"Whatwouldyouconsiderfairplay？"sheinquired。
　　"Itwouldbefairtolistentomewithoutprejudice——toletmeexplainhowithashappenedthatIhaveappearedtoyoua——ablackguard——Ihavenodoubtyouwouldcallit——andafool。"Hethrewouthishandinanimpatientgesture——impatientofhimself——hisfate——thetricksofbadfortunewhichitimpliedhadmadeofhimamoreerringmortalthanhewouldhavebeeniflefttohimself，andtreateddecently。
　　"Donotputitsostrongly，"withconservativepoliteness。
　　"Idon’trefusetoadmitthatIamhandicappedbyadevilofatemperament。Thatisaninheritedthing。"
　　"Ah！"saidBetty。"Oneofthetemperamentsonereadsabout——forwhichnooneistobeblamedbutone’sdeceasedrelatives。Afterall，thatiscomparativelyeasytodealwith。
　　Onecanjustgoondoingwhatonewantstodo——andthencondemnone’sgrandparentsseverely。"
　　Arepellentqualityinher——whichhadalsothetrickoftransformingitselfintoanexasperatingattraction——wasthatshedeprivedhimoftheluxuryhehadbeenmosttenaciousofthroughouthisexistence。Iftheinjusticeoffatehasfailedtobestowuponamanfortune，goodlooksorbrilliance，hisexerciseofthepowertodisturb，toenragethosewhodarenotresent，towoundandtakethenonsenseoutofthoseabouthim，will，atallevents，precludethepossibilityofhisbeingpassedoverasafactornottobeconsidered。Iftocharmandbestowgivesthesenseofpower，tothwartandhumiliatemaybefoundnotwhollyunsatisfying。
　　Butinhercasetheinadequacyoftheusualmethodshadforceditselfuponhim。Itwasasifthedartbeingaimedather，shecaughtitinherhandinitsflight，brokeoffitspointandthrewitlightlyasidewithoutcomment。Mostwomencannotresistthetemptationtoansweraspeechcontainingastingorareproach。Itwaspartofherabnormalitythatshecouldletsuchthingsgobyinadetachedsilence，whichdidnotexpresseventhegermofcommentoropinionuponthem。This，hesaid，wastheresultofherbeastlysenseofsecurity，which，initsturn，wastheresultoftheatmosphereofwealthshehadbreathedsinceherbirth。Therehadbeennoobstaclewhichcouldnotberemovedforher，nolawoflimitationhadlaiditsreinonherneck。Shehadnotbeentaughtbyherexistencetheimportanceofpropitiatingopinion。
　　Undersuchconditions，howwasfeartobelearned？Shehadnotlearnedit。Butforthedevilinthebluebetweenherlashes，herealisedthatheshouldhavebrokenlooselongago。
　　"IsupposeIdeservedthatformakingastupidappealtosympathy，"heremarked。"Iwillnotdoitagain。"
　　Ifshehadbeenthewomanwhocanbegentlygoadedintoreply，shewouldhavemadeanswertothis。Butsheallowedtheobservationtopass，givingitfreeflightintospace，whereitlostitselfaftertheannoyingmannerofitskind。
　　"HaveyouanyobjectiontotellingmewhyyoudecidedtocometoEnglandthisyear？"heinquired，withacasualair，afterthepausewhichshedidnotfillin。
　　Thebluntnessofthequestiondidnotseemtodisturbher。
　　Shewasnotsorry，infact，thathehadaskedit。Sheletherworklieuponherknee，andleanedbackinherlowgardenchair，herhandsrestinguponitswickerarms。Sheturnedonhimaclearunprejudicedgaze。
　　"IcametoseeRosy。Ihavealwaysbeenveryfondofher。Ididnotbelievethatshehadforgottenhowmuchwehadlovedher，orhowmuchshehadlovedus。IknewthatifIcouldseeheragainIshouldunderstandwhyshehadseemedtoforgetus。"
　　"Andwhenyousawher，you，ofcourse，decidedthatIhadbehaved，toquotemyownwords——likeablackguardandafool。"
　　"Itis，ofcourse，veryrudetosayyouhavebehavedlikeafool，but——ifyou’llexcusemysayingso——thatiswhathasimpressedmeverymuch。Don’tyouknow，"withamoderation，whichsingularlydroveitselfhome，"thatifyouhadbeenkindtoher，andhadmadeherhappy，youcouldhavehadanythingyouwishedfor——withouttrouble？"
　　Thiswasoneoftheunadornedfactswhicharelikebullets。
　　Disgustedly，hefoundhimselfveeringtowardsanoutlookwhichforcedhimtoadmitthattherewasprobablytruthinwhatshesaid，andheknewheheardmoretruthasshewenton。
　　"Shewouldhavewantedonlywhatyouwanted，andshewouldnothaveaskedmuchinreturn。ShewouldnothaveaskedasmuchasIshould。Whatyoudidwasnotbusiness—
　　like。"Shepausedamomenttogivethoughttoit。"Youpaidtoohighapricefortheluxuryofindulgingtheinheritedtemperament。Yourluxurywasnottocontrolit。Butitwasabadinvestment。"
　　"Thefigureofspeechisrathercommercial，"coldly。
　　"Itiscuriousthatmostthingsare，asarule。Thereisalwaystheparallelofprofitandlosswhetheroneseesitornot。Theprofitsarehappinessandfriendship——enjoymentoflifeandapprobation。Iftheinheritedtemperamentsuppliesonewithallonewantsofsuchthings，itcannotbecalledaloss，ofcourse。"
　　"Youthink，however，thatminehasnotbroughtmemuch？"
　　"Idonotknow。Itisyouwhoknow。"
　　"Well，"viciously，"thereHASbeenasortofluxuryinitinlashingoutwithone’sheels，andsmashingthings——andinknowingthatpeopleprefertokeepclear。"
　　Sheliftedhershouldersalittle。
　　"Thenperhapsithaspaid。"
　　"No，"suddenlyandfiercely，"damnit，ithasnot！"
　　Andsheactuallymadenoreplytothat。
　　"Whatdoyoumeantodo？"hequestionedasbluntlyasbefore。Heknewshewouldunderstandwhathemeant。
　　"Notmuch。ToseethatRosyisnotunhappyanymore。
　　Wecanpreventthat。Shewasoutofrepair——asthehousewas。Sheisbeingrebuiltanddecorated。Sheknowsthatshewillbetakencareof。"
　　"Iknowherbetterthanyoudo，"withalaugh。"Shewillnotgoaway。Sheistoofrightenedoftherowitwouldmake——
　　ofwhatIshouldsay。Ishouldhaveplentytosay。Icanmakehershakeinhershoes。"
　　Bettylethereyesrestfulluponhim，andhesawthatshewassoftlysumminghimup——quitewithoutprejudice，merelyininterestedspeculationupontheworkingsoftype。
　　"Youarelettingtheinheritedtemperamentrunawaywithyouatthismoment，"shereflectedaloud——herquietscrutinyalmostabstracted。"Itwasfoolishtosaythat。"
　　Hehadknownitwasfoolishtwosecondsafterthewordshadlefthislips。Butatemperwhichhasbeenallowedtoleaphedges，uncheckedthroughoutlife，isinperilofformingahabitoftakingthemevenatsuchtimesasaleapmaylanditsownerinaditch。Thislastwaswhatherinterestedeyeswereobviouslysaying。Itsuitedhimbestatthemomenttotrytolaugh。
　　"Don’tlookatmelikethat，"hethrewoff。"Asifyouwerecalculatingthattwoandtwomakefour。"
　　"Noprejudiceofminecaninducethemtomakefiveorsix——orthreeandahalf，"shesaid。"Noprejudiceofmine——
　　orofyours。"
　　Thetwoandtwoshewascalculatingwithwerethelikelihoodsandunlikelihoodsoftheinheritedtemperament，andthepracticalpowersshecouldabsolutelycountonifdifficultyarosewithregardtoRosy。
　　Heguessedatthis，andbegantomakecalculationshimself。
　　Buttherewasnofurtherconversationforthem，astheywereobligedtorisetotheirfeettoreceivevisitors。LadyAlanbyofDoleandSirThomas，hergrandson，werebeingbroughtoutofthehousetothembyRosalie。
　　Hewentforwardtomeetthem——hismannerthatofthegracefulhost。LadyAlanby，havingbeenwelcomedbyhim，andledtothemostcomfortable，tree—shadedchair，foundhisbearingsoelegantlychastenedthatshegazedathimwithprivatecuriosity。Toherfar—seeingandhighlyexperiencedoldminditseemedthebearingofamanwhowas"uptosomething。"Whatspecialthingdidhechancetobe"upto"？HisglancecertainlylurkedafterMissVanderpoeloddly。
　　Washefallinginunholylovewiththegirl，underhisstupidlittlewife’sverynose？
　　Shecouldnot，however，giveherundividedattentiontohim，asshewishedtokeephereyeonhergrandsonand——outrageouslyenoughfithappenedthatjustasteawasbroughtoutandTommywasbeginningtocheerupandquitecomeoutalittleunderthespuroftheactivitiesofhandingbreadandbutterandcresssandwiches，whoshouldappearbutthetwoLithcomgirls，escortedbytheiraunt，Mrs。Manners，withwhomtheylived。Astheywereorphanswithoutmoney，iftheManners，whowereratherwelloff，hadnottakenthemin，theywouldhavehadtogototheworkhouse，orintogenteelamateurshops，astheywerenotcleverenoughforgovernesses。
　　Mary，withherturned—upnose，lookedjustaboutasusual，butJanehadanewfrockonwhichwasexactlythecolourofthebig，appealingeyes，withtheirtrickoffollowingpeopleabout。Shelookedalittlepaleandpathetic，whichsomehowgaveheraspeciousairofbeingpretty，whichshereallywasnotatall。Theswayingyoungthinnessofthoseveryslightgirlswhosesoftsummermuslinsmakethemlooklikedelicatebagstiedinthemiddlewithflutteringribbons，hasalmostinvariablyafoolishattractionforburlyyoungmenwhosecharactersarechieflymarkedbylackofforethought，andLadyAlanbysawTommy’srobustyoungbodygiveasortofjerkasthepartyofthreewasbroughtacrossthegrass。Afterithepulledhimselftogetherhastily，andlookedstiffandpink，shakinghandsasifhiselbowjointwasoutoforder，beingatoncetoolooseandtoorigid。Hebegantobeclumsywiththebreadandbutter，and，ceasinghistalkwithMissVanderpoel，fellintosilence。Whyshouldhegoontalking？
　　hethought。MissVanderpoelwasacrackinghandsomegirl，butshewastoocleverforhim，andhehadtothinkofallsortsofnewthingstosaywhenhetalkedtoher。And——
　　well，afellowcouldneverimaginehimselfstretchedoutonthegrass，puffinghappilyawayatapipe，withagirllikethatsittingnearhim，smiling——thehotturfsmellingalmostlikehay，thehotblueskycurvingoverhead，andboththegirlandhimselfperfectlyhappy——chockfullofjoy——thoughneitherofthemweresayinganythingatall。Youcouldimagineitwithsomegirls——youDIDimagineitwhenyouwakenedearlyonasummermorning，andlayinluxuriousstillnesslisteningtothebirdssinginglikemad。
　　LadyJanewasanicely—behavedgirl，andshetriedtokeepherfollowingblueeyesfixedonthegrass，oronLadyAnstruthers，orMissVanderpoel，buttherewassomethinglikeastring，whichsometimespulledtheminanotherdirection，andoncewhenthishadhappened——quiteagainstherwill——shewasterrifiedtofindLadyAlanby’sglassliftedandfixeduponher。
　　AsLadyAlanby’sopinionofMrs。Mannerswasbutapoorone，andasMrs。MannerswasstrickendumbbyhercombineddislikeandaweofLadyAlanby，aslightstiffnessmighthavesettleduponthegatheringifBettyhadnotmadeaneffort。SheappliedherselftoLadyAlanbyandMrs。Mannersatonce，andendedbymakingthemtalktoeachother。
　　Whentheylefttheteatableunderthetreestolookatthegardens，shewalkedbetweenthem，playingupontheprimevalhorticulturalpassionswhichdominatetheexistenceofallrespectableandnormalcountryladies，untilthegulfbetweenthemwastemporarilybridged。Thisbeingachieved，sheadroitlypassedthemovertoLadyAnstruthers，who，Nigelobservedwithsomecuriosity，acceptedthecasualresponsibilitywithoutmanifestdiscomfiture。
　　TotheachingTommythemannerinwhich，afewminuteslater，hefoundhimselfstandingalonewithJaneLithcominapathofclippedlaurelswasalmostbewilderinglysimple。
　　Attheendofthelaurelwalkwasaprettypeepofthecountry，andMissVanderpoelhadbroughthimtoseeit。NigelAnstruthershadbeenloiteringbehindwithJaneandMary。AsMissVanderpoelturnedwithhimintothepath，shestoopedandpickedablossomfromaclumpofspeedwellgrowingatthefootofabitofwall。
　　"LadyJane’seyesarejustthecolourofthisflower，"shesaid。
　　"Yes，theyare，"heanswered，glancingdownatthelovelylittlebluethingasshehelditinherhand。Andthen，withathumpoftheheart，"Mostpeopledonotthinksheispretty，butI——"quitedesperately——"IDO。"Hismoodhadbecomerash。
　　"SodoI，"BettyVanderpoelanswered。
　　Thentheothersjoinedthem，andMissVanderpoelpausedtotalkalittle——andwhentheywentonshewaswithMaryandNigelAnstruthers，andhewaswithJane，walkingslowly，andsomehowtheothersmeltedaway，turninginaperfectlynaturalmannerintoasidepath。Theirownslowpacebecameslower。Infact，inafewmoments，theywerestandingquitestillbetweenthegreenwalls。Janeturnedalittleaside，andpickedoffsomesmallleaves，nervously。Hesawthemuslinonherchestliftquiveringly。
　　"Oh，littleJane！"hesaidinabig，shakywhisper。Thefollowingeyesincontinentlybrimmedover。Someshiningdropsfellonthesoftnessofthebluemuslin。
　　"Oh，Tommy，"givingup，"it’snouse——talkingatall。"
　　"Youmustn’tthink——youmustn’tthink——ANYTHING，"hefalteringlycommanded，drawingnearer，becauseitwasimpossiblenottodoit。
　　Whathereallymeant，thoughhedidnotknowhowdecorouslytosayit，wasthatshemustnotthinkthathecouldbemovedbyanytallbeauty，towardsthesplendourofwhosepossessionshisreveredgrandmothermightbedrivinghim。
　　"Iamnotthinkinganything，"criedJaneinanswer。"Butsheiseverything，andIamnothing。Justlookather——andthenlookatme，Tommy。"
　　"I’lllookatyouaslongasyou’llletme，"gulpedTommy，andhewasboyenoughandmanenoughtoputahandoneachofhershoulders，anddrownhislonginginherbrimmingeyes……
　　MaryandMissVanderpoelweretalkingwithacuriousintimacy，inanotherpartofthegarden，wheretheyweretogetheralone，SirNigelhavingbeenreattachedtoLadyAlanby。
　　"YouhaveknownSirThomasalongtime？"Bettyhadjustsaid。
　　"Sincewewerechildren。JaneremindedmeattheDunholms’ballthatshehadplayedcricketwithhimwhenshewaseight。"
　　"Theyhavealwayslikedeachother？"MissVanderpoelsuggested。
　　Marylookedupather，andthemeetingoftheireyeswasfranktorevelation。ButforthecleargirlishlikingforherselfshesawinBettyVanderpoel’s，Marywouldhaveknownhernextspeechtobeofimbecilebluntness。ShehadheardthatAmericansoftenhadaqueer，delightfulunderstandingofunconventionalthings。Thissplendidgirlwasunderstandingher。
　　"Oh！YouSEE！"shebrokeout。"Youleftthemtogetheronpurpose！"
　　"Yes，Idid。"AndtherewasacomprehensionsodeepinherlookthatMaryknewitwasdeeperthanherown，andsomehowfoundedonsomesubtlerfeelingthanherown。
　　"Whentwopeoplewantsomuch——caresomuchtobetogether，"MissVanderpoeladdedquiteslowly——evenasifthewordsratherforcedthemselvesfromher，"itseemsasifthewholeworldoughttohelpthem——everythingintheworld——
　　theverywind，andrain，andsun，andstars——oh，thingshavenoRIGHTtokeepthemapart。"
　　Marystaredather，movedandfascinated。Shescarcelyknewthatshecaughtatherhand。
　　"IhaveneverbeeninthestatethatJaneis，"shepouredforth。"AndIcan’tunderstandhowshecanbesuchafool，but——butwecareabouteachothermorethanmostgirlsdo——
　　perhapsbecausewehavehadnopeople。Andit’sthekindofthingthereisnousetalkingagainst，itseems。It’skillingtheyoungnessinher。Ifitendsmiserably，itwillbeasifshehadhadanillness，andgotupfromitafaded，done—forspinsterwithastretchofhideousyearstolive。Herblueeyeswilllooklikeboiledgooseberries，becauseshewillhavecriedallthecolouroutofthem。Oh！YouUNDERSTAND！I
　　seeyoudo。"
　　BeforeshehadfinishedbothMissVanderpoel’shandswereholdinghers。
　　"Ido！Ido，"shesaid。Andshedid，asayearagoshehadnotknownshecould。"IsitLadyAlanby？"sheventured。
　　"Yes。Tommywillbehelplesslypoorifshedoesnotleavehimhermoney。Andshewon’tifhemakesherangry。Sheisverydetermined。Shewillleaveittoanawfulcousinifshegetsinarage。AndTommyisnotclever。Hecouldneverearnhisliving。NeithercouldJane。TheycouldNEVERmarry。
　　YouCAN’Tdefyrelatives，andmarryonnothing，unlessyouareacharacterinabook。"
　　"HasshelikedLadyJaneinthepast？"MissVanderpoelasked，asifshewas，mentally，rapidlygoingovertheground，thatshemightquitecomprehendeverything。
　　"Yes。Sheusedtomakeratherapetofher。Shedidn’tlikeme。ShewastakenbyJane’smeek，attentive，obedientways。Janewasbornasweetlittleaffectionateworm。LadyAlanbycan’thateher，evennow。Shejustpushesheroutofherpath。"
　　"Because？"saidBettyVanderpoel。
　　Maryprefacedheranswerwithabrief，half—embarrassedlaugh。
　　"BecauseofYOU。"
　　"Becauseshethinks————？"
　　"Idon’tseehowshecanbelievehehasmuchofachance。
　　Idon’tthinkshedoes——butshewillneverforgivehimifhedoesn’tmakeatryatfindingoutwhetherhehasoneornot。"
　　"Itisverybusinesslike，"Bettymadeobservation。
　　Marylaughed。
　　"WetalkofAmericanbusinessoutlook，"shesaid，"butveryfewofusEnglishpeoplearedreamyidealists。Weareofacoolnessandadaring——whenwearedealingwithquestionsofthissort。Idon’tthinkyoucanknowthethingyouhavebroughthere。Youdescendonadullcountryplace，withyourmoneyandyourlooks，andyousimplySTAYandamuseyourselfbydoingextraordinarythings，asiftherewasnoLondonwaitingforyou。Everyoneknowsthiswon’tlast。
　　Nextseasonyouwillbepresented，andhaveahugesuccess。
　　Youwillbewhirledaboutinavortex，andpeoplewillsitontheedge，andcastbigstronglines，baitedwiththemostglitteringthingstheycangettogether。Youwon’tbeabletogetaway。LadyAlanbyknowstherewouldbenochanceforTommythen。Itwouldbetooidiotictoexpectit。Hemustmakehistrynow。"
　　Theireyesmetagain，andMissVanderpoellookedneithershockednorangry，butanoddsmallshadowsweptacrossherface。Mary，ofcourse，didnotknowthatshewasthinkingofthethingshehadrealisedsooften——thatitwasnoteasytodetachone’sselffromthefactthatonewasReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughter。Asaresultofithereonewasindecentlyandunwillinglydisturbingthelivesofinnocent，unassuminglovers。
　　"AndsolongasSirThomashasnottried——andfoundout——
　　LadyJanewillbemadeunhappy？"
　　"Ifheweretoletyouescapewithouttrying，hewouldnotbeforgiven。Hisgrandmotherhashadherownwayallherlife。"
　　"ButsupposeafterIwentawaysomeoneelsecame？"
　　Maryshookherhead。
　　"Peoplelikeyoudon’tHAPPENinoneneighbourhoodtwiceinalifetime。Iamtwenty—sixandyouarethefirstIhaveseen。"
　　"Andhewillonlybesafeif？"
　　MaryLithcomnodded。
　　"Yes——IF，"sheanswered。"It’ssilly——andfrightful——butitistrue。"
　　MissVanderpoellookeddownonthegrassafewmoments，andthenseemedtoarriveatadecision。
　　"Helikesyou？Youcanmakehimunderstandthings？"sheinquired。
　　"Yes。"
　　"Thengoandtellhimthatifhewillcomehereandaskmeadirectquestion，Iwillgivehimadirectanswer——whichwillsatisfyLadyAlanby。"
　　LadyMarycaughtherbreath。
　　"Doyouknow，youarethemostwonderfulgirlIeversaw！"sheexclaimed。"ButifyouonlyknewwhatIfeelaboutJanie！"Andtearsrushedintohereyes。
　　"Ifeeljustthesamethingaboutmysister，"saidMissVanderpoel。"IthinkRosyandLadyJaneareratheralike。"……
　　WhenTommytrampedacrossthegrasstowardsherhewasturningredandwhitebyturns，andlookingsomewhatlikeayoungmanwhowasbeingmarcheduptoacannon’smouth。
　　ItstruckhimthatitwasanAmericankindofthinghewascalledupontodo，andhewasnotanAmerican，butBritishfromthetopofhisclosely—croppedheadtotheratherthicksolesofhisboots。Hewas，intruth，overwhelmedbyhissenseofhisinadequacytothedemandsofthebrilliantlyconceived，butunheard—ofsituation。Joyandterrorsweptoverhisbeinginwaves。
　　Thetall，proud，wood—nymphlookofherasshestoodunderatree，waitingforhim，wouldhavestruckhiscouragedeadonthespotandcausedhimtoturnandfleeinanguish，ifshehadnotmadealittlemovetowardshim，withaheavenly，every—dayhumannessinhereyes。Thewayshemanageditwasanamazingthing。Hecouldneverhavemanageditatallhimself。
　　Shecameforwardandgavehimherhand，andreallyitwasHERhandwhichheldhisowncomparativelysteady。
　　"ItisforLadyJane，"shesaid。"Thatpreventsitfrombeingridiculousorimproper。ItisforLadyJane。Hereyes，"withasoft—touchedlaugh，"arethecolourofthebluespeedwellI
　　showedyou。Itisthecolourofbabies’eyes。Andherslookastheirsdo——asiftheyaskedeverybodynottohurtthem。"
　　Heactuallyfelluponhisknee，andbendinghisheadoverherhand，kissedithalfadozentimeswithadoration。GoodLord，howsheSAWandKNEW！
　　"IfJanewerenotJane，andyouwerenotYOU，"thewordsrushedfromhim，"itwouldbethemostoutrageous——themostimpudentthingamaneverhadthecheektodo。"
　　"Butitisnot。"Shedidnotdrawherhandaway，andoh，thegirlishkindnessofhersmiling，supportinglook。"Youcametoaskmeif————"
　　"Ifyouwouldmarryme，MissVanderpoel，"hisheadbendingoverherhandagain。"Ibegyourpardon，Ibegyourpardon。
　　OhLord，Ido。’
　　"Ithankyouforthecomplimentyoupayme，"sheanswered。"I
　　likeyouverymuch，SirThomas——andIlikeyoujustnowmorethanever——butIcouldnotmarryyou。Ishouldnotmakeyouhappy，andIshouldnotbehappymyself。Thetruthis————"thinkingamoment，"eachofusreallybelongstoadifferentkindofperson。
　　Andeachofknowsthefact。"
　　"Godblessyou，"hesaid。"Ithinkyouknoweverythingintheworldawomancanknow——andremainanangel。"
　　Itwasanoutburstofeloquence，andshetookitintheprettiestway——withtheprettiestlaugh，whichhadinitnotouchofmockeryordisbeliefinhim。
　　"WhatIhavesaidisquitefinal——ifLadyAlanbyshouldinquire，"shesaid——addingratherquickly，"Someoneiscoming。"
　　Itpleasedhertoseethathedidnothurrytohisfeetclumsily，butevenstoodupright，withashadeofboyishdignity，anddidnotreleaseherhandbeforehehadbenthisheadlowoveritagain。
　　SirNigelwasbringingwithhimLadyAlanby，Mrs。Manners，andhiswife，andwhenBettymethiseyes，sheknewatoncethathehadnotmadehiswaytothisparticulargardenwithoutintention。HehaddiscoveredthatshewaswithTommy，andithadentertainedhimtobreakinuponthem。
　　"IdidnotintendtointerruptSirThomasathisdevotions，"
　　heremarkedtoherafterdinner。"Acceptmyapologies。"
　　"Itdidnotmatterintheleast，thankyou，"saidBetty……
　　"Iamgladtobeabletosay，Thomas，thatyoudidnotlookanentirefoolwhenyougotupfromyourknees，aswecameintotherosegarden。"ThusLadyAlanby，astheircarriageturnedoutofStornhamvillage。
　　"I’mgladmyself，"Tommyanswered。
　　"Whatwereyoudoingthere？Evenifyouwereaskinghertomarryyou，itwasnotnecessarytogothatfar。Wearenotintheseventeenthcentury。
　　ThenTommyflushed。
　　"Ididnotintendtodoit。Icouldnothelpit。Shewasso——soniceabouteverything。Thatgirlisanangel。Itoldherso。"
　　"Veryrightandproperspirittoapproachherin，"answeredtheoldwoman，watchinghimkeenly。"Wassheangelenoughtosayshewouldmarryyou？"
　　Tommy，forsomeoccultreason，hadthecouragetostarebackintohisgrandmother’seyes，quiteasifhewereaman，andnotahobbledehoy，expectingtobebullied。
　　"Shedoesnotwantme，"heanswered。"AndIknewshewouldn’t。Whyshouldshe？Ididwhatyouorderedmetodo，andsheansweredmeasIknewshewould。Shemighthavesnubbedme，butshehassuchawaywithher——suchawayofsayingthingsandunderstanding，that——that——well，I
　　foundmyselfononeknee，kissingherhand——asifIwasbeingpresentedatcourt。"
　　OldLadyAlanbylookedoutonthepassinglandscape。
　　"Well，youdidyourbest，"shesummedthematterupatlast，"ifyouwentdownonyourkneesinvoluntarily。Ifyouhaddoneitonpurpose，itwouldhavebeenunpardonable。"