TenminuteslaterG。SeldenwaswalkingdownFifthAvenue，wonderingiftherewasanychanceofhisbeingarrestedbyapolicemanuponthechargethathewasreeling，insteadofwalkingsteadily。Hehopedheshouldgetbacktothehallbedroomsafely。NickBaumgartenandJemBolterboth"roomed"inthehousewithhim。Hecouldtellthemboth。ItwasJemwhohadmadeuptheyarnaboutoneofthemsavingReubenS。Vanderpoel’slife。Therehadbeennolife—saving，butthethinghadcometrue。
　　"But，ifithadn’tbeenforLordMountDunstan，"hesaid，thinkingitoverexcitedly，"IshouldneverhaveseenMissVanderpoel，and，ifithadn’tbeenforMissVanderpoel，IshouldneverhavegotnexttoReubenS。inmylife。BothsidesoftheAtlanticOceangotbusytodoagoodturntoLittleWillie。Hullygee！"
　　InhisstudyMr。VanderpoelwasrereadingBetty’sletters。
　　HefeltthathehadgainedacertainknowledgeofLordMountDunstan。
　　CHAPTERXXXIX
　　ONTHEMARSHES
　　THEmarshesstretchedmellowintheautumnsun，sheepwanderedabout，nibblingcontentedly，orlaydowntorestingroups，theskyreflectingitselfinthenarrowdykesgaveabluecolourtothewater，ascentoftheseawasintheairasonebreathedit，flocksofploverrose，nowandthen，cryingsoftly。Betty，walkingwithherdog，hadpassedaheronstandingattheedgeofapool。
　　Fromherfirstdiscoveryofthem，shehadbeenattractedbythemarsheswiththeirEnglishsuggestionoftheRomanCampagna，theirbroadexpanseoflevellandspreadouttothesunandwind，thethousandsofwhitesheepdottedorclusteredasfaraseyecouldreach，thehuesofthemarshgrassandtheplantsgrowingthickatthebordersofthestripsofwater。Itsbeautywasallitsownandcuriouslyalooffromthesoftly—
　　wooded，undulatingworldaboutit。Drivingorwalkingalongthehighroad——theroadtheRomanshadbuilttoLondontownlongcenturiesago——oneithersideofoneweremeadows，farms，scatteredcottages，andhopgardens，butbeyondandbelowstretchedthemarshland，goldenandgrey，andalwaysalluringonebyitssilence。
　　"Ineverpassitwithoutwantingtogotoit——totakesolitarywalksoverit，tobeoneofthespotsonitasthesheepare。Itseemsasif，lyingthereundertheblueskyorthelowgreycloudswithalltheworldheldatbaybymerespaceandstillness，theymustfeelsomethingweknownothingof。Iwanttogoandfindoutwhatitis。"
　　ThisshehadoncesaidtoMountDunstan。
　　Soshehadfallenintothehabitofwalkingtherewithherdogathersideashersolecompanion，forhavingneedfortimeandspaceforthought，shehadfoundtheminthesilenceandaloofness。
　　Lifehadbeenavividandpleasurablethingtoher，asfarasshecouldlookbackuponit。Shebegantorealisethatshemusthavebeenveryhappy，becauseshehadneverfoundherselfdesiringexistenceotherthansuchashadcometoherdaybyday。ExceptforherpassionatechildishregretatRosy’smarriage，shehadexperiencednopainfulfeeling。Infact，shehadfacednohurtinherlife，andcertainlyhadbeenconfrontedbynolimitations。Arguingthatgirlsintheirteensusuallyfallinlove，herfatherhadoccasionallywonderedthatshepassedthroughnolittleepisodesofsentiment，butthefactwasthatherinterestshadbeenlargerandmorenumerousthantheinterestsofgirlsgenerallyare，andheraffectionateintimacywithhimselfhadleftnosuchsmallvacantspacesasarefrequentlyfilledbyunimportantyoungemotions。Becauseshewasalogicalcreature，andhadwatchedlifeandthoselivingitwithclearandinterestedeyes，shehadnotbeenblindtothepathwhichhadmarkeditselfbeforeherduringthesummer’sgrowthandwaning。Shehadnot，atfirst，perhaps，knownexactlywhenthingsbegantochangeforher——whentheclarityofhermindbegantobedisturbed。Shehadthoughtinthebeginning——aspeoplehaveahabitofdoing——thataninstance——aproblem——asituationhadattractedherattentionbecauseitwasabsorbingenoughtothinkover。Herviewofthematterhadbeenthatasthesamethingwouldhaveinterestedherfather，ithadinterestedherself。ButfromthemorningwhenshehadbeenconsciousofthesuddenfuryrousedinherbyNigelAnstruthers’uglysneeratMountDunstan，shehadbetterunderstoodthethingwhichhadcomeuponher。Daybydayithadincreasedandgatheredpower，andsherealisedwithacertainsenseofimpatiencethatshehadnotinanydegreeunderstooditwhenshehadseenandwonderedatitseffectonotherwomen。Eachdayhadbeenlikeawaveencroachingfartherupontheshoreshestoodupon。Attheoutsetacertainignoblepride——sheknewitignoble——filledherwithrebellion。Shehadseensomuchofthiskindofsituation，andhadheardsomuchofthegeneralcomment。Peoplehadlearnedhowtosneerbecauseexperiencehadtaughtthem。Ifshegavethemcause，whyshouldtheynotsneeratherasatthings？Sherecalledwhatshehadherselfthoughtofsuchthings——thefollyofthem，theobviousness——thealmostdeserveddisaster。Shehadarrogatedtoherselfjudgmentofwomen——andmen——whomight，yes，whomighthavestoodupontheirstripofsand，asshestood，withthewavescreepingin，eachonehigher，stronger，andmoreengulfingthanthelast。Theremighthavebeenthoseamongthemwhoalsohadknowledgeofthatsuddendeadlyjoyatthesightofoneface，atthedropofonevoice。Whenthatwavesubmergedone’spulsingbeing，whathadtheworldtodowithone——howcouldonehearandthinkofwhatitsspeechmightbe？Itsvoiceclamouredtoofaroff。
　　Asshewalkedacrossthemarshshewasthinkingthisfirstphaseover。Shehadreachedanewone，andatfirstshelookedbackwithafaint，evenratherhard，smile。Shewalkedstraightahead，hermastiff，Roland，paddingalongheavilycloseatherside。Howstillandwideandgoldenitwas；howthecryofploverandliftingtrillofskylarkassuredonethatonewaswhollyencircledbysolitudeandspacewhichweremoreenclosingthananywalls！ShewasgoingtothemoundstowhichMr。PenzancehadtrundledG。Seldenintheponychaise，whenhehadgivenhimthemarvelloushourwhichhadbroughtRomancampandRomanlegionstolifeagain。Uponthelargesthillockonecouldsitenthroned，restingchininhandandlookingoutunderlevellidsattheunstirring，softly—livinglovelinessofthemarsh—landworld。Soshewaspresentlyseated，withherheavy—limbedRolandatherfeet。Shehadcomeheretotrytoputthingsclearlytoherself，toplanwithsuchreasonasshecouldcontrol。Shehadbeguntobeunhappy，shehadbegun——withsomeunfairness——tolookbackupontheBettyVanderpoelofthepastasanunwittinglyself—sufficientyoungwoman，tofindherselfsuddenlyentangledbythings，eventoknowatouchofdesperateness。
　　"Nottotakearemnantfromtheducalbargaincounter，"
　　shewassayingmentally。Thatwaswhyhersmilewasalittlehard。Whatiftheremnantfromtheducalbargaincounterhadprejudicesofhisown？
　　"Ifhewerepassionately——passionatelyinlovewithme，"shesaid，withredstaininghercheeks，"hewouldnotcome——hewouldnotcome——hewouldnotcome。And，becauseofthat，heismoretome——MORE！Andmorehewillbecomeeveryday——andthemorestronglyhewillholdme。Andtherewestand。"
　　Rolandliftedhisfineheadfromhispaws，and，holdingiterectonastiff，strongneck，staredatherinobviousinquiry。
　　Sheputoutherhandandtenderlypattedhim。
　　"Hewillhavenoneofme，"shesaid。"Hewillhavenoneofme。"Andshefaintlysmiled，butthenextinstantshookherheadalittlehaughtily，and，havingdoneso，lookeddownwithanalteredexpressionupontheclothofherskirt，becauseshehadshakenuponit，fromtheextravagantlashes，twocleardrops。
　　Itwasnottheresultofchancethatshehadseennothingofhimforweeks。Shehadnotattemptedtopersuadeherselfofthat。TwicehehaddeclinedaninvitationtoStornham，andoncehehadriddenpastherontheroadwhenhemighthavestoppedtoexchangegreetings，orhaveriddenonbyherside。
　　Hedidnotmeantoseemtodesire，eversolightly，tobecountedasinthelists。Whetherhewasdrawnbyanylikingforherornot，itwasplainhehaddeterminedonthis。
　　Ifsheweretogoawaynow，theywouldnevermeetagain。
　　Theirwaysinthisworldwouldpartforever。Shewouldnotknowhowlongittooktobreakhimutterly——ifsuchamancouldbebroken。Ifnomagicchangetookplaceinhisfortunes——andwhatchangecouldcome？——thedecayabouthimwouldspreaddaybyday。Stonewallslastalongtime，sothehousewouldstandwhileeverybeautyandstatelinesswithinitfellintoruin。Gardenswouldbecomewildernesses，terracesandfountainscrumbleandbeovergrown，wallsthatwereto—dayleaningwouldfallwithtime。Theyearswouldpass，andhisyouthwiththem；hewouldgraduallychangeintoanoldmanwhilehewatchedthethingshelovedwithpassiondieslowlyandhard。HowstrangeitwasthatlivesshouldtouchandpassontheoceanofTime，andnothingshouldresult——nothingatall！Whenshewentonherway，itwouldbeasifashiploadedwitheveryaidoffoodandtreasurehadpassedaboatinwhichastrongmantossed，starvingtodeath，andhadnotevenrunupaflag。
　　"Butonecannotrunupaflag，"shesaid，strokingRoland。
　　"Onecannot。Therewestand。"
　　ToherrecognitionofthisdeadlockofFate，therehadbeenaddingthegrowingdisturbancecausedbyyetanotherthingwhichwasincreasinglytroubling，increasinglydifficulttoface。
　　Gradually，andatfirstwithwonderfulnaturalnessofbearing，NigelAnstruthershadmanagedtocreateforhimselfasingularplaceinhereverydaylife。Ithadbegunwithacertainpersonalnessinhisattitude，apersonalnesswhichwasathingtodislike，butalmostimpossibleopenlytoresent。Certainly，asaself—invitedguestinhishouse，shecouldscarcelyprotestagainsttheamiabilityofhisdemeanourandhisexteriorcourtesyandattentivenessofmannerinhisconducttowardsher。Shehadtriedtosweepawaytheobjectionablequalityinhisbearing，byfrankness，byindifference，byentirelackofresponse，butshehadremainedconsciousofitsincreasingasaspider’swebmightincreaseasthespiderspunitquietlyoverone，throwingoutthreadssoimpalpablethatonecouldnotbrushthemawaybecausetheyweretooslighttobeseen。Shewasawarethatinthefirstyearsofhismarriedlifehehadalternatelyresentedthescarcityoftheinvitationssentthemandrudelyrefusedsuchaswerereceived。SincehehadreturnedtofindheratStornham，hehadinsistedthatnoinvitationsshouldbedeclined，andhadescortedhiswifeandherselfwherevertheywent。Whatcouldhavebeenconventionallymoreproper——whatmoreimproperthanthatheshouldhavepersistentlyhaveremainedathome？Andyettherecameatimewhen，astheythreedrovetogetheratnightintheclosedcarriage，Bettywasconsciousthat，ashesatoppositetoherinthedark，whenhespoke，whenhetouchedherinarrangingtherobeoverher，oropeningorshuttingthewindow，hesubtly，butpersistently，conveyedthatthepersonalnessofhisvoice，look，andphysicalnearnesswasasortofhideousconfidencebetweenthemwhichtheywerecleverlyconcealingfromRosalieandtheoutsideworld。
　　Whensherodeaboutthecountry，hehadawayofappearingatsometurningandmakinghimselfhercompanion，ridingtoocloselyatherside，andassuminganoticeableairofbeingengagedinmeaninglyconfidentialtalk。Once，whenhehadbeenleaningtowardsherwithanaudaciouslytendermanner，theyhadbeenpassedbytheDunholmcarriage，andLadyDunholmandthefrienddrivingwithherhadevidentlytriednottolooksurprised。LadyAlanby，meetingtheminthesamewayatanothertime，hadputupherglassesandstaredinopendisapproval。ShemightadmireastrikinglyhandsomeAmericangirl，butherfavourwouldnotlastthroughanysuchvulgarsillinessasflirtationswithdisgracefulbrothers—in—law。WhenBettystrolledabouttheparkorthelanes，shemuchtoooftenencounteredSirNigelstrollingalso，andknewthathedidnotmeantoallowhertoridherselfofhim。Inpublic，hemadeapointofkeepingobservablyclosetoher，ofhoveringinhervicinityandlookingonatallshedidwitheyessherebelledagainstfindingfixedonhereachtimeshewasobligedtoturninhisdirection。Hehadafashionofcomingtohersideandspeakinginadroppedvoice，whichexcludedothers，asafavouredlovermight。Shehadseenbothmenandwomenglanceatherinhalf—embarrassmentattheirsuddensenseoffindingthemselvesslightlydetrop。Shehadsaidaloudtohimononesuchoccasion——andshehadsaiditwithsmilingcasualnessforthebenefitofLadyAlanby，towhomshehadbeentalking：
　　"Don’talarmmebydroppingyourvoice，Nigel。Iameasilyfrightened——andLadyAlanbywillthinkweareconspirators。"
　　Foraninstanthewastakenbysurprise。Hehadbeenpleasedtobelievethattherewasnowayinwhichshecoulddefendherself，unlessshewouldcondescendtosomethingstupidlylikeascene。Heflushedanddrewhimselfup。
　　"Ibegyourpardon，mydearBetty，"hesaid，andwalkedawaywiththemannerofanoffendedadorer，leavinghertorealiseanodiouslyunpleasanttruth——whichisthatthereareincidentsonlymademoreinexplicablebyanefforttoexplain。
　　Shesawalsothathewasquiteawareofthis，andthathisoffendeddeparturewasabrilliantinspiration，andhadlefther，asitwere，inthelurch。TohavesaidtoLadyAlanby："Mybrother—in—law，inwhosehouseIammerelystayingformysister’ssake，istryingtoleadyoutobelievethatIallowhimtomakelovetome，"wouldhavesuggestedeitherfollyorinsanityonherownpart。Asitwas——afteraglanceatSirNigel’sstifflyretreatingback——LadyAlanbymerelylookedawaywithawhollyuninvitingexpression。
　　WhenBettyspoketohimafterwards，haughtilyandwithdetermination，helaughed。
　　"Mydearestgirl，"hesaid，"ifIwatchyouwithinterestanddropmyvoicewhenIgetachancetospeaktoyou，Ionlydowhateveryothermandoes，andIdoitbecauseyouareanalluringyoungwoman——whichnooneismoreperfectlyawareofthanyourself。Yourpretencethatyoudonotknowyouarealluringisthemostcaptivatingthingaboutyou。AndwhatdoyouthinkofdoingifIcontinuetooffendyou？Doyouproposetodesertus——toleavepoorRosalietosinkbackagainintothebundleofoldclothesshewaswhenyoucame？ForHeaven’ssake，don’tdothat！"
　　Allthathiswordssuggestedtookformbeforehervividly。
　　Howwellheunderstoodwhathewassaying。Butsheansweredhimbravely。
　　"No。Idonotmeantodothat。"
　　Hewatchedherforafewseconds。Therewascuriosityinhiseyes。
　　"Don’tmakethemistakeofimaginingthatIwillletmywifegowithyoutoAmerica，"hesaidnext。"SheisasfarofffromthatasshewaswhenIbroughthertoStornham。I
　　havetoldherso。Amancannottiehiswifetothebedpostinthesedays，buthecanmakehereffortstoleavehimsodecidedlyunpleasantthatdecentwomenprefertostayathomeandtakewhatiscoming。Ihaveseenthatoftenenough`tobankonit，’
　　ifImayquoteyourAmericanfriends。"
　　"Doyouremembermyoncesaying，"Bettyremarked，"thatwhenawomanhasbeenPROPERLYill—treatedthetimecomeswhennothingmatters——nothingbutreleasefromthelifesheloathes？"
　　"Yes，"heanswered。"Andtoyounothingwouldmatterbut——excusemysayingit——yourowndamnable，headstrongpride。ButRosalieisdifferent。Everythingmatterstoher。
　　Andyouwillfinditso，mydeargirl。"
　　AndthatthiswasatleasthalftruewasbroughthometoherbythefactthatlatethesamenightRosycametoherwhitewithcrying。
　　"Itisnotyourfault，Betty，"shesaid。"Don’tthinkthatI
　　thinkitisyourfault，buthehasbeeninmyroominoneofthosehumourswhenheseemslikeadevil。HethinksyouwillgobacktoAmericaandtrytotakemewithyou。But，Betty，youmustnotthinkaboutme。Itwillbebetterforyoutogo。
　　Ihaveseenyouagain。Ihavehadyoufor——foratime。Youwillbesaferathomewithfatherandmother。"
　　Bettylaidahandonhershoulderandlookedatherfixedly。
　　"Whatisit，Rosy？"shesaid。"Whatisithedoestoyou——thatmakesyoulikethis？"
　　"Idon’tknow——butthathemakesmefeelthatthereisnothingbutevilandliesintheworldandnothingcanhelponeagainstthem。Thosethingshesaysabouteveryone——menandwomen——thingsonecan’trepeat——makemesick。AndwhenItrytodenythem，helaughs。"
　　"Doeshesaythingsaboutme？"Bettyinquired，veryquietly，andsuddenlyRosaliethrewherarmsroundher。
　　"Betty，darling，"shecried，"gohome——gohome。Youmustnotstayhere。"
　　"WhenIgo，youwillgowithme，"Bettyanswered。"I
　　amnotgoingbacktomotherwithoutyou。"
　　Shemadeacollectionofmanyfactsbeforetheirinterviewwasatanend，andtheypartedforthenight。AmongthefirstwasthatNigelhadpreparedforcertainpossibilitiesaswiseholdersofafortressprepareforsiege。Aratherlongsittingaloneoverwhiskyandsodahad，withoutmakinghimloquacious，heatedhisbloodinsuchamannerasledhimtobelesssubtlethanusual。Drinkdidnotmakehimdrunk，butmalignant，andwhenamanisinthemalignantmood，heforgetshiscleverness。Soherevealedmorethanheabsolutelyintended。
　　Itwastobegatheredthathedidnotmeantopermithiswifetoleavehim，evenforavisit；hewouldnotallowhimselftobemaderidiculousbysuchathing。Amanwhocouldnotcontrolhiswifewasafoolanddeservedtobealaughing—stock。
　　AsUghtredandhisfutureinheritanceseemedtohavebecomeofinteresttohisgrandfather，andweretobewellnursedandtakencareof，hisintentionwasthattheboyshouldremainunderhisownsupervision。HecouldamusehimselfwellenoughatStornham，nowthatithadbeenputinorder，ifitwaskeptupproperlyandhefilleditwithpeoplewhodidnotborehim。Therewerepeoplewhodidnotborehim——plentyofthem。Rosaliewouldstaywhereshewasandreceivehisguests。
　　IfsheimaginedthatthelittleepisodeofFfolliotthadbeenentirelydormant，shewasmistaken。Heknewwherethemanwas，andexactlyhowseriousitwouldbetohimifscandalwasstirredup。Hehadbeenatsometroubletofindout。Thefellowhadrecentlyhadthelucktofallintoaveryfineliving。
　　IthadbeenbestowedonhimbytheoldDukeofBroadmorlands，whowasthemoststrait—lacedoldboyinEngland。
　　Hehadbecomesoinhisdisgustatthelightbehaviourofthewifehehaddivorcedinhisearlymanhood。Nigelcackledgentlyashedetailedthat，byanagreeablecoincidence，ithappenedthatherGracehadsuddenlybecomefilledwithpiousfervour——rousedtheretobyagood—lookinglocumtenens——
　　result，painfuldiscoveries——thepairbeingnowrumouredtobekeepingalodging—housetogethersomewhereinAustralia。A
　　wordtogoodoldBroadmorlandswouldproducetheeffectofalightedmatchonabarrelofgunpowder。ItwouldbetheendofFfolliott。NeitherwoulditbeagoodintroductiontoBetty’sfirstseasoninLondon，neitherwoulditbeenjoyedbyhermother，whomherememberedasawomanwithprimitiveviewsofdomesticrectitude。HesmiledtheawfulsmileashetookoutofhispockettheenvelopecontainingthewordshiswifehadwrittentoMr。Ffolliott，"Donotcometothehouse。MeetmeatBartyonWood。"Itdidnottakemuchtoconvincepeople，ifonemanagedthingswithdecentforethought。TheBrents，forinstance，werefondneitherofhernorofBetty，andtheyhadneverforgottenthequestionableconductoftheirlocumtenens。Then，suddenly，hehadchangedhismannerandhadsatdown，laughing，anddrawnRosalietohiskneeandkissedher——yes，hehadkissedherandtoldhernottolooklikealittlefooloractlikeone。Nothingunpleasantwouldhappenifshebehavedherself。Bettyhadimprovedhergreatly，andshehadgrownyoungandprettyagain。Shelookedquitelikeachildsometimes，nowthatherboneswerecoveredandshedressedwell。Ifshewantedtopleasehimshecouldputherarmsroundhisneckandkisshim，ashehadkissedher。
　　"Thatiswhathasmadeyoulookwhite，"saidBetty。
　　"Yes。Thereissomethingabouthimthatsometimesmakesyoufeelasiftheverybloodinyourveinsturnedwhite，"
　　answeredRosy——inalowvoice，whichthenextmomentrose。
　　"Don’tyousee——don’tyousee，"shebrokeout，"thattodispleasehimwouldbelikemurderingMr。Ffolliott——likemurderinghismotherandmine——andlikemurderingUghtred，becausehewouldbekilledbytheshameofthings——andbybeingtakenfromme。Wehavelovedeachothersomuch——somuch。
　　Don’tyousee？"
　　"Iseeallthatrisesupbeforeyou，"Bettysaid，"andI
　　understandyourfeelingthatyoucannotsaveyourselfbybringingruinuponaninnocentmanwhohelpedyou。Irealisethatonemusthavetimetothinkitover。But，Rosy，"asuddenringinhervoice，"Itellyouthereisawayout——thereisawayout！Theendofthemiseryiscoming——anditwillnotbewhathethinks。"
　　"Youalwaysbelieve————"beganRosy。
　　"Iknow，"answeredBetty。"Iknowtherearesomethingssobadthattheycannotgoon。Theykillthemselvesthroughtheirownevil。IKNOW！IKNOW！Thatisall。"
　　CHAPTERLX
　　"DON’TGOONWITHTHIS"
　　Ofthesethings，asofothers，shehadcometohersolitudetothink。Shelookedoutoverthemarshesscarcelyseeingthewanderingorrestingsheep，scarcelyhearingthecryingplover，becausesomuchseemedtoconfronther，andshemustlookitallwellintheface。Shehadfulfilledthepromiseshehadmadetoherselfasachild。ShehadcomeinsearchofRosy，shehadfoundherassimpleandlovingofheartasshehadeverbeen。Themostpainfuldiscoveriesshehadmadehadbeenconcealedfromhermotheruntiltheiraspectwasmodified。
　　Mrs。VanderpoelneednowfeelnoshockatthesightoftherestoredRosy。LadyAnstruthershadbeenstillyoungenoughtorespondbothphysicallyandmentallytolove，companionship，agreeableluxuries，andstimulatinginterests。ButforNigel’santagonismtherewasnownoreasonwhysheshouldnotbetakenhomeforavisittoherfamily，andherlong—yearned—forNewYork，noreasonwhyherfatherandmothershouldnotcometoStornham，andthusestablishthecustomarysocialrelationsbetweentheirdaughter’shomeandtheirown。ThatthisseemedoutofthequestionwasowingtothefactthatattheoutsetofhismarriedlifeSirNigelhadallowedhimselftocommiterrorsintactics。Aperverseegotism，notwhollynormalinitsrancour，hadledhimintodeedswhichhehadbeguntosuspectofhavingcosthimtoomuch，evenbeforeBettyherselfhadpointedouttohimtheirunbusinesslikeindiscretion。Hehaddonethingshecouldnotundo，andnow，tohismind，hisonlyresourcewastotreatthemboldlyashavingbeentheproperresultsofdecisionfoundedonsoundjudgment，whichhehadnodesiretoexcuse。Asufficientlyarrogantloftinessofbearingwould，hehoped，carryhimthroughthematter。ThisBettyherselfhadguessed，butshehadnotrealisedthatthisloftinessofattitudewasindangeroflosingsomeofitseffectivenessthroughhisbeingincreasinglystungandspurredbycircumstancesandfeelingsconnectedwithherself，whichwereatonceexasperatingandattimesalmostoverpowering。When，inhismingleddislikeandadmiration，hehadbeguntostudyhissister—in—law，andthehalf—amusedweavingofthesmallplotswhichwouldmakethingssufficientlyunpleasanttobeusedasfactorsinherremovalfromthescene，ifnecessary，hehadnotcalculated，eversoremotely，onthechanceofthatmadnessbesettinghimwhichusuallybesetsmenonlyintheiryouth。Hehadimaginednootherresultstohimselfthanasubtly—excitingprivateentertainment，suchaswouldgivespicetothedullnessofvirtuouslifeinthecountry。But，despitehimselfandhisintentions，hehadfoundthesituationalter。HisfirstuncertaintyofhimselfhadarisenattheDunholmball，whenhehadsuddenlyrealisedthathewasdetestingmenwho，beingyoungandfree，wereatlibertytopaygallantcourttothenewbeauty。
　　PerhapsthemostdisturbingthingtohimhadbeenhisconsciousnessofhissuddenleapofantagonismtowardsMountDunstan，who，despitehisobviouslackofchance，somehowespeciallyrousedinhimtherageofwarringmaleinstinct。
　　Therehadbeenadmissionshehadbeenforced，atlength，tomaketohimself。Youcouldnot，itappeared，liveinthehousewithasplendidcreaturelikethisone——withherbrillianteyes，herbeautyoflineandmovementbeforeyoueveryhour，herbloom，herproudfinenessholdingthemselveswhollyintheirownkeeping——withouttherebeingthedeviltopay。Latelyhehadsometimesgonehotandcoldinrealisingthat，havingoncetoldhimselfthathemightchoosetodecidetogetridofher，henowknewthatthemerethoughtofhersailingawayofherownchoicewasmaddeningtohim。ThereWASthedeviltopay！