ostentatiouslyamiabletoher。Afterwardsshesawhimdancing，talking，beingpresentedtopeople，being，withatactfuleasiness，takencareofbyhishostandhostess，andLordWestholt。Shewasstruckbythegracefulmagicwithwhichthistactfuleasesurroundedhimwithoutanyobviousness。TheDunholmshadgivenalead，asLadyAlanbyhadsaid，andtherestwerefollowingitandignoringintervalswithreposefulreadiness。Itwaswonderfullywelldone。
　　Apparentlytherehadbeennopastatall。Allbeganwiththislargeyoungman，who，despitehisVikingtype，reallylookedparticularlywellineveningdress。LadyAlanbyheldhimbyherchairforsometime，openlyenjoyinghertalkwithhim，andcallingupTommy，thattheymightmakefriends。
　　Afterawhile，Bettysaidtoherself，hewouldcomeandaskforadance。Buthedidnotcome，andshedancedwithonemanafteranother。Westholtcametoherseveraltimesandhadmoredancesthanone。Whydidtheothernotcome？Severaltimestheywhirledpasteachother，andwhenitoccurredtheylooked——bothfeelingitanaccident——intoeachother’seyes。
　　Thestrongandstrangething——thatwhichmovesonitswayasdobirthanddeath，andtherisingandsettingofthesun——
　　hadbeguntomoveinthem。Itwasnonewandrarething，butanancientandcommonone——ascommonandancientasdeathandbirththemselves；andpartofthelawastheyare。Asitcomestoroyalpersonstowhomonemakesobeisanceattheirmerepassingby，asitcomestoscullerymaidsinroyalkitchens，andgroomsinroyalstables，asitcomestoladies—in—waitingandthewomenwhoservethem，soithadcometothesetwowhohadbeendrawnneartoeachotherfromtheoppositesidesoftheearth，andeachstartedatthetouchofit，andwithdrewapaceinbewilderment，andsomefear。
　　"Iwish，"MountDunstanwasfeelingthroughouttheevening，"thathereyeshadsomefaultintheirexpression——thattheydrewoneless——thattheydrewMEless。Iamlosingmyhead。"
　　"Itwouldbebetter，"Bettythought，"ifIdidnotwishsomuchthathewouldcomeandaskmetodancewithhim——
　　thathewouldnotkeepawayso。Heiskeepingawayforareason。Whyishedoingit？"
　　Themusicswungoninlovelymeasures，andthedancersswungwithit。SirNigelwalkeddutifullythroughtheLancersoncewithhiswife，andoncewithhisbeautifulsister—in—law。
　　LadyAnstruthers，inhernewbloom，hadnotlackedpartners，whodiscoveredthatshewasachildishlylightcreaturewhodancedextremelywell。Everyonewaskindtoher，andtheverygrandoldladies，whoadmiredBetty，wereabsolutelybenignintheirmanner。Betty’spartnerspaidingenuouscourttoher，andSirNigelfoundhehadnotbeenmistakeninhisestimateofthedignityhispositionofescortandmalerelationgavetohim。
　　Rosy，standingforamomentlookingoutonthebrilliancyandstateabouther，meetingBetty’seyes，laughedquiveringly。
　　"Iaminadream，"shesaid。
　　"Youhaveawakenedfromadream，"Bettyanswered。
　　Fromtheoppositesideoftheroomsomeonewascomingtowardsthem，and，seeinghim，Rosysmiledinwelcome。
　　"IamsureLordMountDunstaniscomingtoaskyoutodancewithhim，"shesaid。"Whyhaveyounotdancedwithhimbefore，Betty？"
　　"Hehasnotaskedme，"Bettyanswered。"Thatistheonlyreason。"
　　"LordDunholmandLordWestholtcalledattheMountafewdaysaftertheymethimatStornham，"Rosalieexplainedinanundertone。"Theywantedtoknowhim。Thenitseemstheyfoundtheylikedeachother。LadyDunholmhasbeentellingmeaboutit。ShesaysLordDunholmthanksyou，becauseyousaidsomethingilluminating。Thatwasthewordsheused——`illuminating。’Ibelieveyouarealwaysilluminating，Betty。"
　　MountDunstanwascertainlycomingtothem。Howbroadhisshoulderslookedinhisclose—fittingblackcoat，howwellbuilthiswholestrongbodywas，andhowsteadilyheheldhiseyes！Hereandthereoneseesamanorwomanwhois，throughsometrickoffate，bynatureacompellingthingunconsciouslydemandingthatoneshouldsubmittosomedomineeringattraction。
　　Onedoesnotcallitdomineering，butitisso。Thisspecialcreatureischargedunfairlywithmorethanhisorhersingleshareofforce。BettyVanderpoelthoughtthisoutasthis"otherone"cametoher。Hedidnotusetheballroomformulawhenhespoketoher。Hesaidinratheralowvoice：
　　"Willyoudancewithme？"
　　"Yes，"sheanswered。
　　LordDunholmandhiswifeagreedafterwardsthatsonoticeableapairhadneverbeforedancedtogetherintheirballroom。
　　Certainlynopairhadeverbeenwatchedwithquitethesameinterestedcuriosity。Someonlookersthoughtitsingularthattheyshoulddancetogetheratall，somepleasedthemselvesbyreflectingonthefactthatnoothertwocouldhaverepresentedwithsuchpicturesquenesstheoppositepolesoffateandcircumstance。Nooneattemptedtodenythattheywereanextraordinarilystriking—lookingcouple，andthatone’seyesfollowedtheminspiteofone’sself。
　　"Takentogethertheyproduceaneffectthatissomehowratheramazing，"oldLadyAlanbycommented。"Heisamagnificentlybuiltman，youknow，andsheisamagnificentlybuiltgirl。Everybodyshouldlooklikethat。MyimpressionwouldbethatAdamandEvedid，butforthefactthatneitherofthemhadanyparticularcharacter。Thataffairoftheapplewassosilly。Evehasalwaysstruckmeasbeingthekindofwomanwho，ifshelivedto—day，wouldrunupstupidbillsatherdressmakersandbeafraidtotellherhusband。ThatwonderfulblackheadofMissVanderpoel’slooksverynicepoisednearMountDunstan’sdarkredone。"
　　"Iamgladtobedancingwithhim，"Bettywasthinking。
　　"Iamgladtobenearhim。"
　　"Willyoudancethiswithmetotheveryend，"askedMountDunstan——"totheverylatenote？"
　　"Yes，"answeredBetty。
　　Hehadspokeninalowbutlevelvoice——thekindofvoicewhosetoneplacesamanandwomanalonetogether，andwhollyapartfromallothersbywhomsoevertheyaresurrounded。
　　Therehadbeennopreliminaryspeechandnoexplanationoftherequestfollowed。Themusicwasaperfectthing，thebrilliant，loftyballroom，thebeautyofcolourandsoundaboutthem，thejewelsandfairfaces，thewarmbreathofflowersintheair，theverysenseofroyalpresenceanditsaccompanyingstateandceremony，seemedmerelyanaturallyarrangedbackgroundforthestrangeconsciousnesseachheldcloseandsilently——knowingnothingofthemindoftheother。
　　Thiswaswhatwaspassingthroughtheman’smind。
　　"Thisisthethingwhichmostmenexperienceseveraltimesduringtheirlives。Itwouldbereasonenoughforallthegreatdeedsandallthecrimesonehearsof。Itisanenormouskindofanguishandafearfulkindofjoy。Itisscarcelytobeborne，andyet，atthismoment，Icouldkillmyselfandher，atthethoughtoflosingit。IfIhadbegunearlier，wouldithavebeeneasier？No，itwouldnot。Withmeitisboundtogohard。AttwentyIshouldprobablynothavebeenabletokeepmyselffromshoutingitaloud，andIshouldnothaveknownthatitwasonlytheworkingoftheLaw。`Only！’GoodGod，whatafoolIam！ItisbecauseitisonlytheLawthatIcannotescape，andmustgoontotheend，grindingmyteethtogetherbecauseIcannotspeak。Oh，hersmoothyoungcheek！
　　Oh，thedeepshadowsofherlashes！Andwhileweswayroundandroundtogether，Iholdherslimstrongbodyinthehollowofmyarm。"
　　Itwas，quitepossibly，ashethoughtthisthatNigelAnstruthers，followinghimwithhiseyesashepassed，begantofrown。Hehadbeenwatchingthepairasothershad，hehadseenwhatotherssaw，andnowhehadanideathathesawsomethingmore，anditwassomethingwhichdidnotpleasehim。
　　Theinstinctofthemalebestirreditself——thecuriousinstinctofresentmentagainstanotherman——anyotherman。And，inthiscase，MountDunstanwasnotanyotherman，butoneforwhomhisantipathywaspersonal。
　　"Iwon’thavethat，"hesaidtohimself。"Iwon’thaveit。"……
　　Themusicroseandswelled，andthensankintosoftbreathing，astheymovedinharmonytogether，glidingandswirlingastheythreadedtheirwayamongothercoupleswhoswirledandglidedalso，someofthemlightandsmiling，someexchanginglow—tonedspeech——perhapssayingwordswhich，unheardbyothers，touchedondeepthings。Theexaltedguestfellintomomentarysilenceashelookedon，beingamanmuchattractedbyphysicalfinenessandtemperamentalpowerandcharm。A
　　girllikethatwouldbringagreatdealtoamanandtothecountryhebelongedto。Agreatracemightbefoundedonsuchsuperbnessofphysiqueandhealthandbeauty。Combinedwithabnormalresources，certainlynomorecouldbeasked。
　　HeexpressedsomethingofthekindtoLordDunholm，whostoodnearhiminattendance。
　　ToherselfBettywassaying："Thatwasastrangethingheaskedme。Itiscuriousthatwesaysolittle。Ishouldneverknowmuchabouthim。Ihavenointelligencewhereheisconcerned——onlyastrong，stupidfeeling，whichisnotlikeafeelingofmyown。IamnolongerBettyVanderpoel——
　　andIwishtogoondancingwithhim——onandon——tothelastnote，ashesaid。"
　　Shefeltalittlehotwaverunoverhercheekuncomfortably，andthenextinstantthebigarmtighteneditsclaspofher——
　　forjustonesecond——notmorethanone。Shedidnotknowthathe，himself，hadseenthesuddenrippleofredcolour，andthattheequallysuddencontractionofthearmhadbeenasunexpectedtohimandasinvoluntaryasthequickwaveitself。Ithadhorrifiedandmadehimangry。Helookedthenextinstantentirelystiffandcold。
　　"Hedidnotknowithappened，"Bettyresolved。
　　"Themusicisgoingtostop，"saidMountDunstan。"I
　　knowthewaltz。Wecangetonceroundtheroomagainbeforethefinalchord。Itwastobethelastnote——theverylast，"
　　buthesaiditquiterigidly，andBettylaughed。
　　"Quitethelast，"sheanswered。
　　Themusichastenedalittle，andtheirglidingwhirlbecamemorerapid——alittlefaster——alittlefasterstill——arunningsweepofnotes，abig，terminatingharmony，andthethingwasover。
　　"Thankyou，"saidMountDunstan。"Onewillhaveittoremember。"Andhistonewasslightlysardonic。
　　"Yes，"Bettyacquiescedpolitely。
　　"Oh，notyou。OnlyI。Ihaveneverwaltzedbefore。"
　　Bettyturnedtolookathimcuriously。
　　"Undercircumstancessuchasthese，"heexplained。"I
　　learnedtodanceataparticularlyhideousboys’schoolinFrance。Iabhorredit。Andthetrendofmylifehasmadeitquiteeasyformetokeepmytwelve—year—oldvowthatIwouldneverdanceafterIlefttheplace，unlessIWANTEDtodoit，andthat，especially，nothingshouldmakemewaltzuntilcertainagreeableconditionswerefulfilled。WaltzingIapprovedof——outofhideousschools。Iwasapig—headed，objectionablechild。Idetestedmyselfeven，then。"
　　Betty’scomposurereturnedtoher。
　　"Iamtrusting，"sheremarked，"thatImaysecretlyregardmyselfasoneoftheagreeableconditionstobefulfilled。Donotdispelmyhopesroughly。"
　　"Iwillnot，"heanswered。"Youare，infact，severalofthem。"
　　"Onebreatheswithmuchgreaterfreedom，"sheresponded。
　　Thissortofcoolnonsensewassafe。Itdispelledfeelingsoftenseness，andcarriedthemtotheplacewhereSirNigelandLadyAnstruthersawaitedthem。Aslightstirwasbeginningtobefeltthroughouttheballroom。Theroyalguestwasretiring，andsoontherestbegantomeltaway。TheAnstruthers，whohadalongreturndrivebeforethem，wereamongthosewhowentfirst。
　　WhenLadyAnstruthersandhersisterreturnedfromthecloakroom，theyfoundSirNigelstandingnearMountDunstan，whowasgoingalso，andtalkingtohiminanamiablydetachedmanner。MountDunstan，himself，didnotlookamiable，orseemtobesayingmuch，butSirNigelshowednosignsofbeingdisturbed。
　　"Nowthatyouhaveceasedtoforsweartheworld，"hesaidashiswifeapproached，"IhopeweshallseeyouatStornham。YourvisitsmustnotceasebecausewecannotofferyouG。Seldenanylonger。"
　　Hehadhisownreasonsforgivingtheinvitation——severalofthem。Andtherewasasatisfactioninlettingthefellowknow，casually，thathewasnotintheridiculouspositionofbeingunawareofwhathadoccurredduringhisabsence——thattherehadbeenvisits——andalsotheobjectionableepisodeoftheAmericanbounder。Thattheepisodehadbeenobjectionable，heknewhehadadroitlyconveyedbymeretoneandmanner。
　　MountDunstanthankedhimintheusualformula，andthenspoketoBetty。
　　"G。Seldenleftustremulousandfeveredwithecstaticanticipation。HecarriedyourkindlettertoMr。Vanderpoel，nexttohisheart。Hisbrainseemedtowhirlatthethoughtofwhat`theboys’wouldsay，whenhearrivedwithitinNewYork。Youhavematerialisedthedreamofhislife！"
　　"Ihaveinterestedmyfather，"Bettyanswered，withabrilliantsmile。"HelikedtheromanceoftheReubenS。
　　VanderpoelwhorewardedthesaverofhislifebyunboundedordersfortheDelkoff。"……
　　Astheircarriagedroveaway，SirNigelbentforwardtolookoutofthewindow，andhavingdoneit，laughedalittle。
　　"MountDunstandoesnotplaythegamewell，"heremarked。
　　ItwasannoyingthatneitherBettynorhiswifeinquiredwhatthegameinquestionmightbe，andthathistemperamentforcedhimintoexplainingwithoutencouragement。
　　"Heshouldhave`stoodmotionlesswithfoldedarms，’orsomethingofthesort，and`watchedherequipageuntilitwasoutofsight。’"
　　"Andhedidnot？"saidBetty"Heturnedonhisheelassoonasthedoorwasshut。"
　　"Peopleoughtnottodosuchthings，"washersimplecomment。Towhichitseemeduselesstoreply。
　　CHAPTERXXXIII
　　FORLADYJANE
　　Thereisnoonethingonearthofsuchinterestasthestudyofthelawsoftemperament，whichimpel，support，orentrapintofollyanddangerthebeingtheyrule。Asachild，notoldenoughtogiveadefinitenametothethingshewatchedandponderedon，inchildfashion，BettinaVanderpoelhadthoughtmuchonthissubject。Asshehadgrownolder，shehadneverbeenignorantoftheworkingsofherowntemperament，andshehadlookedonforyearsatthelawswhichhadwroughtinherfather’sbeing——thelawsofstrength，executivecapacity，andthatpleasureingreatschemes，whichisrousedlessbyadesireforgainthanforastrongly—feltnecessityforaction，resultinginsuccess。Shementallyfollowedotherpeopleontheirway，sometimesaskingherselfhowfartheindividualwastobepraisedorblamedforhistreadingofthepathheseemedtochoose。AndnowtherewasgivenhertheopportunitytostudytheworkingsofthenatureofNigelAnstruthers，whichwasacuriousthing。
　　Hewasnotanindividualtobeenvied。Neverwasmanmoretormentedbylackofpowertocontrolhisspecialdevil，attherightmomentoftime，andtherefore，neverwasthereonesoinevitablyhisownfrustration。ThisBettysawafterthepassingofbutafewdays，andwonderedhowfarhewasconsciousorunconsciousofthething。Attimesitappearedtoherthathewasinastateofunrest——thathewasasamanwaveringbetweenlinesofaction，swayedatonemomentbyonethought，atanotherbyanideaquitedifferent，andthathewasharriedbecausehecouldnotholdhisownwithhimself。
　　Thiswastrue。TheballatDunholmCastlehadbeenenlightening，andhadwroughtsomechangesinhispointsofview。Alsootherfactorshadinfluencedhim。Inthefirstplace，thechangedatmosphereofStornham，thefitnessandluxuryofhissurroundings，thenewdignitygiventohispositionbythealteredaspectofthings，renderedexternalamiabilitymoreeasy。Torideaboutthecountryonagoodhorse，ordriveinasmartphaeton，orsuitablecarriage，andtofindthatpeoplewhoayearagohadpassedhimwiththemerestrecognition，salutedhimwithpoliteintention，was，toacertaindegree，stimulatingtoavanitywhichhadbeenlongill—fed。Thepowerwhichproducedtheseresultsshould，ofcourse，havebeeninhisownhands——hismoney—makingfather—
　　in—lawshouldhaveseenthatitwashisaffairtoprovideforthat——butsincehehadnotdoneso，itwasratherentertainingthatitshouldbe，forthepresent，inthehandsofthisextraordinarilygood—lookinggirl。
　　Hehadbegunbymerelythinkingofherinthismanner——
　　as"thisextraordinarilygood—lookinggirl，"andhadnot，foramoment，hesitatedbeforetheedifyingideaofitsnotbeingimpossibletoarrangealivelyflirtationwithher。Shewasatanagewhen，inhisopinion，girlhoodwaspoisedforflightwithadventure，andhistasteshadnotledhiminthedirectionofyouthwhichwasfastidious。HisRivieraepisodehadlefthisvanityblisteredandrequiringsomesoothingapplication。
　　Hislifehadworkedevilwithhim，andhehadfallenillonthehandsofawomanwhohadtreatedhimasashattered，uselessthingwhosedaywasdoneandwithwhomstrengthandbloomcouldnotbeburdened。Hehadkepthisillnessahiddensecret，onhisreturntoStornham，hisonedesirehavingbeentoforget——eventodisbelieveinit，butdreamsofitssuggestionsometimesawakenedhimatnightwithshuddersandcoldsweat。Hewashideouslyafraidofdeathandpain，andhehadhadmonstrouspain——andwhilehehadlainbattlingwithit，uponhisbedinthevillaontheMediterranean，hehadbeenabletohear，inthegardenoutside，thelowvoicesandlaughteroftheSpanishdancerandthehealthy，strongyoungfoolwhowashernewadorer。
　　WhenhehadfoundhimselffacetofacewithBettyintheavenue，afterthefirstleapofannoyance，whichhadsuddenlydieddownintoperverselyinterestedcuriosity，hecouldhavelaughedoutrightatthenoveltyandoddunexpectednessofthesituation。Theill—mannered，impudently—staring，littleNewYorkbeasthaddevelopedintoTHIS！Hangit！Nomancouldguesswhattheembryofemalecreaturemightresultin。
　　Hismereshakinessofphysicalconditionaddedstrengthtoherattraction。Shewaslikeayounggoddessofhealthandlifeandfire；theveryspringofherfirmfootuponthemossbeneathitwasastimulatingthingtoamanwhosenervessprungsecretfearsuponhim。Thereweresparksbetweenthesweepofherlashes，butshemanagedtocarryherselfwiththeairofbeingascoolasacucumber，whichgavespicetotheeffortto"upset"her。Ifshedidnotprovesuitablyamenable，therewouldbepiquancyingettingthebetterofher——instirringupunpleasantlittlethings，whichwouldmakeiteasierforhertogoawaythanremainonthespot——ifoneshouldendbychoosingtogetridofher。But，forthemoment，hehadnodesiretogetridofher。Hewantedtoseewhatsheintendedtodo——toseethethingout，infact。ItamusedhimtohearthatMountDunstanwasonhertrack。Thereexistsforpersonsofacertaintypeapleasurefull—fedbythemeresenseofhaving"goteven"withanopponent。Throughouthislifehehadmadeapointof"gettingeven"withthosewhohadirritatinglycrossedhispath，ormuchdislikedhim。Theworkingoutofsmallorlargeplanstoachievethisendhadformedoneofhismostagreeablerecreations。HehadlongowedMountDunstanadebt，whichhehadalwaysmeanttopay。HehadnotintendedtoforgettheepisodeofthenicelittlevillagegirlwithwhomTenhamandhimselfhadbeengettingalongsoenormouslywell，whentheragingyoungasshadfoundthemout，andmadeanabsurdlyexaggeratedscene，evengoingsofarasthreateningtosmashthepairofthem，marchingofftothefatherandmother，andsettingthevicaron，andthenscratchingtogether——Godknowshow——moneyenoughtopackthelotofftoAmerica，wheretheyhadsincedonewell。Whyshouldamanforgiveanotherwhohadmadehimlooklikeaschoolboyandafool？So，tofindMountDunstanrushingdownasteephillintothisthing，wasedifying。Youcannottakemuchoutofamanifyouneverencounterhim。Ifyoumeethim，youareprovidedbyHeavenwithopportunities。Youcanfindoutwhathefeelsmostsharply，andwhathewillsuffermostbybeingdeprivedof。HisimpressionwasthattherewasagooddealtobegotoutofMountDunstan。Hewasanobstinate，haughtydevil，andjustthefellowtoconcealwithafuryofprideascoreoftenderplacesinhishide。
　　Attheballhehadseenthatthegirl’seffecthadbeenofakindwhichevenmoneyandgoodlooksuncombinedwithanotherthingmightnothaveproduced。Andshehadtheotherthing——whatsoeveritmightbe。HeobservedthewayinwhichtheDunholmsmetandgreetedher，hemarkedtheglanceoftheroyalpersonage，andhismanner，whenafterherpresentationheconversedwithanddetainedher，hesawtheturningofheadsandexchangeofremarksasshemovedthroughtherooms。Mostespecially，hetookinthebearingoftheverygrandoldladies，ledbyLadyAlanbyofDole。
　　Barriershadthrownthemselvesdown，theseportentous，rigorousoldpussycatsadmiredher，evenlikedher。
　　"Uponmyword，"hesaidtohimself。"Shehasawaywithher，youknow。SheisacombinationofEthelNewcomeandBeckySharp。Butsheismorelevel—headedthaneitherofthem，There’satouchofTrixEsmond，too。"
　　Thesenseofthesuccesswhichfollowedher，andthegradually—
　　growingexcitementoflookingonatherlightwhirlsofdance，thecarnationofhercheek，andthelaughterandpleasureshedrewabouther，hadaffectedhiminawaybywhichhewassecretlyalittleexhilarated。Hewasconsciousofarashdesiretoforcehiswaythroughtheselaughing，vauntingyoungidiots，juggleorsnatchtheirdancesawayfromthem，andseizeonthegirlhimself。Hehadnotforsolongatimebeenimpelledbysuchagreeablefollythathehadsometimesfeltthestabofthethoughtthathewaspastit。Thatitshouldriseinhimagainmadehimfeelyoung。TherewasnothingwhichsoirritatedhimagainstMountDunstanashisownrebellingrecognitionoftheman’syouth，thestrengthofhisfinebody，hishigh—heldheadandcleareye。
　　Thesethingsandothersitwaswhichswayedhim，aswasplaintoBettyinthetimewhichfollowed，tomanychangesofmood。
　　"Areyousorryforamanwhoisillanddepressed，"heaskedoneday，"ordoyoudespisehim？"
　　"Iamsorry。"
　　"Thenbesorryforme。"
　　Hehadcomeoutofthehousetoherasshesatonthelawn，underabroad，level—branchedtree，andhadthrownhimselfuponarugwithhishandsclaspedbehindhishead。
　　"Areyouill？"
　　"WhenIwasontheRivieraIhadafall。"Heliedsimply。
　　"Istrainedsomemuscleorother，andithasleftmeratherlame。SometimesIhaveagooddealofpain。"
　　"Iamverysorry，"saidBetty。"Very。"
　　Awomanwhocanbemadesorryitisrarelyimpossibletomanage。Todwellwithpatheticpatienceonyourgrievances，ifsheisweakandunintelligent，todeplore，withhonestregret，yourfaultsandblunders，ifsheisstrong，arenotbadideas。
　　Helookedatherreflectively。
　　"Yes，youarecapableofbeingsorry，"hedecided。Forafewmomentsofsilencehiseyesrestedupontheviewspreadbeforehim。Togivetheexpressionofdignifiedreflectionwasnotabadideaeither。
　　"Doyouknow，"hesaidatlength，"thatyouproduceanextraordinaryeffectuponme，Betty？"
　　ShewasoccupyingherselfbyaddingafewstitchestooneofRosy’sancientstripsofembroidery，andassheanswered，shelaiditflatuponherkneetoconsideritseffect"Goodorbad？"sheinquired，withdelicateabstraction。
　　Heturnedhisfacetowardsheragain——thistimequickly。
　　"Both，"heanswered。"Both。"
　　Histoneheldtheflashofaheatwhichhefeltshouldhavestartledherslightly。Butapparentlyitdidnot。
　　"Idonotlike`both，’"withcomposedlightness。"Ifyouhadsaidthatyoufeltyourselfdevelopangelicqualitieswhenyouwerenearme，Ishouldfeelflattered，andswellwithpride。But`both’leavesmeunsatisfied。Itinterfereswiththehappylittleconceitthatoneisanall—pervading，beneficentpower。Onelikestocontemplatealargepictureofone’sself——
　　notplain，butcoloured——asawholesalereformer。"
　　"Isee。Thankyou，"stifflyandflushing。"Youdonotbelieveme。"
　　Hereffectuponhimwassuchthat，forthemoment，hefoundhimselfchoosingtobelievethathewasinearnest。Hisdesiretoimpressherwithhismoodhadactuallyledtothisresult。Sheoughttohavebeenrathermoved——alittlefluttered，perhaps，athearingthatshedisturbedhisequilibrium。
　　"Yousetyourselfagainstme，asachild，Betty，"hesaid。
　　"Andyousetyourselfagainstmenow。Youwillnotgivemefairplay。Youmightgivemefairplay。"Hedroppedhisvoiceatthelastsentence，andknewitwaswelldone。A
　　touchofhopelessnessisnotoftenlostonawoman。