Asshedescendedfromthecarriagethegirlwastremulousanduncertainofherselfandmuchoverpoweredbytheunbendingairoftheman—servantwhoreceivedherasifshewereaparcelinwhichitwasnopartofhisdutytotakethesmallestinterest。Asshemountedthestonestepsshecaughtaglimpseofbroadgloomwithinthethreshold，abig，square，dingyhallwheresomeotherservantsweredrawnupinarow。ShehadreadofsomethingofthesortinEnglishnovels，andshewassuddenlyembarrassedafreshbyherrealisationofthefactthatshedidnotknowwhattodoandthatifshemadeamistakeNigelwouldneverforgiveher。
Anelderlywomancameoutofaroomopeningintothehall。Shewasanuglywomanofarigidcarriage，which，withtheobviousintentionofbeingseverelymajestic，wasonlyantagonistic。Shehadaflaccidchin，andwascuriouslylikeNigel。Shehadalsohisexpressionwhenheintendedtobedisagreeable。ShewastheDowagerLadyAnstruthers，andbeinganentirelyrevoltingoldpersonatherbest，sheobjectedextremelytothetransatlanticbridewhohadmadeheradowager，thoughshewasdeterminedlypreparedtoprofitbyanypracticalbenefitlikelytoaccrue。
\"Well，Nigel，\"shesaidinadeepvoice。\"Hereyouareatlast。\"
Thiswasofcourseastatementnottoberefuted。Sheheldoutaleatherncheek，andasSirNigelalsopresentedhis，theircaressofgreetingwasasingularandnoteffusiveone。
\"Isthisyourwife？\"sheasked，givingRosalieabonyhand。
Andashedidnotindignantlydenythistobethefact，sheadded，\"Howdoyoudo？\"
Rosaliemurmuredareplyandtriedtocontrolherselfbymakinganotherefforttoswallowthelumpinherthroat。
Butshecouldnotswallowit。Shehadbeenkeepingadesperateholdonherselftoolong。Thebewilderedmiseryofherawakening，theawkwardnessofthepublicrowatthestation，thesulkswhichhadfilledthecarriagetorepletionthroughallthelongdrive，andfinallythejanglingbellswhichhadsorecalledthatlastjoyousdayathome——athome——hadbroughthertoapointwherethismeetingbetweenmotherandson——thesetwostony，unpleasantcreaturesexchangingareluctantrubofuninvitingcheeks——astwosavagesmighthaverubbednoses——provedthefinishingimpetustohysteria。Theyweresohideous，thesetwo，andsoghastlycomicandfantasticintheirunresponsiveglumness，thatthepoorgirllostallholduponherselfandbrokeintoatremblingshriekoflaughter。
\"Oh！\"shegaspedinterroratwhatshefelttobeherindecentmadness。\"Oh！how——how————\"AndthenseeingNigel’sfuriousstart，hismother’sglareandalltheservants’
alarmedstareather，sherushedstaggeringtotheonlycreatureshefeltsheknew——hermaidHannah，clutchedherandbrokedownintowildsobbing。
\"Oh，takemeaway！\"shecried。\"Oh，do！Oh，do！Oh，Hannah！
Oh，mother——mother！\"
\"Takeyourmistresstoherroom，\"commandedSirNigel。
\"Godownstairs，\"hecalledouttotheservants。\"Takeherupstairsatonceandthrowwaterinherface，\"totheexcitedHannah。
AndasthenewLadyAnstrutherswashalfled，halfdragged，inhumiliatedhystericdisorderupthestaircase，hetookhismotherbytheelbow，marchedherintothenearestroomandshutthedoor。Theretheystoodandstaredateachother，breathingquick，enragedbreathsandlookingparticularlyalikewiththeirheavy—featured，thick—skinned，infuriatedfaces。
ItwastheDowagerwhospokefirst，andherwholevoiceandmannerexpressedallsheintendedthattheyshould，allthederision，dislikeandscathingresignmenttoagrotesquefate。
\"Well，\"saidherladyship。\"SoTHISiswhatyouhavebroughthomefromAmerica！\"
CHAPTERIV
AMISTAKEOFTHEPOSTBOY’S
AstheweekspassedatStornhamCourttheAtlanticOceanseemedtoRosalieAnstrutherstowidenendlessly，andgay，happy，noisyNewYorktorecedeuntilitwasasfarawayassomememoryofheaven。Thegirlhadbeenborninthemidstoftherattling，rumblingbustle，andithadneverstruckherasassumingthecharacterofnoise；shehadonlythoughtofitasbeingthecheerfulconfusioninseparablefromtown。
ShehadbeensecretlyoffendedandhurtwhenstrangerssaidthatNewYorkwasnoisyanddirty；whentheycalleditvulgar，sheneverwhollyforgavethem。ShewasoftheNewYorkerswhoadoretheirNewYorkasParisiansadoreParisandwhofeelthatonlywithinitsbelovedboundariescanthebreathoflifebebreathed。Peoplewereoftentoohotortoocoldthere，buttherewasusuallyplentyofbrightglaringsun，andtheextremesoftheweatherhadatleastsomethingratherdramaticaboutthem。Thereweredramaticincidentsconnectedwiththem，atanyrate。Peoplefelldeadofsunstrokeorwerefrozentodeath，andthenewspaperswerefullofanecdotesduringa\"coldsnap\"ora\"torridwave，\"whichallmadeforexcitementandconversation。
ButatStornhamtherainseemedtoyoungLadyAnstrutherstodescendceaselessly。Theseasonwasawetone，andwhensheroseinthemorningandlookedoutoverthehugestretchoftreesandswardshethoughtshealwayssawtherainfallingeitherinhopelesssheetsormorehopelessdrizzle。Theoccasionsuponwhichthiswasadrearytruthblottedoutorblurredtheexceptions，wheninliquidultramarinedeepsofsky，floatedislandsandmountainsofsnow—whitefleece，ofabeautyofwhichshehadbeforehadnoconception。
IntheEnglishnovelsshehadread，placessuchasStornhamCourtwerealwaysfilledwith\"houseparties，\"madeupofwonderfultownwitsandbeauties，whoprovidedendlessentertainmentforeachother，whoplayedgames，whohuntedandshotpheasantsandshoneindazzlingamateurtheatricals。Therewere，however，novisitorsatStornham，andtherewereinfact，noaccommodationsforany。Therewerenumberlessbedrooms，butnonereallyfitforgueststooccupy。Carpetsandcurtainswereancientandragged，furniturewasdilapidated，chimneyswouldnotdraw，bedswerefallingtopieces。
TheDowagerLadyAnstruthershadnevereitherattracteddesired，orbeenabletoaffordcompany。Herson’swifesufferedfromtheresultingboredomandunpopularitywithoutbeingabletocomprehendthesignificanceofthesituation。
AstheweeksdraggedbyafewheavycarriagesdepositedattheCourtafewcallers。Someofthevisitorsboreimposingtitles，whichmadeRosalieverynervousandcausedherhastilytoarrayherselftoreceivethemintoilettesmuchtooprettyanddelicatefortheoccasion。Herinnocentideawasthatshemustdoherhusbandcreditbyappearingas\"stylish\"aspossible。
Asaresultshewasstaredat，eitherwithopendisfavour，orwithwell—bred，furtivecriticism，andwasdescribedafterwardsasbeingeither\"veryAmerican\"or\"veryover—
dressed。\"WhenshehadlivedinhugeroomsinFifthAvenue，Rosaliehadchangedherattireasmanytimesadayasshehadchangedherfancy；everyhourhadbeenfilledwithengagementsandamusements；theVanderpoelcarriageshaddrivenuptothedooranddrivenawayagainandagainthroughthemorningsandafternoonsanduntilmidnightandlater。Someonewasalwaysgoingoutorcomingin。Therehadbeeninthebighandsomehousenotmuchmoreofanairofreposethanonemightexpecttofindatarailwaystation；buttheflurry，thecomingandgoing，thecallingandchattinghadallbeencheery，amiable。AtStornham，Rosaliesatatbreakfastbeforeunchangingboiledeggs，unfailingtoastandunalterablebroiledbacon，morningaftermorning。SirNigelsatandmunchedoverthenewspapers，hismother，withanairofrelentlessdisapprovalfromaloftyheightofbothherfoodandcompanions，disposedofhereggsandherrasheratRosalie’srighthand。Shehadtransferredtoherdaughter—in—lawherpreviouslyoccupiedseatattheheadofthetable。Thishadbeendonewithacarefullypreparedsceneofintensethoughcorrectdisagreeableness，inwhichshehadmanagedtoconveyalltherancourofherdethronedspiritandherdisapprovalanddisdainofinternationalalliances。
\"Itisofcourseproperthatyoushouldsitattheheadofyourhusband’stable，\"shehadsaid，amongotheragreeablethings。\"Awomanhavingdevotedherlifetohersonmustrelinquishherpositiontothepersonhechoosestomarry。
Ifyoushouldhaveasonyouwillgiveupyourpositiontohiswife。SinceNigelhasmarriedyou，hehas，ofcourse，arighttoexpectthatyouwillatleastmakeanefforttolearnsomethingofwhatisrequiredofwomenofyourposition。\"
\"Sitdown，Rosalie，\"saidNigel。\"Ofcourseyoutaketheheadofthetable，andnaturallyyoumustlearnwhatisexpectedofmywife，butdon’ttalkconfoundedrubbish，mother，aboutdevotingyourlifetoyourson。Wehaveseenaboutaslittleofeachotheraswecouldhelp。Weneveragreed。\"Theywerebothbulliesandeachmadeoccasionaleffortsatbullyingtheotherwithoutanyparticularresult。Buteachcouldatleastbullytheotherintointensifiedunpleasantness。
Thevicar’swifehavingmadehercallofceremonyuponthenewLadyAnstruthers，followeduptheacquaintance，andfoundherquiteexoticallyunlikehermother—in—law，whosecharitiesonemaybesurehadneitherbeenlavishnordispensedbyanyhandlessimpressivethanherown。Theyoungerwomanwasofwhollymalleablematerial。Hersympathieswereeasilyawakenedandherpursewaswellfilledandreadilyopened。
Smallfamiliesorlargeones，newlyborninfantsornewlyburiedones，oldwomenwith\"badlegs\"andoldmenwhoneededcomforts，equallytouchedherheart。SheinnocentlybestowedsovereignswhereanEnglishwomanwouldhaveknownthathalf—crownswouldhavebeensufficient。Asthevicaresswasheralmonerthatladyfeltherimportancerapidlyontheincrease。Whensheleftacottagesaying，\"I’llspeaktoyoungLadyAnstruthersaboutyou，\"thegoodwomanofthehousecurtsiedlowandherhusbandtouchedhisforeheadrespectfully。
ButthisdidnotadvancethefortunesofSirNigel，whopersonallyrequiredofherverydifferentthings。TwoweeksafterherarrivalatStornham，Rosaliebegantoseethatsomehowshewasregardedasapersonalmostimpudentlyinthewrong。
ItappearedthatifshehadbeenanEnglishgirlshewouldhavebeenquitedifferent，thatshewouldhavebeenanadvantageinsteadofadetriment。AsanAmericanshewasadetriment。
Thatseemedtogowithoutsaying。Shetriedtodoeverythingshewastold，andlearnsomethingfromeachcoldinsinuation。Shedidnotknowthatherveryamenabilityandtimiditywereherundoing。SirNigelandhismotherthoroughlyenjoyedthemselvesatherexpense。Theyknewtheycouldsayanythingtheychose，andthatatthemostshewouldonlybreakdownintocryingandafterwardsapologiseforbeingsobadlybehaved。Ifsomepractical，strong—mindedpersonhadbeenneartodefendhershemighthavebeenrescuedpromptlyandhertyrantsrouted。Butshewasayounggirl，tenderofheartandweakofnature。Sheusedtocryagreatdealwhenshewasalone，andwhenshewrotetohermothershewastoofrightenedtotellthetruthconcerningherunhappiness。
\"Oh，ifIcouldjustseesomeofthem！\"shewouldwailtoherself。\"IfIcouldjustseemotherorfatheroranybodyfromNewYork！Oh，IknowIshallneverseeNewYorkagain，orBroadwayorFifthAvenueorCentralPark——Inever——never——nevershall！\"Andshewouldgrovelamongherpillows，buryingherfaceandhalfstiflingherselflesthersobsshouldbeheard。Herfeelingforherhusbandhadbecomeoneofterrorandrepulsion。Shewasalmostmoreafraidofhispatronising，affectionatemomentsthanshewasofhistemper。
Hisconjugalcondescensionsmadeherfeelvaguely——
withoutknowingwhy——asifsheweresomelowerorderoflittleanimal。
Americanwomen，hesaid，hadnoconceptionofwifelydutiesandaffection。Hehadagreatdealtosayonthesubjectofwifelyduty。Itwaspartofherdutyasawifetobeentirelysatisfiedwithhissociety，andtobecompletelyhappyinthepleasureitaffordedher。ItwasherwifelydutynottotalkaboutherownfamilyandpalpitatinglyexpectlettersbyeveryAmericanmail。Heobjectedintenselytothisletterwritingandreceiving，andhismothersharedhisprejudices。
\"YouhavemarriedanEnglishman，\"herladyshipsaid。
\"YouhaveputitoutofhispowertomarryanEnglishwoman，andtheleastconsiderationyoucanshowistoletNewYorkandNine—hundredthstreetremainupontheothersideoftheAtlanticandnotinsistondraggingthemintoStornhamCourt。\"
TheDowagerLadyAnstrutherswasveryfineinherpictureofhermentalcondition，whensherealised，assheseemedperiodicallytodo，thatitwasnolongerpossibleforhersontomakearespectablemarriagewithawomanofhisownnation。TheunadornedfactwasthatbothsheandSirNigelwereinfuriatedbythesimplicitywhichmadeRosalieslowincomprehendingthatitwasproperthatthemoneyherfatherallowedhershouldbeplacedinherhusband’shands，andlefttherewithnoindelicatequestioning。IfshehadbeenanEnglishgirlmatterswouldhavebeenmadeplaintoherfromthefirstandarrangedsatisfactorilybeforehermarriage。SirNigel’smotherconsideredthathehadplayedthefool，andwouldnotbelievethatNewYorkfathersweresuchtouchy，sentimentalidiotsasnottoknowwhatwasexpectedofthem。
Theywastednotime，however，incomingtothepoint，andinameasureitwasthevicaresswhoaidedthem。Notsheentirely，however。
Sincehermother—in—law’sfirstmentionofapossiblesonwhosewifewouldeventuallythrustherfromherseatattheheadofthetable，Rosaliehadseveraltimesheardthissonreferredto。ItstruckherthatinEnglandsuchthingsseemeddiscussedwithmorefreedomthaninAmerica。Shehadneverheardayoungwoman’spossiblefamilyarrangedforandmadethesubjectofconversationinthemorecrudeatmosphereofNewYork。Itmadeherfeelratherawkwardatfirst。Thenshebegantorealisethatthesonwaspartofherwifelydutyalso；thatshewasexpectedtoprovideone，andthathewasinsomewayexpectedtoprovidefortheestate——torehabilitateit——andthatthiswasbecauseherfather，beingarichman，wouldprovideforhim。IthadalsostruckherthatinEnglandtherewasatendencytoexpectationthatsomeonewould\"provide\"forsomeoneelse，thatrelativesevenbymarriageweresupposedto\"makeallowances\"onwhichitwasquiteproperforotherpersonstolive。Rosaliehadbeenaccustomedtoacommunityinwhichevenrichmenworked，andinwhichyoungandable—bodiedmenwouldhavefeltratherindignantifauntsoruncleshadthoughtitnecessarytopensionthemoffasiftheyhadbeenimpotentpaupers。ItwasRosalie’ssonwhowastobe\"providedfor\"inthiscase，andwhowasto\"providefor\"hisfather。
\"Whenyouhaveason，\"hermother—in—lawhadremarkedseverely，\"IsupposesomethingwillbedoneforNigelandtheestate。\"
Thishadbeensaidbeforeshehadbeentendaysinthehouse，andhadsethernot—too—quickbrainworking。ShehadalreadybeguntoseethatlifeatStornhamCourtwasnottheluxuriousaffairitwasinthehouseinFifthAvenue。Thingswereshabbyandqueerandnotatallcomfortable。Fireswerenotlightedbecauseadaywaschillyandgloomy。Shehadonceaskedforoneinherbedroomandhermother—in—lawhadreprovedherforindecentextravaganceinamannerwhichtookherbreathaway。
\"IsupposeinAmericayouhaveyourhouseatfurnaceheatinJuly，\"shesaid。\"Merewastefulnessandself—indulgence！
ThatiswhyAmericansareoldwomenattwenty。Theyareshrivelledandwitheredbytheunhealthylivestheylead。
Stuffingthemselveswithsweetsandhotbreadandneverbreathingthefreshair。\"
Rosaliecouldnotatthemomentrecallanywitheredandshrivelledoldwomenoftwenty，butsheblushedandstammeredasusual。
\"ItisnevercoldenoughforfiresinJuly，\"sheanswered，\"butwe——weneverthinkfiresextravagantwhenwearenotcomfortablewithoutthem。\"
\"CoalmustbecheaperthanitisinEngland，\"saidherladyship。\"Whenyouhaveadaughter，IhopeyoudonotexpecttobringherupasgirlsarebroughtupinNewYork。\"
ThiswasthefirsttimeRosaliehadheardofherdaughter，andshewasnotreadyenoughtoreply。Shenaturallywentintoherroomandcriedagain，wonderingwhatherfatherandmotherwouldsayiftheyknewthatbedroomfireswereconsideredvulgarlyextravagantbyanimpressivememberoftheBritisharistocracy。
Shewasnotatallstrongatthetimeandwasgiventofeelingchillyandmiserableonwet，windydays。Sheusedtocrymorethaneverandwassodesolatethatthereweredayswhensheusedtogotothevicarageforcompanionship。Onsuchdaysthevicar’swifewouldentertainherwithstoriesofthevillagers’catastrophes，andshewouldemptyherpurseupontheteatableandfeelalittleconsoledbecauseshewasthemeansofconsolingsomeoneelse。
\"IsupposeitgratifiesyourvanitytoplaytheLadyBountiful，\"SirNigelsneeredoneevening，havingheardinthevillagewhatshewasdoing。
\"I——neverthoughtofsuchathing，\"shestammeredfeebly。
\"Mrs。Brentsaidtheyweresopoor。\"
\"Youthrowyourmoneyaboutasifyouwereachild，\"
saidhermother—in—law。\"Itisapityitisnotputinthehandsofsomepersonwithdiscretion。\"
IthadbeguntodawnuponRosaliethatherladyshipwasdeeplyconvincedthateitherherselforhersonwouldbeadmirablydiscreetcustodiansofthemoneyreferredto。Andeventhedawningofthisideahadfrightenedthegirl。ShewassoinexperiencedandignorantthatshefeltitmightbepossiblethatinEnglandone’shusbandandone’smother—in—lawcoulddowhattheyliked。Itmightbethattheycouldtakepossessionofone’smoneyastheyseemedtotakepossessionofone’sselfandone’sverysoul。Shewouldhavebeenverygladtogivethemmoney，andhadindeedwonderedfrequentlyifshemightdaretoofferittothem，iftheywouldbeoutragedandinsultedandslayherintheirwrathatherpurse—prouddaring。
Shehadtriedtoinventwaysinwhichshecouldapproachthesubject，buthadnotbeenabletoscrewuphercouragetoanystickingpoint。ShewassooverpoweredbyherconsciousnessthattheyseemedcontinuallytointimatethatAmericanswithmoneywereostentatiousandalwayslayingstressupontheamountoftheirpossessions。Shehadnoconceptionoftheprimevalsimplenessoftheirattitudeinsuchmatters，andthatnoceremonieswerenecessarysavetheprocessoftransferringsufficientlylargesumsasthoughtheywerethemererightoftherecipients。Shewastaughttounderstandthislater。Inthemeantime，however，readyasshewouldhavebeentogivelargesumsifshehadknownhow，shewasterrifiedbythethoughtthatitmightbepossiblethatshecouldbedeprivedofherbankaccountandreducedtotheconditionofasortofdependentuponthehumoursofherlatelyacquiredrelations。
Shethoughtoverthisagooddeal，andwouldhavefoundimmensereliefifshedaredhaveconsultedanyone。Butshecouldnotmakeuphermindtorevealherunhappinesstoherpeople。Shehadbeenmarriedsorecently，everybodyhadthoughthermarriagesodelightful，shecouldnotbearthatherfatherandmothershouldbedistressedbyknowingthatshewaswretched。ShealsoreflectedwithmiserythatNewYorkwouldtalkthematteroverexcitedlyandthatfinallythenewspaperswouldgetholdofthegossip。ShecouldevenimagineinterviewerscallingatthehouseinFifthAvenueandendeavouringtoobtainparticularsofthesituation。Herfatherwouldbeangryandrefusetogivethem，butthatwouldmakenodifference；thenewspaperswouldgivethemandeverybodywouldreadwhattheysaid，whetheritwastrueornot。Shecouldnotpossiblywritefacts，shethought，soherpoorlittleletterswererestrainedandunlikeherself，andtothewarm—heartedsoulsinNewYork，evenappearingstiffandunaffectionate，asifheraristocraticsurroundingshadchilledherloveforthem。Infact，itbecamefarfromeasyforhertowriteatall，sinceSirNigelsodisapprovedofherinterestintheAmericanmail。Hisobjectionshadindeedtakentheformofhisfeelinghimselfquitewithinhisrightswhenheoccasionallyinterceptedlettersfromherrelations，withaviewoffindingoutwhethertheycontainedcriticismsofhimself，whichwouldbetraythatshehadbeenguiltyofindiscreetconfidences。Hediscoveredthatshehadnotapparentlybeensoguilty，butitwasevidentthatthereweremomentswhenMrs。Vanderpoelwasuneasyanddisposedtoaskanxiousquestions。Whenthisoccurredhedestroyedtheletters，andasaresultofthisprecautiononhisparthermotherlyqueriesseemedtobeignored，andsheseveraltimesshedtearsinthebeliefthatRosyhadgrownsopatricianthatshewascapableofsnubbinghermotherinherresentmentatfeelingherprivacyintrudeduponandanunrefinedeffusivenessshown。
\"Ijustfeelasifshewasbeginningnottocareaboutusatall，Betty，\"shesaid。\"Icouldn’thavebelieveditofRosy。
Shewasalwayssuchanaffectionategirl。\"
\"Idon’tbelieveitnow，\"repliedBettysharply。\"Rosycouldn’tgrowhatefulandstuckup。It’sthatnastyNigelIknowitis。\"
SirNigel’sintentionwasthatthereshouldbeaslittleintercoursebetweenFifthAvenueandStornhamCourtaswaspossible。Amongotherthings，hedidnotintendthatalotofAmericanrelationsshouldcometumblinginwhentheychosetocrosstheAtlantic。Hewouldnothaveit，andtookdiscreetstepstopreventanyaccidentofthesort。HewrotetoAmericaoccasionallyhimself，andknowingwellhowtomakehimselfcivillyrepellent，sosubtlychilledhisparents—in—lawastodiscourageinthemmorethanoncetheirhalf—formedplanofpayingavisittotheirchildinhernewhome。Heopened，readandreclosedallepistlestoandfromNewYork，andwhileMrs。VanderpoelwasmuchhurttofindthatRosalienevercondescendedtomakeanyresponsetohertentativesconcerningherpossiblevisit，Rosalieherselfwasmystifiedbythefactthatthejourney\"toEurope\"wasneverspokenof。
\"Idon’tseewhytheyneverseemtothinkofcomingover，\"
shesaidplaintivelyoneday。\"Theyusedtotalksomuchaboutit。\"
\"They？\"ejaculatedtheDowagerLadyAnstruthers。\"Whommayyoumean？\"
\"MotherandfatherandBettyandsomeoftheothers。\"
Hermother—in—lawputuphereye—glassestostareather。
\"Thewholefamily？\"sheinquired。
\"Therearenotsomanyofthem，\"Rosalieanswered。
\"Afamilyisalwaystoomanytodescenduponayoungwomanwhensheismarried，\"observedherladyshipunmovedly。
NigelglancedoverthetopofhisTimes。
\"Imayaswelltellyouthatitwouldnotdoatall，\"heputin。
\"Why——whynot？\"exclaimedRosalie，aghast。
\"Americansdon’tdoinEnglishsociety，\"slightingly。
\"Buttheyarecomingoversomuch。TheylikeLondonso——
allAmericanslikeLondon。\"
\"Dothey？\"withadrawlwhichmadeRosalieblushuntilthetearsstartedtohereyes。\"Iamafraidthesentimentisscarcelymutual。\"
Rosalieturnedandfledfromtheroom。Sheturnedandfledbecausesherealisedthatsheshouldburstoutcryingifshewaitedtohearanotherword，andsherealisedthatoflatesheseemedalwaystobeburstingoutcryingbeforeoneortheotherofthosetwo。Shecouldnothelpit。Theyalwaysseemedtobeimplyingsomethingslightingorscathing。Theywerealwaysputtingherinthewrongandhurtingherfeelings。
Thedaywasdampandchill，butsheputonherhatandranoutintothepark。Shewentdowntheavenueandturnedintoacoppice。There，amongthewetbracken，shesankdownonthemossytrunkofafallentreeandhuddledherselfinasmallheap，herheadonherarms，actuallywailing。
\"Oh，mother！Oh，mother！\"shecriedhysterically。\"Oh，Idowishyouwouldcome。I’msocold，mother；I’msoill！
Ican’tbearit！Itseemsasifyou’dforgottenallaboutme！
You’reallsohappyinNewYorkthatperhapsyouhaveforgotten——
perhapsyouhave！Oh，don’t，mother——don’t！\"
Itwasamonthlaterthatthroughthevicar’swifeshereachedadiscoveryandaclimax。Shehadheardonemorningfromthisladyofamisfortunewhichhadbefallenasmallfarmer。Itwasamisfortunewhichwasanactualcatastrophetoamaninhisposition。Hishousehadcaughtfireduringagaleofwindandthefirehadspreadtotheoutbuildingsandrickyardandsweptawayallhisbelongings，hishouse，hisfurniture，hishayricks，andstoredgrain，andevenhisfewcowsandhorses。Hehadbeenapoor，hard—workingfellow，andhissmallinsurancehadlapsedthedaybeforethefire。Hewasabsolutelyruined，andwithhiswifeandsixchildrenstoodfacetofacewithbeggaryandstarvation。
RosalieAnstruthersenteredthevicaragetofindthepoorwomanwhowashiscompanionincalamitysobbinginthehall。Achildofafewweekswasinherarms，andtwosmallcreaturesclungcryingtoherskirts。
\"We’veworkedhard，\"shewept；\"wehave，ma’am。Father，he’salwaysbeensteady，an’upearlyan’late。P’r’apsit’stheLord’s’and，asyousay，ma’am，butwe’vebeendecentpeoplean’nevermissedchurchwhenwecould’elpit——fatherdidn’tdeserveit——thathedidn’t。\"
Shewasheartbrokeninherdowntroddenhopelessness。Rosalieliterallyquakedwithsympathy。Shepouredforthherpityinsuchwordsasthepoorwomanhadneverheardspokenbyagreatladytoahumblecreaturelikeherself。ThevillagersfoundthenewLadyAnstruthers’interviewswiththemcuriouslysimpleandsuggestiveofanequalitytheycouldnotunderstand。
Stornhamwasaconservativeoldvillage，wherethedistinctionbetweenthegentryandthepeasantswasclearlymarked。ThecottagerswerepuzzledbySirNigel’swife，buttheydecidedthatshewaskind，ifunusual。
AsRosalietalkedtothefarmer’swifeshelongedforherfather’spresence。Shehadrememberedatimewhenamaninhisemployhadlosthisallbyfire，thesmallhousehehadjustmadehislastpaymentuponhavingbeenburnedtotheground。Hehadlostoneofhischildreninthefire，andthedetailshadbeenheartrending。TheentireVanderpoelhouseholdhadweptonhearingthem，andMr。Vanderpoelhaddrawnachequewhichhadseemedlikeafortunetothesufferer。Anewhousehadbeenbought，andMrs。Vanderpoelandherdaughtersandfriendshadbestowedfurnitureandclothingenoughtomakethefamilycomfortabletothevergeofluxury。
\"See，youpoorthing，\"saidRosalie，glowingwithmemoriesofthisincident，herhomesickyoungsoulcomfortedbythemerelikenessinthetwocalamities。\"IbroughtmychequebookwithmebecauseImeanttohelpyou。Amanworkedformyfatherhadhishouseburned，justasyourswas，andmyfathermadeeverythingallrightforhimagain。
I’llmakeitallrightforyou；I’llmakeyouachequeforahundredpoundsnow，andthenwhenyourhusbandbeginstobuildI’llgivehimsomemore。\"
Thewomangaspedforbreathandturnedpale。Shewasfrightened。Itreallyseemedasifherladyshipmusthavelostherwitsalittle。Shecouldnotmeanthis。Thevicaressturnedpalealso。
\"LadyAnstruthers，\"shesaid，\"LadyAnstruthers，it——itistoomuch。SirNigel————\"
