"Yes，"answeredBettina。"Ithinkso。AndIamtall。Itisthefashiontobetallnow。ItwasEarlyVictoriantobelittle。TheQueenbroughtinthe`dearlittlewoman，’andnowthetypehasgoneout。"
　　"Theywillcometolookatyouprettysoon，"saidVanderpoel。"Whatshallyousaythen？"
　　"I？"saidBettina，andhervoicesoundedparticularlylowandmellow。"Ihavealittlemonomania，father。Somepeoplehaveamonomaniaforonethingandsomeforanother。
　　MineisforNOTtakingabargainfromtheducalremnantcounter。"
　　CHAPTERVI
　　ANUNFAIRENDOWMENT
　　ToBettinaVanderpoelhadbeengiven，toanextraordinaryextent，theextraordinarythingwhichiscalledbeauty——whichisathingentirelysetapartfrommeregoodlooksorprettiness。
　　Thisthingisextraordinarybecause，ifstatisticsweretaken，theresultwouldprobablybethediscoverythatnotthreehumanbeingsinamillionreallypossessit。Thatitshouldbebestowedatall——sinceitissorare——seemsasunfairathingasappearstothemeremortalmindthebestowalofunboundedwealth，sinceitquiteasinevitablyplacesthelifeofitsowneruponanabnormalplane。Therearemillionsofprettywomen，andbillionsofpersonablemen，butthemanorwomanofentirephysicalbeautymaycrossone’spathwayonlyonceinalife—
　　time——ornotatall。Inthelattercaseitisnaturaltodoubttheabsolutetruthoftherumoursthatthethingexists。Theabnormalcreatureseemsamerefreakofnatureandmaychancetobeangel，criminal，totalinsipidity，viragoorenchanter，butletsuchanoneenteraroomorappearinthestreet，andheadsmustturn，eyeslightandfollow，soulsyearnorenvy，orsinkunderthediscouragementofcomparison。Withthecompleteharmonyandperfectbalanceofthesingularthing，itwouldbefollyfortherestoftheworldtocompete。A
　　humanbeingwhohadlivedinpovertyforhalfalifetime，might，ifsuddenlyendowedwithlimitlessfortune，retain，toacertainextent，balanceofmind；butthesamecreaturehavinglivedthesamenumberofyearsawhollyunlovelything，suddenlyawakeningtothepossessionofentirephysicalbeauty，mightfindthestrainuponpuresanitygreaterandthebalancelesseasytopreserve。Therelieffromtheconsciousorunconscioustensionbredbythesenseofimperfection，thecalmsuretyofthefearlessnessofmeetinginanyeyealooknotlightedbypleasure，wouldbelessnormalthantheknowledgethatnowishneedremainunfulfilled，nofancyungratified。
　　EvenatsixteenBettywasalong—limbedyoungnymphwhosesmallhead，sethighonafineslimcolumnofthroat，mightwellhavebeencrownedwiththegarlandofsomegoddessofhealthandthejoyoflife。Shewaslightandswift，andbeingacreatureoflonglinesandtendercurves，therewaspleasureinthemereseeinghermove。Thecutofherspiritedlip，anddelicatenostril，madeforaprofileatwhichoneturnedtolookmorethanonce，despiteone’sself。Herhairwassoftandblackandrepeateditscolourintheextravagantlashesofherchildhood，whichmademysteriousthechangefuldenseblueofhereyes。Theywereeyeswithlaughterinthemandpride，andasuggestionofmanydeepthingsyetunstirred。Shewasratherunusuallytall，andherbodyhadthesupplenessofayoungbamboo。Thedeepcornersofherredmouthcurledgenerously，andthechin，meltingintothefinelineofthelovelythroat，wasatoncestrongandsoftandlovely。Shewasacreatureofharmony，warmrichnessofcolour，andbrilliantlyalluringlife。
　　WhenherschooldayswereovershereturnedtoNewYorkandgaveherselfintohermother’shands。Hermother’skindnessofheartandsweet—temperedlovingnessweretouchingthingstoBettina。InthemidstofhermillionsMrs。Vanderpoelwaswhollyunworldly。Bettinaknewthatshefeltaperpetualhomesicknesswhensheallowedherselftothinkofthedaughterwhoseemedlosttoher，andthegirl’srealisationofthiscausedhertowishtobeespeciallyaffectionateandamenable。Shewasgladthatshewastallandbeautiful，notmerelybecausesuchphysicalgiftsaddedtothecolourandagreeablenessoflife，butbecausehersgavecomfortandhappinesstohermother。ToMrs。Vanderpoel，tointroducetotheworldtheloveliestdebutanteofmanyyearswastobelaunchedintoanewfuture。Toconcernone’sselfaboutherexquisitewardrobewastohaveanenliveningoccupation。Toseehersurrounded，towatcheyesastheyfollowedher，tohearherpraised，wastofeelsomethingofthehappinessshehadknowninthoseyoungerdayswhenNewYorkhadbeenlessadvancedinitsnewsandmethods，andslimlittleblondeRosaliehadcomeoutinwhitetulleandwaltzedlikeafairywithahundredpartners。
　　"IwonderwhatRosylookslikenow，"thepoorwomansaidinvoluntarilyoneday。Bettinawasnotafairy。WhenhermotherutteredherexclamationBettinawasonthepointofgoingout，andasshestoodnearher，wrappedinsplendidfurs，shehadtheairofaRussianprincess。
　　"Shecouldnothavewornthethingsyoudo，Betty，saidtheaffectionatematernalcreature。"Shewassuchalittle，slightthing。Butshewasverypretty。Iwonderiftwelveyearshavechangedhermuch？"
　　Bettyturnedtowardsherrathersuddenly。
　　"Mother，"shesaid，"sometime，beforeverylong，Iamgoingtosee。"
　　"Tosee！"exclaimedMrs。Vanderpoel。"ToseeRosy！"
　　"Yes，"Bettyanswered。"Ihaveaplan。Ihavenevertoldyouofit，butIhavebeenthinkingoveriteversinceI
　　wasfifteenyearsold。"
　　Shewenttohermotherandkissedher。Sheworeabecomingbutresoluteexpression。
　　"Wewillnottalkaboutitnow，"shesaid。"TherearesomethingsImustfindout。"
　　Whenshehadlefttheroom，whichshedidalmostimmediately，Mrs。Vanderpoelsatdownandcried。ShenearlyalwaysshedafewtearswhenanyonetoucheduponthesubjectofRosy。Onherdeskweresomephotographs。OnewasofRosyasalittlegirlwithlonghair，onewasofLadyAnstruthersinherweddingdress，andonewasofSirNigel。
　　"IneverfeltasifIquitelikedhim，"shesaid，lookingatthislast，"butIsupposeshedoes，orshewouldnotbesohappythatshecouldforgethermotherandsister。
　　Therewasanotherpictureshelookedat。Rosaliehadsentitwiththelettershewrotetoherfatherafterhehadforwardedthemoneysheaskedfor。Itwasalittlestudyinwatercoloursoftheheadofherboy。Itwasnothingbutahead，theshouldersbeingfancifullydraped，butthefacewasapeculiarone。Itwasover—mature，andunlovely，butforamouthatoncepatheticandsweet。
　　"Heisnotaprettychild，"sighedMrs。Vanderpoel。"I
　　shouldhavethoughtRosywouldhavehadprettybabies。
　　Ughtredismorelikehisfatherthanhismother。"
　　Shespoketoherhusbandlater，ofwhatBettyhadsaid。
　　"Whatdoyouthinkshehasinhermind，Reuben？"sheasked。
　　"WhatBettyhasinhermindisusuallygoodsense，"washisresponse。"Shewillbegintotalktomeaboutitpresently。
　　Ishallnotaskquestionsyet。Sheisprobablythinking：thingsover。"
　　Shewas，intruth，thinkingthingsover，asshehadbeendoingforsometime。ShehadaskedquestionsonseveraloccasionsofEnglishpeopleshehadmetabroad。Butaschool—
　　girlcannotaskmanyquestions，andthoughshehadoncemetsomeonewhoknewSirNigelAnstruthers，itwasapersonwhodidnotknowhimwell，forthereasonthatshehadnotdesiredtoincreaseherslightacquaintance。ThisladywastheauntofoneofBettina’sfellowpupils，andshewasnotawareofthegirl’srelationshiptoSirNigel。WhatBettygatheredwasthatherbrother—in—lawwasregardedasadecidedlybadlot，thatsincehismarriagetosomeAmericangirlhehadseemedtohavemoneywhichhespentinriotousliving，andthatthewife，whowassaidtobeasillycreature，waskeptinthecountry，eitherbecauseherhusbanddidnotwantherinLondon，orbecauseshepreferredtostayatStornham。Aboutthewifenooneappearedtoknowanything，infact。
　　"Sheisratherafool，Ibelieve，andSirNigelAnstruthersisthekindofmanasimpletonwouldbeobligedtosubmitto，"
　　Bettinahadheardtheladysay。
　　Herownreflectionsuponthesecommentshadledherthroughvariouspathsofthought。ShecouldrecallRosalie’sgirlhood，andwhatsheherself，asanunconsciouslyobservingchild，hadknownofhercharacter。Sherememberedthesimpleimpressionabilityofhermind。Shehadbeenthemostamenablelittlecreatureintheworld。Heryieldingamiabilitycouldalwaysbecounteduponasafactorbythecalculating；
　　sweet—temperedtoweakness，shecouldbebeguiledordistressedintoanycoursethedesiresofothersdictated。Anill—temperedorself—pityingpersoncouldalteranylineofconductsheherselfwishedtopursue。
　　"Shewasneitherclevernorstrong—minded，"Bettysaidtoherself。"AmanlikeSirNigelAnstrutherscouldmakewhathechoseofher。Iwonderwhathehasdonetoher？"
　　Ofonethingshethoughtshewassure。ThiswasthatRosalie’saloofnessfromherfamilywastheresultofhisdesign。
　　Shecomprehended，inhermatureryears，thedislikeofherchildhood。Sherememberedacertainlookinhisfacewhichshehaddetested。Shehadnotknownthenthatitwasthelookofarathercleverbrute，whowasmalignant，butsheknewnow。
　　"Heusedtohateusall，"shesaidtoherself。"HedidnotmeantoknowuswhenhehadtakenRosalieaway，andhedidnotintendthatsheshouldknowus。"
　　Shehadheardrumoursofcasessomewhatparallel，casesinwhichgirls’liveshadbecomeswampedinthoseoftheirhusbands，andtheirhusbands’families。Andshehadalsoheardunpleasantdetailsofthemeansemployedtoreachthedesiredresults。AnnieButterfield’shusbandhadforbiddenhertocorrespondwithherAmericanrelatives。Hehadarguedthatsuchcorrespondencewasdisturbingtohermind，andtothedomesticdutieswhichshouldbeeverydecentwoman’sreligion。Oneoftheoccasionsofhisbeatingherhadbeeninconsequenceofhisfindingherwritingtohermotheraletterblottedwithtears。Husbandsfrequentlyobjectedtotheirwives’relatives，buttherewasaspecialorderofEuropeanhusbandwhoopposedviolentlyanyintimacywithAmericanrelationsonthepracticalgroundthattheirviewsofawife’sposition，withregardtoherhusband，wereofarevolutionarynature。
　　Mrs。VanderpoelhadinherpossessioneveryletterRosalieorherhusbandhadeverwritten。Bettinaaskedtobeallowedtoreadthem，andonemorningseatedherselfinherownroombeforeablazingfire，withthecollectiononatableatherside。Shereadtheminorder。Nigel’sbeganastheywenton。
　　Theywereallinonetone，formal，uninteresting，andrequiringnoanswers。Therewasnotasuggestionofhumanfeelinginoneofthem。
　　"Hewrotethem，"saidBetty，"sothatwecouldnotsaythathehadneverwritten。"
　　Rosalie’sfirstepistleswereaffectionate，buttimid。Attheoutsetshewasevidentlytryingtoconcealthefactthatshewashomesick。Graduallyshebecamebrieferandmoreconstrained。Inoneshesaidpathetically，"Iamsuchabadletterwriter。IalwaysfeelasifIwanttotearupwhatI
　　havewritten，becauseIneversayhalfthatisinmyheart。
　　Mrs。Vanderpoelhadkissedthatlettermanyatime。Shewassurethatamarkonthepapernearthisparticularsentencewaswhereatearhadfallen。Bettinawassureofthis，too，andsatandlookedatthefireforsometime。
　　Thatnightshewenttoaball，andwhenshereturnedhome，shepersuadedhermothertogotobed。
　　"Iwanttohaveatalkwithfather，"sheexclaimed。"I
　　amgoingtoaskhimsomething。"
　　Shewenttothegreatman’sprivateroom，wherehesatatwork，evenafterthehourswhenlessseriouslyengagedpeoplecomehomefromballs。Theroomhesatinwasoneoftheapartmentsnewspapershadwithmuchdetaildescribed。Itwasluxuriouslycomfortable，anditseffectwassoberandrichandfine。
　　WhenBettinacamein，Vanderpoel，lookinguptosmileatherinwelcome，wasstruckbythefactthatasabackgroundtoanenteringfigureoftall，splendidgirlhoodinaballdressitwasadmirable，throwingupallitswhitenessandgraceandsweepofline。HewasalwaysgladtoseeBetty。Therichstrengthoftheliferadiatingfromher，therealityandglowofherweregoodforhimandhadthepowerofdetachinghimfromworkofwhichhewastired。
　　Shesmiledbackathim，and，comingforwardtookherplaceinabigarmchairclosetohim，herlace—frilledcloakslippingfromhershoulderswithasoftrustlingsoundwhichseemedtoconveyherintentiontostay。
　　"Areyoutoobusytobeinterrupted？"sheasked，hermellowvoicecaressinghim。"IwanttotalktoyouaboutsomethingIamgoingtodo。"Sheputoutherhandandlaiditonhiswithaclingingfirmnesswhichmeantstrongfeeling。
　　"Atleast，Iamgoingtodoitifyouwillhelpme，"sheended。
　　"Whatisit，Betty？"heinquired，hisusualinterestinheraccentuatedbyhermanner。
　　Shelaidherotherhandonhisandheclaspedbothwithhisown。
　　"WhentheWorthingtonssailforEnglandnextmonth，"
　　sheexplained，"Iwanttogowiththem。Mrs。WorthingtonisverykindandwillbegoodenoughtotakecareofmeuntilIreachLondon。"
　　Mr。Vanderpoelmovedslightlyinhischair。Thentheireyesmetcomprehendingly。Hesawwhathersheld。
　　"FromthereyouaregoingtoStornhamCourt！"heexclaimed。
　　"ToseeRosy，"sheanswered，leaningalittleforward。"ToSEEher。
　　"Youbelievethatwhathashappenedhasnotbeenherfault？"hesaid。Therewasalookinherfacewhichwarmedhisblood。
　　"IhavealwaysbeensurethatNigelAnstruthersarrangedit。"
　　"Doyouthinkhehasbeenunkindtoher？"
　　"Iamgoingtosee，"sheanswered。
　　"Betty，"hesaid，"tellmeallaboutit。"
　　Heknewthatthiswasnosuddenly—formedplan，andheknewitwouldbewellworthwhiletohearthedetailsofitsgrowth。Itwassointerestinglylikehertohaveremainedsilentthroughtheprocessofthinkingathingout，evolvingherfinalideawithouthavingdisturbedhimbybringingtohimanychaoticuncertainties。
　　"It’sasortofconfession，"sheanswered。"Father，Ihavebeenthinkingaboutitforyears。IsaidnothingbecauseforsolongIknewIwasonlyachild，andachild’sjudgmentmightbeworthsolittle。ButthroughallthoseyearsIwaslearningthingsandgatheringevidence。WhenIwasatschool，firstinonecountryandthenanother，IusedtotellmyselfthatIwasgrowingupandpreparingmyselftodoaparticularthing——togotorescueRosy。"
　　"Iusedtoguessyouthoughtofherinawayofyourown，"
　　Vanderpoelsaid，"butIdidnotguessyouwerethinkingthatmuch。Youwerealwaysasolid，loyallittlething，andtherewasbusinesscapacityinyourkeepingyourschemetoyourself。
　　Letuslookthematterintheface。Supposeshedoesnotneedrescuing。Suppose，afterall，sheisacomfortable，fineladyandadoresherhusband。Whatthen？"
　　"IfIshouldfindthattobetrue，Iwillbehavemyselfverywell——asifwehadexpectednothingelse。Iwillmakeherashortvisitandcomeaway。LadyCeciliaOrme，whomI
　　knewinFlorence，hasaskedmetostaywithherinLondon。I
　　willgotoher。Sheisacharmingwoman。ButImustfirstseeRosy——SEEher。"
　　Mr。Vanderpoelthoughtthematteroverduringafewmomentsofsilence。
　　"Youdonotwishyourmothertogowithyou？"hesaidpresently。
　　"Ibelieveitwillbebetterthatsheshouldnot，"sheanswered。"Iftherearedifficultiesordisappointmentsshewouldbetoounhappy。"
　　"Yes，"hesaidslowly，"andshecouldnotcontrolherfeelings。Shewouldgivethewholethingaway，poorgirl。"
　　Hehadbeenlookingatthecarpetreflectively，andnowhelookedatBettina。
　　"Whatareyouexpectingtofind，attheworst？"heaskedher。"Thekindofthingwhichwillneedmanagementwhileitisbeinglookedinto？"
　　"IdonotknowwhatIamexpectingtofind，"washerreply。
　　"Weknowabsolutelynothing；butthatRosywasfondofus，andthathermarriagehasseemedtomakeherceasetocare。
　　Shewasnotlikethat；shewasnotlikethat！Wasshe，father？"
　　"No，shewasn’t，"heexclaimed。Thememoryofherinhershort—frockedandearlygirlishdays，apretty，smiling，effusivething，giventolavishcaressesandaffectionatelittlesurprisesforthemall，camebacktohimvividly。"ShewasthemostaffectionategirlIeverknew，"hesaid。"Shewasmoreaffectionatethanyou，Betty，"withasmile。
　　Bettinasmiledinreturnandbentherheadtoputakissonhishand，awarm，lovely，comprehendingkiss。
　　"IfshehadbeendifferentIshouldnothavethoughtsomuchofthechange，"shesaid。"IbelievethatpeoplearealwaysmoreorlessLIKEthemselvesaslongastheylive。WhathasseemedtohappenhasbeensounlikeRosythattheremustbesomereasonforit。"
　　"Youthinkthatshehasbeenpreventedfromseeingus？"
　　"IthinkitsopossiblethatIamnotgoingtoannouncemyvisitbeforehand。"
　　"Youhaveagoodhead，Betty，"herfathersaid。
　　"IfSirNigelhasputobstaclesinourwaybefore，hewilldoitagain。Ishalltrytofindout，whenIreachLondon，ifRosalieisatStornham。WhenIamsuresheisthere，Ishallgoandpresentmyself。IfSirNigelmeetsmeattheparkgatesandordershisgamekeeperstodrivemeoffthepremises，weshallatleastknowthathehassomereasonfornotwishingtoregardtheusualsocialanddomesticamenities。Ifeelratherlikeadetective。Itentertainsmeandexcitesmealittle。"
　　Thedeepblueofhereyesshoneundertheshadowoftheextravagantlashesasshelaughed。
　　"AreyouwillingthatIshouldgo，father？"shesaidnext。
　　"Yes，"heanswered。"Iamwillingtotrustyou，Betty，todothingsIwouldnottrustothergirlstotryat。Ifyouwerenotmygirlatall，ifyouwereamanonWallStreet，Ishouldknowyouwouldbeprettysafetocomeoutalittlemorethaneveninanyventureyoumade。Youknowhowtokeepcool。"
　　Bettinapickedupherfallencloakandlaiditoverherarm。
　　ItwasmadeofbillowyfrillsofMalineslace，suchasonlyVanderpoelscouldbuy。Shelookeddownattheamazingthingandtouchedupthefrillswithherfingersasshewhimsicallysmiled。
　　"Thereareagoodmanygirlswhocanhetrustedtodothingsinthesedays，"shesaid。"Womenhavefoundoutsomuch。Perhapsitisbecausetheheroinesofnovelshaveinformedthem。Heroinesandheroesalwaysbringinthenewfashionsincharacter。Ibelieveitisyearssinceaheroine`burstintoafloodoftears。’Ithasbeendiscovered，really，thatnothingistobegainedbyit。WhatsoeverIfindatStornhamCourt，Ishallneitherweepnorbehelpless。ThereistheAtlanticcable，youknow。Perhapsthatisoneofthereasonswhyheroineshavechanged。Whentheycouldnotescapefromtheirpersecutorsexceptinastagecoach，andcouldnotsendtelegrams，theyweremoreorlessineveryone’shands。Itisdifferentnow。Thankyou，father，youareverygoodtobelieveinme。"
　　CHAPTERVII
　　ONBOARDTHE"MERIDIANA"
　　Alargetransatlanticsteamerlyingatthewharfonabrilliant，sunnymorningjustbeforeitsdepartureisaninterestingandsuggestiveobjecttothosewhoarefondoffollowingsuggestiontoitsend。Onesometimeswondersifitispossiblethattheexcitementinthedockatmospherecouldeverbecomeathingtowhichonewassufficientlyaccustomedtobeabletoregarditasamongthingscommonplace。Therumblingandrattlingofwaggonsandcarts，theloadingandunloadingofboxesandbales，thepeoplewhoarelate，andthepeoplewhoareearly，thefaceswhichareexcited，andthefaceswhicharesad，thetrunksandbales，andcraneswhichcreakandgroan，theshoutsandcries，thehurryandconfusionofmovement，notwithstandingthateverydayhasseenthemallforyears，haveasortofperennialinteresttothelooker—on。
　　Thisis，perhaps，moreespeciallythecasewhenthelooker—onistobeapassengerontheoutgoingship；andtheexhilarationofhispointofviewmaygreatlydependuponthereasonforhisvoyageandtheclassbywhichhetravels。Gaietyandyouthusuallyappearuponthepromenadedeck，havingtakensaloonpassage。Dulness，commerce，andeldminglingwiththem，itistrue，butwithadiscretionwhichdoesnotseemtodominate。
　　Second—classpassengerswearamorepracticalaspect，andyouthamongthemisrarerandmoregrave。Peoplewhomusttravelsecondandthirdclassmakevoyagesforutilitarianreasons。
　　Theirobjectisusuallytobetterthemselvesinonewayoranother。WhentheyaregoingfromLiverpooltoNewYork，itisusuallytoenteruponneweffortsandnewlabours。WhentheyarereturningfromNewYorktoLiverpool，itisoftenbecausethenewlifehasprovedlesstobedependeduponthantheold，andtheyarebearingbackwiththembitternessofsoulanddiscouragementofspirit。
　　OnthebrilliantspringmorningwhenthehugelinerMeridianawastosailforEnglandayoungman，whowasasecond—classpassenger，leanedupontheship’srailandwatchedtheturmoilonthewharfwithadetachedandnotatallbuoyantair。
　　Hisairwasdetachedbecausehehadotherthingsinhismindthanthosemerelypassingbeforehim，andhewasnotbuoyantbecausetheywerenotcheerfulorencouragingsubjectsforreflection。Hewasabigyoungman，wellhungtogether，andcarryinghimselfwell；hisfacewassquare—jawedandrugged，andhehaddarkredhairrestrainedbyitsclosecutfromwavingstronglyonhisforehead。Hiseyeswereredbrown，andafewdarkfrecklesmarkedhisclearskin。Hewasoftheorderofmanonelooksattwice，havinglookedathimonce，thoughonedoesnotintheleastknowwhy，unlessonefinallyreachessomedegreeofintimacy。
　　Hewatchedthevehicles，heavyandlight，rollintothebigshed—likebuildinganddeposittheirfreight；heheardthevoicesandcaughtthesentencesofinstructionandcomment；hesawboxesandbaleshauledfromthedocksidetothedeckandswungbelowwiththerattlingofmachineryandchains。Buttheseformedmerelyanoisybackgroundtohismood，whichwasself—centredandgloomy。Hewasoneofthosewhogobacktotheirnativelandknowingthemselvesconquered。HehadleftEnglandtwoyearsbefore，feelingobstinatelydeterminedtoaccomplishacertaindifficultthing，butforcesofnaturecombiningwiththecircumstancesofpreviouseducationandlivinghadbeatenhim。Hehadlosttwoyearsandallthemoneyhehadventured。Hewasgoingbacktotheplacehehadcomefrom，andhewascarryingwithhimasenseofhavingbeenusedhardlybyfortune，andinawayhehadnotdeserved。
　　HehadgoneouttotheWestwiththeintentionofworkinghardandusinghishandsaswellashisbrains；hehadnotbeensqueamish；hehad，infact，labouredlikeaploughman；andtobeobligedtogiveinhadbeengallingandbitter。Therearehumanbeingsintowhoseconsciousnessofthemselvesthepossibilityofbeingbeatendoesnotenter。Thismanwasoneofthem。
　　Theshipwasofthehugeandluxuriously—fittedclassbywhichtherichandfortunatearetransportedfromonecontinenttoanother。Passengerscouldindulgethemselvesinsuitesofroomsandlivesumptuously。Asthemanleaningontheraillookedon，hesawmessengersbearingbasketsandboxesoffruitandflowerswithcardsandnotesattached，hurryingupthegangwaytodeliverthemtowaitingstewards。Thesewerethefarewellofferingstobeplacedinstaterooms，ortoawaittheirownersonthesaloontables。Salter——thesecond—classpassenger’snamewasSalter——hadseenafewsuchofferingsbeforeonthefirstcrossing。ButtherehadnotbeensuchlavishnessatLiverpool。ItwastheNewYorkerswhoweresumptuousinsuchmatters，ashehadbeentold。Hehadalsoheardcasuallythatthepassengerlistonthisvoyagewastorecordimportantnames，thenamesofmulti—millionairepeoplewhoweregoingoverfortheLondonseason。
　　Twostewardstalkingnearhim，earlierinthemorning，hadbeenexultingovertheprobablelargessesuchalistwouldresultinattheendofthepassage。
　　"TheWorthingtonsandtheHiramsandtheJohnWilliamSpayters，"saidone。"Theytravelallright。Theyknowwhattheywantandtheywantagooddeal，andthey’rewillingtopayforit。"
　　"Yes。They’renotschoolteachersgoingovertoimprovetheirmindsandcontrivingtocrossinabigshipbyeconomisingineverythingelse。MissVanderpoel’ssailingwiththeWorthingtons。She’sgotthebestsuitealltoherself。She’llbringbackadukeoroneofthoseprincefellows。HowmanymillionshasVanderpoel？"