TheperceptionsshehadbroughtwithherfilledherjourneyintoKentwithdeliciousthings,deliciousrecognitionofbeautiesshehadbeforeknowntheexistenceofonlythroughthereadingofbooks,andthedwellingupontheircharmsasreproduced,moreorlessperfectly,oncanvas。Shesawrollbyher,withthepassingofthetrain,thelovelinessoflandandpicturesquenessoflivingwhichshehadsavedforherselfwithepicureanintentionforyears。Herfancy,whendetachedfromherthoughtsofhersister,hadbeenepicurean,andshehadbeenquiteawarethatitwasso。Whenshehadleftthesuburbsandthosevillagesalreadytouchedwithsuburbanitybehind,shefeltherselfsettleintoaglowofluxuriousenjoymentinthefreshnessofherpleasureinthefamiliar,andyetunfamiliar,objectsinthethick—hedgedfields,whosebroad—
branched,thick—foliagedoaksandbeechesweremoreemboweringintheirshade,andsweeterintheirgreenthananythingsherememberedthatothercountrieshadofferedher,evenattheirbest。Withinthefieldsthehawthornhedgesbeautifullyenclosedweregroupsofresignedmothersheepwiththeiryounglambsaboutthem。Thecuriouspointedtopsoftheredhopkilns,piercingthetreesnearthefarmhouses,woreanalmostintentionalairofaddingpicturesquedetail。
Therewereclustersofoldbuildingsanddotsofcottagesandcottagegardenswhichmadehernowandthenutterexclamationsofdelight。LittleinarticulateRosyhadseenandfeltitalltwelveyearsbeforeonherhopelessbridalhome—comingwhenNigelhadsathuddledunbecominglyinthecorneroftherailwaycarriage。Herpowerofexpressionhadbeenlimitedtolittlejoyfulgaspsandobviouslaudatoryadjectives,smotheredintheirbirthbyherfirstglanceatherbridegroom。
Betty,inseeingit,knewalltheexquisitenessofherownpleasure,andallthemeaningsofit。
Yes,itwasEngland——England。ItwastheEnglandofConstableandMorland,ofMissMitfordandMissAusten,theBrontesandGeorgeEliot。Thelandwhichsoftlyrolledandclotheditselfintherichverdureofmanytrees,sometimesinlovelyclusters,sometimesincoveringcopse,wasConstable’s;theripeyoungwomanwiththefat—leggedchildrenandthefarmyardbeastsabouther,asshefedthehensfromthewoodenpigginunderherarm,wasMorland’sown。
ThevillagestreetmightbeMissMitford’s,thewell—to—dohouseJaneAusten’sownfancy,initswarmbrickandcomfortabledecorum。Shelaughedalittleasshethoughtit。
"ThatisAmerican,"shesaid,"thehabitofcomparingeverystickandstoneandbreathingthingtosomeliteraryparallel。Wealmostinvariablysaythatthingsremindusofpicturesorbooks——mostusuallybooks。Itseemsalittlecrude,butperhapsitmeansthatweareanintenselyliteraryandartisticpeople。"
Shecontinuedtofindcomparisonsrevealingtohertheirappositeness,untilherjourneyhadendedbythetrain’sslackeningspeedandcomingtoastandstillbeforetherural—lookinglittlestationwhichhadpresenteditsquaintaspecttoLadyAnstruthersonherhome—comingofyearsbefore。
Ithadnot,duringtheyearswhichcertainlyhadgiventimeforchange,alteredintheleast。Thestationmasterhadgrownstouterandmorerosy,andcameforwardwithhisrespectful,hospitableair,toattendtotheunusual—lookingyounglady,whowastheonlyfirst—classpassenger。Hethoughtshemustbeavisitorexpectedatsomecountryhouse,butnoneofthecarriages,whosecoachmenwerehisfamiliaracquaintances,wereinwaiting。Thatsuchafineyoungladyshouldbepayingavisitatanyhousewhoseownersdidnotsendanequipagetoattendhercoming,struckhimasunusual。
Thebroughamfromthe"Crown,"thoughadecentcountrytownvehicle,seemedinadequate。Yet,thereitstooddrawnupoutsidethestation,andshewenttoitwiththemannerofayoungladywhohadordereditsattendanceandknewitwouldbethere。
Wellsfeltagooddealofinterest。Amongthemanyyoungladieswhodescendedfromthefirst—classcompartmentsandpassedthroughthelittlewaiting—roomontheirwaytothecarriagesofthegentrytheyweregoingtovisit,hedidnotknowwhenayoungladyhad"caughthiseye,"sotospeak,asthisonedid。Shewasnotexactlythekindofyoungladyonewouldimmediatelyclassmentallyas"aforeigner,"buttheblueofhereyeswassodeep。andherhairandeyelashessodark,thatthesethings,combiningthemselveswithacertain"way"shehad,madehimfeelhertobeofatypeunfamiliartotheregion,atleast。
Hewasstruck,also,bythefactthattheyoungladyhadnomaidwithher。ThetruthwasthatBettinahadpurposelylefthermaidintown。Ifawkwardthingsoccurred,thepresenceofanattendantwouldbeasortofcomplication。Itwasbetter,onthefirstapproach,tobewhollyunencumbered。
"HowfararewefromStornhamCourt?"sheinquired。
"Fivemiles,mylady,"heanswered,touchinghiscap。Sheexpressedsomethingwhichtotheruralandingenuous,whosestandardsweredefined,demandedarecognitionofprobablerank。
"I’dliketoknow,"washiscommenttohiswifewhenhewenthometodinner,"whohasgonetoStornhamCourtto—day。
There’sfewenoughvisitorsgothere,andnonesuchasher,forcertain。Shedon’tliveanywhereonthelineabovehere,either,forI’veneverseenherfacebefore。Shewasatall,handsomeone——shewas,butitisn’tjustthatmadeyoulookafterher。
Shewasacleveronewithaspirit,I’llbebound。Iwaswonderingwhatherladyshipwouldhavetosaytoher。"
"PerhapsshewasoneofHISfineladies?"suggestively。
"Thatshewasn’t,either。And,asforthat,Iwonderwhathe’dhavetosaytosuchassheis。"
Therewascomplexityofelementenoughinthethingshewasonherwaytodo,Bettinawasthinking,asshewasdrivenoverthewhiteribbonofcountryroadthatunrolledoverriseandhollow,betweenthesheep—dottedgreennessoffieldsandthescentedhedges。Thesoftbeautyenclosingherwasalittleshutoutfromherbyhermentalattitude。Shebroughtforwardforherowndecisionsuponsuitableactionanumberofpossiblesituationsshemightfindherselfcalledupontoconfront。Theonethingnecessarywasthatsheshouldbepreparedforanythingwhatever,evenforRosy’snotbeingpleasedtoseeher,orforfindingSirNigelathoroughlyreformedandamiablecharacter"ItisthethingwhichseeminglyCANNOThappenwhichoneismostlikelytofindone’sselffacetofacewith。Itwillbealittleawkwardtoarrange,ifhehasdevelopedeverydomesticvirtue,andisdelightedtoseeme。"
Undersuchratherconfusingconditionsherplanwouldbetopresenttothem,asanaffectionatesurprise,theunheraldedvisit,whichmightappearatrifleuncalledfor。Shefelthappilysureofherselfunderanycircumstancesnotpartakingofthenatureofcollisionsatsea。YetshehadnotbehavedabsolutelyillatthetimeofthethreatenedcatastropheintheMeridiana。Herremembrance,anoddlysuddenone,ofthedefinitemannerofthered—hairedsecond—classpassenger,assuredherofthat。Hehadcertainlyhadallhissensesabouthim,andhehadspokentoherasapersontobecountedon。
HerpulsebeatalittlemorehurriedlyasthebroughamenteredStornhamvillage。Itwaspicturesque,butstruckheraslookingneglected。Manyofthecottageshadanairofdilapidation。Thereweremanybrokenwindowsandunmendedgardenpalings。Asuggestedlackofwhitewashinseveralcaseswasnotcheerful。
"IknownothingofthedutiesofEnglishlandlords,"shesaid,lookingthroughhercarriagewindow,"butIshoulddoitmyself,ifIwereRosy。"
Shesaw,asshewastakenthroughtheparkgateway,thatthatstructurewasoutoforder,andthatdamageddiamondpanespeeredoutfromunderthethicknessoftheivymassingitselfoverthelodge。
"Ah!"washerthought,"itdoesnotpromiseasitshould。
Happypeopledonotletthingsfalltopieces。"
Evenwindingavenue,andspreadingsward,andgorse,andbroom,andbracken,enfoldingalltheearthbeneathhugetrees,werenotfairenoughtoremoveasuddenremotefearwhicharoseinherrapidlyreasoningmind。Itsuggestedtoherapointofviewsonewthat,whileshewasamazedatherselffornothavingcontemplateditbefore,shefoundherselfwishingthatthecoachmanwoulddriverathermoreslowly,actuallythatshemighthavemoretimetoreflect。
Theywerenearingadipinthepark,wheretherewasalonelylookingpool。Thebrackenwasthickandhighthere,andthesun,whichhadjustbrokenthroughacloud,hadpiercedthetreeswithagoldengleam。
Alittlewithdrawnfromthisshaftofbrightnessstoodtwofigures,adowdylittlewomanandahunchbackedboy。Thewomanheldsomefernsinherhand,andtheboywassittingdownandrestinghischinonhishands,whichwerefoldedonthetopofastick。
"Stophereforamoment,"Bettinasaidtothecoachman。
"Iwanttoaskthatwomanaquestion。"
ShehadthoughtthatshemightdiscoverifhersisterwasattheCourt。Sherealisedthattoknowwouldbeapointofadvantage。Sheleanedforwardandspoke。
"Ibegyourpardon,"shesaid,"Iwonderifyoucantellme————"
Thewomancameforwardalittle。Shehadalistlessstepandafaded,listlessface。
"Whatdidyouask?"shesaid。
Bettyleanedstillfurtherforward。
"Canyoutellme————"shebeganandstopped。Asenseofstrictureinthethroatstoppedher,ashereyestookinthewashed—outcolourofthethinface,thewashed—outcolourofthethinhair——thindrabhair,draggedinstraight,hardunbecomingnessfromtheforeheadandcheeks。
Wasittruethatherheartwasthumping,asshehadhearditsaidthatagitationmadeheartsthump?
Shebeganagain。
"Canyou——tellmeif——LadyAnstruthersisathome?"
sheinquired。Asshesaiditshefeltthebloodsurgeupfromthefuriousheart,andthehandshehadlaidonthehandleofthedoorofthebroughamclutcheditinvoluntarily。
Thedowdylittlewomanansweredherindifferently,staringatheralittle。
"IamLadyAnstruthers,"shesaid。
Bettinaopenedthecarriagedoorandstoodupontheground。
"Goontothehouse,"shegaveordertothecoachman,and,withasomewhatstartledlook,hedroveaway。
"Rosy!"Bettina’svoicewasahushed,almostawed,thing。
"YOUareRosy?"
Thefadedlittlewreckofacreaturebegantolookfrightened。
"Rosy!"sherepeated,withasmall,wry,painfulsmile。
Shewasthenextmomentheldinthefoldingofstrong,youngarms,againstaquicklybeatingheart。Shewasbeingwildlykissed,andtheveryairseemedrichwithwarmthandlife。
"IamBetty,"sheheard。"Lookatme,Rosy!IamBetty。Lookatmeandremember!"
LadyAnstruthersgasped,andbrokeintoafaint,hystericlaugh。ShesuddenlyclutchedatBettina’sarm。Foraminutehergazewaswildasshelookedup。
"Betty,"shecriedout。"No!No!No!Ican’tbelieveit!Ican’t!Ican’t!"
Thatjustthisthingcouldhavetakenplaceinher,Bettinahadneverthought。Asshehadreflectedonherwayfromthestation,theimpossibleiswhatonefindsone’sselffacetofacewith。Twelveyearsshouldnothavechangedaprettyblondethingofnineteentoaworn,unintelligent—lookingdowdyoftheorderofdowdinesswhichseemstohavelivedbeyondageandsex。Shelookedevenstupid,oratleaststupefied。Atthismomentshewasasilly,middle—agedwoman,whodidnotknowwhattodo。ForafewsecondsBettinawonderedifshewasgladtoseeher,oronlyfeltawkwardandunequaltothesituation。
"Ican’tbelieveyou,"shecriedoutagain,andbegantoshiver。"Betty!LittleBetty?No!No!itisn’t!"
Sheturnedtotheboy,whohadliftedhischinfromhisstick,andwasstaring。
"Ughtred!Ughtred!"shecalledtohim。"Come!Shesays——shesays————"
Shesatdownuponaclumpofheatherandbegantocry。
Shehidherfaceinhersparehandsandbrokeintosobbing。
"Oh,Betty!No!"shegasped。"It’ssolongago——it’ssofaraway。Younevercame——noone——noone——came!"
Thehunchbackedboydrewnear。Hehadlimpeduponhisstick。Hespokelikeanelderly,affectionategnome,notlikeachild。
"Don’tdothat,mother,"hesaid。"Don’tletitupsetyouso,whateveritis。"
"It’ssolongago;it’ssofaraway!"shewept,withcatchesinherbreathandvoice。"Younevercame!"
Bettykneltdownandenfoldedheragain。Herbell—likevoicewasfirmandclear。
"Ihavecomenow,"shesaid。"Anditisnotfaraway。
Acablewillreachfatherintwohours。"
Pursuingacertainvividthoughtinhermind,shelookedatherwatch。
"Ifyouspoketomotherbycablethismoment,"sheadded,withaccustomedcoolness,andshefelthersisteractuallystartasshespoke,"shecouldansweryoubyfiveo’clock。"
LadyAnstruther’sstartendedinalaughandgaspmorehystericthanherfirst。Therewasevenakindofwanawakeninginherface,assheliftedittolookatthewonderfulnewcomer。Shecaughtherhandandheldit,trembling,assheweaklylaughed。
"ItmustbeBetty,"shecried。"Thatlittlesternway!
Itissolikeher。Betty——Betty——dear!"Shefellintoasobbing,shakenheapupontheheather。TheharrowingthoughtpassedthroughBetty’smindthatshelookedalmostlikealimpbundleofshabbyclothes。Shewassohelplessinherpathetic,apologetichysteria。
"Ishall——bebetter,"shegasped。"It’snothing。Ughtred,tellher。"
"She’sveryweak,really,"saidtheboyUghtred,inhismatureway。"Shecan’thelpitsometimes。I’llgetsomewaterfromthepool。"
"Letmego,"saidBetty,andshedarteddowntothewater。
Shewasbackinamoment。Theboywasrubbingandpattinghismother’shandstenderly。
"Atanyrate,"heremarked,asoneconsoledbyareflection,"fatherisnotathome。"
CHAPTERXI
"ITHOUGHTYOUHADALLFORGOTTEN"
As,afterasingularhalfhourspentamongthebrackenunderthetrees,theybegantheirreturntothehouse,Bettinafeltthathersenseofadventurehadaltereditscharacter。Shewasstillinthemidstofaremarkablesortofexploit,whichmightendanywhereorinanything,butithadbecomeatoncemoreprosaicindetailandmoreintenseinitssignificance。Whatitssignificancemightprovelikelytobewhenshefacedit,shehadnotknown,itistrue。Butthiswasdifferentfrom——
fromanything。Astheywalkedupthesun—dappledavenueshekeptglancingasideatRosy,andendeavouringtodrawusefulconclusions。Thepoorgirl’sairofbeingaplain,insignificantfrump,longpastyouth,struckanextraordinaryand,forthetime,unexplainablenote。Herill—cut,out—of—
datedress,thecheapsuitofthehunchbackedboy,wholimpedpatientlyalong,helpedbyhiscrutch,suggestedpossibleexplanationswhichwerewithoutdoubtconnectedwiththethoughtwhichhadriseninBettina’smind,asshehadbeendriventhroughthebroken—hingedentrancegate。WhatextraordinarydisposalwasbeingmadeofRosy’smoney?Buthereachglanceathersisteralsosuggestedcomplicationuponcomplication。
Thesingularhalfhourunderthetreesbythepool,spent,afterthefirsthystericmomentswereover,invagueexclaimingsandquestions,whichseemedhalffrightenedandallatsea,hadgraduallyshownherthatshewastalkingtoacreaturewhollyotherthantheRosaliewhohadsowellknownandlovedthemall,andwhomtheyhadsowelllovedandknown。
Theydidnotknowthisone,andshedidnotknowthem,shewasevenalittleafraidofthestirandmovementoftheirlifeandbeing。TheRosytheyhadknownseemedtobeimprisonedwithinthewalltheyearsofherseparatedlifehadbuiltabouther。AteachbreathshedrewBettinasawhowlongtheyearshadbeentoher,andhowfarherhomehadseemedtolieaway,sofarthatitcouldnottouchher,andwasonlyasortofdream,therecallingofwhichmadehersuddenlybegintocryagaineveryfewminutes。ToBettina’ssensitivelyalertminditwasplainthatitwouldnotdointheleasttodraghersuddenlyoutofherprison,orcloister,whichsoeveritmightbe。Todosowouldbelikeforcingacreatureaccustomedonlytodarkness,tostareattheblazingsun。Tohaveburstuponherwiththeoldimpetuous,candidfondnesswouldhavebeentofrightenandshockherasifwithsomethingborderingonindecency。Shecouldnothavestoodit;perhapssuchfondnesswassoremotefromherinthesedaysthatshehadevenceasedtobeabletounderstandit。
"Whereareyourlittlegirls?"Bettinaasked,rememberingthattherehadbeennoticegivenoftheadventoftwogirlbabies。
"Theydied,"LadyAnstruthersansweredunemotionally。"Theybothdiedbeforetheywereayearold。ThereisonlyUghtred。"
Bettyglancedattheboyandsawasmallflameofredcreepuponhischeek。Instinctivelysheknewwhatitmeant,andsheputoutherhandandlightlytouchedhisshoulder。
"Ihopeyou’lllikeme,Ughtred,"shesaid。
Healmoststartedatthesoundofhervoice,butwhenheturnedhisfacetowardsherheonlygrewredder,andlookedawkwardwithoutanswering。Hismannerwasthatofaboywhowasunusedtotheamenitiesofpolitesociety,andwhowasonlymadeshybythem。
Withoutwarning,amomentorsolater,Bettinastoppedinthemiddleoftheavenue,andlookedupatthearchinggiantbranchesofthetreeswhichhadreachedoutfromonesidetotheother,asiftoclasphandsorencompassaninterlacingembrace。Asfarastheeyereached,theydidthis,andthebeholderstoodasinahighstatelypergola,withbreaksofdeepazureskybetween。Severalmellow,cawingrookswerefloatingsolemnlybeneathorabovethebranches,nowwandthensettlinginsomehighestoneordisappearinginthethickgreenness。
LadyAnstruthersstoppedwhenhersisterdidso,andglancedatherinvagueinquiry。Itwasplainthatshehadoutlivedevenhersenseofthebeautysurroundingher。
"Whatareyoulookingat,Betty?"sheasked。
"Atallofit,"Bettyanswered。"Itissowonderful。"
"Shelikesit,"saidUghtred,andthenratherslunkastepbehindhismother,asifhewereashamedofhimself。
"Thehouseisjustbeyondthosetrees,"saidLadyAnstruthers。
Theycameinfullviewofitthreeminuteslater。Whenshesawit,Bettyutteredanexclamationandstoppedagaintoenjoyeffects。
"Shelikesthat,too,"saidUghtred,and,althoughhesaiditsheepishly,therewasimperfectlyconcealedbeneaththeawkwardnessapleasureinthefact。
"Doyou?"askedRosalie,withhersmall,painfulsmile。
Bettylaughed。
"Itistoopicturesque,initsspecialway,tobequitecredible,"shesaid。
"IthoughtthatwhenIfirstsawit,"saidRosy。
"Don’tyouthinkso,now?"
"Well,"wastheratheruncertainreply,"asNigelsays,there’snotmuchgoodinaplacethatisfallingtopieces。"
"Whyletitfalltopieces?"Bettyputittoherwithimpartialpromptness。
"Wehaven’tmoneyenoughtoholdittogether,"resignedly。
Astheyclimbedthelow,broad,lichen—blotchedsteps,whosebrokenstonebalustradeswerealmosthiddeninclutching,untrimmedivy,Bettyfeltthemtobealmostincredible,too。Theunevenstonesoftheterracethestepsmountedtowerelichen—
blotchedandbrokenalso。Tuftsofgreengrowthshadforcedthemselvesbetweentheflags,andaddedanuntidybeauty。
Theivytossedinbranchesovertheredroofandwallsofthehouse。Ithadbeenleftunclipped,untilitwasratheranendlesslyclamberingtreethanacreeper。Thehalltheyenteredhadthebeautyofspaciousformandgood,oldoakenpanelling。Thereweredeepwindowseatsandanancienthigh—backedsettleorso,andamassivetablebythefirelesshearth。Buttherewerenopicturesinplaceswherepictureshadevidentlyoncehung,andtheonlycoveringsonthestonefloorwerethefadedremnantsofacentralrugandaworntigerskin,theheadalmostbaldandaglasseyeknockedout。
Bettinatookintheunpromisingdetailswithoutaquiveroftheextravagantlashes。These,indeed,andtheeyespertainingtothem,seemedrathertosweepthefineroof,andacertainminstrel’sgalleryandstaircase,thanwhichnothingcouldhavebeenmuchfiner,withthelookofanappreciativeadmirerofarchitecturalfeaturesandoldoak。ShehadnotjourneyedtoStornhamCourtwiththeintentionofdisturbingRosy,orofbeingherselfobviouslydisturbed。Shehadcometoobservesituationsandrearrangethemwiththatintelligenceofwhichunconsideredemotionorexclamationformnopart。
"ItisthefirstoldEnglishhouseIhaveseen,"shesaid,withasighofpleasure。"Iamsoglad,Rosy——Iamsogladthatitisyours。"
SheputahandoneachofRosy’sthinshoulders——shefeltsharplydefinedbonesasshedidso——andbenttokissher。Itwasthenaturalaffectionateexpressionofherfeeling,buttearsstartedtoRosy’seyes,andtheboyUghtred,whohadsatdowninawindowseat,turnedredagain,andshiftedinhisplace。
"Oh,Betty!"wasRosy’sfaintnervousexclamation,"youseemsobeautifuland——so——sostrange——thatyoufrightenme。"
Bettylaughedwiththesoftestpossiblecheerfulness,shakingheralittle。
"Ishallnotseemstrangelong,"shesaid,"afterIhavestayedwithyouafewweeks,ifyouwillletmestaywithyou。"
"Letyou!Letyou!"inasortofgasp。
PoorlittleLadyAnstrutherssankontoasettleandbegantocryagain。Itwasplainthatshealwayscriedwhenthingsoccurred。Ughtred’sspeechfromhiswindowseattestifiedatoncetothat。
"Don’tcry,mother,"hesaid。"Youknowhowwe’vetalkedthatovertogether。It’shernerves,"heexplainedtoBettina。"Weknowitonlymakesthingsworse,butshecan’tstopit。"
Bettinasatonthesettle,too。Sheherselfwasnotthenawareofthewonderfulfeelingthepoorlittlesparefigureexperienced,ashersoftlystrongyoungarmscurvedaboutit。Shewasonlyawarethatsheherselffeltthatthiswasaheart—breakingthing,andthatshemustnot——MUSTnotletitbeseenhowmuchsherecogniseditswoefulness。Thiswaspretty,fairRosy,whohadneverdoneaharminherhappylife——thisforlornthingwasherRosy。
"Nevermind,"shesaid,halflaughingagain。"Iratherwanttocrymyself,andIamstrongerthansheis。Iamimmenselystrong。"
"Yes!Yes!"saidLadyAnstruthers,wipinghereyes,andmakingatremendouseffortatself—respectingcomposure。
"Youarestrong。Ihavegrownsoweakin——well,ineveryway。Betty,I’mafraidthisisapoorwelcome。Yousee——I’mafraidyou’llfinditallsodifferentfrom——fromNewYork。"
"Iwantedtofinditdifferent,"saidBetty。
"But——but——Imean——youknow————"LadyAnstruthersturnedhelplesslytotheboy。Bettinawasstruckwiththepainfultruththatshelookedevensillyassheturnedtohim。
"Ughtred——tellher,"sheended,andhungherhead。
Ughtredhadgotdownatoncefromhisseatandlimpedforward。Hisunprepossessingfacelookedasifhepulledhischildishnesstogetherwithanunchildisheffort。
"Shemeans,"hesaid,inhisawkwardway,"thatshedoesn’tknowhowtomakeyoucomfortable。Theroomsareallsoshabby——everythingissoshabby。Perhapsyouwon’tstaywhenyousee。"
Bettinaperceptiblyincreasedthefirmnessofherholdonhersister’sbody。Itwasasifshedrewitnearertohersideinakindoftakingpossession。Sheknewthatthemomenthadcomewhenshemightgothisfar,atleast,withoutexpressingalarmingthings。
"Youcannotshowmeanythingthatwillfrightenme,"
wastheanswershemade。"Ihavecometostay,Rosy。Wecanmakethingsrightiftheyrequireit。Whynot?"
LadyAnstruthersstartedalittle,andstaredather。Sheknewtenthousandreasonswhythingshadnotbeenmaderight,andthecasualinferencethatsuchreasonscouldbelightlysweptawayasifbythemerewaveofahand,impliedapowerappertainingtoatimeseemingsolostforeverthatitwastoomuchforher。