"Toomuch！"exclaimedRosalie。"Theyhavelosteverything，youknow；theirhayricksandcattleaswellastheirhouse；Iguessitwon’tbehalfenough。"
　　Mrs。Brentdraggedherintothevicar’sstudyandtalkedtoher。ShetriedtoexplainthatinEnglishvillagessuchthingswerenotdoneinamannersocasual，asiftheywerethemereresultofunconsideredfeeling，asiftheywerequitenaturalthings，suchasanyhumanpersonmightdo。WhenRosaliecried："Butwhynot——whynot？Theyoughttobe。"Mrs。
　　Brentcouldnotseemtomakeherselfquiteclear。Rosalieonlygatheredinabewilderedwaythatthereoughttobemoreceremony，moredeliberation，moreholdingoff，beforeapersonofrankindulgedinsuchmunificence。Therecipientoughttobemadetofeelitmore，tounderstandfullywhatagreatthingwasbeingdone。
　　"Theywillthinkyouwilldoanythingforthem。"
　　"SoIwill，"saidyoungLadyAnstruthers，"ifIhavethemoneywhentheyareinsuchawfultrouble。Supposewelosteverythingintheworldandtherewerepeoplewhocouldeasilyhelpusandwouldn’t？"
　　"YouandSirNigel——thatisquitedifferent，"saidMrs。
　　Brent。"Iamafraidthatifyoudonotdiscussthematterandaskadvicefromyourhusbandandmother—in—lawtheywillbeverymuchoffended。"
　　"IfIweredoingitwiththeirmoneytheywouldhavetherighttobe，"repliedRosalie，withentireingenuousness。
　　"Iwouldn’tpresumetodosuchathingasthat。Thatwouldn’tberight，ofcourse。"
　　"Theywillbeangrywithme，"saidthevicaressawkwardly。Thisqueer，sillygirl，whoseemedtoseenothingintherightlight，frequentlymadeherfeelawkward。Mrs。Brenttoldherhusbandthatsheappearedtohavenosenseofdignityorproperappreciationofherposition。
　　Thewifeofthefarmer，JohnWilson，carriedawaythecheque，quitestunned。Shewasbreathlesswithamazementandturnedratherfaintwithexcitement，bewildermentandhersenseofrelief。Shehadtositdowninthevicaragekitchenforafewminutesanddrinkaglassofthethinvicaragebeer。
　　RosaliepromisedthatshewoulddiscussthematterandaskadvicewhenshereturnedtotheCourt。JustassheleftthehouseMrs。Brentsuddenlyrememberedsomethingshehadforgotten。
　　"TheWilsontroublecompletelydroveitoutofmymind，"
　　shesaid。"Itwasastupidmistakeofthepostboy’s。Heleftaletterofyoursamongminewhenhecamethismorning。Itwasmostcareless。Ishallspeaktohisfatheraboutit。Itmighthavebeenimportantthatyoushouldreceiveitearly。"
　　WhenshesawtheletterRosalieutteredanexclamation。Itwasaddressedinherfather’shandwriting。
　　"Oh！"shecried。"It’sfromfather！AndthepostmarkisHavre。Whatdoesitmean？"
　　Shewassoexcitedthatshealmostforgottoexpressherthanks。Herheartleapedupinherthroat。CouldtheyhavecomeoverfromAmerica——couldthey？WhywasitwrittenfromHavre？Couldtheybenearher？
　　Shewalkedalongtheroadchokedwithecstatic，laughingsobs。Herhandshooksothatshecouldscarcelytearopentheenvelope；shetoreacorneroftheletter，andwhenthesheetwasspreadopenhereyeswerefullofwild，delightedtears，whichmadeitimpossibleforhertoseeforthemoment。
　　Butshesweptthetearsawayandreadthis：
　　DEARDAUGHTER：
　　Itseemsasifwehadhadprettybadluckinnotseeingyou。
　　Wehadcountedonitverymuch，andyourmotherfeelsitallthemorebecausesheisweakafterherillness。Wedon’tquiteunderstandwhyyoudidnotseemtoknowaboutherhavinghaddiphtheriainParis。YoudidnotanswerBetty’sletter。Perhapsitmissedyouinsomeway。Thingsdosometimesgowronginthemail，andseveraltimesyourmotherhasthoughtaletterhasbeenlost。Shethoughtsobecauseyouseemedtoforgettorefertothings。WecameovertoleaveBettyataFrenchschoolandwehadexpectedtovisityoulater。Butyourmotherfellillofdiphtheriaandnothearingfromyouseemedtomakeherhomesick，sowedecidedtoreturntoNewYorkbythenextsteamer。IranovertoLondon，however，tomakesomeinquiriesaboutyou，andonthefirstdayIarrivedImetyourhusbandinBondStreet。HeatonceexplainedtomethatyouhadgonetoahousepartyatsomecastleinScotland，andsaidyouwerewellandenjoyingyourselfverymuch，andhewasonhiswaytojoinyou。
　　Iamsorry，daughter，thatithasturnedoutthatwecouldnotseeeachother。Itseemsalongtimesinceyouleftus。
　　ButIamveryglad，however，thatyouaresowellandreallylikeEnglishlife。IfwehadtimeforitIamsureitwouldbedelightful。Yourmothersendsherloveandwantsverymuchtohearofallyouaredoingandenjoying。Hopingthatwemayhavebetterluckthenexttimewecross——
　　Youraffectionatefather，REUBENL。VANDERPOEL。
　　Rosaliefoundherselfrunningbreathlesslyuptheavenue。
　　Shewasclutchingtheletterstillinherhand，andstaggeringfromsidetoside。Nowandthensheutteredhorriblelittleshortcries，likeananimal’s。Sheranandran，seeingnothing，andnowandthenwiththeclenchedhandinwhichtheletterwascrushedstrikingasharpblowatherbreast。
　　Shestumbledupthebigstonestepsshehadmountedonthedayshewasbroughthomeasabride。Herdresscaughtherfeetandshefellonherkneesandscrambledupagain，gasping；
　　shedashedacrossthehugedarkhall，and，hurlingherselfagainstthedoorofthemorningroom，appeared，dishevelled，haggard—eyed，andwithscarletpatchesonherwild，whiteface，beforetheDowager，whostartedangrilytoherfeet：
　　"WhereisNigel？WhereisNigel？"shecriedoutfrenziedly。
　　"Whatinheaven’snamedoyoumeanbysuchmanners？"
　　demandedherladyship。"Apologiseatonce！"
　　"WhereisNigel？Nigel！Nigel！"thegirlraved。"Iwillseehim——Iwill——Iwillseehim！"
　　Shewhohadbeenthemildestofsweet—temperedcreaturesallherlifehadsuddenlygonealmostinsanewithheartbroken，hystericgriefandrage。Shedidnotknowwhatshewassayinganddoing；sheonlyrealisedinanagonyofdespairthatshewasathingcaughtinatrap；thatthesepeoplehadherintheirpower，andthattheyhadtrickedandliedtoherandkeptherapartfromwhathergirl’sheartsocriedouttoandlongedfor。
　　Herfather，hermother，herlittlesister；theyhadbeennearherandhadbeenliedtoandsentaway"Youarequitemad，youviolent，uncontrolledcreature！"
　　criedtheDowagerfuriously。"Yououghttobeputinastraitjacketanddrenchedwithcoldwater。"
　　ThenthedooropenedagainandNigelstrodein。Hewasinridingdressandwasbreathlessandlividwithanger。Hewasinanicemoodtoconfrontawifeonthevergeofscreaminghysterics。Afterabadhalfhourwithhissteward，whohadbeentalkingofimpendingdisasters，hehadheardbychanceofWilson’sconflagrationandthehundred—poundcheque。Hehadgallopedhomeatthetopofhishorse’sspeed。
　　"Hereisyourwiferavingmad，"criedouthismother。
　　Rosaliestaggeredacrosstheroomtohim。Sheheldupherhandclenchingtheletterandshookitathim。
　　"Mymotherandfatherhavebeenhere，"sheshrieked。
　　Mymotherhasbeenill。Theywantedtocometoseeme。
　　Youknewandyoukeptitfromme。Youtoldmyfatherlies——lies——hideouslies！YousaidIwasawayinScotland——
　　enjoyingmyself——whenIwashereanddyingwithhomesickness。
　　YoumadethemthinkIdidnotcareforthem——orforNewYork！
　　Youhavekilledme！Whydidyoudosuchawickedthing！
　　Helookedatherwithglaringeyes。Ifamanbornagentlemaniseverinthemoodtokickhiswifetodeath，ascostermongersdo，hewasinthatmood。Hehadlostcontroloverhimselfascompletelyasshehad，andwhileshewasonlyadesperate，hystericgirl，hewasaviolentman。
　　"IdiditbecauseIdidnotmeantohavethemhere，"hesaid。"IdiditbecauseIwon’thavethemhere。"
　　"Theyshallcome，"shequaveredshrillyinherwildness。
　　"Theyshallcometoseeme。Theyaremyownfatherandmother，andIwillhavethem。"
　　Hecaughtherarminsuchagripthatshemusthavethoughthewouldbreakit，ifshecouldhavethoughtorfeltanything。
　　"No，youwillnothavethem，"hegroundforthbetweenhisteeth。"YouwilldoasIorderyouandlearntobehaveyourselfasadecentmarriedwomanshould。YouwilllearntoobeyyourhusbandandrespecthiswishesandcontrolyourdevilishAmericantemper。"
　　"Theyhavegone——gone！"wailedRosalie。"Yousentthemaway！Myfather，mymother，mysister！"
　　"Stopyourindecentravings！"orderedSirNigel，shakingher。"Iwillnotsubmittobedisgracedbeforetheservants。"
　　"Putyourhandoverhermouth，Nigel，"criedhismother。
　　"Theveryscullerymaidswillhear。"
　　Shewasasinfuriatedasherson。And，indeed，tobeholdcivilisedhumanbeingsinthestateofuncontrolledviolencethesethreehadreachedwasasighttoshudderat。
　　"Iwon’tstop，"criedthegirl。"Whydidyoutakemeawayfromeverything——Iwasquitehappy。Everybodywaskindtome。Ilovedpeople，Ihadeverything。Nooneever——
　　ever——everill—usedanyone————"
　　SirNigelclutchedherarmmorebrutallystillandshookherwithabsoluteviolence。Herhairbrokelooseandfellaboutherawfullittledistorted，sobbingface。
　　"Ididnottakeyoutogiveyouanopportunitytodisplayyourvulgarostentationbythrowingawayhundred—poundchequestovillagers，"hesaid。"Ididn’ttakeyoutogiveyouthepositionofaladyandbemadeafoolofbyyou。"
　　"Youhaveruinedhim，"burstforthhismother。"YouhaveputitoutofhispowertomarryanEnglishwomanwhowouldhaveknownitwasherdutytogivesomethinginreturnforhisnameandprotection。"
　　Herladyshiphadbeguntoravealso，andasmotherandsonwereofequalviolencewhentheyhadceasedtocontrolthemselves，Rosaliebegantofindherselfenlightenedunsparingly。Sheandherpeoplewerevulgarsharpers。TheyhadtrappedagentlemanintoalowAmericanmarriageandhadnotthedecencytopayforwhattheyhadgot。IfshehadbeenanEnglishwoman，wellborn，andofdecentbreeding，allherfortunewouldhavebeenproperlytransferredtoherhusbandandhewouldhavehadthedispensingofit。Herhusbandwouldhavebeeninthepositiontocontrolherexpenditureandseethatshedidnotmakeafoolofherself。Asitwasshewasthederisionofalldecentpeople，ofallpeoplewhohadbeenproperlybroughtupandknewwhatwasingoodtasteandofgoodmorality。
　　FirstitwastheDowagerwhopouredforth，andthenitwasSirNigel。Theybrokeinoneachother，theyinterruptedoneanotherwithexclamationsandinterpolations。Theyhadsofarlostthemselvesthattheydidnotknowtheybecamegrotesqueintheviolenceoftheirfury。Rosalie’sbrainwhirled。Herhysteriamountedandmounted。Shestaredfirstatoneandthenattheother，gaspingandsobbingbyturns；sheswayedonherfeetandclutchedatachair。
　　"Ididnotknow，"shebrokeforthatlast，tryingtomakehervoiceheardinthestorm。"Ineverunderstood。Iknewsomethingmadeyouhateme，butIdidn’tknowyouwereangryaboutmoney。"Shelaughedtremulouslyandwildly。
　　"Iwouldhavegivenittoyou——fatherwouldhavegivenyousome——ifyouhadbeengoodtome。"Thelaughbecamehystericalbeyondhermanagement。Pealafterpealbrokefromher，sheshookalloverwithherghastlymerriment，sobbingatoneandthesametime。
　　"Oh！oh！oh！"sheshrieked。"Yousee，Ithoughtyouweresoaristocratic。Iwouldn’thavedaredtothinkofsuchathing。IthoughtanEnglishgentleman——anEnglishgentleman——
　　oh！oh！tothinkitwasallbecauseIdidnotgiveyoumoney——justcommondollarsandcentsthat——thatIdaren’toffertoadecentAmericanwhocouldworkforhimself。"
　　SirNigelsprangather。Hestruckherwithhisopenhanduponthecheek，andasshereeledshehelduphersmall，feverish，shakinghand，laughingmorewildlythanbefore。
　　"Yououghtnottostrikeme，"shecried。"Yououghtn’t！
　　Youdon’tknowhowvaluableIam。Perhaps————"withalittle，crazyscream——"perhapsImighthaveason。"
　　Shefellinashudderingheap，andasshedroppedshestruckheavilyagainsttheprotrudingendofanoakchestandlayuponthefloor，herarmsflungoutandlimp，asifshewereadeadthing。
　　CHAPTERV
　　ONBOTHSIDESOFTHEATLANTIC
　　InthecourseoftwelveyearstheShuttlehadwovensteadilyand——itsmovementslubricatedbytimeandcustom——withincreasingrapidity。Threadsofcommerceitcaughtupandshottoandfro，withthreadsofliteratureandart，threadsoflifedrawnfromoneshoretotheotherandbackagain，untiltheywereboundinthefabricofitsweaving。Coldnesstherehadbeenbetweenbothlands，broaddivergenceoftasteandthought，argumentacrossseas，sometimesresentment，butthewebinFate’shandsbroadenedandstrengthenedandheldfast。Coldnessfaintlywarmeddespiteitself，tasteandthoughtdrawnintonearercontact，reflectingupontheirdivergences，grewintotoleranceandtheknowledgethatthediverging，seenmoreclearly，wasnotsobroad；argumentcomingwithinspeakingdistancereasoneditselftologicalandpracticalconclusions。
　　Problemswhichhadstirredangerbegantofindsolutions。
　　Books，inthefirstplace，didperhapsmorethanallelse。
　　Cheap，piratededitionsofEnglishworks，muchquarrelledoverbyauthorsandpublishers，beingscatteredovertheland，broughtbeforeAmericaneyessoft，home—likepicturesofplaceswhichwere，afterallwassaidanddone，thehomesofthosewhoreadofthem，atleastinthesenseofhavingbeenthebirthplacesoffathersorgrandfathers。Somesubtle，far—reachingpowerofnaturecausedastirringoftheblood，avague，unexpressedyearningandlingeringoverpageswhichdepictedsweet，greenlanes，broadacresrichwithcenturiesofnourishmentandcare；
　　greychurchtowers，redroofs，andvillagechildrenplayingbeforecottagedoors。Noneofthesethingswerenewtothosewhoponderedoverthem，kinsmenhaddweltonmemoriesofthemintheirfiresidetalk，andtheirchildrenhadseentheminfancyandindreams。Oldgrievanceshavinghadtimetofadeawayandtakeonlesspoignantcolour，thestirringofthebloodstirredalsoimaginations，andwakenedsomethingakintohomesickness，thoughnomancalledthefeelingbyitsname。Andthis，perhaps，wasthestrongestcordtheShuttlewoveandwasthetruemeaningofitspower。Beingdrawnbyit，Americansinincreasingnumbersturnedtheirfacestowardstheolderland。Graduallyitwasdiscoveredthatitwasthesimplestaffairintheworldtodrivedowntothewharvesandtakeasteamerwhichlandedone，afteramoreorlessinterestingvoyage，inLiverpool，oratsomeotherconvenientport。FromthereonewenttoLondon，orParis，orRome；infact，whither—
　　soeverone’sfancyguided，butfirstorlastitalwaysledthetravellertothetreadingofgreen，velvetEnglishturf。Andoncestandingonsuchvelvet，bothmenandwomen，lookingaboutthem，felt，despitethemselves，thestrangeoldthrillwhichsomeofthemhalfresentedandsomewarmlyloved。
　　Inthecourseoftwelveyears，alengthoftimewhichwilltransformalittlegirlwearingashortfrockintoayoungwomanwearingalongone，thepaceoflifeandtheorderingofsocietymaybecomesoalteredastoappearamazingwhenonefindstimetoreflectonthesubject。Butonedoesnotoftenfindtime。Changesoccursograduallythatonescarcelyobservesthem，orsoswiftlythattheytaketheformofakindofamazedshockwhichonegetsoverasquicklyasoneexperiencesitandrealisesthatitscauseisalreadyafixedfact。
　　IntheUnitedStatesofAmerica，whichhavenotyetacquiredtheserenesenseofconservativeself—satisfactionandreposewhichcenturiesofagemaybestow，thespiritoflifeitselfistheaspirationforchange。Ambitionitselfonlymeanstheinsistenceonchange。Eachdayistobebetterthanyesterdayfullerofplans，ofbriskness，ofinitiative。Eachto—daydemandsofto—morrownewmen，newminds，newwork。Ato—daywhichhasnotlaunchednewships，explorednewcountries，constructednewbuildings，addedstoriestooldones，mayconsideritselfafailure，unworthyevenofbeingconsignedtothelimboofrespectableyesterdays。Suchacountrylivesbyleapsandbounds，andthetenyearswhichfollowedthemarriageofReubenVanderpoel’seldestdaughtermademanysuchboundsandleaps。Theywereyearswhichinitiatedandestablishedinternationalsocialrelationsinamannerwhichcausedthemtoincorporatethemselveswiththehistoryofbothcountries。
　　AsAmericadiscoveredEurope，thatcontinentdiscoveredAmerica。
　　AmericanbeautiesbegantoappearinEnglishdrawing—roomsandContinentalsalons。TheywerepresentedatcourtandcommenteduponintheRowandtheBois。Theirlittletransatlantictricksofspeechandtheirmotswererepeatedwithgusto。Itbecameunderstoodthattheywereamusingandamazing。Americans"camein"astheheroesandheroinesofnovelsandstories。Punchdelightedinthemvastly。Shop—
　　keepersandhotelproprietorsstocked，furnished，andprovisionedforthem。Theyspentmoneyenormouslyandweresingularlyindifferent（attheoutset）underimposition。They"cameover"inamannerasepoch—making，thoughlesswar—likethanthatofWilliamtheConqueror。
　　Internationalmarriagesceasedtobeanovelty。AsBettinaVanderpoelgrewup，shegrewup，sotospeak，inthemidstofthem。Shesawhercountry，itspeople，itsnewspapers，itsliterature，innocentlyrejoicedbythealliancesitscharmingyoungwomencontractedwithforeignrank。Shesawitaffectionately，gleefully，rubbingitshandsoveritsduchesses，itscountesses，itsmiladies。TheAmericanEaglespreaditswingsandflappedthemsometimesatrifle，overthisnewbutsonaturalandinevitabletriumphofitsvirgins。Itwasofcourseonly"American"thatsuchthingsshouldhappen。Americaruledtheuniverse，anditswomenruledAmerica，bullyingitalittle，prettily，perhaps。WhatcouldbemoreamatterofcoursethanthatAmericanwomen，beingaidedbyadoringfathers，brothersandhusbands，sumptuouslytoshipthemselvestootherlands，shouldbegintoruletheselandsalso？Betty，inhergrowingup，heardallthisintimated。Attwelveyearsold，thoughshehaddetestedRosalie’smarriage，shehadratherlikedtohearpeopletalkofthepicturesquenessofplaceslikeStornhamCourt，andofthelifeledbywomenofrankintheirhousesintownandcountry。Suchtalknearlyalwaysinvolvedthedescriptionofthingsandpeople，whosecolourandtonehadonlyreachedherthroughthemediumofbooks，mostfrequentlyfiction。
　　Shewas，however，ofanunusuallyobservingmind，evenasachild，andthetimecamewhensherealisedthatthenationalbirdspreaditswingslessproudlywhenthesubjectofinternationalmatcheswastouchedupon，andevenatsuchtimesshowedsignsofrestlessness。Nowandthenthingshadnotturnedoutastheyappearedtopromise；twoorthreeseeminglybrilliantunionshadresultedindisaster。Shehadnotunderstoodallthedetailsthenewspaperscheerfullyprovided，butitwascleartoherthatmorethanonepreviouslyenviedyoungwomanhadhadpracticalreasonsfordiscoveringthatshehadmadeanastonishinglybadbargain。Thisbeingthecase，sheusedfrequentlytoponderoverthecaseofRosy——Rosy！whohadbeensweptawayfromthemandswallowedup，asitseemed，bythatotherandolderworld。Shewasincertainwaysasilentchild，andnoonebutherselfknewhowlittleshehadforgottenRosy，howoftensheponderedoverher，howsometimesshehadlainawakeinthenightandpuzzledoutlinesofargumentconcerningherandthingswhichmightbetrue。
　　TheonegriefofpoorMrs。Vanderpoel’slifehadbeentheapparentestrangementofhereldestchild。AfterherfirstsixmonthsinEnglandLadyAnstruthers’lettershadbecomefewerandfartherbetween，andhadgivensolittleinformationconnectedwithherselfthataffectionatecuriositybecamediscouraged。SirNigel’sbriefandrareepistlesrevealedsolittledesireforanyrelationshipwithhiswife’sfamilythatgraduallyRosy’simageseemedtofadeintofardistanceandbecomefainterwiththepassingofeachmonth。Itseemedalmostanincrediblething，whentheyallowedthemselvestothinkofit，butnomemberofthefamilyhadeverbeentoStornhamCourt。Twoorthreeeffortstoarrangeavisithadbeenmade，butoneachoccasionhadfailedthroughsomeapparentlyaccidentalcause。OnceLadyAnstruthershadbeenaway，oncealetterhadseeminglyfailedtoreachher，onceherchildrenhadhadscarletfeverandtheordersofthephysiciansinattendancehadbeenstringentinregardtovisitors，evenrelativeswhodidnotfearcontagion。
　　"IfshehadbeenlivinginNewYorkandherchildrenhadbeenillIshouldhavebeenwithherallthetime，"poorMrs。
　　Vanderpoelhadsaidwithtears。"Rosy’schangedawfully，somehow。Herlettersdon’tsoundabitlikesheusedtobe。
　　Itseemsasifshejustdoesn’tcaretoseehermotherandfather。"
　　Bettyhadfrownedagooddealandthoughtintenselyinsecret。ShedidnotbelievethatRosywasashamedofherrelations。Sheremembered，however，itistrue，thatClaraNewell（whohadbeenaschoolmate）hadbecomeverysuper—fineandindifferenttoherfamilyafterhermarriagetoanaristocraticandlearnedGerman。Hershadbeenoneofthesuccessfulalliances，andafterlivingafewyearsinBerlinshehadquitelookeddownuponNewYorkers，andhadmadeherselfexceedinglyunpopularduringheronebriefvisittoherrelatives。Sheseemedtothinkherfatherandmotherundignifiedanduncultivated，andshedisapprovedentirelyofhersistersdressandbearing。Shesaidthattheyhadnodistinctionofmannerandthatalltheirinterestswerefrivolousandunenlightened。
　　"ButClaraalwayswasaconceitedgirl，"thoughtBetty。
　　"Shewasalwayspatronisingpeople，andRosywasonlyprettyandsweet。Shealwayssaidherselfthatshehadnobrains。
　　Butshehadaheart。"
　　AfterthelapseofafewyearstherehadbeennofurtherdiscussionofplansforvisitingStornham。Rosaliehadbecomesoremoteastoappearalmostunreachable。ShehadbeenpresentedatCourt，shehadhadthreechildren，theDowagerLadyAnstruthershaddied。Onceshehadwrittentoherfathertoaskforalargesumofmoney，whichhehadsenttoher，becausesheseemedtowantitverymuch。Sherequiredittopayoffcertaindebtsontheestateandspoketouchinglyofherboywhowouldinherit。
　　"Heisadelicateboy，father，"shewrote，"andIdon’twanttheestatetocometohimburdened。"
　　Whenshereceivedthemoneyshewrotegratefullyofthegenerosityshownher，butshespokeveryvaguelyoftheprospectoftheirseeingeachotherinthefuture。Itwasasifshefeltherownremotenessevenmorethantheyfeltitthemselves。
　　InthemeantimeBettinahadbeentakentoFranceandplacedatschoolthere。Theresultingexperiencewasanenlighteningone，farmoreilluminatingtothequick—wittedAmericanchildthanitwouldhavebeentoanEnglish，French，orGermanone，whowouldnothavehadsomuchtolearn，andprobablywouldnothavebeensoquickatthelearning。
　　BettyVanderpoelknewnothingwhichwasnotAmerican，andonlyvaguelyafewthingswhichwerenotofNewYork。
　　ShehadlivedinFifthAvenue，attendedschoolinanumberedstreetnearherownhome，playedinandbeendrivenroundCentralPark。ShehadspentthehotmonthsofthesummerinplacesuptheHudson，oronLongIsland，andsuchresortsofpleasure。Shehadbelievedimplicitlyinallshesawandknew。Shehadbeensurroundedbywealthanddecentgoodnaturethroughoutherexistence，andhadenjoyedherlifefartoomuchtoadmitofanydoubtthatAmericawasthemostperfectcountryintheworld，Americansthecleverestandmostamusingpeople，andthatothernationswerealittleoutofit，andconsequentlysufficientlyscantofresourcetorenderpitywithoutcondemnationanaturalsentimentinconnectionwithone’soccasionalthoughtsofthem。
　　Butherswasamentalitybynomeansordinary。Inheritanceinhernaturehadcombinedwithcircumstances，asithasahabitofdoinginallhumanbeings。Butinhercasethecombinationswereunusualandproducedaresultsomewhatremarkable。Thequalityofbrainswhich，inthefirstReubenVanderpoelhadexpresseditselfinthemarvellouslysuccessfulplanningandcarryingtotheirendsofcommercialandfinancialschemes，theabsolutegeniusofpenetrationandcalculationofthesordidanduneducatedlittletraderinskinsandbartererofgoods，havingfilteredthroughtwogenerationsofgradualeducationandrefinementofexistence，whichwasnolongerthatofthemeretrader，hadbeentransformedinthegreat—granddaughterintokeen，clearsight，level—headedperceptivenessandalogicalsenseofvalues。AsthefirstReubenhadknownbyinstinctthevaluesofpeltsandlands，Bettinaknewbyinstinctthevaluesofqualities，ofbrains，ofhearts，ofcircumstances，andtheincidentswhichaffectthem。