Shewasasunawareofthesignificanceofhergreatpossessionaswerethosearoundher。Neverthelessitwasanunerringthing。Asamerechild，unformedanduneducatedbylife，shehadnotbeenoneofthesmallcreaturestobedeceivedorflattered。
　　"She’sanawfullysmartlittlething，thatBetty，"herNewYorkauntsandcousinsoftenremarked。"Sheseemstoseewhatpeoplemean，itdoesn’tmatterwhattheysay。Shelikespeopleyouwouldnotexpecthertolike，andthenagainshesometimesdoesn’tcaretheleastforpeoplewhoarethoughtawfullyattractive。"
　　Ashasbeenalreadyintimated，thechildwascrudeenoughandnotparticularlywellbred，buthersmallbrainhadalwaysbeenatwork，andeachdayofherliferecordedforhervaluableimpressions。Thepageofheryoungmindhadceasedtobeablankmuchearlierthanisusual。
　　ThecomparingoftheseimpressionswithsuchasshereceivedwhenherlifeintheFrenchschoolwasnewaffordedheractivementalexerciseShebeganwithnatural，secretindignationandrebellion。
　　TherewasnootherAmericanpupilintheestablishmentbesidesherself。ButforthefactthatthenameofVanderpoelrepresentedwealthsoenormousastoamounttoasortofrankinitself，Bettinawouldnothavebeenreceived。TheproprietressoftheinstitutionhadgravelydisquietingdoubtsoftheproprietyofAmerica。Herpupilswerenotaccustomedtofreedomofopinionsandcustoms。AnAmericanchildmighteitherconsciouslyorunconsciouslyintroducethem。Asthismustbeguardedagainst，Betty’sfirstfewmonthsattheschoolwerenotagreeabletoher。Shewassupervisedandexpurgated，asitwere。SpecialSistersweretoldofftoconverseandwalkwithher，andshesoonperceivedthatconversationswerenotonlyFrenchlessonsindisguise，butwerelecturesonethics，morals，andgoodmanners，imperfectlyconcealedbythemaskanddominoofamiableentertainment。ShetranslatedintoEnglishafterthefollowingmannerthefactsherswiftyoungperceptionsgathered。Therewerethingsitwassoineleganttosaythatonlythemostimpossiblepersonssaidthem；therewerethingsitwassoinexcusabletodothatwhendonetheirinexcusabilityassumedtheproportionsofacrime。Thereweremovements，expressions，pointsofview，whichonemustavoidasonewouldavoidtheplague。Andtheywereallthings，acts，expressions，attitudesofmindwhichBettinahadbeenfamiliarwithfromherinfancy，andwhichshewaswellawarewereconsideredalmostentirelyharmlessandunobjectionableinNewYork，inherbelovedNewYork，whichwasthecentreoftheworld，whichwasbigger，richer，gayer，moreadmirablethananyothercityknownupontheearth。
　　Ifshehadnotsolovedit，ifshehadeverdreamedoftheexistenceofanyotherplaceasbeingabsolutelynecessary，shewouldnothavefeltthethingsobitterly。ButitseemedtoherthatalltheseamiablediatribesinexquisiteFrenchweredirectedatherNewYork，anditmustbeadmittedthatshewashumiliatedandenraged。Itwasapersonal，indeed，afamilymatter。Herfather，hermother，herrelatives，andfriendswereallinsomedegreeexactlythekindofpersonswhosespeech，habits，andopinionsshemustconscientiouslyavoid。Butfortheinstinctofsummingupvalues，circumstances，andintentions，itisprobablethatshewouldhavelostherhead，letloosehertemperandhertongue，andhavebecomeinsubordinate。
　　ButthequicknessofperceptionwhichhadrevealedpracticalpotentialitiestooldReubenVanderpoel，revealedtoherthevalueofFrenchwhichwasperfectlyfluent，avoicewhichwasmusical，movementswhichweregrace，mannerswhichhadastillbeauty，andcomparingthesethingswithotherslesscharmingshelistenedandrestrainedherself，learning，marking，andinwardlydigestingwithaclevernessmostenviable。
　　Amongherfellowpensionnairesshemetwithdiscomfortingilluminations，whichwerefinedisciplinealso，thoughifsheherselfhadbeenalessintellectualcreaturetheymighthavebeenembittering。WithoutdoubtBetty，evenattwelveyears，wasintellectual。Herswasthepracticalworkingintellectwhichbeginsdutyatbirthanddoesnotlaydownitstoolsbecausethesunsets。Thelittleandbiggirlswhowrotetheirexercisesathersidedidnotdeliberatelyenlightenher，butshelearnedfromtheminvaguewaysthatitwasnotNewYorkwhichwasthecentreoftheearth，butParis，orBerlin，Madrid，London，orRome。ParisandLondonwereperhapsmorecalmlypositiveofthemselvesthanothercapitals，andwerealittleinclinedtosmileatthelackofseriousnessinotherclaims。
　　Butonestrangefactwasmorepredominantthananyother，andthiswasthatNewYorkwasnotcountedasacivilisedcentreatall；ithadnoparticularexistence。Nobodyexpressedthisrudely；infact，itdidnotacquiretheformofactualstatementatanytime。Itwasmerelyrevealedbyamiableandingenuousunconsciousnessofthecircumstancethatsuchapartoftheworldexpectedtoberegardedorreferredtoatall。
　　BettybeganearlytorealisethatashercompanionsdidnottalkofTimbuctooorZanzibar，sotheydidnottalkofNewYork。StockholmorAmsterdamseemed，despitetheirsmallness，tobeconsidered。NoonedeniedthepresenceofZanzibaronthemap，butasitconveyednothingmorethantheimpressionofbeingameregeographicalfact，therewasnoreasonwhyoneshoulddwellonitinconversation。Rememberingallshehadleftbehind，thecrowdedstreets，thebrilliantshopwindows，thebuzzofindividualpeople，thereweremomentswhenBettygroundherstronglittleteeth。Shewantedtoexpressallthesethings，tocallout，toexplain，andcommandrecognitionforthem。Butherclevernessshowedtoherthatargumentorprotestationwouldbeuseless。Shecouldnotmakesuchhearersunderstand。ThereweregirlswhoseinterestinAmericawasfoundedontheirimpressionthatmagnificentIndianchieftainsinblanketsandfeathersstalkedaboutthestreetsofthetowns，andthatBetty’sownthickblackhairhadbeenhandeddowntoherbysomebeautifulMinnehahaorPocahontas。Whenfirstshewasapproachedbytimid，tentativequestioningsrevealingthispointofview，Bettyfelthotandansweredwithunamiablecurtness。No，therewerenoredIndiansinNewYork。TherehadbeennoredIndiansinherfamily。Shehadneithergrandmothersnorauntswhoweresquaws，iftheymeantthat。
　　Shefeltsoscornfully，sodisgustedlyindignantattheirbenightedignorance，thatsheknewshebehavedverywellinsayingsolittleinreply。Shecouldhavesaidsomuch，butwhatsoevershehadsaidwouldhaveconveyednothingtothem，soshethoughtitalloutalone。Shewentoverthewholegroundandlittlerealisedhowmuchshewasteachingherselfassheturnedandtossedinhernarrow，spotlesslywhitebedatnight，arguing，comparing，drawingdeductionsfromwhatsheknewanddidnotknowofthetwocontinents。Herchildishanger，combiningitselfwiththepractical，alertbrainofReubenVanderpoelthefirst，developedinheralogicalreasoningpowerwhichledhertoarriveatmanyanexcellentandcuriouslymatureconclusion。Theresultwasfinelyeducational。Allthemoresothatinherfevereddesireforjustificationofthethingssheloved，shebegantoreadbookssuchaslittlegirlsdonotusuallytakeinterestin。Shefoundsomedifficultyinobtainingthematfirst，butaletterortwowrittentoherfatherobtainedforherpermissiontoreadwhatshechose。ThethirdReubenVanderpoelwasdeeplyfondofhisyoungerdaughter，andfeltinsecretaprofoundadmirationforher，whichwassavedfrombecomingtooobviousbytheeverpresentAmericansenseofhumour。
　　"Bettyseemstobegoinginforpolitics，"hesaidafterreadingthelettercontainingherrequestandherfirstlistofbooks。"She’saboutasmadasshecanbeattheignoranceoftheFrenchgirlsaboutAmericaandAmericans。Shewantstofilluponsolidfacts，sothatshecancomeoutstronginargument。
　　She’sgotanunderstandingofthepowerofsolidfactsthatwouldbeafortunetoherifshewereaman。"
　　Itwasnodoubtherunderstandingofthepoweroffactswhichledhertolearneverythingwellandtodevelopinmanydirections。Shebegantodipintopoliticalandhistoricalvolumesbecauseshewasfurious，andwishedtobeabletorefuteidiocy，butshefoundherselfcontinuingtoreadbecauseshewasinterestedinawayshehadnotexpected。Shebegantoseethings。Onceshemadearemarkwhichwasprophetic。
　　ShemadeitinanswertoaguilelessobservationconcerningthegoldmineswithwhichBostonwassupposedtobeenriched。
　　"Youdon’tknowanythingaboutAmerica，youothers，"shesaid。"ButyouWILLknow！"
　　"DoyouthinkitwillbecomethefashiontotravelinAmerica？"askedaGermangirl。
　　"Perhaps，"saidBetty。"But——itisn’tsomuchthatyouwillgotoAmerica。Ibelieveitwillcometoyou。It’slikethat——America。Itdoesn’tstandstill。Itgoesandgetswhatitwants。"
　　Shelaughedassheended，andsodidtheothergirls。Butintenyears’time，whentheywereyoungwomen，someofthemmarried，someofthemcourtbeauties，oneofthemrecalledthisspeechtoanother，whomsheencounteredinanimportanthouseinSt。Petersburg，thewifeofthecelebrateddiplomatwhowasitsownerbeinganAmericanwoman。
　　BettinaVanderpoel’seducationwasaratherfinething。Sheherselfhadmoretodowithitthangirlsusuallyhavetodowiththeirowntraining。Inafewmonths’timethoseinauthorityintheFrenchschoolfoundthatitwasnotnecessarytosuperviseandexpurgateher。Shelearnedwithaninterestedrapacitywhichwasatonceunusualandamazing。Andsheevidentlydidnotlearnfrombooksalone。Hervoice，asanorgan，hadbeenmusicalandfullfrombabyhood。Itbegantomodulateitselfandtoexpressthingsmostvoicesareincapableofexpressing。Shehadbeensobuiltbynaturethatthecarriageofherheadandlimbswasgoodtobehold。Sheacquiredaharmonyofmovementwhichcausedhertolosenoshadeofgraceandspirit。Hereyeswerefullofthought，ofspeculation，andintentness。
　　"Shethinksagreatdealforonesoyoung，"wassaidofherfrequentlybyoneortheotherofherteachers。Onefinallywentfurtherandadded，"Shehasgenius。"
　　Thiswastrue。Shehadgenius，butitwasnotspecialised。
　　Itwasnotgeniuswhichexpresseditselfthroughanyoneart。Itwasageniusforlife，forlivingherself，foraidingotherstolive，forvivifyingmereexistence。Sheherselfwas，however，awareonlyofaneagernessoftemperament，apassionforseeing，doing，andgainingknowledge。Everythinginterestedher，everybodywassuggestiveandmoreorlessenlightening。
　　Herrelativesthoughtheroriginalinherfancies。Theycalledthemfanciesbecauseshewassoyoung。Fortunatelyforher，therewasnoreasonwhysheshouldnotbegratified。MostgirlspreferredtospendtheirholidaysontheContinent。SheelectedtoreturntoAmericaeveryalternateyear。Sheenjoyedthevoyageandshelikedtheentirechangeofatmosphereandpeople。
　　"Itmakesmelikebothplacesmore，"shesaidtoherfatherwhenshewasthirteen。"Itmakesmeseethings。"
　　Herfatherdiscoveredthatshesaweverything。Shewasthepleasureofhislife。Hewasattractedgreatlybytheinterestsheexhibitedinallordersofthings。Hesawhermakebold，ingenuousplungesintoallwaters，withoutanyapparentconsciousnessthatthescrapsofknowledgeshebroughttothesurfacewereunusualpossessionsforaschoolgirl。Shehadyoungviewsonthepoliticsandcommerceofdifferentcountries，asshehadviewsontheirliterature。WhenReubenVanderpoelswoopedacrosstheAmericancontinentonjourneysofthousandsofmiles，takingherasacompanion，hediscoveredthatheactuallyplacedasortofconfidenceinhersummingupofmenandschemes。Hetookhertoseeminesandrailroadsandthosewhoworkedthem，andhetalkedthemoverwithherafterward，halfwithasenseofhumour，halfwithasenseoffindingcomfortinherintelligentcomprehensionofallhesaid。
　　Sheenjoyedherselfimmenselyandgainedastrongpicturesquenessofcharacter。AfteranAmericanholidaysheusedtoreturntoFrance，Germany，orItaly，witharenewedzestoffeelingforallthingsromanticandantique。AfterafewyearsintheFrenchconventsheaskedthatshemightbesenttoGermany。
　　"IamgraduallychangingintoaFrenchgirl，"shewrotetoherfather。"OnemorningIfoundIwasthinkingitwouldbenicetogointoaconvent，andanotherdayIalmostentirelyagreedwithoneofthegirlswhowasdeclaimingagainstherbrotherwhohadfalleninlovewithaCalifornian。
　　YouhadbettertakemeawayandsendmetoGermany。
　　ReubenVanderpoellaughed。HeunderstoodBettymuchbetterthanmostofherrelationsdid。Heknewwhenseriousnessunderlayherjestsandhisrespectforherseriousnesswasgreat。HesenthertoschoolinGermany。DuringtheearlyyearsofherschooldaysBettyhadobservedthatAmericaappeareduponthewholetoberegardedbyherschoolfellowsprincipallyasaplacetowhichthemoreunfortunateamongthepeasantryemigratedassteeragepassengerswhenthingscouldbecomenoworseforthemintheirowncountry。TheUnitedStateswasnotmentallydetachedfromanyotherportionofthehugeWesternContinent。Quitewell—educatedpersonsspokecasuallyofindividualshaving"gonetoAmerica，"
　　asiftherewerenoparticulardifferencebetweenBrazilandMassachusetts。
　　"IwonderifyoueversawmycousinGaston，"aFrenchgirlonceaskedherastheysatattheirdesks。"Hebecameverypoorthroughillliving。HewasquitewithoutmoneyandhewenttoAmerica。"
　　"ToNewYork？"inquiredBettina。
　　"Iamnotsure。ThetowniscalledConcepcion。"
　　"ThatisnotintheUnitedStates，"Bettyanswereddisdainfully。"ItisinChili。"
　　Shedraggedheratlastowardsherandfoundtheplace。
　　"See，"shesaid。"ItisthousandsofmilesfromNewYork。"
　　Hercompanionwasanear—sighted，ratherslowgirl。Shepeeredatthemap，drawingalinewithherfingerfromNewYorktoConcepcion。
　　"Yes，theyareatagreatdistancefromoneanother，"sheadmitted，"buttheyarebothinAmerica。"
　　"ButnotbothintheUnitedStates，"criedBetty。"FrenchgirlsalwaysseemtothinkthatNorthandSouthAmericaarethesame，thattheyareboththeUnitedStates。"
　　"Yes，"saidtheslowgirlwithdeliberation。"Wedomakeoddmistakessometimes。"Towhichsheaddedwithentireinnocenceofanyironicintention。"ButyouAmericans，youseemtofeeltheUnitedStates，yourNewYork，tobeallAmerica。
　　Bettystartedalittleandflushed。Duringafewminutesofrapidreflectionshesatboltuprightatherdeskandlookedstraightbeforeher。Hermentalitywasoftheorderwhichiscapableofmakingdiscoveriesconcerningitselfaswellasconcerningothers。Shehadneverthoughtofthisviewofthematterbefore，butitwasquitetrue。Topassionateyoungpatriotssuchasherselfatleast，thatportionofthemapcoveredbytheUnitedStateswasAmerica。ShesuddenlysawalsothattoherNewYorkhadbeenAmerica。FifthAvenueBroadway，CentralPark，evenTiffany’shadbeen"America。"
　　Shelaughedandreddenedashadeassheputtheatlasasidehavingrecordedanewidea。ShehadfoundoutthatitwasnotonlyEuropeanswhowerelocal，whichwasadiscoveryofsomeimportancetoherfervidyouth。
　　BecauseshethoughtsooftenofRosalie，herattentionwas，duringthepassingyears，naturallyattractedbythemanythingssheheardofsuchmarriagesasweremadebyAmericanswithmenofothercountriesthantheirown。Shediscoveredthatnotwithstandingcertaincommercialviewsofmatrimony，allforeignerswhounitedthemselveswithAmericanheiresseswerenottheentirebrutesprimitiveprejudicemightleadonetoimagine。Therewereratherone—sidedallianceswhichprovedthemselvesfarfromhappy。TheCousinGaston，forinstance，broughthomeabridewhosefortunerebuiltandrefurnishedhisdilapidatedchateauandwhoendedbymakingofhimawell—behavedandcheerycountrygentlemannotatalltobedespisedinhisamiable，iflight—mindedgoodnatureandgoodspirits。Hiswife，fortunately，wasnotayoungwomanwhoyearnedforsentiment。Shewasanice—tempered，practicalAmericangirl，whoadoredFrenchcountrylifeandknewhowtoamuseandmanageherhusband。Itwasagenialsortofmenageandyetthoughthiswasanundeniablefact，Bettinaobservedthatwhentheunionwasspokenofitwasalwaysreferredtowithacertaintonewhichconveyedthatthoughonedidnotexactlycomplainofitshavingbeenundesirable，itwasnotquitewhatGastonmighthaveexpected。
　　Hiswifehadmoneyandwasgood—natured，buttherewerelimitationstoone’sappreciationofamarriageinwhichhusbandandwifewerenotonthesameplane。
　　"Sheisanexcellentperson，andithasbeengoodforGaston，"
　　saidBettina’sfriend。"Welikeher，butsheisnot——sheisnot————"Shepausedthere，evidentlyseeingthattheremarkwasunlucky。Bettina，whowasstillinshortfrocks，tookherup。
　　"Whatisshenot？"sheasked。
　　"Ah！——itisdifficulttoexplain——toAmericans。Itisreallynotexactlyafault。Butsheisnotofhisworld。"
　　"Butifhedoesnotlikethat，"saidBettinacoolly，"whydidheletherbuyhimandpayforhim？"
　　Itwasyoungandbrutal，butthereweretimeswhenthebusinessperspicuityofthefirstReubenVanderpoel，combiningwiththefiery，woundedspiritofhisyoungdescendant，renderedBettinabrutal。Shesawcertainunadornedfactswithunsparingyoungeyesandwantedtostatethem。Afterherfrockswerelengthened，shelearnedhowtostatethemwithmorefinenessofphrase，buteventhenshewassometimesstillratherunsparing。
　　Inthiscasehercompanion，whowasnotfieryoftemperament，onlycolouredslightly。
　　"Itwasnotquitethat，"sheanswered。"Gastonreallyisfondofher。Sheamuseshim，andhesayssheisfarclevererthanheis。"
　　Buttherewereunionslesssatisfactory，andBettinahadopportunitiestoreflectuponthesealso。TheEnglishandContinentalpapersdidnotgiveenthusiastic，detaileddescriptionsofthemarriagesNewYorkjournalsdweltuponwithsuchdelight。Theywerepassedoverwithaparagraph。
　　WhenBettyheardthemspokenofinFrance，GermanyorItaly，sheobservedthattheywerenot，asarule，spokenofrespectfully。Itseemedtoherthatthebridegroomswere，inconversation，treatedbytheirequalswithscantrespect。Itappearedthattherehadalwaysbeensomeextremelypracticalreasonforthepassionwhichhadledthemtothealtar。
　　Onegenerallygatheredthattheyortheirestateswereverymuchoutatelbow，andfrequentlytheircharacterswerenotconsideredadmirablebytheirrelativesandacquaintances。
　　Somehadbeenrathercoldshoulderedincertaincapitalsonaccountofembarrassinglittle，orbig，stories。Somehadspenttheirpatrimoniesinriotousliving。Thosewhohadmerelybegunbycomingintoimpoverishedestates，andhadlaterattenuatedtheirresourcesbycomparativelydecentfollies，wereofthemoredesirableorder。Bythetimeshewasnineteen，Bettinahadfeltthebloodsurgeinherveinsmorethanoncewhensheheardsomecommentsonalliancesoverwhichshehadseenhercompatriotsglowwithaffectionatedelight。
　　"ItwastimeLudlowmarriedsomegirlwithmoney，"sheheardsaidofonesuchunion。"Hehadbeenplayingthefooleversincehecameintotheestate。Horsesandalotofstupidwomen。Hehadcomesomeawfulcroppersduringthelasttenyears。Good—enoughlookinggirl，theytellme——theAmericanhehasmarried——tremendouslotofmoney。Couldn’thavepickedituponthisside。Englishyoungwomenoffortunearenotlookingforthatkindofthing。PooroldBillywasn’tgoodenough。’
　　Bettinatoldthestorytoherfatherwhentheynextmet。
　　Shehadgrownintoatallyoungcreaturebythistime。Herlow，fullvoicewaslikeabellandwascapableofringingforthsomefine，mellowtonesofirony"AndinAmericawearepleased，"shesaid，"andflatterourselvesthatwearereceivingthepropertributeofadorationofourAmericanwitandbeauty。Weplumeourselvesonourconquests。
　　"No，Betty，"saidherfather，andhisreflectivedeliberationhadmeaning。"Therearealotofuswhodon’tplumeourselvesparticularlyinthesedays。Wearenotasinnocentaswewerewhenthissortofthingbegan。WearenotasinnocentaswewerewhenRosywasmarried。"Andhesighedandrubbedhisforeheadwiththehandleofhispen。"NotasinnocentaswewerewhenRosywasmarried，"herepeated。
　　Bettinawenttohimandslidherfineyoungarmroundhisneck。Itwasalong，slim，roundarmwithawonderfulpowertocaressinitscurves。ShekissedVanderpoel’slinedcheek。
　　"HaveyouhadtimetothinkmuchaboutRosy？"shesaid。
　　"I’venothadtime，butI’vedoneit，"heanswered。
　　"Anythingthathurtsyourmotherhurtsme。Sometimesshebeginstocryinhersleep，andwhenIwakehershetellsmeshehasbeendreamingthatshehasseenRosy。"
　　"Ihavehadtimetothinkofher，"saidBettina。"Ihaveheardsomuchofthesethings。IwasatschoolinGermanywhenAnnieButterfieldandBaronvonSteindahlweremarried。
　　Iheardittalkedaboutthere，andthenmymothersentmesomeAmericanpapers。"
　　Shelaughedalittle，andforamomentherlaughdidnotsoundlikeagirl’s。
　　"Well，it’sturnedoutbadlyenough，"herfathercommented。
　　"Thepapershadplentytosayaboutitlater。Therewasn’tmuchhewastoogoodtodotohiswife，apparently。"
　　"Therewasnothingtoobadforhimtodobeforehehadawife，"saidBettina。"Hewasblack。ItwasaninsolencethatheshouldhavedaredtospeaktoAnnieButterfield。
　　Somebodyoughttohavebeatenhim。"
　　"Hebeatherinstead。"
　　"Yes，andIthinkhisfamilythoughtitquitenatural。
　　TheysaidthatshewassovulgarandAmericanthatsheexasperatedFrederickbeyondendurance。Shewasnotgeboren，thatwasit。"Shelaughedherseverelittlelaughagain。
　　"Perhapsweshallgettiredintime，"sheadded。"Ithinkwearelearning。Ifitismadeamatterofbusinessquiteopenandaboveboard，itwillbefair。Youknow，father，youalwayssaidthatIwasbusinesslike。"
　　TherewasinterestedcuriosityinVanderpoel’ssteadylookather。ThereweretimeswhenhefeltthatBetty’ssummingupofthingswaswellworthlisteningto。Hesawthatnowshewasinoneofhermoodswhenitwouldpayonetohearherout。
　　Sheheldherchinupalittle，andherfacetookonafinestillnessatoncesweetandunrelenting。Shewasverygoodtolookatinsuchmoments。
　　"Yes，"heanswered，"youhaveaparticularlylevelheadforagirl。"
　　"Well，"shewenton。"WhatIseeisthatthesethingsarenotbusiness，andtheyoughttobe。IfamancomestoarichAmericangirlandsays，`Iandmytitleareforsale。Willyoubuyus？’Ifthegirlis——isthatkindofagirlandwantsthatkindofman，shecanlookthembothoverandsay，`Yes，Iwillbuyyou，’anditcanbearranged。Hewillnotreturnthemoneyifheisunsatisfactory，butshecannotcomplainthatshehasbeendeceived。Shecanonlycomplainofthatwhenhepretendsthatheaskshertomarryhimbecausehewantsherforhiswife，becausehewouldwantherforhiswifeifshewereaspoorashimself。Letitbeunderstoodthatheispropertyforsale，lethermakesurethatheisthekindofpropertyshewantstobuy。Then，if，whentheyaremarried，heisbrutalorimpudent，orhispeoplearebrutalorimpudent，shecansay，`I
　　willforfeitthepurchasemoney，butIwillnotforfeitmyself。
　　Iwillnotstaywithyou。’"
　　"Theywouldnotliketohearyousaythat，Betty，"saidherfather，rubbinghischinreflectively。
　　"No，"sheanswered。"Neitherthegirlnorthemanwouldlikeit，anditistheirbusiness，notmine。Butitispracticalandwouldpreventsillymistakes。Itwouldpreventthegirlsbeinglaughedat。Itiswhentheyareflatteredbythechoicemadeofthemthattheyarelaughedat。Noonecansneeratamanorwomanforbuyingwhattheythinktheywant，andthrowingitasideifitturnsoutabadbargain。"
　　Shehadseatedherselfnearherfather。Sherestedherelbowslightlyonthetableandherchininthehollowofherhand。
　　Shewasabeautifulyoungcreature。Shehadasoftcurvingmouth，andasoftcurvingcheekwhichwaswarmrose。Takeninconjunctionwiththoseyoungcharms，hernextwordshadanairofincongruity。
　　"YouthinkIamhard，"shesaid。"WhenIthinkofthesethingsIamhard——ashardasnails。ThatisanAmericanism，butitisagoodexpression。IamangryforAmerica。Ifwearesordidandundignified，letusgetwhatwepayforandmaketheothersacknowledgethatwehavepaid。"
　　Shedidnotsmile，nordidherfather。Mr。Vanderpoel，onthecontrary，sighed。HehadadrearysuspicionthatRosy，atleast，hadnotreceivedwhatshehadpaidfor，andheknewshehadnotbeenintheleastawarethatshehadpaidorthatshewasexpectedtodoso。Severaltimesduringthelastfewyearshehadthoughtthatifhehadnotbeensohardworked，ifhehadhadtime，hewouldhaveseriouslyinvestigatedthecaseofRosy。Butwhoisnotawarethattheprofessionofmultimillionairedoesnotallowofanyswervingfromdutyorofanyinterestsrequiringleisure？
　　"Iwonder，Betty，"hesaidquitedeliberately，"ifyouknowhowhandsomeyouare？"