首页 >出版文学> The Shuttlel>第16章

第16章

  Bettysawthedoubtinhereyes,andinameasure,guessedatitsmeaning。Thetimetopauseforargumenthad,howevernotarrived。Therewastoomuchtobeinvestigated,toomuchtobeseen。Shesweptheronherway。Theywanderedonthroughsomefortyrooms,moreorless;theyopeneddoorsandclosedthem;theyunbarredshuttersandletthesunstreaminondustanddampnessandcobwebs。ThecomprehensionofthesituationwhichBettygainedwasasvaluableasitwasenlightening。
  Thedescentintothelowerpartofthehousewasanewexperience。Bettyhadnotbeforeseenhuge,flaggedkitchens,vaultedservants’halls,stonepassages,butteriesanddairies。
  Thesubstantialmasonryofthewallsandarchedceilings,thestonestairway,andtheseeminglyendlessoffices,wereinterestinglyremoteinideafromsuchdomesticmodernitiesaschanceviewsofup—to—dateAmericanhouseholdworkingshadprovidedher。
  Inthehugekitchenitself,anelderlywoman,rollingpastry,pausedtocurtsytothem,withstolidcuriosityinherheavy—
  featuredface。Inhercharacteras"single—handed"cook,Mrs。NoakeshadsentupuninvitingmealstoLadyAnstruthersforseveralyears,butshehadnotseenherladyshipbelowstairsbefore。Andthiswastheunexpectedarrival——theyoungladytherehadbeen"talkof"fromthemomentofherappearance。Mrs。Noakesadmittedwiththegrudgingnessofapersonofuncheerfultemperament,thatlookslikethatalwayswouldmaketalk。AcertaindegreeofvaguementalilluminationledhertoagreewithRobert,thefootman,thatthestranger’seffectivenesswas,perhaps,also,notaltogetheramatterofgoodlooks,andcertainlyitwasnotanaffairofclothes。Herbrightishbluedress,ofroughcloth,wasnothingparticular,notwithstandingthefitofit。Therewas"somethingelseabouther。"Shelookedroundtheplace,notwiththecasualindifferenceofafineyounglady,carelesslycurioustoseewhatshehadnotseenbefore,butwithanalert,questioninginterest。
  "Whatabigplace,"shesaidtoherladyship。"Whatsubstantialwalls!Whathugejointsmusthavebeenroastedbeforesuchafireplace。"
  Shedrewneartotheenormous,antiquatedcookingplace。
  "Peoplewerenotverypracticalwhenthiswasbuilt,"shesaid。"Itlooksasifitmustwasteagreatdealofcoal。Isit————?"shelookedatMrs。Noakes。"Doyoulikeit?"
  TherewasapracticaldirectnessinthequestionforwhichMrs。Noakeswasnotprepared。Untilthismoment,ithadapparentlymatteredlittlewhethershelikedthingsornot。
  Theconditionofherimplementsoftradewasoneofhergrievances——theancientfireplaceandovensthebitterest。
  "It’soutoforder,miss,"sheanswered。"Andtheydon’tuse’emlikethisinthesedays。"
  "Ithoughtnot,"saidMissVanderpoel。
  Shemadeotherinquiriesasdirectandsignificantoftheobservingeye,andherpassagethroughthelowerpartoftheestablishmentleftMrs。Noakesandhercompanionsinastrangebutnotunpleasurablestateofferment。
  "Thinkofayoungladythat’sneverhadnothingtodowithkitchens,goingstraighttothatshamefuloldfireplace,andseeingwhatitmeanttothewomanthat’sgottouseit。
  `Doyoulikeit?’shesays。Ifshe’dbeenacookherself,shecouldn’thaveputitstraighter。She’sgoteyes。"
  "She’sbeenusingthemallovertheplace,saidRobert。
  "Herandherladyship’sbeenintoroomsthat’snotbeenopenedforyears。"
  "Moreshametothemthatshouldhaveopened’em,"
  remarkedMrs。Noakes。"Herladyship’sapoor,listlessthing——
  butherspiritwasbrokenlongago。
  "Thisonewillmenditforher,perhaps,"saidthemanservant。"Iwonderwhat’sgoingtohappen。"
  "Well,she’sgotalookwithher——thenewone——asifwhereshewasthingswouldbelikelytohappen。Youlookout。
  Theplacewon’tseemsodeadandaliveifwe’vegotsomethingtothinkofandexpect。"
  "WhoarethesolicitorsSirNigelemploys?"Bettyhadaskedhersister,whentheirpilgrimagethroughthehousehadbeencompleted。
  Messrs。Townlinson&Sheppard,afirmwhichforseveralgenerationshadtransactedthelegalbusinessofmuchmoreimportantestatesthanStornham,helditsaffairsinhand。
  LadyAnstruthersknewnothingofthem,butthattheyevidentlydidnotapproveoftheconductoftheirclient。Nigelwasfrequentlyangrywhenhespokeofthem。Itcouldbegatheredthattheyhadrefusedtoallowhimtodothingshewishedtodo——sellthings,orborrowmoneyonthem。
  "IthinkwemustgotoLondonandseethem,"Bettysuggested。
  Rosywasagitated。Whyshouldoneseethem?Whatwastheretobespokenof?Theirgoing,Bettyexplainedwouldbeasortofvisitofceremony——inameasureaprecaution。
  SinceSirNigelwasapparentlynottobereached,havinggivennoclueastowhereheintendedtogo,itmightbediscreettoconsultMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppardwithregardtothethingsitmightbewelltodo——therepairsitappearednecessarytomakeatonce。IfMessrs。Townlinson&
  Sheppardapprovedofthedoingofsuchwork,SirNigelcouldnotresenttheiraction,andsaythatinhisabsencelibertieshadbeentaken。Suchacourseseemedbusinesslikeanddignified。
  ItwaswhatBettyfeltthatherfatherwoulddo。
  Nothingcouldbecomplainedof,whichwasdonewiththeknowledgeandunderthesanctionofthefamilysolicitors。
  "Thenthereareotherthingswemustdo。Wemustgotoshopsandtheatres。Itwillbegoodforyoutogotoshopsandtheatres,Rosy。"
  "Ihavenothingbutragstowear,"answeredLadyAnstruthers,reddening。
  "Thenbeforewegowewillhavethingssentdown。
  Peoplecanbesentfromtheshopstoarrangewhatwewant。"
  Themagicofthename,standingforgreatwealth,could,itwastrue,bringtothem,notonlythecontentsofshops,butthepeoplewhoshowedthem,andwerereadytocarryoutanyorders。ThenameofVanderpoelalreadystood,inLondon,forinexhaustibleresource。Yes,itwassimpleenoughtosendforpolitelysubservientsaleswomentobringwhatonewanted。
  Thebeingremindedinevery—daymattersofthestillrealexistenceofthepowerofthismagicwasthefirststepintherebuildingofLadyAnstruthers。Torealisethatthewonderfulandyetsimplenecromancywasgraduallyencirclingheragain,haditsparallelinthetakingofatonic,whoseeffectwascumulative。Sheherselfdidnotrealisetheworkingofit。
  ButBettyregardeditwithinterest。Shesawitwasgoodforher,merelytolookonattheunpackingoftheNewYorkboxes,whichthemaid,sentforfromLondon,broughtdownwithher。
  Asthewomanremoved,fromtrayaftertray,thetissue—
  paper—enfoldedlayersofgarments,LadyAnstrutherssatandwatchedherwithnormal,simplyfeminineinterestgrowinginhereyes。Thethingsweremadewiththeabsenceofanylimitinexpenditure,thefreedomwithdelicatestuffsandpricelesslaceswhichbelongedonlytoherfaintmemoriesofalostpast。
  Nothinghadlimitedthetimespentintheembroideringofthisapparentlysimplelinenfrockandcoat;nothinghadrestrainedthehandholdingthescissorswhichhadcutintothelacewhichadornedinappliquesandfilmyfrillsthisexquisitelycharmingballdress。
  "Itislookingbacksofar,"shesaid,wavingherhandtowardsthemwithanoddgesture。"Tothinkthatitwasoncealllike——likethat。"
  Shegotupandwenttothethings,turningthemover,andtouchingthemwithasoftness,almostexpressingacaress。
  Thenamesofthemakersstampedonbandsandcollars,thenamesofthestreetsinwhichtheirshopsstood,movedher。
  Sheheardagaintheoncefamiliarrattleofwheels,andtherushandroarofNewYorktraffic。
  Bettycarriedonthewholematterwithlightness。Shetalkedeasilyandcasually,givinglocalcolourtowhatshesaid。
  Shedescribedtheabnormallyrapidgrowthoftheplaceshersisterhadknowninherteens,thenewbuildings,newtheatres,newshops,newpeople,thelatermodeofliving,muchofitlearnedfromEngland,throughtheunceasingweavingoftheShuttle。
  "Changing——changing——changing。Thatiswhatitisalwaysdoing——America。Wehavenotreachedreposeyet。Onewondershowlongitwillbebeforeweshall。Nowwearealwayshurryingbreathlesslyafterthenextthing——thenewone——whichwealwaysthinkwillbethebetterone。Othercountriesbuiltthemselvesslowly。Inthedaysoftheirbuilding,thepaceoflifewasamarch。WhenAmericawasborn,themarchhadalreadybeguntohasten,andasanationwebegan,inourfirsthour,atthequickeningspeed。Nowthepaceisarace。NewYorkisakaleidoscope。Imyselfcanrememberitawhollydifferentthing。Onepassesdownastreetoneday,andthenextthereisagreatgapwheresomebuildingisbeingtorndown——afewdayslater,atallstructureofsomesortistouchingthesky。Itiswonderful,butitdoesnottendtocalmthemind。ThatiswhywecrosstheAtlanticsomuch。Thesober,quiet—lovingbloodourforbearsbroughtfromoldercountriesgoesinsearchofrest。Mixedwithotherthings,Ifeelinmyownbeingaresentmentagainstnewnessanddisorder,andaninsistenceontheatmosphereoflong—establishedthings。"
  ButforyearsLadyAnstruthershadbeenlivingintheatmosphereoflong—establishedthings,andfeltnoinsistenceuponit。Sheyearnedtohearofthegreat,changingWesternworld——ofthegreat,changingcity。Bettymusttellherwhatthechangeswere。Whatwerethedifferencesinthestreets——
  wherehadthenewbuildingsbeenplaced?HowhadFifthAvenueandMadisonAvenueandBroadwayaltered?WerenotGramercyParkandMadisonSquarestillgreenwithgrassandtrees?Wasitalldifferent?Wouldshenotknowtheoldplacesherself?Thoughitseemedalifetimesinceshehadseenthem,theyearswhichhadpassedwerereallynotsomany。
  ItwasgoodforhertotalkandbetalkedtointhismannerBettysaw。Stillhandlinghersubjectlightly,shepresentedpictureafterpicture。Someofthemwereofthewonderful,feverishcityitself——theplacequitepassionatelylovedbysome,aspassionatelydislikedbyothers。Sheherselfhadfallenintothehabit,assheleftchildhoodbehindher,oflookingatitwithinterestedwonder——atitsriotoflifeandpower,ofhugeschemes,andalmostsuperhumanlabours,offortunessocolossalthattheyseemedmonstrositiesintheirrelationtotheworld。PeoplewhoinRosalie’sgirlhoodhadlivedinbiguglybrownstonefronts,hadbuiltforthemselvesorfortheirchildren,housessuchas,inothercountries,wouldhavebelongedtonoblesandprinces,spendingfortunesupontheirbuilding,fillingthemwithtreasuresbroughtfromforeignlands,frompalaces,fromartgalleries,fromcollectors。
  Sometimesstrangepeoplebuiltsuchhousesandlivedstrangelavish,ostentatiouslivesinthem,forminganoverstrained,abnormal,pleasure—chasingworldoftheirown。ThepassingofeventenyearsinNewYorkcounteditselfalmostasageneration;
  thefashions,customs,belongingsoftwentyyearsagoworeanairofalmostpicturesqueantiquity。
  "Itdoesnottakelongtomakean`oldNewYorker,’"
  shesaid。"Eachdaybringssomanynewones。"
  Therewere,indeed,manynewones,LadyAnstruthersfound。Peoplewhohadbeenpoorhadbecomehugelyrich,afewwhohadbeenrichhadbecomepoor,possessionswhichhadbeenlargehadswelledtounnaturalproportions。OutoftheWesthadrisenfortunesmoremonstrousthanallothers。
  Asshetoldonestoryafteranother,Bettinarealised,asshehaddoneoftenbefore,thatitwasimpossibletoenterintodescriptionofthelifeandmovementsoftheplace,withoutitscuriouslyinvolvingsomeconnectionwiththehugewealthofit——withitsinfluence,itsrise,itsswelling,orwaning。
  "Somehowonecannotfreeone’sselffromit。Thisistheageofwealthandinvention——butofwealthbeforeallelse。
  Sometimesoneistired——tiredofit。"
  "Youwouldnotbetiredofitif——well,ifyouwereI,saidLadyAnstruthersratherpathetically。
  "Perhapsnot,"Bettyanswered。"Perhapsnot。"
  Sheherselfhadseenpeoplewhowerenottiredofitinthesenseinwhichshewas——themenandwomen,withwornorintentlyanxiousfaces,hasteningwiththecrowdsuponthepavements,allhasteningsomewhere,inchaseofthatsmallportionofthewealthwhichtheyearnedbytheirlabourastheirdailyshare;thesamemenandwomensurgingtowardselevatedrailroadstations,toseizeonplacesinthehomeward—
  boundtrains;orstandingintired—lookinggroups,waitingfortheapproachofanalreadyoverfullstreetcar,inwhichtheymustbepackedtogether,andswingtothehangingstraps,tokeepupontheirfeet。Theirwayofbeingwearyofitwouldbedifferentfromhers,theywouldbewearyonlyofhearingofthemountainsofitwhichrolledthemselvesup,asitseemed,inobediencetosomeirresistible,occultforce。
  OnthedayafterStornhamvillagehadlearnedthatherladyshipandMissVanderpoelhadactuallygonetoLondon,thedignifiedfirmofTownlinson&Sheppardreceivedavisitwhichcreatedsomeslightsensationintheirestablishment,thoughithadnotbeenentirelyunexpected。Ithad,indeed,beenheraldedbyanotefromMissVanderpoelherself,whohadaskedthattheappointmentbemade。MenofMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppard’sindubitablerankintheirprofessioncouldnotfailtoknowthesignificanceoftheVanderpoelname。
  Theyknewandunderstooditsweightperfectlywell。WhentheirclienthadmarriedoneofReubenVanderpoel’sdaughters,theyhadfeltthatextraordinarygoodfortunehadbefallenhimandhisestate。TheirprivateopinionhadbeenthatMr。
  Vanderpoel’sknowledgeofhisson—in—lawmusthavebeenlimited,orthathehadcuriouslylaxAmericanviewsofpaternalduty。Thefirmwashighlyreputable,longestablishedstrictlyconservative,andsomewhatinsularinitspointofview。Itdidnotunderstand,orseektounderstand,America。
  IthadexcellentreasonsforthoroughlyunderstandingSirNigelAnstruthers。Itsopinionsofhimitreservedtoitself。
  IfMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppardhadbeenaskedtogiveadaughterintotheirclient’skeeping,theywouldhaveflatlyrefusedtoacceptthehonourproposed。Mr。Townlinsonhad,indeed,atthetimeofthemarriage,admittedinstrictconfidencetohispartnerthatforhisparthewouldhavesomewhatpreferredtofollowadaughterofhisowntohertomb。Afterthemarriagethefirmhadfoundthesituationconfusingandun—English。TherehadbeentroublewithSirNigel,whohadplainlybeendisappointed。AtfirstithadappearedthattheAmericanmagnatehadshownastutenessinrefrainingfromleavinghisson—in—lawafreehand。LadyAnstruthers’fortunewasherownandnotherhusband’s。Mr。
  Townlinson,payingavisittoStornhamandfindingthebrideagentle,childish—lookinggirl,whosemostmarkedexpressionwasoneofgrowingtimorousness,hadreturnedwithagraveface。Heforesawtheresult,ifherfamilydidnotstandbyherwithfirmness,whichhealsoforesawherhusbandwouldpreventifpossible。Itbecameapparentthatthefamilydidnotstandbyher——orwerecleverlykeptatadistance。
  Therewasalongillness,whichseemedtoendintheseclusionfromtheworld,broughtaboutbybrokenhealth。
  ThenitwascertainthatwhatMr。Townlinsonhadforeseenhadoccurred。Theinexperiencedgirlhadbeenbulliedintosubmission。SirNigelhadgainedthefreehand,whateverthemeanshehadchosentoemploy。Mostimproper——mostimproper,thewholeaffair。Hehadagreatdealofmoney,butnoneofitwasusedforthebenefitoftheestate——hisdeformedboy’sestate。Advice,dignifiedremonstrance,resultedonlyinmostdisagreeablescenes。Messrs。
  Townlinson&Sheppardcouldnotexceedcertainlimits。Themannerinwhichthemoneywasspentwasdiscreditable。Therewereavenuesarespectablefirmknewonlybyrumour,therewereinsanegamblingspeculations,whichcouldonlyendindisaster,therewerethingsonecouldnotdecentlyconcernone’sselfwith。LadyAnstruthers’familyhaddoubtlessbecomeindignantanddisgusted,andhaddroppedthewholeaffair。
  Sadforthepoorwoman,butnotunnatural。
  AndnowappearsaMissVanderpoel,whowishestoappointaninterviewwithMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppard。
  Whatdoesshewishtosay?Thefamilyisapparentlytakingthematterup。IsthisladyanelderorayoungersisterofLadyAnstruthers?IssheanolderwomanofthatstrongandrathertryingAmericantypeonehearsof,orissheyoungerthanherladyship,apretty,indignant,totallyunpracticalgirl,outragedbythestateofaffairsshehasdiscovered,foolishlycomingtodemandofMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppardanexplanationofthingstheyarenotresponsiblefor?Willshe,perhaps,losehertemper,andaccuseandreproach,oreven——mostunpleasanttocontemplate——shedhystericaltears?
  ItfelltoMr。TownlinsontoreceiveherintheabsenceofMr。Sheppard,whohadbeencalledtoNorthamptonshiretoattendtogreataffairs。Hewasastout,gravemanwithaheavy,well—cutface,and,whenBettinaenteredhisroom,hiscourteousreceptionofherreservedhisviewofthesituationentirely。
  ShewasnotofthematureandratheralarmingAmericantypehehadimaginedpossible,hefeltsomereliefinmarkingatonce。Shewasalsonotthepretty,fashionableyoungladywhomighthavecometoscoldhim,andasksilly,irrationalquestions。
  Hisordinarilyratherunilluminedcountenancechangedsomewhatinexpressionwhenshesatdownandbegantospeak。
  Mr。Townlinsonwasimpressedbythefactthatitwasatonceunmistakablyevidentthatwhatsoeverherreasonforcoming,shehadnotpresentedherselftoaskirrelevantorunreasonablequestions。LadyAnstruthers,sheexplainedwithoutsuperfluousphrase,hadnodefiniteknowledgeofherhusband’swhereabouts,andithadseemedpossiblethatMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppardmighthavereceivedsomeinformationmorerecentthatherown。TheimpersonalframingofthisinquirystruckMr。Townlinsonasbeinginremarkablygoodtaste,sinceitconveyednocondemnationofSirNigel,andnodesiretoinvolveMr。Townlinsoninexpressingany。Itrefrainedevenfromimplyingthatthesituationwasanunusualone,whichmightbeopentocriticism。Excellentreserveandgreatcleverness,Mr。Townlinsoncommentedinwardly。Therewerecertainlyfewyoungladieswhowouldhaveclearlyrealisedthatasolicitorcannotbecalledupontocommithimself,untilhehashadtimetoweighmattersanddecideuponthem。Hislongandvariedexperiencehadincludedinterviewsinwhichcharming,emotionalwomenhadexpectedhimatonceto"takesides。"MissVanderpoelexhibitednosignsofexpectinganythingofthiskind,evenwhenshewentonwithwhatshehadcometosay。StornhamCourtanditssurroundingsweredepreciatingseriouslyinvaluethroughneedofradicalrepairsetc。Hersister’scomfortwasnaturallyinvolved,and,asMr。
  Townlinsonwouldfullyunderstand,hernephew’sfuture。
  Thesoonertheprocessofdilapidationwasarrested,thebetterandwiththelessdifficulty。Thepresenttimewaswithoutdoubtbetterthananindefinitefuture。MissVanderpoel,havingfortunatelybeenabletocometoStornham,wasgreatlyinterested,andnaturallydesirousofseeingtheworkbegun。Herfatheralsowouldbeinterested。SinceitwasnotpossibletoconsultSirNigel,ithadseemedpropertoconsulthissolicitorsinwhosehandstheestatehadbeenforsolongatime。Shewasaware,itseemed,thatnotonlyMr。
  Townlinson,butMr。Townlinson’sfather,andalsohisgrandfather,hadlegallyrepresentedtheAnstruthers,aswellasmanyotherfamilies。Asthereseemednonecessityforanystructuralchanges,andtheworkdonewassuchascouldonlyrescueandincreasethevalueoftheestate,couldtherebeanyobjectiontoitsbeingbegunwithoutdelay?
  Certainlyanunusualyounglady。ItwouldbeinterestingtodiscoverhowwellsheknewSirNigel,sinceitseemedthatonlyaknowledgeofhim——histemper,hisbitter,irritablevanity,couldhaverevealedtoherthenecessityoftheprecautionshewastakingwithoutevenintimatingthatitwasaprecaution。Extraordinarilyclevergirl。
  Mr。Townlinsonworeanairofquiet,business—likereflection。
  "Youareaware,MissVanderpoel,thatthepresentincomefromtheestateisnotsuchaswouldjustifyanythingapproachingtherequiredexpenditure?"
  "Yes,Iamawareofthat。Theexpensewouldbeprovidedforbymyfather。"
  "MostgenerousonMr。Vanderpoel’spart,"Mr。Townlinsoncommented。"Theestatewould,ofcourse,increasegreatlyinvalue。"
  CircumstanceshadpreventedherfatherfromvisitingStornham,MissVanderpoelexplained,andthishadledtohisbeingignorantofaconditionofthingswhichhemighthaveremedied。
  Shedidnotexplainwhattheparticularcircumstanceswhichhadseparatedthefamilieshadbeen,butMr。Townlinsonthoughtheunderstood。Theconditionexistingcouldberemediednow,ifMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppardsawnoobstaclesotherthanscarcityofmoney。
  Mr。Townlinson’ssummingupofthematterexpressedineffectthathesawnone。Theestatehadbeenafineoneinitsday。Duringthelastsixtyyearsithadbecomemuchimpoverished。Withconservativedecorumofmanner,headmittedthattherehadnotbeen,sinceSirNigel’smarriage,sufficientreasonfortheneglectofdilapidations。ThefirmhadstronglyrepresentedtoSirNigelthatcertainresourcesshouldnotbedivertedfromtheproperobjectofrestoringtheproperty,whichwasentaileduponhisson。Theson’sfutureshouldbeyondallhavebeenconsideredinthedispensingofhismother’sfortune。
  He,bythistime,comprehendedfullythatheneedrestrainnodignifiedexpressionofopinioninhisspeechwiththisyounglady。Shehadcometoconsultwithhimwithasclearaviewoftheproprietiesanddiscretionsdemandedbyhispositionashehadhimself。Andyeteach,beforethecloseoftheinterview,understoodthepointofviewoftheother。
  Whatherecognisedwasthat,thoughshehadnotseenSirNigelsinceherchildhood,shehadinsomeastonishingwayobtainedanextraordinaryinsightintohischaracter,anditwasthiswhichhadledhertotakeherpresentstep。Shemightnotrealiseallshemighthavetocontendwith,butherconservativeandformalactionhadsurroundedherandhersisterwithacertainbarrierofconventionalprotection,atonceself—controlled,dignified,andastutelyintelligent。
  "Since,asyousay,nostructuralchangesareproposed,suchasanownermightresent,andasLadyAnstruthersisthemotheroftheheir,andasLadyAnstruthers’fatherundertakestodefrayallexpenditure,nosanemancouldobjecttotherestorationoftheproperty。Todosowouldbetocausepublicopiniontoexpressitselfstronglyagainsthim。Suchactionwouldplacehimgrosslyinthewrong。"Thenheaddedwithdeliberation,realisingthathewascommittinghimself,andfeelingfirmlywillingtodosoforreasonsofhisown,"SirNigelisamanwhoobjectsstronglytoputtinghimself——publicly——inthewrong。"
  "Thankyou,"saidMissVanderpoel。
  Hehadsaidthisofintentionforherenlightenment,andshewasawarethathehaddoneso。
  "ThiswillnotbethefirsttimethatAmericanfortuneshaverestoredEnglishestates,"Mr。Townlinsoncontinuedamiably。"Therehavebeenmanynotablecasesoflateyears。
  Weshallbehappytoplaceourselvesatyourdisposalatalltimes,MissVanderpoel。Weareobligedtoyouforyourconsiderationinthematter。"
  "Thankyou,"saidMissVanderpoelagain。"IwishedtobesurethatIshouldnotbeinfringinganyEnglishruleIhadnoknowledgeof。"
  "Youwillbeinfringingnone。Youhavebeenmostcorrectandcourteous。"
  BeforeshewentawayMr。Townlinsonfeltthathehadbeengreatlyenlightenedastowhatayoungladymightknowandbe。Shegavehimsingularlycleardetailsastowhatwasproposed。Therewassomuchtobedonethathefoundhimselfopeninghiseyesslightlyonceortwice。But,ofcourse,ifMr。Vanderpoelwaspreparedtospendmoneyinalavishmanner,itwasalltothegoodsofarastheestatewasconcerned。Theywerestupendous,thesepeople,andafteralltheheirwashisgrandson。Andhowstrikingitwasthatwithallthispowerandreadinesstouseit,wasevidentlycombined,eveninthisbeautifulyoungperson,theclearestbusinesssenseofthesituation。WhatwasdonewouldbeforthecomfortofLadyAnstruthersandthefutureofherson。SirNigel,beingunabletoselleitherhouseorlands,couldnotundoit。