CHAPTERI
　　THEWEAVINGOFTHESHUTTLE
　　NomanknewwhentheShuttlebeganitsslowandheavyweavingfromshoretoshore，thatitwasheldandguidedbythegreathandofFate。Fatealonesawthemeaningofthewebitwove，themightofit，anditsplaceinthemakingofaworld’shistory。Menthoughtbutlittleofeitherweborweaving，callingthembyothernamesandlighterones，forthetimeunconsciousofthestrengthofthethreadthrownacrossthousandsofmilesofleaping，heaving，greyorblueocean。
　　FateandLifeplannedtheweaving，anditseemedmerecircumstancewhichguidedtheShuttletoandfrobetweentwoworldsdividedbyagulfbroaderanddeeperthanthethousandsofmilesofsalt，fiercesea——thegulfofabitterquarreldeepenedbyhatredandthesheddingofbrothers’
　　blood。BetweenthetwoworldsofEastandWesttherewasnowilltodrawnearer。Eachheldapart。Thosewhohadrebelledagainstthatwhichtheirsoulscalledtyranny，havingstruggledmadlyandshedbloodintearingthemselvesfree，turnedsternbacksupontheirunconqueredenemies，brokeallcordsthatboundthemtothepast，flingingofftiesofname，kinshipandrank，beginningwithfiercedisdainanewlife。
　　Thosewho，beingrebelledagainst，foundtherebelstoopassionateintheirdeterminationandtoodesperateintheirdefenceoftheirstrongholdstobelessthanunconquerable，sailedbackhaughtilytotheworldwhichseemedsofarthegreaterpower。Plungingintonewbattles，theyaddednewconquestsandsplendourtotheirland，lookingbackwithsomethingofcontempttothehalf—savageWestlefttobuilditsowncivilisationwithoutotheraidthanthestrengthofitsownstrongrighthandandstrongunculturedbrain。
　　Butwhilethetwoworldsheldapart，theShuttle，weavingslowlyinthegreathandofFate，drewthemcloserandheldthemfirm，eachofthemallunknowingformanyayear，thatwhathadatfirstbeenmerethreadsofgossamer，wasformingawebwhosestrengthintimenonecouldcompute，whoseseverancecouldbeaccomplishedbutbytragedyandconvulsion。
　　Theweavingwasbutinitsearlyandslow—movingyearswhenthisstoryopens。SteamerscrossedandrecrossedtheAtlantic，buttheyaccomplishedthejourneyatleisureandwithheavyrollingsandallsuchdiscomfortsassmallcraftcanafford。Theirstateroomsanddeckswerenotcrowdedwithpeopletowhomthevoyagewasamereincident——inmanycasesayearlyone。"Acrossing"inthosedayswasanevent。
　　Itwasplannedseriously，longthoughtof，discussedandre—
　　discussed，withandamongthevariousmembersofthefamilytowhichthevoyagerbelonged。Acertainboldness，borderingonrecklessness，wasalmosttobepresupposedintheindividualwho，turninghisbackuponNewYork，Philadelphia，Boston，andlikecities，turnedhisfacetowards"Europe。"
　　InthosedayswhentheShuttlewoveatleisure，amandidnotlightlyrunovertoLondon，orParis，orBerlin，hegravelywentto"Europe。"
　　Thejourneybeinglikelytobemadeonceinalifetime，thetraveller’sintentionwastoseeasmuchaspossible，tovisitasmanycitiescathedrals，ruins，galleries，ashistimeandpursewouldallow。PeoplewhocouldspeakwithanydegreeoffamiliarityofHydePark，theChampsElysees，thePincio，hadgainedacertaindignity。Theabilitytotouchwithanintimatebearinguponsuchlocalitieswasaraisondeplusforbeingaskedouttoteaortodinner。Topossessphotographsandrelicswastobeofinterest，tohaveseenEuropeancelebritiesevenatadistance，tohavewanderedabouttheoutsideofpoets’gardensandphilosophers’houses，wastobeentitledtorespect。TheperiodwasafarcryfromthetimewhentheShuttle，havingshottoandfro，fasterandfaster，weekbyweek，monthbymonth，weavingnewthreadsintoitswebeachyear，haswovenwarpandwoofuntiltheybindfarshoretoshore。
　　Itwasincomparativelyearlydaysthatthefirstthreadwefollowwaswovenintotheweb。Manysuchhavebeenwovensinceandhaveaddedgreaterstrengththananyothers，twiningthecordofsexandhome—buildingandrace—founding。
　　Butthiswasaslightandweakone，beingonlythethreadofthelifeofoneofReubenVanderpoel’sdaughters——theprettylittlesimpleonewhosenamewasRosalie。
　　Theywere——theVanderpoels——oftheAmericanswhosefortuneswereaportionofthehistoryoftheircountry。Thebuildingofthesefortuneshadbeenapartof，orhadcreatedepochsandcrises。Theirmillionscouldscarcelyberegardedasprivateproperty。Newspapersbandiedthemabout，sotospeak，employingthemasfactorsinargument，usingthemasfiguresofspeech，incorporatingthemintomethodsofcalculation。Literaturetoucheduponthem，moralsystemsconsideredthem，storiesfortheyoungtreatedthemgravelyasillustrative。
　　ThefirstReubenVanderpoel，whoinearlydaysofdangerhadtradedwithsavagesforthepeltsofwildanimals，wasthelaudedheroofstoriesofthriftandenterprise。Throughouthishard—workinglifehehadbeenirresistiblyimpelledtoactionbyanabsolutegeniusofcommerce，expressingitselfattheoutsetbytheexhibitionofcourageinmereexchangeandbarter。Analertpowertoperceivethepotentialvalueofthingsandthepossiblemalleabilityofmenandcircumstances，hadstoodhiminmarvellousgoodstead。Hehadboughtatlowpricesthingswhichintheeyesofthelessdiscerningwereworthless，but，havingobtainedpossessionofsuchthings，thelessdiscerninghadalmostinvariablyawakenedtothefactthat，inhishands，valuesincreased，andmethodsofremunerativedisposition，beingsought，werefound。Nothingremainedunutilisable。Thepractical，sordid，uneducatedlittlemandevelopedthepowertocreatedemandforhisownsupplies。Ifhewasbetrayedintoanerror，hequicklyretrievedit。Hecouldliveuponnothingandconsequentlycouldtravelanywhereinsearchofsuchthingsashedesired。Hecouldbarelyreadandwrite，andcouldnotspell，buthewasdaringandastute。Hisuntaughtbrainwasthatofafinancier，hisbloodburnedwiththefeverofbutonedesire——thedesiretoaccumulate。Moneyexpressedtohisnature，notexpenditure，butinvestmentinsuchsmallorlargepropertiesascouldberesoldatprofitinthenearorfarfuture。Thefutureheldfascinationsforhim。Heboughtnothingforhisownpleasureorcomfort，nothingwhichcouldnotbesoldorbarteredagain。Hemarriedawomanwhowasatrader’sdaughterandsharedhispassionforgain。ShewasofNorthofEnglandblood，herfatherhavingbeenahard—fistedsmalltradesmaninanunimportanttown，whohadbeendaringenoughtoemigratewhenemigrationmeantthefacingofunknowndangersinahalf—savageland。ShehadexcitedReubenVanderpoel’sadmirationbytakingoffherpetticoatonebitterwinter’sdaytosellittoasquawinexchangeforanornamentforwhichshechancedtoknowanothersquawwouldpaywithaskinofvalue。ThefirstMrs。Vanderpoelwasaswonderfulasherhusband。Theywerebothwonderful。Theywerethefoundersofthefortunewhichacenturyandahalflaterwasthedelight——infactthepiecederesistance——ofNewYorksocietyreporters，itsenormitybeingrestatedinroundfigureswhenablankspacemustbefilledup。Themethodofstatementlentitselftoinfinitevarietyandwasalwaysinterestingtoaparticularclass，someelementsofwhichfeltitencouragingtobeassuredthatsomuchmoneycouldbeapersonalpossession，someelementsfeelingthefactanadditionalargumenttobeusedagainsttheinfamyofmonopoly。
　　ThefirstReubenVanderpoeltransmittedtohissonhisaccumulationsandhisfeverforgain。Hehadbutonechild。
　　ThesecondReubenbuiltuponthefoundationsthisaffordedhim，afortuneasmuchlargerthanthefirstastherapidgrowthandincreasingcapabilitiesofthecountrygavehimenlargingopportunitiestoacquire。Itwasnolongernecessarytodealwithsavages：hispowerswerecalledupontocopewiththoseofwhitemenwhocametoanewcountrytostruggleforlivelihoodandfortune。Somewereshrewd，someweredesperate，someweredishonest。Butshrewdnessneveroutwitted，desperationneverovercame，dishonestyneverdeceivedthesecondReubenVanderpoel。Eachcharacteristicendedbyadaptingitselftohisownpurposesandqualities，andasaresultofeachitwashewhoinanybusinesstransactionwasthegainer。
　　ItwasthecommonsayingthattheVanderpoelswerepossessedofamoney—makingspell。Theirspelllayintheirentirementalandphysicalabsorptioninoneidea。TheirpeculiaritywasnotsomuchthattheywishedtoberichasthatNatureitselfimpelledthemtocollectwealthastheload—stonedrawstowardsitiron。Havingpossessednothing，theybecamerich，havingbecomerichtheybecamericher，havingfoundedtheirfortunesonsmallschemes，theyincreasedthembyenormousones。Intimetheyattainedthatomnipotenceofwealthwhichitwouldseemnocircumstancecancontrolorlimit。ThefirstReubenVanderpoelcouldnotspell，thesecondcould，thethirdwasaswelleducatedasamancouldbewhosesoleprofessionismoney—making。Hischildrenweretaughtallthatexpensiveteachersandexpensiveopportunitiescouldteachthem。AfterthesecondgenerationthemeagreandmercantilephysicaltypeoftheVanderpoelsimproveduponitself。Femininegoodlooksappearedandweremadethemostof。TheVanderpoelelementinvestedevengoodlookstoanadvantage。ThefourthReubenVanderpoelhadnosonandtwodaughters。Theywerebroughtupinabrown—stonemansionbuiltuponafashionableNewYorkthoroughfareroaringwithtraffic。TothefarthestpointoftheRockyMountainsthenumberofdollarsthis"mansion"（itwasalwayscalledso）hadcost，wasknown。TheremayhaveexistedPuebloIndianswhohadheardrumoursofthepriceofit。Alltheshop—keepersandfarmersintheUnitedStateshadreadnewspaperdescriptionsofitsfurnishingsandknewthevalueofthebrocadewhichhunginthebedroomsandboudoirsoftheMissesVanderpoel。
　　ItwasafactmuchcherishedthatMissRosalie’sbathwasofCarraramarble，andtogoodsoulsactivelyengagedindoingtheirownwashinginsmallNewEnglandorWesterntowns，itwasadistinctluxurytobeawarethatthewaterintheCarraramarblebathwasperfumedwithFlorentineIris。
　　Circumstancessuchastheseseemedtobecomepersonalpossessionsandeventolightensomewhattheburdenoftoil。
　　RosalieVanderpoelmarriedanEnglishmanoftitle，andpartofthestoryofhermarriedlifeformsmyprologue。Herswasoftheearlyinternationalmarriages，andtherepublicanmindhadnotyetadjusteditselftoallthatsuchalliancesmightimply。
　　Itwasyetingenuous，imaginativeandconfidinginsuchmatters。AbaronetcyandamanorhousereigningoveranoldEnglishvillageandovervillagersinpossiblesmockfrocks，presentedelementsofpicturesquedignitytopeoplewhoseintimacywithsuchallurementshadbeenlimitedbythenovelsofMrs。Oliphantandotherwriters。Themostordinarylittleanecdotesinwhichvicarages，gamekeepers，anddowagersfigured，wereexcitingintheseearlydays。"SirNigelAnstruthers，"whenengraveduponavisitingcard，woreanairofdistinctionalmoststartling。SirNigelhimselfwasnotaspicturesqueashisname，thoughhewasnotentirelywithoutattraction，whenforreasonsofhisownhechosetoaimatagreeablenessofbearing。Hewasamanwithagoodfigureandagoodvoice，andbutforaheavinessoffeaturetheresultofobjectionableliving，mighthavegiventheimpressionofbeingbetterlookingthanhereallywas。NewYorklaidamusedandatthesametime，charmedstressuponthefactthathespokewithan"Englishaccent。"Hisenunciationwasinfactclearcutandtreateditsvowelswell。Hewasamanwhoobservedwithanairofaccustomedpunctiliousnesssuchsocialrulesandcourtesiesashedeemeditexpedienttoconsider。AnastuteworldlinghadremarkedthathewasatoncemoreceremoniousandmorecasualinhismannerthanmenbredinAmerica。
　　"Ifyouinvitehimtodinner，"thewordingsaid，"orifyoudie，ormarry，ormeetwithanaccident，hisnotesofcondolenceorcongratulationarepromptandcivil，buttheactualtruthisthathecaresnothingwhateveraboutyouoryourrelations，andifyoudon’tpleasehimhedoesnothesitatetosulkorbeastonishinglyrude，whichlastanAmericandoesnotallowhimselftobe，asarule。"
　　BymanypeopleSirNigelwasnotanalysed，butaccepted。
　　HewasoftheearlyEnglishwhocametoNewYork，andwasanoveltyofinterest，withhisbackgroundofManorHouseandvillageandoldfamilyname。Hewasverymuchtalkedofatvivaciousladies’luncheonparties，hewasverymuchtalkedtoatequallyvivaciousafternoonteas。Atdinnerpartieshewasfurtivelywatchedagooddeal，butafterdinnerwhenhesatwiththemenovertheirwine，hewasnotpopular。
　　Hewasnotperhapsexactlydisliked，butmenwhosechiefinterestatthatperiodlayinstocksandrailroads，didnotfindconversationeasywithamanwhosesoleoccupationhadbeentheshootingofbirdsandthehuntingoffoxes，whenhewasnotabsolutelyloiteringaboutLondon，withhistimeonhishands。Thestorieshetold——andtheywerefew——werechieflyanecdoteswhosepointsgainedtheirhumourbythefactthatamanwasacomicallybadshotorbadriderandeitherpepperedagamekeeperorwasthrownintoaditchwhenhishorsewentoverahedge，andsuchrelationsdidnotincreaseinthepoignancyoftheirinterestbybeingfilteredthroughbrainsaccustomedtoapplyingtheirpowerstoproblemsofspeculationandcommerce。HewasnotsodullbutthatheperceivedthisatanearlystageofhisvisittoNewYork，whichwasprobablythereasonoftheinfrequencyofhisstories。
　　Heonhissidewasnaturallynotquicktorisetothehumourofa"bigdeal"orabigblundermadeonWallStreet——ortothewitofjokesconcerningthem。Uponthewholehewouldhavebeengladtohaveunderstoodsuchmattersmoreclearly。Hiscircumstancesweresuchashadatlastforcedhimtocontemplatetheworldofmoney—makerswithsomethingofanannoyedrespect。"Thesefellows"whohadneithertitlesnorestatestokeepupcouldmakemoney。He，asheacknowledgeddisgustedlytohimself，wasmuchworsethanabeggar。TherewasStornhamCourtinastateofruin——
　　theestategoingtothedogs，thefarmhousestumblingtopiecesandhe，sotospeak，withoutasixpencetoblesshimselfwith，andheadoverheelsindebt。Englishmenoftherankwhichinbygonetimeshadnotassociateditselfwithtradehadbegunatleasttotriflewithit——toconsideritspotentialitiesasfactorspossiblytobemadeusefulbythearistocracy。Countesseshadnotyetspiritedlyopenedmilliners’
　　shops，norbeltedEarlsadornedthestage，butcertainnoblemenhaddalliedwithbeerandcoquettedwithstocks。OneofthefirstcommercialdevelopmentshadbeenthediscoveryofAmerica——particularlyofNewYork——asaplacewhereifonecouldmakeupone’smindtotheplunge，onemightmarryone’ssonsprofitably。Attheoutsetitpresentedafieldsopromisingastoleadtorashnessandindiscretiononthepartofpersonsnotgiventoanalysisofcharacterandinconsequencerelyingtooserenelyuponaningenuousnesswhichratherspeedilyrevealedthatithaditslimits。Ingenuousnesscombiningitselfwithremarkablealertnessofperceptiononoccasion，isratherAmericanthanEnglish，andis，therefore，totheEnglishmind，misleading。
　　Atfirstyoungersons，who"gavetrouble"totheirfamilies，weresentout。Theirnames，theirbackgroundsofcastlesormanors，relativesofdistinction，Londonseasons，foxhunting，BuckinghamPalaceandGoodwoodRaces，formedapicturesqueallurement。Thatthecastlesandmanorswouldbelongtotheirelderbrothers，thattherelativesofdistinctiondidnotencourageintimacywithswarmsoftheyoungerbranchesoftheirfamilies；thatLondonseasons，hunting，andracingwerefortheireldersandbetters，werefactsnotrealisedinalltheirimportancebytherepublicanmind。Inthecourseoftimetheywererealisedtothefull，butinRosalieVanderpoel’snineteenthyeartheycoveredwhatwasatthattimealmostunknownterritory。OnemayrestassuredSirNigelAnstrutherssaidnothingwhatsoeverinNewYorkofaninterviewhehadhadbeforesailingwithanintenselydisagreeablegreat—aunt，whowasthewifeofaBishop。Shewasahorribleoldwomanwithabroadface，bluntfeaturesandaraucousvoice，whosetonesaddedacriditytoherobservationswhenshewasindulginginherfavouritepastimeofinterferingwiththebusinessofheracquaintancesandrelations。
　　"IdonotknowwhatyouaregoingchasingofftoAmericafor，Nigel，"shecommented。"Youcan’tafforditanditisperfectlyridiculousofyoutotakeituponyourselftotravelforpleasureasifyouwereamanofmeansinsteadofbeinginsuchastateofpocketthatMariatellsmeyoucannotpayyourtailor。NeithertheBishopnorIcandoanythingforyouandIhopeyoudon’texpectit。AllIcanhopeisthatyouknowyourselfwhatyouaregoingtoAmericainsearchof，andthatitissomethingmorepracticalthanbuffaloes。
　　YouhadbetterstopinNewYork。Thosebigshopkeepers’
　　daughtersareenormouslyrich，theysay，andtheyareimmenselypleasedbyattentionsfrommenofyourclass。Theysaythey’llmarryanythingifithasanauntoragrandmotherwithatitle。YoucanmentiontheMarchioness，youknow。Youneednotrefertothefactthatshethoughtyourfatherablackguardandyourmotheraninterloper，andthatyouhaveneverbeeninvitedtoBroadmeresinceyouwereborn。YoucanrefercasuallytomeandtotheBishopandtothePalace，too。APalace——evenaBishop’s——oughttogoalongwaywithAmericans。Theywillthinkitissomethingroyal。"Sheendedherremarkswithoneofhermostinsultingsnortsoflaughter，andSirNigelbecamedarkredandlookedasifhewouldliketoknockherdown。
　　Itwasnot，however，hersentimentswhichwereparticularlyrevoltingtohim。Ifshehadexpressedtheminamannermoreflatteringtohimselfhewouldhavefeltthattherewasagooddealtobesaidforthem。Infact，hehadputthesamethingtohimselfsometimepreviously，and，insumminguptheAmericanmatter，hadreachedcertainthriftydecisions。
　　Theimpulsetoknockherdownsurgedwithinhimsolelybecausehehadabrutallybadtemperwhenhisvanitywasinsulted，andhewasfuriousatherimpudenceinspeakingtohimasifhewereavillageroutofworkwhomshewasatlibertytobullyandlecture。
　　"Forawomanwhoissupposedtohavebeenbornofgentlepeople，"hesaidtohismotherafterwards，"AuntMarianisthemostvulgaroldbeastIhaveeverbeheld。Shehasthetasteofafemalecostermonger。"Whichwasentirelytrue，butitmightbeaddedthathisownwasnobetterandhispointsofviewandmoralswhollycoincidedwithhistaste。
　　NaturallyRosalieVanderpoelknewnothingofthissideofthematter。Shehadbeenapetted，butterflychild，whohadbeenprettyandadmiredandindulgedfromherinfancy；shehadgrownupintoapetted，butterflygirl，prettyandadmiredandsurroundedbyinordinateluxury。Herworldhadbeenmadeupofgood—natured，lavishfriendsandrelations，whoenjoyedthemselvesandfeltadelightinhergirlishtoilettesandtriumphs。Shehadspentheroneseasonofbelledominbeingwhirledfromfestivitytofestivity，indancinginroomsfestoonedwiththousandsofdollars’worthofflowers，inlunchingordiningattablesloadedwithrosesandvioletsandorchids，fromwhichballroomsorfeastsshehadborneawaywonderful"favours"andgifts，whoseprices，beingrecordedinthenewspapers，causedathrillofdelightorenvytopassovertheland。Shewasaslimlittlecreature，withquantitiesoflightfeatheryhairlikeaFrenchdoll’s。Shehadsmallhandsandsmallfeetandasmallwaist——asmallbrainalso，itmustbeadmitted，butshewasaninnocent，sweet—temperedgirlwithachildlikesimplenessofmind。Infine，shewasexactlythegirltofindSirNigel’sdomineeringtemperamentatonceimposingandattractive，solongasitwascloakedbytheceremoniesofexternalgoodbreeding。
　　HersisterBettina，whowasstillachild，wasofastrongerandlesssusceptiblenature。Betty——ateight——hadlonglegsandasquarebutdelicatesmallface。Herwell—openedsteel—
　　blueeyeswerenoticeableforratherextravagantink—blacklashesandastraightyoungstarewhichseemedtoaccuseifnottocondemn。Shewasbeingeducatedataruinouslyexpensiveschoolwithanumberofotherinordinatelyrichlittlegirls，whowerealltoowonderfullydressedandtoolavishlysuppliedwithpocketmoney。Theschoolconsidereditselfespeciallyrefinedandselect，butwasinfactinterestinglyvulgar。
　　Theinordinatelyrichlittlegirls，whohadmostofthemprettyandspiritualorprettyandpiquantfaces，ateagreatmanybonbonsandchatteredagreatdealinhighunmodulatedvoicesaboutthepartiestheirsistersandotherrelativeswenttoandthedressestheywore。Someofthemwerenicelittlesouls，whointhefuturewouldemergefromtheirchrysalisstateenchantingwomen，buttheyusedcolloquialismsfreely，andhadaningenuoushabitofreferringtothepricesofthings。BettinaVanderpoel，whowastherichestandcleverestandmostpromisinglyhandsomeamongthem，wascolloquialtoslanginess，butshehadadeep，mellow，childvoiceandanamazingcarriage。
　　ShecouldnotendureSirNigelAnstruthers，and，beinganAmericanchild，didnothesitatetoexpressherselfwithforce，ifwithsomecrudeness。"He’sahatefulthing，"shesaid，"Iloathehim。He’sstuckupandhethinksyouareafraidofhimandhelikesit。"
　　SirNigelhadknownonlyEnglishchildren，littlegirlswholivedinthatdiscreetcorneroftheirparents’townorcountryhousesknownas"theschoolroom，"apparentlyemergingonlyfordailywalkswithgovernesses；girlswithlonghairandboysinlittlehighhatsandwithfaceswhichseemedcuriouslymadetomatchthem。Bothboysandgirlsweredecentlykeptoutofthewayandnotintheleastdweltonexceptwhenbroughtoutforinspectionduringtheholidaysandtakentothepantomime。
　　SirNigelhadnotrealisedthatanAmericanchildwasanabsolutefactortobecountedwith，anda"youngster"whoenteredthedrawing—roomwhenshechoseandjoinedfearlesslyinadultconversationwasanelementheconsideredannoying。
　　ItwasquitetruethatBettinatalkedtoomuchandtooreadilyattimes，butithadnotbeenexplainedtoherthattheopinionsofeightyearsarenotalwaysofabsorbinginteresttothemature。ItwasalsotruethatSirNigelwasagreatfoolforinterferingwithwhatwasclearlynoaffairofhisinsuchamanneraswouldhavemadehimanenemyevenhadnotthechild’sinstinctarrayedheragainsthimattheoutset。
　　"YouAmericanyoungstersaretoocheeky，"hesaidononeoftheoccasionswhenBettyhadtalkedtoomuch。"IfyouweremysisterandlivedatStornhamCourt，youwouldbelearninglessonsintheschoolroomandwearingapinafore。
　　NobodyeversawmysisterEmilywhenshewasyourage。"
　　"Well，I’mnotyoursisterEmily，"retortedBetty，"andIguessI’mgladofit。"
　　Itwasratherimpudentofher，butitmustbeconfessedthatshewasnotinfrequentlyratherimpudentinarudelittle—girlway，butshewasserenelyunconsciousofthefact。
　　SirNigelflusheddarklyandlaughedashort，unpleasantlaugh。IfshehadbeenhissisterEmilyshewouldhavefaredillatthemoment，forhisvillainoustemperwouldhavegotthebetterofhim。
　　"I`guess’thatImaybecongratulatedtoo，"hesneered。
　　"IfIwasgoingtobeanybody’ssisterEmily，"saidBetty，excitedalittlebythesenseofthefray，"Ishouldn’twanttobeyours。"
　　"NowBetty，don’tbehateful，"interposedRosalie，laughing，andherlaughwasnervous。"There’sMinaThalbergcomingupthefrontsteps。Goandmeether。"
　　Rosalie，poorgirl，alwaysfoundherselfnervouswhenSirNigelandBettywereintheroomtogether。SheinstinctivelyrecognisedtheirantagonismandwasafraidBettywoulddosomethinganEnglishbaronetwouldthinkvulgar。HersimplebraincouldnothaveexplainedtoherwhyitwasthatsheknewSirNigeloftenthoughtNewYorkersvulgar。Shewas，however，quiteawareofthisbutimperfectlyconcealedfact，andfeltatimiddesiretobeexplanatory。
　　WhenBettinamarchedoutoftheroomwithherextraordinarycarriagefinelymanifest，Rosy’slittlelaughwaspropitiatory。
　　"Youmustn’tmindher，"shesaid。"She’sarealsplendidlittlething，butshe’sgotaquicktemper。It’salloverinaminute。"
　　"Theywouldn’tstandthatsortofthinginEngland，"
　　saidSirNigel。"She’sdeucedlyspoiled，youknow。"
　　Hedetestedthechild。Hedislikedallchildren，butthisoneawakenedinhimmorethanmeredislike。ThefactwasthatthoughBettyherselfwaswhollyunconsciousofthesubtletruth，theasyetundevelopedintellectwhichlatermadeherabrilliantandcaptivatingpersonality，vaguelysawhimashewas，anunscrupulous，sordidbrute，asremorselessanadventurerandswindlerinhisspecialline，asifhehadbeenengagedindrawingfalsechequesandarranginghugejewelrobberies，insteadofplanningtoentrapintoadisadvantageousmarriageagirlwhosegentlenessandfortunecouldbeusedbyablackguardofreputablename。Themanwascold—
　　bloodedenoughtoseethathergentleweaknesswasofvaluebecauseitcouldbebullied，hermoneywastobecountedonbecauseitcouldbespentonhimselfandhisdegeneratevicesandonhisrackedandruinednameandestate，whichmustberebuiltandrestockedatanearlydatebysomeoneorother，lesttheytumbledintoignominiouscollapsewhichcouldnotbeconcealed。Bettinaoftheaccusingeyesdidnotknowthatinthedepthofheryetcrudeyoungbeing，instinctwassummingupforherthepotentialitiesofanunusuallyfinespecimenoftheBritishblackguard，butthiswasneverthelesstheinterestingtruth。WhenlatershewastoldthathersisterhadbecomeengagedtoSirNigelAnstruthers，aflameofcolourflashedoverherface，shestaredsilentlyamoment，thenbitherlipandburstintotears。
　　"Well，Bett，"exclaimedRosalie，"youarethequeerestthingIeversaw。"
　　Bettina’stearswereanoutburst，notaflow。Shesweptthemawaypassionatelywithhersmallhandkerchief。
　　"He’lldosomethingawfultoyou，"shesaid。"He’llnearlykillyou。Iknowhewill。I’dratherbedeadmyself。"