"Itwouldbesuretobesomethingunreasonableandwicked，"saidLadyAnstruthers。"Itwould，Betty。"
　　"Iwonderwhatitwouldbe？"Bettysaidmusingly。
　　"Hehastoldliesforyearstokeepyouallfromme。Ifhecamenow，hewouldknowthathehadbeenfoundout。
　　HewouldsaythatIhadtoldyouthings。Hewouldbefuriousbecauseyouhaveseenwhatthereistosee。Hewouldknowthatyoucouldnothelpbutrealisethatthemoneyhemademeaskforhadnotbeenspentontheestate。He，——
　　Betty，hewouldtrytoforceyoutogoaway。"
　　"Iwonderwhathewoulddo？"Bettysaidagainmusingly。
　　Shefeltinterested，notafraid。
　　"Itwouldbesomethingcunning，"Rosyprotested。"Itwouldbesomethingnoonecouldexpect。Hemightbesorudethatyoucouldnotremainintheroomwithhim，orhemightbequitepolite，andpretendhewasrathergladtoseeyou。Ifhewasonlyfrightfullyrudeweshouldbesafer，becausethatwouldnotbeanunexpectedthing，butifhewaspolite，itwouldbebecausehewasarrangingsomethinghideous，whichyoucouldnotdefendyourselfagainst。"
　　"Canyoutellme，"saidBettyquiteslowly，because，asshelookeddownatthecarpet，shewasthinkingveryhard，"thekindofunexpectedthinghehasdonetoyou？"Liftinghereyes，shesawthatatroubledflushwascreepingoverLadyAnstruthers’face。
　　"There——havebeen——somanyqueerthings，"shefaltered。
　　ThenBettyknewtherewassomespecialthingshewasafraidtotalkabout，andthatifshedesiredtoobtainilluminatinginformationitwouldbewelltogointothematter。
　　"Try，"shesaid，"toremembersomeparticularincident。"
　　LadyAnstrutherslookednervous。
　　"Rosy，"inthelevelvoice，"therehasbeenaparticularincident——andIwouldratherhearofitfromyouthanfromhim。
　　Rosy’slapheldlittleshakinghands。
　　"Hehashelditovermeforyears，"shesaidbreathlessly。
　　"Hesaidhewouldwriteaboutittofatherandmother。Hesayshecoulduseitagainstmeasevidencein——inthedivorcecourt。HesaysthatdivorcecourtsinAmericaareforwomen，butinEnglandtheyareformen，and——hecoulddefendhimselfagainstme。"
　　Theincongruityofthepictureofthesmall，fadedcreaturearraignedinadivorcecourtonchargesofmisbehaviourwouldhavemadeBettysmileifshehadbeeninsmilingmood。
　　"Whatdidheaccuseyouof？"
　　"Thatwasthe——theunexpectedthing，"miserably。
　　Bettytooktheunsteadyhandsfirmlyinherown。
　　"Don’tbeafraidtotellme，"shesaid。"Heknewyousowellthatheunderstoodwhatwouldterrifyyouthemost。I
　　knowyousowellthatIunderstandhowhedoesit。Didhedothisunexpectedthingjustbeforeyouwrotetofatherforthemoney？"Asshequitesuddenlypresentedthequestion，Rosyexclaimedaloud。
　　"Howdidyouknow？"shesaid。"You——youarelikealawyer。Howcouldyouknow？"
　　Howsimpleshewas！Howobviouslyaneasyprey！
　　Shehadbeenunconsciouslygivingevidencewitheveryword。
　　"Ihavebeenthinkinghimover，"Bettysaid。"Heinterestsme。Ihavebeguntoguessthathealwayswantssomethingwhenheprofessesthathehasagrievance。"
　　Thenwithdroopinghead，Rosytoldthestory。
　　"Yes，ithappenedbeforehemademewritetofatherforsomuchmoney。Thevicarwasillandwasobligedtogoawayforsixmonths。Theclergymanwhocametotakehisplacewasayoungman。Hewaskindandgentle，andwantedtohelppeople。Hismotherwaswithhimandshewaslikehim。
　　Theylovedeachother，andtheywerequitepoor。HisnamewasFfolliott。Ilikedtohearhimpreach。Hesaidthingsthatcomfortedme。Nigelfoundoutthathecomfortedme，and——whenhecalledhere，hewasmorepolitetohimthanhehadeverbeentoMr。Brent。Heseemedalmostasifhelikedhim。Heactuallyaskedhimtodinnertwoorthreetimes。Afterdinner，hewouldgooutoftheroomandleaveustogether。Oh，Betty！"clingingtoherhands，"Iwassowretchedthen，thatsometimesIthoughtIwasgoingoutofmymind。IthinkIlookedwild。Iusedtokneeldownandtrytopray，andIcouldnot。"
　　"Yes，yes，"saidBetty。
　　"IusedtofeelthatifIcouldonlyhaveonefriend，justone，Icouldbearitbetter。OnceIsaidsomethinglikethattoNigel。HeonlyshruggedhisshouldersandsneeredwhenIsaidit。ButafterwardsIknewhehadremembered。Oneevening，whenhehadaskedMr。Ffolliotttodinner，heledhimtotalkaboutreligion。Oh，Betty！Itmademybloodturncoldwhenhebegan。Iknewhewasdoingitforsomewickedreason。Iknewthelookinhiseyesandtheawful，agreeablesmileonhismouth。Whenhesaidatlast，`Ifyoucouldhelpmypoorwifetofindcomfortinsuchthings，’
　　Ibegantosee。Icouldnotexplaintoanyonehowhedidit，butwithjustasentence，droppedhereandthere，heseemedtotellthewholestoryofasilly，selfish，Americangirl，thwartedinhervulgarlittleambitions，andposingasamartyr，becauseshecouldnothaveherownwayineverything。
　　Hesaidonce，quitecasually，`I’mafraidAmericanwomenareratherspoiled。’Andthenhesaid，inthesametolerantway——
　　`ApoormanisadisappointmenttoanAmericangirl。Americadoesnotbelieveinrankcombinedwithlackoffortune。’
　　Idarednotdefendmyself。Iamnotcleverenoughtothinkoftherightthingstosay。HemeantMr。FfolliotttounderstandthatIhadmarriedhimbecauseIthoughthewasgrandandrich，andthatIwasadisappointedlittlespitefulshrew。I
　　triedtoactasifhewasnothurtingme，butmyhandstrembled，andalumpkeptrisinginmythroat。Whenwereturnedtothedrawing—room，andatlastheleftustogether，IwasprayingandprayingthatImightbeabletokeepfrombreakingdown。
　　Shestoppedandswallowedhard。Bettyheldherhandsfirmlyuntilshewenton。
　　"Forafewminutes，Isatstill，andtriedtothinkofsomenewsubject——somethingaboutthechurchorthevillage。ButIcouldnotbegintospeakbecauseofthelumpinmythroat。
　　Andthen，suddenly，butquietly，Mr。Ffolliottgotup。AndthoughIdarednotliftmyeyes，Iknewhewasstandingbeforethefire，quitenearme。And，oh！whatdoyouthinkhesaid，aslowandgentlyasifhisvoicewasawoman’s。
　　Ididnotknowthatpeopleeversaidsuchthingsnow，oreventhoughtthem。Butnever，nevershallIforgetthatstrangeminute。Hesaidjustthis：
　　"`Godwillhelpyou。Hewill。Hewill。’
　　"Asifitwastrue，Betty！AsiftherewasaGod——and——
　　Hehadnotforgottenme。IdidnotknowwhatIwasdoing，butIputoutmyhandandcaughtathissleeve，andwhenIlookedupintohisface，Isawinhiskind，goodeyes，thatheknew——thatsomehow——Godknowshow——heunderstoodandthatIneednotutterawordtoexplaintohimthathehadbeenlisteningtolies。"
　　"Didyoutalktohim？"Bettyaskedquietly。
　　"Hetalkedtome。WedidnotevenspeakofNigel。HetalkedtomeasIhadneverheardanyonetalkbefore。Somehowhefilledtheroomwithsomethingreal，whichwashopeandcomfortandlikewarmth，whichkeptmysoulfromshivering。Thetearspouredfrommyeyesatfirst，butthelumpinmythroatwentaway，andwhenNigelcamebackIactuallydidnotfeelfrightened，thoughhelookedatmeandsneeredquietly。"
　　"Didhesayanythingafterwards？"
　　"Helaughedalittlecoldlaughandsaid，`Iseeyouhavebeenseekingtheconsolationofreligion。Neuroticwomenlikeconfessors。Idonotobjecttoyourconfessing，ifyouconfessyourownbackslidingsandnotmine。’"
　　"Thatwasthebeginning，"saidBettyspeculatively。"Theunexpectedthingwastheend。Tellmetherest？"
　　"Noonecouldhavedreamedofit，"Rosybrokeforth。
　　"Forweekshewasalmostlikeotherpeople。HestayedatStornhamandspenthisdaysinshooting。Heprofessedthathewasratherenjoyinghimselfinadullway。Heencouragedmetogotothevicarage，heinvitedtheFfolliottshere。HesaidMrs。Ffolliottwasagentlewomanandgoodforme。
　　HesaiditwasproperthatIshouldinterestmyselfinparishwork。OnceortwiceheevenbroughtsomelittlemessagetomefromMr。Ffolliott。"
　　Itwasapitiablysimplestory。Bettysaw，throughitsrelation，theunconsciousnessoftheeasilyalluredvictim，theadroitleadingonfromsteptostep，theordinary，natural，seemingmethodwhicharrangedopportunities。ThetwohadbeenthrowntogetherattheCourt，atthevicarage，thechurchandinthevillage，andthehawkhadlookedonandbidedhistime。Forthefirsttimeinheryearsofexile，Rosyhadbeguntofeelthatshemightbeallowedafriend——thoughshelivedinsecrettremorlestthenormallibertypermittedhershouldsuddenlybesnatchedaway。
　　"WenevertalkedofNigel，"shesaid，twistingherhands。
　　"Buthemademebegintoliveagain。HetalkedtomeofSomethingthatwatchedandwouldnotleaveme——wouldneverleaveme。Iwaslearningtobelieveit。SometimeswhenIwalkedthroughthewoodtothevillage，Iusedtostopamongthetreesandlookupatthebitsofskybetweenthebranches，andlistentothesoundintheleaves——thesoundthatneverstops——anditseemedasifitwassayingsomethingtome。
　　AndIwouldclaspmyhandsandwhisper，`Yes，yes，’`I
　　will，’`Iwill。’IusedtoseeNigellookingatmeattablewithaqueersmileinhiseyesandoncehesaidtome——`Youaregrowingyoungandlovely，mydear。Yourcolourisimproving。Thecounselsofourfriendareofasalutarynature。’
　　Itwouldhavemademenervous，buthesaiditalmostgood—
　　naturedly，andIwassillyenougheventowonderifitcouldbepossiblethathewaspleasedtoseemelookinglessill。Itwastrue，Betty，thatIwasgrowingstronger。Butitdidnotlastlong。"
　　"Iwasafraidnot，"saidBetty。
　　"AnoldwomaninthelanenearBartyonWoodwasill。Mr。
　　Ffolliotthadaskedmetogotoseeher，andIusedtogo。
　　Shesufferedagreatdealandclungtousboth。Hecomfortedher，ashecomfortedme。Sometimeswhenhewascalledawayhewouldsendanotetome，askingmetogotoher。Onedayhewrotehastily，sayingthatshewasdying，andaskedifIwouldgowithhimtohercottageatonce。IknewitwouldsavetimeifImethiminthepathwhichwasashortcut。
　　SoIwroteafewwordsandgavethemtothemessenger。
　　Isaid，`Donotcometothehouse。IwillmeetyouinBartyonWood。’"
　　Bettymadeaslightmovement，andinherfacetherewasadawningofmingledamazementandincredulity。Thethoughtwhichhadcometoherseemed——asUghtred’slockingofthedoorhadseemed——toowildformoderndays。
　　LadyAnstrutherssawherexpressionandunderstoodit。
　　Shemadeahopelessgesturewithhersmall，bonyhand。
　　"Yes，"shesaid，"itisjustlikethat。Noonewouldbelieveit。Theworstclevernessofthethingshedoes，isthatwhenonetellsofthem，theysoundlikelies。IhaveabewilderedfeelingthatIshouldnotbelievethemmyselfifIhadnotseenthem。Hemettheboyintheparkandtookthenotefromhim。Hecamebacktothehouseanduptomyroom，whereIwasdressingquicklytogotoMr。Ffolliott。"
　　Shestoppedforquiteaminute，ratherasiftorecoverbreath。
　　"Heclosedthedoorbehindhimandcametowardsmewiththenoteinhishand。AndIsawinasecondthelookthatalwaysterrifiesme，inhisface。Hehadopenedthenoteandhesmoothedoutthepaperquietlyandsaid，`Whatisthis。Icouldnothelpit——Iturnedcoldandbegantoshiver。
　　Icouldnotimaginewhatwascoming。"
　　"`IsitmynotetoMr。Ffolliott？’Iasked。
　　"`Yes，itisyournotetoMr。Ffolliott，’andhereaditaloud。`"Donotcometothehouse。IwillmeetyouinBartyonWood。"Thatisanicenoteforaman’swifetohavewritten，tobepickedupandreadbyastranger，ifyourconfessorisnotcautiousinthematteroflettersfromwomen————’
　　"Whenhebeginsathinginthatway，youmayalwaysknowthathehasplannedeverything——thatyoucandonothing——I
　　alwaysknow。Iknewthen，andIknewIwasquitewhitewhenIansweredhim：
　　"`Iwroteitinagreathurry，Mrs。Farneisworse。Wearegoingtogethertoher。IsaidIwouldmeethim——tosavetime。’
　　"Helaughed，hisawfullittlelaugh，andtouchedthepaper。
　　"`Ihavenodoubt。AndIhavenodoubtthatifotherpersonssawthis，theywouldbelieveit。Itisverylikely。
　　"`Butyoubelieveit，’Isaid。`Youknowitistrue。Noonewouldbesosilly——sosillyandwickedasto————’ThenIbrokedownandcriedout。`Whatdoyoumean？Whatcouldanyonethinkitmeant？’IwassowildthatIfeltasifIwasgoingcrazy。Heclenchedmywristandshookme。
　　"`Don’tthinkyoucanplaythefoolwithme，’hesaid。`I
　　havebeenwatchingthisthingfromthefirst。ThefirsttimeIleaveyoualonewiththefellow，Icomebacktofindyouhavebeengivinghimanemotionalscene。Doyousupposeyoursimperinggoodspiritsandyourimbecilepinkcheekstoldmenothing？Theytoldmeexactlythis。Ihavewaitedtocomeuponit，andhereitis。"Donotcometothehouse——I
　　willmeetyouinthewood。"
　　"Thatwastheunexpectedthing。Itwasnousetoargueandtrytoexplain。Iknewhedidnotbelievewhathewassaying，butheworkedhimselfintoarage，heaccusedmeofawfulthings，andcalledmeawfulnamesinaloudvoice，sothathecouldbeheard，untilIwasdumbandstaggering。
　　Allthetime，Iknewtherewasareason，butIcouldnottellthenwhatitwas。Hesaidatlast，thathewasgoingtoMr。
　　Ffolliott。Hesaid，`IwillmeethiminthewoodandI
　　willtakeyournotewithme。’
　　"Betty，itwassoshamefulthatIfelldownonmyknees。
　　`Oh，don’t——don’t——dothat，’Isaid。`Ibegofyou，Nigel。
　　Heisagentlemanandaclergyman。Ibegandbegofyou。
　　Ifyouwillnot，Iwilldoanything——anything。’AndatthatminuteIrememberedhowhehadtriedtomakemewritetofatherformoney。AndIcriedout——catchingathiscoat，andholdinghimback。`Iwillwritetofatherasyouaskedme。Iwilldoanything。Ican’tbearit。’"
　　"Thatwasthewholemeaningofthewholething，"saidBettywitheyesablaze。"Thatwasthebeginning，themiddleandtheend。Whatdidhesay？"
　　"Hepretendedtobemademoreangry。Hesaid，`Don’tinsultmebytryingtobribemewithyourvulgarmoney。
　　Don’tinsultme。’Buthegraduallygrewsulkyinsteadofraging，andthoughheputthenoteinhispocket，hedidnotgotoMr。Ffolliott。And——Iwrotetofather。"
　　"Irememberthat，"Bettyanswered。"DidyoueverspeaktoMr。Ffolliottagain？"
　　"Heguessed——heknew——Isawitinhiskind，browneyeswhenhepassedmewithoutspeaking，inthevillage。Idaresaythevillagersweretoldabouttheawfulthingbysomeservant，whoheardNigel’svoice。Villagersalwaysknowwhatishappening。Hewentawayafewweekslater。Thedaybeforehewent，Ihadwalkedthroughthewood，andjustoutsideit，Imethim。Hestoppedforoneminute——justone——heliftedhishatandsaid，justashehadspokenthemthatfirstnight——justthesamewords，`Godwillhelpyou。
　　Hewill。Hewill。’"
　　Astrange，almostunearthlyjoysuddenlyflashedacrossherface。
　　"Itmustbetrue，"shesaid。"Itmustbetrue。Hehassentyou，Betty。Ithasbeenalongtime——ithasbeensolongthatsometimesIhaveforgottenhiswords。Butyouhavecome！"
　　"Yes，Ihavecome，"Bettyanswered。Andshebentforwardandkissedhergently，asifshehadbeensoothingachild。
　　Therewereotherquestionstoask。Shewasobligedtoaskthem。"Theunexpectedthing"hadbeenusedasaninstrumentforyears。Itwasalwaysefficacious。Overtheyearninglyhomesickcreaturehadhungthethreatthatherfatherandmother，thosesheachedandlongedfor，couldbetoldthestoryinsuchamanneraswouldbrandherasawomanwithashamefulsecret。Howcouldsheexplainherself？Thereweretheawful，writtenwords。Hewasherhusband。Hewasremorseless，plausible。Shedarednotwritefreely。Shehadnowitnessestocallupon。Shehaddiscoveredthathehadplannedwithcomposedsteadinessthatmisleadingimpressionsshouldbegiventoservantsandvillagepeople。
　　WhentheBrentsreturnedtothevicarage，shehadobserved，withterror，thatforsomereasontheystiffened，andlookedaskancewhentheFfolliottswerementioned。
　　"Iamafraid，LadyAnstruthers，thatMr。Ffolliottwasagreatmistake，"Mrs。Brentsaidonce。
　　LadyAnstruthershadnotdaredtoaskanyquestions。Shehadfelttheawkwardcolourrisinginherfaceandhadknownthatshelookedguilty。Butifshehadprotestedagainsttheinjusticeoftheremark，SirNigelwouldhaveheardofherwordsbeforethedayhadpassed，andsheshudderedtothinkoftheresult。HehadbythattimereachedthepointofreferringtoFfolliottwithsneeringlightness，as"Yourlover。"
　　"Doyoudefendyourlovertome，"hehadsaidononeoccasion，whenshehadenteredatimidprotest。Andherwhitefaceandwildhelplesseyeshadbeensuchevidenceastotheeffectthewordhadproduced，thathehadseentheexpediencyofmakingapointofusingit。
　　ThebloodbeatinBettyVanderpoel’sveins。
　　"Rosy，"shesaid，lookingsteadilyinthefadedface，"tellmethis。Didyouneverthinkofgettingawayfromhim，ofgoingsomewhere，andtryingtoreachfather，bycable，orletter，bysomemeans？"
　　LadyAnstruthers’wearyandwrinkledlittlesmilewasapitiablyilluminatingthing。
　　"Mydear"shesaid，"ifyouarestrongandbeautifulandrichandwelldressed，sothatpeoplecaretolookatyou，andlistentowhatyousay，youcandothings。Butwho，inEngland，willlistentoashabby，dowdy，frightenedwoman，whensherunsawayfromherhusband，ifhefollowsherandtellspeoplesheishystericalormadorbad？Itistheshabby，dowdywomanwhoisinthewrong。Atfirst，Ithoughtofnothingelsebuttryingtogetaway。AndonceIwenttoStornhamstation。Iwalkedalltheway，onahotday。AndjustasI
　　wasgettingintoathird—classcarriage，Nigelmarchedinandcaughtmyarm，andheldmeback。IfaintedandwhenI
　　cametomyselfIwasinthecarriage，beingdrivenbacktotheCourt，andhewassittingoppositetome。Hesaid，`Youfool！Itwouldtakeaclevererwomanthanyoutocarrythatout。’AndIknewitwastheawfultruth。"
　　"Itisnottheawfultruthnow，"saidBetty，andsherosetoherfeetandstoodlookingbeforeher，butwithalookwhichdidnotrestonchairsandtables。Sheremainedso，standingforafewmomentsofdeadsilence。
　　"Whatafoolhewas！"shesaidatlast。"Andwhatavillain！Butavillainisalwaysafool。"
　　Shebent，andtakingRosy’sfacebetweenherhands，kisseditwithakisswhichseemedlikeaseal。"Thatwilldo，"shesaid。"NowIknow。Onemustknowwhatisinone’shandsandwhatisnot。Thenoneneednotwastetimeintalkingofmiserablethings。Onecansaveone’sstrengthfordoingwhatcanbedone。"
　　"IbelieveyouwouldalwaysthinkaboutDOINGthings，"
　　saidLadyAnstruthers。"ThatisAmerican，too。"
　　"ItisaqualityAmericansinheritedfromEngland，"lightly；
　　"oneoftheresultsofitisthatEnglandcoversaratherlargeshareofthemapoftheworld。Itisapracticalquality。
　　YouandImightspendhoursintalkingtoeachotherofwhatNigelhasdoneandwhatyouhavedone，ofwhathehassaid，andofwhatyouhavesaid。Wemightgivesomehours，I
　　daresay，towhattheDowagerdidandsaid。Butwiserpeoplethanwearehavefoundoutthatthinkingofblackthingspastislivingthemagain，anditislikepoisoningone’sblood。
　　Itisdeteriorationofproperty。"
　　Shesaidthelastwordsasifshehadendedwithajest。
　　Butsheknewwhatshewasdoing。
　　"Youweretrickedintogivingupwhatwasyours，toapersonwhocouldnotbetrusted。Whathasbeendonewithit，scarcelymatters。Itisnotyours，butSirNigel’s。Butwearenothelpless，becausewehaveinourhandsthemostpowerfulmaterialagentintheworld。
　　"Come，Rosy，andletuswalkoverthehouse。Wewillbeginwiththat。"
　　CHAPTERXVII
　　TOWNLINSON&SHEPPARD
　　Duringthewholecourseofherinterestinglife——andshehadalwaysfoundlifeinteresting——BettyVanderpoeldecidedthatshehadknownnoexperiencemoreabsorbingthanthismorningspentingoingoverthelong—closedanddesertedportionsoftheneglectedhouse。Shehadneverseenanythingliketheplace，orasfullofsuggestion。Thegreaterpartofithadsimplybeenshutupandlefttotimeandweather，bothofwhichhadhadtheireffects。Thefineoldredroof，havinglosttiles，hadfallenintoleaksthatletinrain，whichhadstainedandrottedwalls，plaster，andwoodwork；windandstormhadbeatenthroughbrokenwindowpanesanddonetheirworstwithsuchfurnitureandhangingsastheyfoundtowhipandtossandleavedampandspottedwithmould。Theypassedthroughcorridors，andupanddownshortorlongstairways，withstainedorfadedwalls，andsometimeswithcrackedorfallenplasteringandwainscotting。Hereandtheretheoakflooringitselfwasuncertain。Therooms，whetherlargeorsmall，allpresentedalikeaspectofpotentialbeautyandcomfort，utterlyuncaredforandforlorn。Thereweremanyrooms，butnonemorethanscantilyfurnished，andanumberofthemwerestrippedbare。Bettyfoundherselfwonderinghowlongatimeithadtakenthebelongingsofthebigplacetodwindleandmeltawayintosuchbareness。
　　"Therewasatime，Isuppose，whenitwasallfurnished，"
　　shesaid。
　　"AlltheseroomswereshutupwhenIcamehere，"Rosyanswered。"Isupposethingsworthsellinghavebeensold。
　　Whenpiecesoffurniturewerebrokeninonepartofthehouse，theywerereplacedbythingsbroughtfromanother。Noonecared。Nigelhatesitall。Hecallsitarathole。Hedeteststhecountryeverywhere，butparticularlythispartofit。AfterthefirstyearIhadlearnedbetterthantospeaktohimofspendingmoneyonrepairs。"
　　"Agooddealofmoneyshouldbespentonrepairs，"
　　reflectedBetty，lookingabouther。
　　Shewasstandinginthemiddleofaroomwhosewallswerehungwiththeremainsofwhathadbeenchintz，coveredwithapatternoflooseclustersofmossrosebuds。Thedampnesshadrottedituntil，insomeplaces，ithadfallenawayinstripsfromitsfastenings。Aquaint，embroideredcouchstoodinonecorner，andasBettylookedatit，amousecreptfromunderthetatteredvalance，staredatherinalarmandsuddenlydartedbackagain，interrorofintrusionsounusual。
　　Acasementwindowswungopen，onabrokenhinge，andastrongbranchofivy，havingforceditswayinside，hadthrownacoveringofleavesoverthedeepledge，andwasbeginningtoclimbtheinnerwoodwork。Throughthecasementwastobeseenaheavenlyspreadofcountry，whoserollinglandswerecladsoftlyingreenpasturesandthick—branchedtrees。
　　"ThisistheRosebudBoudoir，"saidLadyAnstruthers，smilingfaintly。"Alltheroomshavenames。Ithoughtthemsodelightful，whenIfirstheardthem。TheDamaskRoom——
　　theTapestryRoom——theWhiteWainscotRoom——MyLady’sChamber。
　　ItalmostbrokemyheartwhenIsawwhattheylookedlike。"
　　"Itwouldbeveryinteresting，"Bettycommentedslowly，"tomakethemlookastheyoughttolook。"
　　AremotefearrosetothesurfaceoftheexpressioninLadyAnstruthers’eyes。ShecouldnotdetachherselffromcertainrecollectionsofNigel——ofhisopinionsofherfamily——ofhisdeterminationnottoallowittoenterasafactorineitherhislifeorhers。AndBettyhadcometoStornham——Bettywhomhehaddetestedasachild——andinthecourseoftwodays，shehadseemedtobecomeanewpartoftheatmosphere，andtomakethedeaddespairoftheplacebegintostirwithlife。
　　WhatotherthingthanthiswashappeningasshespokeofmakingsuchroomsastheRosebudBoudoir"lookastheyoughttolook，"andsaidthewordsnotasiftheywerepartofafantasticvision，butasiftheyexpressedaperfectlypossiblething？