Thetoneofhisvoicewasevidentlyenough。LadyAnstruthersturnedwithanunmistakablestart。Theroseliningofherparasolceasedtowarmhercolour。Infact，theparasolitselfsteppedaside，andshestoodwithablank，stiff，whiteface。
　　"MydearRosalie，"saidSirNigel，goingtowardsher。
　　"Youdon’tlookverygladtoseeme。"
　　Hebentandkissedherquitewiththeairofadevotedhusband。Knowingwhatthecaressmeant，andseeingRosy’sfaceasshesubmittedtoit，Bettyfeltrathercold。AftertheconjugalgreetingheturnedtoUghtred。
　　"Youlookremarkablywell，"hesaid。
　　Bettycameforward。
　　"Wemetinthepark，Rosy，"sheexplained。"Wehavebeentalkingtoeachotherforhalfanhour。"
　　TheatmospherewhichhadsurroundedherduringthelastthreemonthshaddonemuchforLadyAnstruthers’nerves。
　　Shehadthepowertorecoverherself。SirNigelhimselfsawthiswhenshespoke。
　　"IwasstartledbecauseIwasnotexpectingtoseeyou，"shesaid。"IthoughtyouwerestillontheRiviera。Ihopeyouhadapleasantjourneyhome。"
　　"Ihadanextraordinarilypleasantsurpriseinfindingyoursisterhere，"heanswered。Andtheywentintothehouse。
　　Indescendingthestaircaseonhiswaytothedrawing—roombeforedinner，SirNigelglancedabouthimwithinterestedcuriosity。Ifthevillagehadbeenputinorder，somethingmorehadbeendonehere。Rememberingthewornrugsandthebald—
　　headedtiger，heliftedhisbrows。Toleaveone’shouseinastateofresigneddilapidationandreturntofinditfilledwithallsuchthingsascomfortcombinedwithexcellenttastemightdemand，wasanenliveningexperience——orwouldhavebeensoundersomecircumstances。Asmattersstood，perhaps，hemighthavefeltbetterpleasedifthingshadbeenlesswelldone。Buttheywereverywelldone。Theyhadmanagedtoputthemselvesintherightinthisalso。Therichsobrietyofcolourandformleftnoopeningforsuperciliouscomment——whichwasaneatweaponitwasannoyingtoberobbedof。
　　Thedrawing—roomwasfresh，brightlycharming，andfullofflowers。Bettywasstandingbeforeanopenwindowwithhersister。Hiswife’sshoulders，heobservedatonce，hadabsolutelybeguntosuggestcontours。Atallevents，herbonesnolongerstuckout。Butonedidnotlookatone’swife’sshoulderswhenonecouldturnfromthemtoafairnessofvelvetandivory。"Youknow，"hesaid，approachingthem，"Ifindallthisveryamazing。Ihavebeenlookingoutofmywindowontothegardens。"
　　"ItisBettywhohasdoneitall，"saidRosy。
　　"Ididnotsuspectyouofdoingit，mydearRosalie，"smiling。
　　"WhenIsawBettystandingintheavenue，Iknewatoncethatitwasshewhohadmendedthechimney—potsinthevillageandrehungthegates。"
　　Forthepresent，atleast，itwasevidentthathemeanttobesufficientlyamiable。Atthedinnertablehewasconversationalandaskedmanyquestions，professinganaturalinterestinwhathadbeendone。Itwasnotdifficulttotalktoagirlwhoseeyesandshoulderscombinedthemselveswithaquickwitandapowertoattractwhichhereluctantlyownedhehadneverseenequalled。Hisreluctancearosefromthefactthatsuchapowercomplicatedmatters。Hemustbeonthedefensiveuntilheknewwhatshewasgoingtodo，whathemustdohimself，andwhatresultswereprobableorpossible。Hehadspenthislifeinintrigueofoneorderoranother。Heenjoyedoutwittingpeopleandratherpreferredtoattainanendbydeviouspaths。Hebeganeveryacquaintanceonthedefensive。
　　Hisargumentwasthatyouneverknewhowthingswouldturnout，consequently，itwasaswelltoconductone’sselfattheoutsetwiththediscreetforethoughtofamaninthepresenceofanenemy。HedidnotknowhowthingswouldturnoutinBetty’scase，anditwasalittleconfusingtofindone’sselfwatchingherwithasenseofexcitement。Hewouldhavepreferredtobecool——tobecold——andherealisedthathecouldnotkeephiseyesoffher。
　　"Iremember，withregret，"hesaidtoherlaterintheevening，"thatwhenyouwereachildwewereenemies。"
　　"Iamafraidwewere，"wasBetty’simpartialanswer。
　　"Iamsureitwasmyfault，"hesaid。"Prayforgetit。
　　Sinceyouhaveaccomplishedsuchwonders，willyounot，inthemorning，takemeabouttheplaceandexplaintomehowithasbeendone？"
　　WhenBettywenttoherroomshedismissedhermaidassoonaspossible，andsatforsometimealoneandwaiting。ShehadhadnoopportunitytospeaktoRosyinprivate，andshewassureshewouldcometoher。Inthecourseofhalfanhoursheheardaknockatthedoor。
　　Yes，itwasRosy，andhernewly—borncolourhadfledandleftherlookingdraggedagain。ShecameforwardanddroppedintoalowchairnearBetty，lettingherfacefallintoherhands。
　　"I’mverysorry，Betty，"shehalfwhispered，"butitisnouse。"
　　"Whatisnouse？"Bettyasked。
　　"Nothingisanyuse。Alltheseyearshavemademesuchacoward。IsupposeIalwayswasacoward，butintheolddaysthereneverwasanythingtobeafraidof。"
　　"Whatareyoumostafraidofnow？"
　　"Idon’tknow。Thatistheworst。IamafraidofHIM——
　　justofhimself——ofthelookinhiseyes——ofwhathemaybeplanningquietly。Mystrengthdiesawaywhenhecomesnearme。"
　　"Whathashesaidtoyou？"sheasked。
　　"Hecameintomydressing—roomandsatandtalked。Helookedaboutfromonethingtoanotherandpretendedtoadmireitallandcongratulatedme。Butthoughhedidnotsneeratwhathesaw，hiseyesweresneeringatme。Hetalkedaboutyou。Hesaidthatyouwereaverycleverwoman。Idon’tknowhowhemanagestoimplythataverycleverwomanissomethingcunninganddebased——butitmeansthatwhenhesaysit。
　　Itseemstoinsinuatethingswhichmakeonegrowhotallover。"
　　SheputoutahandandcaughtoneofBetty’s。
　　"Betty，Betty，"sheimplored。"Don’tmakehimangry。Don’t。"
　　"Iamnotgoingtobeginbymakinghimangry，"Bettysaid。"AndIdonotthinkhewilltrytomakemeangry——atfirst。"
　　"No，hewillnot，"criedRosalie。"And——andyourememberwhatItoldyouwhenfirstwetalkedabouthim？"
　　"Anddoyouremember，"wasBetty’sanswer，"whatIsaidtoyouwhenIfirstmetyouinthepark？IfweweretocabletoNewYorkthismoment，wecouldreceiveananswerinafewhours。"
　　"Hewouldnotletusdoit，"saidRosy。"Hewouldstopusinsomeway——ashestoppedmyletterstomother——ashestoppedmewhenItriedtorunaway。Oh，Betty，Iknowhimandyoudonot。"
　　"Ishallknowhimbettereveryday。ThatiswhatImustdo。Imustlearntoknowhim。Hesaidsomethingmoretoyouthanyouhavetoldme，Rosy。Whatwasit？"
　　"HewaiteduntilDetchamleftme，"LadyAnstruthersconfessed，morethanhalfreluctantly。"Andthenhegotuptogoaway，andstoodwithhishandsrestingonthechairback，andspoketomeinalow，queervoice。Hesaid，`Don’ttrytoplayanytricksonme，mygoodgirl——anddon’tletyoursistertrytoplayany。Youwouldbothhavereasontoregretit。’"
　　Shewasahalf—hypnotisedthing，andBetty，watchingherwithcuriousbuttendereyes，recognisedtheabnormality。
　　"Ah，ifIamacleverwoman，"shesaid，"heisacleverman。Heisbeginningtoseethathispowerisslippingaway。
　　ThatwaswhatG。Seldenwouldcall`bluff。’"
　　CHAPTERXXXI
　　NO，SHEWOULDNOT
　　SirNigeldidnotinviteRosalietoaccompanythem，whenthenextmorning，afterbreakfast，heremindedBettyofhissuggestionofthenightbefore，thatsheshouldwalkovertheplacewithhim，andshowhimwhathadbeendone。Hepreferredtomakehisstudyofhissister—in—lawundisturbed。
　　Therewasnodetailwhosesignificancehemissedastheywentabouttogether。Hehadkeeneyesandwasaquitesufficientlypracticalpersononsuchmattersasconcernedhisowninterests。Inthiscaseitwastohisinteresttomakeuphismindastowhathemightgainorlosebytheappearanceofhiswife’sfamily。Hedidnotmeantolose——ifitcouldbehelped——
　　anythingeitherofpersonalimportanceormaterialbenefit。Anditcouldonlybehelpedbyhiscomprehendingclearlywhathehadtodealwith。Bettywas，atpresent，thechieffactorinthesituation，andhewassufficientlyastutetoseethatshemightnotbeeasytoread。Hispersonaltheoriesconcerningwomenpresentedtohimtwoorthreeeffectivewaysofmanagingthem。
　　Youmadelovetothem，youflatteredthemeithersubtlyorgrossly，youroughlyorsmoothlybulliedthem，oryouharrowedthemwithhaughtyindifference——ifyourlove—makinghadproduceditspropereffect——whenitwasnecessarytolureordriveortrickthemintosubmission。Womenshouldbemadeusefulinonewayoranother。Littlefoolasshewas，Rosaliehadbeenuseful。Hehad，afterallwassaidanddone，hadsomecomparativelyeasyyearsastheresultofherexistence。Butshehadnotbeenusefulenough，andtherehadevenbeenmomentswhenhehadwonderedifhehadmadeamistakeinseparatingherentirelyfromherfamily。Theremighthavebeenmoretobegainedifhehadallowedthemtovisitherandhadplayedthepartofadevotedhusbandintheirpresence。Agreatbore，ofcourse，buttheycouldnothavespenttheirentirelivesatStornham。Twelveyearsago，however，hehadknownverylittleofAmericans，andhehadlosthistemper。Hewasreallyveryfondofhistemper，andratherenjoyedreferringtoitwithtolerantregretasbeingabadoneandbeyondhiscontrol——withamannerwhichsuggestedthattheattributewastheinevitableresultofstrengthofcharacterandmasculinespirit。Theluxuryofgivingwaytoitwasagreatone，anditwasexasperatingashewalkedaboutwiththishandsomegirltofindhimselfbeginningtosuspectthat，whereshewasconcerned，someself—
　　controlmightbenecessary。Hewasledtothisthoughtbecausethethingshetookinonallsidescouldonlyhavebeenachievedbyapersonwhosemindwasasteadily—balancedthing。Inone’streatmentofsuchacreature，methodsmustbewellchosen。
　　ThecrudesthadsufficedtooverwhelmRosalie。Hetriedtwoorthreelittlethingsasexperimentsduringtheirwalk。
　　ThefirstwastotouchwithdignifiedpathosonthesubjectofUghtred。Betty，heintimatedgently，couldimaginewhataman’sgriefanddisappointmentmightbeonfindinghissonandheirdeformedinsuchamanner。ThedelicatereservewithwhichhemanagedtoconveyhisfearthatRosalie’sownuncontrolledhystericattackshadbeenthecauseofthemisfortunewasverywelldone。Shehad，ofcourse，beenveryyoungandmuchspoiled，andhadnotlearnedself—restraint，poorgirl。
　　ItwasatthispointthatBettyfirstrealisedacertainhideousthing。Shemustactuallyremainsilent——therewouldbeattheoutsetmanytimeswhenshecouldonlyprotecthersisterbyrefrainingfromeitherdenialorargument。Ifsheturneduponhimnowwithrefutation，itwasRosywhowouldbecalledupontobeartheconsequences。HewouldgoatoncetoRosy，andsheherselfwouldhavedonewhatshehadsaidshewouldnotdo——shewouldhavebroughttroubleuponthepoorgirlbeforeshewasstrongenoughtobearit。Shesuspectedalsothathisintentionwastodiscoverhowmuchshehadheard，andifshemightbegoadedintobetrayingherattitudeinthematter。
　　Butshewasnottobesogoaded。Hewatchedhercloselyandherverycolouritselfseemedtobeunderherowncontrol。
　　Hehadexpected——ifshehadheardhysteric，garbledstoriesfromhiswife——toseeaflameofscarletleapuponthecheekhewasadmiring。Therewasnosuchleap，whichwasbafflinginitself。CoulditbethatexperiencehadtaughtRosaliethediscretionofkeepinghermouthshut？
　　"IamveryfondofUghtred，"wasthesolecommenthewasgranted。"Wemadefriendsfromthefirst。Ashegrowsolderandstronger，hismisfortunemaybelessapparent。Hewillbeaverycleverman。"
　　"Hewillbeaveryclevermanifheisatalllike————"Hecheckedhimselfwithaslightmovementofhisshoulders。"I
　　wasgoingtosayathingutterlybanal。Ibegyourpardon。I
　　forgotforthemomentthatIwasnottalkingtoanEnglishgirl。"
　　Itwassostupidthatsheturnedandlookedathim，smilingfaintly。Butheranswerwasquitemildandsoft。
　　"DonotdeprivemeofcomplimentsbecauseIamamereAmerican，"
　　shesaid。"Iamveryfondofthem，andrespondatonce。"
　　"Youareverydaring，"hesaid，lookingstraightintohereyes——"deliciouslyso。Americanwomenalwaysare，Ithink。"
　　"Theyoungdevil，"hewassayinginternally。"Thebeautifulyoungdevil！Shethrowsoneoffthetrack。"
　　Hefoundhimselfmoreandmoreattractedandexasperatedastheymadetheirrounds。Itwashissenseofbeingattractedwhichwasthecauseofhisexasperation。Agirlwhocouldstironelikethiswouldbeadangerousenemy。Evenasafriendshewouldnotbesafe，becauseonefacedtheabsurdperiloflosingone’sheadalittleandforgettingtheprecautionsoneshouldneverlosesightofwhereawomanwasconcerned——theprecautionswhichprovidedforone’sholdingagoodtautreininone’sownhands。
　　Theywentfromgardenstogreenhouses，fromgreenhousestostables，andhewasonthewatchforthemomentwhenshewouldrevealsomelittlefeminineposeorvanity，but，thismorning，atleast，shelaidnonebare。Shedidnotstrikehimasabeingofangelicperfections，butshewasverymodernandnotlikelytoshoweasilyanyopeningsinherarmour。
　　"Ofcourse，Icontinuetobeamazed，"hecommented，"thoughoneoughtnottobeamazedatanythingwhichevolvesfromyourextraordinarycountry。Inspiteofyourimpersonalair，Ishallpersistinregardingyouasmybenefactor。But，tobefrank，IalwaystoldRosaliethatifshewouldwritetoyourfatherhewouldcertainlyputthingsinorder。"
　　"Shedidwriteonce，youwillremember，"answeredBetty。
　　"Didshe？"withcourteousvagueness。"Really，IamafraidIdidnothearofit。Mypoorwifehasherownlittleideasaboutthedisposalofherincome。"
　　AndBettyknewthatshewasexpectedtobelievethatRosyhadhoardedthemoneysenttorestoretheplace，andfromsheerweakmiserlinesshadallowedherson’sheritagetofalltoruin。AndbutforRosy’ssake，shemighthavestoppeduponthepathand，lookingathimsquarely，havesaid，"Youarelyingtome。AndIknowthetruth。"
　　Hecontinuedtoconverseamiably。
　　"Ofcourse，itisyouonemustthank，notonlyforrousinginthepoorgirlsomeinterestinherpersonalappearance，butalsosomeinterestinherneighbours。Somewomen，aftertheymarryandpassgirlhood，seemtoreleasetheirholdonalldesiretoattractorretainfriends。ForyearsRosaliehasgivenherselfuptoachronicsemi—invalidism。Whenthemistressofahouseisalwaysdepressedandlanguidanddoesnotreturnvisits，neighboursbecomediscouragedanddropoff，asitwere。"
　　Ifhiswifehadtoldstoriestogainhersympathyhiscompanionwouldbesuretolosehertemperandshowherhand。Ifhecouldmakeheropenlylosehertemper，hewouldhavemadeanadvance。
　　"Onecanquiteunderstandthat，"shesaid。"ItisagreathappinesstometoseeRosygaininggroundeveryday。Shehastakenmeoutwithheragoodmanytimes，andpeoplearebeginningtorealisethatshelikestoseethematStornham。"
　　"Youareverydelightful，"hesaid，"withyour`Shehastakenmeout。’WhenIglancedatthemagnificentarrayofcardsonthesalverinthehall，Irealisedanumberofthings，andquitevulgarlylostmybreath。TheDunholmshavebeenveryamiableinrecallingourexistence。ButcharmingAmericans——ofyourorder——arouseamiableemotions。"
　　"Iamveryamiablemyself，"saidBetty。
　　Itwashewhoflushednow。Hewaslosingpatienceatfeelinghimselfheldwithsuchlightnessatarm’slength，andatbeing，inspiteofhimself，somehowcompelledtocontinuetoassumeajocularcourtesy。
　　"No，youarenot，"heanswered。
　　"Not？"repeatedBetty，withanincredulousliftingofherbrows。
　　"Youarecharmingandclever，butIrathersuspectyouofbeingavixen。Atalleventsyouareaspiritedyoungwomanandquick—wittedenoughtounderstandtheattractionyoumusthaveforthesordidherd。"
　　Andthenhebecameaware——ifnotofanopeninginherarmour——atleastofajointinit。Forhesaw，nearherear，adeepeningwarmth。Thatwasit。Shewasquick—witted，andshehidsomewhereahotpride。
　　"Iconfess，however，"heproceededcheerfully，"thatnotwithstandingmyownexperienceofthehabitsofthesordidherd，IsawonecardIwassurprisedtofind，thoughreally"
　　——shrugginghisshoulders——"Ioughttohavebeenlesssurprisedtofinditthantofindanyother。Butitwasbold。I
　　supposethefellowisdesperate。"
　　"Youarespeakingof————？"suggestedBetty。
　　"OfMountDunstan。Hangitall，itWASbold！"Asifinhalf—amuseddisgust。
　　Asshehadwalkedthroughthegardenpaths，Bettyhadatintervalsbentandgatheredaflower，untilsheheldinonehandaloose，fairsheaf。Atthismomentshestoopedtobreakoffaspireofpalebluecampanula。Andshewas——aswithashock——struckwithaconsciousnessthatshebentbecauseshemust——
　　becausetodosowasarefuge——aconcealmentofsomethingshemusthide。Ithadcomeuponherwithoutasecond’swarning。
　　SirNigelwasright。Shewasavixen——avirago。Shewasinsucharagethatherheartsprangupanddownandhercheekandeyeswereonfire。Herlong—trainedcontrolofherselfwasgone。Andhershockwasalightning—swiftawakeningtothefactthatshefeltallthis——shemusthideherface——becauseitwasthisoneman——justthisoneandnoother——whowasbeingdraggedintothisthingwithinsult。
　　Itwasanawakening，andshebrokeoff，ratherslowly，one——
　　two——three——evenfourcampanulastemsbeforeshestooduprightagain。
　　AsforNigelAnstruthers——hewentontalkinginhislow—
　　pitched，disgustedvoice。
　　"Surelyhemightcounthimselfoutoftherunning。Therewillbeagooddealofrunning，mydearBetty。YoufairAmericanshavelearnedthatbythistime。Butthatamanwhohasnotevenadecentnametooffer——whoisblackballedbyhiscounty——shouldcoollypresenthimselfasapretendantisaninsolenceheshouldbekickedfor。"
　　Bettyarrangedhercampanulascarefully。TherewasnoexteriorreasonwhysheshoulddrawswordinLordMountDunstan’sdefence。Hehadcertainlynotseemedtoexpectanythingintimatelyinterestedfromher。Hismannershehadgenerallyfelttoberatherrestrained。Butonecould，inameasure，expressone’sself。
　　"Whatsoeverthe`running，’"sheremarked，"nopretendanthascomplimentedmebypresentinghimself，sofar——andLordMountDunstanisphysicallyanunusuallystrongman。"
　　"Youmeanitwouldbedifficulttokickhim？Isthispartisanship？Ihopenot。AmItounderstand，"headdedwithdeliberation，"thatRosaliehasreceivedhimhere？"
　　"Yes。"
　　"Andthatyouhavereceivedhim，also——asyouhavereceivedLordWestholt？"
　　"Quite。"
　　"ThenImustdiscussthematterwithRosalie。Itisnottobediscussedwithyou。"
　　"Youmeanthatyouwillexerciseyourauthorityinthematter？"
　　"InEngland，mydeargirl，themasterofahouseisstillsometimesguiltyofexercisingauthorityinmatterswhichconcernthereputationofhisfemalerelatives。Intheabsenceofyourfather，Ishallnotallowyou，whileyouareundermyroof，toendangeryournameinanydegree。Iam，atleast，yourbrotherbymarriage。Iintendtoprotectyou。"
　　"Thankyou，"saidBetty。
　　"Youareyoungandextremelyhandsome，youwillhaveanenormousfortune，andyouhaveevidentlyhadyourownwayallyourlife。Agirl，suchasyouare，mayeithermakeamagnificentmarriageoraridiculousandhumiliatingone。
　　NeitherAmericanyoungwomen，norEnglishyoungmen，areasdisinterestedastheyweresomeyearsago。Eachhasbeguntolearnwhattheotherhastogive。"
　　"Ithinkthatistrue，"commentedBetty。
　　"Insomecasesthereisagooddealtobeexchangedonbothsides。Youhaveagreatdealtogive，andshouldgetexchangeworthaccepting。Abeggaredestateandataintedtitlearenotgoodenough。"
　　"Thatisbusinesslike，"Bettymadecommentagain。
　　SirNigellaughedquietly。
　　"Thefactis——Ihopeyouwon’tmisunderstandmysayingit——youdonotstrikemeasbeingUN—businesslike，yourself。"
　　"Iamnot，"answeredBetty。
　　"Ithoughtnot，"rathernarrowinghiseyesashewatchedher，becausehebelievedthatshemustinvoluntarilyshowherhandifheirritatedhersufficiently。"Youdonotimpressmeasbeingoneofthegirlswhomakeunsuccessfulmarriages。
　　YouareamodernNewYorkbeauty——notanearlyVictoriansentimentalist。"Hedidnotdespairofresultsfromhisprocessofirritation。Togentlybutsteadilyconveytoabeautifulandspiritedyoungcreaturethatnomancouldapproachherwithoutulteriormotivewasratheragoodidea。Ifonecouldmakeitclear——withacasualairofsensiblytakingitforgranted——
　　thatthenaturalpowerofyouth，wit，andbeautywererenderedimpotentbyagreatnessoffortunewhoseproportionsobliteratedallelse；ifonesimplyarguedfromthepremisethatyounglovewasnoaffairofhers，sinceshemustalwaysberegardedasagildedchattel，whosecostwaswritlargeinplainfigures，whatgirl，withbloodinherveins，couldendureitlongwithoutwincing？Thisgirlhadundue，and，asheregardedsuchmatters，unseemlycontroloverhertemperandhernerves，butshehadbloodenoughinherveins，andpresentlyshewouldsayordosomethingwhichwouldgivehimalead。
　　"Whenyoumarry————"hebegan。
　　Sheliftedherheaddelicately，butendedthesentenceforhimwitheyeswhichwereactuallynotunsmiling。
　　"WhenImarry，IshallasksomethinginexchangeforwhatIhavetogive。"
　　"Iftheexchangeistobeequal，youmustaskagreatdeal，"
　　heanswered。"ThatiswhyyoumustbeprotectedfromsuchfellowsasMountDunstan。"
　　"Ifitbecomesnecessary，perhapsIshallbeabletoprotectmyself，"shesaid。
　　"Ah！"regretfully，"IamafraidIhaveannoyedyou——
　　andthatyouneedprotectionmorethanyoususpect。"Ifshewerefleshandblood，shecouldscarcelyresistresentingtheimplicationcontainedinthis。Butresistitshedid，andwithacoollittlesmilewhichstirredhimtosudden，ifirritated，admiration。
　　Shepausedasecond，andusedthetouchofgentleregretherself。
　　"Youhavewoundedmyvanitybyintimatingthatmyadmirersdonotlovemeformyselfalone。"
　　Hepaused，also，and，narrowinghiseyesagain，lookedstraightbetweenherlashes。
　　"Theyoughttoloveyouforyourselfalone，"hesaid，inalowvoice。"Youareadeucedlyattractivegirl。"
　　"Oh，Betty，"Rosyhadpleaded，"don’tmakehimangry——don’tmakehimangry。"
　　SoBettyliftedhershouldersslightlywithoutcomment。
　　"Shallwegobacktothehousenow？"shesaid。"Rosaliewillnaturallybeanxioustohearthatwhathasbeendoneinyourabsencehasmetwithyourapproval。"
　　InwhatmannerhisapprovalwasexpressedtoRosalie，Bettydidnothearthismorning，atleast。Externallycoolthoughshehadappeared，theprocesshadnotbeenwithoutitsresults，andshefeltthatshewouldprefertobealone。
　　"Imustwritesomeletterstocatchthenextsteamer，"
　　shesaid，asshewentupstairs。
　　Whensheenteredherroom，shewenttoherwritingtableandsatdown，withpenandpaperbeforeher。Shedrewthepapertowardsherandtookupthepen，butthenextmomentshelaiditdownandgaveaslightpushtothepaper。Asshedidsosherealisedthatherhandtrembled。
　　"Imustnotletmyselfformthehabitoffallingintorages——orIshallnotbeabletokeepstillsomeday，whenIoughttodoit，"shewhispered。"Iaminafury——afury。"
　　Andforamomentshecoveredherface。
　　Shewasastronggirl，butagirl，notwithstandingherpowers。Whatshesuddenlysawwasthat，asifbyonemovementofsomepowerfulunseenhand，Rosy，whohadbeenthecentreofallthings，hadbeensweptoutofherthought。HerangerattheinjusticedonetoRosyhadbeenasnothingbeforethefirewhichhadflamedinherattheinsultflungattheother。Andallthatwasundueandunbalanced。Onemightaswelllookthethingstraightlyintheface。HeroldchildhatredofNigelAnstruthershadsprungupagaininten—foldstrength。Therewas，itwastrue，somethingabominableabouthim，somethingwhichmadehiswordsmoreabominablethantheywouldhavebeenifanothermanhadutteredthem——but，thoughitwasinevitablethathismethodshouldrouseone，wherethoseofone’sownbloodwereconcerned，itwasnotenoughtofillonewithragingflamewhenhismalignitywasdealingwiththosewhowerealmoststrangers。MountDunstanwasalmostastranger——shehadmetLordWestholtoftener。Wouldshehavefeltthesamehotbeatoftheblood，ifLordWestholthadbeenconcerned？
　　No，sheansweredherselffrankly，shewouldnot。