Acommon—lookingyoungmanonabicycle，whohadwheeledintothevillagewiththecarriage，ridingalongsideitforahundredyardsorso，stoppedbeforetheClockInnanddismounted，justasMrs。Brentnearedhim。Hesawherlookingaftertheequipage，andliftinghiscapspoketohercivilly。
　　"ThisisStornhamvillage，ain’tit，ma’am？"heinquired。
　　"Yes，myman。"Hiscostumeandgeneralaspectseemedtoindicatethathewasoftheclassoneaddressedas"myman，"
　　thoughtherewassomethingalittleoddabouthim。
　　"Thankyou。Thatwasn’tMissVanderpoel’seldestsisterinthatcarriage，wasit？"
　　"MissVanderpoel’s————"Mrs。Brenthesitated。"DoyoumeanLadyAnstruthers？"
　　"I’dforgottenhername。IknowMissVanderpoel’seldestsisterlivesatStornham——ReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughter。"
　　"LadyAnstruthers’youngersisterisaMissVanderpoel，andsheisvisitingatStornhamCourtnow。"Mrs。Brentcouldnothelpadding，curiously，"Whydoyouask？"
　　"Iamgoingtoseeher。I’manAmerican。"
　　Mrs。Brentcoughedtocoveraslightgasp。ShehadheardremarkablethingsofthedemocraticcustomsofAmerica。Itwaspainfulnottobeabletoaskquestions。
　　"TheladyinthecarriagewastheCountessofDunholm，"
　　shesaidrathergrandly。"TheyaregoingtotheCourttocallonMissVanderpoel。"
　　"ThenMissVanderpoel’sthereyet。That’sallright。
　　Thankyou，ma’am，"andliftinghiscapagainheturnedintothelittlepublichouse。
　　TheDunholmpartyhadbeenaccustomedontheirrarevisitstoStornhamtobereceivedbythekindofman—servantinthekindofliverywhichisamanifest，thoughunwilling，confession。Themenwhothrewopenthedoorswereofregulationheight，welldressed，andoftrainedbearing。Theentrancehallhadlostitshopelessshabbiness。Itwasacompleteandpicturesquelyluxuriousthing。Thechangesuggestedmagic。Themagicwhichhadbeenused，LordDunholmreflected，wasthesimplestandmostpowerfulonearth。Givensurroundings，combinedwithagiftforknowingvaluesofformandcolour，ifyouhavethepowertospendthousandsofguineasontigerskins，Orientalrugs，andotherbeauties，barrennessiseasilytransformed。
　　Thedrawing—roomworeachangedaspect，andatafirstglanceitwastobeseenthatinpoorlittleLadyAnstruthers，asshehadgenerallybeencalled，therewastobenotedalterationalso。Inhercasethechange，beinginitsfirststages，couldnotperhapsbeyetcalledtransformation，but，aidedbysoftlyprettyarrangementofdressandhair，alightinhereyes，andasuggestionofpinkunderherskin，onerecalledthatshehadoncebeenaprettylittlewoman，andthatafterallshewasonlyaboutthirty—twoyearsoldThathersister，MissVanderpoel，hadbeauty，itwasnotnecessarytohesitateindeciding。NeitherLordDunholmnorhiswifenortheirsondidhesitate。Agirlwithlonglimbsanalluringprofile，andextraordinaryblacklashessetroundlovelyIrish—blueeyes，possessesphysicalcapitalnottobearguedabout。
　　Shewasnotoneofthecurious，exoticlittlecreatures，whosethin，thoughsometimesrathersweet，andalwaysgay，high—
　　pitchedyoungvoicesLordDunholmhadbeensoespeciallystruckbyintheearlydaysoftheAmericaninvasion。Hervoicehadatoneonewouldbelikelytorememberwithpleasure。
　　Howwellshemoved——howwellherblackheadwassetonherneck！Yes，shewasofthenewtype——thelatergeneration。
　　Theseamazing，oddlypracticalpeoplehadevolvedit——plannedit，perhaps，bought——figurativelyspeaking——thearchitectsandmaterialtodesignandbuildit——boughttheminwhatevercountrytheyfoundthem，England，France，ItalyGermany——pocketingthemcoollyandcarryingthembackhometodevelop，complete，andsendforthintotheworldwhentheirinventionwasaperfectedthing。Struckbythehumourofhisfancy，LordDunholmfoundhimselfsmilingintotheIrish—blueeyes。Theysmiledbackathiminawaywhichwarmedhisheart。Therewerenopausesintheconversationwhichfollowed。Intimespast，callsatStornhamhadgenerallyheldpainfullyblankmoments。LadyDunholmwasaspleasedasherhusband。Areallycharminggirlwasanenormousacquisitiontotheneighbourhood。
　　Westholt，hisfathersaw，hadfoundevenmorethanthestoryofoldDoby’spipehadpreparedhimtoexpect。
　　Countrycallswerenotusuallyinterestingorstimulating，andthisonewas。LordDunholmlaidsubtlybrilliantplanstoleadMissVanderpoeltotalkofhernativelandandherviewsofit。Heknewthatshewouldsaythingsworthhearing。
　　Incidentallyonegatheredpicturesquedetail。Tohavevibratedbetweenthetwocontinentssinceherthirteenthyear，tohavespentafewyearsatschoolinonecountry，afewyearsinanother，andyetafewyearsmoreinstillanother，aspartofanarrangededucationalplan；tohavecrossedtheAtlanticfortheholidays，andtohavejourneyedthousandsofmileswithherfatherinhisprivatecar；tomakethevisitsofamanofgreatschemestohispossessionsofmines，railroads，andlandswhichwerealmostprincipalities——thesethingshadbeenmerelydetailsofherlife，addinginterestandvariety，itwastrue，butseemingthemerelynormaloutcomeofexistence。
　　TheywerenormaltoVanderpoelsandothersoftheirclasswhowereabnormalitiesinthemselveswhencomparedwiththerestoftheworld。
　　Herownverylackofanyabnormalityreached，inLordDunholm’smind，thehighestpointofillustrationofthephaseoflifeshebeautifullyrepresented——forbeautifulhefeltitsrarecharmswere。
　　Whentheystrolledouttolookatthegardenshefoundtalkwithhernolessastimulatingthing。ShetoldherstoryofKedgers，andshowedthechosenspotwherethicketsofliliesweretobloom，withthegiantsliftingwhitearchangeltrumpetsabovetheminthecentre。
　　"Hecanbetrusted，"shesaid。"Ifeelsurehecanbetrusted。Helovesthem。Hecouldnotlovethemsomuchandnotbeabletotakecareofthem。"Andasshelookedathiminfrankappealforsympathy，LordDunholmfeltthatforthemomentshelookedlikeatall，queenlychild。
　　Butpleasedashewas，hepresentlygaveuphisplaceathersidetoWestholt。Hemustnotbeaselfisholdfellowandmonopoliseher。Hehopedtheywouldseeeachotheroften，hesaidcharmingly。HethoughtshewouldbesuretolikeDunholm，whichwasreallyathoroughlyEnglisholdplace，markedbyallthefeaturessheseemedsomuchattractedby。Thereweresomebeautifulrelicsofthepastthere，andsomerathershockingones——certaindungeons，forinstance，andagallowsmount，onwhichingoodoldtimesthefamilygallowshadstood。Thishadapparentlybeenaworkingadjuncttothedomesticarrangementsofeveryrespectablefamily，andthatirritatingpersonsshoulddanglefromithadbeenasimpledomesticnecessity，ifoneweretobelieveoldstories。
　　"Itwasthenthatnobleswereregardedwithrespect，"hesaid，withhisfinesmile。"Inthedayswhenamanappearedwithclangofarmsandwithjavelinsandspearsbefore，anddonjonkeepsinthebackground，theattitudeofbentkneesandawfulreverenceweretheinevitableresults。Whenonecouldhangaservantonone’sownprivategallows，orchopoffhishandforirreverenceordisobedience——obedienceandreverencewerearule。Now，amonth’snoticeistheextremityofpunishment，andtheoldpompofarmedservitorssuggestscomicopera。ButwecanshowyourelicsofitatDunholm。"
　　HejoinedhiswifeandbeganatoncetomakehimselfsodelightfultoRosythatsheceasedtobeafraidofhim，andendedbytalkingalmostgailyofherLondonvisit。
　　BettyandWestholtwalkedtogether。Theafternoonbeinglovely，theyhadallsaunteredintotheparktolookatcertainviews，andthesunwasshiningbetweenthetrees。Bettythoughttheyoungmanalmostascharmingashisfather，whichwassayingmuch。ShehadfallenwhollyinlovewithLordDunholm——withhishandsome，elderlyface，hisvoice，hiserectbearing，hisfinesmile，hisattractionofmanner，hiscourteouseaseandwit。Hewasoneofthemenwhostoodforthebestofalltheyhadbeenborntorepresent。
　　Herownfather，shefelt，stoodforthebestofallsuchanAmericanashimselfshouldbe。LordWestholtwouldintimebewhathisfatherwas。Hehadinheritedfromhimgoodlooks，goodfeeling，andasenseofhumour。Yes，hehadbeengivenfromtheoutsetallthattheothermanhadbeendenied。
　　ShewasthinkingofMountDunstanas"theotherman，"andspokeofhim。
　　"YouknowLordMountDunstan？"shesaid。
　　Westholthesitatedslightly。
　　"Yes——andno，"heanswered，afterthehesitation。"Nooneknowshimverywell。Youhavenotmethim？"withatouchofsurpriseinhistone。
　　"HewasapassengerontheMeridianawhenIlastcrossedtheAtlantic。Therewasaslightaccidentandwewerethrowntogetherforafewmoments。AfterwardsImethimbychanceagain。Ididnotknowwhohewas。"
　　LordWestholtshowedsignsofhesitationanew。Infact，hewasratherdisturbed。SheevidentlydidnotknowanythingwhateveroftheMountDunstans。Shewouldnotbelikelytohearthedetailsofthescandalwhichhadobliteratedthem，asitwere，fromthedecentworld。
　　Thepresentman，thoughhehadnotopenlybeenmixedupwiththehideousthing，hadbornethebrandbecausehehadnotprovedhimselftopossessanyqualitieslikelytorecommendhim。Itwasgenerallyunderstoodthathewasabadlotalso。
　　TosuchamantheallurementssuchayoungwomanasMissVanderpoelwouldpresentwouldbeextraordinary。Itwasunfortunatethatsheshouldhavebeenthrowninhisway。Atthesametimeitwasnotpossibletostatethecaseclearlyduringone’sfirstcallonabeautifulstranger。
　　"HisgoingtoAmericawasratherspirited，"saidthemellowvoicebesidehim。"IthoughtonlyAmericanstooktheirfatesintheirhandsinthatway。Foramanofhisclasstofacearancher’slifemeansdetermination。Itmeansthespirit————"
　　withalowlittlelaughattheleapofherimagination——"ofthemenwhowereMountDunstansinearlydaysandwentforthtofightforwhattheymeanttohave。Hewenttofight。Heoughttohavewon。Hewillwinsomeday。"
　　"Idonotknowaboutfighting，"LordWestholtanswered。
　　Hadthefellowbeentellingherromanticstories？"ThegeneralimpressionwasthathewenttoAmericatoamusehimself。"
　　"No，hedidnotdothat，"saidBetty，withsimplefinality。
　　"Asheepranchisnotamusing————"Shestoppedshortandstoodstillforamoment。Theyhadbeenwalkingdowntheavenue，andshestoppedbecausehereyeshadbeencaughtbyafigurehalfsitting，halflyinginthemiddleoftheroad，aprostratebicyclenearit。Itwasthefigureofacheaplydressedyoungman，who，asshelooked，seemedtomakeanineffectualefforttorise。
　　"Isthatmanill？"sheexclaimed。"Ithinkhemustbe。"
　　Theywenttowardshimatonce，andwhentheyreachedhimheliftedadazedwhiteface，downwhichastreamofbloodwastricklingfromacutonhisforehead。Hewas，infact，verywhiteindeed，anddidnotseemtoknowwhathewasdoing。
　　"Iamafraidyouarehurt，"Bettysaid，andasshespoketherestofthepartyjoinedthem。Theyoungmanvacantlysmiled，andmakinganunconscious—lookingpassacrosshisfacewithhishand，smearedthebloodoverhisfeaturespainfully。
　　Bettykneeleddown，anddrawingoutherhandkerchief，lightlywipedthegruesomesmearsaway。LordWestholtsawwhathadhappened，havinggivenalookatthebicycle。
　　"Hischainbrokeashewascomingdowntheincline，andashefellhegotanastyknockonthisstone，"touchingwithhisfootaratherlargeone，whichhadevidentlyfallenfromsomecartloadofbuildingmaterial。
　　Theyoungman，stillvacantlysmiling，wasfumblingathisbreastpocket。Hebegantotalkincoherentlyingood，nasalNewYork，atthemeresoundofwhichLadyAnstruthersmadealittleyearningstepforward。
　　"Superioranyother，"hemuttered。"Tabulatorspacer——
　　marginalreleasekey——callyour’tention——instantly——’justable——Delkoff——noequalonmarket。"Andhavingfoundwhathehadfumbledfor，hehandedacardtoMissVanderpoelandsankunconsciousonherbreast。
　　"Letmesupporthim，MissVanderpoel，"saidWestholt，startingforward。
　　"Nevermind，thankyou，"saidBetty。"IfhehasfaintedIsupposehemustbelaidflatontheground。Willyoupleasetoreadthecard。
　　ItwasthecardMountDunstanhadreadthedaybefore。
　　J。BURRIDGE&SON，DELKOFFTYPEWRITERCO。
　　BROADWAY，NEWYORK。G。SELDEN。
　　"HeisprobablyG。Selden，"saidWestholt。"Travellingintheinterestsofhisfirm，poorchap。Theclueisnotofmuchimmediateuse，however。"
　　Theywerefortunatelynotfarfromthehouse，andWestholtwentbackquicklytosummonservantsandsendforthevillagedoctor。TheDunholmswerekindlysympathetic，andeachofthepartylentahandkerchieftostaunchthebleeding。
　　LordDunholmhelpedMissVanderpoeltolaytheyoungmandowncarefully。
　　"Iamafraid，"hesaid；"Iamreallyafraidhislegisbroken。
　　Itwastwistedunderhim。Whatcanbedonewithhim？"
　　MissVanderpoellookedathersister。
　　"Willyouallowhimtobecarriedtothehousetemporarily，Rosy？"sheasked。"Thereisapparentlynothingelsetobedone。"
　　"Yes，yes，"saidLadyAnstruthers。"Howcouldonesendhimaway，poorfellow！Lethimbecarriedtothehouse。"
　　MissVanderpoelsmiledintoLordDunholm’smuchapproving，elderlyeyes。
　　"G。Seldenisacompatriot，"shesaid。"PerhapsheheardIwashereandcametosellmeatypewriter。"
　　LordWestholtreturningwithtwofootmenandalightmattress，G。Seldenwascarriedwithcautiouscaretothehouse。
　　Theafternoonsun，breakingthroughthebranchesoftheancestraloaks，kindlytouchedhiskeen—featured，whiteyoungface。LordDunholmandLordWestholteachlentafriendlyhand，andMissVanderpoel，keepingnear，onceortwicewipedawayaninsistenttrickleofbloodwhichshoweditselffrombeneaththehandkerchiefs。LadyDunholmfollowedwithLadyAnstruthers。
　　Afterwards，duringhisconvalescence，G。Seldenfrequentlyfeltwithregretthatbyhisunconsciousnessofthedignityofhiscortegeatthemomenthehadmissedfeelinghimselftobeforonceinapositionhewouldhavedesignatedas"outofsight"inthenoveltyofitsimportance。Tohavebeheldhim，bornebynoblesandliveriedmenials，accompaniedbyladiesoftitle，uptheavenueofanEnglishparkonhiswaytobecaredforinbaronialhalls，would，heknew，haveaddedajoytothefinalmomentsofhisgrandmother，whichtheconsolationsofreligioncouldscarcelyhavemetequallyincompetition。
　　Hisownpointofview，however，wouldnot，itistrue，havebeenthatoftheoldwomanintheblacknetcapandpurpleribbons，butofalessreverentnature。Hisenjoyment，infact，wouldhavebeenbaseduponthattransatlanticsenseofhumour，whosesoulisgleeattheincompatible，whichwouldhavebeenfullfedbytheincongruityof"LittleWilliebeingyankedalongbyabunchofearls，andReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughtersfollowingthefuneral。"Thathehimselfshouldhavebeenunconsciousofthesituationseemedtohimlike"throwingawaymoney。"
　　Thedoctorarrivingafterhehadbeenputtobedfoundslightconcussionofthebrainandabrokenleg。WithLadyAnstruthers’kindpermission，itwouldcertainlybebestthatheshouldremainforthepresentwherehewas。So，inabedroomwhosewindowslookedoutuponspreadinglawnsandbroad—branchedtrees，hewasascomfortablyestablishedaswaspossible。G。Selden，throughthecapriciousinterventionofFate，ifhehadnot"gotnext"toReubenS。Vanderpoelhimself，hadmostundisputably"gotnext"tohisfavouritedaughter。
　　AstheDunholmcarriagerolleddowntheavenuetherereignedforafewminutesareflectivesilence。ItwasLadyDunholmwhobrokeit。"That，"shesaidinhersoftlydecidedvoice，"thatisanicegirl。"
　　LordDunholm’sagreeable，humoroussmileflickeredintoevidence。
　　"Thatisit，"hesaid。"Thankyou，Eleanor，forsupplyingmewithaquitedelightfulearlyVictorianword。IbelieveIwantedit。Sheisabeautyandsheisclever。Sheisanumberofotherthings——butsheisalsoanicegirl。Ifyouwillallowmetosayso，Ihavefalleninlovewithher。"
　　"Ifyouwillallowmetosayso，"putinWestholt，"sohaveI——quitefatally。"
　　"That，"saidhisfather，withspeculationinhiseye，"ismoreserious。"
　　CHAPTERXXVI
　　"WHATITMUSTBETOYOU——JUSTYOU！"
　　G。Selden，awakeningtoconsciousnesstwodayslater，layandstaredatthechintzcoveringofthetopofhisfour—postbedthroughafewminutesofvacantamazement。Itwasafour—
　　postbedhewaslyingon，wasn’tit？Andhislegwasbandagedandfeltunmovable。Thelastthingherememberedwasgoingdownaninclineinatree—borderedavenue。Therewasnothingmore。Hehadbeenallrightthen。Wasthisafour—
　　postbedorwasitnot？Yes，itwas。Andwasitpartofthefurnishingsofaswellbedroom——thekindofbedroomhehadneverbeeninbefore？Tiptop，infact？Hestaredandtriedtorecallthings——butcouldnot，andinhisbewildermentexclaimedaloud。
　　"Well，"hesaid，"ifthisain’tthelimit！YoumaysearchME！"
　　Arespectablepersoninawhiteaproncametohimfromtheothersideoftheroom。ItwasButtle’swife，whohadbeenhastilycalledin。
　　"Sh——sh，"shesaidsoothingly。"Don’tyouworry。
　　Nobodyain’tgoin’tosearchyou。Nobodyain’t。There！Sh，sh，sh，"ratherasifhewereababy。Beginningtobeconsciousofacurioussenseofweakness，Seldenlayandstaredatherinahelplessnesswhichmighthavebeenconsideredpathetic。
　　Perhapshehadgot"batsinhisbelfry，"andtherewasnouseintalking。
　　Atthatmoment，however，thedooropenedandayoungladyentered。Shewas"alooker，"G。Selden’sweaknessdidnotinterferewithhisperceiving。"Alooker，bygee！"Shewasdressed，asifforgoingout，insoftlytinted，exquisitethings，andalarge，strangehydrangeablueflowerunderthebrimofherhatrestedonsoftandfullblackhair。Theblackhairgavehimaclue。ItwashairlikethathehadseenasReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughterrodebywhenhestoodattheparkgatesatMountDunstan。"Batsinhisbelfry，"ofcourse。
　　"Howishe？"shesaidtothenurse。
　　"He’sbeenseemingcomfortableallday，miss，"thewomananswered，"buthe’slight—headedyet。Heopenedhiseyesquitesensiblelookingabitago，buthespokequeer。Hesaidsomethingwasthelimit，andthatwemightsearchhim。"
　　Bettyapproachedthebedsidetolookathim，andmeetingthedisturbedinquiryinhisupliftedeyes，laughed，because，seeingthathewasnotdelirious，shethoughtsheunderstood。ShehadnotlivedinNewYorkwithouthearingitsargot，andsherealisedthattheexclamationwhichhadappeareddeliriumtoMrs。ButtlehadprobablyindicatedthattheunexplainablenessofthesituationinwhichG。Seldenfoundhimselfstruckhimasreachingthelimitofprobability，andthatthemostextendedsearchofhispersonwouldfailtorevealanycluetosatisfactoryexplanation。
　　Shebentoverhim，withherlaughstillshininginhereyes。
　　"Ihopeyoufeelbetter。Canyoutellme？"shesaid。
　　Hisvoicewasnotstrong，buthisanswerwasthatofayoungmanwhoknewwhathewassaying。
　　"IfI’mnotoffmyhead，ma’am，I’mquitecomfortable，thankyou，"hereplied。
　　"Iamgladtohearthat，"saidBetty。"Don’tbedisturbed。
　　Yourmindisquiteclear。"
　　"AllIwant，"saidG。Seldenimpartially，"isjusttoknowwhereI’mat，andhowIblewinhere。Itwouldhelpmetorestbetter。"
　　"Youmetwithanaccident，"the"looker"explained，stillsmilingwithbothlipsandeyes。"Yourbicyclechainbrokeandyouwerethrownandhurtyourself。Ithappenedintheavenueinthepark。Wefoundyouandbroughtyouin。YouareatStornhamCourt，whichbelongstoSirNigelAnstruthers。LadyAnstruthersismysister。IamMissVanderpoel。"
　　"Hullygee！"ejaculatedG。Seldeninevitably。"HullyGEE！"Thesplendourofthemomentwassuchthathisbrainwhirled。Asitwasnotyetinthephysicalconditiontowhirlwithanycomfort，hefoundhimselfclosinghiseyesweakly。
　　"That’sright，"MissVanderpoelsaid。"Keepthemclosed。Imustnottalktoyouuntilyouarestronger。Liestillandtrynottothink。Thedoctorsaysyouaregettingonverywell。Iwillcomeandseeyouagain。"
　　Asthesoftsweepofherdressreachedthedoorhemanagedtoopenhiseyes。
　　"Thankyou，MissVanderpoel，"hesaid。"Thankyou，ma’am。Andashiseyelidsclosedagainhemurmuredinluxuriouspeace：
　　"Well，ifthat’sher——shecanhaveME——andwelcome！"……
　　Shecametoseehimagaineachday——sometimesinalinenfrockandgardenhat，sometimesinhersofttintsandlaceandflowersbeforeorafterherdriveintheafternoon，andtwoorthreetimesintheevening，withlovelyshouldersandwonderfullytrailingdraperies——lookinglikethewomenhehadcaughtfar—offglimpsesofontherareoccasionofhishavingindulgedhimselfinthehighestandmostremotelyplacedseatinthegalleryattheopera，whichinconveniencehehadbornenotthroughanyardentdesiretohearthemusic，butbecausehewantedtoseetheshowandget"alook—in"attheFourHundred。HebelievedveryimplicitlyinhisFourHundred，andprivately——thoughperhapsalmostunconsciously——cherishedthedistinctionhisshareofthemconferreduponhim，asfondlyastheEnglishyoungmanofhisrudimentarytypecherisheshisdukesandduchesses。TheEnglishyoungmanmayrevelinhiscoronetedbeautiesinphotographshops，theyoungAmericandwellsfondlyonflattering，orveryunflattering，reproductionsofhismulti—millionaires’wivesanddaughtersinthevoluminousillustratedsheetsofhisSundaypaper，withoutwhichlifewouldbeawretchedandsavourlessthing。
　　SeldenhadneverseenMissVanderpoelinhisSundaypaper，andherehewaslyinginaroominthesamehousewithher。AndshecomingintoseehimandtalktohimasifhewasoneoftheFourHundredhimself！Thecomfortandluxurywithwhichhefoundhimselfsurroundedsankintoinsignificancewhencomparedwithsuchunearthlyluckasthis。
　　LadyAnstrutherscameintoseehimalso，andsheseveraltimesbroughtwithheraqueerlittlelamefellow，whowasspokenofas"MasterUghtred。""Master"wassupposedbyG。Seldentobeasortoftitleconferreduponthesmallsonsofbaronetsandthelike。ThechildrenheknewinNewYorkandelsewhereansweredtothenamesofBob，orJimmy，orBill。Noparallelto"Master"hadbeeninvogueamongthem。
　　LadyAnstrutherswasnotlikehersister。Shewasalittlething，andbothsheandMasterUghtredseemedfondoftalkingofNewYork。Shehadnotbeenhomeforyears，andtheyoungsterhadneverseenitatall。HehadsomequeerideasaboutAmerica，andseemednevertohaveseenanythingbutStornhamandthevillage。G。Seldenlikedhim，andwasvaguelysorryforalittlechaptowhomadescriptionofthefestivitiesattendantupontheFourthofJulyandaPresidentialelectionseemedlikestoriesfromtheArabianNights。
　　"TellmeabouttheTammanyTiger，ifyouplease，"hesaidonce。"Iwanttoknowwhatkindofananimalitis。"
　　FromapointofviewsomewhatdifferentfromthatofMountDunstanandMr。Penzance，BettyVanderpoelfoundtalkwithhiminteresting。Toherhedidnotweartheaspectofaforeignproduct。Shehadnotmetandconversedwithyoungmenlikehim，butsheknewofthem。Stringentprecautionsweretakentoprotectherfatherfromtheiringenuousenterprises。Theywerenotpermittedtoenterhisoffices；theywereevendiscouragedfromhoveringabouttheirneighbourhoodwhenseenandsuspected。Theatmosphere，itwasunderstood，wastobe，ifpossible，disinfectedofagents。Thisone，lyingsoftlyinthefour—postbed，cheerfullygratefulforthekindnessshownhim，andplainlyfilledwithdelightinhisadventure，despitethephysicaldiscomfortsattendingit，gaveher，ashebegantorecover，newviewsofthelifehelivedincommonwithhiskind。ItwaslikereadingscenesfromarealisticnovelofNewYorklifetolistentohisfrank，slangyconversation。Toher，aswellastoMr。Penzance，sidelightswerethrownuponexistenceinthe"hallbedroom"anduponpreviouslyunknownphasesofbusinesslifeinBroadwayandroaring"downtown"streets。
　　Hisdetermination，hissharpreadiness，hiscontroloftemperunderrebuffandsuperfluousharshness，hisodd，impersonalsummingupofmenandthings，andgood—naturedpatiencewiththeworldingeneral，were，sheknew，businessassets。Shewasevenmoved——noless——bytheremoteconnectionofsuchalifewiththatofthefirstReubenVanderpoelwhohadlaidthehuge，solidfoundationsoftheirmodernfortune。ThefirstReubenVanderpoelmusthaveseenandknownthefacesofmenasG。Seldensawandknewthem。
　　Fightinghiswaystepbystep，knockingpertinaciouslyateverygatewaywhichmightgiveingresstosomepassageleadingtoeventhesmallestgain，meetingwithrebuffandindifferenceonlytobeovercomebysteadyandcontinuedassault——ifG。
　　Seldenwasanuisance，thefirstVanderpoelhadwithoutdoubtwornthataspectuponinnumerableoccasions。Noonedesiresthepresenceofthemanwhowhilehavingnothingtogivemustpersistinkeepinghimselfinevidence，evenifbystrategyorforce。Fromstoriesshewasfamiliarwith，shehadgatheredthatthefirstReubenVanderpoelhadcertainlylackedacertainyouthofsoulshefeltinthismodernstrugglerforlife。Hehadbeenthecleverermanofthetwo；G。Seldenshesecretlylikedthebetter。
　　ThecuriosityofMrs。Buttle，whowasthenurse，hadbeenawakenedbyasingularfeatureofherpatient’sfeverishwanderings。
　　"Hekeepsmuttering，miss，thingsIcan’tmakeoutaboutLordMountDunstan，andMr。Penzance，andsomechildhecallsLittleWillie。Hetalkstothemthesameasifheknewthem——sameasifhewaswiththemandtheyweretalkingtohimquitefriendly。"