\"Howmanymillions。Howmanyhundredmillions！\"saidhiscompanion，gloatingcheerfullyoverthevastnessofunknownpossibilities。\"I’vecrossedwithMissVanderpoeloften，twoorthreetimeswhenshewasinshortfrocks。She’sthekindofgirlyoureadabout。Andshe’sgotmoneyenoughtobuyinhalfadozenprinces。\"
\"ThereareNewYorkerswhowon’tlikeitifshedoes，\"
returnedtheother。\"There’sbeentoomuchmoneygoingoutofthecountry。HersuiteiscrammedfullofJackroses，now，andthereareboxeswaitingoutside。\"
Saltermovedawayandheardnomore。Hemovedaway，infact，becausehewasconsciousthattoamaninhiscase，thisdwellinguponmillions，thisplethoraofwealth，wasalittlerevolting。HehadwalkeddownBroadwayandseenthepriceofJacqueminotroses，andhewasnotsoothedoralluredatthisparticularmomentbythepictureofagirlwhosehalf—dozencabinswerecrowdedwiththem。
\"Oh，thedevil！\"hesaid。\"Itsoundsvulgar。\"Andhewalkedupanddownfast，squaringhisshoulders，withhishandsinthepocketsofhisrough，well—worncoat。HehadseeninEnglandsomethingoftheAmericanyoungwomanwithmillionairerelatives。HehadbeenscarcelymorethanaboywhentheAmericanfloodfirstbegantorise。Hehadbeenoldenough，however，tohearpeopletalk。Ashehadgrownolder，Salterhadobserveditsadvance。EnglishmenhadmarriedAmericanbeauties。AmericanfortuneshadbuiltupEnglishhouses，whichotherwisethreatenedtofallintodecay。ThentheAmericanfacultyofadaptabilitycameintoplay。Anglo—
AmericanwivesbecamesometimesmoreEnglishthantheirhusbands。TheyproceededtoAnglicisetheirrelations，theirrelations’clothes，even，intime，theirspeech。TheycarriedorsentEnglishconventionstotheStates，theirbrothersorderedtheirclothesfromWestEndtailors，theirsistersbegantowearwalkingdresses，toplayout—of—doorgamesandtakeactiveexercise。TheirmotherstentativelytookhousesinLondonorParis，therecameaperiodwhentheirfathersoruncles，seriousoranxiousbusinessmen，themostunsportingofhumanbeings，rentedcastlesormanorswithhugemoorsandcoversattachedandentertainedlargepartiesofshootersorfisherswhocouldbeluredtoanyquarterbythepromiseoftheparticularformofslaughterforwhichtheyburned。
\"SheerAmericanbusinessperspicacity，that，\"saidSalter，ashemarchedupanddown，thinkingofaparticularcaseofthisorder。\"There’ssomethingadmirableinthepracticalwaytheymakeforwhattheywant。TheywanttoamalgamatewithEnglishpeople，notfortheirownsake，butbecausetheirwomenlikeit，andsotheyofferthementhousandsofacresfullofthingstokill。Theycangetthembypayingforthem，andtheyknowhowtopay。\"Helaughedalittle，liftinghissquareshoulders。\"Balthamor’ssixthousandacresofgrousemoorandElsty’ssalmonfishingarerentedbytheChicagoman。Hedoesn’tcaretwopenceforthem，anddoesnotknowapheasantfromacaper—cailzie，buthiswifewantstoknowmenwhodo。\"
ItmustbeconfessedthatSalterwasoftheEnglishwhowerenotpleasedwiththeAmericanInvasion。Insomeofhisviewsofthematterhewasalittleprehistoricandsavage，butthemodernsideofhischaracterwastoointelligenttolackreason。Hewasbynomeansentirelymodern，however；alargepartofhisnaturebelongedtotheageinwhichmenhadfoughtfiercelyforwhattheywantedtogetorkeep，andwhentheamenitiesofcommercehadnotbecomepowerfulfactorsinexistence。
\"They’renotabadlot，\"hewasthinkingatthismoment。
\"Theyareratherfineinaway。Theyarecleverandpowerfulandinteresting——moresothantheyknowthemselves。Butitisallcommerce。Theydon’tcomeandfightwithusandgetpossessionofusbyforce。Theycomeandbuyus。Theybuyourlandandourhomes，andourlandowners，forthatmatter——
whentheydon’tbuythem，theysendtheirwomentomarrythem，confoundit！\"
Hetookhalfadozenmorestridesandliftedhisshouldersagain。
\"BeggarlylotasIam，\"hesaid，\"unlikelyasitseemsthatIcanmarryatall，I’mhangedifIdon’tmarryanEnglishwoman，ifIgivemylifetoawomanatall。\"
But，infact，hewasoftheopinionthatheshouldnevergivehislifetoanywoman，andthiswasbecausehewas，atthisperiod，alsooftheopinionthattherewassmallprospectofitseverbeingworththegivingortaking。Ithadbeenoneofthoseliveswhichbeginuntowardlyandareruledbyunfaircircumstances。
Hehadaparticularlywell—cutandexpressivemouth，and，ashewentbacktotheship’ssideandleanedonhisfoldedarmsontherailagain，itscurvesconcealedagooddealofstrongfeeling。
Thewharfwasbusierthanbefore。Inlessthanhalfanhourtheshipwastosail。Thebustleandconfusionhadincreased。Therewerepeoplehurryingaboutlookingforfriends，andtherewerepeoplescribblingoffexcitedfarewellmessagesatthetelegraphoffice。Thesituationwasworkinguptoitsclimax。Anobservinglooker—onmightcatchglimpsesofemotionalscenes。Manyofthepassengerswerealreadyonboard，partiesofthemaccompaniedbytheirfriendsweremakingtheirwayupthegangplank。
Salterhadjustbeenwatchingaluxuriouslycared—forlittleinvalidwomanbeingcarriedondeckinarecliningchair，whenhisattentionwasattractedbythesoundoftramplinghoofsandrollingwheels。Twonoticeablybigandsmartcarriageshaddrivenuptothestopping—placeforvehicles。Theyweregorgeouslyofthelatestmode，andtheirtall，satin—skinnedhorsesjangledsilverchainsandsteppeduptotheirnoses。
\"HerecometheWorthingtons，whosoevertheymaybe，\"
thoughtSalter。\"Thefineup—standingyoungwomanis，nodoubt，themulti—millionairess。\"
Thefine，up—standingyoungwomanWASthemulti—millionairess。
Bettinawalkedupthegangwayinthesunshine，andthepassengersupontheupperdeckcranedtheirneckstolookather。Hercarriageofherheadandshouldersinvariablymadepeopleturntolook。
\"My，ain’tshefine—looking！\"exclaimedanexcitedladybeholderabove。\"IguessthatmustbeMissVanderpoel，themulti—millionaire’sdaughter。Janetoldmeshe’dheardshewascrossingthistrip。\"
Bettinaheardher。Shesometimeswonderedifshewaseverpointedout，ifhernamewasevermentionedwithouttheadditionoftheexplanatorystatementthatshewasthemulti—millionaire’sdaughter。Asachildshehadthoughtitridiculousandtiresome，asshehadgrownoldershehadfeltthatonlyaremarkableindividualitycouldsurmountafactsoeverpresent。
Itwaslikeatremendousqualitywhichovershadowedeverythingelse。
\"Itwoundsmyvanity，Ihavenodoubt，\"shehadsaidtoherfather。\"Nobodyeverseesme，theyonlyseeyouandyourmillionsandmillionsofdollars。\"
Salterwatchedherpassupthegangway。Thephasethroughwhichhewaslivingwasnotoftheorderwhichleadsamantodwelluponthebeautifulandinspiritingasexpressedbythefemaleimage。Successandthehopefulnesswhichengenderwarmthofsoulandquicknessofheartarerequiredforthedevelopmentofsuchallurements。HethoughtoftheVanderpoelmillionsastheladyonthedeckhadthoughtofthem，andinhismindsomehowthegirlherselfappearedtoexpressthem。Therichup—springingsweepofherabundanthair，herheight，hercolouring，theremarkableshadeandlengthofherlashes，thefullcurveofhermouth，all，hetoldhimself，lookedexpensive，asifevennatureherselfhadbeengivencarteblanche，andthebestpossiblearticlesprocuredforthemoney。
\"Shemoves，\"hethoughtsardonically，\"asifshewereperfectlyawarethatshecouldpayforanything。Anunlimitedincome，nodoubt，establishesintheownertheequivalenttoasenseofrank。\"
Hechangedhispositionforoneinwhichhecouldcommandaviewofthepromenadedeckwherethearrivingpassengersweregraduallyappearing。Hedidthisfromtheidleandcarelesscuriositywhich，thoughitisnotamatterofabsoluteinterest，doesnotobjecttobeingentertainedbypassingobjects。HesawtheWorthingtonpartyreappear。ItstruckSalterthattheylookednotsomuchlikepersonscomingonboardaship，aslikepeoplewhowerereturningtoahoteltowhichtheywereaccustomed，andwhichwasalsoaccustomedtothem。HearguedthattheyhadprobablycrossedtheAtlanticinnumerabletimesinthisparticularsteamer。Thedeckstewardsknewthemandmadeobeisancewithempressement。MissVanderpoelnoddedtothestewardSalterhadhearddiscussingher。Shegavehimasmileofrecognitionandpausedamomenttospeaktohim。Saltersawhersweepthedeckwithherglanceandthendesignateasequesteredcorner，suchastheexperiencedvoyagerwouldrecogniseasbeingdesirablysheltered。Shewasevidentlygivinganorderconcerningtheplacingofherdeckchair，whichwaspresentlybrought。Anelegantlyneatanddecorouspersoninblack，whowasevidentlyhermaid，appearedlater，followedbyastewardwhocarriedcushionsandsumptuousfurrugs。Thesebeingarranged，adelightfulcornerwasleftalluringlyprepared。MissVanderpoel，afterherinstructionstothedecksteward，hadjoinedherpartyandseemedtobeawaitingsomearrivalanxiously。
\"Sheknowshowtodoherselfwell，\"Saltercommented，\"andsherealisesthatforethoughtisapracticalfactor。Millionshavebeenproductiveofcomposure。Itisnotunnatural，either。\"
Itwasbutashorttimelaterthatthewarningbellwasrung。Stewardspassedthroughthecrowdscallingout，\"Allashore，ifyouplease——allashore。\"Finalembraceswereinorderonallsides。Peopleshookhandswithfervourandlaughedalittlenervously。WomenkissedeachotherandpouredforthhurriedmessagestobedeliveredontheothersideoftheAtlantic。Havingkissedandparted，someofthemrushedbackandindulgedinlittleclutchesagain。NotwithstandingthatthetideofhumanitysurgesacrosstheAtlanticalmostasregularlyasthedailytidesurgesinonitsshores，awaveofemotionsweepsthrougheveryshipatsuchpartings。
Salterstoodondeckandwatchedthecrowddispersing。
Someofthepeoplewerelaughingandsomehadredeyes。
Groupscollectedonthewharfandtriedtosaystillmorelastwordstotheirfriendscrowdingagainsttherail。
TheWorthingtonskepttheirplacesandwerestilllookingout，bythistimedisappointedly。Itseemedthatthefriendorfriendstheyexpectedwerenotcoming。SaltersawthatMissVanderpoellookedmoredisappointedthantherest。Sheleanedforwardandstrainedhereyestosee。Justatthelastmomenttherewasthesoundoftramplinghorsesandrollingwheelsagain。Fromthearrivingcarriagedescendedhastilyanelderlywoman，wholiftedoutalittleboyexcitedalmosttotears。Hewasadear，chubbylittlepersoninflappingsailortrousers，andhecarriedasplendidly—caparisonedtoydonkeyinhisarms。
Saltercouldnothelpfeelingslightlyexcitedhimselfastheyrushedforward。Hewonderediftheywerepassengerswhowouldbeleftbehind。
Theywerenotpassengers，butthearrivalsMissVanderpoelhadbeenexpectingsoardently。Theyhadcometosaygood—byetoherandweretoolateforthat，atleast，asthegangwaywasjustabouttobewithdrawn。
MissVanderpoelleanedforwardwithanamazinglyfervidexpressiononherface。
\"Tommy！Tommy！\"shecriedtothelittleboy。\"HereIam，Tommy。Wecansaygood—byefromhere。\"
Thelittleboy，lookingup，brokeintoawailofdespair。
\"Betty！Betty！Betty！\"hecried。\"Iwantedtokissyou，Betty。\"
Bettyheldoutherarms。Shediditwithentireforgetfulnessoftheexistenceofanylookers—on，andwithsuchoutreachingloveonherfacethatitseemedasifthechildmustfeelhertouch。Shemadeabeautiful，warm，consolingbudofhermouth。
\"We’llkisseachotherfromhere，Tommy，\"shesaid。
\"See，wecan。Kissme，andIwillkissyou。\"
Tommyheldouthisarmsandthemagnificentdonkey。
\"Betty，\"hecried，\"Ibroughtyoumydonkey。Iwantedtogiveittoyouforapresent，becauseyoulikedit。\"
MissVanderpoelbentfurtherforwardandaddressedtheelderlywoman。
\"Matilda，\"shesaid，\"pleasepackMasterTommy’spresentandsendittome！Iwantitverymuch。\"
Tendersmilesirradiatedthesmallface。Thegangwaywaswithdrawn，and，amidthefamiliarsoundsofabigcraft’sfirststruggle，theshipbegantomove。MissVanderpoelstillbentforwardandheldoutherarms。
\"Iwillsooncomeback，Tommy，\"shecried，\"andwearealwaysfriends。\"
Thechildheldouthisshortbluesergearmsalso，andSalterwatchinghimcouldnotbutbetouchedforallhisgloomofmind。
\"Iwantedtokissyou，Betty，\"heheardinfarewell。\"I
didsowanttokissyou。\"
Andsotheysteamedawayupontheblue。
CHAPTERVIII
THESECOND—CLASSPASSENGER
Uptoacertainpointthevoyagewaslikeallothervoyages。
Duringthefirsttwodaystherewerepassengerswhodidnotappearondeck，butastheweatherwasfairfortheseasonoftheyear，therewerefewerabsenteesthanisusual。Indeed，onthethirddaythedeckchairswereallfilled，peoplewhoweregiventotrampingduringtheirvoyageshadbeguntowalktheircustomaryquotaofcarefully—measuredmilestheday。
Therewereafewpalefacesdozinghereandthere，butthegeneralaspectofthingshadbeguntobesprightly。Shuffleboardplayersandquoitenthusiastsbegantobestirthemselves，thedeckstewardappearedregularlywithlightrepastsofbeefteaandbiscuits，andthebrillianthuesofred，blue，oryellownovelsmadefrequentspotsofcolouruponthepromenade。
Personsofsomeinitiativewenttothelengthofmakingtentativeobservationstotheirnext—chairneighbours。Thesecond—cabinpassengerswerecheerful，andthesteeragepassengers，havingtumbledup，formedfriendlygroupsandbegantojokewitheachother。
TheWorthingtonshadplainlythegoodfortunetoberespectablesailors。Theyreappearedontheseconddayandestablishedregularhabits，afterthemannerofaccustomedtravellers。MissVanderpoel’shabitswereregularfromthefirst，andwhenSaltersawherhewasimpressedevenmoreattheoutsetwithherairofbeingathomeinsteadofonboardship。Herpracticallywell—chosencornerwasanagreeableplacetolookat。Herchairwasbuiltforeaseofangleandwidth，hercushionswereofdarkrichcolours，hertravellingrugswereofblackfoxfur，andsheownedanadjustabletableforbooksandaccompaniments。Sheappearedearlyinthemorningandwalkeduntiltheseaaircrimsonedhercheeks，shesatandreadwithevidentenjoyment，shetalkedtohercompanionsandplainlyentertainedthem。
Salter，beingboredandinbadspirits，foundhimselfwatchingherratheroften，butheknewthatbutforthesmall，comicepisodeofTommy，hewouldhavedefinitelydislikedher。Thedislikewouldnothavebeenfair，butitwouldhaveexistedinspiteofhimself。Itwouldnothavebeenfairbecauseitwouldhavebeenfoundedsimplyupontheignobleresentmentofenvy，uponthepoortruththathewasnotinthestateofmindtoavoidresentingtheinjusticeoffateinbestowingmulti—millionsupononepersonandhisoffspring。Heresentedhisownresentment，butwasobligedtoacknowledgeitsexistenceinhishumour。Hehimself，especiallyandpeculiarly，hadalwaysknownthebitternessofpoverty，thehumiliationofseeingwheremoneycouldbewellused，indeed，oughttobeused，andatthesametimehavinggroundintohimthefactthattherewasnomoneytolayone’shandon。Hehadhateditevenasaboy，becauseinhiscase，andthatofhispeople，thewholethingwasundignifiedandunbecoming。Itwashumiliatingtohimnowtobringhometohimselfthefactthatthethingforwhichhewasinclinedtodislikethistall，up—standinggirlwasherunconscious（herealisedtheunconsciousnessofit）airofhavingalwayslivedintheatmosphereofmillions，ofneverhavingknownareasonwhysheshouldnothaveanythingshehadadesirefor。Perhaps，uponthewhole，hesaidtohimself，itwashisownillluckandsenseofdefeatwhichmadehercorner，withitscushionsandcomforts，herproperlyattentivemaid，andhercoldweathersablesexpressiveofafortunetoocolossaltobedecent。
Theepisodeoftheplump，despairingTommyhehadliked，however。Therehadbeenafinenaturalnessaboutitandafinepracticalnessinherpromptordertotheelderlynursethattherichly—caparisoneddonkeyshouldbesenttoher。Thishadatoncemadeitcleartothedonorthathisgiftwastoovaluabletobeleftbehind。
\"Shedidnotcaretwopenceforthelotofus，\"washissummingup。\"Shemighthavebeennothingbutthenicestpossiblewarm—heartednursemaidoracottagewomanwholovedthechild。\"
Hewasquiteawarethatthoughhehadfoundhimselfmorethanonceobservingher，sheherselfhadprobablynotrecognisedthetrivialfactofhisexistinguponthatothersideofthebarrierwhichseparatedthehighergradeofpassengerfromthelower。Therewas，indeed，noreasonwhysheshouldhavesingledhimoutforobservation，andshewas，infact，toofrequentlyabsorbedinherownreflectionstobeintheframeofmindtoremarkherfellowpassengerstotheextentwhichwasgenerallycustomarywithher。DuringhercrossingsoftheAtlanticsheusuallymadementalobservationofthepeopleonboard。Thistime，whenshewasnottalkingtotheWorthingtons，orreading，shewasthinkingofthepossibilitiesofhervisittoStornham。Sheusedtowalkaboutthedeckthinkingofthemand，sittinginherchair，sumthemupashereyesrestedontherollingandbreakingwaves。
Thereweremanythingstobeconsidered，andoneofthefirstwastheperfectlysanesuggestionherfatherhadmade。
\"Supposeshedoesnotwanttoberescued？Supposeyoufindheracomfortablefineladywhoadoresherhusband。\"
Suchathingwaspossible，thoughBettinadidnotthinkitprobable。Sheintended，however，toprepareherselfevenforthis。IfshefoundLadyAnstruthersplumpandroseate，pleasedwithherselfandherposition，shewasquiteequaltomakinghervisitappearacasualandconventionalaffair。
\"Ioughttowishittobeso，\"shethought，\"and，yet，howdisappointinglyIshouldfeelshehadchanged。Still，evenethicalreasonswouldnotexcuseoneforwishinghertobemiserable。\"Shewasacreaturewithanumberofpassionateidealswhichwarredfrequentlywiththepracticalsideofhermentality。Oftensheusedtowalkupanddownthedeckorleanupontheship’sside，hereyesstormywithemotions。
\"IdonotwanttofindRosyaheartlesswoman，andIdonotwanttofindherwretched。WhatdoIwant？Onlytheusualthing——thatwhatcannotbeundonehadneverbeendone。
Peoplearealwayswishingthat。\"
Shewasstandingnearthesecond—cabinbarrierthinkingthis，thefirsttimeshesawthepassengerwiththeredhair。
Shehadpausedbymerechance，andwhilehereyeswerestormywithherthought，shesuddenlybecameconsciousthatshewaslookingdirectlyintoothereyesasdarklingasherown。Theywerethoseofamanonthewrongsideofthebarrier。Hehadatroubled，broodingface，and，astheirgazemet，eachofthemstartedslightlyandturnedawaywiththesenseofhavingunconsciouslyintrudedandhavingbeenintrudedupon。
\"Thatrough—lookingman，\"shecommentedtoherself，\"isasanxiousanddisturbedasIam。\"
Salterdidlookrough，itwastrue。Hiswell—wornclotheshadsufferedsomewhatfromtherestrictionsofasecond—classcabinsharedwithtwoothermen。Buttheaspectwhichhadpresenteditselftoherbriefglancehadbeennotsomuchroughnessofclothingasofmoodexpressingitselfinhiscountenance。Hewasthinkingharshlyandangrilyofthelifeaheadofhim。
Theselooksoftheirswhichhadsoinadvertentlyencounteredeachotherwereofthatorderwhichsometimesstartlesonewheninpassingastrangeronefindsone’seyesentangledforasecondinhisorhers，asthecasemaybe。Atsuchtimesitseemsforthatinstantdifficulttodisentangleone’sgaze。
Butneitherofthesetwothoughtoftheothermuch，afterhurryingaway。Eachwastoofullymasteredbypersonalmood。
Therewould，indeed，havebeennoreasonfortheirencounteringeachotherfurtherbutfor\"theaccident，\"asitwascalledwhenspokenofafterwards，theaccidentwhichmightsoeasilyhavebeenacatastrophe。Itoccurredthatnight。Thiswastwonightsbeforetheyweretoland。
Everybodyhadbeguntocomeundertheinfluenceofthatcheerfulnessofhumour，thesenseofreliefborderingongaiety，whichgenerallyelatespeoplewhenavoyageisdrawingtoaclose。Ifonehasbeendull，onebeginstogatherone’sselftogether，rejoicedthattheboredomisover。Inanycase，thereareplanstobemade，thoughtof，ordiscussed。
\"YouwishtogotoStornhamatonce？\"Mrs。WorthingtonsaidtoBettina。\"HowpleasedLadyAnstruthersandSirNigelmustbeattheideaofseeingyouwiththemaftersolong。\"
\"IcanscarcelytellyouhowIamlookingforwardtoit，\"
Bettyanswered。
Shesatinhercorneramonghercushionslookingatthedarkwaterwhichseemedtosweeppasttheship，andlisteningtothethroboftheengines。Shewasnotgay。Shewaswonderinghowfartheplansshehadmadewouldprovefeasible。
Mrs。WorthingtonwasnotawarethathervisittoStornhamCourtwastobeunannounced。Ithadnotbeennecessarytoexplainthematter。Thewholeaffairwassimpleanddecorousenough。MissVanderpoelwastobidgood—byetoherfriendsandgoatoncetohersister，LadyAnstruthers，whosehusband’scountryseatwasbutashortjourneyfromLondon。
Bettinaandherfatherhadarrangedthatthefactshouldbekeptfromthesocietyparagraphist。Thishadrequiredsomeadroitmanagement，buthadactuallybeenaccomplished。
Asthewavesswishedpasther，Bettinawassayingtoherself，\"WhatwillRosysaywhensheseesme！WhatshallIsaywhenIseeRosy？Wearedrawingnearertoeachotherwitheverywavethatpasses。\"
Afogwhichsweptupsuddenlysentthemallbelowratherearly。TheWorthingtonslaughedandtalkedalittleintheirstaterooms，butpresentlybecamequietandhadevidentlygonetobed。Bettinawasrestlessandmovedaboutherroomaloneaftershehadsentawayhermaid。Sheatlastsatdownandfinishedalettershehadbeenwritingtoherfather。
\"AsIneartheland，\"shewrote，\"Ifeelasortofexcitement。
Severaltimesto—dayIhaverecalledsodistinctlythepictureofRosyasIsawherlast，whenweallstoodcrowdeduponthewharfatNewYorktoseeheroff。SheandNigelwereleaningupontherailoftheupperdeck。Shelookedsuchadelicate，airylittlecreature，quitelikeaprettyschoolgirlwithtearsinhereyes。Shewaslaughingandcryingatthesametime，andkissingbothherhandstousagainandagain。Iwascryingpassionatelymyself，thoughItriedtoconcealthefact，andIrememberthateachtimeIlookedfromRosytoNigel’sheavyfacethepoignancyofmyanguishmademebreakforthagain。IwonderifitwasbecauseIwasachild，thathelookedsuchacontemptuousbrute，evenwhenhepretendedtosmile。
Itistwelveyearssincethen。Iwonder——howIwonder，whatIshallfind。\"
Shestoppedwritingandsatafewmoments，herchinuponherhand，thinking。Suddenlyshesprangtoherfeetinalarm。
Thestillnessofthenightwasbrokenbywildshouts，arunningoffeetoutside，atumultofmingledsoundsandmotion，adashandrushofsurgingwater，astrangethumpingandstrainingofengines，andamomentlatershewashurledfromonesideofherstateroomtotheotherbyacrashingshockwhichseemedtoheavetheshipoutofthesea，shudderingasiftheendofallthingshadcome。
Itwassosuddenandhorribleathingthat，thoughshehadonlybeenflunguponapileofrugsandcushionsandwasunhurt，shefeltasifshehadbeenstruckontheheadandplungedintowilddelirium。Abovethesoundofthedashingandrockingwaves，thestrainingandroaringofhackingenginesandthepandemoniumofvoicesrosefromoneendoftheshiptotheother，onewild，despairing，long—drawnshriekofwomenandchildren。Bettinaturnedsickatthemadterrorinit——
theinsensate，awfulhorror。
\"Somethinghasrunintous！\"shegasped，gettingupwithherheartleapinginherthroat。
ShecouldheartheWorthingtons’tempestofterrifiedconfusionthroughthepartitionsbetweenthem，andsherememberedafterwardsthatinthespaceoftwoorthreeseconds，andinthemidstoftheirclamour，ahundredincongruousthoughtsleapedthroughherbrain。Perhapstheywerethismomentgoingdown。Nowsheknewwhatitwaslike！Thisthingshehadreadofinnewspapers！Nowshewasgoingdowninmid—ocean，she，BettyVanderpoel！And，asshesprangtoclutchherfurcoat，thereflashedbeforehermentalvisionagruesomepictureoftheheadlinesinthenewspapersandtheinevitablereferencetothemillionssherepresented。
\"Imustkeepcalm，\"sheheardherselfsay，asshefastenedthelongcoat，clenchingherteethtokeepthemfromchattering。
\"PoorDaddy——poorDaddy！\"
