ItsometimesbroughtbacktohimthathideousshakinessofnervewhichhadbeenafeatureofhisillnesswhenhehadbeenontheRivierawithTeresita。
　　OfallthisBettyonlyknewtheoutwardsignswhich，takenattheirexteriorsignificance，weredetestableenough，anddroveherhardasshementallydweltontheminconnectionwithotherthings。Howeasy，ifshestoodalone，todefyhisevilinsolencetodoitsworst，andleavingtheplaceatanhour’snotice，tosailawaytoprotection，or，ifshechosetoremaininEngland，tosurroundherselfwithabodyguardofthepeopleinwhoseeyeshisdisreputerelegatedamansuchasNigelAnstrutherstopowerlessnonentity。Alone，shecouldhavesmiledandturnedherbackuponhim。ButshewasheretotakecareofRosy。
　　Sheoccupiedapositionsomethinglikethatofawomanwhoremainswithamanandenduresoutragebecauseshecannotleaveherchild。Thatthought，initself，broughtUghtredtohermind。TherewasUghtredtobeconsideredaswellashismother。Ughtred’sloveforandfaithinherweredeepandpassionatethings。Hefedonhertendernessforhim，andhadgrownstrongerbecausehespenthoursofeachdaytalking，reading，anddrivingwithher。ThesimpletruthwasthatneithershenorRosaliecoulddesertUghtred，andsolongasNigelmanagedcleverlyenough，thelawwouldgivetheboytohisfather。
　　"Youareobligedtoprovethings，youknow，inacourtoflaw，"hehadsaid，asifwithcasualamiability，onacertainoccasion。"Provingthingsisthedevil。Peoplelosetheirtempersandrushintorowswhichendinlawsuits，andthenfindtheycanprovenothing。IfIwereavillain，"slightlyshowinghisteethinanagreeablesmile——"insteadofamanofblamelesslife，Ishouldgoinonlyforthatbranchofmyprofessionwhichcouldbeexercisedwithoutleavingstupidevidencebehind。"
　　SincehisreturntoStornhamtheoutwarddecorumofhisownconducthadentertainedhimandhehadkeptitupwithanincreasingappreciationofitsusefulnessinthepresentsituation。Whatsoeverhappenedintheend，itwasthepartofdiscretiontopresenttotheruralworldabouthimanappearanceofuprightbehaviour。Hehadevenfounditamusingtogotochurchandalsotooccasionallymakeamiablecallsatthevicarage。Itwasnotdifficult，atsuchtimes，toreferdelicatelytohisregretthatdomesticdiscomforthadledhimintotheerrorofremainingmuchawayfromStornham。Heknewthathehadbeenevenrathertouchinginhisexpressionofinterestinthefutureofhisson，andthenecessityoftheboy’sbeingprotectedfromuncontrolledhystericinfluences。
　　And，intheyearsofRosalie’sunprotectedwretchedness，hehadtakenexcellentcarethatno"stupidevidence"shouldbeexposedtoview。
　　OfallthisBettywasthinkingandsummingupdefinitely，pointafterpoint。Wherewasthewiseandpracticalcourseofdefence？Themostunthinkablethingwasthatonecouldfindone’sselfinapositioninwhichactionseemedinhibited。
　　Whatcouldonedo？Tosendforherfatherwouldsurelyendthematter——butatwhatcosttoRosy，toUghtred，toFfolliott，beforewhomthefairpathtodignifiedsecurityhadsonewlyopeneditself？Whatwouldbetheeffectofsuddenconfusion，anguish，andpublichumiliationuponRosalie’scarefullyrebuilthealthandstrength——uponhermother’snewhopeandhappiness？
　　Atmomentsitseemedasifalmostallthathadbeendonemightbeundone。Shewasbesetbysuchamomentnow，andfeltforthetime，atleast，likeacreaturetiedhandandfootwhileinfullstrength。
　　Certainlyshewasnotpreparedfortheeventwhichhappened。Rolandstiffenedhisears，and，beginningarumblinggrowl，endeditsuddenly，realisingitanunnecessaryprecaution。
　　Heknewthemanwalkinguptheinclineofthemoundfromthesidebehindthem。SodidBettyknowhim。ItwasSirNigellookingrathergloweringandpaleandwalkingslowly。Hehaddiscoveredwhereshehadmeanttotakerefuge，andhadprobablyriddentosomepointwherehecouldleavehishorseandfollowherattheexpenseoftakingashortcutwhichsavedwalking。
　　Asheclimbedthemoundtojoinher，Bettyrosetoherfeet。
　　"Mydeargirl，"hesaid，"don’tgetupasifyoumeanttogoaway。Ithascostmesomeexertiontofindyou。"
　　"Itwillnotcostyouanyexertiontoloseme，"washerlightanswer。"IAMgoingaway。"
　　Hehadreachedher，andstoodstillbeforeherwithscarcelyayard’sdistancebetweenthem。Hewasslightlyoutofbreathandevenatriflelivid。Heleanedonhisstickandhislookathercombinedleapingbadtemperwithsomethingdeeper。
　　"Lookhere！"hebrokeout，"whydoyoumakesuchapointoftreatingmelikethedevil？"
　　Bettyfeltherheartgiveahastenedbeat，notoffear，butofrepulsion。ThiswasthemoodandmannerwhichsubjugatedRosalie。Hehadsoraisedhisvoicethattwomeninthedistance，whomightbeeitherlabourersorsportsmen，hearingitshightone，glancedcuriouslytowardsthem。
　　"Whydoyouaskmeaquestionwhichistotallyabsurd？"
　　shesaid。
　　"Itisnotabsurd，"heanswered。"Iamspeakingoffacts，andIintendtocometosomeunderstandingaboutthem。"
　　Forreply，aftermeetinghislookafewseconds，shesimplyturnedherbackandbegantowalkaway。Hefollowedandovertookher。
　　"Ishallgowithyou，andIshallsaywhatIwanttosay，"
　　hepersisted。"IfyouhastenyourpaceIshallhastenmine。
　　Icannotexactlyseeyourunningawayfrommeacrossthemarsh，screaming。Youwouldn’tcaretoberescuedbythosemenovertherewhoarewatchingus。IshouldexplainmyselftothemintermsneitheryounorRosaliewouldenjoy。There！
　　IknewRosalie’snamewouldpullyouup。GoodGod！IwishIwereaweakfoolwithamagnificentcreatureprotectingmeatallrisks。"
　　Ifshehadnothadbloodandfireinherveins，shemighthavefounditeasytoanswercalmly。Butshehadboth，andbothleapedandbeatfuriouslyforafewseconds。Itwasonlyhumanthatitshouldbeso。Butshewasmorethanapassionategirlofhighandtrenchantspirit，andshehadlearned，eveninthedaysattheFrenchschool，whathehadneverbeenabletolearninhislife——self—control。Sheheldherselfinasshewouldhaveheldinahorseoftoogreatfireandaction。Shewasactuallyabletolook——asthefirstReubenVanderpoelwouldhavelooked——athercapitalofresource。Butitmeanttautholdingofthereins。
　　"Willyoutellme，"shesaid，stopping，"whatitisyouwant？"
　　"Iwanttotalktoyou。Iwanttotellyoutruthsyouwouldratherbetoldherethanonthehighroad，wherepeoplearepassing——oratStornham，wheretheservantswouldoverhearandRosaliebethrownintohysterics。YouwillNOTrunscreamingacrossthemarsh，becauseIshouldrunscreamingafteryou，andweshouldbothlooksilly。Hereisaratherscraggytree。Willyousitonthemoundnearit——forRosalie’ssake？"
　　"Iwillnotsitdown，"repliedBetty，"butIwilllisten，becauseitisnotabadideathatIshouldunderstandyou。Buttobeginwith，Iwilltellyousomething。"Shestoppedbeneaththetreeandstoodwithherbackagainstitstrunk。
　　"Ipickupthingsbynoticingpeopleclosely，andIhaverealisedthatallyourlifeyouhavecountedupongettingyourownwaybecauseyousawthatpeople——especiallywomen——haveahorrorofpublicscenes，andwillsubmittoalmostanythingtoavoidthem。Thatistrueveryoften，butnotalways。"
　　Hereyes，whichwerewellopened，werequitetheblueofsteel，andresteddirectlyuponhim。"I，forinstance，wouldletyoumakeascenewithmeanywhereyouchose——inBondStreet——
　　inPiccadilly——onthestepsofBuckinghamPalace，asIwasgettingoutofmycarriagetoattendadrawing—room——andyouwouldgainnothingyouwantedbyit——nothing。Youmayplaceentireconfidenceinthatstatement。"
　　Hestaredbackather，momentarilyhalf—magnetised，andthenbrokeforthintoaharshhalf—laugh。
　　"Youaresodamnedhandsomethatnothingelsematters。
　　I’mhangedifitdoes！"andthewordswereanexclamation。
　　Hedrewstillnearertoher，speakingwithasortofsavagery。
　　"Cannotyouseethatyoucoulddowhatyoupleasedwithme？Youaretoomagnificentathingforamantowithstand。
　　Ihavelostmyheadandgonetothedevilthroughyou。
　　ThatiswhatIcametosay。"
　　Inthefewsecondsofsilencethatfollowed，hisbreathcamequicklyagainandhewasevenpalerthanbefore。
　　"YoucametometosayTHAT？"askedBetty。
　　"Yes——tosayitbeforeyoudrovemetootherthings。"
　　Hergazewasforamomentevenslightlywondering。Hepresentedthecuriouspictureofacynicalmanoftheworld，forthetimebeingruledandimpelledonlybythemostprimitiveinstincts。Toaclear—headedmodernyoungwomanofthemostpowerfulclass，he——hersister’shusband——wasmakingthreateningloveasifhewereasavagechiefandsheasavagebeautyofhistribe。Allthatconcernedhimwasthatheshouldspeakandsheshouldhear——thatheshouldshowherhewasthestrongerofthetwo。
　　"AreyouQUITEmad？"shesaid。
　　"Notquite，"heanswered；"onlythreeparts——butIambeyondmyowncontrol。Thatisthebestproofofwhathashappenedtome。Youareanarrogantpieceandyouwoulddefymeifyoustoodalone，butyoudon’t，and，bytheLord！I
　　havereachedapointwhereIwillmakeuseofeveryleverI
　　canlaymyhandon——yourself，Rosalie，Ughtred，Ffolliott——
　　thewholelotofyou！"
　　Thethingwhichwashardestuponherwasherknowledgeofherownstrength——ofwhatshemighthaveallowedherselfofflamingwordsandinstantaction——butforthememoryofRosy’sghastlylittleface，asithadlookedwhenshecriedout，"Youmustnotthinkofme。Betty，gohome——gohome！"
　　Sheheldthewhitedesperationofitbeforehermentalvisionandansweredhimevenwithacertaininteresteddeliberateness。
　　"Doyouknow，"sheinquired，"thatyouaretalkingtomeasthoughyouwerethevillaininthemelodrama？"
　　"Thereisanadvantageinthat，"heanswered，withanunholysmile。"IfyourepeatwhatIsay，peoplewillonlythinkthatyouareindulginginhystericalexaggeration。Theydon’tbelieveintheexistenceofmelodramainthesedays。"
　　Thecynical，absoluteknowledgeofthisrevealedsomuchthatnervewasrequiredtofaceitwithsteadiness。
　　"True，"shecommented。"NowIthinkIunderstand。"
　　"No，youdon’t，"heburstforth。"Youhavespentyourlifestandingonagoldenpedestal，beingkowtowedto，andyouimagineyourselfimmunefromdifficultiesbecauseyouthinkyoucanpayyourwayoutofanything。Butyouwillfindthatyoucannotpayyourwayoutofthis——orratheryoucannotpayRosalie’swayoutofit。"
　　"Ishallnottry。Goon，"saidthegirl。"WhatIdonotunderstand，youmustexplaintome。Don’tleaveanythingunsaid。"
　　"GoodGod，whatawomanyouare！"hecriedoutbitterly。Hehadneverseensuchbeautyinhislifeashesawinherasshestoodwithherstraightyoungbodyflatagainstthetree。Itwasnotamatterofdeepcolourofeye，orhighspiritofprofile——butofsomethingwhichburnedhim。Stillasshewas，shelookedlikeaflame。Shemadehimfeeloldandbody—
　　worn，andallthemoresenselesslyfurious。
　　"Ibelieveyouhateme，"heraged。"AndImaythankmywifeforthat。"Thenhelosthimselfentirely。"Whycannotyoubehavewelltome？Ifyouwillbehavewelltome，Rosalieshallgoherownway。Ifyouevenlookedatmeasyoulookatothermen——butyoudonot。ThereisalwayssomethingunderyourlasheswhichwatchesmeasifIwereawildbeastyouwerestudying。Don’tfancyyourselfadompteuse。Iamnotyourman。Isweartoyouthatyoudon’tknowwhatyouaredealingwith。IsweartoyouthatifyouplaythisgamewithmeIwilldragyoutwodownifIdragmyselfwithyou。I
　　havenothingmuchtolose。Youandyoursisterhaveeverything。"
　　"Goon，"Bettysaidbriefly。
　　"Goon！Yes，Iwillgoon。RosalieandFfolliottIholdinthehollowofmyhand。Asforyou——doyouknowthatpeoplearebeginningtodiscussyou？Gossipiseasilystirredinthecountry，wherepeoplearesoboredthattheychatterinself—defence。Ihavebeenconsideredabadlot。Ihavebecomecuriouslyattachedtomysister—in—law。Iamseenhangingabouther，hangingoverheraswerideorwalkalonetogether。AnAmericanyoungwomanisnotlikeanEnglishgirl——sheisusedtoseeingthemarriageceremonyjuggledwith。There’satrifleofprejudiceagainstsuchyoungwomenwhentheyaretoorichandtoohandsome。Don’tlookatmelikethat！"heburstforth，withmaddenedsharpness，"Iwon’thaveit！"
　　Thegirlwasregardinghimwiththeexpressionhemostresented——thereflectionofanormalpersonwatchinganabnormalone，andstudyinghisabnormality。
　　"Doyouknowthatyouareraving？"shesaid，withquietcuriosity——"raving？"
　　Suddenlyhesatdownonthelowmoundnearhim，andashetouchedhisforeheadwithhishandkerchief，shesawthathishandactuallyshook。
　　"Yes，"heanswered，panting，"but’waremyravings！
　　Theymeanwhattheysay。"
　　"Youdoyourselfaninjurywhenyougivewaytothem"——
　　steadily，evenwithatouchofslowsignificance——"aphysicalinjury。Ihavenoticedthatmorethanonce。"
　　Hesprangtohisfeetagain。Everydropofbloodlefthisface。Forasecondhelookedasifhewouldstrikeher。Hisarmactuallyflungitselfout——andfell。
　　"Youdevil！"hegasped。"Youcountonthat？Youshe—devil！"
　　Shelefthertreeandstoodbeforehim。
　　"Listentome，"shesaid。"Youintimatethatyouhavebeenlayingmelodramaticplotsagainstmewhichwillinjuremygoodname。Thatisrubbish。Letusleaveitatthat。YouthreatenthatyouwillbreakRosy’sheartandtakeherchildfromher，yousayalsothatyouwillwoundandhurtmymothertoherdeathanddoyourworsttoruinanhonestman————"
　　"And，byGod，Iwill！"heraged。"Andyoucannotstopme，if————"
　　"IdonotknowwhetherIcanstopyouornot，thoughyoumaybesureIwilltry，"sheinterruptedhim，"butthatisnotwhatIwasgoingtosay。"Shedrewastepnearer，andtherewassomethingintheintensityofherlookwhichfascinatedandheldhimforamoment。Shewascuriouslygrave。"Nigel，I
　　believeincertainthingsyoudonotbelievein。Ibelieveblackthoughtsbreedblackillstothosewhothinkthem。Itisnotanewidea。ThereisanoldOrientalproverbwhichsays，`Curses，likechickens，comehometoroost。’Ibelievealsothattheworst——theveryworstCANNOTbedonetothosewhothinksteadily——steadily——onlyofthebest。Toyouthatismerelysuperstitiontobelaughedat。Thatisamatterofopinion。
　　But——don’tgoonwiththisthing——DON’TGOONWITHIT。Stopandthinkitover。"
　　Hestaredatherfuriously——triedtolaughoutright，andfailedbecausethelookinhereyeswassooddinitsstrengthandstillness。
　　"Youthinkyoucanlaysomeweirdspelluponme，"hejeeredsardonically。
　　"No，Idon’t，"sheanswered。"IcouldnotifIwould。Itisnoaffairofmine。Itisyouraffaironly——andthereisnothingweirdaboutit。Don’tgoon，Itellyou。Thinkbetterofit。"
　　Sheturnedaboutwithoutfurtherspeech，andwalkedawayfromhimwithlightswiftnessoverthemarsh。Oddlyenough，hedidnotevenattempttofollowher。Hefeltalittleweak——
　　perhapsbecauseacertainthingshehadsaidhadbroughtbacktohimafamiliartouchofthehorrors。Shehadtheeyesofafalconundertheodd，softshadeoftheextraordinarylashes。
　　Shehadseenwhathethoughtnoonebuthimselfhadrealised。
　　Havingwatchedherretreatingfigureforafewseconds，hesatdown——assuddenlyasbefore——onthemoundnearthetree。
　　"Oh，damnher！"hesaid，hisdampforeheadonhishands。
　　"Damnthewholeuniverse！"……
　　WhenBettyandRolandreachedStornham，thewicker—workponychaisefromthevicaragestoodbeforethestoneentrancesteps。Thedrawing—roomdoorwasopen，andMrs。BrentwasstandingnearitsayingsomelastwordstoLadyAnstruthersbeforeleavingthehouse，afteravisitevidentlymadewithanobject。ThisBettygatheredfromthesolemnityofhermanner。
　　"Betty，"saidLadyAnstruthers，catchingsightofher，"docomeinforamoment。"
　　WhenBettyentered，bothhersisterandMrs。Brentlookedatherquestioningly。
　　"Youlookalittlepaleandtired，MissVanderpoel，"Mrs。
　　Brentsaid，ratherasifinhastetobethefirsttospeak。"I
　　hopeyouarenotatallunwell。Weneedallourstrengthjustnow。Ihavebroughtthemostpainfulnews。MalignanttyphoidfeverhasbrokenoutamongthehoppickersontheMountDunstanestate。SomepoorcreaturewasevidentlysickeningforitwhenhecamefromLondon。Threepeoplediedlastnight。"
　　CHAPTERXLI
　　SHEWOULDDOSOMETHING
　　SirNigel’sfacewasnotagoodthingtoseewhenheappearedatthedinnertableintheevening。Ashetookhisseatthetwofootmenglancedquicklyateachother，andthebutleratthesideboardfurtivelythrustouthisunderlip。Notamanorwomaninthehouseholdbuthadlearnedthesignaldenotingthemomentwhennoservicewouldplease，nowordormovementbeunobjectionable。LadyAnstruthers’faceunconsciouslyassumeditspropitiatoryexpression，andsheglancedathersistermorethanoncewhenBettywasunawarethatshedidso。
　　Untilthesouphadbeenremoved，SirNigelscarcelyspoke，merelymakingcurtrepliestoanycasualremark。Thiswasoneofhissimpleandmostengagingmethodsofatonceenjoyinganill—humourandmakinghiswifefeelthatshewasinsomewaytoblameforit。
　　"MountDunstanisinadeucedlyunpleasantposition，"hecondescendedatlast。"Ishouldnotcaretostandinhisshoes。"
　　HehadnotreturnedtotheCourtuntillateintheafternoon，buthavingheardinthevillagetherumouroftheoutbreakoffever，hehadmadeinquiriesandgathereddetail。
　　"Youarethinkingoftheoutbreakoftyphoidamongthehoppickers？"saidLadyAnstruthers。"Mrs。Brentthinksitthreatenstobeveryserious。"
　　"Anepidemic，withoutadoubt，"heanswered。"InawretchedunsanitaryplacelikeDunstanvillage，thewretcheswilldielikeflies。"
　　"Whatwillbedone？"inquiredBetty。
　　Hegaveheroneoftheunpleasantpersonalglancesandlaughedderisively。
　　"Done？Thecountyauthorities，whocallthemselves`guardians，’willbefrightenedtodeathandwillpotteraboutandfusslikeoldwomen，andprofesstoexamineandprotectandlayrestrictions，buteveryonewillmanagetokeepatadiscreetdistance，andthethingwillrunriotanddoitsworst。
　　Asfarasonecansee，thereseemsnoreasonwhythewholeplaceshouldnotbesweptaway。NodoubtMountDunstanhaswiselytakentohisheelsalready。"
　　"Ithinkthat，onthecontrary，therewouldbemuchdoubtofthat，"Bettysaid。"Hewouldstayanddowhathecould。"
　　SirNigelshruggedhisshoulders。
　　"Wouldhe？Ithinkyou’llfindhewouldnot。"
　　"Mrs。Brenttellsme，"Rosaliebrokeinsomewhathurriedly，"thatthehutsforthehoppersareintheworstpossiblecondition。Theyaresodilapidatedthattherainpoursintothem。Thereisnopropershelterforthepeoplewhoareill，andLordMountDunstancannotaffordtotakecareofthem。"
　　"ButheWILL——heWILL，"brokeforthBetty。Herheadlifteditselfandshespokealmostasifthroughhersmall，shutteeth。
　　Awaveofintensebelief——high，proud，andobstinate，sweptthroughher。ItwasafeelingsostrongandvibrantthatshefeltasifMountDunstanhimselfmustbereachedandupbornebyit——asifhehimselfmusthearher。
　　Rosalielookedatherhalf—startled，and，forthemomentheldfascinatedbythesuddenforcerisinginherandbythesplendidsparkoflightunderherlids。ShewasremindedofthefiercelittleBettyoflongago，withherdelicate，indomitablesmallfaceandthespiritwhichevenatnineyearsoldhadsomehowseemedsostrongandstraitlykeenofsightthatonehadknownitmightalwaysbetrusted。Actually，inoneway，shehadnotchanged。Shesawthetruthofthings。Thenextinstant，however，inadvertentlyglancingtowardsherhusband，shecaughtherbreathquickly。Acrosshisheavy—featuredfacehadshotthesuddengleamofanewexpression。Itwasasifhehadatthemomentrecognisedsomethingwhichfilledhimwitharushoffuryhehimselfwasnotpreparedfor。Thathedidnotwishittobeseensheknewbyhismanner。Therewasabriefsilenceinwhichitpassedaway。Hespokeafterit，withdisagreeableprecision。
　　"Hehashadanenormouseffectonyou——thatman，"hesaidtoBetty。
　　Hespokeclearlysothatshemighthavethepleasureofbeingcertainthatthemenservantsheard。Theywereclosetothetable，handingfruit——professingtobeautomatons，eyesdown，facesexpressingnothing，butasquickofhearingasitissaidthatblindmenare。Heknewthatifhehadbeeninherplaceandathingasinsultinglysignificanthadbeensaidtohim，heshouldpromptlyhavehurledthenearestobject——plate，wine—
　　glass，ordecanter——inthefaceofthespeaker。Heknew，too，thatwomencannothurlprojectileswithoutlookinglikeviragosandfools。Theweakly—femininemightburstintotearsorintoasillyrageandleavethetable。Therewasadistinctbreath’sspaceofpause，andBetty，cuttingaclusterfromabunchofhothousegrapespresentedbythefootmanatherside，answeredasclearlyashehadspokenhimself。
　　"Heisstrongenoughtoproduceaneffectonanyone，"shesaid。
　　"Ithinkyoufeelthatyourself。Heisamanwhowillnotbebeatenintheend。Fortunewillgivehimsomegoodthing。"
　　"Heisafellowwhoknowswellenoughonwhichhandofhimgoodthingslie，"hesaid。"Hewilltakeallthatoffersitself。"
　　"Whynot？"Bettysaidimpartially。
　　"Theremustbenoridingordrivingintheneighbourhoodoftheplace，"hesaidnext。"Iwillhavenorisksrun。"Heturnedandaddressedthebutler。"Jennings，telltheservantsthatthosearemyorders。"
　　Hesatoverhiswinebutashorttimethatevening，andwhenhejoinedhiswifeandsister—in—lawinthedrawing—roomhewentatoncetoBetty。Infact，hewasintheconditionwhenamancannotkeepawayfromawoman，butmustinventsomereasonforreachingherwhetheritisfatuousorplausible。
　　"WhatIsaidtoJenningswasanordertoyouaswellastothepeoplebelowstairs。IknowyouareparticularlyfondofridinginthedirectionofMountDunstan。Youareinmycaresolongasyouareinmyhouse。"
　　"Ordersarenotnecessary，"Bettyreplied。"Thedayispastwhenonerushedtosmoothpillowsandgivethewrongmedicinewhenone’sfriendswereill。Ifoneisnotaproperly—
　　trainednurse，itiswisernottoriskbeingverymuchintheway。"
　　Hespokeoverhershoulder，droppinghisvoice，thoughLadyAnstrutherssatapart，appearingtoread。
　　"Don’tthinkIamfoolenoughnottounderstand。Youhaveyourselfundermagnificentcontrol，butawomanpassionatelyinlovecannotkeepacertainlookoutofhereyes。"
　　Hewasstandingonthehearth。Bettyswungherselflightlyround，facinghimsquarely。Herfulllookwassplendid。
　　"Ifitisthere——letitstay，"shesaid。"IwouldnotkeepitoutofmyeyesifIcould，and，youareright，IcouldnotifI
　　would——ifitisthere。Ifitis——letitstay。"
　　Thedaring，throbbing，humantruthofhermadehisbrainwhirl。Toamanyoungandcleanandfittocountasinthelists，tohaveheardhersaythethingofarivalwouldhavebeenhardenough，butbase，degenerate，andoftheworldbehindherday，tohearitwhilefrenziedforher，wasintolerable。AnditwasMountDunstansheboreherselfsohighlyfor。Whethermelodramaisoutofdateornotthereare，occasionally，somefinemelodramatictouchesintheenmitiesofto—day。
　　"Youthinkyouwillreachhim，"hepersisted。"Youthinkyouwillhelphiminsomeway。Youwillnotletthethingalone。"
　　"ExcusemymentioningthatwhatsoeverItakethelibertyofdoingwillencroachonnorightofyours，"shesaid。
　　But，aloneinherroom，aftershewentupstairs，thefacereflectingitselfinthemirrorwaspaleanditsblackbrowsweredrawntogether。
　　Shesatdownatthedressing—table，and，seeingthepaledface，drewtheblackbrowscloser，confrontingacomplicatingtruth。
　　"IfIwerefreetotakeRosalieandUghtredhometo—morrow，"shethought，"Icouldnotbeartogo。Ishouldsuffertoomuch。"
　　Shewassufferingnow。Thestronglonginginherheartwaslikeaphysicalpain。Nowordorlookofthisonemanhadgivenherproofthathisthoughtsturnedtoher，andyetitwasintolerable——intolerable——thatinhishourofstressandneedtheywereaswhollyapartasifworldsrolledbetweenthem。
　　Atanydiremomentitwasmerenaturethatsheshouldgiveherselfinhelpandsupport。If，onthenightatsea，whentheyhadfirstspokentoeachother，theshiphadgonedown，sheknewthattheytwo，strangersthoughtheywere，wouldhaveworkedsidebysideamongthefranticpeople，andhavebeenamongthelasttotaketotheboats。Howdidsheknow？Onlybecause，hebeinghe，andshebeingshe，itmusthavebeensoinaccordancewiththelawsrulingentities。Andnowhestoodfacingacalamityalmostasterrible——andshewithfullhandssatstill。