\"Oh，Betty，Betty！\"shecried，\"youtalkasif——youareso————！\"
Thefact，sosimpletothemembersoftheabnormalclasstowhichsheofatruthbelonged，theclasswhichheapedupitsmillions，theabsoluteknowledgethattherewasagreatdealofmoneyintheworldandthatshewasofthosewhowereamongitschiefowners，hadceasedtoseemafact，andhadvanishedintotheregionoffairystories。
ThatshecouldnotbelieveitarealityrevealeditselftoBettina，asbyaflash，whichwasalsoarevelationofmanythings。Therewouldbeunpleasingtruthstobelearned，andshehadnotmadeherpilgrimagefornothing。But——inanyevent——therewereadvantageswithoutdoubtinthecircumstancewhichsubjectedonetobeingperpetuallypointedoutasadaughterofamulti—millionaire。Asthisargueditselfoutforherwithrapidlucidity，shebentandkissedRosyoncemore。Sheeventriedtodoitlightly，andnottoallowtherushofloveandpityinhersoultobetrayher。
\"Italkasif——asifIwereBetty，\"shesaid。\"Youhaveforgotten。Ihavenot。Ihavebeenlookingforwardtothisforyears。IhavebeenplanningtocometoyousinceIwaselevenyearsold。Andherewesit。\"
\"Youdidn’tforget？Youdidn’t？\"falteredthepoorwreckofRosy。\"Oh！Oh！Ithoughtyouhadallforgottenme——quite——quite！\"
Andherfacewentdowninherspare，smallhands，andshebegantocryagain。
CHAPTERXII
UGHTRED
Bettinastoodaloneinherbedroomacoupleofhourslater。
LadyAnstruthershadtakenhertoit，preparingherforitslimitationsbyexplainingthatshewouldfinditquitedifferentfromherroominNewYork。Shehadbeenpatheticallynervousandflushedaboutit，andBettinahadalsobeenawarethattheapartmentitselfhadbeenhastily，andwithmuchmovingofobjectsfromonechambertoanother，madereadyforher。
Theroomwaslargeandsquareandlow。Itwaspanelledinsmallsquaresofwhitewood。Thepanelswereoldenoughtobecrackedhereandthere，andthepaintwasstainedandyellowwithtime，whereitwasnotknockedorwornoff。
Therewasasmallpaned，leadedwindowwhichfilledalargepartofonesideoftheroom，anditsdeepseatwasanagreeablefeature。Sittinginit，onelookedoutoverseveralred—
walledgardens，andthroughbreaksinthetreesoftheparktoafairbeyond。Bettinastoodbeforethiswindowforafewmoments，andthentookaseatintheembrasure，thatshemightgazeoutandreflectatleisure。
Hergenius，ashasbeforebeenmentioned，wasthegeniusforliving，forbeingvital。Manypeoplemerelyexist，arekeptalivebyothers，orcontinuetovegetatebecausethepersistentactionofnormalfunctionswillallowoftheirdoingnoless。BettinaVanderpoelhadlivedvividly，andinthemidstofaself—createdatmosphereofactionfromherfirsthour。Itwasnotpossibleforhertobeoneofthehordeofmerespectators。Wheresoevershemovedtherewassomeoccultstirringofthemental，andevenphysical，air。Herpulsesbeattoostrongly，herbloodrantoofasttoallowofinactionofmindorbody。When，inpassingthroughthevillage，shehadseenthebrokenwindowsandthehangingpalingsofthecottages，ithadbeeninevitablethat，atonce，sheshould，inthought，repairthem，setthemstraight。Disorderfilledherwithasortofimpatiencewhichwasakintophysicaldistress。Ifshehadbeenbornapoorwomanshewouldhaveworkedhardforherliving，andfoundaninterest，almostanexhilaration，inherlabour。Suchgiftsasshehadwouldhavebeenappliedtothetaskssheundertook。Ithadfrequentlygivenherpleasuretoimagineherselfearningherlivelihoodasaseamstress，ahousemaid，anurse。Sheknewwhatshecouldhaveputintoherservice，andhowshecouldhavefounditabsorbing。Imaginationandinitiativecouldmakeanyserviceabsorbing。Theactualtruthwasthatifshehadbeenahousemaid，theroomshesetinorderwouldhavetakenacharacterunderhertouch；ifshehadbeenaseamstress，herworkwouldhavebeenswiftlydone，herimaginationwouldhaveinventedforhercombinationsofformandcolour；ifshehadbeenanursemaid，thechildrenunderhercarewouldneverhavebeensufficientlyboredtobecometiresomeorintractable，andtheyalsowouldhavegainedcharactertowhichwouldhavebeenaddedanundeniablevividnessofoutlook。
Shecouldnothaveleftthemalone，sotospeak。Inobeyingthemerelawsofherbeing，shewouldhavestimulatedthem。
Unconsciouslyshehadstimulatedherfellowpupilsatschool；
whenshewashiscompanion，herfatherhadalwaysfelthimselfstirredtointerestandenterprise。
\"Yououghttohavebeenaman，Betty，\"heusedtosaytohersometimes。
ButBettyhadnotagreedwithhim。
\"Yousaythat，\"sheoncerepliedtohim，\"becauseyouseeIaminclinedtodothings，tochangethem，iftheyneedchanging。Well，oneiseitherbornlikethat，oroneisnot。
SometimesIthinkthatperhapsthepeoplewhomustACTareofadistinctrace。Akindofvigorousrestlessnessdrivesthem。
IrememberthatwhenIwasachildIcouldnotseeapinlyinguponthegroundwithoutpickingitup，orpassadrawerwhichneededclosing，withoutgivingitapush。Buttherehasalwaysbeenasmuchforwomentodoasformen。\"
Therewasmuchtobedonehereofonesortofthingandanother。Thatwascertain。Asshegazedthroughthesmallpanesofherlargewindows，shefoundherselfoverlookingpartofawildernessofgarden，whichrevealeditselfthroughanarchinanovergrownlaurelhedge。Shehadglimpsesofunkemptgrasspathsandunclippedtopiaryworkwhichhadlostitsoriginalform。Amongatangleofweedsrosetheheadsofclumpsofdaffodils，stirredbyapassingwindofspring。Intheparkbeyondacuckoowascalling。
Shewasconsciousbothoftheforlornbeautyandsignificanceoftheneglectedgarden，andoftheclearquaintnessofthecuckoocall，asshethoughtofotherthings。
\"Herspiritandherhealtharebroken，\"washersummingup。\"Herprettinesshasfadedtoarag。Sheisasnervousasanill—treatedchild。Shehaslostherwits。Idonotknowwheretobeginwithher。Imustlethertellmethingsasgraduallyasshechooses。UntilIseeNigelIshallnotknowwhathismethodwithherhasbeen。Shelooksasifshehadceasedtocareforthings，evenforherself。WhatshallIwritetomother？\"
Sheknewwhatsheshouldwritetoherfather。Withhimshecouldbeexplicit。Shecouldrecordwhatshehadfoundandwhatitsuggestedtoher。Shecouldalsomakeclearherreasonforhesitanceanddeliberation。Hisdiscretionandaffectionwouldcomprehendthethingwhichsheherselffeltandwhichaffectionnotcombinedwithdiscretionmightnottakein。Hewouldunderstand，whenshetoldhimthatoneofthefirstthingswhichhadstruckher，hadbeenthatRosyherself，herhelplessnessandtimidity，might，foraperiodatleast，formobstaclesintheirpathofaction。HenotonlylovedRosy，butrealisedhowslightasweetthingshehadalwaysbeen，andhewouldknowhowfaraslightcreature’sgentlenessmightbeoverpoweredandbeatendown。
Therewassomuchthathermothermustbespared，therewasindeedsolittlethatitwouldbewisetotellher，thatBettinasatgentlyrubbingherforeheadasshethoughtofit。
Thetruthwasthatshemusttellhernothing，untilallwasover，accomplished，decided。Whatsoevertherewastobe\"over，\"whatsoevertheactionfinallytaken，mustbeamatterlyingasfaraspossiblebetweenherfatherandherself。
Mrs。Vanderpoel’stroublewouldbetookeen，heranxietytoogreattokeeptoherself，evenifshewerenotoverwhelmedbythem。ShemustbetoldofthebeautiesanddimensionsofStornham，allrelatabledetailsofRosy’slifemustbegenerouslydwelton。AboveallRosymustbemadetowriteletters，andwithanairoffreedomhoweverspecious。
Aknockonthedoorbrokethethreadofherreflection。Itwasalow—soundingknock，andsheansweredthesummonsherself，becauseshethoughtitmightbeRosy’s。
ItwasnotLadyAnstrutherswhostoodoutside，butUghtred，whobalancedhimselfonhiscrutches，andliftedhissmall，toomature，face。
\"MayIcomein？\"heasked。
Herewastheunexpectedagain，butshedidnotallowhimtoseehersurprise。
\"Yes，\"shesaid。\"Certainlyyoumay。\"
Heswunginandthenturnedtospeaktoher。
\"Pleaseshutthedoorandlockit，\"hesaid。
Therewassuddenilluminationinthis，butofanorderalmostwhimsical。Thatmodernpeopleinmoderndaysshouldfeelboltsandbarsanecessityofordinaryintercoursewassuggestive。Shewasplainlyabouttoreceiveenlightenment。Sheturnedthekeyandfollowedthehaltingfigureacrosstheroom。
\"Whatareyouafraidof？\"sheasked。
\"WhenmotherandItalkthingsover，\"hesaid，\"wealwaysdoitwherenoonecanseeorhear。It’stheonlywaytobesafe。\"
\"Safefromwhat？\"
Hiseyesfixedthemselvesonherasheansweredheralmostsullenly。
\"Safefrompeoplewhomightlistenandgoandtellthatwehadbeentalking。\"
Inhisthwarted—looking，oddchild—facetherewasashadeofappealnotwhollyhiddenbyhisevidentwishnottobeboylike。Bettyfeltadesiretokneeldownsuddenlyandembracehim，butsheknewhewasnotpreparedforsuchademonstration。Helookedlikeacreaturewhohadlivedcontinuallyatbay，andhadlearnedtoadjusthimselftoanysituationwithcautionandrestraint。
\"Sitdown，Ughtred，\"shesaid，andwhenhedidsosheherselfsatdown，butnottoonearhim。
Restinghischinonthehandleofacrutch，hegazedatheralmostprotestingly。
\"Ialwayshavetodothesethings，\"hesaid，\"andIamnotcleverenough，oroldenough。Iamonlyeleven。\"
Thementionofthenumberofhisyearswasplainlynotapologetic，butwasamerestatementofhislimitations。Therethefactwas，andhemustmakethebestofithecould。
\"Whatthingsdoyoumean？\"
\"Tryingtomakethingseasier——explainingthingswhenshecannotthinkofexcuses。To—dayitistellingyouwhatsheistoofrightenedtotellyouherself。Isaidtoherthatyoumustbetold。Itmadehernervousandmiserable，butIknewyoumust。\"
\"Yes，Imust，\"Bettyanswered。\"Iamgladshehasyoutodependon，Ughtred。\"
Hiscrutchgratedonthefloorandhisboyeyesforbadehertobelievethattheirsuddenlustrewasinanywayconnectedwithrestrainedemotion。
\"IknowIseemqueerandlikealittleoldman，\"hesaid。
\"Mothercriesaboutitsometimes。Butitcan’tbehelped。
Itisbecauseshehasneverhadanyonebutmetohelpher。
WhenIwasverylittle，Ifoundouthowfrightenedandmiserableshewas。Afterhisrages，\"heusednoname，\"sheusedtorunintomynurseryandsnatchmeupinherarmsandhideherfaceinmypinafore。Sometimesshestuffeditintohermouthandbitittokeepherselffromscreaming。Once——
beforeIwasseven——Iranintotheirroomandshoutedout，andtriedtofightforher。Hewasgoingout，andhadhisridingwhipinhishand，andhecaughtholdofmeandstruckmewithit——untilhewastired。\"
Bettystoodupright。
\"What！What！What！\"shecriedout。
Hemerelynoddedhisheadshortly。Shesawwhatthethinghadbeenbythewayhisfacelostcolour。
\"OfcoursehesaiditwasbecauseIwasimpudent，andneededpunishment，\"hesaid。\"HesaidshehadencouragedmeinAmericanimpudence。Itwasworseforherthanforme。Shekneeleddownandscreamedoutasifshewascrazy，thatshewouldgivehimwhathewantedifhewouldstop。\"
\"Wait，\"saidBetty，drawinginherbreathsharply。\"`He，’
isSirNigel？Andhewantedsomething。\"
Henoddedagain\"Tellme，\"shedemanded，\"hasheeverstruckher？\"
\"Once，\"heansweredslowly，\"beforeIwasborn——hestruckherandshefellagainstsomething。ThatiswhyIamlikethis。\"Andhetouchedhisshoulder。
ThefeelingwhichsurgedthroughBettyVanderpoel’sbeingforcedhertogoandstandwithherfaceturnedtowardsthewindows，herhandsholdingeachothertightlybehindherback。
\"Imustkeepstill，\"shesaid。\"Imustmakemyselfkeepstill。\"
Shespokeunconsciouslyhalfaloud，andUghtredheardherandrepliedhurriedly。
\"Yes，\"hesaid，\"youmustmakeyourselfkeepstill。Thatiswhatwehavetodowhateverhappens。Thatisoneofthethingsmotherwantedyoutoknow。Sheisafraid。Shedaren’tletyou————\"
Sheturnedfromthewindow，standingatherfullheightandlookingverytallforagirl。
\"Sheisafraid？Shedaren’t？See——thatwillcometoanendnow。Therearethingswhichcanbedone。\"
Heflushednervously。
\"Thatiswhatshewasafraidyouwouldsay，\"hespokefastandhishandstrembled。\"Sheisnearlywildaboutit，becausesheknowshewilltrytodosomethingthatwillmakeyoufeelasifshedoesnotwantyou。\"
\"Sheisafraidofthat？\"Bettyexclaimed。
\"He’ddoit！He’ddoit——ifyoudidnotknowbeforehand。\"
\"Oh！\"saidBetty，withunflinchingclearness。\"Heisaliar，ishe？\"
Thehelplessrageintheunchildisheyes，theshakingvoice，ashecriedoutinanswer，wereashock。Itwasasifhewildlyrejoicedthatshehadspokentheword。
\"Yes，he’saliar——aliar！\"heshrilled。\"He’saliarandabullyandacoward。He’d——he’dbeamurdererifhedared——buthedaren’t。\"Andhisfacedroppedonhisarmsfoldedonhiscrutch，andhebrokeintoapassionofcrying。ThenBettyknewshemightgotohim。Shewentandkneltdownandputherarmroundhim。
\"Ughtred，\"shesaid，\"cry，ifyoulike，Ishoulddoit，ifIwereyou。ButItellyouitcanallbealtered——anditshallbe。\"
Heseemedquitelikealittleboywhenheputouthishandtohersandspokesobbingly：
\"She——shesays——thatbecauseyouhaveonlyjustcomefromAmerica——andinAmericapeople——candothings——youwillthinkyoucandothingshere——andyoudon’tknow。Hewilltellliesaboutyouliesyoucan’tbear。Shesatwringingherhandswhenshethoughtofit。Shewon’tletyoubehurtbecauseyouwanttohelpher。\"Hestoppedabruptlyandclutchedhershoulder。
\"AuntBetty！AuntBetty——whateverhappens——whateverhemakesherseemlike——youaretoknowthatitisnottrue。
Nowyouhavecome——nowshehasseenyouitwouldKILLherifyouweredrivenawayandthoughtshewantedyoutogo。\"
\"Ishallnotthinkthat，\"sheanswered，slowly，becausesherealisedthatitwaswellthatshehadbeenwarnedintime。
\"Ughtred，areyoutryingtotellmethataboveallthingsI
mustnotlethimthinkthatIcameheretohelpyou，becauseifheisangryhewillmakeusallsuffer——andyourmothermostofall？\"
\"He’llfindaway。Wealwaysknowhewill。Hewouldeitherbesorudethatyouwouldnotstayhere——orhewouldmakemotherseemrude——orhewouldwriteliestograndfather。
AuntBetty，shescarcelybelievesyouarerealyet。Ifshewon’ttellyouthingsatfirst，pleasedon’tmind。\"Helookedquitelikeachildagaininhisappealtoher，totrytounderstandastateofaffairssocomplicated。\"Couldyou——
couldyouwaituntilyouhaveletherget——getusedtoyou？\"
\"Usedtothinkingthattheremaybesomeoneintheworldtohelpher？\"slowly。\"Yes，Iwill。Hasanyoneevertriedtohelpher？\"
\"Onceortwicepeoplefoundoutandweresorryatfirst，butitonlymadeitworse，becausehemadethembelievethings。\"
\"IshallnotTRY，Ughtred，\"saidBetty，aremotesparkkindlinginthedeepsofthepupilsofhersteel—blueeyes。\"I
shallnotTRY。NowIamgoingtoaskyousomequestions。\"
Beforehelefthershehadaskedmanyquestionswhichwerepertinentandsearching，andshehadlearnedthingssherealisedshecouldhavelearnedinnootherwayandfromnootherperson。Butforhisuncannysenseoftheresponsibilityheclearlyhadassumedinthedayswhenheworepinafores，andwhichhadbroughthimtoherroomtopreparehermindforwhatshewouldfindherselfconfrontedwithinthewayofapparentlyunexplainableobstacles，therewasastronglikelihoodthatattheoutsetshemighthavefoundherselfmorethanoncedangerouslyataloss。Yes，shewouldhavebeenataloss，puzzled，perhapsgreatlydiscouraged。Shewasfacetofacewithacomplicationsoextraordinary。
Thatoneman，throughmerepersistentsteadinessineviltemperanddomestictyranny，shouldhavesobrokenthecreaturesofhishouseholdintoabjectsubmissionandhopelessness，seemedtooincredible。SuchapowerappearedasremotefromcivilisedexistenceinLondonandNewYorkasdidthatwhichhadinflictedtorturesinthedungeonsofcastlesofold。
Prisonersinsuchdungeonscouldutternocrywhichcouldreachtheoutsideworld；theprisonersatStornhamCourt，notfourhoursfromHydeParkCorner，couldutternonetheworldcouldhear，orcomprehendifitheardit。Sheerlackofpowertoresistboundthemhandandfoot。Andshe，BettyVanderpoel，washereuponthespot，and，asfarasshecouldunderstand，wasbeingimploredtotakenosteps，todonothing。
Theatmosphereinwhichshehadspentherlife，theworldshehadbeenborninto，hadnotmadeforfearfulnessthatonewouldbeatanytimedefencelessagainstcircumstancesandbeobligedtosubmittooutrage。TobeaVanderpoelwas，itwastrue，tobeashiningmarkforenvyasforadmiration，butthefactremovedobstaclesasarule，andtofindone’sselfstandingbeforeasituationwithone’shands，figurativelyspeaking，tied，wasnewenoughtoarouseunusualsensations。Sherecalled，withanironicsenseofbewilderment，asasortofmaterialevidenceofherownreality，thefactthatnotaweekagoshehadsteppedontoEnglishsoilfromthegangwayofasolidAtlanticliner。ItaidedhertoresistthefeelingthatshehadbeensweptbackintotheMiddleAges。
\"Whenheisangry，\"wasoneofthefirstquestionssheputtoUghtred，\"whatdoeshegiveashisreason？Hemustprofesstohaveareason。\"
\"Whenhegetsinaragehesaysitisbecausemotherissillyandcommon，andIambadlybroughtup。Butwealwaysknowhewantsmoney，anditmakeshimfurious。Hecouldkilluswithrage。\"
\"Oh！\"saidBetty。\"Isee。\"
\"Itbeganthattimewhenhestruckher。Hesaidthenthatitwasnotdecentthatawomanwhowasmarriedshouldkeepherownmoney。Hemadehergivehimalmosteverythingshehad，butshewantstokeepsomeforme。Hetriestomakehergetmorefromgrandfather，butshewillnotwritebeggingletters，andshewon’tgivehimwhatsheissavingforme。\"
Itwasasimpleandsordidenoughexplanationinonesense，anditwasoneofwhichBettinahadknown，notoneparallel，butseveral。Havingmarriedtoensurehimselfpoweroverunquestionedresources，themanhadfelthimselfdisgustinglytakenin，andavengedhimselfaccordingly。Inhimhadbeenbornthemakingsofadomestictyrantwho，evenhadhebeenfavouredbyfortune，wouldhavewreakedhishumoursuponthedefencelessthingsmadehispropertybytiesofbloodandmarriage，andwho，beingunfavoured，woulddoworse。BettycouldseewhattheyearshadheldforRosy，andhowherweaknessandtimidityhadbeenconsideredaspositiveassets。A
womanwhowillcrywhensheisbullied，maybecountedupontosubmitaftershehascried。Rosyhadsubmitteduptoacertainpointandthen，withthestubbornnessofaweakcreature，hadstoodattimidbayforheryoung。
WhatBettygatheredwasthat，afterthelongandterribleillnesswhichhadfollowedUghtred’sbirth，shehadrisenfromwhathadbeensonearlyherdeathbed，prostratedinbothmindandbody。Ughtreddidnotknowallthatherevealedwhenhetoucheduponthetimewhichhesaidhismothercouldnotquiteremember——whenshehadsatformonthsstaringvacantlyoutofherwindow，tryingtorecallsomethingterriblewhichhadhappened，andwhichshewantedtotellhermother，ifthedayevercamewhenshecouldwritetoheragain。Shehadneverrememberedclearlythedetailsofthethingshehadwantedtotell，andNigelhadinsistedthatherfancywaspartofherpastdelirium。Hehadsaidthatatthebeginningofherdeliriumshehadattackedandinsultedhismotherandhimselfbuttheyhadexcusedherbecausetheyrealisedafterwardswhatthecauseofherexcitementhadbeen。Foralongtimeshehadbeentoobrokenlyweaktoquestionordisbelieve，but，latershehadvaguelyknownthathehadbeenlyingtoher，thoughshecouldnotrefutewhathesaid。Sherecalled，incourseoftime，ahorriblesceneinwhichallthreeofthemhadravedateachother，andsheherselfhadshriekedandlaughedandhurledwildwordsatNigel，andhehadstruckher。Thatsheknewandneverforgot。Shehadbeenillayear，herhairhadfallenout，herskinhadfadedandshehadbeguntofeellikeanervous，tiredoldwomaninsteadofagirl。Girlhood，withallthepast，hadbecomeunrealandtoofarawaytobemorethanadream。NothinghadremainedrealbutStornhamandNigelandthelittlehunchbackedbaby。ShewasgladwhentheDowagerdiedandwhenNigelspenthistimeinLondonorontheContinentandleftherwithUghtred。Whenhesaidthathemustspendhermoneyontheestate，shehadacquiescedwithoutcomment，becausethatinsuredhisgoingaway。Shesawthatnoimprovementorrepairsweremade，butshecoulddonothingandwastoolistlesstomaketheattempt。SheonlywantedtobeleftalonewithUghtred，andsheexhibitedwill—
poweronlyindefenceofherchildandinherobstinacywithregardtoaskingmoneyofherfather。
\"Shethought，somehow，thatgrandfatherandgrandmotherdidnotcareforheranymore——thattheyhadforgottenherandonlycaredforyou，\"Ughtredexplained。\"Sheusedtotalktomeaboutyou。Shesaidyoumustbesocleverandsohandsomethatnoonecouldrememberher。Sometimesshecriedandsaidshedidnotwantanyofyoutoseeheragain，becauseshewasonlyahideous，little，thin，yellowoldwoman。
WhenIwasverylittleshetoldmestoriesaboutNewYorkandFifthAvenue。Ithoughttheywerenotrealplaces——I
thoughtheywereplacesinfairyland。\"
Bettypattedhisshoulderandlookedawayforamomentwhenhesaidthis。Inherremoteandhelplessloneliness，toRosy’shomesick，yearningsoul，noisy，rattlingNewYork，FifthAvenuewithitstrafficandpeople，itsbrown—stonehousesandrickettystages，hadseemedlikeTHAT——sosplendidandbrightandheart—filling，thatshehadpaintedthemincolourswhichcouldbelongonlytofairyland。Itsaidsomuch。
Thethingshehadsuspectedasshehadtalkedtohersisterwas，beforetheinterviewended，madecuriouslyclear。Thefirstobstacleinherpathwaywouldbetheshrinkingofacreaturewhohadbeensolongunderdominionthatthemerethoughtofseeinganystepstakentowardsherrescuefilledherwithalarm。Onemightbepreparedforheralmostprayingtobeletalone，becauseshefeltthattheprocessofhersalvationwouldbringaboutsuchshocksandtormentsasshecouldnotendurethefacingof。
\"Shewillhavetogetusedtoyou，\"Ughtredkeptsaying。
\"Shewillhavetogetusedtothinkingthings。\"
\"Iwillbecareful，\"Bettinaanswered。\"Sheshallnotbetroubled。Ididnotcometotroubleher，\"
CHAPTERXIII
ONEOFTHENEWYORKDRESSES
Asshewentdownthestaircaselater，onherwaytodinner，MissVanderpoelsawonallsidessignsoftheextentofthenakednessoftheland。Shewasinafineoldhouse，strippedofmostofitssaleablebelongings，uncaredfor，deterioratingyearbyyear，graduallygoingtoruin。Oneneednotpossessparticularkeennessofsighttoobservethis，andshehadchancedtoseeoldhousesinlikeconditioninothercountriesthanEngland。Aman—servant，inashabbylivery，openedthedrawing—
roomdoorforher。Hewasnotapicturesqueservitoroffallenfortunes，butanawkwardpersonwhowasnotaccustomedtohisduties。Bettywonderedifhehadbeencalledinfromthegardenstomeetthenecessitiesofthemoment。Hisfurtiveglanceatthetallyoungwomanwhopassedhim，tookinwithsuddenembarrassmentthefactthatsheplainlydidnotbelongtothedispiritedworldboundedbyStornhamCourt。Withoutsparklinggemsortrailingrichnessinherwake，shewassuggestivelysplendid。Hedidnotknowwhetheritwasherhairorthebuildofherneckandshouldersthatdidit，butitwasrevealedtohimthattiarasandcollarsofstoneswhichblazedbelongedwithoutdoubttoherequipment。HerecalledthattherewasalegendtotheeffectthatthepresentLadyAnstruthers，wholookedlikearagdoll，hadbeenthedaughterofarichAmerican，andthatbetterthingsmighthavebeenexpectedofherifshehadnotbeensuchapoor—spiritedcreature。
Ifthiswashersister，sheperhapswasayoungwomanoffortune，andthatshewasnotofpoorspiritwasplain。
Thelargedrawing—roompresentedbutanotheraspectofthebarenessoftherestofthehouse。Intimesprobablylongpast，possiblyintheDowagerLadyAnstruthers’earlyyearsofmarriage，thewallshadbeenhungwithwhiteandgoldpaperofapatternwhichdominatedthescene，andhadbeenfurnishedwithgildedchairs，tables，andottomans。Someoftheselasthadevidentlybeenremovedastheybecametoomuchoutofrepairforuseorornament。Suchasremained，tarnishedastogildingandworninthematterofupholstery，stoodsparselyscatteredonadesertofcarpet，whosehuge，floweredmedallionshadfadedalmostfromview。
LadyAnstruthers，lookingshyandawkwardasshefingeredanornamentonasmalltable，seemedsingularlyapartofherbackground。Hereveningdress，slippingoffherthinshoulders，wasasfadedandoutofdateashercarpet。Ithadoncebeendelicatelyblueandgauzy，butitsgauzinesshungincrushedfoldsanditsbluewasalmostgrey。Itwasalsothedressofagirl，notthatofacolourless，wornwoman，andherconsciousnessofitsunfitnessshowedinhersmall—featuredfaceasshecameforward。
\"Doyou——recogniseit，Betty？\"sheaskedhesitatingly。\"ItwasoneofmyNewYorkdresses。Iputitonbecause——
because————\"andherstammeringendedhelplessly。
\"Becauseyouwantedtoremindme，\"Bettysaid。Ifshefeltiteasiertobeginwithanexcusesheshouldbeprovidedwithone。
PerhapsbutforthisreadinesstofallintoanytoneshechosetoadoptRosymighthaveendeavouredtocarryherpoorfarceon，butasitwasshesuddenlygaveitup。
\"IputitonbecauseIhavenoother，\"shesaid。\"WeneverhavevisitorsandIhaven’tdressedfordinnerforsolongthatIseemtohavenothingleftthatisfittowear。Idraggedthisoutbecauseitwasbetterthananythingelse。Itwasprettyonce————\"shegavealittlelaugh，\"twelveyearsago。Howlongyearsseem！WasI——wasIpretty，Betty——twelveyearsago？\"
\"Twelveyearsisnotsuchalongtime。\"Bettytookherhandanddrewhertoasofa。\"Letussitdownandtalkaboutit。\"
\"Thereisnothingmuchtotalkabout。Thisisit————\"
takingintheroomwithawaveofherhand。\"Iamit。
Ughtredisit。\"
