"HereIam，Patton，"MountDunstansaid。"Youneednotspeak。"
　　Buthemustspeak。Herewasthestrengthhissinkingsoulhadlongedfor。
　　"Cruelbad——goin’fast——m’lord，"hepanted。
　　MountDunstanmadeasigntothenurse，whogavehimachair。Hesatdownclosetothebed，andtookthebloodlesshandinhisown。
　　"No，"hesaid，"youarenotgoing。You’llstayhere。I
　　willseetothat。"
　　Thepoorfellowsmiledwanly。Vagueyearningshadledhimsometimes，inthepast，towanderintochapelsorstopandlistentostreetpreachers，andorthodoxplatitudescamebacktohim。
　　"God’s——will，"hetrailedout。
　　"It’snothingofthesort。It’sGod’swillthatyoupullyourselftogether。Amanwithawifeandthreechildrenhasnorighttoslipout。"
　　Ayearninglookflickeredinthelad’seyes——hewasscarcelymorethanalad，havingmarriedatseventeen，andhadachildeachyear。
　　"She’s——agood——girl。"
　　"Keepthatinyourmindwhileyoufightthisout，"saidMountDunstan。"Sayitovertoyourselfeachtimeyoufeelyourselflettinggo。Holdontoit。Iamgoingtofightitoutwithyou。Ishallsithereandtakecareofyouallday——allnight，ifnecessary。Thedoctorandthenursewilltellmewhattodo。Yourhandiswarmeralready。Shutyoureyes。"
　　Hedidnotleavethebedsideuntilthemiddleofthenight。
　　Bythattimetheworstwasover。Hehadactedthroughoutthehoursunderthedirectionofnurseanddoctor。Noonebuthimselfhadtouchedthepatient。WhenPatton’seyeswereopen，theyrestedonhimwithaweirdgrowingbelief。
　　Hebeggedhislordshiptoholdhishand，andwasuneasywhenhelaiditdown。
　　"Keeps——me——up，"hewhispered。
　　"Hepourssomethingintothem——vigour——magneticpower——life。He’slikeachargedbattery，"Dr。Thwaitesaidtohisco—workers。"HesatdownbyPattonjustintime。Itsetsonetothinking。"
　　HavingsavedPatton，hemustsaveothers。Whenamanorwomansank，orhadincreasedfever，theybelievedthathealonecouldgivethemhelp。Indeliriumpatientscriedoutforhim。Hefoundhimselfdoinghardwork，buthedidnotflinchfromit。Theadorationforhimbecameasortofpassion。Haggardfaceslightedupintolifeatthesoundofhisfootstep，andheavyheadsturnedlonginglyontheirpillowsashepassedby。Inthewinterdaystocometherewouldbemanyanhour’stalkinEastEndcourtsandalleysofthequeertimewhenascoreormoreofthemhadlaininthegreatroomwiththedancingandfloatinggoddesseslookingdownatthemfromthehigh，paintedceiling，andtheswell，whowasalord，walkingaboutamongthem，workingforthemasthenursesdid，andsittingbysomeofthemthroughawfulhours，sometimesholdingburningorslackeningandchillinghandswithagripwhosesteadinessseemedtoholdthembackfromthebrinkoftheabysstheywereslippinginto。Themereignorantlychildishdesiretodohisprowesscreditandtoplayhimfairsavedmorethanonemanandwomanfromgoingoutwiththetide。
　　"ItisthefirsttimeinmylifethatIhavefairlycountedamongmen。It’sthefirsttimeIhaveknownhumanaffection，otherthanyours，Penzance。Theywantme，thesepeople；
　　theyarebetterforthesightofme。Itisanewexperience，anditisgoodforaman’ssoul，"hesaid。
　　CHAPTERXLIII
　　HISCHANCE
　　BettywalkedmuchaloneuponthemarsheswithRolandatherside。AtintervalssheheardfromMr。Penzance，buthisnoteswerenecessarilybrief，andatothertimesshecouldonlyrelyuponreportfornewsofwhatwasoccurringatMountDunstan。LordMountDunstan’salmostmilitarysupervisionofandcommandoverhisvillagershadcertainlysavedthemfromthehorrorsofanuncontrollableepidemic；hisdecisionandenergyhadfilledthealarmedGuardianswithrespectandthisrespecthadbeguntobesharedbymanyotherpersons。Amanaspromptinaction，andasfaithfultosuchresponsibilitiesasmanymenmighthavefoundplausiblereasonsenoughforshirking，inevitablyassumedacertaindignityofaspect，whenallwassaidanddone。LordDunholmwasmostclearinhisexpressionsofopinionconcerninghim。LadyAlanbyofDolemadeapracticeofspeakingofhiminpublicfrequently，alwayswithadmiringapproval，andinthatfinalmannerofhers，towhoseauthorityherneighbourshadsolongsubmitted。
　　Itbegantobeacceptedasafactthathewasanewdevelopmentofhisrace——asherladyshiphadputit，"AneworderofMountDunstan。"
　　Thestoryofhispoweroverthestrickenpeople，andoftheirpassionateaffectionandadmirationforhim，wasonelikelytospreadfar，andbeimmenselypopular。Thedramaofcertainincidentsappealedgreatlytotherusticmind，andbycottagefiresideshewasrepresentedwithrapturousawe，asraisingmen，women，andchildrenfromthedead，bythemeremiracleoftouch。Mrs。WeldenandoldDobyrevelledinthrilling，almostBiblical，versionsofcurrentanecdotes，whenBettypaidhervisitstothem。
　　"It’sliketheScripture，wothedoneforthatyoungmanasthelastbreathhadgoneoutofhim，an’himlyin’stiffeningfast。`Youngman，arise，’hesays。`TheLordAlmightycalls。You’vegotayoungwifean’threechildrentotakecareof。Takeupyourbedan’walk。’Notashewantedhimtocarryhisbedanywheres，butitwasamannerofspeaking。
　　An’uptheyoungmangot。An’asensibleway，"saidoldMrs。Weldenfrankly，"fortheLordtolookatit——
　　forImustsay，miss，ifIwasstruckdownforit，thoughI
　　s’poseit’sonlymysinfulignorance——thatthere’stimeswhentheLordseemstothinknomoreofsweepin’awayasteadyeighteen—shillin’aweek，andp’rapsseveninfamily，an’oneatthebreast，an’anotherontheway——thanifitwasnothin’。
　　Butlikelyenough，eighteenshillin’aweekan’confinementsdoesseempaltrytotheMakerof’eavenan’earth。"
　　But，tothegirlwalkingoverthemarshland，thehumannessofthethingssheheardgavetoherthesenseofnearness——ofbeingalmostwithinsightandsound——whichMountDunstanhimselfhadfelt，wheneachdaywasfilledwiththeresultofherthoughtoftheneedsofthepoorsoulsthrownbyfateintohishands。Inthesedays，afterlisteningtooldMrs。
　　Welden’sanecdotes，throughwhichshegatheredthesimplertruthofthings，BettywasabletoconstructforherselfalessScripturalversionofwhatshehadheard。Shewasglad——gladinhissittingbyabedsideandholdingahandwhichlayinhishotorcold，butalwaystrustingtosomethingwhichhisstrongbodyandstrongsoulgavewithoutstint。Therewouldbenorestraintthere。Yes，hewaskind——kind——kind——withthekindnessawomanloves，andwhichshe，ofallwomen，lovedmost。Sometimesshewouldsituponsomemound，and，whilehereyesseemedtorestontheyellowingmarshanditsbirdsandpools，theysawotherthings，andtheircolourgrewdeepanddarkasthemarshwaterbetweentherushes。
　　Thetimewaspressingwhenachangeinherlifemustcome。
　　ShefrequentlyaskedherselfifwhatshesawinNigelAnstruthers’facewasthenormalthinkingofasaneman，whichhehimselfcouldcontrol。Therehadbeenmomentswhenshehadseriouslydoubtedit。Hewashaggard，agingandrestless。
　　Sometimeshe——alwaysasifbychance——followedherasshewentfromoneroomtoanother，andwouldseathimselfandfixhismiserableeyesuponherforsolongatimethatitseemedhemustbeunconsciousofwhathewasdoing。Thenhewouldappearsuddenlytorecollecthimselfandwouldstartupwithamutteredexclamation，andstalkoutoftheroom。HespentlonghoursridingordrivingaloneaboutthecountryorwanderingwretchedlythroughtheParkandgardens。Oncehewentuptotown，and，afterafewdays’
　　absence，camebacklookingmorehaggardthanbefore，andwearingahuntedlookinhiseyes。Hehadgonetoseeaphysician，and，afterhavingseenhim，hehadtriedtolosehimselfinaplungeintodeepandturbidenoughwaters；buthefoundthathehadevenlostthetasteofhighflavours，forwhichhehadoncehadanepicureanpalate。Theefforthadendedinhisbeingoverpoweredagainbyhishorrors——thehorrorsinwhichhefoundhimselfstaringatthatendofthingswhennopleasurehadspice，nodebaucherythestingoflife，andmen，suchashe，stoodupontheshoreoftimeshudderingandnakedsouls，watchingthegreattide，bearingitstreasures，recedeforever，andleavethemtothecoldandhideousdark。
　　DuringonedayofhisstayintownhehadseenTeresita，whohadatfirststaredhalffrightenedbythechangeshesawinhim，andthenhadtoldhimtruthshecouldhavewrungherneckforputtingintowords。
　　"Youlookanoldman，"shesaid，withtheforeignaccenthehadoncefounddeliciouslyamusing，butwhichnowseemedtoaddasting。"Andsomesingiseatingyouop。Youaremadinlofewithsomebeautifulonewhowillnotlookatyou。
　　Ihafseenitinmansbefore。Itisshewhoeatsyouop——yourevilthinkingsofher。Itserveyouright。Youreyeslookmad。"
　　Hehimself，attimes，suspectedthattheydid，andcursedhimselfbecausehecouldnotkeepcool。Itwaspartofhishorrorsthatheknewhisinternalfurieswereworsethanfolly，andyethecouldnotrestrainthem。Thecreepingsuspicionthatthiswasonlytheresultofthesimplefactthathehadnevertriedtorestrainanytendencyofhisownwasmaddening。Hisnervoussystemwasawreck。Hedrankagreatdealofwhiskytokeephimself"straight"duringtheday，andherosemanytimesduringhisblackwakinghoursinthenighttodrinkmorebecauseheobstinatelyrefusedtogiveupthehopethat，ifhedrankenough，itwouldmakehimsleep。
　　AsthroughthethoughtsofMountDunstan，whowasacleanandhealthyhumanbeing，thereranonethreadwhichwouldnotdisentangleitself，sothereranthroughhisunwholesomethinkingathreadwhichburnedlikefire。Hissecretravingswouldnothavebeengoodtohear。Hispassionwasmorethanhalfhatred，andadesireforvengeance，forthechancetore—
　　asserthisownpower，toprovehimselfmaster，togetthebetterinonewayoranotherofthisarrogantyoungoutsiderandherhigh—handedpride。Theconditionofhismindwassofarfromnormalthathefailedtoseethatthethingshesaidtohimself，theplanshelaid，weregrotesqueintheirfolly。Theoldcrueldominanceofthemanoverthewomanthing，whichhadseemedthemerenaturalworkingofthelawamongmenofhisraceincenturiespast，wasawakeinhim，amidthelimitationsofmoderndays。
　　"MyGod，"hesaidtohimselfmorethanonce，"Iwouldliketohavehadherinmyhandsafewhundredyearsago。
　　Womenwerekeptintheirplaces，then。"
　　Hewasevenfrenziedenoughtothinkoverwhathewouldhavedone，ifsuchathinghadbeen——ofherutterhelplessnessagainstthatwhichragedinhim——ofthegreythicknessofthewallswherehemighthaveheldandwroughthiswilluponher——insult，torment，death。Hisalcohol—excitedbrainranriot——but，whenitdiditsfoolishworst，hewasbaffledbyonething。
　　"Damnher！"hefoundhimselfcryingout。"IfIhadhungherupandcutherintostripsshewouldhavediedstaringatmewithherbigeyes——withoututteringasound。"
　　Therewasalongreachbetweenhisimaginingsandthetimehelivedin。Americahadnotbeendiscoveredinthosedecentdays，andnowamancouldnotbeatevenhisownwife，orspendhermoney，withoutbeingmeddledwithbyfools。HewasthinkingofaNewYorkyoungwomanofthenineteenthcenturywhocouldactuallydoasshehangedpleased，andwhopleasedtobedamnedhighandmighty。Forthatreasoninitselfitwasincumbentuponamantogetevenwithherinonewayoranother。Highandmightinesswasnotthehardestthingtoreach。Itofferedagoodaim。
　　HistemperwhenhereturnedtoStornhamwasoftheorderwhichinpastyearshadsetRosalieandherchildshudderingandhadsenttheservantsaboutthehousewithpaleorsullenfaces。Betty’spresencehadtheoddeffectofrestraininghim，andheeventoldhersowithsneeringresentment。
　　"Therewouldbethedeviltopayifyouwerenothere，"hesaid。"Youkeepmeinorder，byJove！Ican’tworkupsteamproperlywhenyouwatchme。"
　　Hehimselfknewthatitwaslikelythatsomechangewouldtakeplace。ShewouldnotstayatStornhamandshewouldnotleavehiswifeandchildalonewithhimagain。Itwouldbelikehertoholdhertongueuntilshewasreadywithherinfernalplansandcouldspringthemonhim。Herletterstoherfatherhadprobablypreparedhimforsuchactionassuchamanwouldbelikelytotake。Hecouldguesswhatitwouldbe。TheywerefreeandeasyenoughinAmericaintheirdealingswiththemarriagetie。Theirideawoulddoubtlessbeadivorcewithcustodyofthechild。Hewonderedalittlethattheyhadremainedquietsolong。TherehadbeenAmericanshrewdnessinhercomingboldlytoStornhamtolookoverthegroundherselfandactuallysettheplaceinorder。Itdidnotpresentitselftohismindthatwhatshehaddonehadbeennopartofascheme，butthemereresultofhertemperamentandtraining。Hetoldhimselfthatithadbeenplannedbeforehandandcarriedoutinhard—headedcommercialAmericanfashionasamatterofbusiness。Thethingwhichmostenragedhimwastheimpliedcool，practicalrealisationofthefactthathe，asinheritorofanentailedestate，wasbutownerincharge，andnotyoungenoughtoberegardedasaninsurmountableobstacletotheirplans。Hecouldnotundothegreaterpartofwhathadbeendone，andtheywerecalculating，heargued，thathiswouldnotbelikelytobealonglife，andif——ifanythinghappened——StornhamwouldbeUghtred’sandthewholevulgarlotofthemwouldcomeoverandtakepossessionandswaggerabouttheplaceasiftheyhadbeenbornonit。Astodivorceorseparation——iftheytookthatline，hewouldatleastgivethemagoodrunfortheirmoney。Theywouldwishtheyhadletsleepingdogsliebeforethethingwasover。
　　TherightkindoflawyercouldbullyRosalieintosayinganythinghechoseonthewitness—stand。Therewasnotmuchlimittotheevidenceamancouldbringifhewasexperiencedenoughtobecircumstantial，andknewwhomhewasdealingwith。Theveryfactthatthelittlefoolcouldbemadetoappeartohavebeensoslyandsanctimoniouswouldstirthegallofanyjuryofmen。Hisowncondoningthematterforthesakeofhissensitiveboy，deformedbyhismother’sunrestrainedandviolenthysteriabeforehisbirth，wouldgoalongway。Letthemgettheirdivorce，theywouldhavepaidforit，thewholelotofthem，thebeautifulMissVanderpoelandall。SuchastoryasthenewspaperswouldrevelinwouldnotbearecommendationtoEnglishmenofunsmirchedreputation。Thenhisexultationwouldsuddenlydropashismentalexcitementproduceditseffectofinevitablephysicalfatigue。Evenifhemadethempayforgettingtheirownway，whatwouldhappentohimselfafterwards？Nomorbidvanityofself—bolsteringcouldmaketheoutlookanythingbutunpromising。Ifhehadnothadsuchdiabolicalluckinhisfewinvestmentshecouldhavelivedhisownlife。Asitwas，oldVanderpoelwouldpossiblycondescendtomakehimsomeinsufficientallowancebecauseRosaliewouldwishthatitmightbedone，andhewouldbeexpectedtodragouttotheendthekindoflifeamanpensionedbyhiswife’srelativesinevitablydoes。Ifheattemptedtoliveinthecountryheshouldblowouthisbrains。Whenhisdepressionwasatitsworst，hesawhimselfagingandshabby，ramblingaboutfromonecheapContinentaltowntoanother，blackballedbygoodclubs，cold—shoulderedevenbytheTeresitas，cutofffromsocietybyhislimitedmeansandthestorieshiswife’sfriendswouldspread。HegroundhisteethwhenhethoughtofBetty。
　　Hersplendidvitalityhaddonesomethingtolifeforhim——hadgivenitsavour。Whenhehadcomeuponherintheavenuehisbloodhadstirred，eventhoughithadbeenmaliciously，andtherehadbeenspiceinhisveryresentmentofherpresence。
　　Andshewouldgoaway。Hewouldnotbelikelytoseeheragainifhiswifebrokewithhim；shewouldbesweptoutofhisdays。Itwashideoustothinkof，andhisragewouldoverpowerhimandhisnervesgotopiecesagain。
　　"Whatareyougoingtodo？"hebrokeforthsuddenlyoneevening，whenhefoundhimselftemporarilyalonewithher。
　　"Youaregoingtodosomething。Iseeitinyoureyes。"
　　Hehadbeenforsometimewatchingherfrombehindhisnewspaper，whileshe，withanunreadbookuponherlap，had，infact，beenthinkingdeeplyandputtingtoherselfseriousquestions。
　　Heranswermadehimstirratheruncomfortably。
　　"IamgoingtowritetomyfathertoaskhimtocometoEngland。"
　　Sothiswaswhatshehadbeenpreparingtospringuponhim。
　　Helaughedinsolently。
　　"Toaskhimtocomehere？"
　　"Withyourpermission。"
　　"Withmine？DoesanAmericanfather—in—lawwaitforpermission？"
　　"IsthereanypracticalreasonwhyyoushouldpreferthatheshouldNOTcome？"
　　Helefthisseatandwalkedovertoher。
　　"Yes。Yoursendingforhimisadeclarationofwar。"
　　"Itneednotbeso。Whyshouldit？"
　　"InthiscaseIhappentobeawarethatitis。Thechoiceisyourown，Isuppose，"withreadybravado，"thatyouandhearepreparedtofacetheconsequences。ButisRosalie，andisyourmother？"
　　"Myfatherisabusinessmanandwillknowwhatcanbedone。Hewillknowwhatisworthdoing，"sheanswered，withoutnoticinghisquestion。"But，"sheaddedthewordsslowly，"Ihavebeenmakingupmymind——beforeIwritetohim——tosaysomethingtoyou——toaskyouaquestion。"
　　Hemadeamocksentimentalgesture。
　　"Toaskmetosparemywife，to`rememberthatsheisthemotherofmychild’？"
　　Shepassedoverthatalso。
　　"Toaskyouifthereisnopossiblewayinwhichallthisunhappinesscanbeendeddecently。"
　　"Theonlydecentwayofendingitwouldbethatthereshouldbenofurtherinterference。LetRosaliesupplythedecencybyshowingmetheconsiderationduefromawifetoherhusband。Theplacehasbeenputinorder。Itwasnotformybenefit，andIhavenomoneytokeepitup。LetRosaliebeprovidedwithmeanstodoit。"
　　Ashespokethewordsherealisedthathehadopenedawayforembarrassingcomment。HeexpectedhertoremindhimthatRosaliehadnotcometohimwithoutmoney。Butshesaidnothingaboutthematter。Sheneversaidthethingsheexpectedtohear。
　　"YoudonotwantRosalieforyourwife，"shewenton"butyoucouldtreathercourteouslywithoutlovingher。Youcouldallowhertheprivilegesothermen’swivesareallowed。
　　Youneednotseparateherfromherfamily。Youcouldallowherfatherandmothertocometoherandleaveherfreetogotothemsometimes。Willyounotagreetothat？Willyounotletherlivepeaceablyinherownsimpleway？Sheisverygentleandhumbleandwouldasknothingmore。"
　　"Sheisafool！"heexclaimedfuriously。"Afool！ShewillstaywheresheisanddoasItellher。"
　　"Youknewwhatshewaswhenyoumarriedher。Shewassimpleandgirlishandpretendedtobenothingshewasnot。
　　Youchosetomarryherandtakeherfromthepeoplewholovedher。Youbrokeherspiritandherheart。YouwouldhavekilledherifIhadnotcomeintimetopreventit。"
　　"Iwillkillheryetifyouleaveher，"hisfollymadehimsay。
　　"Youaretalkinglikeafeudallordholdingthepoweroflifeanddeathinhishands，"shesaid。"Powerlikethatisancienthistory。Youcanhurtnoonewhohasfriends——withoutbeingpunished。"
　　Itwastheoldstory。Shefilledhimwiththedesiretoshakeordisturbheratanycost，andhedidhisutmost。Ifshewasproposingtomaketermswithhim，hewouldshowherwhetherhewouldacceptthemornot。Heletherhearallhehadsaidtohimselfinhisworstmoments——allthathehadarguedconcerningwhatsheandherpeoplewoulddo，andwhathisownactionswouldbe——allhisintentiontomakethempaytheuttermostfarthinginhumiliationifhecouldnotfrustratethem。Hismethodswouldbedefiniteenough。HehadnotwatchedhiswifeandFfolliottforweekstonoend。Hehadknownwhathewasdealingwith。Hehadputotherpeopleuponthetrackandtheywouldtestifyforhim。Hepouredforthunspeakablestatementsandintimations，going，asusual，furtherthanhehadknownheshouldgowhenhebegan。Underthespurofexcitementhisimaginationservedhimwell。Atlasthepaused。
　　"Well，"heputittoher，"whathaveyoutosay？"
　　"I？"withtheremoteintentcuriositygrowinginhereyes。
　　"Ihavenothingtosay。Iamleavingyoutosaythings。"
　　"Youwill，ofcourse，trytodeny————"heinsisted。
　　"No，Ishallnot。WhyshouldI？"
　　"Youmayassumeyourairofmagnificence，butIamdealingwithuncomfortablefactors。"Hestoppedinspiteofhimself，andthenburstforthinaneworderofrage。"Youaretryingsomeconfoundedexperimentonme。Whatisit？"
　　Sherosefromherchairtogooutoftheroom，andstoodamomentholdingherbookhalfopeninherhand。
　　"Yes。Isupposeitmightbecalledanexperiment，"washeranswer。"Perhapsitwasamistake。Iwantedtomakequitesureofsomething。"
　　"Ofwhat？"
　　"Ididnotwanttoleaveanythingundone。Ididnotwanttobelievethatanymancouldexistwhohadnotonetouchofdecentfeelingtoredeemhim。Itdidnotseemhuman。"
　　Whitedintsshowedthemselvesabouthisnostrils。
　　"Well，youhavefoundone，"hecried。"Youhavealashingtongue，byGod，whenyouchoosetoletitgo。ButI
　　couldteachyouagoodmanythings，mygirl。AndbeforeI
　　havedoneyouwillhavelearnedmostofthem。"
　　Butthoughhethrewhimselfintoachairandlaughedaloudasshelefthim，heknewthathisarroganceandbullyingwereprovingpoorweapons，thoughtheyhaddonehimgoodserviceallhislife。Andheknew，too，thatitwasmeresimpletruththat，asaresultoftheintellectual，ethicalvagarieshescathinglyderided——shehadactuallybeengivinghimasortofchancetoretrievehimself，andthatifhehadbeenanothersortofmanhemighthavetakenit。
　　CHAPTERXLIV
　　AFOOTSTEP
　　Itwascoldenoughforfiresinhallsandbedrooms，andLadyAnstruthersoftensatoverhersandwatchedtheglowingbedofcoalswithafixedthoughtfulnessoflook。Shewassosittingwhenhersisterwenttoherroomtotalktoher，andshelookedupquestioninglywhenthedoorclosedandBettycametowardsher。
　　"Youhavecometotellmesomething，"shesaid。
　　Aslightshadeofanxiousnessshoweditselfinhereyes，andBettysatdownbyherandtookherhand。ShehadcomebecausewhatsheknewwasthatRosaliemustbepreparedforanysteptaken，andthetimehadarrivedwhenshemustnotbeallowedtoremaininignoranceevenofthingsitwouldbeunpleasanttoputintowords。
　　"Yes，"sheanswered。"IwanttotalktoyouaboutsomethingIhavedecidedtodo。IthinkImustwritetofatherandaskhimtocometous。"
　　Rosalieturnedwhite，butthoughherlipspartedasifsheweregoingtospeak，shesaidnothing。
　　"Donotbefrightened，"Bettysaid。"Ibelieveitistheonlythingtodo。"
　　"Iknow！Iknow！"
　　Bettywenton，holdingthehandalittlecloser。"WhenI
　　camehereyouweretooweakphysicallytobeabletofaceeventhethoughtofastruggle。Isawthat。Iwasafraiditmustcomeintheend，butIknewthatatthattimeyoucouldnotbearit。Itwouldhavekilledyouandmighthavekilledmother，ifIhadnotwaited；anduntilyouwerestronger，I
　　knewImustwaitandreasoncoollyaboutyou——abouteverything。"
　　"Iusedtoguess——sometimes，"saidLadyAnstruthers。
　　"Icantellyouaboutitnow。Youarenotasyouwerethen，"Bettysaid。"IdidnotknowNigelatfirst，andIfeltIoughttoseemoreofhim。Iwantedtomakesurethatmychildhatredofhimdidnotmakemeunfair。Ieventriedtohopethatwhenhecamebackandfoundtheplaceinorderandthingsgoingwell，hemightrecognisethewisdomofbehavingwithdecentkindnesstoyou。IfhehaddonethatIknewfatherwouldhaveprovidedforyouboth，thoughhewouldnothavelefthimtheopportunitytodoagainwhathedidbefore。Nobusinessmanwouldallowsuchathingasthat。ButastimehasgonebyIhaveseenIwasmistakeninhopingforarespectablecompromise。Evenifheweregivenafreehandhewouldnotchange。Andnow————"Shehesitated，feelingitdifficulttochoosesuchwordsaswouldnotbetoounpleasant。
　　HowwasshetotellRosyoftheugly，morbidsituationwhichmadeordinarypassivenessimpossible。"Nowthereisareason————"shebeganagain。
　　TohersurpriseandreliefitwasRosaliewhoendedforher。
　　Shespokewiththepainfulcouragewhichstrongaffectiongivesaweakthing。Herfacewaspalenolonger，butslightlyreddened，andsheliftedthehandwhichheldhersandkissedit。