"Youshallnotsayit，"sheinterruptedher。"Iwill。Thereisareasonnowwhyyoucannotstayhere——whyyoushallnotstayhere。ThatwaswhyIbeggedyoutogo。Youmustgo，evenifIstaybehindalone。"
　　NeverhadthebeautifulMissVanderpoel’seyeswornsofullytheirlookofbeingbluebellsunderwater。Thatthistimidcreatureshouldsostandatbaytodefendherwasmoremovingthananythingelsecouldhavebeen。
　　"Thankyou，Rosy——thankyou，"sheanswered。"Butyoushallnotbeleftalone。Youmustgo，too。Thereisnootherway。Difficultieswillbemadeforus，butwemustfacethem。Fatherwillseethesituationfromapracticalman’sstandpoint。Menknowthethingsothermencannotdo。
　　Womendon’t。Generallytheyknownothingaboutthelawandcanbebulliedintofeelingthatitisdangerousandcompromisingtoinquireintoit。Nigelhasalwaysseenthatitwaseasytomanagewomen。Astrongbusinessmanwhohasmoreexactlegalinformationthanhehashimselfwillbeanewfactortodealwith。Andhecannotmakeobjectionablelovetohim。Itisbecauseheknowsthesethingsthathesaysthatmysendingforfatherwillbeadeclarationofwar。"
　　"Didhesaythat？"alittlebreathlessly。
　　"Yes，andItoldhimthatitneednotbeso。Buthewouldnotlisten。"
　　"Andyouaresurefatherwillcome？"
　　"Iamsure。Inaweekortwohewillbehere。"
　　LadyAnstruthers’lipsshook，hereyesliftedthemselvestoBetty’sinatouchinglydistressedappeal。Hadhermomentarycouragefledbeyondrecall？Ifso，thatwouldbetheworstcomingtotheworst，indeed。Yetitwasnotordinaryfearwhichexpresseditselfinherface，butadeeperpiteousness，asuddenhopelesspain，bafflingbecauseitseemedanewemotion，orperhapstheupheavalofanoldonelongandcarefullyhidden。
　　"Youwillbebrave？"Bettyappealedtoher。"Youwillnotgiveway，Rosy？"
　　"Yes，Imustbebrave——Iamnotillnow。Imustnotfailyou——Iwon’t，Betty，but————"
　　Sheslippedupontheflooranddroppedherfaceuponthegirl’sknee，sobbing。
　　Bettybentoverher，puttingherarmsroundtheheavingshoulders，andpleadingwithhertospeak。Wastheresomethingmoretobetold，somethingshedidnotknow？
　　"Yes，yes。Oh，Ioughttohavetoldyoulongago——butI
　　havealwaysbeenafraidandashamed。Ithasmadeeverythingsomuchworse。Iwasafraidyouwouldnotunderstandandwouldthinkmewicked——wicked。"
　　ItwasBettywhonowlostashadeofcolour。Butsheheldtheslimlittlebodycloserandkissedhersister’scheek。
　　"Whathaveyoubeenafraidandashamedtotellme？Donotbeashamedanymore。Youmustnothideanything，nomatterwhatitis，Rosy。Ishallunderstand。"
　　"IknowImustnothideanything，nowthatallisoverandfatheriscoming。Itis——itisaboutMr。Ffolliott。"
　　"Mr。Ffolliott？"repeatedBettyquitesoftly。
　　LadyAnstruthers’face，liftedwithdesperateeffort，waslikeaweepingchild’s。Somuchsoinitstear—wetsimplenessandutterlackofanyeffortatconcealment，thatafteronequicklookatitBetty’shastenedpulsesceasedtobeatatdouble—quicktime。
　　"Tellme，dear，"shealmostwhispered。
　　"Mr。Ffolliotthimselfdoesnotknow——andIcouldnothelpit。HewaskindtomewhenIwasdyingofunkindness。Youdon’tknowwhatitwasliketobedrowninginlonelinessandmisery，andtoseeonegoodhandstretchedouttohelpyou。
　　Beforehewentaway——oh，Betty，IknowitwasawfulbecauseIwasmarried！——Ibegantocareforhimverymuch，andI
　　havecaredforhimeversince。Icannotstopmyselfcaring，eventhoughIamterrified。"
　　Bettykissedheragainwithapassionoftenderpity。Poorlittle，simpleRosy，too！Thetidehadcreptaroundheralso，andhadsweptheroffherfeet，tossingheruponitssurflikeawispofseaweedandbearinghereachdayfartherfromfirmshore。
　　"Donotbeterrified，"shesaid。"Youneedonlybeafraidif——ifyouhadtoldhim。"
　　"Hewillneverknow——never。Onceinthemiddleofthenight，"therewasanguishinthedelicateface，pureanguish，"astrangeloudcrywakenedme，anditwasImyselfwhohadcriedout——becauseinmysleepithadcomehometomethattheyearswouldgoonandon，andatlastsomedayhewoulddieandgooutoftheworld——andIshoulddieandgooutoftheworld。Andhewouldneverknow——evenKNOW。"
　　Betty’sclaspofherloosenedandshesatverystill，lookingstraightbeforeherintosomeunseenplace。
　　"Yes，"shesaidinvoluntarily。"Yes，_I_know——Iknow——I
　　know。"
　　LadyAnstruthersfellbackalittletogazeather。
　　"YOUknow？YOUknow？"shebreathed。"Betty？"
　　ButBettyatfirstdidnotspeak。Herlovelyeyesdweltonthefar—awayplace。
　　"Betty，"whisperedRosy，"doyouknowwhatyouhavesaid？"
　　Thelovelyeyesturnedslowlytowardsher，andthesoftcornersofBetty’smouthdeepenedinacuriousunsteadiness。
　　"Yes。Ididnotintendtosayit。Butitistrue。_I_know——
　　Iknow——Iknow。Donotaskmehow。"
　　Rosalieflungherarmsroundherwaistandforamomenthidherface。
　　"YOU！YOU！"shemurmured，butstoppedherselfalmostassheutteredtheexclamation。"Iwillnotaskyou，"shesaidwhenshespokeagain。"ButnowIshallnotbesoashamed。
　　Youareabeautyandwonderful，andIamnot；butifyouKNOW，thatmakesusalmostthesame。YouwillunderstandwhyIbrokedown。ItwasbecauseIcouldnotbeartothinkofwhatwillhappen。Ishallbesavedandtakenhome，butNigelwillwreakrevengeonHIM。AndIshallbetheshamethatisputuponhim——onlybecausehewaskind——KIND。Whenfathercomesitwillallbegin。"Shewrungherhands，becomingalmosthysterical。
　　"Hush，"saidBetty。"Hush！AmanlikethatCANNOT
　　behurt，evenbyamanlikeNigel。Thereisawayout——
　　thereIS。Oh，Rosy，wemustBELIEVEit。"
　　Shesoothedandcaressedherandledherontorelievingherlonglocked—upmiserybyspeech。Itwaseasytoseethewaysinwhichherfeelinghadmadeherlifehardertobear。Shewasasinexperiencedasagirl，andhadaccusedherselfcruelly。
　　WhenNigelhadtormentedherwithevil，carefullychosentaunts，shehadfelthalfguiltyandhadcolouredscarletorturnedpale，afraidtomeethissneeringlysmilingface。Shehadtriedtoforgetthekindvoice，thekindly，understandingeyes，andhadblamedherselfasacriminalbecauseshecouldnot。
　　"Ihadnothingelsetoremember——butunhappiness——anditseemedasifIcouldnothelpbutrememberHIM，"shesaidassimplyastheRosywhohadleftNewYorkatnineteenmighthavesaidit。"Iwasafraidtotrustmyselftospeakhisname。
　　WhenNigelmadeinsultingspeechesIcouldnotanswerhim，andheusedtosaythatwomenwhohadadventuresshouldtraintheirfacesnottobetraythemeverytimetheywerelookedat。
　　"Oh！"brokefromBetty’slips，andshestooduponthehearthandthrewoutherhands。"IwishthatforonedayImightbeaman——andyourbrotherinsteadofyoursister！"
　　"Why？"
　　Bettysmiledstrangely——asmilewhichwasnotamused——
　　whichwasperhapsnotasmileatall。Hervoiceassheansweredwasatoncelowandtense。
　　"Because，thenIshouldknowwhattodo。Whenamalecreaturecannotbereachedthroughmanhoodordecencyorshame，thereisonewayinwhichhecanbepunished。Aman——arealman——shouldtakehimbyhisthroatandlashhimwithawhip——whileotherslookon——lashhimuntilhehowlsaloudlikeadog。"
　　Shehadnotexpectedtosayit，butshehadsaidit。LadyAnstrutherslookedatherfascinated，andthenshecoveredherfacewithherhands，huddlingherselfinaheapasshekneltontherug，lookingsingularlysmallandfrail。
　　"Betty，"shesaidpresently，inanew，awfullittlevoice，"I——Iwilltellyousomething。IneverthoughtIshoulddaretotellanyonealive。Ihaveshudderedatitmyself。Therehavebeendays——awful，helplessdays，whenIwassuretherewasnohopeformeinalltheworld——whendeepdowninmysoulIunderstoodwhatwomenfeltwhentheyMURDEREDpeople——crepttothemintheirwickedsleepandSTRUCKthemagain——andagain——andagain。Likethat！"Shesatupsuddenly，asifshedidnotknowwhatshewasdoing，anduncoveringherlittleghastlyfacestruckdownwardthreefiercetimesatnothingness——butasifitwerenotnothingness，andasifsheheldsomethinginherhand。
　　Therewashorrorinit——Bettysprangatthehandandcaughtit。
　　"No！no！"shecriedout。"PoorlittleRosy！DarlinglittleRosy！No！no！no！"
　　ThatinstantLadyAnstrutherslookedupathershockedandawake。ShewasRosyagain，andclungtoher，holdingtoherdress，piteousandpanting。
　　"No！no！"shesaid。"Whenitcametomeinthenight——
　　itwasalwaysinthenight——Iusedtogetoutofbedandpraythatitmightnever，nevercomeagain，andthatImightbeforgiven——justforgiven。ItwastoohorriblethatIshouldevenUNDERSTANDitsowell。"Awoeful，wrylittlesmiletwistedhermouth。"Iwasnotbraveenoughtohavedoneit。IcouldneverhaveDONEit，Betty；butthethoughtwasthere——itwasthere！Iusedtothinkithadmadeablackmarkonmysoul。"……
　　Thelettertooklongtowrite。Itledaconsecutivestoryuptothepointwhereitculminatedinasituationwhichpresenteditselfasnolongertobedealtwithbymeansathand。
　　Partsofthestorypreviouslettershadrelated，thoughsomeofthemithadnotseemedabsolutelynecessarytorelateindetail。
　　Nowtheymustbemadeclear，andBettymadethemso。
　　"Becauseyoutrustedmeyoumademetrustmyself，"wasoneofthethingsshewrote。"ForsometimeIfeltthatitwasbesttofightformyownhandwithouttroublingyou。I
　　hopedperhapsImightbeabletoleadthingstoadecoroussortofissue。IsawthatsecretlyRosyhopedandprayedthatitmightbepossible。Shegaveupexpectinghappinessbeforeshewastwenty，andmeredecentpeacewouldhaveseemedheaventoher，ifshecouldhavebeenallowedsometimestoseethoseshelovedandlongedfor。NowthatImustgiveupmyhope——whichwasperhapsaratherfoolishone——andnowthatI
　　cannotremainatStornham，shewouldhavenodefenceatallifshewereleftalone。Herconditionwouldbemorehopelessthanbefore，becauseNigelwouldneverforgetthatwehadtriedtorescueherandhadfailed。IfIwereaman，orifI
　　wereverymucholder，Ineednotbeactuallydrivenaway，butasitisIthinkthatyoumustcomeandtakethematterintoyourownhands。"
　　Shehadremainedinhersister’sroomuntillongaftermidnight，andbythetimetheAmericanletterwascompletedandsealed，apaletouchofdawninglightwasshowingitself。Sherose，andgoingtothewindowdrewtheblindupandlookedout。Thelookingoutmadeheropenthewindow，andwhenshehaddonesoshestoodfeelingthealmostunearthlyfreshnessofthemorningabouther。Themysteryofthefirstfaintlightwasalmostunearthly，too。Treesandshrubswerebeginningtotakeformandoutlinethemselvesagainstthestillpallorofthedawn。Beforelongthewakingofthebirdswouldbegin——abriefchirpingnotehereandtherebreakingthesilenceandwarningtheworldwithfaintinsistencethatithadbeguntoliveagainandmustbestiritself。Shehadgotoutofherbedsometimesonasummermorningtowatchthebeautyofit，toseetheflowersgraduallyrevealtheircolourtotheeye，tohearthewarmlynestingthingsbegintheirjoyousday。Therewerefewerbirdsoundsnow，andthegardenbedswereautumnal。
　　Buthowbeautifulitallwas！Howwonderfullifeinsuchaplacemightbeifflowersandbirdsandsweepofsward，andmassofstately，broad—branchedtrees，werepartsofthehomeonelovedandwhichsurelywouldinitsownwayloveoneinreturn。Butsoonallthisphaseoflifewouldbeover。Rosalie，oncesafeathome，wouldlookback，rememberingtheplacewithashudder。AsUghtredgrewolderthepassingofyearswoulddimmiserablechildmemories，andwhenhisinheritancefelltohimhemightreturntoseeitwithhappiereyes。ShebegantopicturetoherselfRosy’svoyageintheshipwhichwouldcarryheracrosstheAtlantictohermotherandthescenesconnectedinhermindonlywithagirl’shappiness。Whatsoeverhappenedbeforeittookplace，thevoyagewouldbemadeintheend。AndRosaliewouldbelikeacreatureinadream——aheavenly，unbelievabledream。Bettycouldimaginehowshewouldlookwrappedupandsittinginhersteamerchair，gazingoutwithrapturouseyesupontheracingwaves"Shewillbehappy，"shethought。"ButIshallnot。No，Ishallnot。"
　　Shedrewinthemorningairandunconsciouslyturnedtowardstheplacewhere，acrosstherisingandfallinglandsandbehindthetrees，sheknewthegreatwhitehousestoodfaraway，withwatchers’lightsshowingdimlybehindthelineofballroomwindows。
　　"Idonotknowhowsuchathingcouldbe！Idonotknowhowsuchathingcouldbe！"shesaid。"ItCOULDnot。"Andsheliftedahighhead，notevenaskingherselfwhatremotesenseinherbeingsoobstinatelydefiedandthrewdowntheglovetoFate。
　　Soundsgainacuriousdistinctnessandmeaninginthehourofthebreakofthedawn；insuchanhourtheyseemevenmoresignificantthansoundsheardinthedeadofnight。Whenshehadgonetothewindowshehadfanciedthatsheheardsomethinginthecorridoroutsideherdoor，butwhenshehadlistenedtherehadbeenonlysilence。Nowtherewassoundagain——thatofasoftlymovedslipperedfoot。Shewenttotheroom’scentreandwaited。Yes，certainlysomethinghadstirredinthepassage。Shewenttothedooritself。Thedraggingstephadhesitated——stopped。CoulditbeRosaliewhohadcometoherforsomething。Foronesecondherimpulsewastoopenthedoorherself；thenext，shehadchangedhermindwithasenseofshock。Someonehadactuallytouchedthehandleandverydelicatelyturnedit。Itwasnotpleasanttostandlookingatitandseeitturn。Sheheardalow，evidentlyunintentionallyutteredexclamation，andsheturnedaway，andwithnoattemptatsofteningthesoundofherfootstepswalkedacrosstheroom，hotwithpassionatedisgust。Aswellasifshehadflungthedooropen，sheknewwhostoodoutside。ItwasNigelAnstruthers，haggardandunseemly，withburned—
　　out，sleeplesseyesandbittenlip。
　　Badandmadasshehadatlastseenthesituationtobe，itwasuglierandmoredesperatethanshecouldwellknow。
　　CHAPTERXLV
　　THEPASSINGBELL
　　ThefollowingmorningSirNigeldidnotappearatthebreakfasttable。Hebreakfastedinhisownroom，anditbecameknownthroughoutthehouseholdthathehadsuddenlydecidedtogoaway，andhismanwaspackingforthejourney。
　　WhatthejourneyorthereasonforitsbeingtakenhappenedtobewerethingsnotexplainedtoanyonebutLadyAnstruthers，atthedoorofwhosedressingroomheappearedwithoutwarning，justasshewasleavingit。
　　Rosaliestartedwhenshefoundherselfconfrontinghim。Hiseyeslookedhotandhollowwithfeverishsleeplessness。
　　"Youlookill，"sheexclaimedinvoluntarily。"Youlookasifyouhadnotslept。"
　　"Thankyou。Youalwaysencourageaman。Iamnotinthehabitofsleepingmuch，"heanswered。"Iamgoingawayformyhealth。Itisaswellyoushouldknow。IamgoingtolookupoldBroadmorlands。Iwanttoknowexactlywhereheis，incaseitbecomesnecessaryformetoseehim。IalsorequiresometriflingdataconnectedwithFfolliott。Ifyourfatheriscoming，itwillbeaswelltobeabletolaymyhandsonthings。YoucanexplaintoBetty。Good—morning。"Hewaitedfornoreply，butwheeledaboutandlefther。
　　Bettyherselfworeachangedfacewhenshecamedown。A
　　cloudhadpassedoverherblooming，ascloudspassoveramorningskyanddimit。Rosalieaskedherselfifshehadnotnoticedsomethinglikethisbefore。Shebegantothinkshehad。Yes，shewassurethatatintervalstherehadbeenmomentswhenshehadglancedatthebrilliantfacewithanuneasyandyethalf—unrealisingsenseoflookingataglowinglighttemporarilywaning。Thefeelinghadbeenunrealisable，becauseitwasnottobeexplained。Bettywasneverill，shewasneverlow—
　　spirited，shewasneveroutofhumourorafraidofthings——thatwaswhyitwassowonderfultolivewithher。But——yes，itwastrue——therehadbeendayswhenthestrong，finelightofherhadwaned。LadyAnstruthers’comprehensionofitarosenowfromhermemoryofthelookshehadseenthenightbeforeintheeyeswhichsuddenlyhadgazedstraightbeforeher，asintoanunknownplace。
　　"Yes，Iknow——Iknow——Iknow！"Andthetoneinthegirl’svoicehadbeenoneRosyhadnotheardbefore。
　　Slightwonder——ifyouKNEW——atanyoutwardchangewhichshoweditself，thoughinyourownmostdesperatedespite。ItwouldbesoevenwithBetty，who，inhersister’seyes，wasunlikeanyothercreature。Butperhapsitwouldbebettertomakenocomment。Tomakecommentwouldbealmostlikeaskingthequestionshehadbeenforbiddentoask。
　　Whiletheservantswereintheroomduringbreakfasttheytalkedofcommonthings，resortingeventotheweatherandthenewsofthevillage。Afterwardstheypassedintothemorningroomtogether，andBettyputherarmaroundRosalieandkissedher。
　　"Nigelhassuddenlygoneaway，Ihear，"shesaid。"Doyouknowwherehehasgone？"
　　"Hecametomydressing—roomtotellme。"Bettyfeltthewholeslimbodystiffenitselfwithadeterminationtoseemcalm。"HesaidhewasgoingtofindoutwheretheoldDukeofBroadmorlandswasstayingatpresent。"
　　"Thereissomeforethoughtinthat，"wasBetty’sanswer。"HeisnotonsuchtermswiththeDukethathecanexpecttobereceivedasacasualvisitor。Itwillrequireaptcontrivancetoarrangeaninterview。Iwonderifhewillbeabletoaccomplishit？"
　　"Yes，hewill，"saidLadyAnstruthers。"Ithinkhecanalwayscontrivethingslikethat。"Shehesitatedamoment，andthenadded："HesaidalsothathewishedtofindoutcertainthingsaboutMr。Ffolliott——`triflingdata，’hecalledit——thathemightbeabletolayhishandsonthingsiffathercame。
　　Hetoldmetoexplaintoyou。"
　　"Thatwasintendedforataunt——butit’sawarning，"Bettysaid，thinkingthethingover。"Weareratherlikeladiesleftalonetodefendabesiegedcastle。Hewishedustofeelthat。"
　　Shetightenedherenclosingarm。"Butwestandtogether——
　　together。Weshallnotfaileachother。Wecanfacesiegeuntilfathercomes。"
　　"Youwrotetohimlastnight？"
　　"Alongletter，whichIwishhimtoreceivebeforehesails。
　　HemightdecidetoactuponitbeforeleavingNewYork，toadvisewithsomelegalauthorityheknowsandtrusts，toprepareourmotherinsomeway——todosomewisethingwecannotforeseethevalueof。Hehasknowntheoutlineofthestory，butnotexactdetails——particularlyrecentones。Ihaveheldbacknothingitwasnecessaryheshouldknow。Iamgoingouttopostthelettermyself。IshallsendacableaskinghimtopreparetocometousafterhehasreflectedonwhatI
　　havewritten。"
　　Rosaliewasveryquiet，butwhen，havinglefttheroomtopreparetogotothevillage，Bettycamebacktosayalastword，hersistercametoherandlaidherhandonherarm。
　　"Ihavebeensoweakandtroddenuponforyearsthatitwouldnotbenaturalforyoutoquitetrustme，"shesaid。"ButIwon’tfailyou，Betty——Iwon’t。"
　　Thewinterwasdrawingin，thelastautumndayswereshortandoftengreyanddreary；thewindhadswepttheleavesfromthetreesandscatteredthemoverparklandsandlanes，wheretheylayamellow—hued，rustlingcarpet，shiftingwitheachchillbreezethatblew。Theberriedbrionygarlandsclungtothebaredhedges，andhereandthereflaredscarlet，stillholdingtheirreddefiantlyuntilhardfrostsshouldcometoshrivelandblackenthem。Therarehoursofsunshinewereamberhoursinsteadofgolden。
　　AsshepassedthroughtheparkgateBettywasthinkingofthefirstmorningonwhichshehadwalkeddownthevillagestreetbetweentheirregularrowsofred—tiledcottageswiththeraggedlittleenclosinggardens。Thentheairandsunshinehadbeenofthejustawakeningspring，nowtheskywasbrightlycold，andthroughthesmall—panedwindowsshecaughtglimpsesoffireglow。Abentoldmanwalkingveryslowly，leaningupontwosticks，hadared—brownwoollenmufflerwrappedroundhisneck。Seeingher，hestoppedandshuffledthetwosticksintoonehandthathemightleavetheotherfreetotouchhiswrinkledforeheadstiffly，hisfacestretchingintoaslowsmileasshestoppedtospeaktohim。
　　"Good—morning，Marlow，"hesaid。"Howistherheumatismto—day？"
　　Hewasadeafoldman，whoseconversationwascarriedonprincipallybyguesswork，anditwaseasyforhimtogatherthatwhenherladyship’shandsomeyoungsisterhadgivenhimgreetingshehadnotforgottentoinquirerespectingthe"rheumatics，"whichformedthegreaterpartofexistence。
　　"Mornin’，miss——mornin’，"heansweredinthehigh，crackedvoiceofruralancientry。"Winterbenigh，an’theydampdaysbefullofrheumatiz。’T’inteasytogetaboutonmyoldlegs，butIbemainthankfulfortheywarmthingsyousent，miss。This’ere，"fumblingathisred—brownmufflerproudly，"’tisacomfortonwindydays，so’tis，andwarmthbeagoodthingtoamanwhenhebegoin’downhillinyears。"
　　"Allofyouwhoarenotabletoearnyourownfiresshallbewarmthiswinter，"herladyship’shandsomesistersaid，speakingclosertohisear。"Youshallallbewarm。Don’tbeafraidofthecolddayscoming。"
　　Heshuffledhissticksandtouchedhisforeheadagain，lookingupatheradmiringlyandchuckling。
　　"’T’willbeanewtaleforStornhamvillage，"hecackled。
　　"’T’willbeanewtale。Thankye，miss。Thankye。"
　　Asshenoddedsmilinglyandpassedon，sheheardhimcacklingstillunderhisbreathashehobbledonhisslowway，comfortedandelate。Howalmostshamefullyeasyitwas；afewloadsofcoalandfaggotshereandthere，afewblanketsandwarmgarmentswhosecostcountedforsolittlewhenone’shandswerefull，couldchangeagruesomevillagewinterintoaseasonduringwhichlabour—stiffenedandbrokenoldthings，closingtheircottagedoors，coulddrawtheirchairsroundthehearthandhoverluxuriouslyovertheredglow，whichinitscomfortingfashionofseemingtohaveunderstandingofthedulldreamsinoldeyes，wasmoretobelovedthananyhumanfriend。
　　ButshehadnotneededherpassingspeechwithMarlowtostimulaterealisationofhowmuchshehadlearnedtocareforthemerelivingamongthesepeople，towhomsheseemedtohavebeguntobelong，andwhosecomfortablylightingfaceswhentheymethershowedthattheyknewhertobeonewhomightbeturnedtoinanyhouroftroubleordismay。Thecenturieswhichhadtrainedthemtodependupontheir"betters"hadtaughttheslowestofthemtojudgewithkeensightthosewhoweretobetrusted，notaloneaspowerandwealthholders，butascreatureshumanlyuprightandmercifulwiththeirkind。
　　"Workin’folkallusknowsgentry，"oldDobyhadonceshrilledtoher。"Gentry’sgentry，an’usknows’emwheresoevertheybe。Better’ntheyknowtheirselves。Sousdo！"
　　Yes，theyknew。Andthoughtheyacceptedmanythingsasbeingmerelytheirnaturalrights，theygaveanunsentimentalaffectionandappreciationinreturn。Thepatriarchalnoteinthelifewaslovabletoher。Eachcreatureshepassedwasasortoffriendwhoseemedalmostofherownblood。Ithadcometothat。Thisparticularexistencewasmoresatisfyingtoherthananyother，moreheart—fillingandwarmlycomplete。
　　"ThoughIamonlyanimpostor，"shethought；"IwasborninFifthAvenue；yetsinceIhaveknownthisIshallbequitehappyinnootherplacethananEnglishvillage，withaNormanchurchtowerlookingdownuponitandrowsoflittlegardenswithspearsofwhiteandbluelupinsandCanterburybellsstandingguardbeforecottagedoors。"
　　AndRosalie——ontheeveningofthatfirststrangedaywhenshehadcomeuponherpiteousfigureamongtheheatherunderthetreesnearthelake——Rosaliehadheldherarmwithahotlittlehandandhadsaidfeverishly：
　　"IfIcouldheartheroarofBroadwayagain！Dothestagesrattleastheyusedto，Betty？Ican’thelphopingthattheydo。"
　　Shecarriedherlettertothepostandstoppedtotalkafewminuteswiththepostmaster，whotransactedhisofficialbusinessinasmallshopwheresidesofbaconandhamshungsuspendedfromtheceiling，whilegroceries，flannels，dressprints，andglassbottlesofsweetstufffilledtheshelves。
　　"Mr。Tewson’s"wasthecentralpointofStornhaminacommercialsense。Theestablishmenthadalsocertainsocialqualifications。
　　Mr。Tewsonknewthesecretsofallheartswithinthevillageradius，alsothesecretsofallconstitutions。Heknewbysomeoccultmeanswhohadbeen"takenbad，"orwhohad"takenaturn，"andwasawareatoncewhenanyonewas"sinkin’