"Vicar，"saysoldBenny，"hecan’trefusetomarrynoman。Lawwon’tlethim。"Suchrefusal，heintimates，mightdrivehimtowildandriotousliving。RememberinghislastviewofoldBennytotteringdownthevillagestreetinhiswhitesmock，hisnut—crackerfacelikeawitheredrosyapple，hisgnarledhandgraspingtheknottedstaffhisbentbodyleanedon，MountDunstangrinnedalittle。HedidnotsmilewhenPenzancepassedtotherestorationoftheancientchurchatMellowdene。"Restoration"usuallymeantthetearingawayofancientoaken，high—backedpews，andtheinstalmentofsmugnewbenches，suggestingsuburbanDissentingchapels，suchasthefeudalsoulrevoltsat。NeitherdidhesmileatareferencetothegatheringatDunholmCastle，whichwastwelvemilesaway。Dunholmwasthepossessionofamanwhostoodforallthatwasfirstandhighestintheland，dignity，learning，exaltedcharacter，generosity，honour。HeandthelateLordMountDunstanhadbeenborninthesameyear，andhadsucceededtotheirtitlesalmostatthesametime。
　　Therehadarrivedaperiodwhentheyhadceasedtoknoweachother。Allthattheonemanintrinsicallywas，theothermanwasnot。Allthattheoneestate，itscastle，itsvillage，itstenantry，represented，wastheantipodesofthatwhichtheotherstoodfor。Theonepossessionhelditsplaceasilent，andperhaps，unconsciousreproachtotheother。Amongtheguests，formingthelargehousepartywhichLondonsocialnewshadalreadyrecordedinitscolumns，weregreatandhonourablepersons，andinterestingones，menandwomenwhocountedasfactorsinallgoodanddignifiedthingsaccomplished。EveninthepresentMountDunstan’schildhood，peopleoftheirworldhadceasedtocrosshisfather’sthreshold。Asoneortwoofthemostnoticeablenameswerementioned，mentallyherecalledthis，andPenzance，quicktoseethethoughtinhiseyes，changedthesubject。
　　"AtStornhamvillageanunexpectedthinghashappened，"
　　hesaid。"OneoftherelativesofLadyAnstruthershassuddenlyappeared——asister。YoumayrememberthatthepoorwomanwassaidtobethedaughterofsomerichAmerican，anditseemedunexplainablethatnoneofherfamilyeverappeared，andthingswereallowedtogofrombadtoworse。Asitwasunderstoodthattherewassomuchmoneypeopleweremystifiedbytheconditionofthings。"
　　"Anstruthershashadmoneytosquander，"saidMountDunstan。"Tenhamandhewereintimates。Themoneyhespendsisnodoubthiswife’s。Asherfamilydesertedhershehasnoonetodefendher。"
　　"Certainlyherfamilyhasseemedtoneglectherforyears。
　　Perhapstheyweredisappointedinhisposition。ManyAmericansareextremelyambitious。Theseinternationalmarriagesareoftensingularthings。Now——apparentlywithouthavingbeenexpected——thesisterappears。Vanderpoelisthename——
　　MissVanderpoel。"
　　"IcrossedtheAtlanticwithherintheMeridiana，"saidMountDunstan。
　　"Indeed！Thatisinteresting。Youdidnot，ofcourse，knowthatshewascominghere。"
　　"Iknewnothingofherbutthatshewasasaloonpassengerwithasuiteofstaterooms，andIwasinthesecondcabin。
　　Nothing？Thatisnotquitetrue，perhaps。Stewardsandpassengersgossip，andonecannotcloseone’sears。Ofcourseoneheardconstantreiterationofthenumberofmillionsherfatherpossessed，andthenumberofcabinsshemanagedtooccupy。Duringtheconfusionandalarmofthecollision，wespoketoeachother。"
　　Hedidnotmentiontheotheroccasiononwhichhehadseenher。
　　Thereseemed，onthewhole，nospecialreasonwhyheshould。
　　"Thenyouwouldrecogniseher，ifyousawher。Iheardto—daythatsheseemsanunusualyoungwoman，andhasbeauty。"
　　"Hereyesandlashesareremarkable。Sheistall。TheAmericansaresettingupanewtype。"
　　"Yes，theyusedtosendoverslender，fragilelittlewomen。
　　LadyAnstrutherswasthetype。Iconfesstoaninterestinthesister。"
　　"Why？"
　　"Shehasmadeacuriousimpression。Shehasbeguntodothings。
　　Stornhamvillagehaslostitsbreath。"Helaughedalittle。
　　"Shehasbeengoingovertheplaceanddiscussingrepairs。"
　　MountDunstanlaughedalso。Herememberedwhatshehadsaid。Andshehadactuallybegun。
　　"Thatispractical，"hecommented。
　　"Itisreallyinteresting。Whyshouldayoungwomanturnherattentiontorepairs？Ifithadbeenherfather——theomnipotentMr。Vanderpoel——whohadappeared，onewouldnothavewonderedatsuchpracticalactivity。Butayounglady——withremarkableeyelashes！"
　　Hiselbowswereonthearmofhischair，andhehadplacedthetipsofhisfingerstogether，wearinganexpressionofsuchabsorbedcontemplationthatMountDunstanlaughedagain。
　　"Youlookquitedreamyoverit，"hesaid。
　　"Italluresme。Unknownquantitiesincharacteralwaysallureme。Ishouldliketoknowher。Acommunitylikethisismadeupoftheabsolutelyknownquantity——oftypesrepeatingthemselvesthroughcenturies。Anewoneisalmostastartlingthing。Gossipoverteacupsisnotusuallyentertainingtome，butIfoundmyselflisteningtolittleMissLauraBrunelthisafternoonwithrathermarkedattention。I
　　confesstohavinggonesofarastomakeaninquiryorso。SirNigelAnstruthersisnotoftenatStornham。Heisawaynow。
　　Itisplainlynothewhoisinterestedinrepairs。"
　　"HeisontheRiviera，inretreat，inaplaceheisfondof，"MountDunstansaiddrily。"Hetookacompanionwithhim。Anewinfatuation。Hewillnotreturnsoon。"
　　CHAPTERXIX
　　SPRINGINBONDSTREET
　　ThevisittoLondonwaspartofanevolutionofbothbodyandmindtoRosalieAnstruthers。Inoneofthewonderfulmodernhotelsasuiteofroomswasengagedforthem。TheluxurywhichsurroundedthemwasnotoftheorderRosaliehadvaguelyconnectedwithhotels。Hotel—keepershadapparentlylearnedmanythingsduringtheyearsofherseclusion。
　　Vanderpoels，atleast，couldsoestablishthemselvesasnottogreatlyfeelthehotelatmosphere。Carefullychosencolourstextures，andappointmentsformedthebackgroundoftheirdays，thefoodtheyatewasathingproducedbyart，theservantswhoattendedthemwerecompletely—trainedmechanisms。
　　Tositbyawindowandwatchthekaleidoscopichumantidepassingbyonitswaytoitspleasure，toreachitswork，tospenditsmoneyinunendingshops，toshowitselfanditsequipageinthepark，wasawonderfulthingtoLadyAnstruthers。
　　ItallseemedtobeapartofthelifeandqualityofBetty，littleBetty，whomshehadrememberedonlyasachild，andwhohadcometoheratall，strongyoungbeauty，whohad——itwasresplendentlyclear——neverknownafearinherlife，andwhosemerepersonalityhadtheeffectofmakingfearsseemunreal。
　　Shewastakenoutinaluxuriouslittlebroughamtoshopswhosevariedallurementswereplacedeagerlyatherdisposal。
　　Respectfulpersons，obedienttohermostfaintly—expresseddesire，displayedgarmentsaswonderfulasthosetheNewYorktrunkshadrevealed。Shewasbesoughttoconsiderthefitnessofarticleswhoseexquisitenessshewasalmostafraidtolookat。
　　Herthinlittlebodywaswonderfullyfitted，managed，encouragedtomakethemostofitslong—ignoredoutlines。
　　"Herladyship’sslendernessisagreatadvantage，"saidthewiselyincitingones。"Thereisnosuchadvantageasdelicacyofline。"
　　Summingupthecharacteroftheircustomerwiththesales—
　　woman’seye，theyrealisedthediscretionofturningtoMissVanderpoelforencouragement，thoughshewastheyoungerofthetwo，andborenotitle。Theywereawareoftheexistenceofpersonsofrankwhowerenotlavishpatrons，butthenameofVanderpoelheldmostpromisingsuggestions。ToanEnglishshopkeepertheAmericanhas，oflateyears，representedthespender——thetypewhich，whatsoeveritsrankandresources，has，mysteriously，alwaysmoneytohandovercountersinexchangeforthingsitchancestodesiretopossess。EachyearsurgesacrosstheAtlanticahordeofthesefortunatepersons，who，tothesober，commercialBritishmind，appeartobefreetodevotetheirexistencestotravelandexpenditure。Thiscontingentappearsshoppinginthevariousshoppingthoroughfares；itbuysclothes，jewels，miscellaneousattractivethings，makingitspurchasesofarticlesusefulordecorativewithafreedomfromanxietyinitsenjoymentwhichdoesnotmarkthemoodoftheordinaryshopper。Intheeverydaypurchaseroneisaccustomedtotakeforgranted，asafactorinhisexpenditure，acertaindeliberationanduncertainty；tothetravellingAmericaninEurope，shoppingappearstobepartoftheholidaywhichisbeingmadethemostof。Surely，alltheneat，smartyoungpersonswhobuyfrocksandblouses，hatsandcoats，hosieryandchains，cannotbethepossessorsoflargeincomes；
　　theremustbe，eveninAmerica，amiddleclassofmiddle—classresources，yettheseyoungpersons，maleandfemale，andmostfrequentlyunaccompaniedbyolderpersons——seeingwhattheywant，greetitwithexpressionsofpleasure，wastenotimeinappropriatingandpayingforit，andgoawayasinreliefandtriumph——notasinthatsoberjoywhichiscloudedbyafterthought。Thesalespeoplearesometimesevenvaguelycheeredbytheirgaylackofanydoubtastothewisdomoftheirgettingwhattheyadmire，andrejoicinginit。IfAmericaalwaysbuysinthisholidaymood，itmustbeanenviablethingtobeashopkeeperintheirNewYorkorBostonorSanFrancisco。Whowouldnotmakeafortuneamongthem？Theywantwhattheywant，andnotsomethingwhichseemstothemlessdesirable，buttheyopentheirpursesand——frequentlywithsomeamuseduncertaintyastothedifferencesbetweensovereignsandhalf—sovereigns，florinsandhalf—crowns——theypaytheirbillswithsomethingalmostlikeglee。Theyareremarkablypromptaboutbills——whichisanexcellentthing，astheyarenearlyalwaysjustgoingsomewhereelse，toFranceorGermanyorItalyorScotlandorSiberia。Thoseofuswhoareshopkeepers，ortheirsalesmen，donotdreamthatsomeofthemhaveincomesnolargerthanourown，thattheyworkfortheirlivings，thattheyareteachersjournalists，smallwritersorillustratorsofpapersormagazinesthattheyareunimportantsoldiersoffortune，but，withtheirqueerAmericaninsistenceonexploration，andtheignoringoflimitations，theyhave，somehow，managedtomakethisexultantdashforafewdaringweeksormonthsoffreedomandnewexperience。Ifweknewthis，weshouldregardthemfromourconservativestandpointofprovidentdecorumasimprovidentlunatics，beingourselvesunabletocalculatewiththeiroddcourageandtheircheerfulbeliefinthemselves。Whatwedoknowisthattheyspend，andwearefarfromdisdainingtheirpatronage，thoughmostofthemhaveanoddlittlefamiliarityofaddressandarenotstampedwiththatdistinctionwhichcausesustorealisetheenormousdifferencebetweenthepatronandthetradesman，andmakesusfeelthewormweremotelyliketofeelourselves，thoughwewouldnotforworldsacknowledgethefact。Mentally，andinourspeech，bothamongourequalsandoursuperiors，wecondescendtoandpatronisethemalittle，thoughthat，ofcourse，isthefineoldinsularattitudeitwouldbeun—Britishtodiscourage。But，ifwearenotintheleastdefiniteconcerningthepositionandresourcesofthesespendersasamass，wearequitesureofaselectnumber。Thereismentionoftheminthenewspapers，ofthetownhouses，thecastles，moors，andsalmonfishingstheyrent，oftheiryachts，theirpresentationsactuallyatourowncourts，oftheirpresenceatgreatballs，atAscotandGoodwood，attheoperaongalanights。Onestaggerssometimesbeforethepublicsumming—upoftheamountoftheirfortunes。Thesepeoplewhohaveneitherbloodnorrank，thesemenwholabourintheirbusinessoffices，arericherthanourgreatdukes，attherealisingofwhosewealthandpossessionswehaveattimesalmostturnedpale。
　　"Them！"chaffedacostermongeroverhisbarrow。"Blimme，ifsomeo’themblokeswon’tbuyBuckin’amPallisan’the’oleR’yalFamblysomemornin’whenthey’reoutshoppin’。"
　　ThesubservientattendantsinmorethanonefashionableshopBettyandhersistervisit，knowthatMissVanderpoelisofthecircle，thoughherfatherhasnotasyetboughtorhiredanygreatestate，andhisdaughterhasnotbeenseeninLondon。
　　"Itsqueerwe’veneverheardofherbeingpresented，"oneshopgirlsaystoanother。"Justyoulookather。"
　　Sheevidentlyknowswhatherladyshipoughttobuy——whatcanbetrustednottooverpowerherfadedfragility。Thesaleswomen，eveniftheyhadnotbeendevouredbyalertcuriosity，couldnothaveavoidedseeingthatherladyshipdidnotseemtoknowwhatshouldbebought，andthatMissVanderpoeldid，thoughshedidnotdirecthersister’sselection，butmerelyseemedtosuggestwithdelicaterestraint。Hertastewaswonderfullyperceptive。Thethingsboughtwereexquisite，butalittlecolourlesswomancouldwearthemallwithadvantagetoherrestrictionsoftype。
　　AsthebroughamdrovedownBondStreet，BettycalledLadyAnstruthers’attentiontomorethanonepasser—by。
　　"Look，Rosy，"shesaid。"ThereisMrs。TreatHilyarinthesecondcarriagetotheright。YourememberJosieTreatHilyarmarriedLordVarick’sson。"
　　Inthelandaudesignatedanelderlywomanwithwonderfully—
　　dressedwhitehairsatsmilingandbowingtofriendswhowerewalking。LadyAnstruthers，despitehereagerness，shrankbackalittle，hopingtoescapebeingseen。
　　"Oh，itistheLowssheisspeakingto——TomandAlice——I
　　didnotknowtheyhadsailedyet。"
　　Thetall，well—groomedyoungman，withthenice，uglyface，wasshowingwhiteteethinagaysmileofrecognition，andhisprettywifewaslightlywavingaslimhandinagreysuedeglove。
　　"Howcheerfulandnice—temperedtheylook，"saidRosy。
　　"TomwasonlytwentywhenIsawhimlast。Whomdidhemarry？"
　　"AnEnglishgirl。Suchalove。ADevonshiregentleman’sdaughter。InNewYorkhisfriendscalledherDevonshireCreamandRoses。Sheisoneofthepretty，flushy，pinkones。"
　　"HowniceBondStreetisonaspringmorninglikethis，"
　　saidLadyAnstruthers。"Youmaylaughatmeforsayingit，Betty，butsomehowitseemstomemorespring—likethanthecountry。"
　　"Howcleverofyou！"laughedBetty。"Thereissomuchtruthinit。"Thepeoplewalkinginthesunshinewereallfullofspringthoughtsandplans。Thecolourstheywore，theflowersinthewomen’shatsandthemen’sbuttonholesbelongedtotheseason。Thecheerfulcrowdsofpeopleandcarriageshadasortofrushingstirofmovementwhichsuggestedfreshness。
　　Laterintheyeareverythinglooksmoretired。Nowthingswerebeginningandeveryonewasratherinclinedtobelievethatthisyearwouldbebetterthanlast。"Lookattheshopwindows，saidBetty，"fullofwhitesandpinksandyellowsandblues——thecoloursofhyacinthanddaffodilbeds。Itseemsasiftheyinsistthatthereneverhasbeenawinterandneverwillbeone。Theyinsistthatthereneverwasandneverwillbeanythingbutspring。"
　　"It’sintheair。"LadyAnstruthers’sighwasactuallyahappyone。"ItisjustwhatIusedtofeelinAprilwhenwedrovedownFifthAvenue。"
　　Amongthecrowdsoffreshly—dressedpassers—by，womenwithfloweryhatsandlightfrocksandparasols，menwithtouchesofflower—colouronthelapelsoftheircoats，andtheholidaylookintheirfaces，shenotedsomanyofafamiliartypethatshebegantolookforandtrytopickthemoutwithquiteexcitedinterest。
　　"IbelievethatwomanisanAmerican，"shewouldsay。
　　"ThatgirllooksasifshewereaNewYorker，"again。"Thatman’sfacelooksasifitbelongedtoBroadway。Oh，Betty！doyouthinkIamright？IshouldsaythosegirlsgettingoutofthehansomtogointoBurnham&Staples’camefromoutWestandaregoingtobuythousandsofthings。Don’ttheylooklikeit？"
　　ShebegantoleanforwardandlookonatthingswithaninterestsounlikeherStornhamlistlessnessthatBetty’sheartwasmoved。
　　Herfacelookedalive，andlittlewavesofcolourroseunderherskin。Severaltimesshelaughedthenaturallittlelaughofhergirlhoodwhichithadseemedalmosttoomuchtoexpecttohearagain。ThefirstoftheselaughscamewhenshecountedhertenthAmerican，atallWesternerofthecartoontype，saunteringalongwithanexpressionofspeculativeenjoymentonhisoddface，andevidently，thoughfurtively，chewingtobacco。
　　"Iabsolutelylovehim，Betty，"shecried。"Youcouldn’tmistakehimforanythingelse。"
　　"No，"answeredBetty，feelingthatshelovedhimherself，"notifyoufoundhimembalmedinthePyramids。"
　　Theypleasedthemselvesimmensely，tryingtoguesswhathewouldbuyandtakehometohiswifeandgirlsinhisWesterntown——thoughWesterntownswereverygrandandamazinginthesedays，Bettyexplained，andknewtheycouldgivepointstoNewYork。Hewouldnotbuythethingshewouldhaveboughtfifteenyearsago。Perhaps，infact，hiswifeanddaughtershadcomewithhimtoLondonandstayedattheMetropoleortheSavoy，andwereatthismomentbeingfittedbytailorsandmodistespatronisedbyRoyalty。
　　"Rosy，look！Doyouseewhothatis？Doyourecogniseher？ItisMrs。Bellingham。ShewaslittleMinaThalberg。
　　ShemarriedCaptainBellingham。Hewasquitepoor，butverywellborn——anephewofLordDunholm’s。Hecouldnothavemarriedapoorgirl——buttheyhavebeensohappytogetherthatMinaisgrowingfat，andspendsherdaysintakingreducingtreatments。Shesaysshewouldn’tcareintheleast，butDickyfellinlovewithherwaistandshoulderline。"
　　Theplump，prettyyoungwomangettingoutofhervictoriabeforeafashionablehairdresser’slookedradiantenough。Shehadnotyetlostthewaistandshoulderline，thoughherpinkfrockfittedherwithdiscreettightness。Shepausedamomenttopatandfussprettilyoverthetwoblooming，curlychildrenwhoweretoremainunderthecareofthenurse，whosatonthebackseat，holdingthebabyonherlap。
　　"Ishouldnothaveknownher，"saidRosy。"Shehasgrownpretty。Shewasn’taprettychild。"
　　"It’shappiness——andtheEnglishclimate——andCaptainDicky。Theyadoreeachother，andlaughateverythinglikeapairofchildren。TheywereimmenselypopularinNewYorklastwinter，whentheyvisitedMina’speople。"
　　TheeffectofthemorninguponLadyAnstrutherswaswhatBettyhadhopeditmightbe。Thecuriousdrawingnearofthetwonationsbegantodawnuponherasatruth。Immuredinthecountry，notsufficientlyinterestedinlifetoreadnewspapers，shehadheardrumoursofsomeofthemoreimportantmarriages，buthadknownnothingofthethousandsmalldetailswhichmadefortheweavingoftheweb。Mrs。TreatHilyardrivinginaleisurely，accustomedfashiondownBondStreet，andsmilingcasuallyathercompatriots，whose"sailing"wasasmuchpartofthenaturalorderoftheirluxuriouslivesastheircarriages，gaveadefinitenesstothesituation。MinaThalberg，pullingdowntheembroideredfrocksovertheroundlegsofherEnglish—lookingchildren，seemedtonarrowthewidthoftheAtlanticOceanbetweenLiverpoolandthedocksontheHudsonRiver。
　　ShereturnedtothehotelwithanappetiteforlunchandanewexpressioninhereyeswhichmadeUghtredstareather。
　　"Mother，"hesaid，"youlookdifferent。Youlookwell。
　　Itisn’tonlyyournewdressandyourhair。"
　　Thenewstyleofherattirehadcertainlydonemuch，andthemaidwhohadbeenengagedtoattendherwasawomanwhoknewherduties。Shehadbeencalleduponinhertimetomakethemostofhairofferingmuchlessassistancetoherskillthanwassuppliedbythefine，faircolourlessnessshehadfounddraggedbackfromhernewmistress’sforehead。Itwasnotdraggedbacknow，buthadreallybeendonewonderswith。
　　Rosaliehadsmiledalittlewhenshehadlookedatherselfintheglassafterthefirsttimeitwassodressed。
　　"YouaretryingtomakemelookasIdidwhenmothersawmelast，Betty，"shesaid。"Iwonderifyoupossiblycould。"
　　"Letusbelievewecan，"laughedBetty。"Andwaitandsee。"
　　Itseemedwiseneithertomakenorreceivevisits。Thetimeforsuchthingshadevidentlynotyetcome。EventhementionoftheWorthingtonsledtotherevelationthatRosalieshrankfromimmediatecontactwithpeople。Whenshefeltstronger，whenshebecamemoreaccustomedtothethought，shemightfeeldifferently，butjustnow，tobeluxuriouslyonewiththeenviablepartofLondon，tolookon，todrinkin，todrivehereandthere，doingthethingsshelikedtodo，orderingwhatwasrequiredatStornham，waslikethecreatingforherofanewheavenandanewearth。
　　When，onenight，BettytookherwithUghtredtothetheatre，itwastoseeaplaywrittenbyanAmerican，playedbyAmericanactors，producedbyanAmericanmanager。Theyhadevenengagedintheatricalenterprise，itseemed，theiractorsplayedbeforeLondonaudiences，LondonactorsplayedinAmericantheatres，vibratingalmostyearlybetweenthetwocontinentsandreapingrichharvests。Hearingrumoursofthisinthepast，LadyAnstruthershadscarcelybelieveditentirelytrue。Nowthepracticalrealitywasbroughtbeforeher。TheFrench，whowereonlyseparatedfromtheEnglishmetropolisbyamerefewmilesofChannel，didnotexchangetheiractorsyearafteryearinincreasingnumbers，makingamerefriendlybarterofeachother’sterritory，asthougheachlandwascommongroundandnotdividedbyleaguesofoceantravel。
　　"Itseemssowonderful，"LadyAnstruthersargued。"I
　　havealwaysfeltasiftheyhatedeachother。"
　　"Theydidonce——buthowcoulditlastbetweenthoseofthesameblood——ofthesametongue？Ifwewerereallyalienswemightbeamenace。Butweareoftheirown。"Bettyleanedforwardontheedgeofthebox，lookingoutoverthecrowdedhouse，filledwithalmostasmanyAmericansasEnglishfaces。Shesmiled，reflecting。"Wewerechildrenputouttonurseandbreathenewairinthecountry，andnowwearecominghome，vigorous，andfull—grown。"
　　Shestudiedtheaudienceforsomeminutes，and，asherglancewanderedoverthestalls，ittookinmorethanonemarkedvarietyoftype。Suddenlyitfellonafaceshedelightedlyrecognised。
　　Itwasthatofthenice，speculative—eyedWesternertheyhadseenenjoyinghimselfinBondStreet。
　　"Rosy，"shesaid，"thereistheWesternmanwelove。Neartheendofthefourthrow。"
　　LadyAnstrutherslookedforhimwitheagerness。
　　"Oh，Iseehim！Nexttothebigonewiththereddishhair。"
　　Bettyturnedherattentiontothemaninquestion，whomshehadnotchancedtonotice。Sheutteredanexclamationofsurpriseandinterest。
　　"Thebigmanwiththeredhair。Howlovelythattheyshouldchancetositsidebyside——thebigoneisLordMountDunstan！"
　　Thenecessityofseeinghissolicitors，whohappenedtobeMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppard，hadbroughtLordMountDunstantotown。Afteradaydevotedtobusinessaffairs，hehadbeenattractedbytheideaofgoingtothetheatretoseeagainaplayhehadalreadyseeninNewYork。ItwouldinteresthimtoobserveitsexacteffectuponaLondonaudience。
　　WhilehehadbeeninNewYork，hehadgonewithsomethingofthesamefeelingtoseeagreatEnglishactorplaytoacrowdedhouse。Thegreatactorhadbeenonewhohadreturnedtothecountryforathirdorfourthtime，and，intheenthusiasmhehadfeltintheatmosphereabouthim，MountDunstanhadseennotonlypleasureandappreciationoftheman’sperfectart，but——atcertaintumultuousoutbursts——analmostemotionalwelcome。TheAmericans，hehadsaidtohimself，werecreaturesofwarmerbloodthantheEnglish。Theaudienceonthatoccasionhadbeen，inmass，American。Theaudiencehemadeoneofnow，wasmadeupofbothnationalities，and，inglancingoverit，herealisedhowlargewasthenumberofAmericanswhocameyearlytoLondon。AsLadyAnstruthershaddone，hefoundhimselfselectingfromtheassemblagethetypeswhichweremanifestlyAmerican，andthoseobviouslyEnglish。IntheseatnexttohimselfsatamanofatypehefelthehadlearnedbyheartinthedaysofhislifeasJemSalter。AtashortdistanceflutteredbrilliantlyanEnglishprofessionalbeauty，withhermaleandfemalecourtabouther。
　　Inthestagebox，madesumptuouswithflowers，wasaroyalparty。
　　Asthispartyhadentered，"GodsavetheQueen"hadbeenplayed，and，inrisingwiththeaudienceduringtheentry，hehadrecalledthatthetunewasidenticalwiththatofanAmericannationalair。Howunconsciouslyinseparable——inspiteofthelightnesswithwhichtheyregardedthecurioustiebetweenthem——thetwocountrieswere。Thepeopleuponthestagewereactingasiftheyknewtheirpublic，theirbearingsuggestingnosenseofanybarrierbeyondthefootlights。Itwastheunconsciousnessandlightnessofthemutualattitudewhichhadstruckhimoflate。Punchhadlongjestedabout"FairAmericans，"who，intheirfirstintroductiontoitspages，usedexoticandcrypticlanguage，beginningeverysentenceeitherwith"Iguess，"or"Say，Stranger"；itsmaleAmericanhadbeenoftheUncleSamorderandhadinvariablyworna"goatee。"AmericanwitticismshadrepresentedtheEnglishmaninplaidtrousers，openinghisremarkswith"Chawley，deahfellah，"andunfailinglymissingthepointofanyjoke。Eachcountryhadcherisheditstypeandgood—naturedlyderidedit。Intimethishadmodifieditselfandthejokehadchangedinkind。Manyotherthingshadchanged，butthelightnessoftreatmentstillremained。AndyettheirbloodwasminglingitselfwiththatofEngland’snoblestandoldestofname，theirwealthwasmakingsolidagaintowersandhallswhichhadthreatenedtocrumble。
　　Ancientfamilyjewelsglitteredonslender，youngAmericannecks，andabove——sometimessomewhatcareless——youngAmericanbrows。Andyet，sofar，onewascasualinone’sthoughtofitall，still。OnhisownparthewasobstinateBritonenoughtorebelagainstandresentit。Theywereintruders。Heresentedthemashehadresentedinhisboyhoodthehistoricalfactthat，afterall，anEnglishmanwasaGerman——asavagewho，fivehundredyearsafterthebirthofChrist，hadswoopeduponEarlyBritonfromhisEnglelandandJutland，andravagingwithfireandsword，hadconqueredandmadethelandhispossession，ravishingitsverynamefromitandgivingithisown。Thesepeopledidnotcomewithfireandsword，butwithcableandtelephone，andbribesofgoldandfairwomen，buttheywereencroachinglikethesea，which，incertainpartsofthecoast，gainedafewinchesorsoeachyear。Heshookhisshouldersimpatiently，andstiffened，feelingillogicallyantagonistictowardsthegood—natured，lantern—jawedmanathisside。
　　Thelantern—jawedmanlookedgood—naturedbecausehewassmiling，andhewassmilingbecausehesawsomethingwhichpleasedhiminoneoftheboxes。
　　HisexpressionofunqualifiedapprovalnaturallydirectedMountDunstan’seyetothepointinquestion，whereitremainedforsomemoments。ThiswasbecausehefounditrestinguponMissVanderpoel，whosatbeforehiminluminouswhitegarments，andwithabrilliantsparkofornamentinthedenseshadowofherhair。Hissensationattheunexpectedsightofherwould，ifithadexpresseditselfphysically，havetakentheformofaslightstart。Theluminousqualitydidnotconfineitselftothewhitenessofhergarments。Hewasawareoffeelingthatshelookedluminousherself——hereyes，hercheek，thesmileshebentuponthelittlewomanwhowashercompanion。
　　Shewasabeautifullylivingthing。
　　Naturally，shewasbeinglookedatbyothersthanhimself。
　　Shewasoneofthosetowardswhomglassesinatheatreturnthemselvesinevitably。Thesweepandliftofherblackhairwouldhavedrawnthem，evenifshehadofferednoothercharm。
　　Yes，hethought，herewasanotherofthem。Towhomwasshebringinghergoodlooksandhermillions？Thereweremenenoughwhoneededmoney，eveniftheymustacceptitunderlessalluringconditions。Intheboxnexttotheoneoccupiedbytheroyalpartywasamanwhowasknowntobewaitingfortheadventofsomesuchopportunity。Hiswasacaseofdire，ifoutwardlystately，need。Hewasyoung，butafool，andnotnotedforpersonalcharms，yethehad，inonesense，greatthingstooffer。Therewere，ofcourse，manychancesthathemightofferthemtoher。Ifthishappened，wouldsheacceptthem？Therewasreallynoobjectiontohimbuthisdulness，consequentlythereseemedmanychancesthatshemight。Therewassomethingakintothepompofroyaltyinthepowerherfather’swealthimplied。Shecouldscarcelymakeanordinarymarriage。Itwouldnaturallybeasortofstateaffair。TherewerefewmenwhohadenoughtoofferinexchangeforVanderpoelmillions，andofthefewnonehadspecialattractions。Theoneintheboxnexttotheroyalpartywasadecentenoughfellow。Asyoungprincesseswerenotinfrequentlycalledupon，bythemereexclusionofroyalblood，tobecomeunitedtoyoungormatureprinceswithoutcharm，soAmericanyoungpersonswhowereofroyalpossessionsmustfindthemselveslimited。IfyoufeltfreetopickandchoosefromamongyoungmenintheGuardsoryoungattachesintheDiplomaticServicewithtwopenceayear，youmightgetbeautyorwitortemperamentorallthreebygoodluck，butifyouwereofaroyalhouseofNewYorkorChicago，youwouldprobablyfeelyoumustdrawlinesandchooseonlysuchsplendoursasaccordedwith，evenwhiledifferingfrom，yourown。
　　Anypossibleconnectionofhimselfwithsuchacasedidnotpresentitselftohim。Ifithaddoneso，hewouldhavecountedhimself，haughtily，asbeyondthepale。Itwasforothermentodothingsofthesort；aremoteantagonismofhiswholebeingwarredagainstthemereidea。Itwasbigotedprejudice，perhaps，butitwasastrongthing。
　　Alovelyshoulderandabrilliantheadsetonalongandslenderneckhavenonationalitywhichcanpreventaman’sglanceturningnaturallytowardsthem。Histurnedagainduringthelastactoftheplay，andatamomentwhenhesawsomethingratherlikethethinghehadseenwhentheMeridianamovedawayfromthedockandtheexaltedMissVanderpoelleaningupontherailhadheldoutherarmstowardsthechildwhohadbroughthistoytoherasafarewelloffering。
　　Sittingbyherto—nightwasaboywithacrookedback——
　　MountDunstanrememberedhearingthattheAnstruthershadadeformedson——andshewasleaningtowardshim，herhandrestingonhisshoulder，explainingsomethinghehadnotquitegraspedintheactionoftheplay。Theabsoluteadorationintheboy’supliftedeyeswasaninterestingthingtotakein，andtheradiantwarmthofherbrightlookwasasunconsciousofonlookersasithadbeenwhenhehadseenityearningtowardsthechildonthewharf。Herswasthetemperamentwhichgave——whichgave。HefoundhimselfrestrainingasmilebecauseherlookbroughtbacktohimtheactualsoundoftheNewYorkyoungster’svoice。
　　"Iwantedtokissyou，Betty，oh，Ididsowanttokissyou！"
　　Anstruthers’boy——poorlittlebeggar——lookedasifhe，too，inthefaceofactorsandaudience，andbrillianceoflight，wantedtokissher。
　　CHAPTERXX
　　THINGSOCCURINSTORNHAMVILLAGE
　　ItwouldnothavebeenpossibleforMissVanderpoeltoremainlonginsocialseclusioninLondon，and，beforemanydayshadpassed，StornhamvillagewasenlivenedbytheknowledgethatherladyshipandhersisterhadreturnedtotheCourt。ItwasalsoevidentthattheirvisittoLondonhadnotbeenmadetonopurpose。Thestagnationofthewatersofvillagelifethreatenedtobecomeawhirlpool。Arespectableperson，whowastobeherladyship’smaid，hadcomewiththem，andherladyshiphadnotbeenservedbyapersonalattendantforyears。
　　Herladyshiphadalsoappearedatthedinner—tableinnewgarments，andwithherhairdoneasotherladiesworetheirs。
　　Shelookedlikeadifferentwoman，andactuallyhadabitofcolour，andwasbeginningtoloseherfrightenedway。Nowitdawneduponeventhedullestandleastactivemindthatsomethinghadbeguntostir。