Shedashedoutoftheroom，andcouldneverbeinducedtosayawordfurtheraboutthematter。Shewouldindeedhavefounditimpossibletoexpressherintenseantipathyandsenseofimpendingcalamity。Shehadnotthephrasestomakeherselfcleareventoherself，andafterallwhatcontrollingeffortcanoneproducewhenoneisonlyeightyearsold？
CHAPTERII
ALACKOFPERCEPTION
MercantileasAmericanswereproclaimedtobe，theopinionofSirNigelAnstrutherswasthattheywere，onsomepoints，singularlyunbusinesslike。Intheperfectlyobviousandsimplematterofthesettlementofhisdaughter’sfortune，hehadfeltthatReubenVanderpoelwasobtusetothepointofidiocy。
Heseemedtohavenoneoftheordinarypointsofview。
NaturallytherewastoAnstruthers’mindbutonepointofviewtotake。Amanofbirthandrank，heargued，doesnotcareeracrosstheAtlantictomarryaNewYorkmillionaire’sdaughterunlessheanticipatesderivingsomeadvantagefromthealliance。Suchaman——beingofAnstruthers’type——wouldnothavemarriedarichwomaneveninhisowncountrywithoutmakingsurethatadvantagesweretoaccruetohimselfasaresultoftheunion。\"InEngland，\"tousehisownwords，\"therewasnononsenseaboutit。\"Women’sfortunesaswellasthemselvesbelongedtotheirhusbands，andamanwhowasmasterinhisownhousecouldmakehiswifedoashechose。
Hehadseengirlswithmoneymanagedverysatisfactorilybyfellowswhoheldatightrein，andwerenotmovedbytears，anddidnotallowtalkingtorelations。Ifhehadbeendesirousofmarryingandcouldhaveaffordedtotakeapennilesswife，therewerehundredsofportionlessgirlsreadytothankGodforadecentchancetosettlethemselvesforlife，andoneneednotstiroutofone’snativelandtofindthem。
ButSirNigelhadnotintheleastdesiredtosaddlehimselfwithadomesticencumbrance，infactnothingwouldhaveinducedhimtoconsiderthestepifhehadnotbeendrivenhardbycircumstances。Hisfortuneshadreachedastagewheremoneymustbeforthcomingsomehow——fromsomewhere。
Heandhismotherhadbeenlivingfromhandtomouth，sotospeak，foryears，andtheyhadalsobeenobligedtokeepupappearances，whichissometimesembitteringeventopersonsofamiabletempers。LadyAnstruthers，itistrue，hadlivedinthecountryinasniggardlyamanneraspossible。Shehadnarrowedherexistencetoabsoluteprivation，presentingatthesametimeastern，boldfronttothepersonswhosawher，totheinsufficientstaffofservants，tothevillagetothevicarandhiswife，andthefewfar—distantneighbourswhoperhapsonceayeardrovemilestocallorleaveacard。Shewasanoldwomansufficientlyunattractivetofindnodifficultyinthewayoflimitingheracquaintances。Theunprepossessingwardrobeshehadgatheredinthepassingyearswasremadeagainandagainbythevillagedressmaker。Sheworedingyoldsilkgownsandappallingbonnets，andmantlesdrippingwithrustyfringesandbuglebeads，butthesemitigatednotintheleasttheunflinchingarroganceofherbearing，orthesimple，intolerantrudenesswhichsheconsideredproperandbecominginpersonslikeherself。Shedidnotofcourseallowthatthereexistedmanypersonslikeherself。
Thatsocietyrejoicedinthisfactwasbutthestampofitsinferiorityandfolly。WhileshepinchedherselfandharriedherfewhirelingsatStornhamitwasnecessaryforSirNigeltoshowhimselfintownandpresentasdecentanappearanceaspossible。Hisvanitywasfartooarroganttoallowofhispermittinghimselftodropoutoftheworldtowhichhecouldnotaffordtobelong。Thatheshouldhavebeenforgottenorignoredwouldhavebeenintolerabletohim。Forafewyearshewasinvitedtodineatgoodhouses，andgotshootingandhuntingaspartofthehospitalityofhisacquaintances。
Butamanwhocannotaffordtoreturnhospitalitieswillfindthatheneednotexpecttoavailhimselfofthoseofhisacquaintancestotheendofhiscareerunlessheisanextremelyengagingperson。SirNigelAnstrutherswasnotanengagingperson。Henevergaveathoughttothecomfortorinterestofanyotherhumanbeingthanhimself。Hewasalsodominatedbythekindofnastytemperwhichsorevealsitselfwhenletloosethatitsownercannotcontrolitevenwhenitwouldbedistinctlytohisadvantagetodoso。
Findingthathehadnothingtogiveinreturnforwhathetookasifitwerehisright，societygraduallybegantoceasetoretainanylivelyrecollectionofhisexistence。Thetrades—
peoplehehadbornehimselfloftilytowardsawakenedtothefactthathewasthekindofmanitwasatoncesafeandwisetodun，andthereforeproceededtomakehislifeaburdentohim。Athisclubshehadneverbeenamembersurroundedandrejoicedoverwhenhemadehisappearance。Thetimecamewhenhebegantofancythathewasratheredgedawayfrom，andheendeavouredtosustainhisdignitybybeingsulkyandmakingcausticspeecheswhenhewasapproached。DrivenoccasionallydowntoStornhambyactualpressureofcircumstances，hefoundtheoutlooktheremoreembitteringstill。
LadyAnstrutherslaidthebarenessofthelandbeforehimwithoutanyefforttopalliateunpleasantness。Ifhechosetostalkaboutandlookglum，shecouldsitstillandcallhisattentiontorevoltingtruthswhichhecouldnotdeny。Shecouldpointouttohimthathehadnomoney，andthattenantswouldnotstayinhouseswhichweretumblingtopieces，andworklandwhichhadbeenstarved。Shecouldtellhimjusthowlongatimehadelapsedsincewageshadbeenpaidandaccountsclearedoff。Andshehadanengaging，unbiassedwayofseemingtodrivethesemaddeningdetailshomebythemeremannerofherstatement。
\"Youmakethewholethingasdamneddisagreeableasyoucan，\"Nigelwouldsnarl。
\"Imerelystatefacts，\"shewouldreplywithacridserenity。
Amanwhocannotkeepuphisestate，payhistailorortherentofhislodgingsintown，isinastraitwhichmaydrivehimtodesperation。SirNigelAnstruthersborrowedsomemoney，wenttoNewYorkandmadehissuittonicelittlesillyRosalieVanderpoel。
Butthewholethingwasunexpectedlydisappointingandsurroundedbyirritatingcircumstances。Hefoundhimselffacetofacewithastateofaffairssuchashehadnotcontemplated。
InEnglandwhenamanmarried，certainpracticalmatterscouldbeinquiredintoandarrangedbysolicitors，theamountoftheprospectivebride’sfortune，theallowancesandsettlementstobemade，thepositionofthebridegroomwithregardtopecuniarymatters。Toputitsimply，amanfoundoutwherehestoodandwhathewastogain。But，atfirsttohissardonicentertainmentandlatertohisdisgustedannoyance，SirNigelgraduallydiscoveredthatinthematterofmarriage，Americanshadaningenuoustendencytobelieveinthesentimentalfeelingsofthepartiesconcerned。
Thegeneralimpressionseemedtobethatamanmarriedpurelyforlove，andthatdelicacywouldmakeitimpossibleforhimtoaskquestionsastowhathisbride’sparentswereinapositiontohandovertohimasasortofindemnityforthelossofhisbachelorfreedom。AnstruthersbegantodiscoverthisfactbeforehehadbeenmanyweeksinNewYork。
Hereachedtherealisationofitsexistencebyprocessesofexclusionandinclusion，byhearingcasualremarkspeopleletdrop，byaskingroundaboutandcarefulquestions，byleadingbothmenandwomentotheinnocentexpoundingofcertainpointsofview。Millionaires，itappeared，didnotexpecttomakeallowancestomenwhomarriedtheirdaughters；youngwomen，ittranspired，didnotintheleastrealisethatamanshouldbeliberallyendowedinpaymentforassumingthedutiesofahusband。Ifrichfathersmadeallowances，theymadethemtotheirdaughtersthemselves，whodisposedofthemastheypleased。Inthiscase，ofcourse，SirNigelprivatelyarguedwithfineacumen，itbecamethehusband’sbusinesstoseethatwhathiswifepleasedshouldbewhatmostagreeablycoincidedwithhisownviewsandconveniences。
Hismostilluminatingexperiencehadbeenthehearingofsomemen，hard—headed，richstockbrokerswithavulgarsenseofhumour，enjoyingthemselvesquiteuproariouslyonenightataclub，overastoryoneofthemwasrelatingofanunsatisfactoryGermanson—in—lawwhohaddemandedanincome。Hewasamanofsmalltitle，whohadmarriedthenarrator’sdaughter，andaftersomemonthsspentinhisfather—
in—law’shouse，hadfeltitbutproperthathisfinancialpositionshouldbeputonapracticalfooting。
\"Hebroughtherbackafterthebridaltourtomakeusavisit，\"saidthestoryteller，asharp—featuredmanwithaquaintwrymouth，whichseemedtoexpressaperpetual，repressedappreciationofpassingevents。\"Ihadnothingtosayagainstthat，becausewewereallgladtoseeherhomeandhermotherhadbeenmissingher。ButweekspassedandmonthspassedandtherewasnomentionmadeofthemgoingovertosettleintheSloshwe’dheardsomuchof，andintimeitcameoutthattheSloshthing\"——Anstruthersrealisedwithgallinhissoulthatthe\"brute，\"ashecalledhim，meant\"Schloss，\"andthathismispronunciationwasatonceamatterofhumourandderision——\"wasn’thisatall。Itwashiselderbrother’s。Thewholelotofthemwerecountsandnotoneofthemseemedtoownadime。TheSloshcounthadn’tmorethantwenty—fivecentsandhewasn’tthekindtodealanyofitouttohisfamily。SoLily’scountwouldhavetogoclerkinginadrygoodsstore，ifhepromisedtosupporthimself。Buthedidn’tproposetodoit。Hethoughthe’dgotontoasoftthing。
Ofcoursewe’reaneasy—goinglotandweshouldhavestoodhimifhe’dbeenanicefellow。Buthewasn’t。Lily’smotherusedtofindhercryinginherbedroomanditcameoutbydegreesthatitwasbecauseAdolfhadbeenquarrellingwithherandsayingsneeringthingsaboutherfamily。Whenhermothertalkedtohimhewasinsulting。ThenbillsbegantocomeinandLilywasexpectedtogetmetopaythem。Andtheywerenotthekindofbillsadecentfellowcallsonanothermantopay。ButIdiditfiveorsixtimestomakeiteasyforher。Ididn’ttellherthattheygaveanolderchapthanhimselfsidelightsonthesituation。Butthatdidn’tworkwell。
HethoughtIdiditbecauseIhadto，andhebegantofeelfreeandeasyaboutit，anddidn’ttrytocoveruphistrackssomuchwhenhesentinanewlot。HewasalwaysworkingLily。Hebegantoconsiderhimselfmasterofthehouse。
Heintimatedthataprivatecarriageoughttobekeptforthem。Hesaiditwasbeggarlythatheshouldhavetoconsidertherestofthefamilywhenhewantedtogoout。WhenIgotontothesituation，Ibegantoenjoyit。Ilethimspreadhimselfforawhilejusttoseewhathewoulddo。GoodLord！
Icouldn’thavebelievedthatanyfellowcouldhavethoughtanyotherfellowcouldbesuchafoolashethoughtIwas。
HewentperfectlycrazyafteramonthorsoandorderedmeaboutandpatronisedmeasifIwasabootblackhemeanttoteachsomethingto。SoatlastIhadatalkwithLilyandtoldherIwasgoingtoputanendtoit。Ofcourseshecriedandwashalffrightenedtodeath，butbythattimehehadill—
usedhersothatsheonlywantedtogetridofhim。SoIsentforhimandhadatalkwithhiminmyoffice。Iledhimontosayingallhehadonhismind。HeexplainedtomewhatacondescensionitwasforamanlikehimselftomarryagirllikeLily。Hemadeadignified，touchingpictureofallthedisadvantagesofsuchanallianceandalltheadvantagestheyoughttobringinexchangetothemanwhoboreupunderthem。Irubbedmyheadandlookedworriedeverynowandthenandclearedmythroatapologeticallyjusttowarmhimup。Icantellyouthatfellowfelthappy，downrighthappywhenhesawhowhumblyIlistenedtohim。Hepositivelyswelledupwithhopeandcomfort。HethoughtIwasgoingtoturnoutwell，realwell。IwasgoingtopayupjustasavulgarNewYorkfather—in—lawoughttodo，andthankGodfortheblessedprivilege。Why，hewasrealeloquentabouthisbloodandhisancestorsandthehoary—headedSlosh。Sowhenhe’dfinished，Iclearedmythroatinanervous，ingratiatingkindofwayagainandIaskedhimkindofanxiouslywhathethoughtwouldbetheproperthingforabase—bornNewYorkmillionairetodounderthecircumstances——whathewouldapproveofhimself。\"
SirNigelwasdisgustedtoseethenarratortwisthismouthintoasweet，shrewd，repressedgrinevenasheexpectoratedintothenearestreceptacle。Thegrinwasgreetedbyashoutoflaughterfromhiscompanions。
\"Whatdidhesay，Stebbins？\"someonecried。
\"Hesaid，\"explainedMr。Stebbinsdeliberately，\"hesaidthatanallowancewastheproperthing。Hesaidthatamanofhisrankmusthaveresources，andthatitwasn’tdignifiedforhimtohavetoaskhiswifeorhiswife’sfatherformoneywhenhewantedit。Hesaidanallowancewaswhathefelthehadarighttoexpect。Andthenhetwistedhismoustacheandsaid，`whatproposition’didImake——whatwouldI
allowhim？\"
Thestoryteller’shearersevidentlyknewhimwell。Theirlaughterwaslouderthanbefore。
\"Let’sheartherest，Joe！Let’shearit！\"
\"Well，\"repliedMr。Stebbinsalmostthoughtfully，\"I
justgotupandsaid，`Well，itwon’ttakelongformetoanswerthat。I’vealwaysbeenfondofmychildren，andLilyisrathermypet。She’salwayshadeverythingshewanted，andshealwaysshall。She’sagoodgirlandshedeservesit。
I’llallowyou————\"Thesignificantdeliberationofhisdrawlcouldscarcelybedescribed。\"I’llallowyoujustfiveminutestogetoutofthisroom，beforeIkickyouout，andifIkickyououtoftheroom，I’llkickyoudownthestairs，andifIkickyoudownthestairs，IshallhavegotmybloodcomfortablywarmedupandI’llkickyoudownthestreetandroundtheblockanddowntoHoboken，becauseyou’regoingtotakethesteamerthereandgobacktotheplaceyoucamefrom，totheSloshthingorwhateveryoucallit。Wehaven’tadamnedbitofuseforyouhere。’Andbelieveitornot，gentlemen————\"
lookingroundwiththewry—mouthedsmile，\"hetookthatpassageandbackhewent。AndLily’slivingwithhermotherandImeantoholdontoher。\"
SirNigelgotupandlefttheclubwhenthestorywasfinished。HetookalongwalkdownBroadway，gnawinghislipandholdinghisheadintheair。Heusedblasphemouslanguageatintervalsinalowvoice。Someofitwasaddressedtohisfateandsomeofittothevulgarmercantilecoarsenessandobtusenessofotherpeople。
\"Theydon’tknowwhattheyaretalkingof，\"hesaid。
\"Itisunheardof。Whatdotheyexpect？Ineverthoughtofthis。Damnit！I’mlikearatinatrap。\"
Itwasplainenoughthathecouldnotarrangehisfortuneashehadanticipatedwhenhedecidedtobegintomakelovetolittlepinkandwhite，doll—facedRosyVanderpoel。Ifhebegantodemandmonetaryadvantagesinhisdealingwithhisfuturewife’speopleintheirsettlementofherfortune，hemightarousesuspicionandinquiry。Hedidnotwantinquiryeitherinconnectionwithhisownmeansorhispastmannerofliving。Peoplewhohatedhimwouldbesuretocropupwithstoriesofthingsbetterleftalone。Therewerealwaysmeddlingfoolsreadytointerfere。
Hiswalkwaslongandfullofsavagethinking。Onceortwiceasherealisedwhatthedisinterestednessofhissentimentswassupposedtobe，ashortlaughbrokefromhimwhichwasratherlikethesnortoftheBishopess。
\"IamsupposedtobemoonstruckoverasimperingAmericanchit——moonstruck！Damn！\"Butwhenhereturnedtohishotelhehadmadeuphismindandwasbeginningtolookoverthesituationinevilcoldblood。Mattersmustbesettledwithoutdelayandhewasshrewdenoughtorealisethatwithhistemperanditsvariedresourcesatimidgirlwouldnotbedifficulttomanage。HehadseenatanearlystageoftheiracquaintancethatRosywasgreatlyimpressedbythesuperiorityofhisbearing，thathecouldmakeherblushwithembarrassmentwhenheconveyedtoherthatshehadmadeamistake，thathecouldchillhermiserablywhenhechosetoassumealoftystiffness。Aman’sdomesticarmourywasfilledwithweaponsifhecouldmakeawomanfeelgauche，inexperienced，inthewrong。Whenhewassafelymarried，hecouldpavethewaytowhathefeltwastheonlypracticalandfeasibleend。
Ifhehadbeenmarryingawomanwithmorebrains，shewouldbemoredifficulttosubdue，butwithRosalieVanderpoel，processeswerenotnecessary。Ifyoushocked，bewilderedorfrightenedherwithaccusations，sulks，orsneers，herlight，innocentheadwassetinsuchawhirlthattherestwaseasy。Itwaspossible，uponthewhole，thatthethingmightnotturnoutsoinfernallyillafterall。SupposingthatithadbeenBettinawhohadbeenthemarriageableone！Appreciatingtothefullthemanyreasonsforrejoicingthatshehadnotbeen，hewalkedingloomyreflectionhome。
CHAPTERIII
YOUNGLADYANSTRUTHERS
Whenthemarriagetookplacetheeventwasaccompaniedbyaningenuouslyelateflourishoftrumpets。MissVanderpoel’sfrocksweremultitudinousandwonderful，asalsoherjewelspurchasedatTiffany’s。Shecarriedathousandtrunks——moreorless——acrosstheAtlantic。Whentheshipsteamedawayfromthedock，thewharfwaslikeaflowergardenintheblazeofbrilliantanddelicateattirewornbythebevyofrelativesandintimateswhostoodwavingtheirhandkerchiefsandlaughinglycallingoutfarewellgoodwishes。
SirNigel’smentalattitudewasnotasympatheticoradmiringoneashestoodbyhisbride’ssidelookingback。IfRosy’shalfhappy，halftearfulexcitementhadlefthertheleisuretoreflectonhisexpression，shewouldnothavefeltitencouraging。
\"WhatadeuceofarowAmericansmake，\"hesaidevenbeforetheywereoutofhearingofthevoices。\"Itwillbeapositiveresttobeinacountrywherethewomendonotcackleandshriekwithlaughter。\"
Hesaiditwiththatsimplerudenesswhichattimesprofessedtobealmostimpersonal，andwhichRosaliehadusuallytriedtobelievewastheoutcomeofakindofcoolBritishhumour。Butthistimeshestartedalittleathiswords。
\"IsupposewedomakemorenoisethanEnglishpeople，\"
sheadmittedasecondorsolater。\"Iwonderwhy？\"Andwithoutwaitingforananswer——somewhatasifshehadnotexpectedorquitewantedone——sheleanedalittlefartheroverthesidetolookback，wavinghersmall，flutteringhandkerchieftothemanystillintumultonthewharf。Shewasnotperceptiveorquickenoughtotakeoffence，torealisethattheremarkwassignificantandthatSirNigelhadalreadybegunashemeanttogoon。ItwasfarfrombeinghisintentiontoplaythepartofanAmericanhusband，whowasplainlyacreatureinwhomnoauthorityvesteditself。Americanslettheirwomensayanddoanything，andwerecapableoffetchingandcarryingforthem。Hehadseenamanrunupstairsforhiswife’swrap，cheerfully，withouttheleastapparentsensethattheservicewasthepartofafootmaniftherewasoneinthehouse，aparlourmaidiftherewasnot。SirNigelhadbeenbroughtupinthegoodEarlyVictoriandayswhen\"anicelittlewomantofetchyourslippersforyou\"figuredincertaincirclesasdomesticbliss。Girlswereeducatedtofetchslippersasretrieversweretrainedtogointothewateraftersticks，andterrierstobringbackballsthrownforthem。
ThenewLadyAnstruthershad，itsupervened，severalopportunitiestoobtainanewviewofherbridegroom’scharacterbeforetheirvoyageacrosstheAtlanticwasover。AtthisperiodoftheslowerandmorecumbrousweavingoftheShuttle，theworldhadnotyetawakenedeventothepossibilitiesoftheoceangreyhound。AnAtlanticvoyageattimeswascapableofofferingtoabrideandbridegroomdaysenoughtobegintoglanceintotheirfuturewithapremonitionofthewaningofthehoneymoon，atleast，andespeciallyiftheywerenotsea—proof，towishwearilythatthefirsthalfofitwereover。Rosaliewasnotweary，butshebegantobebewildered。Asshehadneverbeenaclevergirlorquicktoperceive，andhadspentherlifeamongwomen—indulgingAmericanmen，shewasnotpreparedwithanyprecedentwhichmadehersituationclear。ThefirsttimeSirNigelshowedhistempertohershesimplystaredathim，hereyeslookinglikethoseofapuzzled，questioningchild。Thenshebrokeintohernervouslittlelaugh，becauseshedidnotknowwhatelsetodo。Athissecondoutbreakherstarewasratherstartledandshedidnotlaugh。
Herfirstawakeningwastoananxiouswondermentconcerningcertainmoodsofgloom，orwhatseemedtobegloom，towhichheseemedprone。Asshelayinhersteamerchairhewouldattimesmarchstifflyupanddownthedeck，apparentlyawareofnootherexistencethanhisown，hisfeaturesexpressingacertaincloudedresentmentofwhoseveryunexplainablenessshesecretlystoodinawe。Shewasnotastuteenough，poorgirl，toleavehimalone，andwhenwithinnocentquestioningssheendeavouredtodiscoverhistrouble，thegreatestmystificationsheencounteredwasthathehadthepowertomakeherfeelthatshewasinsomewaytakingaliberty，andshowingherlackoftactandperspicuity。
\"Isanythingthematter，Nigel？\"sheaskedatfirst，wonderingifshewereguiltyofsillinessintryingtoslipherhandintohis。Shewassureshehadbeenwhenheansweredher。
\"No，\"hesaidchillingly。
\"Idon’tbelieveyouarehappy，\"shereturned。\"Somehowyouseemso——sodifferent。\"
\"Ihavereasonsforbeingdepressed，\"hereplied，anditwaswithastifffinalitywhichstruckanoteofwarningtoher，signifyingthatitwouldbebettertasteinhertoputanendtohersimpleefforts。
Shevaguelyfeltherselfputinthewrong，andhepreferredthatitshouldbeso。Itwasthebestformofpreparationforanymoodhemightseethatitmightpayhimtoshowherinthefuture。Hewas，infact，confrontingdisdainfullyhisposition。Hehadheronhishandsandhewasreturningtohisrelationswithnodefiniteadvantagetoexhibitastheresultofhavingmarriedher。Shehadbeensuppliedwithanincomebuthehadnocontroloverit。Itwouldnothavebeensoifhehadnotbeeninsuchstraitsthathehadbeenafraidtoriskhischancebymakingastand。Tohaveawifewithmoney，asilly，sweettemperandnowillofherown，wasofcoursebetterthantobepenniless，headoverheelsindebtandhemmedinbydifficultiesoneveryside。Hehadseenwomentrainedtogiveintoanythingratherthanbebulliedinpublic，toaccedeintheendtoanydemandratherthanenduretheshameofacertainkindofscenemadebeforeservants，andacertainkindofinsolenceusedtorelativesandguests。ThequalityhefoundmostmaddeninglyirritatinginRosaliewasherobviouslyabsoluteunconsciousnessofthefactthatitwasentirelynaturalandproperthatherresourcesshouldbeinherhusband’shands。Hehad，indeed，evenintheseearlydays，madeatentativeeffortorsointheformofasuggestivespeech；hehadgivenheropeningstogivehimanopeningtoputthingsonapracticalbasis，butshehadneverhadtheintelligencetoseewhathewasaimingat，andhehadfoundhimselfalmostflounderingungracefullyinhisremarks，whileshehadlookedathimwithoutasignofcomprehensioninhersimple，anxiousblueeyes。Thecreaturewasactuallytryingtounderstandhimandcouldnot。Thatwastheworstofit，theblankwallofherunconsciousness，herchildlikebeliefthathewasfartoograndapersonagetorequireanything。Thesewerethethingshewasthinkingoverwhenhewalkedupanddownthedeckinunamiablesolitariness。
Rosyawakenedtotheamazedconsciousnessofthefactthat，insteadofbeingpleasedwiththeluxuryandprettinessofherwardrobeandappointments，heseemedtodislikeanddisdainthem。
\"YouAmericanwomenchangeyourclothestoomuchandthinktoomuchofthem，\"wasoneofhisfirstamiablecriticisms。\"Youspendmorethanwell—bredwomenshouldspendonmeredressesandbonnets。InNewYorkitalwaysstrikesanEnglishmanthatthewomenlookendimancheatwhatevertimeofdayyoucomeacrossthem。\"
\"Oh，Nigel！\"criedRosywoefully。Shecouldnotthinkofanythingmoretosaythan，\"Oh，Nigel！\"
\"Iamsorrytosayitistrue，\"herepliedloftily。ThatshewasanAmericanandaNewYorkerwasbeingimpresseduponpoorlittleLadyAnstruthersinanewway——somehowasifthemerecoldstatementofthefactputafineedgeofsarcasmtoanyremark。Shewasoftooinnocentaloyaltytowishthatshewasneithertheonenortheother，butshedidwishthatNigelwasnotsoprejudicedagainsttheplacesandpeopleshecaredforsomuch。
Shewassittinginherstateroomenfoldedinadressinggowncoveredwithcascadesoflace，tiedwithknotsofembroideredribbon，andhermaid，Hannah，whoadmiredhergreatly，wasbrushingherfairlonghairwithagold—backedbrush，ornamentedwithamonogramofjewels。
IfshehadbeenaFrenchduchessofapiquanttype，oranEnglishonewithanaquilinenose，shewouldhavebeenbeyondcriticism；ifshehadbeenaplump，over—fedwoman，oranugly，ill—natured，grossone，shewouldhavelookedvulgar，butshewasalittle，thin，fairNewYorker，andthoughshewasnotbeyondcriticism——ifonedemandedhighdistinction——
shewasprettyandnicetolookat。ButNigelAnstrutherswouldnotallowthistoher。Hisowntailors’billsbeingfarinarrearsandhispocketdisgustinglyempty，thesightofheringenuoussumptuousnessandthegay，accustomedsimplenessofoutlookwithwhichsheaccepteditashernaturalright，irritatedhimandrousedhisvenom。Billswouldremainunpaidifshewaspermittedtospendhermoneyonthissortofthingwithoutanyconsiderationfortherequirementsofotherpeople。
Heinhaledtheairandmadeagestureofdistaste。
\"Thissachetbusinessisratheroverpowering，\"hesaid。\"Itisthesortofthingawomanshouldbeparticularlydiscreetabout。\"
\"Oh，Nigel！\"criedthepoorgirlagitatedly。\"Hannah，dogoandcallthestewardtoopenthewindows。Isitreallystrong？\"sheimploredasHannahwentout。\"Howdreadful。It’sonlyorrisandIdidn’tknowHannahhadputitinthetrunks。\"
\"MydearRosalie，\"withawaveofthehandtakinginbothherselfandherdressingcase，\"itisalltoostrong。\"
\"All——wh——what？\"gaspingly。
\"Thewholething。Allthatlaceandloveknotarrangement，thegold—backedbrushesandscentbottleswithdiamondsandrubiesstickinginthem。\"
\"They——theywereweddingpresents。TheycamefromTiffany’s。Everyonethoughtthemlovely。\"
\"TheylookasiftheybelongedtothedressingtableofaFrenchwomanofthedemi—monde。IfeelasifIhadactuallywalkedintotheapartmentofsomenotoriousParisiansoubrette。\"
