\"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？\"
