Bettysawthedoubtinhereyes，andinameasure，guessedatitsmeaning。Thetimetopauseforargumenthad，howevernotarrived。Therewastoomuchtobeinvestigated，toomuchtobeseen。Shesweptheronherway。Theywanderedonthroughsomefortyrooms，moreorless；theyopeneddoorsandclosedthem；theyunbarredshuttersandletthesunstreaminondustanddampnessandcobwebs。ThecomprehensionofthesituationwhichBettygainedwasasvaluableasitwasenlightening。
Thedescentintothelowerpartofthehousewasanewexperience。Bettyhadnotbeforeseenhuge，flaggedkitchens，vaultedservants’halls，stonepassages，butteriesanddairies。
Thesubstantialmasonryofthewallsandarchedceilings，thestonestairway，andtheseeminglyendlessoffices，wereinterestinglyremoteinideafromsuchdomesticmodernitiesaschanceviewsofup—to—dateAmericanhouseholdworkingshadprovidedher。
Inthehugekitchenitself，anelderlywoman，rollingpastry，pausedtocurtsytothem，withstolidcuriosityinherheavy—
featuredface。Inhercharacteras\"single—handed\"cook，Mrs。NoakeshadsentupuninvitingmealstoLadyAnstruthersforseveralyears，butshehadnotseenherladyshipbelowstairsbefore。Andthiswastheunexpectedarrival——theyoungladytherehadbeen\"talkof\"fromthemomentofherappearance。Mrs。Noakesadmittedwiththegrudgingnessofapersonofuncheerfultemperament，thatlookslikethatalwayswouldmaketalk。AcertaindegreeofvaguementalilluminationledhertoagreewithRobert，thefootman，thatthestranger’seffectivenesswas，perhaps，also，notaltogetheramatterofgoodlooks，andcertainlyitwasnotanaffairofclothes。Herbrightishbluedress，ofroughcloth，wasnothingparticular，notwithstandingthefitofit。Therewas\"somethingelseabouther。\"Shelookedroundtheplace，notwiththecasualindifferenceofafineyounglady，carelesslycurioustoseewhatshehadnotseenbefore，butwithanalert，questioninginterest。
\"Whatabigplace，\"shesaidtoherladyship。\"Whatsubstantialwalls！Whathugejointsmusthavebeenroastedbeforesuchafireplace。\"
Shedrewneartotheenormous，antiquatedcookingplace。
\"Peoplewerenotverypracticalwhenthiswasbuilt，\"shesaid。\"Itlooksasifitmustwasteagreatdealofcoal。Isit————？\"shelookedatMrs。Noakes。\"Doyoulikeit？\"
TherewasapracticaldirectnessinthequestionforwhichMrs。Noakeswasnotprepared。Untilthismoment，ithadapparentlymatteredlittlewhethershelikedthingsornot。
Theconditionofherimplementsoftradewasoneofhergrievances——theancientfireplaceandovensthebitterest。
\"It’soutoforder，miss，\"sheanswered。\"Andtheydon’tuse’emlikethisinthesedays。\"
\"Ithoughtnot，\"saidMissVanderpoel。
Shemadeotherinquiriesasdirectandsignificantoftheobservingeye，andherpassagethroughthelowerpartoftheestablishmentleftMrs。Noakesandhercompanionsinastrangebutnotunpleasurablestateofferment。
\"Thinkofayoungladythat’sneverhadnothingtodowithkitchens，goingstraighttothatshamefuloldfireplace，andseeingwhatitmeanttothewomanthat’sgottouseit。
`Doyoulikeit？’shesays。Ifshe’dbeenacookherself，shecouldn’thaveputitstraighter。She’sgoteyes。\"
\"She’sbeenusingthemallovertheplace，saidRobert。
\"Herandherladyship’sbeenintoroomsthat’snotbeenopenedforyears。\"
\"Moreshametothemthatshouldhaveopened’em，\"
remarkedMrs。Noakes。\"Herladyship’sapoor，listlessthing——
butherspiritwasbrokenlongago。
\"Thisonewillmenditforher，perhaps，\"saidthemanservant。\"Iwonderwhat’sgoingtohappen。\"
\"Well，she’sgotalookwithher——thenewone——asifwhereshewasthingswouldbelikelytohappen。Youlookout。
Theplacewon’tseemsodeadandaliveifwe’vegotsomethingtothinkofandexpect。\"
\"WhoarethesolicitorsSirNigelemploys？\"Bettyhadaskedhersister，whentheirpilgrimagethroughthehousehadbeencompleted。
Messrs。Townlinson&Sheppard，afirmwhichforseveralgenerationshadtransactedthelegalbusinessofmuchmoreimportantestatesthanStornham，helditsaffairsinhand。
LadyAnstruthersknewnothingofthem，butthattheyevidentlydidnotapproveoftheconductoftheirclient。Nigelwasfrequentlyangrywhenhespokeofthem。Itcouldbegatheredthattheyhadrefusedtoallowhimtodothingshewishedtodo——sellthings，orborrowmoneyonthem。
\"IthinkwemustgotoLondonandseethem，\"Bettysuggested。
Rosywasagitated。Whyshouldoneseethem？Whatwastheretobespokenof？Theirgoing，Bettyexplainedwouldbeasortofvisitofceremony——inameasureaprecaution。
SinceSirNigelwasapparentlynottobereached，havinggivennoclueastowhereheintendedtogo，itmightbediscreettoconsultMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppardwithregardtothethingsitmightbewelltodo——therepairsitappearednecessarytomakeatonce。IfMessrs。Townlinson&
Sheppardapprovedofthedoingofsuchwork，SirNigelcouldnotresenttheiraction，andsaythatinhisabsencelibertieshadbeentaken。Suchacourseseemedbusinesslikeanddignified。
ItwaswhatBettyfeltthatherfatherwoulddo。
Nothingcouldbecomplainedof，whichwasdonewiththeknowledgeandunderthesanctionofthefamilysolicitors。
\"Thenthereareotherthingswemustdo。Wemustgotoshopsandtheatres。Itwillbegoodforyoutogotoshopsandtheatres，Rosy。\"
\"Ihavenothingbutragstowear，\"answeredLadyAnstruthers，reddening。
\"Thenbeforewegowewillhavethingssentdown。
Peoplecanbesentfromtheshopstoarrangewhatwewant。\"
Themagicofthename，standingforgreatwealth，could，itwastrue，bringtothem，notonlythecontentsofshops，butthepeoplewhoshowedthem，andwerereadytocarryoutanyorders。ThenameofVanderpoelalreadystood，inLondon，forinexhaustibleresource。Yes，itwassimpleenoughtosendforpolitelysubservientsaleswomentobringwhatonewanted。
Thebeingremindedinevery—daymattersofthestillrealexistenceofthepowerofthismagicwasthefirststepintherebuildingofLadyAnstruthers。Torealisethatthewonderfulandyetsimplenecromancywasgraduallyencirclingheragain，haditsparallelinthetakingofatonic，whoseeffectwascumulative。Sheherselfdidnotrealisetheworkingofit。
ButBettyregardeditwithinterest。Shesawitwasgoodforher，merelytolookonattheunpackingoftheNewYorkboxes，whichthemaid，sentforfromLondon，broughtdownwithher。
Asthewomanremoved，fromtrayaftertray，thetissue—
paper—enfoldedlayersofgarments，LadyAnstrutherssatandwatchedherwithnormal，simplyfeminineinterestgrowinginhereyes。Thethingsweremadewiththeabsenceofanylimitinexpenditure，thefreedomwithdelicatestuffsandpricelesslaceswhichbelongedonlytoherfaintmemoriesofalostpast。
Nothinghadlimitedthetimespentintheembroideringofthisapparentlysimplelinenfrockandcoat；nothinghadrestrainedthehandholdingthescissorswhichhadcutintothelacewhichadornedinappliquesandfilmyfrillsthisexquisitelycharmingballdress。
\"Itislookingbacksofar，\"shesaid，wavingherhandtowardsthemwithanoddgesture。\"Tothinkthatitwasoncealllike——likethat。\"
Shegotupandwenttothethings，turningthemover，andtouchingthemwithasoftness，almostexpressingacaress。
Thenamesofthemakersstampedonbandsandcollars，thenamesofthestreetsinwhichtheirshopsstood，movedher。
Sheheardagaintheoncefamiliarrattleofwheels，andtherushandroarofNewYorktraffic。
Bettycarriedonthewholematterwithlightness。Shetalkedeasilyandcasually，givinglocalcolourtowhatshesaid。
Shedescribedtheabnormallyrapidgrowthoftheplaceshersisterhadknowninherteens，thenewbuildings，newtheatres，newshops，newpeople，thelatermodeofliving，muchofitlearnedfromEngland，throughtheunceasingweavingoftheShuttle。
\"Changing——changing——changing。Thatiswhatitisalwaysdoing——America。Wehavenotreachedreposeyet。Onewondershowlongitwillbebeforeweshall。Nowwearealwayshurryingbreathlesslyafterthenextthing——thenewone——whichwealwaysthinkwillbethebetterone。Othercountriesbuiltthemselvesslowly。Inthedaysoftheirbuilding，thepaceoflifewasamarch。WhenAmericawasborn，themarchhadalreadybeguntohasten，andasanationwebegan，inourfirsthour，atthequickeningspeed。Nowthepaceisarace。NewYorkisakaleidoscope。Imyselfcanrememberitawhollydifferentthing。Onepassesdownastreetoneday，andthenextthereisagreatgapwheresomebuildingisbeingtorndown——afewdayslater，atallstructureofsomesortistouchingthesky。Itiswonderful，butitdoesnottendtocalmthemind。ThatiswhywecrosstheAtlanticsomuch。Thesober，quiet—lovingbloodourforbearsbroughtfromoldercountriesgoesinsearchofrest。Mixedwithotherthings，Ifeelinmyownbeingaresentmentagainstnewnessanddisorder，andaninsistenceontheatmosphereoflong—establishedthings。\"
ButforyearsLadyAnstruthershadbeenlivingintheatmosphereoflong—establishedthings，andfeltnoinsistenceuponit。Sheyearnedtohearofthegreat，changingWesternworld——ofthegreat，changingcity。Bettymusttellherwhatthechangeswere。Whatwerethedifferencesinthestreets——
wherehadthenewbuildingsbeenplaced？HowhadFifthAvenueandMadisonAvenueandBroadwayaltered？WerenotGramercyParkandMadisonSquarestillgreenwithgrassandtrees？Wasitalldifferent？Wouldshenotknowtheoldplacesherself？Thoughitseemedalifetimesinceshehadseenthem，theyearswhichhadpassedwerereallynotsomany。
ItwasgoodforhertotalkandbetalkedtointhismannerBettysaw。Stillhandlinghersubjectlightly，shepresentedpictureafterpicture。Someofthemwereofthewonderful，feverishcityitself——theplacequitepassionatelylovedbysome，aspassionatelydislikedbyothers。Sheherselfhadfallenintothehabit，assheleftchildhoodbehindher，oflookingatitwithinterestedwonder——atitsriotoflifeandpower，ofhugeschemes，andalmostsuperhumanlabours，offortunessocolossalthattheyseemedmonstrositiesintheirrelationtotheworld。PeoplewhoinRosalie’sgirlhoodhadlivedinbiguglybrownstonefronts，hadbuiltforthemselvesorfortheirchildren，housessuchas，inothercountries，wouldhavebelongedtonoblesandprinces，spendingfortunesupontheirbuilding，fillingthemwithtreasuresbroughtfromforeignlands，frompalaces，fromartgalleries，fromcollectors。
Sometimesstrangepeoplebuiltsuchhousesandlivedstrangelavish，ostentatiouslivesinthem，forminganoverstrained，abnormal，pleasure—chasingworldoftheirown。ThepassingofeventenyearsinNewYorkcounteditselfalmostasageneration；
thefashions，customs，belongingsoftwentyyearsagoworeanairofalmostpicturesqueantiquity。
\"Itdoesnottakelongtomakean`oldNewYorker，’\"
shesaid。\"Eachdaybringssomanynewones。\"
Therewere，indeed，manynewones，LadyAnstruthersfound。Peoplewhohadbeenpoorhadbecomehugelyrich，afewwhohadbeenrichhadbecomepoor，possessionswhichhadbeenlargehadswelledtounnaturalproportions。OutoftheWesthadrisenfortunesmoremonstrousthanallothers。
Asshetoldonestoryafteranother，Bettinarealised，asshehaddoneoftenbefore，thatitwasimpossibletoenterintodescriptionofthelifeandmovementsoftheplace，withoutitscuriouslyinvolvingsomeconnectionwiththehugewealthofit——withitsinfluence，itsrise，itsswelling，orwaning。
\"Somehowonecannotfreeone’sselffromit。Thisistheageofwealthandinvention——butofwealthbeforeallelse。
Sometimesoneistired——tiredofit。\"
\"Youwouldnotbetiredofitif——well，ifyouwereI，saidLadyAnstruthersratherpathetically。
\"Perhapsnot，\"Bettyanswered。\"Perhapsnot。\"
Sheherselfhadseenpeoplewhowerenottiredofitinthesenseinwhichshewas——themenandwomen，withwornorintentlyanxiousfaces，hasteningwiththecrowdsuponthepavements，allhasteningsomewhere，inchaseofthatsmallportionofthewealthwhichtheyearnedbytheirlabourastheirdailyshare；thesamemenandwomensurgingtowardselevatedrailroadstations，toseizeonplacesinthehomeward—
boundtrains；orstandingintired—lookinggroups，waitingfortheapproachofanalreadyoverfullstreetcar，inwhichtheymustbepackedtogether，andswingtothehangingstraps，tokeepupontheirfeet。Theirwayofbeingwearyofitwouldbedifferentfromhers，theywouldbewearyonlyofhearingofthemountainsofitwhichrolledthemselvesup，asitseemed，inobediencetosomeirresistible，occultforce。
OnthedayafterStornhamvillagehadlearnedthatherladyshipandMissVanderpoelhadactuallygonetoLondon，thedignifiedfirmofTownlinson&Sheppardreceivedavisitwhichcreatedsomeslightsensationintheirestablishment，thoughithadnotbeenentirelyunexpected。Ithad，indeed，beenheraldedbyanotefromMissVanderpoelherself，whohadaskedthattheappointmentbemade。MenofMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppard’sindubitablerankintheirprofessioncouldnotfailtoknowthesignificanceoftheVanderpoelname。
Theyknewandunderstooditsweightperfectlywell。WhentheirclienthadmarriedoneofReubenVanderpoel’sdaughters，theyhadfeltthatextraordinarygoodfortunehadbefallenhimandhisestate。TheirprivateopinionhadbeenthatMr。
Vanderpoel’sknowledgeofhisson—in—lawmusthavebeenlimited，orthathehadcuriouslylaxAmericanviewsofpaternalduty。Thefirmwashighlyreputable，longestablishedstrictlyconservative，andsomewhatinsularinitspointofview。Itdidnotunderstand，orseektounderstand，America。
IthadexcellentreasonsforthoroughlyunderstandingSirNigelAnstruthers。Itsopinionsofhimitreservedtoitself。
IfMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppardhadbeenaskedtogiveadaughterintotheirclient’skeeping，theywouldhaveflatlyrefusedtoacceptthehonourproposed。Mr。Townlinsonhad，indeed，atthetimeofthemarriage，admittedinstrictconfidencetohispartnerthatforhisparthewouldhavesomewhatpreferredtofollowadaughterofhisowntohertomb。Afterthemarriagethefirmhadfoundthesituationconfusingandun—English。TherehadbeentroublewithSirNigel，whohadplainlybeendisappointed。AtfirstithadappearedthattheAmericanmagnatehadshownastutenessinrefrainingfromleavinghisson—in—lawafreehand。LadyAnstruthers’fortunewasherownandnotherhusband’s。Mr。
Townlinson，payingavisittoStornhamandfindingthebrideagentle，childish—lookinggirl，whosemostmarkedexpressionwasoneofgrowingtimorousness，hadreturnedwithagraveface。Heforesawtheresult，ifherfamilydidnotstandbyherwithfirmness，whichhealsoforesawherhusbandwouldpreventifpossible。Itbecameapparentthatthefamilydidnotstandbyher——orwerecleverlykeptatadistance。
Therewasalongillness，whichseemedtoendintheseclusionfromtheworld，broughtaboutbybrokenhealth。
ThenitwascertainthatwhatMr。Townlinsonhadforeseenhadoccurred。Theinexperiencedgirlhadbeenbulliedintosubmission。SirNigelhadgainedthefreehand，whateverthemeanshehadchosentoemploy。Mostimproper——mostimproper，thewholeaffair。Hehadagreatdealofmoney，butnoneofitwasusedforthebenefitoftheestate——hisdeformedboy’sestate。Advice，dignifiedremonstrance，resultedonlyinmostdisagreeablescenes。Messrs。
Townlinson&Sheppardcouldnotexceedcertainlimits。Themannerinwhichthemoneywasspentwasdiscreditable。Therewereavenuesarespectablefirmknewonlybyrumour，therewereinsanegamblingspeculations，whichcouldonlyendindisaster，therewerethingsonecouldnotdecentlyconcernone’sselfwith。LadyAnstruthers’familyhaddoubtlessbecomeindignantanddisgusted，andhaddroppedthewholeaffair。
Sadforthepoorwoman，butnotunnatural。
AndnowappearsaMissVanderpoel，whowishestoappointaninterviewwithMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppard。
Whatdoesshewishtosay？Thefamilyisapparentlytakingthematterup。IsthisladyanelderorayoungersisterofLadyAnstruthers？IssheanolderwomanofthatstrongandrathertryingAmericantypeonehearsof，orissheyoungerthanherladyship，apretty，indignant，totallyunpracticalgirl，outragedbythestateofaffairsshehasdiscovered，foolishlycomingtodemandofMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppardanexplanationofthingstheyarenotresponsiblefor？Willshe，perhaps，losehertemper，andaccuseandreproach，oreven——mostunpleasanttocontemplate——shedhystericaltears？
ItfelltoMr。TownlinsontoreceiveherintheabsenceofMr。Sheppard，whohadbeencalledtoNorthamptonshiretoattendtogreataffairs。Hewasastout，gravemanwithaheavy，well—cutface，and，whenBettinaenteredhisroom，hiscourteousreceptionofherreservedhisviewofthesituationentirely。
ShewasnotofthematureandratheralarmingAmericantypehehadimaginedpossible，hefeltsomereliefinmarkingatonce。Shewasalsonotthepretty，fashionableyoungladywhomighthavecometoscoldhim，andasksilly，irrationalquestions。
Hisordinarilyratherunilluminedcountenancechangedsomewhatinexpressionwhenshesatdownandbegantospeak。
Mr。Townlinsonwasimpressedbythefactthatitwasatonceunmistakablyevidentthatwhatsoeverherreasonforcoming，shehadnotpresentedherselftoaskirrelevantorunreasonablequestions。LadyAnstruthers，sheexplainedwithoutsuperfluousphrase，hadnodefiniteknowledgeofherhusband’swhereabouts，andithadseemedpossiblethatMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppardmighthavereceivedsomeinformationmorerecentthatherown。TheimpersonalframingofthisinquirystruckMr。Townlinsonasbeinginremarkablygoodtaste，sinceitconveyednocondemnationofSirNigel，andnodesiretoinvolveMr。Townlinsoninexpressingany。Itrefrainedevenfromimplyingthatthesituationwasanunusualone，whichmightbeopentocriticism。Excellentreserveandgreatcleverness，Mr。Townlinsoncommentedinwardly。Therewerecertainlyfewyoungladieswhowouldhaveclearlyrealisedthatasolicitorcannotbecalledupontocommithimself，untilhehashadtimetoweighmattersanddecideuponthem。Hislongandvariedexperiencehadincludedinterviewsinwhichcharming，emotionalwomenhadexpectedhimatonceto\"takesides。\"MissVanderpoelexhibitednosignsofexpectinganythingofthiskind，evenwhenshewentonwithwhatshehadcometosay。StornhamCourtanditssurroundingsweredepreciatingseriouslyinvaluethroughneedofradicalrepairsetc。Hersister’scomfortwasnaturallyinvolved，and，asMr。
Townlinsonwouldfullyunderstand，hernephew’sfuture。
Thesoonertheprocessofdilapidationwasarrested，thebetterandwiththelessdifficulty。Thepresenttimewaswithoutdoubtbetterthananindefinitefuture。MissVanderpoel，havingfortunatelybeenabletocometoStornham，wasgreatlyinterested，andnaturallydesirousofseeingtheworkbegun。Herfatheralsowouldbeinterested。SinceitwasnotpossibletoconsultSirNigel，ithadseemedpropertoconsulthissolicitorsinwhosehandstheestatehadbeenforsolongatime。Shewasaware，itseemed，thatnotonlyMr。
Townlinson，butMr。Townlinson’sfather，andalsohisgrandfather，hadlegallyrepresentedtheAnstruthers，aswellasmanyotherfamilies。Asthereseemednonecessityforanystructuralchanges，andtheworkdonewassuchascouldonlyrescueandincreasethevalueoftheestate，couldtherebeanyobjectiontoitsbeingbegunwithoutdelay？
Certainlyanunusualyounglady。ItwouldbeinterestingtodiscoverhowwellsheknewSirNigel，sinceitseemedthatonlyaknowledgeofhim——histemper，hisbitter，irritablevanity，couldhaverevealedtoherthenecessityoftheprecautionshewastakingwithoutevenintimatingthatitwasaprecaution。Extraordinarilyclevergirl。
Mr。Townlinsonworeanairofquiet，business—likereflection。
\"Youareaware，MissVanderpoel，thatthepresentincomefromtheestateisnotsuchaswouldjustifyanythingapproachingtherequiredexpenditure？\"
\"Yes，Iamawareofthat。Theexpensewouldbeprovidedforbymyfather。\"
\"MostgenerousonMr。Vanderpoel’spart，\"Mr。Townlinsoncommented。\"Theestatewould，ofcourse，increasegreatlyinvalue。\"
CircumstanceshadpreventedherfatherfromvisitingStornham，MissVanderpoelexplained，andthishadledtohisbeingignorantofaconditionofthingswhichhemighthaveremedied。
Shedidnotexplainwhattheparticularcircumstanceswhichhadseparatedthefamilieshadbeen，butMr。Townlinsonthoughtheunderstood。Theconditionexistingcouldberemediednow，ifMessrs。Townlinson&Sheppardsawnoobstaclesotherthanscarcityofmoney。
Mr。Townlinson’ssummingupofthematterexpressedineffectthathesawnone。Theestatehadbeenafineoneinitsday。Duringthelastsixtyyearsithadbecomemuchimpoverished。Withconservativedecorumofmanner，headmittedthattherehadnotbeen，sinceSirNigel’smarriage，sufficientreasonfortheneglectofdilapidations。ThefirmhadstronglyrepresentedtoSirNigelthatcertainresourcesshouldnotbedivertedfromtheproperobjectofrestoringtheproperty，whichwasentaileduponhisson。Theson’sfutureshouldbeyondallhavebeenconsideredinthedispensingofhismother’sfortune。
He，bythistime，comprehendedfullythatheneedrestrainnodignifiedexpressionofopinioninhisspeechwiththisyounglady。Shehadcometoconsultwithhimwithasclearaviewoftheproprietiesanddiscretionsdemandedbyhispositionashehadhimself。Andyeteach，beforethecloseoftheinterview，understoodthepointofviewoftheother。
Whatherecognisedwasthat，thoughshehadnotseenSirNigelsinceherchildhood，shehadinsomeastonishingwayobtainedanextraordinaryinsightintohischaracter，anditwasthiswhichhadledhertotakeherpresentstep。Shemightnotrealiseallshemighthavetocontendwith，butherconservativeandformalactionhadsurroundedherandhersisterwithacertainbarrierofconventionalprotection，atonceself—controlled，dignified，andastutelyintelligent。
\"Since，asyousay，nostructuralchangesareproposed，suchasanownermightresent，andasLadyAnstruthersisthemotheroftheheir，andasLadyAnstruthers’fatherundertakestodefrayallexpenditure，nosanemancouldobjecttotherestorationoftheproperty。Todosowouldbetocausepublicopiniontoexpressitselfstronglyagainsthim。Suchactionwouldplacehimgrosslyinthewrong。\"Thenheaddedwithdeliberation，realisingthathewascommittinghimself，andfeelingfirmlywillingtodosoforreasonsofhisown，\"SirNigelisamanwhoobjectsstronglytoputtinghimself——publicly——inthewrong。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidMissVanderpoel。
Hehadsaidthisofintentionforherenlightenment，andshewasawarethathehaddoneso。
\"ThiswillnotbethefirsttimethatAmericanfortuneshaverestoredEnglishestates，\"Mr。Townlinsoncontinuedamiably。\"Therehavebeenmanynotablecasesoflateyears。
Weshallbehappytoplaceourselvesatyourdisposalatalltimes，MissVanderpoel。Weareobligedtoyouforyourconsiderationinthematter。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidMissVanderpoelagain。\"IwishedtobesurethatIshouldnotbeinfringinganyEnglishruleIhadnoknowledgeof。\"
\"Youwillbeinfringingnone。Youhavebeenmostcorrectandcourteous。\"
BeforeshewentawayMr。Townlinsonfeltthathehadbeengreatlyenlightenedastowhatayoungladymightknowandbe。Shegavehimsingularlycleardetailsastowhatwasproposed。Therewassomuchtobedonethathefoundhimselfopeninghiseyesslightlyonceortwice。But，ofcourse，ifMr。Vanderpoelwaspreparedtospendmoneyinalavishmanner，itwasalltothegoodsofarastheestatewasconcerned。Theywerestupendous，thesepeople，andafteralltheheirwashisgrandson。Andhowstrikingitwasthatwithallthispowerandreadinesstouseit，wasevidentlycombined，eveninthisbeautifulyoungperson，theclearestbusinesssenseofthesituation。WhatwasdonewouldbeforthecomfortofLadyAnstruthersandthefutureofherson。SirNigel，beingunabletoselleitherhouseorlands，couldnotundoit。
