Maddeningnewsoundswereallabouther，soundsofwaterdashingandchurning，soundsofvoicesbellowingoutcommands，strainingandleapingsoundsoftheengines。Whatwasit——whatwasit？Shemustatleastfindout。Everybodywasgoingmadinthestaterooms，thestewardswererushingabout，tryingtoquietpeople，theirownvoicesshakingandbreakingintocrackednotes。Iftheworsthadhappened，everyonewouldbefightingforlifeinafewminutes。Outondeckshemustgetandfindoutforherselfwhattheworstwas。
　　Shewasthefirstwomanoutside，thoughthewailsandshrieksswelledbelow，andhalf—dressed，ghastlycreaturestumbledgaspingupthecompanion—way。
　　"Whatisit？"sheheard。"MyGod！what’shappened？Where’stheCaptain！Arewegoingdown！Theboats！Theboats！"
　　Itwasuselesstospeaktotheseamenrushingby。Theydidnotsee，muchlesshear！Shecaughtsightofamanwhocouldnotbeasailor，sincehewasstandingstill。Shemadeherwaytohim，thankfulthatshehadmanagedtostopherteethchattering。
　　"Whathashappenedtous？"shesaid。
　　Heturnedandlookedatherstraitly。Hewasthesecond—
　　cabinpassengerwiththeredhair。
　　"Atrampsteamerhasrunintousinthefog，"heanswered。
　　"Howmuchharmisdone？"
　　"Theyaretryingtofindout。Iamstandinghereonthechanceofhearingsomething。Itismadnesstoaskanymanquestions。"
　　Theyspoketoeachotherinshort，sharpsentences，knowingtherewasnotimetolose。
　　"Areyouhorriblyfrightened？"heasked。
　　Shestampedherfoot。
　　"Ihateit——Ihateit！"shesaid，flingingoutherhandtowardstheblack，heavingwater。"Theplunge——thechoking！Noonecouldhateitmore。ButIwanttoDOsomething！"
　　Shewasturningawaywhenhecaughtherhandandheldher。
　　"Waitasecond，"hesaid。"Ihateitasmuchasyoudo，butIbelievewetwocankeepourheads。Thosewhocandothatmayhelp，perhaps。Letustrytoquietthepeople。
　　AssoonasIfindoutanythingIwillcometoyourfriends’
　　stateroom。Youareneartheboatsthere。ThenIshallgobacktothesecondcabin。YouworkonyoursideandI’llworkonmine。That’sall。"
　　"Thankyou。TelltheWorthingtons。I’mgoingtothesaloondeck。"Shewasoffasshespoke。
　　Uponthestairwayshefoundherselfinthemidstofastrugglingpanic—strickenmob，trippingovereachotheronthesteps，andclutchingatanygarmentnearest，todragthemselvesupastheyfell，orwereonthepointoffalling。Everyonewascryingoutinquestionandappeal。
　　Bettinastoodstill，afirm，tallobstacle，andclutchedatthehystericwomanwhowashurledagainsther。
　　"I’vebeenondeck，"shesaid。"Atrampsteamerhasrunintous。Noonehastimetoanswerquestions。Thefirstthingtodoistoputonwarmclothesandsecurethelifebeltsincaseyouneedthem。"
　　Atonceeveryoneturneduponherasifshewasanauthority。
　　Sherepliedwithalmostfiercedeterminationtothetorrentofwordspouredforth。
　　"Iknownothingfurther——onlythatifoneisnotafoolonemustmakesureofclothesandbelts。"
　　"Quiteright，MissVanderpoel，"saidoneyoungman，touchinghiscapinnervouspropitiation。
　　"Stopscreaming，"Bettysaidmercilesslytothewoman。"It’sidiotic——themorenoiseyoumakethelesschanceyouhave。Howcanmenkeeptheirwitsamongamobofshrieking，madwomen？"
　　ThattheremoteMissVanderpoelshouldhaveemergedfromherluxuriouscornertofranklybullythelotofthemwasanexcellentshockforthecrowd。Men，whohadbeenindangeroflosingtheirheadsandbecomingasuncontrolledasthewomen，suddenlyrealisedthefactandpulledthemselvestogether。BettinamadeherwayatoncetotheWorthingtons’
　　staterooms。
　　Thereshefoundfrenzyreigning。BlancheandMarieWorthingtonweredartingtoandfro，draggingaboutfirstonethingandthenanother。Theyweresillywithfright，anddashedat，anddroppedalternately，lifebelts，shoes，jewelcases，andwraps，whiletheysobbedandcriedouthysterically。
　　"Oh，whatshallwedowithmother！Whatshallwedo！"
　　ThemannersofBettyVanderpoel’ssharpschoolgirldaysreturnedtoherinfullforce。SheseizedBlanchebytheshoulderandshookher。
　　"Whatadonkeyyouare！"shesaid。"Putonyourclothes。Theretheyare，"pushinghertotheplacewheretheyhung。"Marie——dressyourselfthismoment。Wemaybeinnorealdangeratall。"
　　"Doyouthinknot！Oh，Betty！"theywailedinconcert。
　　"Oh，whatshallwedowithmother！"
　　"Whereisyourmother？"
　　"Shefainted——Louise————"
　　BettywasinMrs。Worthington’scabinbeforetheyhadfinishedspeaking。Thepoorwomanhadfainted，andstruckhercheekagainstachair。Shelayonthefloorinhernightgown，withbloodtricklingfromacutonherface。Hermaid，Louise，waswringingherhands，anddoingnothingwhatever。
　　"Ifyoudon’tbringthebrandythisminute，"saidthebeautifulMissVanderpoel，"I’llboxyourears。Believeme，mygirl。"Shelookedsocapableofdoingitthatthewomanwasstartledandactuallyoffendedintoareturnofhersenses。
　　MissVanderpoelhadusuallythebestpossiblemannersindealingwithherinferiors。
　　BettypouredbrandydownMrs。Worthington’sthroatandappliedstrongsmellingsaltsuntilshegaspedbacktoconsciousness。Shehadjustburstintofrightenedsobs，whenBettyheardconfusionandexclamationsintheadjoiningroom。
　　BlancheandMariehadcriedout，andaman’svoicewasspeaking。
　　Bettywenttothem。Theywereinvariousstagesofundress，andthered—hairedsecond—cabinpassengerwasstandingatthedoor。
　　"IpromisedMissVanderpoel————"hewassaying，whenBettycameforward。Heturnedtoherpromptly。
　　"Icometotellyouthatitseemsabsolutelytobereliedonthatthereisnoimmediatedanger。Thetrampismoreinjuredthanweare。"
　　"Oh，areyousure？Areyousure？"pantedBlanche，catchingathissleeve。
　　"Yes，"heanswered。"CanIdoanythingforyou？"hesaidtoBettina，whowasonthepointofspeaking。
　　"WillyoubegoodenoughtohelpmetoassistMrs。
　　Worthingtonintoherberth，andthentrytofindthedoctor。"
　　Hewentintothenextroomwithoutspeaking。ToMrs。
　　Worthingtonhespokebrieflyafewwordsofreassurance。Hewasapowerfulman，andlaidheronherberthwithoutdraggingheraboutuncomfortably，ormakingherfeelthatherweightwasgreaterthaneveninhermostdespondingmomentsshehadsuspected。Evenherhelplesslyhystericmoodwasilluminatedbyarayofgratefulappreciation。
　　"Oh，thankyou——thankyou，"shemurmured。"Andyouarequitesurethereisnoactualdanger，Mr。————？"
　　"Salter，"heterminatedforher。"Youmayfeelsafe。Thedamageisreallyonlyslight，afterall。"
　　"Itissogoodofyoutocomeandtellus，"saidthepoorlady，stilltremulous。"Theshockwasawful。Ourintroductionhasbeenanalarmingone。I——Idon’tthinkwehavemetduringthevoyage。"
　　"No，"repliedSalter。"Iaminthesecondcabin。"
　　"Oh！thankyou。It’ssogoodofyou，"shefalteredamiably，forwantofinspiration。Ashewentoutofthestateroom，SalterspoketoBettina。
　　"Iwillsendthedoctor，ifIcanfindhim，"hesaid。"I
　　think，perhaps，youhadbettertakesomebrandyyourself。
　　Ishall。"
　　"It’squeerhowlittleoneseemstorealiseeventhattherearesecond—cabinpassengers，"commentedMrs。Worthingtonfeebly。"Thatwasaniceman，andperfectlyrespectable。Heevenhadakindof——ofmanner。"
　　CHAPTERIX
　　LADYJANEGREY
　　Itseemeduponthewholeevenabsurdthatafterashocksoawfulandapanicwildenoughtocausepeopletoexposetheirverysouls——fortherewere，ofcourse，endlessanecdotestoberelatedafterwards，illustrativeofgrotesqueterror，cowardice，andutterabandonmentofallshadowsofconvention——
　　thatallshouldendinananticlimaxoftriflingdanger，uponwhich，inadayortwo，jokesmightbemade。Eventhetrampsteamerhadnotbeenseriouslyinjured，thoughitsinjurieswerelikelytobelesseasyofrepairthanthoseoftheMeridiana。
　　"Still，"asapassengerremarked，whenshesteamedintothedockatLiverpool，"wemightallbeatthebottomoftheAtlanticOceanthismorning。Justthinkwhatcolumnstherewouldhavebeeninthenewspapers。ImagineMissVanderpoel’sbeingdrowned。"
　　"IwasveryrudetoLouise，whenIfoundherwringingherhandsoveryou，andIwasrudetoBlanche，"BettinasaidtoMrs。Worthington。"InfactIbelieveIwasrudetoanumberofpeoplethatnight。Iamratherashamed。"
　　"Youcalledmeadonkey，"saidBlanche，"butitwasthebestthingyoucouldhavedone。Youfrightenedmeintoputtingonmyshoes，insteadoftryingtocombmyhairwiththem。Itwasstartlingtoseeyoumarchintothestateroom，theonlypersonwhohadnotbeenturnedintoagibberingidiot。
　　IknowIwasgibbering，andIknowMariewas。"
　　"Webothgibberedatthered—hairedmanwhenhecamein，"saidMarie。"Weclutchedathimandgibberedtogether。
　　Whereisthered—hairedman，Betty？Perhapswemadehimill。I’venotseenhimsincethatmoment。"
　　"Heisinthesecondcabin，Isuppose，"Bettinaanswered，"butIhavenotseenhim，either。"
　　"Weoughttogetupatestimonialandgiveittohim，becausehedidnotgibber，"saidBlanche。"Hewasasrudeandassensibleasyouwere，Betty。"
　　Theydidnotseehimagain，infact，atthattime。Hehadreasonsofhisownforpreferringtoremainunseen。Thetruthwasthatthenearerhisapproachtohisnativeshores，thenastier，hewasperfectlyconscious，histemperbecame，andhedidnotwishtoexposehimselfbyanyincidentwhichmightcausehimstupidlyandobviouslytoloseit。
　　Themaid，Louise，however，recognisedhimamonghercompanionsinthethird—classcarriageinwhichshetravelledtotown。Tohermind，whoseopinionswereregulatedbyneatlyarrangedstandards，helookedmoroseandshabbilydressed。Someoftheothersecond—cabinpassengershadmadethemselvesquitesmartinvarious，nottoodistinguishedways。
　　Hehadnotchangedhisdressatall，andthelargevaliseupontheluggagerackwaswornandbatteredasifwithlongandroughusage。Thewomanwonderedalittleifhewouldaddressher，andinquireafterthehealthofhermistress。But，beinganastutecreature，sheonlywonderedthisforaninstant，thenextsherealisedthat，foronereasonoranother，itwasclearthathewasnotofthetribeofsecond—ratepersonswhopursueanaccidentalacquaintancewiththeirsuperiorsinfortune，throughsociableinterchangewiththeirfootmenormaids。
　　Whenthetrainslackeneditsspeedattheplatformofthestation，hegotup，reachingdownhisvaliseandleavingthecarriage，strodetothenearesthansomcab，wavingtheporteraside。
　　"CharingCross，"hecalledouttothedriver，jumpedin，andwasrattledaway……
　　DuringtheyearswhichhadpassedsinceRosalieVanderpoelfirstcametoLondonasLadyAnstruthers，numbersofhugeluxurioushotelshadgrownup，principally，asitseemed，thatAmericansshouldswarmintothemandliveatanexpensewhichremindedthemoftheirnativeland。SuchestablishmentswouldneverhavebeenbuiltforEnglishpeople，whosehabititismerelyto"stop"athotels，nottoLIVEinthem。ThetendencyoftheAmericanistoliveinhishotel，eventhoughhisintentionmaybeonlytoremaininittwodays。Heisaccustomedtodoinghimselfextremelywellinproportiontohisresources，whethertheybegreatorsmall，andthecomforts，asalsotheluxuries，heallowshimselfandhisdomesticappendagesareinaproportionmuchhigherinitsrelationtotheseresourcesthanitwouldbewereheEnglish，French，German，orItalians。Asaconsequence，heexpects，whenhegoesforth，whetherholiday—makingoronbusiness，thathishostelryshallsurroundhim，eitherwithholidayluxuriesandgaiety，orwithsuchlavishnessofcomfortasshallalleviatethewearandtearofbusinesscaresandfatigues。Therichmandemandssomethingalmostasgoodashehasleftathome，themanofmoderatemeanssomethingmuchbetter。Certainpersonsgiventoregardingpublicwantsanddesiresasfoundationsforthefortuneofbusinessschemeshavingdiscoveredthis，theenormousandsumptuoushotelevolveditselffromtheirastuteknowledgeofcommonfacts。
　　Attheentrancesofthesehotels，omnibusesandcabs，ladenwithtrunksandpackagesfrequentlybearinglabelsmarkedwithredletters"S。S。So—and—So，Stateroom——Hold——Baggage—
　　room，"drewupanddepositedtheircontentsandburdensatregularintervals。Thenmenwithkeen，andoftenhumorousfacesoralmostpainfullyanxiousones，theirexceedinglywell—dressedwives，andmoreorlessattractiveandvivacious—lookingdaughters，theireagerlittlegirls，andun—
　　English—lookinglittleboys，passedthroughthecorridorsinflocksandtookpossessionofsuitesofrooms，sometimesfortwenty—fourhours，sometimesforsixweeks。
　　TheWorthingtonstookpossessionofsuchasuiteinsuchahotel。BettinaVanderpoel’sapartmentsfacedtheEmbankment。
　　Fromherwindowsshecouldlookoutatthebroadsplendid，muddyThames，slowlyrollinginitsgrave，statelywaybeneathitsbridges，bearingwithitheavylumberingbarges，excitedtootinglittlepennysteamersandcraftofvariousshapesandsizes，theerrandorburdenofeachmeaningadifferentstory。
　　IthadbeentoBettinaoneofherpleasuresofthefinestepicureanflavourtoreflectthatshehadneverhadanybriefandsuperficialknowledgeofEngland，asshehadneverbeentothecountryatallinthoseearlieryears，whenherknowledgeofplacesmustnecessarilyhavebeenalwaystheincompleteoneofeitheraschoolgirltravelleroraschoolgirlresident，whoseviewswerelimitedbythewallsofrestrictionbuiltaroundher。
　　IfrelationsoftheusualeaseandfriendlinesshadexistedbetweenLadyAnstruthersandherfamily，Bettinawould，doubtless，haveknownhersister’sadoptedcountrywell。Itwouldhavebeenathingsonaturalastobealmostinevitable，thatshewouldhavecrossedtheChanneltospendherholidaysatStornham。Asmattershadstood，however，thechildherself，inthedayswhenshehadbeenachild，hadhadmostdefiniteprivateviewsonthesubjectofvisitstoEngland。
　　Shehadmadeupheryoungmindabsolutelythatshewouldnot，ifitweredecentlypossibletoavoidit，setherfootuponEnglishsoiluntilshewasoldenoughandstrongenoughtocarryoutwhathadbeenatfirstherpassionatelyromanticplansfordiscoveringandfacingthetruthofthereasonfortheapparentchangeinRosy。WhenshewenttoEngland，shewouldgotoRosy。Asshehadgrownolder，havinginthecourseofeducationandtravelseenmostContinentalcountries，shehadlikedtothinkthatshehadsaved，putasideforlesshastyconsumptionandmoredelicateappreciationofflavours，asitwere，thecountryshewasconsciousshecaredformost。
　　"ItisEnglandwelove，weAmericans，"shehadsaidtoherfather。"Whatcouldbemorenatural？Webelongtoit——itbelongstous。Icouldneverbeconvincedthattheoldtieofblooddoesnotcount。Allnationalitieshavecometoussincewebecameanation，butmostofusinthebeginningcamefromEngland。Wearetouchingaboutit，too。WetriflewithFranceandlabourwithGermany，wesentimentaliseoverItalyandecstaciseoverSpain——butEnglandwelove。
　　Howitmovesuswhenwegotoit，howwegushifwearesimpleandeffusive，howwearestirredimaginativelyifweareoftheperceptiveclass。Ihaveheardthecommonestlittlehalf—educatedwomansaytheprettiest，clumsy，emotionalthingsaboutwhatshehasseenthere。ANewEnglandschoolma’am，whohasmadeaCook’stour，willalmosthavetearsinhervoiceasshewandersonwithhercommonplacesabouthawthornhedgesandthatchedcottagesandwhiteorredfarms。WhyarewenotunconsciouslypatheticaboutGermancottagesandItalianvillas？Becausewehavenot，incenturiespast，hadthehabitofbeingborninthem。ItisonlyanEnglishcottageandanEnglishlane，whetherwhitewithhawthornblossomsorbarewithwinter，thatwakesinusthatlittleyearning，grovellingtendernessthatissosweet。
　　Itisonlynaturecallingushome。"
　　Mrs。WorthingtoncameinduringthecourseofthemorningtofindherstandingbeforeherwindowlookingoutattheThames，theEmbankment，thehansomcabsthemselves，withanabsolutelyseriousabsorption。Thischangedtoasmileassheturnedtogreether。
　　"Iamdelighted，"shesaid。"Icouldscarcelytellyouhowmuch。TheimpressionisallnewandIamexcitedalittlebyeverything。IamsointenselygladthatIhavesaveditsolongandthatIhaveknownitonlyaspartofliterature。
　　Iamevencharmedthatitrains，andthatthecabmen’smackintoshesareshiningandwet。"Shedrewforwardachair，andMrs。Worthingtonsatdown，lookingatherwithinvoluntaryadmiration。
　　"Youlookasifyouweredelighted，"shesaid。"Youreyes——youhaveamazingeyes，Betty！IamtryingtopicturetomyselfwhatLadyAnstrutherswillfeelwhensheseesyou。Whatwereyoulikewhenshemarried？"
　　Bettinasatdown，smilingandlooking，indeed，quiteincrediblylovely。Shewascapableofawarmthandasweetnesswhichwereasembracingasotherqualitiesshepossessedwerepowerful。
　　"Iwaseightyearsold，"shesaid。"Iwasarudelittlegirl，withlonglegsandahigh，determinedvoice。IknowI
　　wasrude。Irememberansweringback。"
　　"Iseemtohaveheardthatyoudidnotlikeyourbrother—
　　in—law，andthatyouwereopposedtothemarriage。"
　　"Imaginetheundisciplinedaudacityofachildofeight`opposing’themarriageofhergrown—upsister。Iwasquitecapableofit。Youseeinthosedayswehadnotbeentrainedatall（onehadonlybeenallowedtremendousliberty），andinterferedconversationallywithone’seldersandbettersatanymoment。IwasanAmericanlittlegirl，andAmericanlittlegirlswerereally——theyreallywere！"withalaugh，whosemusicalsoundwasafterallwhollynon—committal。
　　"YoudidnottreatSirNigelAnstruthersasoneofyourbetters。"
　　"Hewasoneofmyelders，atallevents，andbecomingnessofbearingshouldhavetaughtmetoholdmylittletongue。IamgivingsomethoughtnowtothekindofthingImustinventasasuitableapologywhenIfindhimareallydelightfulperson，fullofvirtuesandaccomplishments。Perhapshehasahorrorofme。"
　　"Ishouldliketobepresentatyourfirstmeeting，"Mrs。
　　Worthingtonreflected。"YouaregoingdowntoStornhamto—morrow？"
　　"Thatismyplan。WhenIwritetoyouonmyarrival，I
　　willtellyouifIencounteredthehorror。"Then，withaswiftchangeofsubjectandaliftingofherslender，velvetlineofeyebrow，"IamonlydeploringthatIhavenottimetovisittheTower。"
　　Mrs。Worthingtonwasbetrayedintoamomentaryglanceofuncertainty，almostverginginitssignificanceonagasp。
　　"TheTower？OfLondon？DearBetty！"
　　Bettina’slaughwasmellowwithrevelation。
　　"Ah！"shesaid。"Youdon’tknowmypointofview；it’splainenough。Yousee，whenIdelightinthesethings，IthinkIdelightmostinmydelightinthem。ItmeansthatIamalmosthavingthekindoffeelingthefreshAmericansoulshadwholandedherethirtyyearsagoandrevelledintheresemblancetoDickens’scharacterstheymetwithinthestreets，andwerehistoricallythrilledbytheplaceswherepeople’sheadswerechoppedoff。ImaginetheirreflectionsonCharlesI。，whentheystoodinWhitehallgazingontheveryspotwherethatpoorlastwordwasuttered——`Remember。’Andthinkoftheirjoywheneachcrossingsweepertheygavedisproportionatelargessto，seemedJoeAllAlonesintheslightestdisguise。"
　　"Youdon’tmeantosay————"Mrs。Worthingtonwasvaguelyawakeningtothesituation。
　　"Thatthecharmofmyvisit，tomyself，isthatIrealisethatIamratherlikethat。IhavepositivelypreservedsomethingbecauseIhavekeptaway。Youhavebeenheresooftenandknowthingssowell，andyouwereevensosophisticatedwhenyoubegan，thatyouhaveneverreallyhadtheflavoursandemotions。Iamsophisticated，too，sophisticatedenoughtohavecherishedmyflavoursasagourmettriestosavethebouquetofoldwine。YouthinkthattheToweristhepleasureofhousemaidsonaBankHoliday。Butitquitemakesmequivertothinkofit，"laughingagain。"ThatI
　　laugh，isthesignthatIamnotasbeautifully，freshlycapableofenjoymentasthosegenuinefirstAmericanswere，andinawayIamsorryforit。"
　　Mrs。Worthingtonlaughedalso，andwithanenjoyment。
　　"Youareveryclever，Betty，"shesaid。
　　"No，no，"answeredBettina，"or，ifIam，almosteverybodyiscleverinthesedays。Wearenearlyallofuscomparativelyintelligent。"
　　"Youareveryinterestingatallevents，andtheAnstrutherswillexultinyou。Iftheyaredullinthecountry，youwillsavethem。"
　　"Iamveryinterested，atallevents，"saidBettina，"andinterestlikemineisquitepasse。AcleverAmericanwholivesinEngland，andisthepetofduchesses，oncesaidtome（healwaysspeaksofAmericansasiftheywereadistantandrecentlydiscoveredspecies），`Whentheyfirstcameovertheywereanovelty。Theirenthusiasmamusedpeople，butnow，yousee，ithasbecomevieuxjeu。Youngwomen，whosespecialtywastobeexcitedbytheTowerofLondonandWestminsterAbbey，arenotnoveltiesanylonger。Infact，it’sbeendone，andit’sdoneFORasaspecialty。’AndIamexcitedabouttheTowerofLondon。ImaybeabletorestrainmyfeelingsatthesightoftheBeefEaters，buttheywillupsetmealittle，andImustbracemyself，Imustindeed。"
　　"Truly，Betty？"saidMrs。Worthington，regardingherwithcuriosity，arisingfromafaintdoubtofherentireseriousness，mingledwithafainterdoubtofherentirelevity。
　　Bettyflungoutherhandsinaslight，butveryinvoluntary—
　　looking，gesture，andshookherhead。
　　"Ah！"shesaid，"itwasallTRUE，youknow。Theywereallhorriblyreal——thethingsthatwereshudderedoverandsentimentalisedabout。Sophistication，combinedwithimagination，makesthemmaterialiseagain，tome，atleast，nowI
　　amhere。Thegulfbetweenahistoricalfigureandamanorwomanwhocouldbleedandcryoutinhumanwordswasbroadwhenonewasatschool。LadyJaneGrey，forinstance，hownebulousshewasandhowlittleonecared。Sheseemedinventedmerelytoaddadetailtoone’slessoninEnglishhistory。But，aswedroveacrossWaterlooBridge，IcaughtaglimpseoftheTower，andwhatdoyousupposeIbegantothinkof？Itwasmonstrous。IsawadoorintheTowerandthestonesteps，andthesquarespace，andinthechillclear，earlymorningalittleslender，helplessgirlledout，alittle，fair，realthinglikeRosy，allalone——everyoneshebelongedtofaraway，notamannearwhodaredutterawordofpitywhensheturnedherawful，meek，young，desperateeyesuponhim。Shewasapiouschild，and，nodoubt，sheliftedhereyestothesky。Iwonderifitwasblueanditsbluenessbrokeherheart，becauseitlookedasifitmighthavepitiedsuchayoung，patientgirlthingledoutinthefairmorningtowalktothehackedblockandgivehertremblingpardontotheblack—visoredmanwiththeaxe，andthen`commendinghersoultoGod’tostretchhersweetslimneckoutuponit。"
　　"Oh，Betty，dear！"Mrs。Worthingtonexpostulated。
　　Bettinasprangtoherandtookherhandinprettyappeal。
　　"Ibegpardon！Ibegpardon，Ireallydo，"sheexclaimed。
　　"Ididnotintenddeliberatelytobepainful。Butthat——
　　beneaththesophistication——issomethingofwhatIbringtoEngland。"
　　CHAPTERX
　　"ISLADYANSTRUTHERSATHOME？"
　　AllthatshehadbroughtwithhertoEngland，combinedwithwhatshehadcalled"sophistication，"butwhichwasratherherexquisiteappreciationofvaluesandeffects，shetookwithherwhenshewentthenextdaytoCharingCrossStationandarrangedherselfathereaseintherailwaycarriage，whilehermaidboughttheirticketsforStornham。
　　Whatthepeopleinthestationsaw，theguardsandporters，themeninthebookstalls，thetravellershurryingpast，wasastriking—lookinggirl，whosecolouringandcarriagemadeoneturntoglanceafterher，andwho，havingboughtsomeperiodicalsandpapers，tookherplaceinafirst—classcompartmentandwatchedthepassersbyinterestedlythroughtheopenwindow。Havingbeenlookedatandremarkedonduringherwholelife，Bettinadidnotfinditdisturbingthatmorethanonecorduroy—clothedporterandfresh—coloured，elderlygentleman，orfreshlyattiredyoungone，havingcaughtaglimpseofherthroughherwindow，madeitconvenienttosaunterpastorhoverround。Shelookedatthemmuchmorefranklythantheylookedather。Tohertheywereallspecimensofthetypesshewasatpresentinterestedin。ForpracticalreasonsshewassummingupEnglishcharacterwithmoredeliberateintentionthanshehadfeltintheyearswhenshehadgraduallylearnedtoknowContinentaltypesanddifferentiatesuchpeculiaritiesasweresignificantoftheirranksandnations。AsthefirstReubenVanderpoelhadstudiedthecountenancesandindicativemethodsoftheinhabitantsofthenewpartsofthecountryinwhichitwashisintentiontodobusiness，sothemodernityofhisdescendantapplieditselftoobservationforreasonsparallelinnaturethoughnotinactualkind。Ashehadbroughtbeadsandfirewatertobearasagentsuponsavageswhowouldbarterforthemskinsandproductswhichmightbeturnedintomoney，soshebroughthernineteenth—centurybeauty，steadfastnessofpurposeandalertnessofbraintobearuponthematterthepracticaldealingwithwhichwastheendsheheldinview。Tobearherselfinthismatterwithaspracticalacontrolofsituationsasthatwithwhichhergreat—grandfatherwouldhavebornehimselfinmakingatradewithapreviouslyunknowntribeofIndianswasquiteherintention，thoughithadnotoccurredtohertoputittoherselfinanysuchform。Still，whethershewasawareofthefactornot，herpointofviewwasexactlywhatthefirstReubenVanderpoel’shadbeenonmanyverydifferentoccasions。Shehadbeforeherthetaskofdealingwithfactsandfactorsofwhichatpresentsheknewbutlittle。Astutenessofperception，self—command，andadaptabilitywereherchiefresources。Shewasready，eitherforcalm，boldapproach，orequallycalmandwhollynon—committalretreat。