Maddeningnewsoundswereallabouther，soundsofwaterdashingandchurning，soundsofvoicesbellowingoutcommands，strainingandleapingsoundsoftheengines。Whatwasit——whatwasit？Shemustatleastfindout。Everybodywasgoingmadinthestaterooms，thestewardswererushingabout，tryingtoquietpeople，theirownvoicesshakingandbreakingintocrackednotes。Iftheworsthadhappened，everyonewouldbefightingforlifeinafewminutes。Outondeckshemustgetandfindoutforherselfwhattheworstwas。
Shewasthefirstwomanoutside，thoughthewailsandshrieksswelledbelow，andhalf—dressed，ghastlycreaturestumbledgaspingupthecompanion—way。
\"Whatisit？\"sheheard。\"MyGod！what’shappened？Where’stheCaptain！Arewegoingdown！Theboats！Theboats！\"
Itwasuselesstospeaktotheseamenrushingby。Theydidnotsee，muchlesshear！Shecaughtsightofamanwhocouldnotbeasailor，sincehewasstandingstill。Shemadeherwaytohim，thankfulthatshehadmanagedtostopherteethchattering。
\"Whathashappenedtous？\"shesaid。
Heturnedandlookedatherstraitly。Hewasthesecond—
cabinpassengerwiththeredhair。
\"Atrampsteamerhasrunintousinthefog，\"heanswered。
\"Howmuchharmisdone？\"
\"Theyaretryingtofindout。Iamstandinghereonthechanceofhearingsomething。Itismadnesstoaskanymanquestions。\"
Theyspoketoeachotherinshort，sharpsentences，knowingtherewasnotimetolose。
\"Areyouhorriblyfrightened？\"heasked。
Shestampedherfoot。
\"Ihateit——Ihateit！\"shesaid，flingingoutherhandtowardstheblack，heavingwater。\"Theplunge——thechoking！Noonecouldhateitmore。ButIwanttoDOsomething！\"
Shewasturningawaywhenhecaughtherhandandheldher。
\"Waitasecond，\"hesaid。\"Ihateitasmuchasyoudo，butIbelievewetwocankeepourheads。Thosewhocandothatmayhelp，perhaps。Letustrytoquietthepeople。
AssoonasIfindoutanythingIwillcometoyourfriends’
stateroom。Youareneartheboatsthere。ThenIshallgobacktothesecondcabin。YouworkonyoursideandI’llworkonmine。That’sall。\"
\"Thankyou。TelltheWorthingtons。I’mgoingtothesaloondeck。\"Shewasoffasshespoke。
Uponthestairwayshefoundherselfinthemidstofastrugglingpanic—strickenmob，trippingovereachotheronthesteps，andclutchingatanygarmentnearest，todragthemselvesupastheyfell，orwereonthepointoffalling。Everyonewascryingoutinquestionandappeal。
Bettinastoodstill，afirm，tallobstacle，andclutchedatthehystericwomanwhowashurledagainsther。
\"I’vebeenondeck，\"shesaid。\"Atrampsteamerhasrunintous。Noonehastimetoanswerquestions。Thefirstthingtodoistoputonwarmclothesandsecurethelifebeltsincaseyouneedthem。\"
Atonceeveryoneturneduponherasifshewasanauthority。
Sherepliedwithalmostfiercedeterminationtothetorrentofwordspouredforth。
\"Iknownothingfurther——onlythatifoneisnotafoolonemustmakesureofclothesandbelts。\"
\"Quiteright，MissVanderpoel，\"saidoneyoungman，touchinghiscapinnervouspropitiation。
\"Stopscreaming，\"Bettysaidmercilesslytothewoman。\"It’sidiotic——themorenoiseyoumakethelesschanceyouhave。Howcanmenkeeptheirwitsamongamobofshrieking，madwomen？\"
ThattheremoteMissVanderpoelshouldhaveemergedfromherluxuriouscornertofranklybullythelotofthemwasanexcellentshockforthecrowd。Men，whohadbeenindangeroflosingtheirheadsandbecomingasuncontrolledasthewomen，suddenlyrealisedthefactandpulledthemselvestogether。BettinamadeherwayatoncetotheWorthingtons’
staterooms。
Thereshefoundfrenzyreigning。BlancheandMarieWorthingtonweredartingtoandfro，draggingaboutfirstonethingandthenanother。Theyweresillywithfright，anddashedat，anddroppedalternately，lifebelts，shoes，jewelcases，andwraps，whiletheysobbedandcriedouthysterically。
\"Oh，whatshallwedowithmother！Whatshallwedo！\"
ThemannersofBettyVanderpoel’ssharpschoolgirldaysreturnedtoherinfullforce。SheseizedBlanchebytheshoulderandshookher。
\"Whatadonkeyyouare！\"shesaid。\"Putonyourclothes。Theretheyare，\"pushinghertotheplacewheretheyhung。\"Marie——dressyourselfthismoment。Wemaybeinnorealdangeratall。\"
\"Doyouthinknot！Oh，Betty！\"theywailedinconcert。
\"Oh，whatshallwedowithmother！\"
\"Whereisyourmother？\"
\"Shefainted——Louise————\"
BettywasinMrs。Worthington’scabinbeforetheyhadfinishedspeaking。Thepoorwomanhadfainted，andstruckhercheekagainstachair。Shelayonthefloorinhernightgown，withbloodtricklingfromacutonherface。Hermaid，Louise，waswringingherhands，anddoingnothingwhatever。
\"Ifyoudon’tbringthebrandythisminute，\"saidthebeautifulMissVanderpoel，\"I’llboxyourears。Believeme，mygirl。\"Shelookedsocapableofdoingitthatthewomanwasstartledandactuallyoffendedintoareturnofhersenses。
MissVanderpoelhadusuallythebestpossiblemannersindealingwithherinferiors。
BettypouredbrandydownMrs。Worthington’sthroatandappliedstrongsmellingsaltsuntilshegaspedbacktoconsciousness。Shehadjustburstintofrightenedsobs，whenBettyheardconfusionandexclamationsintheadjoiningroom。
BlancheandMariehadcriedout，andaman’svoicewasspeaking。
Bettywenttothem。Theywereinvariousstagesofundress，andthered—hairedsecond—cabinpassengerwasstandingatthedoor。
\"IpromisedMissVanderpoel————\"hewassaying，whenBettycameforward。Heturnedtoherpromptly。
\"Icometotellyouthatitseemsabsolutelytobereliedonthatthereisnoimmediatedanger。Thetrampismoreinjuredthanweare。\"
\"Oh，areyousure？Areyousure？\"pantedBlanche，catchingathissleeve。
\"Yes，\"heanswered。\"CanIdoanythingforyou？\"hesaidtoBettina，whowasonthepointofspeaking。
\"WillyoubegoodenoughtohelpmetoassistMrs。
Worthingtonintoherberth，andthentrytofindthedoctor。\"
Hewentintothenextroomwithoutspeaking。ToMrs。
Worthingtonhespokebrieflyafewwordsofreassurance。Hewasapowerfulman，andlaidheronherberthwithoutdraggingheraboutuncomfortably，ormakingherfeelthatherweightwasgreaterthaneveninhermostdespondingmomentsshehadsuspected。Evenherhelplesslyhystericmoodwasilluminatedbyarayofgratefulappreciation。
\"Oh，thankyou——thankyou，\"shemurmured。\"Andyouarequitesurethereisnoactualdanger，Mr。————？\"
\"Salter，\"heterminatedforher。\"Youmayfeelsafe。Thedamageisreallyonlyslight，afterall。\"
\"Itissogoodofyoutocomeandtellus，\"saidthepoorlady，stilltremulous。\"Theshockwasawful。Ourintroductionhasbeenanalarmingone。I——Idon’tthinkwehavemetduringthevoyage。\"
\"No，\"repliedSalter。\"Iaminthesecondcabin。\"
\"Oh！thankyou。It’ssogoodofyou，\"shefalteredamiably，forwantofinspiration。Ashewentoutofthestateroom，SalterspoketoBettina。
\"Iwillsendthedoctor，ifIcanfindhim，\"hesaid。\"I
think，perhaps，youhadbettertakesomebrandyyourself。
Ishall。\"
\"It’squeerhowlittleoneseemstorealiseeventhattherearesecond—cabinpassengers，\"commentedMrs。Worthingtonfeebly。\"Thatwasaniceman，andperfectlyrespectable。Heevenhadakindof——ofmanner。\"
CHAPTERIX
LADYJANEGREY
Itseemeduponthewholeevenabsurdthatafterashocksoawfulandapanicwildenoughtocausepeopletoexposetheirverysouls——fortherewere，ofcourse，endlessanecdotestoberelatedafterwards，illustrativeofgrotesqueterror，cowardice，andutterabandonmentofallshadowsofconvention——
thatallshouldendinananticlimaxoftriflingdanger，uponwhich，inadayortwo，jokesmightbemade。Eventhetrampsteamerhadnotbeenseriouslyinjured，thoughitsinjurieswerelikelytobelesseasyofrepairthanthoseoftheMeridiana。
\"Still，\"asapassengerremarked，whenshesteamedintothedockatLiverpool，\"wemightallbeatthebottomoftheAtlanticOceanthismorning。Justthinkwhatcolumnstherewouldhavebeeninthenewspapers。ImagineMissVanderpoel’sbeingdrowned。\"
\"IwasveryrudetoLouise，whenIfoundherwringingherhandsoveryou，andIwasrudetoBlanche，\"BettinasaidtoMrs。Worthington。\"InfactIbelieveIwasrudetoanumberofpeoplethatnight。Iamratherashamed。\"
\"Youcalledmeadonkey，\"saidBlanche，\"butitwasthebestthingyoucouldhavedone。Youfrightenedmeintoputtingonmyshoes，insteadoftryingtocombmyhairwiththem。Itwasstartlingtoseeyoumarchintothestateroom，theonlypersonwhohadnotbeenturnedintoagibberingidiot。
IknowIwasgibbering，andIknowMariewas。\"
\"Webothgibberedatthered—hairedmanwhenhecamein，\"saidMarie。\"Weclutchedathimandgibberedtogether。
Whereisthered—hairedman，Betty？Perhapswemadehimill。I’venotseenhimsincethatmoment。\"
\"Heisinthesecondcabin，Isuppose，\"Bettinaanswered，\"butIhavenotseenhim，either。\"
\"Weoughttogetupatestimonialandgiveittohim，becausehedidnotgibber，\"saidBlanche。\"Hewasasrudeandassensibleasyouwere，Betty。\"
Theydidnotseehimagain，infact，atthattime。Hehadreasonsofhisownforpreferringtoremainunseen。Thetruthwasthatthenearerhisapproachtohisnativeshores，thenastier，hewasperfectlyconscious，histemperbecame，andhedidnotwishtoexposehimselfbyanyincidentwhichmightcausehimstupidlyandobviouslytoloseit。
Themaid，Louise，however，recognisedhimamonghercompanionsinthethird—classcarriageinwhichshetravelledtotown。Tohermind，whoseopinionswereregulatedbyneatlyarrangedstandards，helookedmoroseandshabbilydressed。Someoftheothersecond—cabinpassengershadmadethemselvesquitesmartinvarious，nottoodistinguishedways。
Hehadnotchangedhisdressatall，andthelargevaliseupontheluggagerackwaswornandbatteredasifwithlongandroughusage。Thewomanwonderedalittleifhewouldaddressher，andinquireafterthehealthofhermistress。But，beinganastutecreature，sheonlywonderedthisforaninstant，thenextsherealisedthat，foronereasonoranother，itwasclearthathewasnotofthetribeofsecond—ratepersonswhopursueanaccidentalacquaintancewiththeirsuperiorsinfortune，throughsociableinterchangewiththeirfootmenormaids。
Whenthetrainslackeneditsspeedattheplatformofthestation，hegotup，reachingdownhisvaliseandleavingthecarriage，strodetothenearesthansomcab，wavingtheporteraside。
\"CharingCross，\"hecalledouttothedriver，jumpedin，andwasrattledaway……
DuringtheyearswhichhadpassedsinceRosalieVanderpoelfirstcametoLondonasLadyAnstruthers，numbersofhugeluxurioushotelshadgrownup，principally，asitseemed，thatAmericansshouldswarmintothemandliveatanexpensewhichremindedthemoftheirnativeland。SuchestablishmentswouldneverhavebeenbuiltforEnglishpeople，whosehabititismerelyto\"stop\"athotels，nottoLIVEinthem。ThetendencyoftheAmericanistoliveinhishotel，eventhoughhisintentionmaybeonlytoremaininittwodays。Heisaccustomedtodoinghimselfextremelywellinproportiontohisresources，whethertheybegreatorsmall，andthecomforts，asalsotheluxuries，heallowshimselfandhisdomesticappendagesareinaproportionmuchhigherinitsrelationtotheseresourcesthanitwouldbewereheEnglish，French，German，orItalians。Asaconsequence，heexpects，whenhegoesforth，whetherholiday—makingoronbusiness，thathishostelryshallsurroundhim，eitherwithholidayluxuriesandgaiety，orwithsuchlavishnessofcomfortasshallalleviatethewearandtearofbusinesscaresandfatigues。Therichmandemandssomethingalmostasgoodashehasleftathome，themanofmoderatemeanssomethingmuchbetter。Certainpersonsgiventoregardingpublicwantsanddesiresasfoundationsforthefortuneofbusinessschemeshavingdiscoveredthis，theenormousandsumptuoushotelevolveditselffromtheirastuteknowledgeofcommonfacts。
Attheentrancesofthesehotels，omnibusesandcabs，ladenwithtrunksandpackagesfrequentlybearinglabelsmarkedwithredletters\"S。S。So—and—So，Stateroom——Hold——Baggage—
room，\"drewupanddepositedtheircontentsandburdensatregularintervals。Thenmenwithkeen，andoftenhumorousfacesoralmostpainfullyanxiousones，theirexceedinglywell—dressedwives，andmoreorlessattractiveandvivacious—lookingdaughters，theireagerlittlegirls，andun—
English—lookinglittleboys，passedthroughthecorridorsinflocksandtookpossessionofsuitesofrooms，sometimesfortwenty—fourhours，sometimesforsixweeks。
TheWorthingtonstookpossessionofsuchasuiteinsuchahotel。BettinaVanderpoel’sapartmentsfacedtheEmbankment。
Fromherwindowsshecouldlookoutatthebroadsplendid，muddyThames，slowlyrollinginitsgrave，statelywaybeneathitsbridges，bearingwithitheavylumberingbarges，excitedtootinglittlepennysteamersandcraftofvariousshapesandsizes，theerrandorburdenofeachmeaningadifferentstory。
IthadbeentoBettinaoneofherpleasuresofthefinestepicureanflavourtoreflectthatshehadneverhadanybriefandsuperficialknowledgeofEngland，asshehadneverbeentothecountryatallinthoseearlieryears，whenherknowledgeofplacesmustnecessarilyhavebeenalwaystheincompleteoneofeitheraschoolgirltravelleroraschoolgirlresident，whoseviewswerelimitedbythewallsofrestrictionbuiltaroundher。
IfrelationsoftheusualeaseandfriendlinesshadexistedbetweenLadyAnstruthersandherfamily，Bettinawould，doubtless，haveknownhersister’sadoptedcountrywell。Itwouldhavebeenathingsonaturalastobealmostinevitable，thatshewouldhavecrossedtheChanneltospendherholidaysatStornham。Asmattershadstood，however，thechildherself，inthedayswhenshehadbeenachild，hadhadmostdefiniteprivateviewsonthesubjectofvisitstoEngland。
Shehadmadeupheryoungmindabsolutelythatshewouldnot，ifitweredecentlypossibletoavoidit，setherfootuponEnglishsoiluntilshewasoldenoughandstrongenoughtocarryoutwhathadbeenatfirstherpassionatelyromanticplansfordiscoveringandfacingthetruthofthereasonfortheapparentchangeinRosy。WhenshewenttoEngland，shewouldgotoRosy。Asshehadgrownolder，havinginthecourseofeducationandtravelseenmostContinentalcountries，shehadlikedtothinkthatshehadsaved，putasideforlesshastyconsumptionandmoredelicateappreciationofflavours，asitwere，thecountryshewasconsciousshecaredformost。
\"ItisEnglandwelove，weAmericans，\"shehadsaidtoherfather。\"Whatcouldbemorenatural？Webelongtoit——itbelongstous。Icouldneverbeconvincedthattheoldtieofblooddoesnotcount。Allnationalitieshavecometoussincewebecameanation，butmostofusinthebeginningcamefromEngland。Wearetouchingaboutit，too。WetriflewithFranceandlabourwithGermany，wesentimentaliseoverItalyandecstaciseoverSpain——butEnglandwelove。
Howitmovesuswhenwegotoit，howwegushifwearesimpleandeffusive，howwearestirredimaginativelyifweareoftheperceptiveclass。Ihaveheardthecommonestlittlehalf—educatedwomansaytheprettiest，clumsy，emotionalthingsaboutwhatshehasseenthere。ANewEnglandschoolma’am，whohasmadeaCook’stour，willalmosthavetearsinhervoiceasshewandersonwithhercommonplacesabouthawthornhedgesandthatchedcottagesandwhiteorredfarms。WhyarewenotunconsciouslypatheticaboutGermancottagesandItalianvillas？Becausewehavenot，incenturiespast，hadthehabitofbeingborninthem。ItisonlyanEnglishcottageandanEnglishlane，whetherwhitewithhawthornblossomsorbarewithwinter，thatwakesinusthatlittleyearning，grovellingtendernessthatissosweet。
Itisonlynaturecallingushome。\"
Mrs。WorthingtoncameinduringthecourseofthemorningtofindherstandingbeforeherwindowlookingoutattheThames，theEmbankment，thehansomcabsthemselves，withanabsolutelyseriousabsorption。Thischangedtoasmileassheturnedtogreether。
\"Iamdelighted，\"shesaid。\"Icouldscarcelytellyouhowmuch。TheimpressionisallnewandIamexcitedalittlebyeverything。IamsointenselygladthatIhavesaveditsolongandthatIhaveknownitonlyaspartofliterature。
Iamevencharmedthatitrains，andthatthecabmen’smackintoshesareshiningandwet。\"Shedrewforwardachair，andMrs。Worthingtonsatdown，lookingatherwithinvoluntaryadmiration。
\"Youlookasifyouweredelighted，\"shesaid。\"Youreyes——youhaveamazingeyes，Betty！IamtryingtopicturetomyselfwhatLadyAnstrutherswillfeelwhensheseesyou。Whatwereyoulikewhenshemarried？\"
Bettinasatdown，smilingandlooking，indeed，quiteincrediblylovely。Shewascapableofawarmthandasweetnesswhichwereasembracingasotherqualitiesshepossessedwerepowerful。
\"Iwaseightyearsold，\"shesaid。\"Iwasarudelittlegirl，withlonglegsandahigh，determinedvoice。IknowI
wasrude。Irememberansweringback。\"
\"Iseemtohaveheardthatyoudidnotlikeyourbrother—
in—law，andthatyouwereopposedtothemarriage。\"
\"Imaginetheundisciplinedaudacityofachildofeight`opposing’themarriageofhergrown—upsister。Iwasquitecapableofit。Youseeinthosedayswehadnotbeentrainedatall（onehadonlybeenallowedtremendousliberty），andinterferedconversationallywithone’seldersandbettersatanymoment。IwasanAmericanlittlegirl，andAmericanlittlegirlswerereally——theyreallywere！\"withalaugh，whosemusicalsoundwasafterallwhollynon—committal。
\"YoudidnottreatSirNigelAnstruthersasoneofyourbetters。\"
\"Hewasoneofmyelders，atallevents，andbecomingnessofbearingshouldhavetaughtmetoholdmylittletongue。IamgivingsomethoughtnowtothekindofthingImustinventasasuitableapologywhenIfindhimareallydelightfulperson，fullofvirtuesandaccomplishments。Perhapshehasahorrorofme。\"
\"Ishouldliketobepresentatyourfirstmeeting，\"Mrs。
Worthingtonreflected。\"YouaregoingdowntoStornhamto—morrow？\"
\"Thatismyplan。WhenIwritetoyouonmyarrival，I
willtellyouifIencounteredthehorror。\"Then，withaswiftchangeofsubjectandaliftingofherslender，velvetlineofeyebrow，\"IamonlydeploringthatIhavenottimetovisittheTower。\"
Mrs。Worthingtonwasbetrayedintoamomentaryglanceofuncertainty，almostverginginitssignificanceonagasp。
\"TheTower？OfLondon？DearBetty！\"
Bettina’slaughwasmellowwithrevelation。
\"Ah！\"shesaid。\"Youdon’tknowmypointofview；it’splainenough。Yousee，whenIdelightinthesethings，IthinkIdelightmostinmydelightinthem。ItmeansthatIamalmosthavingthekindoffeelingthefreshAmericansoulshadwholandedherethirtyyearsagoandrevelledintheresemblancetoDickens’scharacterstheymetwithinthestreets，andwerehistoricallythrilledbytheplaceswherepeople’sheadswerechoppedoff。ImaginetheirreflectionsonCharlesI。，whentheystoodinWhitehallgazingontheveryspotwherethatpoorlastwordwasuttered——`Remember。’Andthinkoftheirjoywheneachcrossingsweepertheygavedisproportionatelargessto，seemedJoeAllAlonesintheslightestdisguise。\"
\"Youdon’tmeantosay————\"Mrs。Worthingtonwasvaguelyawakeningtothesituation。
\"Thatthecharmofmyvisit，tomyself，isthatIrealisethatIamratherlikethat。IhavepositivelypreservedsomethingbecauseIhavekeptaway。Youhavebeenheresooftenandknowthingssowell，andyouwereevensosophisticatedwhenyoubegan，thatyouhaveneverreallyhadtheflavoursandemotions。Iamsophisticated，too，sophisticatedenoughtohavecherishedmyflavoursasagourmettriestosavethebouquetofoldwine。YouthinkthattheToweristhepleasureofhousemaidsonaBankHoliday。Butitquitemakesmequivertothinkofit，\"laughingagain。\"ThatI
laugh，isthesignthatIamnotasbeautifully，freshlycapableofenjoymentasthosegenuinefirstAmericanswere，andinawayIamsorryforit。\"
Mrs。Worthingtonlaughedalso，andwithanenjoyment。
\"Youareveryclever，Betty，\"shesaid。
\"No，no，\"answeredBettina，\"or，ifIam，almosteverybodyiscleverinthesedays。Wearenearlyallofuscomparativelyintelligent。\"
\"Youareveryinterestingatallevents，andtheAnstrutherswillexultinyou。Iftheyaredullinthecountry，youwillsavethem。\"
\"Iamveryinterested，atallevents，\"saidBettina，\"andinterestlikemineisquitepasse。AcleverAmericanwholivesinEngland，andisthepetofduchesses，oncesaidtome（healwaysspeaksofAmericansasiftheywereadistantandrecentlydiscoveredspecies），`Whentheyfirstcameovertheywereanovelty。Theirenthusiasmamusedpeople，butnow，yousee，ithasbecomevieuxjeu。Youngwomen，whosespecialtywastobeexcitedbytheTowerofLondonandWestminsterAbbey，arenotnoveltiesanylonger。Infact，it’sbeendone，andit’sdoneFORasaspecialty。’AndIamexcitedabouttheTowerofLondon。ImaybeabletorestrainmyfeelingsatthesightoftheBeefEaters，buttheywillupsetmealittle，andImustbracemyself，Imustindeed。\"
\"Truly，Betty？\"saidMrs。Worthington，regardingherwithcuriosity，arisingfromafaintdoubtofherentireseriousness，mingledwithafainterdoubtofherentirelevity。
Bettyflungoutherhandsinaslight，butveryinvoluntary—
looking，gesture，andshookherhead。
\"Ah！\"shesaid，\"itwasallTRUE，youknow。Theywereallhorriblyreal——thethingsthatwereshudderedoverandsentimentalisedabout。Sophistication，combinedwithimagination，makesthemmaterialiseagain，tome，atleast，nowI
amhere。Thegulfbetweenahistoricalfigureandamanorwomanwhocouldbleedandcryoutinhumanwordswasbroadwhenonewasatschool。LadyJaneGrey，forinstance，hownebulousshewasandhowlittleonecared。Sheseemedinventedmerelytoaddadetailtoone’slessoninEnglishhistory。But，aswedroveacrossWaterlooBridge，IcaughtaglimpseoftheTower，andwhatdoyousupposeIbegantothinkof？Itwasmonstrous。IsawadoorintheTowerandthestonesteps，andthesquarespace，andinthechillclear，earlymorningalittleslender，helplessgirlledout，alittle，fair，realthinglikeRosy，allalone——everyoneshebelongedtofaraway，notamannearwhodaredutterawordofpitywhensheturnedherawful，meek，young，desperateeyesuponhim。Shewasapiouschild，and，nodoubt，sheliftedhereyestothesky。Iwonderifitwasblueanditsbluenessbrokeherheart，becauseitlookedasifitmighthavepitiedsuchayoung，patientgirlthingledoutinthefairmorningtowalktothehackedblockandgivehertremblingpardontotheblack—visoredmanwiththeaxe，andthen`commendinghersoultoGod’tostretchhersweetslimneckoutuponit。\"
\"Oh，Betty，dear！\"Mrs。Worthingtonexpostulated。
Bettinasprangtoherandtookherhandinprettyappeal。
\"Ibegpardon！Ibegpardon，Ireallydo，\"sheexclaimed。
\"Ididnotintenddeliberatelytobepainful。Butthat——
beneaththesophistication——issomethingofwhatIbringtoEngland。\"
CHAPTERX
\"ISLADYANSTRUTHERSATHOME？\"
AllthatshehadbroughtwithhertoEngland，combinedwithwhatshehadcalled\"sophistication，\"butwhichwasratherherexquisiteappreciationofvaluesandeffects，shetookwithherwhenshewentthenextdaytoCharingCrossStationandarrangedherselfathereaseintherailwaycarriage，whilehermaidboughttheirticketsforStornham。
Whatthepeopleinthestationsaw，theguardsandporters，themeninthebookstalls，thetravellershurryingpast，wasastriking—lookinggirl，whosecolouringandcarriagemadeoneturntoglanceafterher，andwho，havingboughtsomeperiodicalsandpapers，tookherplaceinafirst—classcompartmentandwatchedthepassersbyinterestedlythroughtheopenwindow。Havingbeenlookedatandremarkedonduringherwholelife，Bettinadidnotfinditdisturbingthatmorethanonecorduroy—clothedporterandfresh—coloured，elderlygentleman，orfreshlyattiredyoungone，havingcaughtaglimpseofherthroughherwindow，madeitconvenienttosaunterpastorhoverround。Shelookedatthemmuchmorefranklythantheylookedather。Tohertheywereallspecimensofthetypesshewasatpresentinterestedin。ForpracticalreasonsshewassummingupEnglishcharacterwithmoredeliberateintentionthanshehadfeltintheyearswhenshehadgraduallylearnedtoknowContinentaltypesanddifferentiatesuchpeculiaritiesasweresignificantoftheirranksandnations。AsthefirstReubenVanderpoelhadstudiedthecountenancesandindicativemethodsoftheinhabitantsofthenewpartsofthecountryinwhichitwashisintentiontodobusiness，sothemodernityofhisdescendantapplieditselftoobservationforreasonsparallelinnaturethoughnotinactualkind。Ashehadbroughtbeadsandfirewatertobearasagentsuponsavageswhowouldbarterforthemskinsandproductswhichmightbeturnedintomoney，soshebroughthernineteenth—centurybeauty，steadfastnessofpurposeandalertnessofbraintobearuponthematterthepracticaldealingwithwhichwastheendsheheldinview。Tobearherselfinthismatterwithaspracticalacontrolofsituationsasthatwithwhichhergreat—grandfatherwouldhavebornehimselfinmakingatradewithapreviouslyunknowntribeofIndianswasquiteherintention，thoughithadnotoccurredtohertoputittoherselfinanysuchform。Still，whethershewasawareofthefactornot，herpointofviewwasexactlywhatthefirstReubenVanderpoel’shadbeenonmanyverydifferentoccasions。Shehadbeforeherthetaskofdealingwithfactsandfactorsofwhichatpresentsheknewbutlittle。Astutenessofperception，self—command，andadaptabilitywereherchiefresources。Shewasready，eitherforcalm，boldapproach，orequallycalmandwhollynon—committalretreat。
