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？\"
