"ThatIwasinlucknottohavebrokenmyneck。"
　　"Youhadbetterhaveaglassofwine，"touchingabell。
　　"Youdonotlookequaltoanyexertion。"
　　Ingatheringhimselftogether，SirNigelfelthewasforcedtouseenormouseffort。IthadcosthimagruesomephysicalstruggletoendurethedriveovertoBroadmorlands，thoughitwasonlyafewmilesfromMedham。Therehadbeensomethingunnaturalintheexertionnecessarytosituprightandkeephisminddecentlyclear。Thatwastheworstofit。Thefeverandraginghoursofthepastdaysandnightshadsoshakenhimthathehadbecomeexhausted，andhisbrainwasnotalert。Hewasnotthinkingrapidly，andseveraltimeshehadlostsightofapointitwasimportanttoremember。Hegrewhotandcoldandknewhishandsandvoiceshook，asheanswered。But，perhaps——hefeltdesperately——signsofemotionwerenotbad。
　　"Iamnotquiteequaltoexertion，"hebeganslowly。"Butamancannotlieonhisbedwhilesomethingsareundone——
　　aMANcannot。"
　　AstheoldDukesatupright，theblueeyesunderhisbentbrowswerestartled，aswellascurious。Wasthemangoingoutofhismindaboutsomething？Helookedratherlikeit，withthedampnessstartingoutonhishaggardface，andtheuglylooksuddenlystampedthere。ThefactwasthattheinsensatefurywhichhadpossessedandtornAnstruthersashehadwrithedinhisinnbedroomhadsprunguponhimagaininfullforce，andhisweaknesscouldnotcontrolit，thoughitwouldhavebeenwisertoholditincheck。Healsofeltfrightfullyill，whichfilledhimwithdespair，and，throughthisfact，helostsightoftheeffectheproduced，ashestoodup，shakingallover。
　　"IcometoyoubecauseyouaretheonemanwhocanmosteasilyunderstandthethingIhavebeenconcealingforagoodmanyyears。"
　　TheDukewasirritated。Confoundtheobjectionableidiot，whatdidhemeanbytakingthatintimatetonewithamanwhowasnotpreparedtoconcernhimselfinhisaffairs？
　　"Excuseme，"hesaid，holdingupanauthoritativehand，"areyougoingtomakeaconfession？Idon’tlikesuchthings。Iprefertobeexcused。Personalconfidencesarenotparochialmatters。"
　　"Thisoneis。"AndSirNigelwassickeninglyconsciousthathewasputtingthestatementrashly，whileatthesametimeallbetterwordsescapedhim。"Itisasmuchaparochialmatter，"losingallholdonhiswitsandstammering，"aswas——aswas——theaffairof——yourwife。"
　　ItwastheDukewhostoodupnow，scarletwithanger。
　　Hesprangfromhischairasifhehadbeenayoungmaninwhomsomeinsulthadstruckblazingfire。
　　"You——youdare！"heshouted。"Youinsolentblackguard！
　　Youforceyourwayinhereanddare——dare————！"
　　Andheclenchedhisfist，wildlyshakingit。
　　NigelAnstruthers，staggeringonhisuncertainfeet，wouldhaveshoutedalso，butcouldnot，thoughhetried，andheheardhisownvoicecomeforthbrokenly。
　　"Yes，Idare！I——your——myown——my————！"
　　Swayingandtottering，heswungroundtothechairhehadleft，andfellintoit，evenwhiletheoldDuke，whostoodragingbeforehim，startedbackinoutragedamazement。Whatwasthefellowdoing？Washemakingfacesathim？Thedrawnmalignantmouthandmusclessuggestedit。Washealunatic，indeed？Butthesenseofdisgustedoutragechangedallatoncetohorror，as，withacountenancestillmorehideouslylividandtwisted，hisvisitorslidhelplesslyfromhisseatandlayahuddlingheapofclothesonthefloor。
　　CHAPTERL
　　THEPRIMEVALTHING
　　WhenMr。VanderpoellandedinEnglandhiswifewaswithhim。Thisquiet—facedwoman，whowasknowntobeonherwaytojoinherdaughterinEngland，wasmuchdiscussed，envied，andglancedat，whenshepromenadedthedeckwithherhusband，orsatinherchairsoftlywrappedinwonderfulfurs。Gradually，duringthepastmonths，shehadbeentoldcertainmodifiedtruthsconnectedwithherelderdaughter’smarriage。Theyhadbeenpainfultruths，buthadbeensosoftenedandexpurgatedoftheirworstfeaturesthatithadbeenpossibletobearthem，whenonerealisedthattheydidnot，atleast，meanthatRosyhadforgottenorceasedtolovehermotherandfather，orwishtovisitherhome。ThesteadyclearnessofforesightandreadinessofresourcewhichwereoftenspokenofasbeingspeciallycharacteristicofReubenS。
　　Vanderpoel，wereallrequired，andemployedwithgreattenderness，inthemanagementofthissituation。Aslittleasitwaspossiblethathiswifeshouldknow，wastheutmostshemusthearandbehurtby。Unlessensuingeventscompelledfurtherrevelations，therestofitshouldbekeptfromher。Asfurtherprotection，herhusbandhadfranklyaskedhertocontentherselfwithadegreeoflimitedinformation。
　　"Ihavemeantallourlives，Annie，tokeepfromyoutheunpleasantthingsawomanneednotbetroubledwith，"hehadsaid。"IpromisedmyselfIwouldwhenyouwereagirl。
　　Iknewyouwouldfacethings，ifIneededyourhelp，butyouwereagentlelittlesoul，likeRosy，andIneverintendedthatyoushouldbearwhatwasuseless。Anstrutherswasablackguard，andgirlsofallnationshavemarriedblackguardsbefore。
　　WhenyouhaveRosysafeathome，andknownothingcanhurtheragain，youbothmayfeelyouwouldliketotalkitover。
　　Tillthenwewon’tgointodetail。Youtrustme，Iknow，whenItellyouthatyoushallholdRosyinyourarmsverysoon。
　　Wemayhavesomethingofafight，buttherecanonlybeoneendtoitinacountryasdecentasEngland。Anstruthersisn’texactlywhatIshouldcallanEnglishman。Menratherlikehimaretobefoundintwoorthreeplaces。"Hisgood—looking，shrewd，elderlyfacelightedwithafinesmile。"MyhandsomeBettyhassavedusagooddealbycarryingoutherfifteen—year—oldplanofgoingtofindhersister，"heended。
　　BeforetheylandedtheyhaddecidedthatMrs。VanderpoelshouldbecomfortablyestablishedinahotelinLondon，andthatafterthiswasarranged，herhusbandshouldgotoStornhamCourtalone。IfSirNigelcouldbeinducedtolistentologic，Rosalie，herchild，andBettyshouldcomeatoncetotown。
　　"And，ifhewon’tlistentologic，"addedMr。Vanderpoel，withadrycomposure，"theyshallcomejustthesame，mydear。"Andhiswifeputherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhimbecausesheknewwhathesaidwasquitetrue，andsheadmiredhim——asshehadalwaysdone——greatly。
　　Butwhenthepilotcameonboardandtherebegantostirintheshiptheagreeableandexcitingbustleofthedeliveryoflettersandwelcomingtelegrams，amongMr。Vanderpoel’smanyyellowenvelopesheopenedonethecontentsofwhichcausedhimtostandstillforsomemoments——sostill，indeed，thatsomeofthebystandersbegantotoucheachother’selbowsandwhisper。Hecertainlyreadthemessagetwoorthreetimesbeforehefoldeditup，returnedittoitsreceptacle，andwalkedgravelytohiswife’ssitting—room。
　　"Reuben！"sheexclaimed，afterherfirstlookathim，"haveyoubadnews？Oh，Ihopenot！"
　　Hecameandsatdownquietlybesideher，takingherhand。
　　"Don’tbefrightened，Annie，mydear，"hesaid。"IhavejustbeenremindedofaverseintheBible——aboutvengeancenotbelongingtomerehumanbeings。NigelAnstruthershashadastrokeofparalysis，anditisnothisfirst。Apparently，evenifheliesonhisbackforsomemonthsthinkingofharm，hewon’tbeabletodoit。Heisfinished。"
　　Whenhewascarriedbytheexpresstrainthroughthecountry，hesawallthatBettyhadseen，thoughthesummerhadpassed，andtherewereneithergreentreesnorhedges。
　　Heknewallthatthelonglettershadmeantofstirredemotionandaffection，andhewasstronglymoved，thoughhismindwasfullofmanythings。Therewerethefarmhouses，thesquare—toweredchurches，thered—pointedhopoasts，andthevillagechildren。Howdistinctlyshehadmadehimseethem！
　　HisBetty——hissplendidBetty！Hisheartbeatatthethoughtofseeingherhigh，youngblackhead，andholdinghersafeinhisarmsagain。Safe！Heresentedhavingusedtheword，becausetherewasashockinseemingtoadmitthepossibilitythatanythingintheuniversecoulddowrongtoher。Yetonemanhadbeenvillainenoughtomeanherharm，andtothreatenherwithit。Heslightlyshudderedashethoughtofhowthemanwasfinished——donefor。
　　Thetrainbegantopuffmoreloudly，asitslackeneditspace。
　　Itwasdrawingneartoarusticlittlestation，and，asitpassedin，hesawacarriagestandingoutside，waitingontheroad，andafootmaninalongcoat，glancingintoeachwindowasthetrainwentby。Twoorthreecountrypeoplewerewatchingitintently。MissVanderpoel’sfatherwascomingupfromLondononit。Thestationmasterrushedtoopenthecarriagedoor，andthefootmanhastenedforward，butatalllovelythingingreywasoppositethestepasMr。Vanderpoeldescendedittotheplatform。Shedidnotrecognisethepresenceofanyotherhumanbeingthanhimself。Forthemomentsheseemedtoforgeteventhebroad—shoulderedmanwhohadplainlycomewithher。AsReubenS。Vanderpoelfoldedherinhisarms，shefoldedhimandkissedhimashewasnotsureshehadeverkissedhimbefore。
　　"MysplendidBetty！Myownfinegirl！"hesaid。
　　Andwhenshecriedout"Father！Father！"shebentandkissedthebreastofhiscoat。
　　Heknewwhothebigyoungmanwasbeforesheturnedtopresenthim。
　　"ThisisLordMountDunstan，father，"shesaid。"SinceNigelwasbroughthome，hehasbeenverygoodtous。"
　　ReubenS。Vanderpoellookedwellintotheman’seyes，asheshookhandswithhimwarmly，andthiswaswhathesaidtohimself：
　　"Yes，she’ssafe。Thisisquitesafe。Itistobetrustedwiththewholething。"
　　Notmanydaysafterherhusband’sarrivalatStornhamCourt，Mrs。VanderpoeltravelleddownfromLondon，and，duringherjourney，scarcelysawthewintryhedgesandbaretrees，because，asshesatinhercushionedcorneroftherailwaycarriage，shewasinwardlyofferingupgentle，patheticallyardentprayersofgratitude。Shewasthewomanwhoprays，andthemanysadpetitionsofthepastyearswerebeingansweredatlast。ShewasbeingallowedtogotoRosy——
　　whatsoeverhappened，shecouldneverbereallypartedfromhergirlagain。Sheaskedpardonmanytimesbecauseshehadnotbeenabletobereallysorrywhenshehadheardofherson—in—law’sdesperatecondition。Shecouldfeelpityforhiminhisawfulcase，shetoldherself，butshecouldnotwishforthethingwhichperhapssheoughttowishfor。Shehadconfidedthistoherhusbandwithinnocent，penitenttears，andhehadstrokedhercheek，whichhadalwaysbeenhiscomfortingwaysincetheyhadbeenyoungthingstogether。
　　"Mydear，"hesaid，"ifatigerwithhydrophobiawerelooseamongalotofdecentpeople——orindecentones，forthematterofthat——youwouldnotfeelityourdutytobeverysorryif，inspringingonagroupofthem，heimpaledhimselfonanironfence。Don’treproachyourselftoomuch。"And，thoughtherealismofthepicturehepresentedwassuchastomakeherexclaim，"No！No！"therewerestilloccasionalmomentswhenshebreathedarequestforpardonifshewashardofheart——thissoftestofcreatureshuman。
　　ItwasarrangedbythetwowhobestknewandlovedherthathermeetingwithRosalieshouldhavenospectators，andthattheirfirsthourtogethershouldbewhollyunbrokeninupon。
　　"Youhavenotseeneachotherforsolong，"Bettysaid，when，onherarrival，sheledheratoncetothemorning—roomwhereRosywaited，palewithjoy，butwhenthedoorwasopened，thoughthetwofiguresweresweptintoeachother’sarmsbyonewild，tremulousrushofmovement，therewerenosoundstobeheard，onlycaughtbreaths，untilthedoorhadclosedagain。
　　ThetalkswhichtookplacebetweenMr。VanderpoelandLordMountDunstanweremanyandlong，andwereofabsorbinginteresttoboth。Eachpresentedtotheotheranewworld，andatypeofwhichhispreviousknowledgehadbeenbutincomplete。
　　"Iwonder，"Mr。Vanderpoelsaid，inthecourseofoneofthem，"ifmyworldappealstoyouasyoursappealstome。
　　Naturally，fromyourstandpoint，itscarcelyseemsprobable。
　　Perhapstheup—buildingoflargefinancialschemespresupposesacertaindegreeofimagination。IambecomingaromanticNewYorkmanofbusiness，andIrevelinit。Kedgers，forinstance，"withthesmilewhich，somehow，suggestedBetty，"KedgersandtheLiliumGiganteum，Mrs。WeldenandoldDobythreatentodevelopintoquitenecessaryfactorsintheschemeofhappiness。WhatBettyhasfeltisevenmorecomprehensiblethanitseemedatfirst。"
　　Theywalkedandrodetogetheraboutthecountryside；whenMountDunstanitselfwassweptcleanofdanger，andonlyafewconvalescentslingeredtobetakencareofinthehugeballroom，theyspentmanydaysingoingovertheestate。ThedesolatebeautyofitappealedtoandtouchedMr。Vanderpoel，asithadappealedtoandtouchedhisdaughter，and，also，wakenedinhimmuchnewandcuriousdelight。ButMountDunstan，withatouchofhisoldobstinacy，insistedthatheshouldignorethebeauty，andlookcloselyatlessadmirablethings。
　　"Youmustseetheworstofthis，"hesaid。"YoumustunderstandthatIcanputnogoodfaceuponthings，thatI
　　offernothing，becauseIhavenothingtooffer。"
　　Ifhehadnotbeensweptthroughandthroughbyapowerfulandrapturouspassion，hewouldhavedetestedandabhorredthesedaysofdeliberateproudlayingbareofthenakednessoftheland。ButinthehourshespentwithBettyVanderpoelthepassiongavehimknowledgeofthethingswhich，beingelemental，donotconcernthemselveswithprideandobstinacy，anddonotrememberthem。Toomuchhadended，andtoomuchbegun，toleavespaceorthoughtforpoorthings。Intheireyes，whentheyweretogether，andevenwhentheywereapart，dweltaglowwhichwasdeeplymovingtothosewho，lookingon，weresufficientlyprofoundofthoughttounderstand。
　　Watchingthetwowalkingslowlysidebysidedowntheleaflessavenueonacrystalwinterday，Mr。Vanderpoelconversedwiththevicar，whomhegreatlyliked。
　　"AyoungmanofthenameofSelden，"heremarked，"toldmemoreofthisthanheknew。"
　　"G。Selden，"saidthevicar，withaffectionatesmiling。"Heisnotawarethathewaslargelyconcernedinthematter。Infact，withoutG。Selden，Idonotknowhow，exactly，weshouldhavegoton。Howishe，nicefellow？"
　　"Extremelywell，andinthesedaysinmyemploy。Heisofthehonest，indefatigablestuffwhichmakesitsway。"
　　Hisownsmiles，ashewatchedthetwotallfiguresinthedistance，settledintoanexpressionofspeculativeabsorption，becausehewasreflectinguponprofoundlyinterestingmatters。
　　"Thereisagreatprimevalthingwhichsometimes——notoften，onlysometimes——occurstotwopeople，"hewenton。
　　"Whenitleapsintobeing，itiswellifitisnotthwarted，ordonetodeath。IthashappenedtomygirlandMountDunstan。
　　Iftheyhadbeentwoyoungtinkersbytheroadside，theywouldhavecometogether，anddefiedtheirbeggary。Asitis，Irecognise，asIsithere，thattheoutcomeofwhatistobemayreachfar，andopenupbroadnewways。"
　　"Yes，"saidthevicar。"Shewilllivehereandfillastrongman’slifewithwonderfulhumanhappiness——hersplendidchildrenwillbebornhere，andamongthemwillbethosewholeadthevanandmakehistory。"
　　ForsometimeNigelAnstrutherslayinhisroomatStornhamCourt，surroundedbyallofaidandluxurythatwealthandexaltedmedicalsciencecouldgatherabouthim。Sometimeshelayalividunconsciousmask，sometimeshisnursesanddoctorsknewthatinhisholloweyestherewasthelightofaraginghalfreason，andtheysawthathestruggledtouttercoherentsoundswhichtheymightcomprehend。Thisheneveraccomplished，andoneday，inthemidstofsuchaneffort，hewasstrickendumbagain，andsoonafterwardssankintostillnessanddied。
　　AndtheShuttleinthehandofFate，througheveryhourofeveryday，andthroughtheslow，deepbreathingofallthesilentnights，weavestoandfro——toandfro——drawingwithitthethreadsofhumanlifeandthoughtwhichstrengthenitsweb：andtracethefiguresofitsyetvagueanduncompleteddesign。
　　End