Asshedescendedfromthecarriagethegirlwastremulousanduncertainofherselfandmuchoverpoweredbytheunbendingairoftheman—servantwhoreceivedherasifshewereaparcelinwhichitwasnopartofhisdutytotakethesmallestinterest。Asshemountedthestonestepsshecaughtaglimpseofbroadgloomwithinthethreshold，abig，square，dingyhallwheresomeotherservantsweredrawnupinarow。ShehadreadofsomethingofthesortinEnglishnovels，andshewassuddenlyembarrassedafreshbyherrealisationofthefactthatshedidnotknowwhattodoandthatifshemadeamistakeNigelwouldneverforgiveher。
　　Anelderlywomancameoutofaroomopeningintothehall。Shewasanuglywomanofarigidcarriage，which，withtheobviousintentionofbeingseverelymajestic，wasonlyantagonistic。Shehadaflaccidchin，andwascuriouslylikeNigel。Shehadalsohisexpressionwhenheintendedtobedisagreeable。ShewastheDowagerLadyAnstruthers，andbeinganentirelyrevoltingoldpersonatherbest，sheobjectedextremelytothetransatlanticbridewhohadmadeheradowager，thoughshewasdeterminedlypreparedtoprofitbyanypracticalbenefitlikelytoaccrue。
　　"Well，Nigel，"shesaidinadeepvoice。"Hereyouareatlast。"
　　Thiswasofcourseastatementnottoberefuted。Sheheldoutaleatherncheek，andasSirNigelalsopresentedhis，theircaressofgreetingwasasingularandnoteffusiveone。
　　"Isthisyourwife？"sheasked，givingRosalieabonyhand。
　　Andashedidnotindignantlydenythistobethefact，sheadded，"Howdoyoudo？"
　　Rosaliemurmuredareplyandtriedtocontrolherselfbymakinganotherefforttoswallowthelumpinherthroat。
　　Butshecouldnotswallowit。Shehadbeenkeepingadesperateholdonherselftoolong。Thebewilderedmiseryofherawakening，theawkwardnessofthepublicrowatthestation，thesulkswhichhadfilledthecarriagetorepletionthroughallthelongdrive，andfinallythejanglingbellswhichhadsorecalledthatlastjoyousdayathome——athome——hadbroughthertoapointwherethismeetingbetweenmotherandson——thesetwostony，unpleasantcreaturesexchangingareluctantrubofuninvitingcheeks——astwosavagesmighthaverubbednoses——provedthefinishingimpetustohysteria。Theyweresohideous，thesetwo，andsoghastlycomicandfantasticintheirunresponsiveglumness，thatthepoorgirllostallholduponherselfandbrokeintoatremblingshriekoflaughter。
　　"Oh！"shegaspedinterroratwhatshefelttobeherindecentmadness。"Oh！how——how————"AndthenseeingNigel’sfuriousstart，hismother’sglareandalltheservants’
　　alarmedstareather，sherushedstaggeringtotheonlycreatureshefeltsheknew——hermaidHannah，clutchedherandbrokedownintowildsobbing。
　　"Oh，takemeaway！"shecried。"Oh，do！Oh，do！Oh，Hannah！
　　Oh，mother——mother！"
　　"Takeyourmistresstoherroom，"commandedSirNigel。
　　"Godownstairs，"hecalledouttotheservants。"Takeherupstairsatonceandthrowwaterinherface，"totheexcitedHannah。
　　AndasthenewLadyAnstrutherswashalfled，halfdragged，inhumiliatedhystericdisorderupthestaircase，hetookhismotherbytheelbow，marchedherintothenearestroomandshutthedoor。Theretheystoodandstaredateachother，breathingquick，enragedbreathsandlookingparticularlyalikewiththeirheavy—featured，thick—skinned，infuriatedfaces。
　　ItwastheDowagerwhospokefirst，andherwholevoiceandmannerexpressedallsheintendedthattheyshould，allthederision，dislikeandscathingresignmenttoagrotesquefate。
　　"Well，"saidherladyship。"SoTHISiswhatyouhavebroughthomefromAmerica！"
　　CHAPTERIV
　　AMISTAKEOFTHEPOSTBOY’S
　　AstheweekspassedatStornhamCourttheAtlanticOceanseemedtoRosalieAnstrutherstowidenendlessly，andgay，happy，noisyNewYorktorecedeuntilitwasasfarawayassomememoryofheaven。Thegirlhadbeenborninthemidstoftherattling，rumblingbustle，andithadneverstruckherasassumingthecharacterofnoise；shehadonlythoughtofitasbeingthecheerfulconfusioninseparablefromtown。
　　ShehadbeensecretlyoffendedandhurtwhenstrangerssaidthatNewYorkwasnoisyanddirty；whentheycalleditvulgar，sheneverwhollyforgavethem。ShewasoftheNewYorkerswhoadoretheirNewYorkasParisiansadoreParisandwhofeelthatonlywithinitsbelovedboundariescanthebreathoflifebebreathed。Peoplewereoftentoohotortoocoldthere，buttherewasusuallyplentyofbrightglaringsun，andtheextremesoftheweatherhadatleastsomethingratherdramaticaboutthem。Thereweredramaticincidentsconnectedwiththem，atanyrate。Peoplefelldeadofsunstrokeorwerefrozentodeath，andthenewspaperswerefullofanecdotesduringa"coldsnap"ora"torridwave，"whichallmadeforexcitementandconversation。
　　ButatStornhamtherainseemedtoyoungLadyAnstrutherstodescendceaselessly。Theseasonwasawetone，andwhensheroseinthemorningandlookedoutoverthehugestretchoftreesandswardshethoughtshealwayssawtherainfallingeitherinhopelesssheetsormorehopelessdrizzle。Theoccasionsuponwhichthiswasadrearytruthblottedoutorblurredtheexceptions，wheninliquidultramarinedeepsofsky，floatedislandsandmountainsofsnow—whitefleece，ofabeautyofwhichshehadbeforehadnoconception。
　　IntheEnglishnovelsshehadread，placessuchasStornhamCourtwerealwaysfilledwith"houseparties，"madeupofwonderfultownwitsandbeauties，whoprovidedendlessentertainmentforeachother，whoplayedgames，whohuntedandshotpheasantsandshoneindazzlingamateurtheatricals。Therewere，however，novisitorsatStornham，andtherewereinfact，noaccommodationsforany。Therewerenumberlessbedrooms，butnonereallyfitforgueststooccupy。Carpetsandcurtainswereancientandragged，furniturewasdilapidated，chimneyswouldnotdraw，bedswerefallingtopieces。
　　TheDowagerLadyAnstruthershadnevereitherattracteddesired，orbeenabletoaffordcompany。Herson’swifesufferedfromtheresultingboredomandunpopularitywithoutbeingabletocomprehendthesignificanceofthesituation。
　　AstheweeksdraggedbyafewheavycarriagesdepositedattheCourtafewcallers。Someofthevisitorsboreimposingtitles，whichmadeRosalieverynervousandcausedherhastilytoarrayherselftoreceivethemintoilettesmuchtooprettyanddelicatefortheoccasion。Herinnocentideawasthatshemustdoherhusbandcreditbyappearingas"stylish"aspossible。
　　Asaresultshewasstaredat，eitherwithopendisfavour，orwithwell—bred，furtivecriticism，andwasdescribedafterwardsasbeingeither"veryAmerican"or"veryover—
　　dressed。"WhenshehadlivedinhugeroomsinFifthAvenue，Rosaliehadchangedherattireasmanytimesadayasshehadchangedherfancy；everyhourhadbeenfilledwithengagementsandamusements；theVanderpoelcarriageshaddrivenuptothedooranddrivenawayagainandagainthroughthemorningsandafternoonsanduntilmidnightandlater。Someonewasalwaysgoingoutorcomingin。Therehadbeeninthebighandsomehousenotmuchmoreofanairofreposethanonemightexpecttofindatarailwaystation；buttheflurry，thecomingandgoing，thecallingandchattinghadallbeencheery，amiable。AtStornham，Rosaliesatatbreakfastbeforeunchangingboiledeggs，unfailingtoastandunalterablebroiledbacon，morningaftermorning。SirNigelsatandmunchedoverthenewspapers，hismother，withanairofrelentlessdisapprovalfromaloftyheightofbothherfoodandcompanions，disposedofhereggsandherrasheratRosalie’srighthand。Shehadtransferredtoherdaughter—in—lawherpreviouslyoccupiedseatattheheadofthetable。Thishadbeendonewithacarefullypreparedsceneofintensethoughcorrectdisagreeableness，inwhichshehadmanagedtoconveyalltherancourofherdethronedspiritandherdisapprovalanddisdainofinternationalalliances。
　　"Itisofcourseproperthatyoushouldsitattheheadofyourhusband’stable，"shehadsaid，amongotheragreeablethings。"Awomanhavingdevotedherlifetohersonmustrelinquishherpositiontothepersonhechoosestomarry。
　　Ifyoushouldhaveasonyouwillgiveupyourpositiontohiswife。SinceNigelhasmarriedyou，hehas，ofcourse，arighttoexpectthatyouwillatleastmakeanefforttolearnsomethingofwhatisrequiredofwomenofyourposition。"
　　"Sitdown，Rosalie，"saidNigel。"Ofcourseyoutaketheheadofthetable，andnaturallyyoumustlearnwhatisexpectedofmywife，butdon’ttalkconfoundedrubbish，mother，aboutdevotingyourlifetoyourson。Wehaveseenaboutaslittleofeachotheraswecouldhelp。Weneveragreed。"Theywerebothbulliesandeachmadeoccasionaleffortsatbullyingtheotherwithoutanyparticularresult。Buteachcouldatleastbullytheotherintointensifiedunpleasantness。
　　Thevicar’swifehavingmadehercallofceremonyuponthenewLadyAnstruthers，followeduptheacquaintance，andfoundherquiteexoticallyunlikehermother—in—law，whosecharitiesonemaybesurehadneitherbeenlavishnordispensedbyanyhandlessimpressivethanherown。Theyoungerwomanwasofwhollymalleablematerial。Hersympathieswereeasilyawakenedandherpursewaswellfilledandreadilyopened。
　　Smallfamiliesorlargeones，newlyborninfantsornewlyburiedones，oldwomenwith"badlegs"andoldmenwhoneededcomforts，equallytouchedherheart。SheinnocentlybestowedsovereignswhereanEnglishwomanwouldhaveknownthathalf—crownswouldhavebeensufficient。Asthevicaresswasheralmonerthatladyfeltherimportancerapidlyontheincrease。Whensheleftacottagesaying，"I’llspeaktoyoungLadyAnstruthersaboutyou，"thegoodwomanofthehousecurtsiedlowandherhusbandtouchedhisforeheadrespectfully。
　　ButthisdidnotadvancethefortunesofSirNigel，whopersonallyrequiredofherverydifferentthings。TwoweeksafterherarrivalatStornham，Rosaliebegantoseethatsomehowshewasregardedasapersonalmostimpudentlyinthewrong。
　　ItappearedthatifshehadbeenanEnglishgirlshewouldhavebeenquitedifferent，thatshewouldhavebeenanadvantageinsteadofadetriment。AsanAmericanshewasadetriment。
　　Thatseemedtogowithoutsaying。Shetriedtodoeverythingshewastold，andlearnsomethingfromeachcoldinsinuation。Shedidnotknowthatherveryamenabilityandtimiditywereherundoing。SirNigelandhismotherthoroughlyenjoyedthemselvesatherexpense。Theyknewtheycouldsayanythingtheychose，andthatatthemostshewouldonlybreakdownintocryingandafterwardsapologiseforbeingsobadlybehaved。Ifsomepractical，strong—mindedpersonhadbeenneartodefendhershemighthavebeenrescuedpromptlyandhertyrantsrouted。Butshewasayounggirl，tenderofheartandweakofnature。Sheusedtocryagreatdealwhenshewasalone，andwhenshewrotetohermothershewastoofrightenedtotellthetruthconcerningherunhappiness。
　　"Oh，ifIcouldjustseesomeofthem！"shewouldwailtoherself。"IfIcouldjustseemotherorfatheroranybodyfromNewYork！Oh，IknowIshallneverseeNewYorkagain，orBroadwayorFifthAvenueorCentralPark——Inever——never——nevershall！"Andshewouldgrovelamongherpillows，buryingherfaceandhalfstiflingherselflesthersobsshouldbeheard。Herfeelingforherhusbandhadbecomeoneofterrorandrepulsion。Shewasalmostmoreafraidofhispatronising，affectionatemomentsthanshewasofhistemper。
　　Hisconjugalcondescensionsmadeherfeelvaguely——
　　withoutknowingwhy——asifsheweresomelowerorderoflittleanimal。
　　Americanwomen，hesaid，hadnoconceptionofwifelydutiesandaffection。Hehadagreatdealtosayonthesubjectofwifelyduty。Itwaspartofherdutyasawifetobeentirelysatisfiedwithhissociety，andtobecompletelyhappyinthepleasureitaffordedher。ItwasherwifelydutynottotalkaboutherownfamilyandpalpitatinglyexpectlettersbyeveryAmericanmail。Heobjectedintenselytothisletterwritingandreceiving，andhismothersharedhisprejudices。
　　"YouhavemarriedanEnglishman，"herladyshipsaid。
　　"YouhaveputitoutofhispowertomarryanEnglishwoman，andtheleastconsiderationyoucanshowistoletNewYorkandNine—hundredthstreetremainupontheothersideoftheAtlanticandnotinsistondraggingthemintoStornhamCourt。"
　　TheDowagerLadyAnstrutherswasveryfineinherpictureofhermentalcondition，whensherealised，assheseemedperiodicallytodo，thatitwasnolongerpossibleforhersontomakearespectablemarriagewithawomanofhisownnation。TheunadornedfactwasthatbothsheandSirNigelwereinfuriatedbythesimplicitywhichmadeRosalieslowincomprehendingthatitwasproperthatthemoneyherfatherallowedhershouldbeplacedinherhusband’shands，andlefttherewithnoindelicatequestioning。IfshehadbeenanEnglishgirlmatterswouldhavebeenmadeplaintoherfromthefirstandarrangedsatisfactorilybeforehermarriage。SirNigel’smotherconsideredthathehadplayedthefool，andwouldnotbelievethatNewYorkfathersweresuchtouchy，sentimentalidiotsasnottoknowwhatwasexpectedofthem。
　　Theywastednotime，however，incomingtothepoint，andinameasureitwasthevicaresswhoaidedthem。Notsheentirely，however。
　　Sincehermother—in—law’sfirstmentionofapossiblesonwhosewifewouldeventuallythrustherfromherseatattheheadofthetable，Rosaliehadseveraltimesheardthissonreferredto。ItstruckherthatinEnglandsuchthingsseemeddiscussedwithmorefreedomthaninAmerica。Shehadneverheardayoungwoman’spossiblefamilyarrangedforandmadethesubjectofconversationinthemorecrudeatmosphereofNewYork。Itmadeherfeelratherawkwardatfirst。Thenshebegantorealisethatthesonwaspartofherwifelydutyalso；thatshewasexpectedtoprovideone，andthathewasinsomewayexpectedtoprovidefortheestate——torehabilitateit——andthatthiswasbecauseherfather，beingarichman，wouldprovideforhim。IthadalsostruckherthatinEnglandtherewasatendencytoexpectationthatsomeonewould"provide"forsomeoneelse，thatrelativesevenbymarriageweresupposedto"makeallowances"onwhichitwasquiteproperforotherpersonstolive。Rosaliehadbeenaccustomedtoacommunityinwhichevenrichmenworked，andinwhichyoungandable—bodiedmenwouldhavefeltratherindignantifauntsoruncleshadthoughtitnecessarytopensionthemoffasiftheyhadbeenimpotentpaupers。ItwasRosalie’ssonwhowastobe"providedfor"inthiscase，andwhowasto"providefor"hisfather。
　　"Whenyouhaveason，"hermother—in—lawhadremarkedseverely，"IsupposesomethingwillbedoneforNigelandtheestate。"
　　Thishadbeensaidbeforeshehadbeentendaysinthehouse，andhadsethernot—too—quickbrainworking。ShehadalreadybeguntoseethatlifeatStornhamCourtwasnottheluxuriousaffairitwasinthehouseinFifthAvenue。Thingswereshabbyandqueerandnotatallcomfortable。Fireswerenotlightedbecauseadaywaschillyandgloomy。Shehadonceaskedforoneinherbedroomandhermother—in—lawhadreprovedherforindecentextravaganceinamannerwhichtookherbreathaway。
　　"IsupposeinAmericayouhaveyourhouseatfurnaceheatinJuly，"shesaid。"Merewastefulnessandself—indulgence！
　　ThatiswhyAmericansareoldwomenattwenty。Theyareshrivelledandwitheredbytheunhealthylivestheylead。
　　Stuffingthemselveswithsweetsandhotbreadandneverbreathingthefreshair。"
　　Rosaliecouldnotatthemomentrecallanywitheredandshrivelledoldwomenoftwenty，butsheblushedandstammeredasusual。
　　"ItisnevercoldenoughforfiresinJuly，"sheanswered，"butwe——weneverthinkfiresextravagantwhenwearenotcomfortablewithoutthem。"
　　"CoalmustbecheaperthanitisinEngland，"saidherladyship。"Whenyouhaveadaughter，IhopeyoudonotexpecttobringherupasgirlsarebroughtupinNewYork。"
　　ThiswasthefirsttimeRosaliehadheardofherdaughter，andshewasnotreadyenoughtoreply。Shenaturallywentintoherroomandcriedagain，wonderingwhatherfatherandmotherwouldsayiftheyknewthatbedroomfireswereconsideredvulgarlyextravagantbyanimpressivememberoftheBritisharistocracy。
　　Shewasnotatallstrongatthetimeandwasgiventofeelingchillyandmiserableonwet，windydays。Sheusedtocrymorethaneverandwassodesolatethatthereweredayswhensheusedtogotothevicarageforcompanionship。Onsuchdaysthevicar’swifewouldentertainherwithstoriesofthevillagers’catastrophes，andshewouldemptyherpurseupontheteatableandfeelalittleconsoledbecauseshewasthemeansofconsolingsomeoneelse。
　　"IsupposeitgratifiesyourvanitytoplaytheLadyBountiful，"SirNigelsneeredoneevening，havingheardinthevillagewhatshewasdoing。
　　"I——neverthoughtofsuchathing，"shestammeredfeebly。
　　"Mrs。Brentsaidtheyweresopoor。"
　　"Youthrowyourmoneyaboutasifyouwereachild，"
　　saidhermother—in—law。"Itisapityitisnotputinthehandsofsomepersonwithdiscretion。"
　　IthadbeguntodawnuponRosaliethatherladyshipwasdeeplyconvincedthateitherherselforhersonwouldbeadmirablydiscreetcustodiansofthemoneyreferredto。Andeventhedawningofthisideahadfrightenedthegirl。ShewassoinexperiencedandignorantthatshefeltitmightbepossiblethatinEnglandone’shusbandandone’smother—in—lawcoulddowhattheyliked。Itmightbethattheycouldtakepossessionofone’smoneyastheyseemedtotakepossessionofone’sselfandone’sverysoul。Shewouldhavebeenverygladtogivethemmoney，andhadindeedwonderedfrequentlyifshemightdaretoofferittothem，iftheywouldbeoutragedandinsultedandslayherintheirwrathatherpurse—prouddaring。
　　Shehadtriedtoinventwaysinwhichshecouldapproachthesubject，buthadnotbeenabletoscrewuphercouragetoanystickingpoint。ShewassooverpoweredbyherconsciousnessthattheyseemedcontinuallytointimatethatAmericanswithmoneywereostentatiousandalwayslayingstressupontheamountoftheirpossessions。Shehadnoconceptionoftheprimevalsimplenessoftheirattitudeinsuchmatters，andthatnoceremonieswerenecessarysavetheprocessoftransferringsufficientlylargesumsasthoughtheywerethemererightoftherecipients。Shewastaughttounderstandthislater。Inthemeantime，however，readyasshewouldhavebeentogivelargesumsifshehadknownhow，shewasterrifiedbythethoughtthatitmightbepossiblethatshecouldbedeprivedofherbankaccountandreducedtotheconditionofasortofdependentuponthehumoursofherlatelyacquiredrelations。
　　Shethoughtoverthisagooddeal，andwouldhavefoundimmensereliefifshedaredhaveconsultedanyone。Butshecouldnotmakeuphermindtorevealherunhappinesstoherpeople。Shehadbeenmarriedsorecently，everybodyhadthoughthermarriagesodelightful，shecouldnotbearthatherfatherandmothershouldbedistressedbyknowingthatshewaswretched。ShealsoreflectedwithmiserythatNewYorkwouldtalkthematteroverexcitedlyandthatfinallythenewspaperswouldgetholdofthegossip。ShecouldevenimagineinterviewerscallingatthehouseinFifthAvenueandendeavouringtoobtainparticularsofthesituation。Herfatherwouldbeangryandrefusetogivethem，butthatwouldmakenodifference；thenewspaperswouldgivethemandeverybodywouldreadwhattheysaid，whetheritwastrueornot。Shecouldnotpossiblywritefacts，shethought，soherpoorlittleletterswererestrainedandunlikeherself，andtothewarm—heartedsoulsinNewYork，evenappearingstiffandunaffectionate，asifheraristocraticsurroundingshadchilledherloveforthem。Infact，itbecamefarfromeasyforhertowriteatall，sinceSirNigelsodisapprovedofherinterestintheAmericanmail。Hisobjectionshadindeedtakentheformofhisfeelinghimselfquitewithinhisrightswhenheoccasionallyinterceptedlettersfromherrelations，withaviewoffindingoutwhethertheycontainedcriticismsofhimself，whichwouldbetraythatshehadbeenguiltyofindiscreetconfidences。Hediscoveredthatshehadnotapparentlybeensoguilty，butitwasevidentthatthereweremomentswhenMrs。Vanderpoelwasuneasyanddisposedtoaskanxiousquestions。Whenthisoccurredhedestroyedtheletters，andasaresultofthisprecautiononhisparthermotherlyqueriesseemedtobeignored，andsheseveraltimesshedtearsinthebeliefthatRosyhadgrownsopatricianthatshewascapableofsnubbinghermotherinherresentmentatfeelingherprivacyintrudeduponandanunrefinedeffusivenessshown。
　　"Ijustfeelasifshewasbeginningnottocareaboutusatall，Betty，"shesaid。"Icouldn’thavebelieveditofRosy。
　　Shewasalwayssuchanaffectionategirl。"
　　"Idon’tbelieveitnow，"repliedBettysharply。"Rosycouldn’tgrowhatefulandstuckup。It’sthatnastyNigelIknowitis。"
　　SirNigel’sintentionwasthatthereshouldbeaslittleintercoursebetweenFifthAvenueandStornhamCourtaswaspossible。Amongotherthings，hedidnotintendthatalotofAmericanrelationsshouldcometumblinginwhentheychosetocrosstheAtlantic。Hewouldnothaveit，andtookdiscreetstepstopreventanyaccidentofthesort。HewrotetoAmericaoccasionallyhimself，andknowingwellhowtomakehimselfcivillyrepellent，sosubtlychilledhisparents—in—lawastodiscourageinthemmorethanoncetheirhalf—formedplanofpayingavisittotheirchildinhernewhome。Heopened，readandreclosedallepistlestoandfromNewYork，andwhileMrs。VanderpoelwasmuchhurttofindthatRosalienevercondescendedtomakeanyresponsetohertentativesconcerningherpossiblevisit，Rosalieherselfwasmystifiedbythefactthatthejourney"toEurope"wasneverspokenof。
　　"Idon’tseewhytheyneverseemtothinkofcomingover，"
　　shesaidplaintivelyoneday。"Theyusedtotalksomuchaboutit。"
　　"They？"ejaculatedtheDowagerLadyAnstruthers。"Whommayyoumean？"
　　"MotherandfatherandBettyandsomeoftheothers。"
　　Hermother—in—lawputuphereye—glassestostareather。
　　"Thewholefamily？"sheinquired。
　　"Therearenotsomanyofthem，"Rosalieanswered。
　　"Afamilyisalwaystoomanytodescenduponayoungwomanwhensheismarried，"observedherladyshipunmovedly。
　　NigelglancedoverthetopofhisTimes。
　　"Imayaswelltellyouthatitwouldnotdoatall，"heputin。
　　"Why——whynot？"exclaimedRosalie，aghast。
　　"Americansdon’tdoinEnglishsociety，"slightingly。
　　"Buttheyarecomingoversomuch。TheylikeLondonso——
　　allAmericanslikeLondon。"
　　"Dothey？"withadrawlwhichmadeRosalieblushuntilthetearsstartedtohereyes。"Iamafraidthesentimentisscarcelymutual。"
　　Rosalieturnedandfledfromtheroom。Sheturnedandfledbecausesherealisedthatsheshouldburstoutcryingifshewaitedtohearanotherword，andsherealisedthatoflatesheseemedalwaystobeburstingoutcryingbeforeoneortheotherofthosetwo。Shecouldnothelpit。Theyalwaysseemedtobeimplyingsomethingslightingorscathing。Theywerealwaysputtingherinthewrongandhurtingherfeelings。
　　Thedaywasdampandchill，butsheputonherhatandranoutintothepark。Shewentdowntheavenueandturnedintoacoppice。There，amongthewetbracken，shesankdownonthemossytrunkofafallentreeandhuddledherselfinasmallheap，herheadonherarms，actuallywailing。
　　"Oh，mother！Oh，mother！"shecriedhysterically。"Oh，Idowishyouwouldcome。I’msocold，mother；I’msoill！
　　Ican’tbearit！Itseemsasifyou’dforgottenallaboutme！
　　You’reallsohappyinNewYorkthatperhapsyouhaveforgotten——
　　perhapsyouhave！Oh，don’t，mother——don’t！"
　　Itwasamonthlaterthatthroughthevicar’swifeshereachedadiscoveryandaclimax。Shehadheardonemorningfromthisladyofamisfortunewhichhadbefallenasmallfarmer。Itwasamisfortunewhichwasanactualcatastrophetoamaninhisposition。Hishousehadcaughtfireduringagaleofwindandthefirehadspreadtotheoutbuildingsandrickyardandsweptawayallhisbelongings，hishouse，hisfurniture，hishayricks，andstoredgrain，andevenhisfewcowsandhorses。Hehadbeenapoor，hard—workingfellow，andhissmallinsurancehadlapsedthedaybeforethefire。Hewasabsolutelyruined，andwithhiswifeandsixchildrenstoodfacetofacewithbeggaryandstarvation。
　　RosalieAnstruthersenteredthevicaragetofindthepoorwomanwhowashiscompanionincalamitysobbinginthehall。Achildofafewweekswasinherarms，andtwosmallcreaturesclungcryingtoherskirts。
　　"We’veworkedhard，"shewept；"wehave，ma’am。Father，he’salwaysbeensteady，an’upearlyan’late。P’r’apsit’stheLord’s’and，asyousay，ma’am，butwe’vebeendecentpeoplean’nevermissedchurchwhenwecould’elpit——fatherdidn’tdeserveit——thathedidn’t。"
　　Shewasheartbrokeninherdowntroddenhopelessness。Rosalieliterallyquakedwithsympathy。Shepouredforthherpityinsuchwordsasthepoorwomanhadneverheardspokenbyagreatladytoahumblecreaturelikeherself。ThevillagersfoundthenewLadyAnstruthers’interviewswiththemcuriouslysimpleandsuggestiveofanequalitytheycouldnotunderstand。
　　Stornhamwasaconservativeoldvillage，wherethedistinctionbetweenthegentryandthepeasantswasclearlymarked。ThecottagerswerepuzzledbySirNigel’swife，buttheydecidedthatshewaskind，ifunusual。
　　AsRosalietalkedtothefarmer’swifeshelongedforherfather’spresence。Shehadrememberedatimewhenamaninhisemployhadlosthisallbyfire，thesmallhousehehadjustmadehislastpaymentuponhavingbeenburnedtotheground。Hehadlostoneofhischildreninthefire，andthedetailshadbeenheartrending。TheentireVanderpoelhouseholdhadweptonhearingthem，andMr。Vanderpoelhaddrawnachequewhichhadseemedlikeafortunetothesufferer。Anewhousehadbeenbought，andMrs。Vanderpoelandherdaughtersandfriendshadbestowedfurnitureandclothingenoughtomakethefamilycomfortabletothevergeofluxury。
　　"See，youpoorthing，"saidRosalie，glowingwithmemoriesofthisincident，herhomesickyoungsoulcomfortedbythemerelikenessinthetwocalamities。"IbroughtmychequebookwithmebecauseImeanttohelpyou。Amanworkedformyfatherhadhishouseburned，justasyourswas，andmyfathermadeeverythingallrightforhimagain。
　　I’llmakeitallrightforyou；I’llmakeyouachequeforahundredpoundsnow，andthenwhenyourhusbandbeginstobuildI’llgivehimsomemore。"
　　Thewomangaspedforbreathandturnedpale。Shewasfrightened。Itreallyseemedasifherladyshipmusthavelostherwitsalittle。Shecouldnotmeanthis。Thevicaressturnedpalealso。
　　"LadyAnstruthers，"shesaid，"LadyAnstruthers，it——itistoomuch。SirNigel————"