CHAPTERXXXII
　　AGREATBALL
　　Acertaingreatball，givenyearlyatDunholmCastle，wasoneofthemostnotablesocialfeaturesofthecounty。Ittookplacewhenthehousewasfullofitsmostinterestinglydistinguishedguests，and，thoughotherballsmightbegivenatothertimes，thisonewasmarkedbyadegreeofgreaterstate。
　　Onseveraloccasionsthechiefguestshadbeengreatpersonagesindeed，andtobebiddentomeetthemimpliedaselectionflatteringinitself。One’sinvitationmustconveybyinferencethatonewaseitherbrilliant，beautiful，oradmirable，ifnotimportant。
　　NigelAnstruthershadneverappearedatwhattheuninvitedwerewont，withderisivesmiles，tocallTheGreatPanjandrumFunction——whichwasanironicdesignationnotemployedbysuchpersonsasreceivedcardsbiddingthemtothefestivity。StornhamCourtwasnotpopularinthecounty；
　　noonehadyearnedforthesocietyoftheDowagerLadyAnstruthers，eveninheryouth；andanottoowell—favouredyoungmanwithanill—favouredtemper，noticeablyonthelookoutforgrievances，isnotanadditiontoone’scircle。AtnineteenNigelhaddiscoveredtheolderLordMountDunstanandhissonTenhamtobecongenialacquaintances，andhadbeensooftenabsentfromhomethathisneighbourswouldhavefoundsocialintercoursewithhimdifficult，evenifdesirable。
　　Accordingly，whenthecountypaperrecordedthesplendoursofTheGreatPanjandrumFunction——whichitbynomeansmentionedbythatname——thelistof"Amongthosepresent"
　　hadnotsofarcontainedthenameofSirNigelAnstruthers。
　　So，onamorningafewdaysafterhisreturn，themasterofStornhamturnedoveracardofinvitationandreaditseveraltimesbeforespeaking。
　　"Isupposeyouknowwhatthismeans，"hesaidatlasttoRosalie，whowasalonewithhim。
　　"ItmeansthatweareinvitedtoDunholmCastlefortheball，doesn’tit？"
　　Herhusbandtossedthecardasideonthetable。
　　"ItmeansthatBettywillbeinvitedtoeveryhousewherethereisasonwhomustbedisposedofprofitably。
　　"Sheisinvitedbecausesheisbeautifulandclever。Shewouldbeinvitedifshehadnomoneyatall，"saidRosydaringly。Shewasactuallygrowingdaring，shethoughtsometimes。Itwouldnothavebeenpossibletosayanythinglikethisafewmonthsago。
　　"Don’tmakesillymistakes，"saidNigel。"Thereareagoodmanyhandsomegirlswhoreceivecomparativelylittleattention。Butthehoundsofwarareletloose，whenoneofyourswollenAmericanfortunesappears。Theobviousnessofit`virtuously’makesmesick。It’sasvulgar——asNewYork。"
　　WhatbefelnextbroughttoSirNigelashockofcuriousenlightenment，butnoonewasmoreamazedthanRosyherself。
　　Shefelt，whensheheardherownvoice，asifshemustberathermad。
　　"Iwouldrather，"shesaidquitedistinctly，"thatyoudidnotspeaktomeofNewYorkinthatway。"
　　"What！"saidAnstruthers，staringatherwithcontemptwhichwasderision。
　　"Itismyhome，"sheanswered。"ItisnotproperthatI
　　shouldhearitspokenofslightingly。"
　　"Yourhome！Ithasnottakentheslightestnoticeofyoufortwelveyears。Yourpeopledroppedyouasifyouwereahotpotato。"
　　"Theyhavetakenmeupagain。"Stillinamazementatherownboldness，butsomehowlearningsomethingasshewenton。
　　Hewalkedovertoherside，andstoodbeforeher。
　　"Lookhere，Rosalie，"hesaid。"Youhavebeentakinglessonsfromyoursister。Sheisabeautyandyoungandyouarenot。Peoplewillstandthingsfromhertheywillnottakefromyou。Iwouldstandsomethingsmyself，becauseitratheramusesamantoseeafinegirlpeacocking。It’smerelyridiculousinyou，andIwon’tstandit——notabitofit。"
　　Itwasnotspeciallyfortunateforhimthatthedooropenedashewasspeaking，andBettycameinwithherowninvitationinherhand。Hewasquickenough，however，toturntogreetherwithashrugofhisshoulders。
　　"Iambeingfavouredwithalittlescenebymywife，"heexplained。"Sheiscapableofgettingupexcellentlittlescenes，butIdaresayshedoesnotshowyouthatsideofhertemper。"
　　Bettytookacomfortablechintz—covered，easychair。Herexpressionwasevasivelyspeculative。
　　"WasitasceneIinterrupted？"shesaid。"ThenImustnotgoawayandleaveyoutofinishit。Youweresayingthatyouwouldnot`stand’something。Whatdoesamandowhenhewillnot`stand’athing？Italwayssoundssofinalandappalling——asifhewerethreateninghorriblethingssuchas，perhaps，werearesourceinfeudaltimes。WhatIStheresourceinthesedulldaysoflawandorder——andpolicemen？"
　　"IsthisAmericanchaff？"hewasdisagreeablyconsciousthathewasnotwhollysuccessfulinhisefforttobelofty。
　　ThefranknessofBetty’ssmilewasquitewithoutprejudice。
　　"Dearme，no，"shesaid。"Itisonlytheunpicturesqueresultofanunfeminineknowledgeofthelaw。AndIwasthinkinghowoneislimited——andyethowthingsaresimplifiedafterall。"
　　"Simplified！"disgustedly。
　　"Yes，really。Yousee，ifRosywereviolentshecouldnotbeatyou——evenifshewerestrongenough——becauseyoucouldringthebellandgiveherintocustody。Andyoucouldnotbeatherbecausethesameunpleasantthingwouldhappentoyou。Policemendorobthingsofcolour，don’tthey？Andbesides，whenoneremembersthatmerevulgarlawinsiststhatnoonecanbeforcedtolivewithanotherpersonwhoisbrutalorloathsome，that’ssimple，isn’tit？YoucouldgoawayfromRosy，"withsweetclearness，"atanymomentyouwished——asfarawayasyouliked。"
　　"Youseemtoforget，"stillfeelingthatconvincingloftinesswasnoteasy，"thatwhenamanleaveshiswife，orshedesertshim，itisshewhoislikelytobecalledupontobeartheonusofpublicopinion。"
　　"Wouldshebecalledupontobearitunderallcircumstances？"
　　"Damnedcleverwomanasyouare，youknowthatshewould，aswellasIknowit。"Hemadeanabruptgesturewithhishand。"YouknowthatwhatIsayistrue。WomenwhotaketotheirheelsaredeucedlyunpopularinEngland。"
　　"IhavenotbeenlonginEngland，butIhavebeenstruckbytheprevalenceofasortofconstitutionalBritishsenseoffairplayamongthepeoplewhoreallycount。TheDunholms，forinstance，haveitmarkedly。InAmericaitisthemenwhoforcewomentotaketotheirheelswhoaredeucedlyunpopular。TheAmericans’senseoffairplayistheirmostEnglishquality。Itwasbroughtoverinshipsbythefirstcolonists——likethepiecesoffinesolidoldfurniture，oneevennowsees，hereandthere，inhousesinVirginia。"
　　"Butthefactremains，"saidNigel，withanunpleasantlaugh，"thefactremains，mydeargirl。"
　　"Thefactthatdoesremain，"saidBetty，notunpleasantlyatall，andstillwithhergentleairofmereunprejudicedspeculation，"isthat，ifamanorwomanisproperlyill—
　　treated——PROPERLY——notinanyamateurishway——theyreachthepointofnotcaringintheleast——nothingmatters，butthattheymustgetawayfromthehorroroftheunbearablething——nevertoseeorhearofitagainisheavenenoughtomakeanythingelseathingtosmileat。Butonecouldsettletheotherpointbyexperimenting。SupposeyourunawayfromRosy，andthenwecanseeifsheiscutbythecounty。"
　　Hislaughwasunpleasantagain。
　　"Solongasyouarewithher，shewillnotbecut。Thereareanumberofpennilessyoungmenoffamilyinthis，aswellastheadjoining，counties。DoyouthinkMountDunstanwouldcuther？"
　　Shelookeddownatthecarpetthoughtfullyamoment，andthenliftedhereyes。
　　"Idonotthinkso，"sheanswered。"ButIwillaskhim。"
　　Hewasstartledbyasuddenfeelingthatshemightbecapableofit。
　　"Oh，comenow，"hesaid，"thatgoesbeyondajoke。Youwillnotdoanysuchabsurdthing。Onedoesnotwantone’sdomesticdifficultiesdiscussedbyone’sneighbours。"
　　Bettyopenedcoollysurprisedeyes。
　　"Ididnotunderstanditwasapersonalmatter，"sheremarked。"Wheredothedomesticdifficultiescomein？"
　　Hestaredatherafewsecondswiththelookshedidnotlike，whichwaslesslikeableatthemoment，becauseitcombineditselfwithotherthings。
　　"Hangit，"hemuttered。"IwishIcouldkeepmytemperasyoucankeepyours，"andheturnedonhisheelandlefttheroom。
　　Rosyhadnotspoken。Shehadsatwithherhandsinherlap，lookingoutofthewindow。Shehadatfirsthadamomentofterror。Shehad，indeed，onceutteredinhersoultheabjectcry："Don’tmakehimangry，Betty——oh，don’t，don’t！"Andsuddenlyithadbeenstilled，andshehadlistened。ThiswasbecausesherealisedthatNigelhimselfwaslistening。Thatmadeherseewhatshehadnotdaredtoallowherselftoseebefore。Thesetritethingsweretrue。Therewerelawstoprotectone。IfBettyhadnotbeendealingwithmeretruths，Nigelwouldhavestoppedher。Hehadbeensupercilious，buthecouldnotcontradicther。
　　"Betty，"shesaid，whenhersistercametoher，"yousaidthattoshowMEthings，aswellastoshowthemtohim。I
　　knewyoudid，andlistenedtoeveryword。Itwasgoodformetohearyou。"
　　"Clear—cut，unadornedfactsarelikebullets，"saidBetty。
　　"Theyreachhome，ifone’saimisgood。Theshiftiestpeoplecannotevadethem。"……
　　AcertainthingbecameevidenttoBettyduringthetimewhichelapsedbetweenthearrivaloftheinvitationsandthegreatball。Despiteanobviousintentiontoassumeanamiableposeforthetimebeing，SirNigelcouldnotconcealanotquiteunexplainableantipathytooneindividual。ThisindividualwasMountDunstan，whomitdidnotseemeasyforhimtoleavealone。Heseemedtorecurtohimasasubject，withoutanyspecialreason，andthissomewhatpuzzledBettyuntilsheheardfromRosalieofhisintimacywithLordTenham，which，inameasure，explainedit。Thewholetruthwasthat"TheLout，"ashehadbeencalled，hadindulgedinfrankspeechinhisrareintercoursewithhisbrotherandhisfriends，andhadonceinterferedwithhotyoungfuryinamatterinwhichthepairhadspeciallywishedtoavoidallinterference。Hisopenscornoftheirmethodsofentertainingthemselvestheyhadfelttobedisgustingimpudence，whichwouldhavebeendeservedlypunishedwithahorsewhip，iftheyoungsterhadnotbeenabig—muscled，clumsyoaf，withadangerouseye。Uponthisfootingtheiracquaintancehadstoodinpastyears，andtodecide——asSirNigelhaddecided——thattheoafinquestionhadbeguntomakehisbidforsplendidfortuneundertheroofofStornhamCourtitselfwasathingnottoberegardedcalmly。Itwasmorethanhecouldstand，andthefollyoftemper，whichwasforeverhisundoing，betrayedhimintomistakesmorethanonce。Thisgirl，withherbeautyandherwealth，hechosetoregardasasortofpropertyrightfullyhisown。Shewashissister—in—law，atleast；
　　shewaslivingunderhisroof；hehadmoreorlessthepowertoencourageordiscouragesuchaspirantsasappeared。Uponthewholetherewassomethingsoothingtoone’svanityinappearingbeforetheworldasthepersonatpresentresponsibleforher。Itgaveamanacertaindignityofposition，andhischiefgirdingatfatehadalwaysrisenfromthefactthathehadnothaddignityofposition。Hewouldnotbeheldcheapinthismatter，atleast。Butsometimes，ashelookedatthegirlheturnedhotandsick，asitwasdrivenhometohimthathewasnolongeryoung，thathehadneverbeengood—looking，andthathehadcutthegroundfromunderhisfeettwelveyearsago，whenhehadmarriedRosalie！Ifhecouldhavewaited——ifhecouldhavedoneseveralotherthings——perhapsthecleveractingofapart，andhispowerofdominationmighthavegivenhimachance。EventhatblackguardofaMountDunstanhadabetteronenow。Hewasyoung，atleast，andfree——andabigstrongbeast。Hewasforced，withbitterreluctance，toadmitthathehimselfwasnotevenparticularlystrong——oflatehehadfeltithideously。
　　SohedetestedMountDunstanthemoreforincreasingreasons，ashethoughtthematterover。Itwouldseem，perhaps，butasubtlepleasuretothenormalmind，buttohimtherewaspleasure——support——aggrandisement——inreferringtotheillcaseoftheMountDunstanestate，inrelatingillustrativeanecdotes，indwellinguponthehopelessnessoftheoutlook，andthenotableunpopularityofthemanhimself。A
　　confidingyoungladyfromtheStateswasrequired，hesaidononeoccasion，butitwouldbenecessarythatsheshouldbeayoungpersonofmuchsimplicity，whowouldnotbealarmedorchilledbytheobvious。NoonewouldrealisethismoreclearlythanMountDunstanhimself。Hesaiditcoldlyandcasually，asifitwerethesimplestmatteroffact。IfthefellowhadbeenmakinghimselfagreeabletoBetty，itwasaswellthatcertainpointsshouldbe——asitwereinadvertently——broughtbeforeher。
　　MissVanderpoelwasreallyratherfine，peoplesaidtoeachotherafterwards，whensheenteredtheballroomatDunholmCastlewithherbrother—in—law。Sheboreherselfascomposedlyasifshehadbeenescortedbythemostadmirableanddignifiedofconservativerelatives，insteadofbyamanwhowasmoredefinitelydislikedanddisapprovedofthananyothermaninthecountywhomdecentpeoplewerelikelytomeet。
　　Yet，shewasfartoocleveragirlnottorealisethesituationclearly，theysaidtoeachother。ShehadarrivedinEnglandtofindhersisteraneglectedwreck，herfortunesquandered，andherexistencestrippedbareofevensuchthingsasonefelttobethemeredecencies。Therewasbutonethingtobededucedfromthefactswhichhadstaredherintheface。Butofherdeductionsshehadsaidnothingwhatever，whichwas，ofcourse，remarkableinayoungperson。Itmaybementionedthat，perhaps，therehadbeenthosewhowouldnothavebeenreluctanttohearwhatshemusthavehadtosay，andwhohadevenpossiblygivenheradelicatelead。Buttheleadhadneverbeentaken。Oneladyhadevenremarkedthat，onherpart，shefeltthatatoogreatreservevergeduponsecretiveness，whichwasnotadesirablegirlishquality。
　　OfcoursethesituationhadbeensomuchdiscussedthatpeoplewerenaturallyonthelookoutforthearrivaloftheStornhamparty，asitwasknownthatSirNigelhadreturnedhome，andwouldbelikelytopresenthimselfwithhiswifeandsister—in—law。Therewasnotadowagerpresentwhodidnotknowhowandwherehehadreprehensiblyspentthelastmonths。ItservedhimquiterightthattheSpanishdancingpersonhadcoollylefthiminthelurchforayoungerandmoreattractive，aswellasaricherman。IfitwerenotforMissVanderpoel，oneneednotpretendthatoneknewnothingabouttheaffair——infact，ifithadnotbeenforMissVanderpoel，hewouldnothavereceivedaninvitation——andpoorLadyAnstrutherswouldbesittingathome，stilltheforlornlittlefrumpandinvalidshehadsowonderfullyceasedtobesincehersisterhadtakenherinhand。Shewasabsolutelygrowingevenprettyandyoung，andherclotheswerereallybeautiful。Thewholethingwasamazing。
　　Betty，aswellasRosalieandNigel——knewthatmanypeopleturnedundisguisedlytolookatthem——eventowatchthemastheycameintothesplendidballroom。Itwasasplendidballroomandastatelyone，andLordDunholmandLordWestholtsharedacertainthoughtwhentheymether，whichwasthatherswasdistinctlytheproudyoungbrillianceofpresencewhichfiguredmostperfectlyagainstitsbackground。
　　MuchaspeoplewantedtolookatSirNigel，theireyesweredrawnfromhimtoMissVanderpoel。Afterallitwasshewhomadehimanobjectofinterest。Onewantedtoknowwhatshewoulddowithhim——howshewould"carryhimoff。"
　　Howmuchdidsheknowofthedistastepeoplefeltforhim，sinceshewouldnottalkorencouragetalk？TheDunholmscouldnothaveinvitedherandhersister，andhaveignoredhim；butdidshenotguessthattheywouldhaveignoredhim，iftheycould？andwastherenotnaturalembarrassmentinfeelingforcedtoappearinpomp，asitwere，underhisescort？
　　Butnoembarrassmentwasperceptible。Hermannercommittedhertonorecognitionofashadowofaflawinthecharacterofhercompanion。Itevencarriedacertainconvictionwithit，andthelookers—onfelttheimpossibilityofsuggestinganysuchflawbytheirownmanner。Forthisevening，atleast，themanmustactuallybetreatedasifhewereanentirelyunobjectionableperson。Itappearedasifthatwaswhatthegirlwanted，andintendedshouldhappen。
　　ThiswaswhatNigelhimselfhadbeguntoperceive，buthedidnotputitpleasantly。Deucedlyclevergirlasshewas，hesaidtohimself，shesawthatitwouldbemoreagreeabletohavenononsensetalked，andnorufflingoftempers。Hehadalwaysbeenabletoconveytopeoplethattherufflingofhistemperwasathingtobeavoided，andperhapsshehadalreadybeensharpenoughtorealisethiswasafacttobecountedwith。Shewassharpenough，hesaidtohimself，toseeanything。
　　Thefunctionwasasuperbone。Thehousewassuperb，theroomsofentertainmentwereineveryproportionperfect，andwerequiterenownedforthebeautyofthespacetheyoffered；thepeoplethemselveswere，throughcenturiesofdignifiedliving，soplacedthatintercoursewiththeirkindwasaneasyanddelightfulthing。Theyneedneverdoubteithertheirowneffect，ortheeffectoftheirhospitalities。
　　SirNigelsawabouthimallthepeoplewhoheldenviableplaceinthecounty。Someofthemhehadneverknown，someofthemhadlongceasedtorecallhisexistence。Therewerethoseamongthemwholiftedlorgnettesorstuckmonoclesintotheireyesashepassed，askingeachotherinpolitelysubduedtoneswhothemanwaswhoseemedtobeinattendanceonMissVanderpoel。Nigelknewthisandgirdedatitinternally，whilehemadethemostofhissuavesmile。
　　Thedistinguishedpersonagewhowasthechiefguestwastobeseenattheupperendoftheroomtalkingtoatallmanwithbroadshoulders，whowasplainlyinterestinghimforthemoment。AstheStornhampartypassedon，thisperson，makinghisbow，retired，and，asheturnedtowardsthem，SirNigelrecognisinghim，theagreeablesmilewasforthemomentlost。
　　"HowinthenameofHeavendidMountDunstancomehere？"brokefromhimwithinvoluntaryheat。
　　"Woulditberashtoconclude，"saidBetty，asshereturnedthebowofaverygrandoldladyinblackvelvetandanimposingtiara，"thathecameinresponsetoinvitation？"
　　Theverygrandoldladyseemedpleasedtoseeher，and，witharoyallittlesign，calledhertoherside。AsBettyVanderpoelwasagreatsuccesswiththeMrs。WeldensandoldDobysofvillagelife，shewasalsoasuccessamonggrandoldladies。Whenshestoodbeforethemtherewasadelicatesubmissioninherairwhichwassuggestiveofobediencetothedignityoftheiryearsandstate。Stronglyconservativeandratherfeudaloldpersonsweremuchpleasedbythis。Inthepresentirreverenticonoclasmofmoderntimes，itwasmostagreeabletotalktoahandsomecreaturewhowasasbeautifullyattentiveasifshehadbeenaspeciallyperfectyounglady—in—waiting。
　　ThisoneevenpattedBetty’shandalittle，whenshetookit。Shewasagreatcountypotentate，whowasknownasLadyAlanbyofDole——herhousebeingoneofthemostancientandinterestinginEngland。
　　"Iamgladtoseeyouhereto—night，"shesaid。"Youarelookingverynice。Butyoucannothelpthat。"
　　Bettyaskedpermissiontopresenthersisterandbrother—in—
　　law。LadyAlanbywaspolitetobothofthem，butshegaveNigelarathersharpglancethroughhergoldpince—nezasshegreetedhim。
　　"JaneyandMary，"shesaidtothetwogirlsnearesther，"IdaresayyouwillkindlychangeyourchairsandletLadyAnstruthersandMissVanderpoelsitnexttome。"
　　TheLadiesJaneandMaryLithcom，whohadbeenorderedaboutbyherfromtheirinfancy，obeyedwithpolitesmiles。
　　Theywerenotparticularlyprettygirls，andwereoftheindigentnoble。Jane，whohadalmostoverlargeblueeyes，sighedasshereseatedherselfafewchairslowerdown。
　　"Itdoesseembeastlyunfair，"shesaidinalowvoicetohersister，"thatagirlsuchasthatshouldbesoawfullygood—looking。Sheoughttohaveaturned—upnose。"
　　"Thankyou，"saidMary，"Ihaveaturned—upnosemyself，andI’vegotnothingtobalanceit。"
　　"Oh，Ididn’tmeananiceturned—upnoselikeyours，"saidJane；"Imeantanuglyone。OfcourseLadyAlanbywantsherforTommy。"Andhermannerwasnotresigned。
　　"Whatshe，oranyoneelseforthatmatter，"disdainfully，"couldwantwithTommy，Idon’tknow，"repliedMary。
　　"Ido，"answeredJaneobstinately。"IplayedcricketwithhimwhenIwaseight，andI’velikedhimeversince。ItisAWFUL，"inasmotheredoutburst，"whatgirlslikeushavetosuffer。"
　　LadyMaryturnedtolookathercuriously。
　　"Jane，"shesaid，"areyouSUFFERINGaboutTommy？"
　　"Yes，Iam。Oh，whataquestiontoaskinaballroom！
　　Doyouwantmetoburstoutcrying？"
　　"No，"sharply，"lookatthePrince。Stareatthatfatwomancurtsyingtohim。Stareandthenwinkyoureyes。"
　　LadyAlanbywastalkingaboutMountDunstan。
　　"LordDunholmhasgivenusalead。Heisanoldfriendofmine，andhehasbeentalkingtomeaboutit。Itappearsthathehasbeenlookingintothingsseriously。Modernasheis，herathertiltsatinjustices，inaquietway。HehassatisfactorilyconvincedhimselfthatLordMountDunstanhasbeensufferingforthesinsofthefathers——whichmustbeannoying。"
　　"IsLordDunholmquitesureofthat？"putinSirNigel，withasuggestivelycivilair。
　　OldLadyAlanbygavehimanunencouraginglook。
　　"Quite，"shesaid。"Hewouldbelikelytobebeforehetookanysteps。"
　　"Ah，"remarkedNigel。"IknewLordTenham，yousee。"
　　LadyAlanby’slookwasmoreunencouragingstill。Shequietlyandopenlyputupherglassandstared。Thereweretimeswhenshehadnottheremotestobjectiontobeingrudetocertainpeople。
　　"Iamsorrytohearthat，"sheobserved。"ThereneverwasanyroomformistakeaboutTenham。Heisnotusuallymentioned。"
　　"Idonotthinkthismanwouldbeusuallymentioned，ifeverythingwereknown，"saidNigel。
　　Thenanappallingthinghappened。LadyAlanbygazedathimafewseconds，andmadenoreplywhatever。Shedroppedherglass，andturnedagaintotalktoBetty。Itwasasifshehadturnedherbackonhim，andSirNigel，stillwearinganamiableexterior，usedinternallysomebadlanguage。
　　"ButIwasafooltospeakofTenham，"hethought。"Agreatfool。"
　　AlittlelaterMissVanderpoelmadehercurtsytotheexaltedguest，andwascommenteduponagainbythosewholookedon。Itwasnotatallunnaturalthatoneshouldfindoneseyesfollowingagirlwho，representingasortofroyalpower，shouldhavethegoodfortuneofpossessingsuchlooksandbearing。
　　Rememberinghischildbetenoirofthelonglegsandsquare，audaciouslittleface，NigelAnstruthersfoundhimselfrestrainingaslightgrinashelookedonatherdancing。
　　Partnersflockedaboutherlikebees，andLadyAlanbyofDole，andotherverygrandoldormiddle—agedladiesallfoundtheeveningmoreinterestingbecausetheycouldwatchher。
　　"Sheisfullofspirit，"saidLadyAlanby，"andsheenjoysherselfasagirlshould。Itisapleasuretolookather。I
　　likeagirlwhogetsamagnificentcolourandstarsinhereyeswhenshedances。Itlookshealthyandyoung。"
　　ItwasTommyMissVanderpoelwasdancingwithwhenherladyshipsaidthis。Tommywashergrandsonandayoungmanofgreaterrankthanfortune。Hewasanice，frank，heavyyouth，wholovedasimplecountylifespentintrampingaboutwithguns，andinfriendlyhobnobbingwiththeneighbours，andeatinggreatafternoonteaswithpeoplewhosejokeswereeasytounderstand，andwhowerereadytolaughifyoutriedajokeyourself。Helikedgirls，andespeciallyhelikedJaneLithcom，butthatwasaweaknesshisgrandmotherdidnotatallencourage，and，ashedancedwithBettyVanderpoel，helookedoverhershouldermorethanonceatapairofbig，unhappyblueeyes，whoseownersatagainstthewall。
　　BettyVanderpoelherselfwasnotthinkingofTommy。Infact，duringthisbrillianteveningshefacedstillfurtherdevelopmentsofherownstrangecase。Certainnewthingswerehappeningtoher。Whenshehadenteredtheballroomshehadknownatoncewhothemanwaswhostoodbeforetheroyalguest——shehadknownbeforehebowedlowandwithdrew。Andherrecognitionhadbroughtwithitashockofjoy。Forafewmomentsherthroatfelthotandpulsing。Itwastrue——thethingswhichconcernedhimconcernedher。Allthathappenedtohimsuddenlybecameheraffair，asifinsomewaytheywereofthesameblood。Nigel’sslightingofhimhadinfuriatedher；thatLordDunholmhadofferedhimfriendshipandhospitalitywasathingwhichseemeddonetoherself，andfilledherwithgratitudeandaffection；thatheshouldbeatthisplace，onthisspecialoccasion，sweptawaydarkthingsfromhispath。Itwasasifitwerestatedwithoutwordsthataconservativemanoftheworld，whoknewthingsastheywere，havingmeansofreachingtruths，vouchedforhimandplacedhisdignityandfirmnessathisside。
　　Andtherewasthegladnessatthesightofhim。Itwasanoverpoweringlystrongthing。Shehadneverknownanythinglikeit。ShehadnotseenhimsinceNigel’sreturn，andherehewas，andsheknewthatherlifequickenedinherbecausetheyweretogetherinthesameroom。Hehadcometothemandsaidafewcourteouswords，buthehadsoongoneaway。AtfirstshewonderedifitwasbecauseofNigel，whoatthetimewasmakinghimselfrather