"Tee—hee！Tee—hee—ee！Dearyme！Thankee——thankee，mylady，"hetittered，andhegazedandblinkedatherbeautythroughheavenlytears。
　　"Nearlyahundredyearsold，andhehaslivedonsixteenshillingsaweekallhislife，andearneditbyworkingeveryhourbetweensunriseandsunset，"Bettysaidtohersister，whenshewenthome。"Amanhasonelife，andhishaspassedlikethat。Itisdonenow，andalltheyearsandworkhaveleftnothinginhisoldhandsbuthispipe。That’sall。I
　　shouldnotliketoputitoutforhim。WhoamIthatI
　　canbuyhimanewone，andkeepitfilledforhimuntiltheend？Howdidithappen？No，"suddenly，"Imustnotlosetimeinaskingmyselfthat。Imustgetthenewpipe。"
　　Shedidit——apipeofgreatmagnificence——suchasdrewtotheDobycottageasmanycallersasthevillagecouldprovide，eachcomingwithfeveredinterest，tolookatit——tobeallowedtoholdandexamineitforafewmoments，guessingatitsprobableenormouscost，andreturningitreverently，togazeatDobywithrespect——theincreaseofwhichcanbeimaginedwhenitwasknownthathewasnotonlypossessorofthepipe，butofanassurancethathewouldbesuppliedwithasmuchtobaccoashecoulduse，totheendofhisdays。Fromthetimeoftheadventofthepipe，GrandfatherDobybecameamanofmark，andhislifeinthechimneycornerachangedthing。Amanwhoownssplendoursandunlimited，excellentshagmaylikefriendstodropinandcrackjokes——andevensmokeapipewithhim——acommonpipe，which，however，isnotamisswhenexcellentshagcomesfree。
　　"Helivesinawildwhirlofgaiety——asocialvortex，"saidBettytoLadyAnstruthers，afteroneofhervisits。"Heisactuallyrejuvenated。Imustordersomenewwhitesmocksforhimtoreceivehisvisitorsin。SomeonebroughthimanoldcopyoftheIllustratedLondonNewslastnight。Wewillsendhimillustratedpaperseveryweek。"
　　Inthedulloldbrain，Godknowswhatsparkoflifehadbeenrelighted。YoungMrs。Dobyrelatedwithchucklesthatgranddadhadbeggedthathischairmightbedraggedtothewindow，thathemightsitandwatchthevillagestreet。Sittingthere，dayafterday，hesmokedandlookedathispictures，anddozedanddreamed，hispipeandtobaccojarbesidehimonthewindowledge。Atanysoundofwheelsorfootstepshisfacelighted，andif，bychance，hecaughtaglimpseofBetty，hetotteredtohisfeet，andstoodhurriedlytouchinghisbaldforeheadwithareverent，palsiedhand。
　　"’Tis’urr，"hewouldsay，enrapt。"Iseen’urr——Idid。"
　　AndyoungMrs。Dobyknewthatthiswashisjoy，andwhathewaitedforasonewaitsforthecomingofthesun。
　　"’Tis’urr！’Tis’urr！"
　　Thevicar’swife，Mrs。Brent，whosincetheaffairofJohnWilson’sfirehaddroppedintothebackgroundandfeltitindiscreettopresenttalesofdistressattheCourt，begantorecoverhercourage。Herperfunctoryvisitsassumedanewcharacter。Thevicaragehad，ofcourse，calledpromptlyuponMissVanderpoel，afterherarrival。Mrs。BrentadmiredMissVanderpoelhugely。
　　"YouseemsounlikeanAmerican，"shesaidonceinhermosttactful，ingratiatingmanner——whichwasveryingratiatingindeed。
　　"DoI？WhatisonelikewhenoneislikeanAmerican？
　　Iamone，youknow。"
　　"Icanscarcelybelieveit，"withsweetardour。
　　"Praytry，"saidBettywithsimplebrevity，andMrs。BrentfeltthatperhapsMissVanderpoelwasnotreallyveryeasytogetonwith。
　　"ShemeanttoimplythatIdidnotspeakthroughmynose，andtalktoomuch，andtoovivaciously，inashrillvoice，"
　　Bettysaidafterwards，intalkingtheinterviewoverwithRosy。
　　"Iliketoconvincemyselfthatisnotone’ssolenationalcharacteristic。AlsoitwasnotexactlyMrs。Brent’splacetokindlyencouragemewiththeinformationthatIdonotseemtobelongtomyowncountry。"
　　LadyAnstrutherslaughed，andBettylookedatherinquiringly。
　　"Yousaidthatjustlike——justlikeanEnglishwoman。"
　　"DidI？"saidBetty。
　　Mrs。BrenthadcometotalktoherbecauseshedidnotwishtotroubledearLadyAnstruthers。LadyAnstruthersalreadylookedmuchstronger，butshehadbeendelicatesolongthatonehesitatedtodistressherwithvillagematters。
　　Shedidnotaddthatsherealisedthatshewascomingtoheadquarters。Thevicarandherselfweremuchdisturbedaboutarathertiresomeoldwoman——oldMrs。Welden——wholivedinatinycottageinthevillage。Shewaseighty—threeyearsold，andarespectableoldperson——awidow，whohadrearedtenchildren。Thechildrenhadallgrownup，andscattered，andoldMrs。Weldenhadnothingwhatevertoliveon。Nooneknewhowshelived，andreallyshewouldbebetteroffintheworkhouse。ShecouldbesenttoBrexleyUnion，andcomfortablytakencareof，butshehadthatsingular，obstinatedisliketogoing，whichitwassodifficulttomanage。Shehadaskedforashillingaweekfromtheparish，butthatcouldnotbeallowedher，asitwouldmerelyupholdherinherobstinateintentionofremaininginhercottage，andtakingcareofherself——whichshecouldnotdo。Bettygatheredthattheshillingaweekwouldbeadrainontheparishfunds，andwouldsoraisetheoldcreaturetoaffluencethatshewouldfeelshecoulddefyfate。Andthecontumacityofoldmenandwomenshouldnotbestrengthenedbytherecklessbestowalofshillings。
　　KnowingthatMissVanderpoelhadalreadygainedinfluenceamongthevillagepeople，Mrs。Brentsaid，shehadcometoaskherifshewouldseeoldMrs。Weldenandarguewithherinsuchamanneraswouldconvinceherthattheworkhousewasthebestplaceforher。Itwas，ofcourse，somuchpleasanteriftheseoldpeoplecouldbeinducedtogotoBrexleywillingly。
　　"ShallIbeunderminingthewholePoliticalEconomyofStornhamifItakecareofhermyself？"suggestedBetty。
　　"You——youwillleadotherstoexpectthesamethingwillbedoneforthem。"
　　"Whenonehasresourcestodrawon，"MissVanderpoelcommented，"inthecaseofawomanwhohaslivedeighty—
　　threeyearsandbroughtuptenchildrenuntiltheywereoldandstrongenoughtoleavehertotakecareofherself，itisdifficultfortheweakofmindtoapplythelawsofPoliticalEconomics。IwillgoandseeoldMrs。Welden。"
　　IftheVanderpoelswouldprovideforalltheobstinateoldmenandwomenintheparish，thePoliticalEconomicsofStornhamwouldproffernomarkedobjections。"AgoodmanyAmericans，"Mrs。Brentreflected，"seemedtohavethoseodd，lavishways，"aswitnessLadyAnstruthersherself，onherfirstintroductiontovillagelife。MissVanderpoelwasevidentlyamuchstrongercharacter，andextremelyclever，andsomehowthestreamoftheAmericanfortunewasatlastbeingdirectedtowardsStornham——which，ofcourse，shouldhavehappenedlongago。Agooddealwas"beingdone，"andthewholesituationlookedmorepromising。Sowasthematterdiscussedandsummedup，thesameeveningafterdinner，atthevicarage。
　　BettyfoundoldMrs。Welden’scottage。Itwasinagreenlane，turningfromthevillagestreet——whichwasalmostagreenlaneitself。Atinyhedged—infrontgardenwasbeforethecottagedoor。Acrazy—lookingwicketgatewasinthehedge，andafuschiabushandafewoldroseswereinthefewyardsofgarden。Therewereactuallytwoorthreegeraniumsinthewindow，showingcheerfulscarletbetweentheshort，whitedimitycurtains。
　　"AhousethissizeandofthispovertyinanAmericanvillage，"wasBetty’sthought，"wouldbeabareandstragglinghideousness，witholdtomatocansinthefrontyard。Hereisoneofthethingswehavetolearnfromthem。"
　　Whensheknockedatthedooranoldwomanopenedit。
　　Shewasawell—preservedandmarkedlyrespectableoldperson，inadecentprintfrockandacap。Atthesightofhervisitorshebeamedandmadeasuggestionofcurtsey。
　　"Howdoyoudo，Mrs。Welden？"saidBetty。"IamLadyAnstruthers’sister，MissVanderpoel。IthoughtIwouldliketocomeandseeyou。"
　　"Thankyou，miss，Iamobligedforthekindness，miss。
　　Won’tyoucomeinandhaveachair？"
　　Therewerenosignsofdecrepitudeabouther，andshehadacheeryoldeye。Thetinyfrontroomwasneat，thoughtherewasscarcelyspaceenoughinittocontainthetablecoveredwithitsblue—checkedcottoncloth，thenarrowsofa，andtwoorthreechairs。Therewereafewsmallcolouredprints，andaframedphotographorsoonthewalls，andonthetablewasaBible，andabrownearthenwareteapot，andaplate。
　　"TomWood’swife，that’sneighbournextdoortome，"shesaid，"gavemeapincho’tea——an’I’vejustbeen’avinit。
　　TomWoods，miss，’asjustbeentookonbyMusterKedgersasoneofthenewundergardenersattheCourt。"
　　Bettyfoundherdelightful。Shemadenocomplaints，andwasevidentlypleasedwiththeexcitementofreceivingavisitor。Thetruthwas，thatincommonwitheveryotheroldwoman，shehadsecretlyaspiredtobeingvisitedsomedaybytheamazingyoungladyfrom"Meriker。"Bettyhadyettolearnoftheheartburningswhichmaybeoccasionedbyanunconsciousfavouritism。ShewasnotawarethatwhenshedroppedintotalktooldDoby，hisneighbour，oldMegworth，peeredfrombehindhiscurtains，withthedewofenvyinhisrheumyeyes。
　　"S’ems，"hemumbled，"asiftheywasn’tnobodynowinStornhamvillagebutGaargeDoby——s’emsnot。"Theywereveryfierceintheirjealousyofattention，andonemustbewareofrousingevilpassionsintheoctogenarianbreast。
　　Theyoungladyfrom"Meriker"hadnotsofarhadtimetomakeacallatanycottageinoldMrs。Welden’slane——andshehadknockedjustatoldMrs。Welden’sdoor。Thiswasenoughtoputingoodspiritsevenalesscheeryoldperson。
　　AtfirstBettywonderedhowshecouldwithdelicacyaskpersonalquestions。Afewminutes’conversation，however，showedherthatthepersonalaffairsofSirNigel’stenantswerealsotheaffairsofnotonlyhimself，butofsuchofhisrelativesasattendedtotheirnaturalduty。Herpresenceinthecottage，andherinterestinMrs。Welden’sreadyflowofsimpletalk，weredesirableandpropercomplimentstotheoldwomanherself。Shewasadecentandself—respectingoldperson，butinhermindtherewasnofaintestglimmerofresentmentofquestionsconcerningrentandfoodandtheneedsofhersimple，hard—drivenexistence。Shehadansweredsuchquestionsonmanyoccasions，whentheyhadnotbeenaskedinthemannerinwhichherladyship’ssisteraskedthem。Mrs。
　　Brenthadscoldedherand"pokedabout"hercottage，goingintohertiny"wash’us，"andupintoherinfinitesimalbedroomundertheslantingroof，toseethattheywerekeptclean。
　　MissVanderpoelshowednodispositionto"poke。"Shesatandlistened，andmadeaninquiryhereandthere，inanicevoiceandwithasmileinhereyes。Therewassomepleasureinrelatingthewholehistoryofyoureighty—threeyearstoayoungladywholistenedasifshewantedtohearit。SooldMrs。Weldenprattledon。Abouthergooddays，whenshewasyoung，andwaskitchenmaidattheparsonageinavillagetwentymilesaway；abouthermarriagewithayoungfarmlabourer；abouthis"steady"habits，andthecomforttheyhadtogether，inspiteoftheyearlyarrivalofanewbaby，andthecrowdingofthebitofacottagehismasterallowedthem。Tenof’em，andithadbeen"upbeforesunrise，andagoodbitofhardworktokeepthemallfedandclean。"
　　ButshehadnotmindedthatuntilJackdiedquitesuddenafterasunstroke。Itwasoddhowmuchcolourherrusticphraseologyheld。ShemadeBettyseeitall。Theapparentnaturalinevitablenessoftheirbeingturnedoutofthecottage，becauseanothermanmusthaveit；theyearsduringwhichsheworkedherwaywhilethetenweregrowingup，havingmeasles，andchickenpox，andscarletfever，onedyinghereandthere，droppingoutquiteinthenaturalorderofthings，andbeingburiedbytheparishincornersoftheancientchurchyard。Threeofthem"wastook"byscarletfever，thenoneofa"decline，"thenoneortwobyotherillnesses。Onlyfourreachedmanandwomanhood。OnehadgonetoAustralia，butheneverwasonetowrite，andafterayearortwo，Bettygathered，hehadseemedtomeltawayintothegreatdistance。
　　Twogirlshadmarried，andMrs。Weldencouldnotsaytheyhadbeen"comf’able。"Theycouldbarelyfeedthemselvesandtheirswarmsofchildren。Theothersonhadneverbeensteadylikehisfather。HehadatlastgonetoLondon，andLondonhadswallowedhimup。Bettywasstruckbythefactthatshedidnotseemtofeelthatthemotheroftenmighthaveexpectedsomereturnforherlabours，ateighty—three。
　　Herunresentfulacceptanceofthingswasatoncesignificantandmoving。Bettyfoundheramazing。Whatshelivedonitwasnoteasytounderstand。Sheseemedratherlikeacheerfuloldbird，gettingupeachunprovided—formorning，andpickinguphersustenancewhereshefoundit。
　　"There’smoreinthesayin’`theLordpervides’thanagoodmanythinks，"shesaidwithasmallchuckle，markedmorebyagenialandcomfortablesenseofhumourthanbyanairofmeritoriouslyquotingthevicar。"HeDO。"
　　Shepaidoneandthreepenceaweekinrentforhercottage，andthiswasthemostseriousdrainuponherresources。
　　Sheapparentlycouldlivewithoutfoodorfire，buttherentmustbepaid。"An’Idogetabitbe’indsometimes，"sheconfessedapologetically，"an’thenit’satroubletogetstraight。"
　　Hercottagewasoneofashortrow，andshedidoddjobsforthewomenwhowereherneighbours。Therewerealwaysbabiestobelookedafter，and"bitsof’elp"needed，sometimestherewere"movings"fromonecottagetoanother，and"confinements"wereplainlyatonceexhilaratingandenriching。
　　Hertemperamentalgoodcheer，combinedwithherexperience，madeheradesirablecompanionandassistant。Shewasengaginglyfrank。
　　"Whenthey’renewtoit，an’abitfrightened，Ijustgive’emacupof’ottea，an’jokewith’emtocheer’emup，"
　　shesaid。"IsaystoCharlesJenkins’wife，aslivesnextdoor，`comenow，megirl，it’sbeengoin’onsinceAdaman’Eve，an’there’sagoodmanyofusleft，isn’tthere？’An’afineboyitwas，too，miss，an’’erupan’aboutbefore’ermonth。"
　　Shewaspaidinsixpencesandspareshillings，andincupsoftea，orafresh—bakedloaf，orscrewsofsugar，oreveninagarmentnotyetwornbeyondrepair。Andshewasfreetoruninandout，andgrowaflowerorsoinhergarden，andtalkwithaneighbouroverthelowdividinghedge。
　　"Theywantmetogointothe`Ouse，’"reachingthedangeroussubjectatlast。"TheysayI’llbetookcareofan’
　　lookedafter。ButIdon’twanttodoit，miss。Iwanttokeepmybitofa’omeifIcan，an’befreetocomean’go。
　　I’meighty—three，an’itwon’tbelong。I’adashillingaweekfromtheparish，buttheystoppeditbecausetheysaidIoughttogointothe`Ouse。’"
　　ShelookedatBettywithamomentarilyanxioussmile。
　　"P’rapsyoudon’tquiteunderstand，miss，"shesaid。"It’llseemlikenothin’toyou——aplacelikethis。"
　　"Itdoesn’t，"Bettyanswered，smilingbravelybackintotheoldeyes，thoughshefeltaslightfulnessofthethroat。"I
　　understandallaboutit。"
　　ItispossiblethatoldMrs。Weldenwasalittletakenabackbyanattitudewhich，satisfactorytoherownprejudicesthoughitmightbe，was，takeninconnectionwithfixedcustoms，atrifleunnatural。
　　"Youdon’tmindmenotwantin’togo？"shesaid。
　　"No，"wastheanswer，"notatall。"
　　Bettybegantoaskquestions。Howmuchtea，sugar，soap，candles，bread，butter，bacon，couldMrs。Weldenuseinaweek？
　　Itwasnotveryeasytofindouttheexactquantities，asMrs。
　　Welden’sestimatesofsuchthingshadbeenbased，duringherentireexistence，uponcalculationastohowlittle，nothowmuchshecoulduse。
　　WhenBettysuggestedapoundoftea，ahalfpound——theoldwomansmiledattheinnocentignorancethesuggestionofsuchrecklessprofusionimplied。
　　"Oh，no！Blessyou，miss，no！Icouldn’tneverdoawaywithit。Aquarter，miss——that’dbeplenty——aquarter。"
　　Mrs。Welden’sideaof"thebest，"wasthatattwoshillingsapound。Quarterofapoundwouldcostsixpence（twelvecents，thoughtBetty）。Apoundofsugarwouldbetwopence，Mrs。Weldenwouldusehalfapound（theriotousextravaganceoftwocents）。Halfapoundofbutter，"Goodtubbutter，miss，"wouldbetenpencethreefarthingsapound。
　　Soap，candles，bacon，bread，coal，wood，inthequantitiesrequiredbyMrs。Welden，might，withtheadditionofrent，amounttothedizzyingheightofeightortenshillings。
　　"Withcarefulextravagance，"Bettymentallysummedup，"Imightspendalmosttwodollarsaweekinsurroundingherwithariotofluxury。"
　　Shemadealistofthethings，andaddedsomeextrasasanideaofherown。Lifehadnotaffordedherthiskindofthingbefore，sherealised。Shefeltforthefirsttimethejoyofrecklessextravagance，andthrilledwiththeexcitementofit。
　　"YouneednotthinkofBrexleyUnionanymore，"shesaid，whenshe，havingrisentogo，stoodatthecottagedoorwitholdMrs。Welden。"ThethingsIhavewrittendownhereshallbesenttoyoueverySaturdaynight。Iwillpayyourrent。"
　　"Miss——miss！"Mrs。Weldenlookedaffrighted。"It’stoomuch，miss。An’coalseighteenpenceahundred！"
　　"Nevermind，"saidherladyship’ssister，andtheoldwoman，lookingupintohereyes，foundtherethecolourMountDunstanhadthoughtofasbeingthatofbluebellsunderwater。
　　"Ithinkwecanmanageit，Mrs。Welden。Keepyourselfaswarmasyoulike，andsometimeIwillcomeandhaveacupofteawithyouandseeiftheteaisgood。"
　　"Oh！Dearyme！"saidMrs。Welden。"Ican’tthinkwhattosay，miss。Itliftseverythin’——everythin’。It’snottobebelieved。It’slikebein’leftafortune。"
　　Whenthewicketgateswungtoandtheyoungladywentupthelane，theoldwomanstoodstaringafterher。AndherewasapieceofnewstorunintoCharleyJenkins’cottageandtell——andwhatwomanormanintherowwouldquitebelieveit？
　　CHAPTERXXV
　　"WEBEGANTOMARRYTHEM，MYGOODFELLOW！"
　　LordDunholmandhiseldestson，LordWestholt，saunteredtogethersmokingtheirafter—dinnercigarsonthebroad—
　　turfedterraceoverlookingparkandgardenswhichseemedtosweepwithoutboundarylineintothepurplishlandbeyond。
　　Thegreymassofthecastlestoodclear—cutagainsttheblueofaskywhosetwilightwasstillalmostdaylight，thoughinthepurityofitseveningstillnessastaralreadyhung，hereandthere，andayoungmoonswunglow。Thegreatspacesaboutthemheldasilencewhoseexquisiteentiretywasmarkedatintervalsbythedistantbarkofashepherddogdrivinghismaster’ssheeptothefold，theirsoft，intermittentplaints——themotherewes’mellowansweringtothetender，fretfullambs——
　　floatedontheair，alovelypartoftheendingday’srepose。
　　Wheretwowhoarefriendsstrolltogetheratsuchhours，thegreatbeautymakesforsilenceorforthoughtfultalk。Thesetwomen——fatherandson——werefriendsandintimates，andhadbeensofromWestholt’sfirstmemoryofthetimewhenhischildishindividualitybegantodetachitselffromthebackgroundofmistyandindistinctthings。Theyhadlikedeachother，andtheirlikingandintimacyhadincreasedwiththeonwardmovingandchangeofyears。Aftersixtysaneanddecentlyspentactiveyearsoflife，LordDunholm，ineithercountrytweedoreveningdress，wasawell—builtandhandsomeman；atthirty—threehissonwasstilllikehim。
　　"Haveyouseenher？"hewassaying。
　　"Onlyatadistance。ShewasdrivingLadyAnstruthersacrossthemarshesinacart。Shedrovewelland————"helaughedasheflickedtheashfromhiscigar——"thebackofherheadandshoulderslookedhandsome。"
　　"TheAmericanyoungwomanisatpresentafactorwhichiswithoutdoubttobecountedwith，"LordDunholmputthematterwithoutlightness。"Anyyoungwomanisafactor，buttheAmericanyoungwomanjustnow——justnow————"Hepausedamomentasthoughconsidering。"Itdidnotseematallnecessarytocountwiththematfirst，whentheybegantoappearamongus。Theyweregenerallycuriouslyexotic，funnylittlecreatureswithoddmannersandvoices。Theywereoftenmostamusing，andonelikedtohearthemchatterandseetheairylightnesswithwhichtheytooksuperfluous，andsometimesunsuperfluous，conventions，asahuntertakesafive—barredgate。Butitneveroccurredtoustomarrythem。Wedidnottakethemseriouslyenough。Butwebegantomarrythem——
　　webegantomarrythem，mygoodfellow！"
　　Thefinalwordsbrokeforthwithsuchasuggestionofsuddenanxietythat，inspiteofhimself，Westholtlaughedinvoluntarily，andhisfather，turningtolookathim，laughedalso。Butherecoveredhisseriousness。
　　"Itwasallratheramuddleatfirst，"hewenton。"Thingswerenotfairlydone，andcertainbadlotslookedonitasapayingschemeontheoneside，whileitwasamatterofsilly，littleambitionsontheother。Butthatitisanextraordinarycountrythereisnosanedenying——huge，fabulouslyresourcefulineveryway——area，varietyofclimate，wealthofminerals，productsofallsorts，soiltogrowanything，andsunandrainenoughtogiveeachthingwhatitneeds；last，orratherfirst，apeoplewho，consideredasanation，areintheriotofyouth，andwhobeganbybeingEnglish——whichweEnglishmenhaveaninnocentbeliefistheonemethodof`owningtheearth。’ThatfigureofspeechisanAmericanismIcarefullycommittedtomemory。Well，afterall，lookatthemap——lookatthemap！
　　Thereweare。"
　　Theyhadfrequentlydiscussedtogetherthequestionofthedevelopmentofinternationalrelations。LordDunholm，amanoffar—reachingandclearlogic，hadrealisedthattheoddlyunaccentuatedgrowthofintercoursebetweenthetwocountriesmightbeasubjecttobereflectedonwithoutlightness。
　　"ThehabitwehaveofregardingAmericaandAmericansasratherajoke，"hehadoncesaid，"hasasortofparallelinthecondescendinglyamiableamusementofaparentattheprecocityorwhimsicalnessofachild。Butthechildisshootingupamazingly——amazingly。Inawaywhichsuggestsdiverspossibilities。"
　　TheexchangeofvisitsbetweenDunholmandStornhamhadbeenrareandformal。FromthecallmadeupontheyoungerLadyAnstruthersonhermarriage，theDunholmshadreturnedwithasenseofpuzzledpityforthelittleAmericanbride，withherwonderfulfrockandheruneasy，childisheyes。ForsomeyearsLadyAnstruthershadbeentoodelicatetomakeorreturncalls。Oneheardpainfulaccountsofherapparentwretchedill—healthandoftheconditionofherhusband’sestate。
　　"Astherelationsbetweenthetwofamilieshaveevidentlybeenstrainedforyears，"LordDunholmsaid，"itisinterestingtohearofthesuddenadventofthesister。Itseemstopointtoreconciliation。Andyousaythegirlisanunusualperson。
　　"Fromwhatonehears，shewouldbeunusualifshewereanEnglishgirlwhohadspentherlifeonanEnglishestate。
　　ThatanAmericanwhoismakingherfirstvisittoEnglandshouldseemtoseeatoncethepracticalneedsofaneglectedplaceisathingtowonderat。Whatcansheknowaboutit，onethinks。Butsheapparentlydoesknow。Theysayshehasmadenomistakes——evenwiththevillagepeople。Sheismanaging，inonewayoranother，togiveworktoeverymanwhowantsit。Result，ofcourse——unboundedrusticenthusiasm。"
　　LordDunholmlaughedbetweenthesoothingwhiffsofhiscigar。
　　"Howcleverofher！Andwhatsensiblegoodfeeling！
　　Yes——yes！Sheevidentlyhaslearnedthingssomewhere。PerhapsNewYorkhasfounditwisetobegintogiveyoungwomenprofessionaltraininginthemanagementofEnglishestates。Whoknows？Notabadidea。"
　　Itwastherusticenthusiasm，Westholtexplained，whichhadinamannerspreadherfame。Oneheardenlighteningandillustrativeanecdotesofher。Herelatedseveralwellworthhearing。Shehadevidentlyasenseofhumourandunexpectedperceptions。
　　"OnedetailofthestoryofoldDoby’smeerschaum，"
　　Westholtsaid，"pleasedmeenormously。Shemanagedtoconveytohim——withouthurtinghisagedfeelingsoroverwhelminghimwithembarrassment——thatifhepreferredacleanchurchwardenorhisoldbriarwood，heneednotfeelobligedtosmokethenewpipe。Hecouldregarditasatrophy。Now，howdidshedothatwithoutfillinghimwithfrightandconfusion，lestshemightthinkhimnotsufficientlygratefulforherpresent？
　　Buttheytellmeshedidit，andthatoldDobyisrapturouslyhappyandtakesthemeerschaumtobedwithhim，butonlysmokesitonSundays——sittingathiswindowblowinggreatcloudswhenhisneighboursarecomingfromchurch。Itwasaclevergirlwhoknewthatanoldfellowmightsecretlylikehisoldpipebest。"
　　"Itwasadeliciouslyclevergirl，"saidLordDunholm。
　　"Onewantstoknowandmakefriendswithher。Wemustdriveoverandcall。Iconfess，IrathercongratulatemyselfthatAnstruthersisnotathome。"
　　"SodoI，"Westholtanswered。"Onewondersalittlehowfarheandhissister—in—lawwill`foregather’whenhereturns。He’sanunpleasantbeggar。"
　　AfewdayslaterMrs。Brent，returningfromacallonMrs。
　　CharleyJenkins，waspassedbyacarriagewhoseliveriessherecognisedhalfwayupthevillagestreet。ItwasthecarriagefromDunholmCastle。LordandLadyDunholmandLordWestholtsatinit。Theywere，ofcourse，goingtocallattheCourt。MissVanderpoelwasbeginningtodrawpeople。Shenaturallywould。ShewouldbelikelytomakequiteadifferenceintheneighbourhoodnowthatithadheardofherandLadyAnstruthershadbeenseendrivingwithher，evidentlynolongeranunvisitableinvalid，butactuallydecentlyclothedandinherrightmind。Mrs。Brentslackenedherstepsthatshemighthavethepleasureofreceivingandrespondinggracefullytosalutationsfromtheimportantpersonagesinthelandau。ShefeltthattheDunholmswereimportant。TherewereearldomsANDearldoms，andthatofDunholmwasdignifiedandofdistinction。