Shedashedoutoftheroom，andcouldneverbeinducedtosayawordfurtheraboutthematter。Shewouldindeedhavefounditimpossibletoexpressherintenseantipathyandsenseofimpendingcalamity。Shehadnotthephrasestomakeherselfcleareventoherself，andafterallwhatcontrollingeffortcanoneproducewhenoneisonlyeightyearsold？
　　CHAPTERII
　　ALACKOFPERCEPTION
　　MercantileasAmericanswereproclaimedtobe，theopinionofSirNigelAnstrutherswasthattheywere，onsomepoints，singularlyunbusinesslike。Intheperfectlyobviousandsimplematterofthesettlementofhisdaughter’sfortune，hehadfeltthatReubenVanderpoelwasobtusetothepointofidiocy。
　　Heseemedtohavenoneoftheordinarypointsofview。
　　NaturallytherewastoAnstruthers’mindbutonepointofviewtotake。Amanofbirthandrank，heargued，doesnotcareeracrosstheAtlantictomarryaNewYorkmillionaire’sdaughterunlessheanticipatesderivingsomeadvantagefromthealliance。Suchaman——beingofAnstruthers’type——wouldnothavemarriedarichwomaneveninhisowncountrywithoutmakingsurethatadvantagesweretoaccruetohimselfasaresultoftheunion。"InEngland，"tousehisownwords，"therewasnononsenseaboutit。"Women’sfortunesaswellasthemselvesbelongedtotheirhusbands，andamanwhowasmasterinhisownhousecouldmakehiswifedoashechose。
　　Hehadseengirlswithmoneymanagedverysatisfactorilybyfellowswhoheldatightrein，andwerenotmovedbytears，anddidnotallowtalkingtorelations。Ifhehadbeendesirousofmarryingandcouldhaveaffordedtotakeapennilesswife，therewerehundredsofportionlessgirlsreadytothankGodforadecentchancetosettlethemselvesforlife，andoneneednotstiroutofone’snativelandtofindthem。
　　ButSirNigelhadnotintheleastdesiredtosaddlehimselfwithadomesticencumbrance，infactnothingwouldhaveinducedhimtoconsiderthestepifhehadnotbeendrivenhardbycircumstances。Hisfortuneshadreachedastagewheremoneymustbeforthcomingsomehow——fromsomewhere。
　　Heandhismotherhadbeenlivingfromhandtomouth，sotospeak，foryears，andtheyhadalsobeenobligedtokeepupappearances，whichissometimesembitteringeventopersonsofamiabletempers。LadyAnstruthers，itistrue，hadlivedinthecountryinasniggardlyamanneraspossible。Shehadnarrowedherexistencetoabsoluteprivation，presentingatthesametimeastern，boldfronttothepersonswhosawher，totheinsufficientstaffofservants，tothevillagetothevicarandhiswife，andthefewfar—distantneighbourswhoperhapsonceayeardrovemilestocallorleaveacard。Shewasanoldwomansufficientlyunattractivetofindnodifficultyinthewayoflimitingheracquaintances。Theunprepossessingwardrobeshehadgatheredinthepassingyearswasremadeagainandagainbythevillagedressmaker。Sheworedingyoldsilkgownsandappallingbonnets，andmantlesdrippingwithrustyfringesandbuglebeads，butthesemitigatednotintheleasttheunflinchingarroganceofherbearing，orthesimple，intolerantrudenesswhichsheconsideredproperandbecominginpersonslikeherself。Shedidnotofcourseallowthatthereexistedmanypersonslikeherself。
　　Thatsocietyrejoicedinthisfactwasbutthestampofitsinferiorityandfolly。WhileshepinchedherselfandharriedherfewhirelingsatStornhamitwasnecessaryforSirNigeltoshowhimselfintownandpresentasdecentanappearanceaspossible。Hisvanitywasfartooarroganttoallowofhispermittinghimselftodropoutoftheworldtowhichhecouldnotaffordtobelong。Thatheshouldhavebeenforgottenorignoredwouldhavebeenintolerabletohim。Forafewyearshewasinvitedtodineatgoodhouses，andgotshootingandhuntingaspartofthehospitalityofhisacquaintances。
　　Butamanwhocannotaffordtoreturnhospitalitieswillfindthatheneednotexpecttoavailhimselfofthoseofhisacquaintancestotheendofhiscareerunlessheisanextremelyengagingperson。SirNigelAnstrutherswasnotanengagingperson。Henevergaveathoughttothecomfortorinterestofanyotherhumanbeingthanhimself。Hewasalsodominatedbythekindofnastytemperwhichsorevealsitselfwhenletloosethatitsownercannotcontrolitevenwhenitwouldbedistinctlytohisadvantagetodoso。
　　Findingthathehadnothingtogiveinreturnforwhathetookasifitwerehisright，societygraduallybegantoceasetoretainanylivelyrecollectionofhisexistence。Thetrades—
　　peoplehehadbornehimselfloftilytowardsawakenedtothefactthathewasthekindofmanitwasatoncesafeandwisetodun，andthereforeproceededtomakehislifeaburdentohim。Athisclubshehadneverbeenamembersurroundedandrejoicedoverwhenhemadehisappearance。Thetimecamewhenhebegantofancythathewasratheredgedawayfrom，andheendeavouredtosustainhisdignitybybeingsulkyandmakingcausticspeecheswhenhewasapproached。DrivenoccasionallydowntoStornhambyactualpressureofcircumstances，hefoundtheoutlooktheremoreembitteringstill。
　　LadyAnstrutherslaidthebarenessofthelandbeforehimwithoutanyefforttopalliateunpleasantness。Ifhechosetostalkaboutandlookglum，shecouldsitstillandcallhisattentiontorevoltingtruthswhichhecouldnotdeny。Shecouldpointouttohimthathehadnomoney，andthattenantswouldnotstayinhouseswhichweretumblingtopieces，andworklandwhichhadbeenstarved。Shecouldtellhimjusthowlongatimehadelapsedsincewageshadbeenpaidandaccountsclearedoff。Andshehadanengaging，unbiassedwayofseemingtodrivethesemaddeningdetailshomebythemeremannerofherstatement。
　　"Youmakethewholethingasdamneddisagreeableasyoucan，"Nigelwouldsnarl。
　　"Imerelystatefacts，"shewouldreplywithacridserenity。
　　Amanwhocannotkeepuphisestate，payhistailorortherentofhislodgingsintown，isinastraitwhichmaydrivehimtodesperation。SirNigelAnstruthersborrowedsomemoney，wenttoNewYorkandmadehissuittonicelittlesillyRosalieVanderpoel。
　　Butthewholethingwasunexpectedlydisappointingandsurroundedbyirritatingcircumstances。Hefoundhimselffacetofacewithastateofaffairssuchashehadnotcontemplated。
　　InEnglandwhenamanmarried，certainpracticalmatterscouldbeinquiredintoandarrangedbysolicitors，theamountoftheprospectivebride’sfortune，theallowancesandsettlementstobemade，thepositionofthebridegroomwithregardtopecuniarymatters。Toputitsimply，amanfoundoutwherehestoodandwhathewastogain。But，atfirsttohissardonicentertainmentandlatertohisdisgustedannoyance，SirNigelgraduallydiscoveredthatinthematterofmarriage，Americanshadaningenuoustendencytobelieveinthesentimentalfeelingsofthepartiesconcerned。
　　Thegeneralimpressionseemedtobethatamanmarriedpurelyforlove，andthatdelicacywouldmakeitimpossibleforhimtoaskquestionsastowhathisbride’sparentswereinapositiontohandovertohimasasortofindemnityforthelossofhisbachelorfreedom。AnstruthersbegantodiscoverthisfactbeforehehadbeenmanyweeksinNewYork。
　　Hereachedtherealisationofitsexistencebyprocessesofexclusionandinclusion，byhearingcasualremarkspeopleletdrop，byaskingroundaboutandcarefulquestions，byleadingbothmenandwomentotheinnocentexpoundingofcertainpointsofview。Millionaires，itappeared，didnotexpecttomakeallowancestomenwhomarriedtheirdaughters；youngwomen，ittranspired，didnotintheleastrealisethatamanshouldbeliberallyendowedinpaymentforassumingthedutiesofahusband。Ifrichfathersmadeallowances，theymadethemtotheirdaughtersthemselves，whodisposedofthemastheypleased。Inthiscase，ofcourse，SirNigelprivatelyarguedwithfineacumen，itbecamethehusband’sbusinesstoseethatwhathiswifepleasedshouldbewhatmostagreeablycoincidedwithhisownviewsandconveniences。
　　Hismostilluminatingexperiencehadbeenthehearingofsomemen，hard—headed，richstockbrokerswithavulgarsenseofhumour，enjoyingthemselvesquiteuproariouslyonenightataclub，overastoryoneofthemwasrelatingofanunsatisfactoryGermanson—in—lawwhohaddemandedanincome。Hewasamanofsmalltitle，whohadmarriedthenarrator’sdaughter，andaftersomemonthsspentinhisfather—
　　in—law’shouse，hadfeltitbutproperthathisfinancialpositionshouldbeputonapracticalfooting。
　　"Hebroughtherbackafterthebridaltourtomakeusavisit，"saidthestoryteller，asharp—featuredmanwithaquaintwrymouth，whichseemedtoexpressaperpetual，repressedappreciationofpassingevents。"Ihadnothingtosayagainstthat，becausewewereallgladtoseeherhomeandhermotherhadbeenmissingher。ButweekspassedandmonthspassedandtherewasnomentionmadeofthemgoingovertosettleintheSloshwe’dheardsomuchof，andintimeitcameoutthattheSloshthing"——Anstruthersrealisedwithgallinhissoulthatthe"brute，"ashecalledhim，meant"Schloss，"andthathismispronunciationwasatonceamatterofhumourandderision——"wasn’thisatall。Itwashiselderbrother’s。Thewholelotofthemwerecountsandnotoneofthemseemedtoownadime。TheSloshcounthadn’tmorethantwenty—fivecentsandhewasn’tthekindtodealanyofitouttohisfamily。SoLily’scountwouldhavetogoclerkinginadrygoodsstore，ifhepromisedtosupporthimself。Buthedidn’tproposetodoit。Hethoughthe’dgotontoasoftthing。
　　Ofcoursewe’reaneasy—goinglotandweshouldhavestoodhimifhe’dbeenanicefellow。Buthewasn’t。Lily’smotherusedtofindhercryinginherbedroomanditcameoutbydegreesthatitwasbecauseAdolfhadbeenquarrellingwithherandsayingsneeringthingsaboutherfamily。Whenhermothertalkedtohimhewasinsulting。ThenbillsbegantocomeinandLilywasexpectedtogetmetopaythem。Andtheywerenotthekindofbillsadecentfellowcallsonanothermantopay。ButIdiditfiveorsixtimestomakeiteasyforher。Ididn’ttellherthattheygaveanolderchapthanhimselfsidelightsonthesituation。Butthatdidn’tworkwell。
　　HethoughtIdiditbecauseIhadto，andhebegantofeelfreeandeasyaboutit，anddidn’ttrytocoveruphistrackssomuchwhenhesentinanewlot。HewasalwaysworkingLily。Hebegantoconsiderhimselfmasterofthehouse。
　　Heintimatedthataprivatecarriageoughttobekeptforthem。Hesaiditwasbeggarlythatheshouldhavetoconsidertherestofthefamilywhenhewantedtogoout。WhenIgotontothesituation，Ibegantoenjoyit。Ilethimspreadhimselfforawhilejusttoseewhathewoulddo。GoodLord！
　　Icouldn’thavebelievedthatanyfellowcouldhavethoughtanyotherfellowcouldbesuchafoolashethoughtIwas。
　　HewentperfectlycrazyafteramonthorsoandorderedmeaboutandpatronisedmeasifIwasabootblackhemeanttoteachsomethingto。SoatlastIhadatalkwithLilyandtoldherIwasgoingtoputanendtoit。Ofcourseshecriedandwashalffrightenedtodeath，butbythattimehehadill—
　　usedhersothatsheonlywantedtogetridofhim。SoIsentforhimandhadatalkwithhiminmyoffice。Iledhimontosayingallhehadonhismind。HeexplainedtomewhatacondescensionitwasforamanlikehimselftomarryagirllikeLily。Hemadeadignified，touchingpictureofallthedisadvantagesofsuchanallianceandalltheadvantagestheyoughttobringinexchangetothemanwhoboreupunderthem。Irubbedmyheadandlookedworriedeverynowandthenandclearedmythroatapologeticallyjusttowarmhimup。Icantellyouthatfellowfelthappy，downrighthappywhenhesawhowhumblyIlistenedtohim。Hepositivelyswelledupwithhopeandcomfort。HethoughtIwasgoingtoturnoutwell，realwell。IwasgoingtopayupjustasavulgarNewYorkfather—in—lawoughttodo，andthankGodfortheblessedprivilege。Why，hewasrealeloquentabouthisbloodandhisancestorsandthehoary—headedSlosh。Sowhenhe’dfinished，Iclearedmythroatinanervous，ingratiatingkindofwayagainandIaskedhimkindofanxiouslywhathethoughtwouldbetheproperthingforabase—bornNewYorkmillionairetodounderthecircumstances——whathewouldapproveofhimself。"
　　SirNigelwasdisgustedtoseethenarratortwisthismouthintoasweet，shrewd，repressedgrinevenasheexpectoratedintothenearestreceptacle。Thegrinwasgreetedbyashoutoflaughterfromhiscompanions。
　　"Whatdidhesay，Stebbins？"someonecried。
　　"Hesaid，"explainedMr。Stebbinsdeliberately，"hesaidthatanallowancewastheproperthing。Hesaidthatamanofhisrankmusthaveresources，andthatitwasn’tdignifiedforhimtohavetoaskhiswifeorhiswife’sfatherformoneywhenhewantedit。Hesaidanallowancewaswhathefelthehadarighttoexpect。Andthenhetwistedhismoustacheandsaid，`whatproposition’didImake——whatwouldI
　　allowhim？"
　　Thestoryteller’shearersevidentlyknewhimwell。Theirlaughterwaslouderthanbefore。
　　"Let’sheartherest，Joe！Let’shearit！"
　　"Well，"repliedMr。Stebbinsalmostthoughtfully，"I
　　justgotupandsaid，`Well，itwon’ttakelongformetoanswerthat。I’vealwaysbeenfondofmychildren，andLilyisrathermypet。She’salwayshadeverythingshewanted，andshealwaysshall。She’sagoodgirlandshedeservesit。
　　I’llallowyou————"Thesignificantdeliberationofhisdrawlcouldscarcelybedescribed。"I’llallowyoujustfiveminutestogetoutofthisroom，beforeIkickyouout，andifIkickyououtoftheroom，I’llkickyoudownthestairs，andifIkickyoudownthestairs，IshallhavegotmybloodcomfortablywarmedupandI’llkickyoudownthestreetandroundtheblockanddowntoHoboken，becauseyou’regoingtotakethesteamerthereandgobacktotheplaceyoucamefrom，totheSloshthingorwhateveryoucallit。Wehaven’tadamnedbitofuseforyouhere。’Andbelieveitornot，gentlemen————"
　　lookingroundwiththewry—mouthedsmile，"hetookthatpassageandbackhewent。AndLily’slivingwithhermotherandImeantoholdontoher。"
　　SirNigelgotupandlefttheclubwhenthestorywasfinished。HetookalongwalkdownBroadway，gnawinghislipandholdinghisheadintheair。Heusedblasphemouslanguageatintervalsinalowvoice。Someofitwasaddressedtohisfateandsomeofittothevulgarmercantilecoarsenessandobtusenessofotherpeople。
　　"Theydon’tknowwhattheyaretalkingof，"hesaid。
　　"Itisunheardof。Whatdotheyexpect？Ineverthoughtofthis。Damnit！I’mlikearatinatrap。"
　　Itwasplainenoughthathecouldnotarrangehisfortuneashehadanticipatedwhenhedecidedtobegintomakelovetolittlepinkandwhite，doll—facedRosyVanderpoel。Ifhebegantodemandmonetaryadvantagesinhisdealingwithhisfuturewife’speopleintheirsettlementofherfortune，hemightarousesuspicionandinquiry。Hedidnotwantinquiryeitherinconnectionwithhisownmeansorhispastmannerofliving。Peoplewhohatedhimwouldbesuretocropupwithstoriesofthingsbetterleftalone。Therewerealwaysmeddlingfoolsreadytointerfere。
　　Hiswalkwaslongandfullofsavagethinking。Onceortwiceasherealisedwhatthedisinterestednessofhissentimentswassupposedtobe，ashortlaughbrokefromhimwhichwasratherlikethesnortoftheBishopess。
　　"IamsupposedtobemoonstruckoverasimperingAmericanchit——moonstruck！Damn！"Butwhenhereturnedtohishotelhehadmadeuphismindandwasbeginningtolookoverthesituationinevilcoldblood。Mattersmustbesettledwithoutdelayandhewasshrewdenoughtorealisethatwithhistemperanditsvariedresourcesatimidgirlwouldnotbedifficulttomanage。HehadseenatanearlystageoftheiracquaintancethatRosywasgreatlyimpressedbythesuperiorityofhisbearing，thathecouldmakeherblushwithembarrassmentwhenheconveyedtoherthatshehadmadeamistake，thathecouldchillhermiserablywhenhechosetoassumealoftystiffness。Aman’sdomesticarmourywasfilledwithweaponsifhecouldmakeawomanfeelgauche，inexperienced，inthewrong。Whenhewassafelymarried，hecouldpavethewaytowhathefeltwastheonlypracticalandfeasibleend。
　　Ifhehadbeenmarryingawomanwithmorebrains，shewouldbemoredifficulttosubdue，butwithRosalieVanderpoel，processeswerenotnecessary。Ifyoushocked，bewilderedorfrightenedherwithaccusations，sulks，orsneers，herlight，innocentheadwassetinsuchawhirlthattherestwaseasy。Itwaspossible，uponthewhole，thatthethingmightnotturnoutsoinfernallyillafterall。SupposingthatithadbeenBettinawhohadbeenthemarriageableone！Appreciatingtothefullthemanyreasonsforrejoicingthatshehadnotbeen，hewalkedingloomyreflectionhome。
　　CHAPTERIII
　　YOUNGLADYANSTRUTHERS
　　Whenthemarriagetookplacetheeventwasaccompaniedbyaningenuouslyelateflourishoftrumpets。MissVanderpoel’sfrocksweremultitudinousandwonderful，asalsoherjewelspurchasedatTiffany’s。Shecarriedathousandtrunks——moreorless——acrosstheAtlantic。Whentheshipsteamedawayfromthedock，thewharfwaslikeaflowergardenintheblazeofbrilliantanddelicateattirewornbythebevyofrelativesandintimateswhostoodwavingtheirhandkerchiefsandlaughinglycallingoutfarewellgoodwishes。
　　SirNigel’smentalattitudewasnotasympatheticoradmiringoneashestoodbyhisbride’ssidelookingback。IfRosy’shalfhappy，halftearfulexcitementhadlefthertheleisuretoreflectonhisexpression，shewouldnothavefeltitencouraging。
　　"WhatadeuceofarowAmericansmake，"hesaidevenbeforetheywereoutofhearingofthevoices。"Itwillbeapositiveresttobeinacountrywherethewomendonotcackleandshriekwithlaughter。"
　　Hesaiditwiththatsimplerudenesswhichattimesprofessedtobealmostimpersonal，andwhichRosaliehadusuallytriedtobelievewastheoutcomeofakindofcoolBritishhumour。Butthistimeshestartedalittleathiswords。
　　"IsupposewedomakemorenoisethanEnglishpeople，"
　　sheadmittedasecondorsolater。"Iwonderwhy？"Andwithoutwaitingforananswer——somewhatasifshehadnotexpectedorquitewantedone——sheleanedalittlefartheroverthesidetolookback，wavinghersmall，flutteringhandkerchieftothemanystillintumultonthewharf。Shewasnotperceptiveorquickenoughtotakeoffence，torealisethattheremarkwassignificantandthatSirNigelhadalreadybegunashemeanttogoon。ItwasfarfrombeinghisintentiontoplaythepartofanAmericanhusband，whowasplainlyacreatureinwhomnoauthorityvesteditself。Americanslettheirwomensayanddoanything，andwerecapableoffetchingandcarryingforthem。Hehadseenamanrunupstairsforhiswife’swrap，cheerfully，withouttheleastapparentsensethattheservicewasthepartofafootmaniftherewasoneinthehouse，aparlourmaidiftherewasnot。SirNigelhadbeenbroughtupinthegoodEarlyVictoriandayswhen"anicelittlewomantofetchyourslippersforyou"figuredincertaincirclesasdomesticbliss。Girlswereeducatedtofetchslippersasretrieversweretrainedtogointothewateraftersticks，andterrierstobringbackballsthrownforthem。
　　ThenewLadyAnstruthershad，itsupervened，severalopportunitiestoobtainanewviewofherbridegroom’scharacterbeforetheirvoyageacrosstheAtlanticwasover。AtthisperiodoftheslowerandmorecumbrousweavingoftheShuttle，theworldhadnotyetawakenedeventothepossibilitiesoftheoceangreyhound。AnAtlanticvoyageattimeswascapableofofferingtoabrideandbridegroomdaysenoughtobegintoglanceintotheirfuturewithapremonitionofthewaningofthehoneymoon，atleast，andespeciallyiftheywerenotsea—proof，towishwearilythatthefirsthalfofitwereover。Rosaliewasnotweary，butshebegantobebewildered。Asshehadneverbeenaclevergirlorquicktoperceive，andhadspentherlifeamongwomen—indulgingAmericanmen，shewasnotpreparedwithanyprecedentwhichmadehersituationclear。ThefirsttimeSirNigelshowedhistempertohershesimplystaredathim，hereyeslookinglikethoseofapuzzled，questioningchild。Thenshebrokeintohernervouslittlelaugh，becauseshedidnotknowwhatelsetodo。Athissecondoutbreakherstarewasratherstartledandshedidnotlaugh。
　　Herfirstawakeningwastoananxiouswondermentconcerningcertainmoodsofgloom，orwhatseemedtobegloom，towhichheseemedprone。Asshelayinhersteamerchairhewouldattimesmarchstifflyupanddownthedeck，apparentlyawareofnootherexistencethanhisown，hisfeaturesexpressingacertaincloudedresentmentofwhoseveryunexplainablenessshesecretlystoodinawe。Shewasnotastuteenough，poorgirl，toleavehimalone，andwhenwithinnocentquestioningssheendeavouredtodiscoverhistrouble，thegreatestmystificationsheencounteredwasthathehadthepowertomakeherfeelthatshewasinsomewaytakingaliberty，andshowingherlackoftactandperspicuity。
　　"Isanythingthematter，Nigel？"sheaskedatfirst，wonderingifshewereguiltyofsillinessintryingtoslipherhandintohis。Shewassureshehadbeenwhenheansweredher。
　　"No，"hesaidchillingly。
　　"Idon’tbelieveyouarehappy，"shereturned。"Somehowyouseemso——sodifferent。"
　　"Ihavereasonsforbeingdepressed，"hereplied，anditwaswithastifffinalitywhichstruckanoteofwarningtoher，signifyingthatitwouldbebettertasteinhertoputanendtohersimpleefforts。
　　Shevaguelyfeltherselfputinthewrong，andhepreferredthatitshouldbeso。Itwasthebestformofpreparationforanymoodhemightseethatitmightpayhimtoshowherinthefuture。Hewas，infact，confrontingdisdainfullyhisposition。Hehadheronhishandsandhewasreturningtohisrelationswithnodefiniteadvantagetoexhibitastheresultofhavingmarriedher。Shehadbeensuppliedwithanincomebuthehadnocontroloverit。Itwouldnothavebeensoifhehadnotbeeninsuchstraitsthathehadbeenafraidtoriskhischancebymakingastand。Tohaveawifewithmoney，asilly，sweettemperandnowillofherown，wasofcoursebetterthantobepenniless，headoverheelsindebtandhemmedinbydifficultiesoneveryside。Hehadseenwomentrainedtogiveintoanythingratherthanbebulliedinpublic，toaccedeintheendtoanydemandratherthanenduretheshameofacertainkindofscenemadebeforeservants，andacertainkindofinsolenceusedtorelativesandguests。ThequalityhefoundmostmaddeninglyirritatinginRosaliewasherobviouslyabsoluteunconsciousnessofthefactthatitwasentirelynaturalandproperthatherresourcesshouldbeinherhusband’shands。Hehad，indeed，evenintheseearlydays，madeatentativeeffortorsointheformofasuggestivespeech；hehadgivenheropeningstogivehimanopeningtoputthingsonapracticalbasis，butshehadneverhadtheintelligencetoseewhathewasaimingat，andhehadfoundhimselfalmostflounderingungracefullyinhisremarks，whileshehadlookedathimwithoutasignofcomprehensioninhersimple，anxiousblueeyes。Thecreaturewasactuallytryingtounderstandhimandcouldnot。Thatwastheworstofit，theblankwallofherunconsciousness，herchildlikebeliefthathewasfartoograndapersonagetorequireanything。Thesewerethethingshewasthinkingoverwhenhewalkedupanddownthedeckinunamiablesolitariness。
　　Rosyawakenedtotheamazedconsciousnessofthefactthat，insteadofbeingpleasedwiththeluxuryandprettinessofherwardrobeandappointments，heseemedtodislikeanddisdainthem。
　　"YouAmericanwomenchangeyourclothestoomuchandthinktoomuchofthem，"wasoneofhisfirstamiablecriticisms。"Youspendmorethanwell—bredwomenshouldspendonmeredressesandbonnets。InNewYorkitalwaysstrikesanEnglishmanthatthewomenlookendimancheatwhatevertimeofdayyoucomeacrossthem。"
　　"Oh，Nigel！"criedRosywoefully。Shecouldnotthinkofanythingmoretosaythan，"Oh，Nigel！"
　　"Iamsorrytosayitistrue，"herepliedloftily。ThatshewasanAmericanandaNewYorkerwasbeingimpresseduponpoorlittleLadyAnstruthersinanewway——somehowasifthemerecoldstatementofthefactputafineedgeofsarcasmtoanyremark。Shewasoftooinnocentaloyaltytowishthatshewasneithertheonenortheother，butshedidwishthatNigelwasnotsoprejudicedagainsttheplacesandpeopleshecaredforsomuch。
　　Shewassittinginherstateroomenfoldedinadressinggowncoveredwithcascadesoflace，tiedwithknotsofembroideredribbon，andhermaid，Hannah，whoadmiredhergreatly，wasbrushingherfairlonghairwithagold—backedbrush，ornamentedwithamonogramofjewels。
　　IfshehadbeenaFrenchduchessofapiquanttype，oranEnglishonewithanaquilinenose，shewouldhavebeenbeyondcriticism；ifshehadbeenaplump，over—fedwoman，oranugly，ill—natured，grossone，shewouldhavelookedvulgar，butshewasalittle，thin，fairNewYorker，andthoughshewasnotbeyondcriticism——ifonedemandedhighdistinction——
　　shewasprettyandnicetolookat。ButNigelAnstrutherswouldnotallowthistoher。Hisowntailors’billsbeingfarinarrearsandhispocketdisgustinglyempty，thesightofheringenuoussumptuousnessandthegay，accustomedsimplenessofoutlookwithwhichsheaccepteditashernaturalright，irritatedhimandrousedhisvenom。Billswouldremainunpaidifshewaspermittedtospendhermoneyonthissortofthingwithoutanyconsiderationfortherequirementsofotherpeople。
　　Heinhaledtheairandmadeagestureofdistaste。
　　"Thissachetbusinessisratheroverpowering，"hesaid。"Itisthesortofthingawomanshouldbeparticularlydiscreetabout。"
　　"Oh，Nigel！"criedthepoorgirlagitatedly。"Hannah，dogoandcallthestewardtoopenthewindows。Isitreallystrong？"sheimploredasHannahwentout。"Howdreadful。It’sonlyorrisandIdidn’tknowHannahhadputitinthetrunks。"
　　"MydearRosalie，"withawaveofthehandtakinginbothherselfandherdressingcase，"itisalltoostrong。"
　　"All——wh——what？"gaspingly。
　　"Thewholething。Allthatlaceandloveknotarrangement，thegold—backedbrushesandscentbottleswithdiamondsandrubiesstickinginthem。"
　　"They——theywereweddingpresents。TheycamefromTiffany’s。Everyonethoughtthemlovely。"
　　"TheylookasiftheybelongedtothedressingtableofaFrenchwomanofthedemi—monde。IfeelasifIhadactuallywalkedintotheapartmentofsomenotoriousParisiansoubrette。"