\"ThenletustalkaboutEngland，\"wasBettina’slightskimoverthethinice。
AredspotgrewoneachofLadyAnstruthers’cheekbonesandmadeherfadedeyeslookintense。
\"LetustalkaboutAmerica，\"herlittlebirdclawofahandclingingfeverishly。\"IsNewYorkstill——still————\"
\"Itisstillthere，\"Bettyansweredwithoneoftheadorablesmileswhichshowedadeepdimplenearherlip。\"ButitismuchnearerEnglandthanitusedtobe。\"
\"Nearer！\"ThehandtightenedasRosycaughtherbreath。
Bettybentrathersuddenlyandkissedher。Itwastheeasiestwayofhidingthelooksheknewhadrisentohereyes。
Shebegantotalkgaily，halflaughingly。
\"Itisquitenear，\"shesaid。\"Don’tyourealiseit？
Americansswoopoverherebythousandseveryyear。Theycomeforbusiness，theycomeforpleasure，theycomeforrest。Theycannotkeepaway。Theycometobuyandsell——picturesandbooksandluxuriesandlands。Theycometogiveandtake。
Theyarebuildingabridgefromshoretoshoreoftheirwork，andtheirthoughts，andtheirplannings，outofthelivesandsoulsofthem。Itwillbeagreatbridgeandgreatthingswillpassoverit。\"Shekissedthefadedcheekagain。ShewantedtosweepRosyawayfromthedrearinessof\"it。\"LadyAnstrutherslookedatherwithfaintlysmilingeyes。Shedidnotfollowallthisquitereadily，butshefeltpleasedandvaguelycomforted。
\"Iknowhowtheycomehereandmarry，\"shesaid。\"ThenewDuchessofDownesisanAmerican。Shehadafortuneoftwomillionpounds。\"
\"Ifshechoosestorebuildagreathouseandagreatname，\"
saidBetty，liftinghershoulderslightly，\"whynot——ifitisanhonestbargain？Isupposeitispartofthebuildingofthebridge。\"
LittleLadyAnstruthers，tryingtopullupthesleevesofthegauzybodiceslippingoffhersmall，sharpbones，staredatherhalfinwonderingadoration，halfinalarm。
\"Betty——you——youaresohandsome——andsocleverandstrange，\"shefluttered。\"Oh，Betty，standupsothatIcanseehowtallandhandsomeyouare！\"
Bettydidasshewastold，anduponherfeetshewasayoungwomanoflonglines，andfinecurvessoinspiringtobeholdthatLadyAnstruthersclaspedherhandstogetheronherkneesinanexcitedgesture。
\"Oh，yes！Oh，yes！\"shecried。\"YouarejustaswonderfulasyoulookedwhenIturnedandsawyouunderthetrees。Youalmostmakemeafraid。\"
\"BecauseIamwonderful？\"saidBetty。\"ThenIwillnotbewonderfulanymore。\"
\"ItisnotbecauseIthinkyouwonderful，butbecauseotherpeoplewill。Wouldyourebuildagreathouse？\"hesitatingly。
ThefinelineofBetty’sblackbrowsdrewitselfslightlytogether。
\"No，\"shesaid。
\"Wouldn’tyou？\"
\"Howcouldthemanwhoowneditpersuademethathewasinearnestifhesaidhelovedme？HowcouldIpersuadehimthatIwasworthcaringforandnotamereambitiousfool？
Therewouldbetoomuchagainstus。\"
\"Againstyou？\"repeatedLadyAnstruthers。
\"Idon’tsayIamfair，\"saidBetty。\"Peoplewhoareproudareoftennotfair。Butweshouldbothofushaveseenandknowntoomuch。\"
\"Youhaveseenmenow，\"saidLadyAnstruthersinherlistlessvoice，andatthesamemomentdinnerwasannouncedandshegotupfromthesofa，sothat，luckily，therewasnotimefortheimpersonalansweritwouldhavebeendifficulttoinventatamoment’snotice。Astheywentintothedining—
roomBettywasthinkingrestlessly。SherememberedallthematerialshehadcollectedduringhereducationinFranceandGermany，andtherewasaddedtoitthefactthatsheHAD
seenRosy，andhavingherbeforehereyesshefeltthattherewassmallprospectofhercontemplatingtherebuildingofanygreathouserequiringreconstruction。
Therewasfinepanellinginthedining—roomandagreatfireplaceandafewfamilyportraits。Theserviceuponthetablewasshabbyandthedinnerwasnotabounteousmeal。
LadyAnstruthersinhergirlish，gauzydressandlookingtoosmallforherbig，high—backedchairtriedtotalkrapidly，andeveryfewminutesforgotherselfandsankintosilence，withhereyesunconsciouslyfixeduponhersister’sface。UghtredwatchedBettyalso，andwithahungryquestioning。Theman—
servantinthewornliverywasnotasufficientlywell—trainedandexperienceddomestictomakeanyefforttokeephiseyesfromher。Hewasyoungenoughtobeexcitedbyaninnovationsounusualasthepresenceofayoungandbeautifulpersonsurroundedbyanunmistakableatmosphereofeaseandfearlessness。Hehadbeentalkingofherbelowstairsandfeltthathehadfailedindescribingher。HehadfoundhimselfbarelysupportedbythesuggestionofahousemaidthatsometimesthesedressesthatlookedplainhadbeenmadeinParisatexpensiveplacesandhadcost\"alot。\"Hefurtivelyexaminedthedresswhichlookedplain，andwhileheadmittedthatforsomemysteriousreasonitmightrepresentexpensiveness，itwasnotthedresswhichwasthesecretoftheeffect，butasomething，notaltogethermeregoodlooks，expressedbythewearer。Itwas，infact，thethingwhichthesecond—classpassenger，Salter，hadbeenatonceattractedandstirredtorebellionbywhenMissVanderpoelcameonboardtheMeridiana。
Bettydidnotlooktoosmallforherhigh—backedchair，andshedidnotforgetherselfwhenshetalked。Inspiteofallshehadfound，herimaginationwasstirredbythesurroundings。
Hersenseofthefinespacesandpossibilitiesofdignityinthebarrenhouse，herknowledgethatoutsidethewindowstherelaystretchedbroadviewsoftheparkanditsheavy—
branchedtrees，andthatoutsidethegatesstoodtheneglectedpicturesquenessofthevillageandalltheruraland——toher——
interestinglifeitslowlylived——thispleasedandattractedher。
IfshehadbeenashelplessanddiscouragedasRosalieshecouldseethatitwouldallhavemeantatotallydifferentanddepressingthing，but，strongandspirited，andwiththepoweroffullhands，shewasremotelyrejoicinginwhatmightbedonewithitall。Asshetalkedshewasgraduallylearningdetail。
SirNigelwasontheContinent。Apparentlyheoftenwentthere；alsoitrevealeditselfthatnooneknewatwhatmomenthemightreturn，forwhatreasonhewouldreturn，orifhewouldreturnatallduringthesummer。Itwasevidentthatnoonehadbeenatanytimeencouragedtoaskquestionsastohisintentions，ortofeelthattheyhadarighttodoso。
Thissheknew，andanumberofotherthings，beforetheyleftthetable。Whentheydidsotheywentouttostrolluponthemoss—grownstoneterraceandlistenedtothenightingalesthrowingmintotheairsilverfountainsoftrillingsong。WhenBettinapaused，leaningagainstthebalustradeoftheterracethatshemighthearallthebeautyofit，andfeelallthebeautyofthewarmspringnight，Rosywentonmakingherefforttotalk。
\"Itisnotmuchofaneighbourhood，Betty，\"shesaid。\"Youaretooaccustomedtolivelierplacestolikeit。\"
\"ThatismyreasonforfeelingthatIshalllikeit。Idon’tthinkIcouldbecalledalivelyperson，andIratherhatelivelyplaces。\"
\"Butyouareaccustomed——accustomed————\"Rosyharkedbackuncertainly。
\"IhavebeenaccustomedtowishingthatIcouldcometoyou，\"saidBetty。\"AndnowIamhere。\"
LadyAnstrutherslaidahandonherdress。
\"Ican’tbelieveit！Ican’tbelieveit！\"shebreathed。
\"Youwillbelieveit，\"saidBetty，drawingthehandaroundherwaistandenclosinginherownarmthenarrowshoulders。
\"Tellmeabouttheneighbourhood。\"
\"Thereisn’tany，really，\"saidLadyAnstruthers。\"Thehousesaresofarawayfromeachother。Thenearestissixmilesfromhere，anditisonethatdoesn’tcount。
\"Why？\"
\"Thereisnofamily，andthemanwhoownsitissopoor。
Itisabigplace，butitisfallingtopiecesasthisis。
\"Whatisitcalled？\"
\"MountDunstan。Thepresentearlonlysucceededaboutthreeyearsago。Nigeldoesn’tknowhim。Heisqueerandnotliked。
Hehasbeenaway。\"
\"Where？\"
\"Nooneknows。ToAustraliaorsomewhere。Hehasoddideas。TheMountDunstanshavebeenawfulpeoplefortwogenerations。Thisman’sfatherwasalmostmadwithwickedness。
Sowastheelderson。Thisisasecondson，andhecameintonothingbutdebt。Perhapshefeelsthedisgraceanditmakeshimrudeandill—tempered。Hisfatherandelderbrotherhadbeeninsuchscandalsthatpeopledidnotinvitethem。
\"Dotheyinvitethisman？\"
\"No。Heprobablywouldnotgototheirhousesiftheydid。Andhewentawaysoonafterhecameintothetitle。\"
\"Istheplacebeautiful？\"
\"Thereisafinedeerpark，andthegardenswerewonderfulalongtimeago。Thehouseisworthlookingat——outside。\"
\"Iwillgoandlookatit，\"saidBetty。
\"Thecarriageisoutoforder。ThereisonlyUghtred’scart。\"
\"Iamagoodwalker，\"saidBetty。
\"Areyou？Itwouldbetwelvemiles——thereandback。WhenIwasinNewYorkpeopledidn’twalkmuch，particularlygirls。\"
\"Theydonow，\"Bettyanswered。\"TheyhavelearnedtodoitinEngland。Theyliveoutofdoorsandplaygames。
Theyhavegrownathleticandtall。\"
Astheytalkedthenightingalessang，sometimesnear，sometimesinthedistance，andscentsofdewygrassandleavesandearthwerewaftedtowardsthem。Sometimestheystrolledupanddowntheterrace，sometimestheypausedandleanedagainstthestonebalustrade。BettyallowedRosytotalkasshechose。Sheherselfaskednoobviouslyleadingquestionsandpassedovertryingmomentswithlightness。Herdesirewastoplaceherselfinapositionwhereshemighthearthethingswhichwouldaidhertodrawconclusions。LadyAnstruthersgraduallygrewlessnervousandafraidofhersubjects。Inthewonderoftheluxuryoftalkingtosomeonewholistenedwithsympathy，sheonceortwicealmostforgotherselfandmaderevelationsshehadnotintendedtomake。Shehadoftenthemannerofapersonwhowasafraidofbeingoverheard；
sometimes，evenwhenshewasmakingspeechesquitesimpleinthemselves，hervoicedroppedandsheglancedfurtivelyasideasiftherewerechancesthatsomethingshedreadedmightstepoutoftheshadow。
Whentheywentupstairstogetherandpartedforthenight，theclingingofRosy’sembracewasforamomentalmostconvulsive。
Butshetriedtolaughoffitssuggestionofintensity。
\"IheldyoutightsothatIcouldfeelsurethatyouwererealandwouldnotmeltaway，\"shesaid。\"Ihopeyouwillbehereinthemorning。\"
\"Ishallneverreallygoquiteawayagain，nowIhavecome，\"
Bettyanswered。\"ItisnotonlyyourhouseIhavecomeinto。
Ihavecomebackintoyourlife。\"
Aftershehadenteredherroomandlockedthedoorshesatdownandwrotealettertoherfather。Itwasalongletter，butaclearone。Shepaintedadefiniteanddetailedpictureandmadedistinctherchiefpoint。
\"Sheisafraidofme，\"shewrote。\"Thatisthefirstandworstobstacle。SheisactuallyafraidthatIwilldosomethingwhichwillonlyaddtohertrouble。Shehaslivedunderdominionsolongthatshehasforgottenthattherearepeoplewhohavenoreasonforfear。Heroldlifeseemsnothingbutadream。ThefirstthingImustteachheristhatIamtobetrustednottodofutilethings，andthatsheneedneitherbeafraidofnorforme。\"
Afterwritingthesesentencesshefoundherselfleavingherdeskandwalkingupanddowntheroomtorelieveherself。
Shecouldnotsitstill，becausesuddenlythebloodranfastandhotthroughherveins。Sheputherhandsagainsthercheeksandlaughedalittle，lowlaugh。
\"Ifeelviolent，\"shesaid。\"IfeelviolentandImustgetoverit。Thisisrage。Rageisworthnothing。\"
Itwasrage——therageofsplendidhotbloodwhichsurgedinanswertoleapinghotthoughts。Therewouldhavebeenasortofluxuryingivingwaytotheswayofit。Buttheself—
indulgencewouldhavebeennoaidtofutureaction。Ragewasworthnothing。ShesaiditasthefirstReubenVanderpoelmighthavesaidofauselessbutglitteringweapon。\"Thisgunisworthnothing，\"andcastitaside。
CHAPTERXIV
INTHEGARDENS
Shecameoutuponthestoneterraceagainratherearlyinthemorning。Shewantedtowanderaboutinthefirstfreshnessoftheday，whichwasalwaysanupliftingthingtoher。Shewantedtoseethedewonthegrassandontheraggedflowerbordersandtohearthetender，brokenflutingofbirdsinthetrees。Onecuckoowascallingtoanotherinthepark，andshestoppedandlistenedintently。Untilyesterdayshehadneverheardacuckoocall，anditshollowmellownessgaveherdelight。ItmeantthespringinEngland，andnowhereelse。
Therewasspaceenoughtorambleaboutinthegardens。
Pathsandbedswerealikeovergrownwithweeds，butsomestrong，early—bloomingthingswerefightingforlife，refusingtobestrangled。Againstthebeautifuloldredwalls，overwhichagehadstolenwithawonderfulgreybloom，venerablefruittreeswerespreadandnailed，andhereandthereshowedbloom，clumpsoflow—growingthingssturdilyadvancedtheiryellownessorwhiteness，asifdefyingneglect。Inoneplaceawallslantedandthreatenedtofall，bearingitsnectarinetreeswithit；inanothertherewasagapsoevidentlynotofto—daythattheheapofitsmasonryupontheborderbedwasalreadycoveredwithgreenery，andtherootsofthefruittreeithadsupportedhadsentupstrong，insistentshoots。
Shepasseddownbroadpathsandnarrowones，sometimeswalkingundertrees，sometimespushingherwaybetweenencroachingshrubs；shedescendeddelightfulmossyandbrokenstepsandcameupondilapidatedurns，inwhichweedsgrewinsteadofflowers，andoverwhichrampantbutlovely，savagelittlecreepersclamberedandclung。
Inoneofthewalledkitchengardensshecameuponanelderlygardeneratwork。Atthesoundofherapproachingstepsheglancedroundandthenstoodup，touchinghisforelockinrespectfulbutstartledsalute。Hewassoplainlyamazedatthesightofherthatsheexplainedherself。
\"Good—morning，\"shesaid。\"Iamherladyship’ssister，MissVanderpoel。Icameyesterdayevening。Iamlookingoveryourgardens。\"
Hetouchedhisforeheadagainandlookedroundhim。Hismannerwasnotcheerful。Hecastatroubledeyeabouthim。
\"They’renotmuchtosee，miss，\"hesaid。\"They’doughttobe，butthey’renot。Growingthingshastobefedandtookcareof。
Amanandaboycan’tdoit——noryetfourorfiveof’em。\"
\"Howmanyoughttheretobe？\"Bettyinquired，withbusiness—likedirectness。Itwasnotonlythedewonthegrassshehadcomeouttosee。
\"Iftherewaseightortenofuswemightputitinorderandkeepitthatway。It’sabigplace，miss。\"
Bettylookedaboutherashehaddone，butwithalessdiscouragedeye。
\"Itisabeautifulplace，aswellasalargeone，\"shesaid。
\"Icanseethatthereoughttobemoreworkers。\"
\"There’snoone，\"saidthegardener，\"ashasasmanyenemiesasagardener，an’asmanythingstofight。There’sgrubsan’there’sgreenfly，an’there’sdrout’，an’wetan’cold，an’mildew，an’
there’swhatthesoilwantsandstarveswithout，an’ifyouhaven’tgotitnoryethandsan’feetan’toolsenough，how’sthingstofeed，an’fightan’live——letaloneblooman’bear？\"
\"Idon’tknowmuchaboutgardens，\"saidMissVanderpoel，\"butIcanunderstandthat。\"
Thescentoffreshbedewedthingswasintheair。Itwastruethatshehadnotknownmuchaboutgardens，butherestandinginthemidstofoneshebegantoawakentoanew，practicalinterest。Acreatureofinitiativecouldnotletsuchaplaceasthisalone。Itwasbeautybeingslowlyslain。Onecouldnotpassitbyanddonothing。
\"Whatisyourname？\"sheasked\"Kedgers，miss。I’veonlybeenhereaboutatwelve—month。
IwastookonbecauseI’mgettingoninyearsan’can’taskmuchwage。\"
\"Canyousparetimetotakemethroughthegardensandshowmethings？\"
Yes，hecoulddoit。Intruth，heprivatelywelcomedanopportunityofferingaprospectofexcitementsonovel。Hehadshownmoreflourishinggardenstootheryoungladiesinhispastyearsofservice，butyoungladiesdidnotcometoStornham，andthatonehaving，withsuchextraordinaryunexpectednessarrived，shouldwanttolookoverthedesolationofthese，wascuriousenoughtorouseanyonetoasenseofabreakinaccustomedmonotony。Theyoungladyherselfmystifiedhimbyherdifferencefromsuchothersashehadseen。
Whatthemanintheshabbyliveryhadfelt，hefeltalso，andaddedtothiswasasenseofthepracticalnessofthequestionssheaskedandtheinterestsheshowedandawayshehadofseemingsingularlytosuggestbythelookinhereyesandthetoneofhervoicethatnothingwasnecessarilywithoutremedy。
Whenherladyshipwalkedthroughtheplaceandlookedatthings，apaleresignationexpresseditselfintheverydroopofherfigure。Whenthisonewalkedthroughthetumbled—downgrape—houses，potting—shedsandconservatories，shesawwhereglasswasbroken，wherebencheshadfallenandwhereroofssaggedandleaked。Sheinquiredabouttheheatingapparatusandaskedthatshemightseeit。Sheaskedaboutthevillageanditsresources，aboutlabourersandtheirwages。
\"Asif，\"commentedKedgersmentally，\"shewaswhatSirNigelis——leastwayswhathe’doughttobean’ain’t。\"
Sheledthewaybacktothefallenwallandstoodandlookedatit。
\"It’sabeautifuloldwall，\"shesaid。\"Itshouldberebuiltwiththeoldbrick。Newwouldspoilit。\"
\"Someofthisisbrokenandcrumbledaway，\"saidKedgers，pickingupapiecetoshowittoher。
\"Perhapsoldbrickcouldbeboughtsomewhere，\"repliedtheyoungladyspeculatively。\"OneoughttobeabletobuyoldbrickinEngland，ifoneiswillingtopayforit。\"
Kedgersscratchedhisheadandgazedatherinrespectfulwonderwhichwasalmosttrouble。Whowasgoingtopayforthings，andwhowasgoingtolookforthingswhichwerenotonthespot？Enterpriselikethiswasnottobeexplained。
Whenshelefthimhestoodandwatchedheruprightfiguredisappearthroughtheivy—growndoorofthekitchengardenswithadisturbedbutelatedexpressiononhiscountenance。Hedidnotknowwhyhefeltelated，buthewasconsciousofelation。Somethingnewhadwalkedintotheplace。Hestoppedhisworkandgrinnedandscratchedhisheadseveraltimesafterhewentbacktohispotteringamongthecabbageplants。
\"Myword，\"hemuttered。\"She’safine，straightyoungwoman。Ifshewasherladyshipthings’udbedifferent。SirNigel’udbedifferent，too——orthere’dbesomefineupsets。\"
Therewasahugestableyard，andBettypassedthroughthatonherwayback。Thedoorofthecarriagehousewasopenandshesawtwoorthreetumbled—downvehicles。Onewasalandauwithawheeloff，onewasashabby，old—fashioned，lowphaeton。Shecaughtsightofapatentlyvenerablecobinoneofthestables。Thestallsnearhimwereempty。
\"Isupposethatisalltheyhavetodependupon，\"shethought。\"Andthestablesarelikethegardens。\"
ShefoundLadyAnstruthersandUghtredwaitingforherupontheterrace，eachofthemregardingherwithanexpressionsuggestiveofrepressedcuriosityassheapproached。LadyAnstruthersflushedalittleandwenttomeetherwithaneagerkiss。
\"Youlooklike——Idon’tknowquitewhatyoulooklike，Betty！\"sheexclaimed。
Thegirl’sdimpledeepenedandhereyessaidsmilingthings。
\"Itisthemorning——andyourgardens，\"sheanswered。\"I
havebeenroundyourgardens。\"
\"Theywerebeautifulonce，Isuppose，\"saidRosydeprecatingly。
\"Theyarebeautifulnow。ThereisnothingliketheminAmericaatleast。\"
\"Idon’trememberanygardensinAmerica，\"LadyAnstruthersownedreluctantly，\"buteverythingseemedsocheerfulandwellcaredforand——andnew。Don’tlaugh，Betty。I
havebeguntolikenewthings。Youwouldifyouhadwatchedoldonestumblingtopiecesfortwelveyears。\"
\"Theyoughtnottobeallowedtotumbletopieces，\"saidBetty。Sheaddedhernextwordswithsimpledirectness。Shecouldonlydiscoverhowanyadvancingstepswouldbetakenbytakingthem。\"Whydoyouallowthemtodoit？\"
LadyAnstrutherslookedaway，butasshelookedhereyespassedUghtred’s。
\"I！\"shesaid。\"Therearesomanyotherthingstodo。
Itwouldcostsomuch——suchanenormitytokeepitallinorder。\"
\"Butitoughttobedone——forUghtred’ssake。\"
\"Iknowthat，\"falteredRosy，\"butIcan’thelpit。\"
\"Youcan，\"answeredBetty，andsheputherarmroundherastheyturnedtoenterthehouse。\"WhenyouhavebecomemoreusedtomeandmydrivingAmericanwaysIwillshowyouhow。\"
ThelightnesswithwhichshesaidithadanoddeffectonLadyAnstruthers。Suchcasualreadinesswassofullofthesuggestionofunheardofpossibilitiesthatitwasakindofshock。
\"Ihavebeentwelveyearsingettingun—usedtoyou——Ifeelasifitwouldtaketwelveyearsmoretogetusedagain，\"shesaid。
\"Itwon’ttaketwelveweeks，\"saidBetty。
CHAPTERXV
THEFIRSTMAN
ThemysteryoftheapparentlyoccultmethodsofcommunicationamongthenativesofIndia，betweenwhom，itissaid，newsfliesbymeanstoostrangeandsubtletobehumanlyexplainable，isnomoredifficultaproblemtosolvethanthatofthelightningrapiditywithwhichaknowledgeofthetranspiringofanynewlocaleventdartsthroughtheslowest，and，asfarasoutwardsignsgo，theleastcommunicativeEnglishvillageslumberingdrowsilyamongitspasturesandtrees。
ThatwhichtheHallorManorHousebelievedlastnight，knownonlytothefourwallsofitsdrawing—room，isdiscussedoverthecottagebreakfasttablesasthoughpresentedindetailthroughthecolumnsoftheMorningPost。Thevicarage，thesmithy，thepostoffice，thelittleprovisionshop，areinstantaneouslyinformedasbymagicofsuchincidentsofinterestasoccur，andarepreparedtoassistvicariouslyatanyfuturedevelopments。Throughwhatagencyinformationisgivennoonecantell，and，indeed，theagencyisofsmallmoment。Factsofinterestareperhapslikeflightsofswallowsanddartchatteringfromoneredrooftoanother，proclaimingthemselvesaloud。Nothingissotrueasthatinsuchvillagestheyarethepropertyandinnocentplaythingsofman，woman，andchild，providingconversationanddramaotherwiselikelytobelacked。
WhenMissVanderpoelwalkedthroughStornhamvillagestreetshebecameawarethatshewasanexcitingobjectofinterest。Facesappearedatcottagewindows，womensaunteredtodoors，meninthetaproomoftheClockInnleftbeermugstocastaneyeonher；childrenpushedopengatesandstaredastheybobbedtheircurtsies；theyoungwomanwhokepttheshoplefthercounterandcameoutuponherdoorsteptopickupherstrayingbabyandglanceoveritsshoulderatthefacewiththeredmouth，andthemassofblackhairrolledupwardunderaroughbluestrawhat。Everyoneknewwhothisexotic—lookingyoungladywas。ShehadarrivedyesterdayfromLondon，andaweekagobymeansofashipfromfar—awayAmerica，fromthecountryinconnectionwithwhichtheruralmindcuriouslymixeduplargewages，greatfortunesandIndians。\"Gaarge\"Lunsden，havingspentfiveyearsofhisyouthlabouringheavilyforsixteenshillingsaweek，hadgoneto\"Meriker\"andhadearnedthereeightshillingsaday。Thiswasawell—knownandmuch—talkedoverfact，andhadelevatedthewesterncontinenttoapositionoftrustandimportanceithadseriouslylackedbeforetheemigrationofLunsden。Aplacewhereamancouldearneightshillingsadayinspiredinterestaswellasconfidence。WhenSirNigel’swifehadarrivedtwelveyearsagoasthenewLadyAnstruthers，thestorythatsheherself\"hadmoney\"hadbeenverifiedbyherfineclothesandherwayofhandingoutsovereignsincaseswheretherestofthegentry，iftheygaveatall，wouldhavebestowedteaandflannelorshillings。Therehadbeenforafewmonthsaperiodofunheardofwell—beinginStornhamvillage；everyonerememberedthehundredpoundsthebridehadgiventopoorWilsonwhenhisplacehadburneddown，butthevillagehadofcourselearned，byitsoccultmeans，thatSirNigelandtheDowagerhadbeenangryandthattherehadbeenaquarrel。Afterwardsherladyshiphadbeendangerouslyill，thebabyhadbeenbornahunchback，andayearhadpassedbeforeitsmotherhadbeenseenagain。Sincethenshehadbeenachangedcreature；shehadlostherlooksandseemedtocarefornothingbutthechild。Stornhamvillagesawnexttonothingofher，anditcertainlywasnotshewhohadthedispensingofherfortune。RumoursaidSirNigellivedhighinLondonandforeignparts，buttherewasnohighlivingattheCourt。Herladyship’sfamilyhadneverbeennearher，andbeliefinthemandtheirwealthalmostceasedtoexist。
Iftheywererich，Stornhamfeltthatitwastheirbusinesstomendroofsandwindowsandnotallowchimneysandkitchenboilerstofallintoruin，thesimple，leadingarticleoffaithbeingthatevenAmericanmoneybelongedproperlytoEngland。
