffhopelesslyfromthepeoplewholovedyou。"
　　"Forever！Forever！"LadyAnstruthers’voicewasasharplittlemoan。"ThatwaswhatIfelt——thatnothingcouldeverhelpme。Idarednotwritethings。Hetoldmehewouldnothaveit——thathewouldstopanyhystericalcomplaints——thathismothercouldtestifythathebehavedperfectlytome。Shewastheonlypersonintheroomwithuswhen——when————"
　　"When？"saidBetty。
　　LadyAnstruthersshuddered。SheleanedforwardandcaughtBetty’shandbetweenherownshakingones。
　　"Hestruckme！Hestruckme！Hesaiditneverhappened——
　　butitdid——itdid！Betty，itdid！Thatwastheonethingthatcamebacktomeclearest。HesaidthatIwasindelirioushysterics，andthatIhadstruggledwithhismotherandhimself，becausetheytriedtokeepmequiet，andpreventtheservantshearing。OneawfuldayhebroughtLadyAnstruthersintotheroom，andtheystoodoverme，asIlayinbed，andshefixedhereyesonmeandsaidthatshe——beinganEnglishwoman，andapersonwhosewordwouldbebelieved，couldtellpeoplethetruth——myfatherandmother，ifnecessary，thatmyspoiled，hystericalAmericantempershadcreatedunhappinessforme——merelybecauseIwasboredbylifeinthecountryandwantedexcitement。Itriedtoanswer，buttheywouldnotletme，andwhenIbegantoshakeallover，theysaidthatIwasthrowingmyselfintohystericsagain。Andtheytoldthedoctorso，andhebelievedit。"
　　Thepossibilitiesofthesituationwereplainlytobeseen。
　　Fate，intheformoftemperamentitself，hadbeenagainsther。
　　ItwasclearenoughtoBettyasshepattedandstrokedthethinhands。"Iunderstand。Tellmetherest，"shesaid。
　　LadyAnstruthers’headdropped。
　　"WhenIwasloneliest，anddyingofhomesickness，andsoweakthatIcouldnotspeakwithoutsobbing，hecametome——itwasonemorningafterIhadbeenlyingawakeallnight——andhebegantoseemkinder。Hehadnotbeennearmefortwodays，andIhadthoughtIwasgoingtobelefttodiealone——andmotherwouldneverknow。Hesaidhehadbeenreflectingandthathewasafraidthatwehadmisunderstoodeachother——becausewebelongedtodifferentcountries，andhadbeenbroughtupindifferentways————"shepaused。
　　"Andthatifyouunderstoodhispositionandconsideredit，youmightbothbequitehappy，"Bettygaveinquiettermination。
　　LadyAnstruthersstarted。
　　"Oh，youknowitall！"sheexclaimed"OnlybecauseIhavehearditbefore。Itisanoldtrick。
　　Andbecauseheseemedkindandrelenting，youtriedtounderstand——andsignedsomething。"
　　"IWANTEDtounderstand。IWANTEDtobelieve。Whatdiditmatterwhichofushadthemoney，ifwelikedeachotherandwerehappy？Hetoldmethingsabouttheestate，andabouttheenormouscostofit，andhisbadluck，anddebtshecouldnothelp。AndIsaidthatIwoulddoanythingif——ifwecouldonlybelikemotherandfather。AndhekissedmeandIsignedthepaper。"
　　"Andthen？"
　　"HewenttoLondonthenextday，andthentoParis。Hesaidhewasobligedtogoonbusiness。Hewasawayamonth。
　　Andafteraweekhadpassed，LadyAnstruthersbegantoberestlessandangry，andoncesheflewintoarage，andtoldmeIwasafool，andthatifIhadbeenanEnglishwoman，Ishouldhavehadsomedecentcontrolovermyhusband，becausehewouldhaverespectedme。IntimeIfoundoutwhatIhaddone。Itdidnottakelong。"
　　"Thepaperyousigned，"saidBetty，"gavehimcontroloveryourmoney？"
　　Aforlornnodwastheanswer。
　　"Andsincethenhehasdoneashechose，andhehasnotchosentocareforStornham。Andoncehemadeyouwritetofather，toaskformoremoney？"
　　"Ididitonce。Ineverwoulddoitagain。Hehastriedtomakeme。HealwayssaysitistosaveStornhamforUghtred。"
　　"NothingcantakeStornhamfromUghtred。Itmaycometohimaruin，butitwillcometohim。"
　　"HesaystherearelegalpointsIcannotunderstand。Andhesaysheisspendingmoneyonit。"
　　"Where？"
　　"He——doesn’tgointothat。IfIweretoaskquestions，hewouldmakemeknowthatIhadbetterstop。HesaysIknownothingaboutthings。Andheisright。Hehasneverallowedmetoknowand——andIamnotlikeyou，Betty。"
　　"Whenyousignedthepaper，youdidnotrealisethatyouweredoingsomethingyoucouldneverundoandthatyouwouldbeforcedtosubmittotheconsequences？"
　　"I——Ididn’trealiseanythingbutthatitwouldkillmetoliveasIhadbeenliving——feelingasiftheyhatedme。AndIwassogladandthankfulthatheseemedkinder。ItwasasifIhadbeenontherack，andheturnedthescrewsback，andIwasreadytodoanything——anything——ifImightbetakenoff。Oh，Betty！youknow，don’tyou，that——thatifhewouldonlyhavebeenalittlekind——justalittle——Iwouldhaveobeyedhimalways，andgivenhimeverything。"
　　Bettysatandlookedather，withdeeplyponderingeyes。
　　Shewasconfrontingthefactthatitseemedpossiblethatonemustbuildanewsoulforheraswellasanewbody。Inthesedaysofscienceandgrowingsanityofthought，onedidnotstandhelplessbeforetheproblemofphysicalrebuilding，and——andperhaps，ifonecouldpourlifeintoacreature，thesoulofitwouldrespond，andwakeagain，andgrow。
　　"Youdonotknowwhereheis？"shesaidaloud。"Youabsolutelydonotknow？"
　　"Ineverknowexactly，"LadyAnstruthersanswered。"Hewashereforafewdaystheweekbeforeyoucame。Hesaidhewasgoingabroad。Hemightappearto—morrow，Imightnothearofhimforsixmonths。Ican’thelphopingnowthatitwillbethesixmonths。"
　　"Whyparticularlynow？"inquiredBetty。
　　LadyAnstruthersflushedandlookedshyandawkward。
　　"Becauseof——you。Idon’tknowwhathewouldsay。I
　　don’tknowwhathewoulddo。"
　　"Tome？"saidBetty。