RosalieVanderpoelwasaclean—mindedlittleperson，herpeoplewereoftheclean—mindedtype，thereforeshedidnotunderstandallthatthisironicspeechimplied，butshegatheredenoughofitssignificancetocausehertoturnfirstredandthenpaleandthentoburstintotears。ShewascryingandtryingtoconcealthefactwhenHannahreturned。Shebentherheadandtouchedhereyesfurtivelywhilehertoilettewascompleted。
　　SirNigelhadretiredfromthescene，buthehaddonesofeelingthathehadplantedaseedandbestowedapracticallesson。Hehad，itistrue，bestowedone，butagainshehadnotunderstooditssignificanceandwasonlyleftbewilderedandunhappy。Shebegantobenervousanduncertainaboutherselfandabouthismoodsandpointsofview。Shehadneverbeenmadetofeelsoathome。Everyonehadbeenkindtoherandlenienttoherlackofbrilliancy。Noonehadexpectedhertobebrilliant，andshehadbeenquitesweet—
　　temperedlyresignedtothefactthatshewasnotthekindofgirlwhoshoneeitherinsocietyorelsewhere。Shedidnotresentthefactthatsheknewpeoplesaidofher，"Sheisn’tintheleastbitbright，RosyVanderpoel，butshe’sanice，sweetlittlething。"Shehadtriedtobeniceandsweetandhadaspiredtonothinghigher。
　　Butnowthatseemedsomuchlessthanenough。PerhapsNigeloughttohavemarriedoneofthecleverones，someonewhowouldhaveknownhowtounderstandhimandwhowouldhavebeenmoreentertainingthanshecouldbe。Perhapsshewasbeginningtoborehim，perhapshewasfindingheroutandbeginningtogettired。Atthispointthealwaystooreadytearswouldrisetohereyesandshewouldbeoverwhelmedbyasenseofhomesickness。Oftenshecriedherselfsilentlytosleep，longingforhermother——hernice，comfortable，ordinarymother，whomshehadseveraltimesfeltNigelhadsomedifficultyinbeingunreservedlypoliteto——thoughhehadbeenpoliteonthesurface。
　　Bythetimetheylandedshehadbeenlivingundersomuchstraininherefforttoseemquiteunchanged，thatshehadlosthernerve。Shedidnotfeelwellandwassometimesafraidthatshemightdosomethingsillyandhystericalinspiteofherself，begintocryforinstancewhentherewasreallynoexplanationforherdoingit。ButwhenshereachedLondonthenoveltyofeverythingsoexcitedherthatshethoughtshewasgoingtobebetter，andthenshesaidtoherselfitwouldbeprovedtoherthatallherfearshadbeennonsense。Thisreturnofhopemadeherquitelight—spirited，andshewasalmostgayinherlittleoutburstsofdelightandadmirationasshedroveaboutthestreetswithherhusband。Shedidnotknowthatheringenuousignoranceofthingshehadknownallhislife，herraptureovercommonmonumentsofhistory，ledhimtosaytohimselfthathefeltratherasifheweretakingahousemaidtoseeaLordMayor’sShow。
　　BeforegoingtoStornhamCourttheyspentafewdaysintown。Therehadbeennointentionofproclaimingtheirpresencetotheworld，andtheydidnotdoso，butunluckilycertaintradesmendiscoveredthefactthatSirNigelAnstruthershadreturnedtoEnglandwiththebridehehadsecuredinNewYork。Theconclusiontobededucedfromthiscircumstancewasthattheparticularmomentwasagoodoneatwhichtosendinbillsfor"acct。rendered。"ThetradesmenquitesharedAnstruthers’pointofview。Theirreasoningwasdelightfullysimpleandtheywerewhollyunawarethatitmighthavebeencalledgross。Amanoverhisheadandearsindebtnaturallyexpectedhiscreditorswouldbepaidbytheyoungwomanwhohadmarriedhim。Americahadinthesedaysbeensolittleexploredbythethriftyimpecuniouswell—bornthatitsingenuoussentimentalityincertainmatterswasbynomeanscomprehended。
　　ByeachpostSirNigelreceivednumerousbills。Sometimeslettersaccompaniedthem，andonceortwicerespectfulbutfirmmalepersonsbroughtthembyhandanddemandedinterviewswhichirritatedSirNigelextremely。GiventimetoarrangematterswithRosalie，totrainhertosomesenseofherduty，hebelievedthatthe"acct。rendered"couldbewipedoff，buthesawhemusthavetime。Shewassuchalittlefool。Againandagainhewasfuriousatthefatewhichhadforcedhimtotakeher。
　　ThetruthwasthatRosalieknewnothingwhateveraboutunpaidbills。ReubenVanderpoel’sdaughtershadneverencounteredanindignanttradesmanintheirlives。Whentheywentinto"stores"theywerereceivedwithunfeignedrapture。
　　Everythingwasdraggedforthtobedisplayedtothem，attendantswaitedtoleapforthtosupplytheirsmallestbehest。
　　Theyknewnootherphaseofexistencethantheoneinwhichonecouldbuyanythingonewantedandpayanypricedemandedforit。
　　ConsequentlyRosaliedidnotrecognisesignswhichwouldhavebeenobviouslyrecognisablebytheinitiated。IfSirNigelAnstruthershadbeenaniceyoungfellowwhohadlovedher，andhehadbeenhonestenoughtomakeacleanbreastofhisdifficulties，shewouldhavethrownherselfintohisarmsandimploredhimeffusivelytomakeuseofallheravailablefunds，andifthesupplyhadbeeninsufficient，wouldhaveimmediatelywrittentoherfatherforfurtherdonations，knowingthatherappealwouldberespondedtoatonce。ButSirNigelAnstrutherscherishednosentimentforanyotherindividualthanhimself，andhehadnointentionofexplainingthathismerevanityhadcausedhimtomisleadher，thathisrankandestatecountedfornothingandthathewasinfactapauperloadedwithdishonestdebts。Hewantedmoney，buthewantedittobegiventohimasifheconferredafavourbyreceivingit。
　　Itmustbetransferredtohimasthoughitwerehisbyright。
　　Whatdidamanmarryfor？Thereforehiswife’sunconsciousnessthatshewasinflictingoutrageuponhimbyhermerementalattitudefilledhisbeingwithslowlyrisinggall。
　　PoorRosaliewentjoyfullyforthshoppingafterthemannerofallnewlyarrivedAmericans。SheboughtnewtoilettesandgewgawsandpresentsforherfriendsandrelationsinNewYork，andeachpackagewhichwasdeliveredatthehoteladdedtoSirNigel’srage。
　　Thatthelittleblockheadshouldbeallowedtodowhatshelikedwithhermoneyandthatheshouldnotbeabletoforbidher！Thishesaidtohimselfatintervalsoffiveminutesthroughtheday——whichledtoanothersmallepisode。
　　"Youarespendingagreatdealofmoney，"hesaidonemorninginhiscondemnatorymanner。Rosalielookedupfromthelaceflouncewhichhadjustbeendeliveredandgavethelittlenervouslaugh，whichwasbecomingentirelyuncertainofpropitiating。
　　"AmI？"sheanswered。"TheysayallAmericansspendagooddeal。"
　　"Yourmoneyoughttobeinproperhandsandproperlymanaged，"hewentonwithcoldprecision。"IfyouwereanEnglishwoman，yourhusbandwouldcontrolit。"
　　"Wouldhe？"Thesimple，sweet—temperedobtusenessofhertonewasaninfuriatingthingtohim。Therewastheusualshadeoftroubledsurpriseinhereyesastheymethis。
　　"Idon’tthinkmeninAmericaeverdothat。Idon’tbelievetheniceoneswantto。Youseetheyhavesuchaprideaboutalwaysgivingthingstowomen，andtakingcareofthem。I
　　believeaniceAmericanmanwouldbreakstonesinthestreetratherthantakemoneyfromawoman——evenhiswife。Imeanwhilehecouldwork。Ofcourseifhewasillorhadillluckoranythinglikethat，hewouldn’tbesoproudasnottotakeitfromthepersonwholovedhimmostandwantedtohelphim。
　　Youdosometimeshearofamanwhowon’tworkandletshiswifesupporthim，butit’sveryseldom，andtheyarealwaysthelowkindthatothermenlookdownon。"
　　"Wantedtohelphim。"SirNigelselectedthephraseandquoteditbetweenpuffsofthecigarheheldinhisfine，rathercruel—lookinghands，andhisvoiceexpressedanottoosubtlesneer。"Awomanisnot`helping’herhusbandwhenshegiveshimcontrolofherfortune。Sheisonlydoingherdutyandacceptingherproperpositionwithregardtohim。Thelawusedtosettlethethingdefinitely。"
　　"Did—didit？"Rosyfalteredweakly。Sheknewhewasoffendedagainandthatshewasoncemoresomehowinthewrong。Somanythingsaboutherseemedtodispleasehim，andwhenhewasdispleasedhealwaysremindedherthatshewasstupidly，objectionablyguiltyofnotbeinganEnglishwoman。
　　Whatsoeverithappenedtobe，thefaultshehadcommittedoutofherdepthofignorance，hedidnotforgetit。Itwasnohabitofhistoendeavourtodismissoffences。Hepreferredtoholdtheminpossessionasiftheyweretreasuresandtoturnthemoverandover，inthementalseclusionwhichnourishesthegrowthofinjuries，sincewithinitsbarriersthereisnochanceoftheirbeingpalliatedbytheapologiesorexplanationsoftheoffender。
　　DuringtheirjourneytoStornhamCourtthenextdayhewasinoneofhisblackmoods。Onceintherailwaycarriagehepaidsmallattentiontohiswife，butsatrigidlyreadinghisTimes，untilaboutmidwaytotheirdestinationhedescendedatastationandpaidavisittothebuffetinthesmallrefreshmentroom，afterwhichhesettledhimselftodozeinanexceedinglyunbecomingattitude，histravellingcappulleddown，hisratherheavyfacecongestedwiththedarkflushRosaliehadnotyetlearnedwasduetothefactthathehadhastilytossedofftwoorthreewhiskiesandsodas。Thoughhewasnevereitherthickofutteranceorunsteadyonhisfeet，whiskyandsodaformedanimportantfactorinhisexistence。Whenhewasannoyedordullheatoncetookthenecessaryprecautionsagainstbeingovercomebythesefeelings，andtheeffectuponaconstitutionallyeviltemperwastotransformitintoaninfernalone。ThenighthadbeenabadoneforRosy。Suchfloodsofhomesicklonginghadoverpoweredherthatshehadnotbeenabletosleep。ShehadrisenfeelingshakyandhystericalandhernervousnesshadbeenaddedtobyherfearthatNigelmightobserveherandmakecomment。OfcourseshetoldherselfitwasnaturalthatheshouldnotwishhertoappearatStornhamCourtlookingapale，pink—nosedlittlefright。Hereffortstobecheerfulhadindeedbeensomewhattouching，buttheyhadmetwithsmallencouragement。
　　Shethoughtthegreen—clothedcountrylovelyasthetrainspedthroughit，andalumproseinhersmallthroatbecausesheknewshemighthavebeensohappyifshehadnotbeensofrightenedandmiserable。Thethingwhichhadbeendawninguponhertookclearer，moreawfulform。Incidentsshehadtriedtoexplainandexcusetoherself，uponallsortsoffutile，simplegrounds，begantoloomupbeforeherinsomethingliketheiractualproportions。Shehadheardofmenwhohadchangedtheirmannertowardsgirlsaftertheyhadmarriedthem，butshedidnotknowtheyhadbeguntochangesosoon。Thiswassoearlyinthehoneymoontobesittinginarailwaycarriage，inacornerremotefromthatoccupiedbyabridegroom，whoreadhispaperinwhatwasobviouslyintentional，resentfulsolitude。EmilySoame’sfather，sheremembereditagainstherwill，hadbeenobligedtogetadivorceforEmilyafterhertwoyearsofwretchedmarriedlife。ButAlfredSoameshadbeenquiteniceforsixmonthsatleast。Itseemedasifallthismustbeadream，oneofthosenightmarethings，inwhichyousuddenlyfindyourselfmarriedtosomeoneyoucannotbear，andyoudon’tknowhowithappened，becauseyouyourselfhavehadnothingtodowiththematter。Shefeltthatpresentlyshemustwakenwithastartandfindherselfbreathingfast，andpantingout，halflaughing，halfcrying，"Oh，Iamsogladit’snottrue！Iamsogladit’snottrue！"
　　Butthiswastrue，andtherewasNigel。Andshewasinanew，unexploredworld。Herlittletremblinghandsclutchedeachother。Thehappy，lightgirlishdaysfullofeaseandfriendlinessanddecencyseemedgoneforever。ItwasnotRosalieVanderpoelwhopressedhercolourlessfaceagainsttheglassofthewindow，lookingoutattheflyingtrees；itwasthewifeofNigelAnstruthers，andsuddenly，bysomehideousmagic，shehadbeensnatchedfromtheworldtowhichshebelongedandwasbeingdraggedbyagaolertoaprisonfromwhichshedidnotknowhowtoescape。AlreadyNigelhadmanagedtoconveytoherthatinEnglandawomanwhowasmarriedcoulddonothingtodefendherselfagainstherhusband，andthattoendeavourtodoanythingwasthelastimpossibletouchofvulgarignominy。
　　Thevividrealisationofthesituationseizeduponherlikeapossessionassheglancedsidewaysatherbridegroomandhurriedlyglancedawayagainwithalittlehystericalshudder。
　　NewYork，good—tempered，lenient，freeNewYork，wasmillionsofmilesawayandNigelwassoloathlynearand——andsougly。Shehadneverknownbeforethathewassougly，thathisfacewassoheavy，hisskinsothickandcoarseandhisexpressionsoevillyill—tempered。Shewasnotsufficientlyanalyticaltobeconsciousthatshehadwithoneboundleapedtotheappallingpointoffeelinguncontrollablephysicalabhorrenceofthecreaturetowhomshewaschainedforlife。Shewasterrifiedatfindingherselfforcedtocombattherealisationthattherewerecertainexpressionsofhiscountenancewhichmadeherfeelsickwithrepulsion。Herself—reproachalsowasasgreatasherterror。Hewasherhusband——herhusband——andshewasawickedgirl。Sherepeatedthewordstoherselfagainandagain，butremotelysheknewthatwhenshesaid，"Heismyhusband，"thatwastheworstthingofall。
　　Thisinwardstrugglewasabadpreparationforanyaddedmisery，andwhentheirrailroadjourneyterminatedatStornhamStationshewasmetbynewbewilderment。
　　Thestationitselfwasarusticplacewherewildrosesclimbeddownabanktomeettheverytrainitself。Thestationmaster’scottagehadrosesandclustersoflilieswavinginitstinygarden。Thestationmaster，agood—natured，red—facedman，cameforward，baringhishead，toopentherailroadcarriagedoorwithhisownhand。Rosythoughthimdelightfulandbowedandsmiledsweet—temperedlytohimandtohiswifeandlittlegirls，whowerecurtseyingatthegardengate。Shewassufficientlyhomesicktobeactuallygratefultothemfortheirairofwelcomingher。ButasshesmiledsheglancedfurtivelyatNigeltoseeifshewasdoingexactlytherightthing。
　　Hehimselfwasnotsmilinganddidnotunbendevenwhenthestationmaster，whohadknownhimfromhisboyhood，feltatlibertytoofferadeferentialwelcome。
　　"Happytoseeyouhomewithherladyship，SirNigel，"hesaid；"veryhappy，ifImaysayso。"
　　SirNigelrespondedtotherespectfulamiabilitywithahalf—
　　militaryliftingofhisrighthand，accompaniedbyagrunt。
　　"D’yedo，Wells，"hesaid，andstrodepasthimtospeaktothefootmanwhohadcomefromStornhamCourtwiththecarriage。
　　ThenewandnervouslittleLadyAnstruthers，whowaslefttotrotafterherhusband，smiledagainattheruddy，kind—
　　lookingfellow，thistimeinconsciousdeprecation。Inthesimplicityofherrepublicansympathywithawell—meaningfellowcreaturewhomightfeelhimselfsnubbed，shecouldhaveshakenhimbythehand。ShehadevenpartedherlipstoventureawordofcivilitywhenshewasstartledbyhearingSirNigel’svoiceraisedinangryrating。
　　"Damnedbadmanagementnottobringsomethingelse，"
　　sheheard。"Kindofthingyoufellowsarealwaysdoing。"
　　Shemadeherwaytothecarriage，flurriedagainbynotknowingwhethershewasdoingrightorwrong。SirNigelhadgivenhernoinstructionsandshehadnotyetlearnedthatwhenhewasinacertainhumourtherewasequalfaultinobeyingordisobeyingsuchordersashegave。
　　ThecarriagefromtheCourt——notintheleastaneworsmartequipage——wasdrawnupbeforetheentranceofthestationandSirNigelwasinaragebecausethevehiclebroughtfortheluggagewastoosmalltocarryitall。
　　"Verysorry，SirNigel，"saidthecoachman，touchinghishattwoorthreetimesinhisagitation。"Verysorry。Theomnibuswasalittleoutoforder——thesprings，SirNigel——andIthought————"
　　"Youthought！"wastheheatedinterruption。"Whatrighthadyoutothink，damnit！Youarenotpaidtothink，youarepaidtodoyourworkproperly。Herearealotofdamnedboxeswhichoughttogowithusand——where’syourmaid？"
　　wheelingrounduponhiswife。
　　Rosalieturnedtowardsthewoman，whowasapproachingfromthewaitingroom。
　　"Hannah，"shesaidtimorously。
　　"Dropthoseconfoundedbundles，"orderedSirNigel，"andshowJamestheboxesherladyshipisobligedtohavethisevening。Bequickaboutitanddon’tpickouthalfadozen。Thecartcan’ttakethem。"
　　Hannahlookedfrightened。Thissortofthingwasnewtoher，too。Sheshuffledherpackagesontoaseatandfollowedthefootmantotheluggage。SirNigelcontinuedratingthecoachman。Anyformofviolentself—assertionwaswelcometohimatanytime，andwhenhewasirritatedhefounditadistinctluxurytokickadogorthrowabootatacat。Thespringsoftheomnibus，heargued，hadnorighttobebrokenwhenitwasknownthathewascominghome。Hisangerwasonlyaddedtobythecoachman’shaltingendeavoursinhisexcusestoveilafactheknewhismasterwasawareof，thateverythingatStornhamwasmoreorlessoutoforder，andthatdilapidationsweretheinevitableresultoftherebeingnomoneytopayforrepairs。Themanleanedforwardonhisboxandspokeatlastinalowtone。
　　"Thebushasbeenbrokensometime，"hesaid。"It’s——it’sanexpensivejob，SirNigel。Herladyshipthoughtitbetterto————"SirNigelturnedwhiteaboutthemouth。
　　"Holdyourtongue，"hecommanded，andthecoachmangotredintheface，saluted，bitinghislips，andsatverystiffanduprightonhisbox。
　　Thestationmasteredgedawayuneasilyandtriedtolookasifhewerenotlistening。ButRosaliecouldseethathecouldnothelphearing，norcouldthecountrypeoplewhohadbeenpassengersbythetrainandwhowerecollectingtheirbelongingsandgettingintotheirtraps。
　　LadyAnstrutherswasignoredandremainedstandingwhilethescenewenton。ShecouldnothelprecallingthemannerinwhichshehadbeeninvariablyreceivedinNewYorkonherreturnfromanyjourney，howshewasmetbycomfortable，merrypeopleandtakencareofatonce。Thiswassostrange，itwassoqueer，sodifferent。
　　"Oh，nevermind，Nigeldear，"shesaidatlast，withinnocentindiscretion。"Itdoesn’treallymatter，youknow。"
　　SirNigelturneduponherablazeofhaughtyindignation。
　　"Ifyou’llpardonmysayingso，itdoesmatter，"hesaid。
　　"Itmattersconfoundedly。Begoodenoughtotakeyourplaceinthecarriage。"
　　Hemovedtothecarriagedoor，andnottoocivillyputherin。Shegaspedalittleforbreathasshesatdown。Hehadspokentoherasifshehadbeenanimpertinentservantwhohadtakenaliberty。Thepoorgirlwasbewilderedtothevergeofpanic。Whenhehadendedhistiradeandtookhisplacebesideherheworehismosthaughtilyintolerantair。
　　"MayIrequestthatinfutureyouwillbegoodenoughnottointerferewhenIamreprovingmyservants，"heremarked。
　　"Ididn’tmeantointerfere，"sheapologisedtremulously。
　　"Idon’tknowwhatyoumeant。Ionlyknowwhatyoudid，"washisresponse。"YouAmericanwomenaretoofondofcuttingin。AnEnglishmancanthinkforhimselfwithouthiswife’sassistance。"
　　Thetearsrosetohereyes。Theintroductionoftheinternationalquestionoverpoweredherasalways。
　　"Don’tbegintobehysterical，"wastheamelioratingtendernesswithwhichheobservedthetwohotsaltdropswhichfelldespiteher。"Ishouldscarcelywishtopresentyoutomymotherbathedintears。"
　　Shewipedthesaltdropshastilyawayandsatforamomentsilentinthecornerofthecarriage。Beingwhollyprimitiveandunanalytical，shewasashamedandbegantoblameherself。
　　Hewasright。Shemustnotbesillybecauseshewasunusedtothings。Sheoughtnottobedisturbedbytrifles。Shemusttrytobeniceandlookcheerful。Shemadeaneffortanddidnospeakforafewminutes。Whenshehadrecoveredherselfshetriedagain。
　　"Englishcountryissopretty，"shesaid，whenshethoughtshewasquitesurethathervoicewouldnottremble。"Idosolikethehedgesandthedarlinglittlered—roofedcottages。"
　　Itwasaninnocenttentativeatsayingsomethingagreeablewhichmightpropitiatehim。Shewasbeginningtorealisethatshewascontinuallymakingeffortstopropitiatehim。Butoneoftheformsofunpleasantnessmostenjoyabletohimwasthesnubbingofanygentleeffortatpalliatinghismood。Hecondescendedinthiscasenoresponsewhatever，butmerelycontinuedstaringcontemptuouslybeforehim。
　　"Itissopicturesque，andsounlikeAmerica，"wasthepatheticlittlecommonplacesheventurednext。"Ain’tit，Nigel？"
　　Heturnedhisheadslowlytowardsher，asifshehadtakenanewlibertyindisturbinghismeditations。
　　"Wha——at？"hedrawled。
　　Itwasalmosttoomuchforhertosustainherselfunder。
　　Hercouragecollapsed。
　　"Iwasonlysayinghowprettythecottageswere，"shefaltered。"Andthatthere’snothinglikethisinAmerica。"
　　"Youendedyourremarkbyadding，`ain’tit，’"herhusbandcondescended。"ThereisnothinglikethatinEngland。
　　IshallaskyoutodomethefavourofleavingAmericanismsoutofyourconversationwhenyouareinthesocietyofEnglishladiesandgentlemen。Itwon’tdo。"
　　"Ididn’tknowIsaidit，"Rosyansweredfeebly。
　　"Thatisthedifficulty，"washisresponse。"Youneverknow，buteducatedpeopledo。"
　　Therewasnothingmoretobesaid，atleastforagirlwhohadneverknownwhatitwastobebullied。Thisonefeltlikeabeggarorascullerymaid，who，beingratedbyhermaster，hadnottherefugeofbeingableto"givewarning。"
　　Shecouldnevergivewarning。TheAtlanticOceanwasbetweenherandthosewhohadlovedandprotectedherallhershortlife，andthecarriagewasbearingheronwardstothehomeinwhichshewastolivealoneasthisman’scompaniontotheendofherexistence。
　　Shemadenofurtherpropitiatoryefforts，butsatandstaredinsimpleblanknessatthecountry，whichseemedtoincreaseinlovelinessateachnewpointofview。Sometimesshesawsweetwooded，rollinglandsmadelovelierbythehomelyfarm—
　　housesandcottagesenclosedandshelteredbythickhedgesandtrees；onceortwicetheydrovepastaparkenfoldingagreathouseguardedbyitshugesentineloaksandbeeches；oncethecarriagepassedthroughanadorablelittlevillage，wherechildrenplayedonthegreenandasquare—toweredgreychurchseemedtowatchoverthesteep—roofedcottagesandcreeper—
　　coveredvicarage。IfshehadbeenahappyAmericantouristtravellingincompanywithimpressionablefriends，shewouldhavebrokenintoecstaticlittleexclamationsofadmirationeveryfiveminutes，butithadbeendrivenhometoherthattoherpresentcompanion，towhomnothingwasnew，herrapturewouldmerelyrepresentthecrudenesswhichhadexistedincontentmentinabrown—stonehouseonanoisythoroughfare，throughalifewhichhadbeenpassedtrampingupanddownnumberedstreetsandavenues。
　　Theyapproachedatlastasecondvillagewithagreen，agrass—grownstreetandtheirregularred—tiledcottages，whichtotheunaccustomedeyeseemedrathertorepresentstudiesforsketchesthanabsoluterealities。Thebellsinthechurchtowerbrokeforthintoachimeandpeopleappearedatthedoorsofthecottages。Thementouchedtheirforeheadsasthecarriagepassed，andthechildrenmadebobbingcurtsies。SirNigelcondescendedtostraightenhimselfatrifleinhisseat，andrecognisedthegreetingswiththestiff，half—militarysalute。Thepoorgirlathissidefeltthatheputaslittlefeelingaspossibleintothemovement，andthatifsheherselfhadbeenabowingvillagershewouldalmosthavepreferredtobewhollyignored。Shelookedathimquestioningly。
　　"Arethey——must_I_？"shebegan。
　　"Makesomecivilrecognition，"answeredSirNigel，asifhewereinstructinganignorantchild。"Itiscustomary。"
　　Soshebowedandtriedtosmile，andthejoyousclamourofthebellsbroughttheawfullumpintoherthroatagain。ItremindedheroftheringingofthechimesattheNewYorkchurchonthatdayofhermarriage，whichhadbeensofullofgay，luxuriousbustle，socrowdedwithweddingpresents，andflowers，andwarm—hearted，affectionatecongratulations，andgoodwishesutteredinmerryAmericanvoices。
　　TheparkatStornhamCourtwaslargeandbeautifulandold。Thetreesweremagnificent，andthebroadsweepofswardandrichdipoffernydellallthattheimaginationcoulddesire。TheCourtitselfwasold，andmany—gabledandmellow—redandfine。Rosaliehadlearnedfromnoprecedentasyetthathousesofitskindmayrepresenttheapotheosisofdiscomfortanddilapidationwithin，andonlybecomemorebeautifulwithout。Tumbled—downchimneysandbrokentiles，beingclamberedoverbytossingivy，arepicturestodelightthesoul。