"HaveyouboughtaDelkoff？"LordDunholminquired。
　　"IfIcouldhaveaffordedit，Ishouldhaveboughtone。"
　　"Ithinkthatwehavecomeherewiththeintentionofbuyingthree。WedidnotknowwerequiredthemuntilMissVanderpoelrecitedhalfapageofthecataloguetous。"
　　"Threewillmeana`rakeoff’offifteendollarstoG。
　　Selden，"saidMountDunstan。Itwas，hesaw，necessarythatheshouldexplainthemeaningofa"rakeoff，"andhedidsotohiscompanion’sentertainment。
　　Theafternoonwasasatisfactoryone。TheywereallkindtoG。Selden，andheonhispartwasanaidtothem。Inhisinnocencehesteeredthreeofthem，atleast，throughnarrowplacesintoanopenseaofeasyintercourse。Thiswasagoodbeginning。Thejuniorassistantwasrecoveringrapidly，andlookedremarkablywell。Thedoctorhadtoldhimthathemighttrytousehisleg。TheinsidecabinofthecheapLinerand"littleoldNewYork"wereloomingupbeforehim。Butwhatluckhehadhad，andwhataholiday！Ithadbeenenoughtosetafellowupfortenyears’work。Itwouldsetuptheboysmerelytobetoldaboutit。Hedidn’tknowwhatHEhadeverdonetodeservesuchluckashadhappenedtohim。FortherestofhislifehewouldhewavingtheUnionJackalongsideoftheStarsandStripes。
　　Mr。Penzanceitwaswhosuggestedthatheshouldtrythestrengthofthelegnow。
　　"Yes，"MountDunstansaid。"Letmehelpyou。"
　　Asherosetogotohim，Westholtgood—naturedlygotupalso。Theytooktheirplacesateithersideofhisinvalidchairandassistedhimtoriseandstandonhisfeet。
　　"It’sallright，gentlemen。It’sallright，"hecalledoutwithadelightedflush，whenhefoundhimselfupright。"I
　　believeIcouldstandalone。Thankyou。Thankyou。"
　　Hewasable，leaningonMountDunstan’sarm，totakeafewsteps。Evidently，inashorttime，hewouldfindhimselfnolongerdisabled。
　　Mr。Penzancehadinvitedhimtospendaweekatthevicarage。Hewastodothisassoonashecouldcomfortablydrivefromtheoneplacetotheother。AfterreceivingtheinvitationhehadsentsecretlytoLondonforoneoftheDelkoffshehadbroughtwithhimfromAmericaasaspecimen。
　　Hecherishedinprivateaplanofgentlyentertaininghishostbyteachinghimtousethemachine。ThevicarwouldthusbepreparedforthatfutureinwhichsurelyaDelkoffmustinsomewayfallintohishands。Indeed，Fortunehavingatlengthcastaneyeonhimself，mightchancetofavourhimfurther，andintimehemightbeabletosenda"high—
　　classmachine"asagratefulgifttothevicarage。PerhapsMr。Penzancewouldacceptitbecausehewouldunderstandwhatitmeantoffeelingandappreciation。
　　DuringtheafternoonLordDunholmmanagedtotalkagooddealwithMountDunstan。Therewasnoairofintentioninhismanner，neverthelessintentionwasconcealedbeneathitscourteousamiability。Hewantedtogetattheman。Beforetheypartedhefelthehad，perhaps，learnedthingsopeningupnewpointsofview……
　　Inthesmoking—roomatDunholmthatnightheandhissontalkedoftheirchanceencounter。ItseemedpossiblethatmistakeshadbeenmadeaboutMountDunstan。Onedidnotformadefiniteideaofaman’scharacterinthecourseofanafternoon，buthehimselfhadbeenimpressedbyaconvictionthattherehadbeenmistakes。
　　"Weareratherastiff—neckedlot——inthecountry——whenweallowourselvestobetakenpossessionofbyanidea，"
　　Westholtcommented。
　　"Iamnotatallproudofthewayinwhichwehavetakenthingsforgranted，"washisfather’ssummingup。"Itis，perhaps，worthobserving，"takinghiscigarfromhismouthandsmilingattheendofit，asheremovedtheash，"that，butforMissVanderpoelandG。Selden，wemightneverhavehadanopportunityoffacingthefactthatwemaynothavebeengivingfairplay。Andonehaspridedone’sselfonone’sfairplay。"
　　CHAPTERXXX
　　ARETURN
　　Atthecloseofalong，warmafternoonBettyVanderpoelcameoutuponthesquarestoneterraceoverlookingthegardens，andthatpartoftheparkwhich，enclosingthem，causedthem，astheymeltedintoitsgreenness，tolosealllimitationsandappeartobeonlyamorebloomingbitofthelandscape。
　　UponthegardenBetty’seyesdwelt，asshestoodstillforsomeminutestakingintheireffectthoughtfully。
　　Kedgershadcertainlyaccomplishedmuch。Hisclose—
　　trimmedlawnsdidhimcredit，hisflowerbedswereflushedandazured，purpledandsnowedwithbloom。Sweettallspires，hungwithblueorwhiteorrosyflowerbells，liftedtheirheadsabovethecolouroflowergrowths。Onlytheferventaffection，thefastingandprayerofaKedgerscouldhavedonesuchwonderswithnewthingsandold。Theoldoneshehadcherishedandalluredintoarenewalofexistence——
　　thenewoneshehadsocoaxedoutoftheirearthenpotsintothesoil，luxuriouslypreparedfortheirreception，andhadafterwardssonourishedandbedewedwithsoftwaterings，sosupported，watchedoverandadoredthattheyhadbeenalmostunconsciousoftheirtransplanting。Withoutassistantshecouldhavedonenothing，buthehadbeengivenasufficientnumberofundergardeners，andhadevenmanagedtoinspirethemwithsomethingofhisownambitionandsolicitude。TheresultwasbeforeBetty’seyesinanaspectwhich，tosuchasknewthegardenswell，——theDunholms，forinstance，——wasastonishinginitssuccess。
　　"I’vehadprivileges，miss，andsohavetheflowers，"
　　Kedgershadsaidwarmly，whenMissVanderpoelhadreportedtohim，forhisencouragement，DunholmCastle’spraise。
　　"Notoneof’emhaseverhadtowaitforhisfoodanddrink，nortocomplainofhisbednotbeingwhathewasaccustomedto。They’venothadtowaitforrain，forwe’vegivenitto’emfromwateringcans，and，thankgoodness，theseason’sbeenkindto’em。"
　　Betty，descendingtheterracesteps，wandereddownthepathsbetweentheflowerbeds，glancingaboutherasshewent。Theairofneglectanddesolationhadbeensweptaway。ButtleandTimSoameshadbeengivenasmanyprivilegesasKedgers。Thechiefpointsimpresseduponthemhadbeenthattheworkmustbedone，notonlythoroughly，butquickly。Asmanyadditionalworkmenastheyrequired，asmuchsolidmaterialastheyneeded，buttheremustbeadespatchwhichatfirstitstaggeredthemtocontemplate。Theyhadnotknownsuchmethodsbefore。Theyhadbeenaccustomedtoworkundermoneylimitationthroughouttheirlives，and，whenworkmustbedonewithinsufficientaid，itmustbedoneslowly。Economyhadbeenthechieffactorinallcalculations，speedhadnotenteredintothem，soleisurelinesshadbecomeafixedhabit。ButitseemedAmericantosweepleisurelinessawayintospacewithafreegesture。
　　"ItmustbedoneQUICKLY，"MissVanderpoelhadsaid。
　　"Iftenmencannotdoitquicklyenough，youmusthavetwenty——orasmanymoreasareneeded。Itistimewhichmustbesavedjustnow。"
　　Timemorethanmoney，itappeared。Buttle’sexperiencehadbeenthatyoumighttaketime，ifyoudidnotchargeforit。Whentimebegantomeanmoney，thatwasadifferentmatter。Ifyoudidworkbythejob，youmightdriveinafewnails，loiter，andreturnwithouthaste；ifyouworkedbythehour，yourabsencewouldbeinquiredinto。Inthepresentcasenoonecouldloiter。Thatwasrealisedearly。
　　Thetallgirl，withthedeepstraightlookatyou，madeyourealisethatwithoutspokenwords。Sheexpectedenergysomethinglikeherown。Shewasanewforceandspurredthem。
　　Nomanknewhowitwasdone，but，whensheappearedamongthem——evenintheafternoon——"lookin’thatwomany，"holdingupherthindressoverlacepetticoats，thelikeofwhichhadnotbeenseenbefore，shelookedonwithjustthesamestraight，expectingeyes。Theydidnotseemtodoubtintheleastthatshewouldfindthatgreatadvancehadbeenmade。
　　Soadvancehadbeenmade，andworkaccomplished。AsBettywalkedfromoneplacetoanothershesawthesignsofitwithgratification。Theplacewasnottheoneshehadcometoafewmonthsago。Hothouses，outbuildings，stableswereinrepair。Workwasstillbeingdoneindifferentplaces。
　　Inthehouseitselfcarpentersordecoratorswereenclosedinsomerooms，andattheirbusiness，butexteriororderprevailed。Inthecourtyardstablemenwereatwork，andherowngroomcameforwardtouchinghisforehead。Shepaidavisittothehorses。Theywerefinecreatures，and，whensheenteredtheirstalls，maderoomforherandwhinniedgently，inwell—foundedexpectationofsugarandbreadwhichwerekeptinacupboardawaitinghervisits。Shesmoothedvelvetnosesandpattedsatinsides，talkingtoMasonalittlebeforeshewentherway。
　　Thenshestrolledintothepark。Theparkwasalwaysapleasure。Shewasinathoughtfulmood，andthesoftgreenshadowedsilenceluredher。Thesummerwindhus—s—shedthebranchesasitlightlywavedthem，thebrownearthoftheavenuewassun—dappled，therewerebirdnotesandcallstobeheardhereandthereandeverywhere，ifoneonlyarrestedone’sattentionamomenttolisten。Andshewasinalisteninganddreamingmood——oneofthemoodsinwhichbird，leaf，andwind，sun，shade，andscentofgrowingthingshavepart。
　　Andyetherthoughtswereofmundanethings。
　　ItwasonthisavenuethatG。Seldenhadmetwithhisaccident。HewasstillatDunstanvicarage，andyesterdayMountDunstan，incalling，hadtoldthemthatMr。PenzancewasapplyinghimselfwithdelightedinteresttoastudyofthemanipulationoftheDelkoff。
　　ThethoughtofMountDunstanbroughtwithitthethoughtofherfather。Thiswasbecausetherewasfrequentlyinhermindaconnectionbetweenthetwo。Howwouldthemanofschemes，ofwealth，andpoweralmostunbounded，regardthemanbornwithaloadabouthisneck——chainedtoearthbyit，standinginthemidstofhishungeringandthirstingpossessions，hishandsemptyofwhatwouldfeedthemandrestoretheirstrength？Wouldheseeanysolutionoftheproblem？Shecouldimaginehislookingatthesituationthroughhisgazeattheman，andconsideringbothinhissummingup。
　　"Circumstancesandtheman，"shehadheardhimsay。
　　"Butalwaysthemanfirst。"
　　Beingnovisionary，hedidnotunderestimatethepowerofcircumstance。ThisBettyhadlearnedfromhim。Andwhatcouldpracticallybedonewithcircumstancesuchasthis？Thequestionhadbeguntorecurtoher。WhatcouldsheherselfhavedoneinthecareofRosyandStornham，ifchancehadnotplacedinherhandthestrongestlever？Whatshehadaccomplishedhadbeeneasy——easy。Allthathadbeenrequiredhadbeenthequalitieswhichcontrolofthelevermightitselftendtocreateinone。Given——bymerechanceagain——imaginationandinitiative，themovingoftheleverdidtherest。
　　Ifchancehadnotbeenonone’sside，whatthen？Andwherewasthisman’schance？ShehadsaidtoRosy，inspeakingofthewealthofAmerica，"Sometimesoneistiredofit。"AndRosyhadremindedherthattherewerethosewhowerenottiredofit，whocouldbearsomeoftheburdenofit，ifitmightbelaidontheirownshoulders。Thegreatbeautiful，blind—facedhouse，awaitingitsslowdoominthemidstofitslonelyunfedlands——whatcouldsaveit，andallitrepresentedofraceandname，andthestatelyhistoryofmen，butthepoweroneprofessedtocallbaseandsordid——meremoney？Shefeltasuddenimpatienceatherselfforhavingsaidshewastiredofit。Thatwasafollywhichtookuponitselftheaspectofanaffectation。
　　And，ifamancouldnotearnmoney——orgoforthtorobricherneighboursofitasinthegoodoldmaraudingdays——
　　oracceptitifitwereofferedtohimasagift——whatcouldhedo？Nothing。Ifhehadbeenbornavillagelabourer，hecouldhaveearnedbytheworkofhishandsenoughtokeephiscottageroofoverhim，andhavehelduphisheadamonghisfellows。Butforsuchashimselftherewasnomerelabourwhichwouldavail。Hehadnotthatroughhonestresource。
　　OnlythedecentlivingandorderlymanagementofthegenerationsbehindhimwouldhavelefttohimfairlyhisownchancetoholdwithdignitytheplaceintheworldintowhichFatehadthrusthimattheoutset——ablind，newbornthingofwhomnopermissionhadbeenasked。
　　"IfIbrokestonesuponthehighwayfortwelvehoursaday，Imightearntwoshillings，"hehadsaidtoBetty，onthepreviousday。"Icouldbreakstoneswell，"holdingoutabigarm，"butfourteenshillingsaweekwilldonomorethanbuybreadandbaconforastonebreaker。"
　　Hewasordinarilyrathersilentandstiffinhisconversationalattitudetowardshisownaffairs。Bettysometimeswonderedhowsheherselfknewsomuchaboutthem——howithappenedthatherthoughtssooftendweltuponthem。Theexplanationshehadoncemadetoherselfhadbeenhalfirony，halfseriousreflection。
　　"ItisaresultofthefirstReubenVanderpoel。ItisbecauseI
　　amofthefightingcommercialstock，and，whenIseeabusinessproblem，Icannotleaveitalone，evenwhenitisnoaffairofmine。"
　　Asanexpositionofthetypeofthecommercialfighting—stockshepresented，asshepausedbeneathovershadowingtrees，anaspectbeautifullysuggestingafardifferentthing。
　　Shestood——allwhitefromslimshoetotiltedparasol，——andeithertheresultofherinspectionoftheworkdonebyherorder，oracombinationofhersummer—daymoodwithherfeelingfortheproblem，hadgivenheraspecialradiance。
　　Itglowedonlipandcheek，andshoneinherIrisheyes。
　　Shehadpausedtolookatamanapproachingdowntheavenue。Hewasnotalabourer，andshedidnotknowhim。
　　Menwhowerenotlabourersusuallyrodeordrove，andthisonewaswalking。Hewasneitheryoungnorold，and，thoughatadistancehisaspectwasnotattracting，shefoundthatsheregardedhimcuriously，andwaitedforhimtodrawnearer。
　　Themanhimselfwasglancingabouthimwithapuzzledlookandknittedforehead。Whenhehadpassedthroughthevillagehehadseenthingshehadnotexpectedtosee；whenhehadreachedtheentrancegate，and——forreasonsofhisown——dismissedhisstationtrap，hehadlookedatthelodgescrutinisingly，becausehewasnotpreparedforitspicturesquetrimness。Theavenuewasfreefromweedsandinorder，thetwogatesbeyondhimwerenewandsubstantial。Ashewentonhiswayandreachedthefirst，hesawataboutahundredyardsdistanceatallgirlinwhitestandingwatchinghim。
　　Thingswhichwerenoteasilyexplainablealwaysirritatedhim。Thatthisplace——whichwashisownaffair——shouldpresentanairofmystery，didnotimprovehishumour，whichwasbadtobeginwith。Hehadlatelybeenpassingthroughunpleasantthings，whichhadlefthimfeelinghimselftrickedandmaderidiculous——asonlywomencantrickamanandmakehimridiculous，hehadsaidtohimself。Andtherehadbeenanacridconsolationinlookingforwardtothereliefofventingone’sselfonawomanwhodarenotresent。
　　"Whathashappened，confoundit！"hemuttered，whenhecaughtsightofthegirl。"Havewesetupahouseparty？"
　　Andthen，ashesawmoredistinctly，"Damn！Whatafigure！"
　　BythistimeBettyherselfhadbeguntoseemoreclearly。
　　Surelythiswasafacesheremembered——thoughthepassingofyearsanduglylivinghadthickenedandblurred，somewhat，itsalwaysheavyfeatures。Suddenlysheknewit，andthelookinitseyes——thelookshehad，asachild，unreasoninglyhated。
　　NigelAnstruthershadreturnedfromhisprivateholiday。
　　Asshetookafewquietstepsforwardtomeethim，theireyesrestedoneachother。Afteranightortwointownhiswereslightlybloodshot，andthelightinthemwasnotagreeable。
　　Itwashewhospokefirst，anditispossiblethathedidnotquiteintendtousetheexpletivewhichbrokefromhim。
　　Buthewasrememberingthingsalso。Herewereeyeshe，too，hadseenbefore——twelveyearsagointhefaceofanobjectionable，long—leggedchildinNewYork。Andhisownhatredofthemhadbeenfoundedinhisownopiniononthebestofreasons。Andheretheygazedathimfromthefaceofayoungbeauty——forabeautyshewas。
　　"Damnit！"heexclaimed；"itisBetty。"
　　"Yes，"sheanswered，withafaint，butentirelycourteous，smile。"Itis。Ihopeyouareverywell。"
　　Sheheldoutherhand。"Adelicioushand，"waswhathesaidtohimself，ashetookit。Andwhateyesforagirltohaveinherheadwerethosewhichlookedoutathimbetweenshadows。Wasthereahintofthedevilinthem？Hethoughtso——hehopedso，sinceshehaddescendedontheplaceinthisway。ButWHATthedevilwasthemeaningofherbeingonthespotatall？Hewas，however，farbeyondthelackofastutenesswhichmighthavepermittedhimtoexpressthislastthoughtatthisparticularjuncture。Hewasonlybetrayedintostupidmistakes，afterwardstoberegretted，whenragecausedhimutterlytolosecontrolofhiswits。And，thoughhewasstartledandnotexactlypleased，hewasnotinaragenow。Theeyelashesandthefiguregaveanagreeablefilliptohishumour。Howsoevershehadcome，shewasworthlookingat。
　　"Howcouldoneexpectsuchadelightfulthingasthis？"
　　hesaid，withatouchofironicamiability。"Itismorethanonedeserves。"
　　"Itisverypoliteofyoutosaythat，"answeredBetty。
　　Hewasthinkingrapidlyashestoodandgazedather。Therewere，intruth，manythingstothinkofundercircumstancessounexpected。
　　"MayIaskyoutoexcusemystaringatyou？"heinquiredwithwhatRosyhadcalledhis"awful，agreeablesmile。"
　　"WhenIsawyoulastyouwereafiercenine—year—oldAmericanchild。Iusetheword`fierce’because——ifyou’llpardonmysayingso——therewasacertainferocityaboutyou。"
　　"Ihavelearnedatvariouseducationalinstitutionstoconcealit，"smiledBetty。
　　"MayIaskwhenyouarrived？"
　　"Ashorttimeafteryouwentabroad。"
　　"Rosaliedidnotinformmeofyourarrival。"
　　"Shedidnotknowyouraddress。Youhadforgottentoleaveit。"
　　Hehadmadeamistakeandrealisedit。Butshepresentedtohimnoairofhavingobservedhisslip。Hepausedafewseconds，stillregardingherandstillthinkingrapidly。Herecalledthemendedwindowsandroofsandpalingsinthevillage，theparkgatesandentrance。Whothedevilhaddoneallthat？
　　Howcouldamerehandsomegirlbeconcernedinit？Andyet——hereshewas。
　　"WhenIdrovethroughthevillage，"hesaidnext，"Isawthatsomeremarkablechangeshadtakenplaceonmyproperty。
　　Ifeelasifyoucanexplainthemtome。"
　　"Ihopetheyarechangeswhichmeetwithyourapproval。"
　　"Quite——quite，"alittlecurtly。"ThoughIconfesstheymystifyme。ThoughIamtheson—in—lawofanAmericanmultimillionaire，Icouldnotaffordtomakesuchrepairsmyself。"
　　Acertainsmallspitefulnesswhichwashismostfrequentundoingmadeitimpossibleforhimtoresistaddingtheinnuendoinhislastsentence。Andagainhesawitwasafolly。Theimpersonaltoneofherreplysimplylefthimwherehehadplacedhimself。
　　"Weweresorrynottobeabletoreachyou。Asitseemedwelltobegintheworkatonce，weconsultedMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppard。"
　　"We？"herepeated。"AmItohavethepleasure，"withaslightwrynessofthemouth，"offindingMr。VanderpoelalsoatStornham？"
　　"No——notyet。AsIwasonthespot，Isawyoursolicitorsandaskedtheiradviceandapproval——formyfather。Ifhehadknownhownecessarytheworkwas，itwouldhavebeendonebefore，forUghtred’ssake。"
　　Hervoicewasthatofapersonwho，instatingobviousfacts，providesnoapproachtoenlighteningcommentuponthem。
　　Andtherewasinhermannerthemerestgraciousimpersonality。
　　"DoIunderstandthatMr。Vanderpoelemployedsomeonetovisittheplaceanddirectthework？"
　　"Itwasreallynotdifficulttodirect。Itwasmerelyamatterofengaginglabourandcompetentforemen。"
　　Anoddexpressionroseinhiseyes。
　　"Yousuggestanovelidea，uponmyword，"hesaid。"Isitpossible——youseeIknowsomethingofAmerica——isitpossibleImustthankYOUfortheworkingofthismagic？"
　　"Youneednotthankme，"shesaid，ratherslowly，becauseitwasnecessarythatshealsoshouldthinkofmanythingsatonce。"Icouldnothavehelpeddoingit。"
　　ShewishedtomakeallcleartohimbeforehemetRosy。
　　SheknewitwasnotunnaturalthattheunexpectednessofhisappearancemightdepriveLadyAnstruthersofpresenceofmind。Instincttoldherthatwhatwasneededinintercoursewithhimwas，aboveallthings，presenceofmind。
　　"Iwilltellyouaboutit，"shesaid。"Wewillwalkslowlyupanddownhere，ifyoudonotobject。"
　　Hedidnotobject。Hewantedtohearthestoryashecouldnothearitfromhisnervouslittlefoolofawife，whowouldbefrightenedintoforgettingthingsandtheirsequence。Whathemeanttodiscoverwaswherehestoodinthematter——wherehisfather—in—lawstood，and，ratherspecially，tohaveachancetosumuptheweaknessesandstrengthsofthenewarrival。
　　Thatwouldbetohisinterest。Intalkingthisthingovershewouldunconsciouslyrevealhowmuchvanityoremotionorinexperiencehemightcountuponasfactorssafetouseinone’sdealingswithherinthefuture。
　　Ashelistenedhewassupportedbythefactthathedidnotloseconsciousnessoftheeyesandthefigure。Butfortheseitisprobablethathewouldhavegoneblindwithfuryatcertainpointswhichforcedthemselvesuponhim。Thefirstwasthattherehadbeenanabsurdandimmenseexpenditurewhichwouldsimplybenefithissonandnothimself。Hecouldnotsellorborrowmoneyonwhathadbeengiven。Apparentlytheplacehadbeenre—establishedonafootingsuchasithadnotresteduponduringhisowngeneration，orhisfather’s。Asheloathedlifeinthecountry，itwasnothewhowouldenjoyitsluxury，buthiswifeandherchild。Thesecondpointwasthatthesepeople——thisgirl——hadsomehowhadthesharpnesstoputthemselvesintheright，andtoplacehiminapositionatwhichhecouldnotcomplainwithoutputtinghimselfinthewrong。Publicopinionwouldsaythatbenefitshadbeenheapeduponhim，thatthecorrectthinghadbeendonecorrectlywiththeknowledgeandapprovalofthelegaladvisersofhisfamily。
　　Ithadbeenamasterlything，thatvisittoTownlinson&
　　Sheppard。Hewasobligedtoaidhisself—controlbyaglanceattheeyelashes。Shewasanewsortofgirl，thisBetty，whosechildhoodhehadloathed，and，tohisjadedtaste，noveltyappealedenormously。Herattractionforhimwasalsoaddedtobythefactthathewasnotatallsurethattherewasnotcombinedwithitapungentspiceoftheolddetestation。Hewasrepelledaswellasallured。Sherepresentedthingswhichhehated。First，themerematerialpower，whichnomancanbully，whatsoeverhishumour。Itwasthepowerhemostlongedforand，ashecouldnothopetopossessit，mostsneeredatandragedagainst。Also，asshetalked，itwasplainthatherhabitofself—controlandhersenseofresourcewouldbedifficulttodealwith。Hewasasurvivalofthetypeofmanwhosesimplecreedwasthatwomenshouldnotpossessresources，aswhentheypossessedthemtheycouldrarelybemadetobehavethemselves。
　　Butwhilehethoughtthesethings，hewalkedbyhersideandbothlistenedandtalkedsmilingtheagreeablesmile。
　　"Youwillpardonmydullbewilderment，"hesaid。"Itisnotunnatural，isit——inamereoutsider？"
　　AndBetty，withthebeautifulimpersonalsmile，said：
　　"Wefeltitsounfortunatethatevenyoursolicitorsdidnotknowyouraddress。"
　　When，atlength，theyturnedandstrolledtowardsthehouse，acarriagewasdrawingupbeforethedoor，andatthesightofit，Bettysawhercompanionslightlylifthiseyebrows。LadyAnstruthershadbeenoutandwasreturning。Thegroomgotdownfromthebox，andtwomen—servantsappeareduponthesteps。LadyAnstruthersdescended，laughingalittleasshetalkedtoUghtred，whohadbeenwithher。Shewasdressedinclear，palegrey，andthesoftroseliningofherparasolwarmedthecolourofherskin。
　　SirNigelpausedasecondandputuphisglass。
　　"Isthatmywife？"hesaid。"Really！ShequiterecallsNewYork。"
　　Theagreeablesmilewasonhislipsashehastenedforward。
　　HealwaysmoreorlessenjoyedcominguponRosaliesuddenly。
　　Theobviousresultwasapleasingtributetohispower。
　　Betty，followinghim，sawwhatoccurred。
　　Ughtredsawhimfirst，andspokequickandlow。
　　"Mother！"hesaid。