\"Thatisonewayofbeginning，\"saidBettina。\"Infact，itistheonlyway。\"
Hedidnottellherthathelikedthat，butheknewthathedidlikeitandthathermerewordstouchedhimlikeaspur。
Itwas，ofcourse，herlifelongbreathingoftheatmosphereofmillionswhichmadeforthisfashionofmovingatonceinthedirectionofobstaclespresentingtotherestoftheworldbarriersseeminglyinsurmountable。Andyettherewassomethingelseinit，somequalityofnaturewhichdidnotalonesuggesttheomnipotenceofwealth，butanotherthingwhichmightbeevenstrongerandthereforecarriedconviction。Hewhohadragedandclenchedhishandsinthefaceofhisknowledgeoftheaspecthisdreamwouldhavepresentedifhehadrevealedittotheordinarypracticalmind，feltthatapointofviewlikethiswasgoodforhim。Therewasinitstimulusforafleetingmomentatleast。
\"Thatisagoodidea，\"heanswered。\"Whereshouldyoubegin？\"
Sherepliedquiteseriously，thoughhecouldhaveimaginedsomegirlsrathersimperingoverthequestionasacasualjoke。
\"Onewouldbeginatthefences，\"shesaid。\"Don’tyouthinkso？\"
\"Thatispractical。\"
\"ThatiswhereIshallbeginatStornham，\"reflectively。
\"YouaregoingtobeginatStornham？\"
\"Howcouldonehelpit？Itisnotaslargeorassplendidasthishasbeen，butitislikeitinaway。Anditwillbelongtomysister’sson。No，Icouldnothelpit。\"
\"Isupposeyoucouldnot。\"Therewasahintofwhollyunconsciousresentmentinhistone。Hewasthinkingthattheeffectproducedbytheirboundlesswealthwastomakethesepeoplefeelasaraceofgiantsmight——eventheirwomenunknowinglyrevealedit。
\"No，Icouldnot，\"washerreply。\"IsupposeIamonthewholeasortofcommercialworkingperson。Ihavenodoubtitiscommercial，thatinstinctwhichmakesoneresentseeingthingslosetheirvalue。\"
\"Shallyoubeginitforthatreason？\"
\"Partlyforthatone——partlyforanother。\"Sheheldoutherhandtohim。\"Lookatthelengthoftheshadows。I
mustgo。Thankyou，LordMountDunstan，forshowingmetheplace，andthankyouforundeceivingme。\"
Heheldthesidegateopenforherandliftedhiscapasshepassedthrough。Headmittedtohimself，withsomereluctance，thathewasnotcontentthatsheshouldgoevenyet，but，ofcourse，shemustgo。Therepassedthroughhismindaremotewonderwhyhehadsuddenlyunbosomedhimselftoherinawaysoextraordinarilyunlikehimself。Itwas，hethoughtnext，becauseashehadtakenheraboutfromoneplacetoanotherhehadknownthatshehadseeninthingswhathehadseeninthemsolong——themelancholyloneliness，thesignificanceofit，thelosthopesthatlaybehindit，thetouchingpainofthestatelinesswrecked。Shehadshownitinthewayinwhichshetenderlylookedfromsidetoside，intheverylightnessofherfootfall，inthebluebellsofteningofhereyes。Oh，yes，shehadunderstoodandcared，Americanasshewas！Shehadfeltitall，evenwithherhideousbackgroundofFifthAvenuebehindher。
Whenhehadspokenithadbeenininvoluntaryresponsetoanemotioninherself。
Sohestood，thinking，asheforsometimewatchedherwalkingupthesunset—glowingroad。
CHAPTERXVI
THEPARTICULARINCIDENT
BettyVanderpoel’swalkbacktoStornhamdidnot，longthoughitwas，givehertimetofollowtoitsendthethreadofherthoughts。Mentallyshewalkedagainwithheruncommunicativeguide，throughwoodpathsandgardens，andstoodgazingatthegreatblind—facedhouse。Shehadnotgiventhemanmorethananoccasionalglanceuntilhehadtoldherhisname。Shehadbeentoomuchabsorbed，toomuchmoved，bywhatshehadbeenseeing。Shewondered，ifshehadbeenmoreawareofhim，whetherhisfacewouldhaverevealedagreatdeal。Shebelieveditwouldnot。Hehadmadehimselfoutwardlystolid。Butthethingmusthavebeenbitter。
Tohimthewholestoryofthesplendidpastwasfamiliarevenifthroughhisownlifehehadlookedononlyatgradualdecay。Theremustbestoriesenoughofmenandwomenwhohadlivedintheplace，ofwhattheyhaddone，ofhowtheyhadloved，ofwhattheyhadcountedforintheircountry’swarsandpeacemakings，greatfunctionsandlaw—building。Tobeabletolookbackthroughcenturiesandknowofone’sbloodthatsometimesithadbeenshedinthedoingofgreatdeeds，mustbeathingtoremember。Torealisethatthecourageandhonourhadbeenlostinignoblemodernvices，whichnosenseofdignityandreverenceforraceandnamehadrestrained——
mustbebitter——bitter！Andintheroleofaservanttoleadastrangeraboutamongtheruinsofwhathadbeen——thatmusthavebeenbitter，too。ForamomentBettyfeltthebitternessofitherselfandherredmouthtookuponitselfagrimline。
Theworstofitforhimwasthathewasnotofthatstrainofhisracewhohadbeenthe\"badlot。\"The\"badlot\"hadbeentheweaklot，thevicious，theself—degrading。
Scandalswhichhadshutmenoutfromtheirclassandkindwereusuallyofanuglytype。Thismanhadastrongjaw，apowerful，healthybody，andclean，thoughperhapshard，eyes。
TheFirstManofthem，whohewedhiswaytothefront，whostoodfierceinthefaceofthings，whowonthefirstlandsandlaidthefirststones，mighthavebeenlikehiminbuildandlook。
\"It’sadisgustingthing，\"shesaidtoherself，\"tothinkofthecorruptweaklingsthestrongonesdwindleddownto。I
hatethem。Sodoeshe。\"
Therehadbeenmanysuchoflateyears，sheknew。ShehadseentheminParis，inRome，eveninNewYork。Thingswiththinorover—thickbodiesandrecedingchinsandforeheads；
thingshauntingplacesofamusementandfindinginordinateentertainmentinstrangejokesandhorseplay。Sheherselfhadhotbloodandafiercestrengthofrebellion，andshewaswonderinghow，ifthefatherandelderbrotherhadbeenthe\"badlot，\"hehadmanagedtostandstill，lookingon，andkeepinghishandsoffthem。
ThelastgoldofthesunwasmellowingthegreystoneoftheterraceandenrichingthegreenoftheweedsthrustingthemselvesintolifebetweentheunevenflagswhenshereachedStornham，andpassingthroughthehousefoundLadyAnstrutherssittingthere。Insustenanceofherefforttokeepupappearances，shehadputonaweirdlittlemuslindressandhadelaboratedthedressingofherthinhair。Itwasnolongerdraggedbackstraightfromherface，andshelookedatriflelessabject，evenashadeprettier。Bettinasatupontheedgeofthebalustradeandtouchedthehairwithlightfingers，rufflingitalittlebecomingly。
\"Ifyouhadwornitlikethisyesterday，\"shesaid，\"Ishouldhaveknownyou。\"
\"Shouldyou，Betty？IneverlookintoamirrorifIcanhelpit，butwhenIdoIneverknowmyself。ThethingthatstaresbackatmewithitspaleeyesisnotRosy。But，ofcourse，everyonegrowsold。\"
\"Notnow！Peoplearejustdiscoveringhowtogrowyounginstead。\"
LadyAnstrutherslookedintotheclearcourageofherlaughingeyes。
\"Somehow，\"shesaid，\"yousaystrangethingsinsuchawaythatonefeelsasiftheymustbetrue，however——howeverunlikeanythingelsetheyare。\"
\"Theyarenotasnewastheyseem，\"saidBetty。\"Ancientphilosopherssaidthingslikethemcenturiesago，butpeopledidnotbelievethem。Wearejustbeginningtodragthemoutofthedustandfurbishthemupandpretendtheyareours，justaspeoplerubupandadornthemselveswithjewelsdugoutofexcavations。\"
\"InAmericapeoplethinksomanynewthings，\"saidpoorlittleLadyAnstrutherswithyearninghumbleness。
\"Thewholecivilisedworldisthinkingwhatyoucallnewthings，\"saidBetty。\"Theoldoneswon’tdo。Theyhavebeentried，andthoughtheyhavehelpedustotheplacewehavereached，theycannothelpusanyfarther。Wemustbeginagain。\"
\"ItissuchalongtimesinceIbegan，\"saidRosy，\"suchalongtime。\"
\"Thentheremustbeanotherbeginningforyou，too。Thehourhasstruck。\"
LadyAnstruthersrosewithasinvoluntaryamovementasifastronghandhaddrawnhertoherfeet。ShestoodfacingBetty，apatheticlittlefigureinherwashed—outmuslinfrockandwithherwashed—outfaceandeyesandbeing，thoughonherfadedcheeksaflushwasrising。
\"Oh，Betty！\"shesaid，\"Idon’tknowwhatthereisaboutyou，butthereissomethingwhichmakesonefeelasifyoubelievedeverythingandcoulddoeverything，andasifonebelievesYOU。Whateveryouweretosay，youwouldmakeitseemTRUE。IfyousaidthewildestthingintheworldIshouldBELIEVEyou。\"
Bettygotup，too，andtherewasanextraordinarysteadinessinhereyes。
\"Youmay，\"sheanswered。\"Ishallneversayonethingtoyouwhichisnotatruth，notonesinglething。\"
\"Ibelievethat，\"saidRosyAnstruthers，withaquiveringmouth。\"Idobelieveitso。\"
\"IwalkedtoMountDunstan，\"Bettysaidlater。
\"Really？\"saidRosy。\"Thereandback？\"
\"Yes，andallroundtheparkandthegardens。\"
Rosylookedratheruncertain。
\"Weren’tyoualittleafraidofmeetingsomeone？\"
\"Ididmeetsomeone。AtfirstItookhimforagame—
keeper。ButheturnedouttobeLordMountDunstan。\"
LadyAnstruthersgasped。
\"Whatdidhedo？\"sheexclaimed。\"Didhelookangryatseeingastranger？Theysayheissoill—temperedandrude。\"
\"Ishouldfeelill—temperedifIwereinhisplace，\"saidBetty。\"Hehasenoughtorousehisevilpassionsandmakehimsavage。Whatafateforamanwithanysenseanddecencyoffeeling！Whatfoolsandcriminalsthelastgenerationofhishousemusthaveproduced！Iwonderhowsuchthingsevolvethemselves。Butheisdifferent——different。Onecanseeit。Ifhehadachance——justhalfachance——hewouldbuilditallupagain。AndIdon’tmeanmerelytheplace，butallthatonemeanswhenonesays`hishouse。’\"
\"Hewouldneedagreatdealofmoney，\"sighedLadyAnstruthers。
Bettynoddedslowlyasshelookedout，reflecting，intothepark。
\"Yes，itwouldrequiremoney，\"washeradmission。
\"Andhehasnone，\"LadyAnstruthersadded。\"Nonewhatever。\"
\"Hewillgetsome，\"saidBetty，stillreflecting。\"Hewillmakeit，ordigitup，orsomeonewillleaveittohim。Thereisagreatdealofmoneyintheworld，andwhenastrongcreatureoughttohavesomeofithegetsit。\"
\"Oh，Betty！\"saidRosy。\"Oh，Betty！\"
\"Watchthatman，\"saidBetty；\"youwillsee。Itwillcome。\"
LadyAnstruthers’mind，workingatnotimeoncomplexlines，presentedherwithasimplemodernsolution。
\"PerhapshewillmarryanAmerican，\"shesaid，andsayingit，sighedagain。
\"Hewillnotdoitonpurpose。\"BettinaansweredslowlyandwithsuchanairofabsenceofmindthatRosylaughedalittle。
\"Willhedoitaccidentally，oragainsthiswill？\"shesaid。
Bettyherselfsmiled。
\"Perhapshewill，\"shesaid。\"ThereareEnglishmenwhoratherdislikeAmericans。Ithinkheisoneofthem。\"
ItapparentlybecamenecessaryforLadyAnstruthers，amomentlater，toleanuponthestonebalustradeandpickoffayoungleaforso，fornoreasonwhatever，unlessthatindoingsosheavertedherlookfromhersisterasshemadehernextremark。
\"Areyou——whenareyougoingtowritetofatherandmother？\"
\"Ihavewritten，\"withunembarrassedevennessoftone。
\"Motherwillbecountingthedays。\"
\"Mother！\"Rosybreathed，withasoftlittlegasp。\"Mother！\"andturnedherfacefartheraway。\"Whatdidyoutellher？\"
Bettymovedovertoherandstoodcloseatherside。Thepowerofherpersonalityenvelopedthetremulouscreatureasifithadbeenasenseofwarmth。
\"Itoldherhowbeautifultheplacewas，andhowUghtredadoredyou——andhowyoulovedusall，andlongedtoseeNewYorkagain。\"
ThereliefinthepoorlittlefacewassoimmensethatBetty’sheartshookbeforeit。LadyAnstrutherslookedupatherwithadoringeyes。
\"Imighthaveknown，\"shesaid；\"Imighthaveknownthat——thatyouwouldonlysaytherightthing。Youcouldn’tsaythewrongthing，Betty。\"
Bettybentoverherandspokealmostyearningly。
\"Whateverhappens，\"shesaid，\"wewilltakecarethatmotherisnothurt。She’stookind——she’stoogood——she’stootender。\"
\"ThatiswhatIhaveremembered，\"saidLadyAnstruthersbrokenly。\"SheusedtoholdmeonherlapwhenIwasquitegrownup。Oh！hersoft，warmarms——herwarmshoulder！
Ihavesowantedher。\"
\"Shehaswantedyou，\"Bettyanswered。\"Shethinksofyoujustasshedidwhensheheldyouonherlap。\"
\"Butifshesawmenow——lookinglikethis！Ifshesawme！SometimesIhaveevenbeengladtothinksheneverwould。\"
\"Shewill。\"Betty’stonewascoolandclear。\"ButbeforeshedoesIshallhavemadeyoulooklikeyourself。\"
LadyAnstruthers’thinhandclosedonherpluckedleavesconvulsively，andthenopeningletthemdropuponthestoneoftheterrace。
\"Weshallneverseeeachother。Itwouldn’tbepossible，\"
shesaid。\"Andthereisnomagicintheworldnow，Betty。
Youcan’tbringback————\"
\"Yes，youcan，\"saidBettina。\"Andwhatusedtobecalledmagicisonlythecontrolledworkingofthelawandorderofthingsinthesedays。Wemusttalkitallover。\"
LadyAnstruthersbecamealittlepale。
\"What？\"sheasked，lowandnervously，andBettysawherglancesidewaysatthewindowsoftheroomwhichopenedontotheterrace。
Bettytookherhandanddrewherdownintoachair。Shesatnearherandlookedherstraightintheface。
\"Don’tbefrightened，\"shesaid。\"Itellyouthereisnoneedtobefrightened。WearenotlivingintheMiddleAges。ThereisapolicemaneveninStornhamvillage，andwearewithinfourhoursofLondon，wheretherearethousands。\"
LadyAnstrutherstriedtolaugh，butdidnotsucceedverywell，andherforeheadflushed。
\"Idon’tquiteknowwhyIseemsonervous，\"shesaid。
\"It’sverysillyofme。\"
Shewasstilltimidenoughtoclingtosomeragofpretence，butBettyknewthatitwouldfallaway。Shedidthewisestpossiblething，whichwastomakeanapparentlyimpersonalremark。
\"Iwantyoutogoovertheplacewithmeandshowmeeverything。Wallsandfencesandgreenhousesandoutbuildingsmustnotbeallowedtocrumbleaway。\"
\"What？\"criedRosy。\"Haveyouseenallthatalready？\"
Sheactuallystaredather。\"Howpracticaland——andAmerican！\"
\"Toseethatawallhasfallenwhenyoufindyourselfobligedtowalkroundapileofgrass—grownbrickwork？\"saidBetty。
LadyAnstruthersstillsoftlystared。
\"What——whatareyouthinkingof？\"sheasked。
\"Thinkingthatitisalltoobeautiful————\"Betty’slooksweptthelovelinessspreadabouther，\"toobeautifulandtoovaluabletobeallowedtoloseitsvalueanditsbeauty。\"SheturnedhereyesbacktoRosyandthedeepdimplenearhermouthshoweditselfdelightfully。\"Itisathrowingawayofcapital，\"
sheadded。
\"Oh！\"criedLadyAnstruthers，\"howcleveryouare！
Andyoulooksodifferent，Betty。\"
\"DoIlookstupid？\"thedimpledeepening。\"Imusttrytoalterthat。\"
\"Don’ttrytoalteryourlooks，\"saidRosy。\"Itisyourlooksthatmakeyouso——sowonderful。Butusuallywomen——
girls————\"Rosypaused。
\"Oh，Ihavebeentrained，\"laughedBetty。\"Iamthespoileddaughterofabusinessmanofgenius。Hisbusinessisanartandascience。Ihavehadadvantages。Hehasletmehearhimtalk。Ievenknowsometriflingthingsaboutstocks。
Notenoughtodomevitalinjury——butsomething。WhatI
knowbestofall，\"——herlaughendedandhereyeschangedtheirlook，——\"isthatitisablundertothinkthatbeautyisnotcapital——thathappinessisnot——andthatbotharenotthegreatestassetsinthescheme。This，\"withawaveofherhand，takinginalltheysaw，\"isbeauty，anditoughttobehappiness，anditmustbetakencareof。ItisyourhomeandUghtred’s————\"
\"ItisNigel’s，\"putinRosy。
\"Itisentailed，isn’tit？\"turningquickly。\"Hecannotsellit？\"
\"Ifhecouldweshouldnotbesittinghere，\"ruefully。
\"Thenhecannotobjecttoitsbeingrescuedfromruin。\"
\"Hewillobjectto——tomoneybeingspentonthingshedoesnotcarefor。\"LadyAnstruthers’voicelowereditself，asitalwaysdidwhenshespokeofherhusband，andsheindulgedintheinvoluntaryhastyglanceabouther。
\"Iamgoingtomyroomtotakeoffmyhat，\"Bettysaid。
\"Willyoucomewithme？\"
Shewentintothehouse，talkingquietlyofordinarythings，andinthiswaytheymountedthestairwaytogetherandpassedalongthegallerywhichledtoherroom。Whentheyentereditsheclosedthedoor，lockedit，and，takingoffherhat，laiditaside。Afterdoingwhichshesat。
\"Noonecanhearandnoonecancomein，\"shesaid。\"Andiftheycould，youareafraidofthingsyouneednotbeafraidofnow。TellmewhathappenedwhenyouweresoillafterUghtredwasborn。\"
\"Youguessedthatithappenedthen，\"gaspedLadyAnstruthers。
\"Itwasagoodtimetomakeanythinghappen，\"repliedBettina。\"Youwereprostrated，youwereachild，andfeltyourselfcastoffhopelesslyfromthepeoplewholovedyou。\"
\"Forever！Forever！\"LadyAnstruthers’voicewasasharplittlemoan。\"ThatwaswhatIfelt——thatnothingcouldeverhelpme。Idarednotwritethings。Hetoldmehewouldnothaveit——thathewouldstopanyhystericalcomplaints——thathismothercouldtestifythathebehavedperfectlytome。Shewastheonlypersonintheroomwithuswhen——when————\"
\"When？\"saidBetty。
LadyAnstruthersshuddered。SheleanedforwardandcaughtBetty’shandbetweenherownshakingones。
\"Hestruckme！Hestruckme！Hesaiditneverhappened——
butitdid——itdid！Betty，itdid！Thatwastheonethingthatcamebacktomeclearest。HesaidthatIwasindelirioushysterics，andthatIhadstruggledwithhismotherandhimself，becausetheytriedtokeepmequiet，andpreventtheservantshearing。OneawfuldayhebroughtLadyAnstruthersintotheroom，andtheystoodoverme，asIlayinbed，andshefixedhereyesonmeandsaidthatshe——beinganEnglishwoman，andapersonwhosewordwouldbebelieved，couldtellpeoplethetruth——myfatherandmother，ifnecessary，thatmyspoiled，hystericalAmericantempershadcreatedunhappinessforme——merelybecauseIwasboredbylifeinthecountryandwantedexcitement。Itriedtoanswer，buttheywouldnotletme，andwhenIbegantoshakeallover，theysaidthatIwasthrowingmyselfintohystericsagain。Andtheytoldthedoctorso，andhebelievedit。\"
Thepossibilitiesofthesituationwereplainlytobeseen。
Fate，intheformoftemperamentitself，hadbeenagainsther。
ItwasclearenoughtoBettyasshepattedandstrokedthethinhands。\"Iunderstand。Tellmetherest，\"shesaid。
LadyAnstruthers’headdropped。
\"WhenIwasloneliest，anddyingofhomesickness，andsoweakthatIcouldnotspeakwithoutsobbing，hecametome——itwasonemorningafterIhadbeenlyingawakeallnight——andhebegantoseemkinder。Hehadnotbeennearmefortwodays，andIhadthoughtIwasgoingtobelefttodiealone——andmotherwouldneverknow。Hesaidhehadbeenreflectingandthathewasafraidthatwehadmisunderstoodeachother——becausewebelongedtodifferentcountries，andhadbeenbroughtupindifferentways————\"shepaused。
\"Andthatifyouunderstoodhispositionandconsideredit，youmightbothbequitehappy，\"Bettygaveinquiettermination。
LadyAnstruthersstarted。
\"Oh，youknowitall！\"sheexclaimed\"OnlybecauseIhavehearditbefore。Itisanoldtrick。
Andbecauseheseemedkindandrelenting，youtriedtounderstand——andsignedsomething。\"
\"IWANTEDtounderstand。IWANTEDtobelieve。Whatdiditmatterwhichofushadthemoney，ifwelikedeachotherandwerehappy？Hetoldmethingsabouttheestate，andabouttheenormouscostofit，andhisbadluck，anddebtshecouldnothelp。AndIsaidthatIwoulddoanythingif——ifwecouldonlybelikemotherandfather。AndhekissedmeandIsignedthepaper。\"
\"Andthen？\"
\"HewenttoLondonthenextday，andthentoParis。Hesaidhewasobligedtogoonbusiness。Hewasawayamonth。
Andafteraweekhadpassed，LadyAnstruthersbegantoberestlessandangry，andoncesheflewintoarage，andtoldmeIwasafool，andthatifIhadbeenanEnglishwoman，Ishouldhavehadsomedecentcontrolovermyhusband，becausehewouldhaverespectedme。IntimeIfoundoutwhatIhaddone。Itdidnottakelong。\"
\"Thepaperyousigned，\"saidBetty，\"gavehimcontroloveryourmoney？\"
Aforlornnodwastheanswer。
\"Andsincethenhehasdoneashechose，andhehasnotchosentocareforStornham。Andoncehemadeyouwritetofather，toaskformoremoney？\"
\"Ididitonce。Ineverwoulddoitagain。Hehastriedtomakeme。HealwayssaysitistosaveStornhamforUghtred。\"
\"NothingcantakeStornhamfromUghtred。Itmaycometohimaruin，butitwillcometohim。\"
\"HesaystherearelegalpointsIcannotunderstand。Andhesaysheisspendingmoneyonit。\"
\"Where？\"
\"He——doesn’tgointothat。IfIweretoaskquestions，hewouldmakemeknowthatIhadbetterstop。HesaysIknownothingaboutthings。Andheisright。Hehasneverallowedmetoknowand——andIamnotlikeyou，Betty。\"
\"Whenyousignedthepaper，youdidnotrealisethatyouweredoingsomethingyoucouldneverundoandthatyouwouldbeforcedtosubmittotheconsequences？\"
\"I——Ididn’trealiseanythingbutthatitwouldkillmetoliveasIhadbeenliving——feelingasiftheyhatedme。AndIwassogladandthankfulthatheseemedkinder。ItwasasifIhadbeenontherack，andheturnedthescrewsback，andIwasreadytodoanything——anything——ifImightbetakenoff。Oh，Betty！youknow，don’tyou，that——thatifhewouldonlyhavebeenalittlekind——justalittle——Iwouldhaveobeyedhimalways，andgivenhimeverything。\"
Bettysatandlookedather，withdeeplyponderingeyes。
Shewasconfrontingthefactthatitseemedpossiblethatonemustbuildanewsoulforheraswellasanewbody。Inthesedaysofscienceandgrowingsanityofthought，onedidnotstandhelplessbeforetheproblemofphysicalrebuilding，and——andperhaps，ifonecouldpourlifeintoacreature，thesoulofitwouldrespond，andwakeagain，andgrow。
\"Youdonotknowwhereheis？\"shesaidaloud。\"Youabsolutelydonotknow？\"
\"Ineverknowexactly，\"LadyAnstruthersanswered。\"Hewashereforafewdaystheweekbeforeyoucame。Hesaidhewasgoingabroad。Hemightappearto—morrow，Imightnothearofhimforsixmonths。Ican’thelphopingnowthatitwillbethesixmonths。\"
\"Whyparticularlynow？\"inquiredBetty。
LadyAnstruthersflushedandlookedshyandawkward。
\"Becauseof——you。Idon’tknowwhathewouldsay。I
don’tknowwhathewoulddo。\"
\"Tome？\"saidBetty。
