Shelearnedfromhim，astheywalkedtogether，andhealsolearnedfromher，inamannerwhichbuiltforthemastheywentfrompointtopoint，acertaindegreeofdelicateintimacy，gradually，duringtheirramble，tendingtomakediscussionandquestionpossible。Herintelligentandbroadinterestintheworkontheestate，herfrankdesiretoacquiresuchpracticalinformationasshelacked，arousedinhimselfaninteresthehadpreviouslyseennoreasonthatheshouldfeel。Herealisedthathisoutlookupontheunusualsituationwasbeingilluminatedbyanintelligenceatoncebrilliantandfine，whileitwasalsofullofniceshading。Thesituation，ofcourse，WAS
unusual。Abeautifulyoungsister—in—lawappearinguponthedarkhorizonofashamefullyill—usedestate，andrestoring，withtouchesofawandofgold，whatafellowwhowasablackguardshouldhavesetinorderyearsago。ThatLadyAnstruthers’
moneyshouldhaverescuedherboy’sinheritanceinsteadofbeingspentuponlavishviciousnesswentwithoutsaying。WhatMountDunstanwasmoststruckbywastheperfectclearness，anditscombinationwithacertainjudicialgoodbreeding，inMissVanderpoel’sviewofthematter。Shemadenoconfidences，beautifullycandidashermannerwas，buthesawthatsheclearlyunderstoodthethingshewasdoing，andthatifhersisterhadhadnosonshewouldnothavedonethis，butsomethingtotallydifferent。HehadanideathatLadyAnstrutherswouldhavebeenswiftlyandlightlysweptbacktoNewYork，andSirNigellefttohisowndevices，inwhichcaseStornhamCourtanditsvillagewouldgraduallyhavecrumbledtodecay。ItwasforSirUghtredAnstrutherstheplacewasbeingrestored。Shewasquiteclearonthematterofentail。Hewonderedatfirst——notunnaturally——howagirlhadlearnedcertainthingsshehadanobviouslyclearknowledgeof。Astheycontinuedtoconversehelearned。ReubenS。Vanderpoelwaswithoutdoubtamanremarkablenotonlyinthematterofbeingtheownerofvastwealth。Therisingfloodofhismillionshadbornehimuponitsstrangesurfaceathinking，notanunthinkingbeing——infact，astrongandfineintelligence。Histhousandsofmilesofyearlyjourneyinginhissumptuousprivatecarhadbeenthemeansofhisaccumulatingnotmerelyaddedgains，butideas，pointsofview，emotions，ahumanoutlookworthcountingasanasset。Hisdaughter，whenshehadtravelledwithhim，hadseenandtalkedwithhimofallhehimselfhadseen。Whenshehadnotbeenhiscompanionshehadheardfromhimafterwardsallbestworthhearing。Shehadbecome——withoutanyspecialprocess——familiarwiththetechnicalitiesofhugebusinessschemes，withlawandcommerceandpoliticalsituations。Evenherchildishinterestintheworldofenterpriseandlabourhadbeenpassionate。Soshehadacquired——inevitably，whilealmostunconsciously——aremarkableeducation。
\"IfhehadnotbeenHIMSELFhemighteasilyhavegrowntiredofalittlegirlconstantlywantingtohearthings——constantlyaskingquestions，\"shesaid。\"Buthedidnotgettired。Weinventedaspecialknockonthedoorofhisprivateroom。Itsaid，`MayI
comein，father？’Ifhewasbusyheansweredwithoneknockonhisdesk，andIwentaway。Ifhehadtimetotalkhecalledout，`Come，Betty，’andIwenttohim。Iusedtosituponthefloorandleanagainsthisknee。Hehadabeautifulwayofstrokingmyhairormyhandashetalked。Hetrustedme。Hetoldmeofgreatthingsevenbeforehehadtalkedofthemtomen。HeknewI
wouldneverspeakofwhatwassaidbetweenusinhisroom。Thatwaspartofhistrust。Hesaidoncethatitwasapartoftheevolutionofrace，thatmenhadbeguntoexpectofwomenwhatinpastagestheyreallyonlyexpectedofeachother。\"
MountDunstanhesitatedbeforespeaking。
\"Youmean——absolutefaith——apartfromaffection？\"
\"Yes。Thepowertobequitesilent，evenwhenoneistemptedtospeak——iftospeakmightbetraywhatitiswisertokeeptoone’sselfbecauseitisanotherman’saffair。Thekindofthingwhichisgoodfaithamongbusinessmen。Itappliestosmallthingsasmuchastolarge，andtootherthingsthanbusiness。\"
MountDunstan，recallinghisownchildhoodandhisownfather，feltagainthepressureoftheremotementalsuggestionthatshehadhadtoomuch，achildhoodandgirlhoodlikethis，theaffectionandcompanionshipofamanoflargeandorderedintelligence，ofclearandjudicialoutlookuponanimmenseareaoflifeandexperience。Therewasnocauseforwonderthatheryoungwomanhoodwasallitpresentedtohimself，aswellastoothers。Recognisingtheshadowofresentmentinhisthought，hesweptitaway，aninwardsensemakingitcleartohimthatiftheirpositionshadbeenreversed，shewouldhavebeenmoregenerousthanhimself。
Hepulledhimselftogetherwithanunconsciousmovementofhisshoulders。HerewasthedayofearlyJune，thegoldofthesuninitsmorning，thegreenshadows，theturftheywalkedontogether，theskylarkrisingagainfromthemeadowandshoweringdownitssong。Whythinkofanythingelse。
Whatalinethatwaswhichsweptfromherchindownherlongslimthroattoitshollow！Thecolourbetweenthevelvetofherclose—setlashes——theremembranceofhercurioussplendidblush——madetheman’slostandunlivedyouthcomebacktohim。WhatdiditmatterwhethershewasAmericanorEnglish——whatdiditmatterwhethershewasinsolentlyrichorbeggarlypoor？Hewouldlethimselfgoandforgetallbutthepleasureofthesightandhearingofher。
Soastheywenttheyfoundthemselveslaughingtogetherandtalkingwithoutrestraint。Theywentthroughtheflowerandkitchengardens；theysawtheoncefallenwallrebuiltnowwiththeoldbrick；theyvisitedthegreenhousesandcameuponKedgersentrancedwithbusiness，butenrapturedatbeingcalledupontoshowhistreasures。Hiseyes，turningmagnetiseduponBetty，revealedthestoryofhissoul。MountDunstanremarkedthatwhenhespoketoherofhisflowersitwasasifthereexistedbetweenthemthesympathywhichmightbeengenderedbetweentwowhohadsatuptogethernightafternightwithdelicatechildren。
\"He’sstrongerto—day，miss，\"hesaid，astheypausedbeforeanewwonderfulbloom。\"Whathe’sgettingnowisgoodforhim。Ihadtochangehisfood，miss，butthisseemsallright。Hiscolour’sbetter。\"
Bettyherselfbentovertheflowerasshemighthavebentoverachild。Hereyessoftened，shetouchedaleafwithaslimfinger，asdelicatelyasifithadbeenanew—bornbaby’scheek。AsMountDunstanwatchedherhedrewastepnearertoherside。Forthefirsttimeinhislifehefelttheglowofanormalandsimplepleasureuntouchedbyanybitterness。
CHAPTERXXVIII
SETTINGTHEMTHINKING
OldDoby，sittingathisopenwindow，withhispipeandillustratedpapersonthetablebyhisside，begantofindlifeaseriesofthrills。Theadvantageofawindowgivinguponthevillagestreetunspeakablyincreased。Formanyyearshehadpreferredthechimneycornergreatly，andhadrejoicedatthedrawinginofwinterdayswhenafiremustbewellkeptup，andamanmightbendoverit，andrubhishandsslowlygazingintotheredcoalsorlittlepointedflameswhichseemedtheonlythingsaliveandworthythewatching。Theflameswereblueatthebaseandyellowatthetop，andjumpedlookingmerry，andcaughtatbitsofblackcoal，andsetthemcracklingandthrowingoffsplinterstilltheywereablazeandasmuchaliveastherest。Amancouldgetcomfortandentertainmenttherefrom。Therewasnaughtelsesogoodtolivewith。Nothinghappenedinthestreet，andeverydullfacethatpassedwasanoldstory，andtoldanoldtaleofstupefyinghardlabourandharddays。
Butnowthewindowwasabetterplacetositnear。Cartswentbywithmenwhistlingastheywalkedbythehorsesheads。LoadsofthingswantedforworkattheCourt。Newfacespassedfacesofworkmen——sometimesgrinning，\"impidentyoungsters，\"wholarkedwiththeyoungwomen，andcalledouttothemastheypassedtheircottages，ifagood—
lookingonewasloiteringabouthergardengate。OldDobychuckledattheirlove—makingchaff，rememberingdimlythatseventyyearsagohehadbeenjustasproperayoungchap，andhadmadeloveinthesameway。Lord，Lord，yes！Hehadbeenaboldyoungchapaseverwinkedaneye。Then，too，therewerethevans，heavy—loadedandclosed，andcomingalongslowly。Everyfewdays，atfirst，therehadcomeavanfrom\"Lunnon。\"GoingtotheCourt，ofcourse。Andtositthere，andhearthewomentalkaboutwhatmightbeinthem，andtotrytoguessone’sself，thatwasararepastime。FinethingsgoingtotheCourtthesedays——furnitureandgrandeurfillinguptheshabbyoremptyoldrooms，andmakingthemlooklikeotherbighouses——sameasWesterbridgeeven，sothewomensaid。Thewomenwerealwaystalkingandgettingbitsofnewssomehow，andwerebeginningtobeworthlisteningto，becausetheyhadsomethingmoreinterestingtotalkaboutthanchildren’sworn—outshoes，andwhoopingcough。
Dobyheardeverythingfirstfromthem。\"Dangthewomen，theyalwaysknowedthingsfust。\"Itwasthemasknowedaboutthesmartcarriagesasbegantorollthroughtheonevillagestreet。Theyweregentry’scarriages，withfine，stampinghorses，andjinglingsilverharness，andbigcoachmen，andtallfootmen，andsuchlikehadlongagodroppedoffshowingthemselvesatStornham。
\"ButnowthegentryhasheardaboutMissVanderpoel，andwhat’sbeingdoneattheCourt，andtheyknowwhatitmeans，\"saidyoungMrs。Doby。\"Andtheywanttoseeher，andfindoutwhatshe’slike。It’sherbringsthem。\"
OldDobychuckledandrubbedhishands。Heknewwhatshewaslike。Thatstraight，slimbackofhers，andthethicktwistofblackhair，andthewayshehadoflaughingatyou，ascheeryasifabellwasringing。Aye，heknewallaboutthat。
\"Whentheyseeheronce，they’llcomeagen，forsure，\"
hequaveredshrilly，anddaybydayhewatchedforthegrandcarriageswithvivideagerness。Ifadayortwopassedwithouthisseeingone，hegrewfretful，andwasinjured，feelingthathisbeautywasbeingneglected！\"Noneto—day，noryetyest’day，\"
hewouldcackle。\"Whatbetheyfolka—doin’？\"
OldMrs。Welden，havingheardofthepipe，andcometoseeit，hadstruckupanacquaintancewithhim，anddroppedinalmosteverydaytotalkandsitathiswindow。Shewasayoungthing，bycomparison，andcouldbringhimlivelynews，and，indeed，sostirhimupwithhergossipthathewasindangerofbecomingayoungthinghimself。Hergroceriesandhistobaccoweresubjectswhoseinterestwasundying。
Agreatcuriosityhadbeenawakenedinthecounty，andvisitorscamefromdistancesgreaterthansuchasordinarilyincludeusualcalls。Naturally，onewascuriousaboutthedaughteroftheVanderpoelwhowasasortofnationalinstitutioninhisowncountry。HisnamehadnotbeensomuchheardofinEnglandwhenLadyAnstruthershadarrivedbuttherehad，atfirst，beenfeltaninterestinher。Butshehadbeenafailure——achildish—lookinggirl——whosethin，fair，prettinesshadnodistinction，andwhowasobviouslyoverwhelmedbyhersurroundings。ShehadevidentlyhadnoinfluenceoverSirNigel，andhadnotbeenabletopreventhismakingducksanddrakesofhermoney，whichofcourseoughttohavebeenspentontheestate。BesideswhichamarriedwomanrepresentedfewerpotentialitiesthanahandsomeunmarriedgirlentitledtoexpectationsfromhugeAmericanwealth。
Sothecarriagescameandcameagain，and，statelyorunstatelyfar—offneighbourssatatteauponthelawnunderthetrees，anditwasobservedthatthemethodsandappointmentsoftheCourthadentirelychanged。NothinglookednewandAmerican。Thesilentlymovingmen—servantscouldnothavebeenimprovedupon，therewasplainlyanexcellentchefsomewhere，andthemassivesilverwasoldandwonderful。Uponeverybody’sword，thechangewassuchasitwasworthalongdrivemerelytosee！
Themostwonderfulthing，however，wasLadyAnstruthersherself。Shehadbeguntogrowdelicatelyplump，heroncedrawnandhaggardfacehadroundedout，herskinhadsmoothed，andwasactuallybecomingpinkandfair，animbusofpalefinehairpuffedairilyoverherforehead，andsheworethemostcharminglittleclothes，allofwhichmadeherlookfifteenyearsyoungerthanshehadseemedwhen，onthegroundsofill—health，shehadretiredintoseclusion。Therenewedrelationswithherfamily，theatmospherebywhichshewassurrounded，hadevidentlygivenherafreshleaseoflife，andawakenedinheranewcourage。
Whenthesummerepidemicofgardenpartiesbrokeforth，oldDobygleefullybeheld，dayafterday，theCourtcarriagedrivebybearingherladyshipandhersisterattiredinfairestshadesandtints\"sameasiftheywasflowers。\"Theirdelicatevaporousness，andrarecolours，weresweetdelightstotheoldman，andheandMrs。Weldenspenthappyeveningsdiscussingthemaspersonalpossessions。TothesetwoBettyWASapersonalpossession，bestowinguponthemamarkeddistinction。Theywerehersandshewastheirs。Nooneelsesoownedher。Heavenhadgivenhertothemthattheirlastyearsmightbelightedwithsplendour。
OnherwaytooneofthegardenpartiesshestoppedthecarriagebeforeoldDoby’scottage，andwentintohimtospeakafewwords。Shewasofpaleconvolvulusbluethatafternoon，andDoby，standinguptouchinghisforelockandMrs。Weldencurtsying，gazedatherwithprayerintheireyes。Shehadafewflowersinherhand，andabookofcolouredphotographsofVenice。
\"ThesearepicturesofthecityItoldyouabout——thecitybuiltinthesea——wherethestreetsarewater。YouandMrs。
Weldencanlookatthemtogether，\"shesaid，asshelaidflowersandbookdown。\"IamgoingtoDunholmCastletoagardenpartythisafternoon。SomedayIwillcomeandtellyouaboutit。\"
Thetwowereatthewindowstaringspellbound，asshesweptbacktothecarriagebetweenthesweet—williamsandCanterburybellsborderingthenarrowgardenpath。
\"DoyouknowIreallywentintoletthemseemydress，\"
shesaid，whensherejoinedLadyAnstruthers。\"OldDoby’sgranddaughtertoldmethatheandMrs。WeldenhavelittlequarrelsaboutthecoloursIwear。Itseemsthattheyfindmywardrobeanabsorbinginterest。WhenIputthebookonthetable，IfeltDobytouchmysleevewithhistremblingoldhand。HethoughtIdidnotknow。\"
\"WhatwilltheydowithVenice？\"askedRosy。
\"Theywillbelievethewaterisasblueasthephotographsmakeit——andthepalacesaspink。ItwillseemlikeachapteroutofRevelations，whichtheycanbelieveistrueandnotmerely`Scriptur，’——because_I_havebeenthere。IwishI
hadbeentotheCityoftheGatesofPearl，andcouldtellthemaboutthat。\"
Onthelawnsatthegardenpartiesshewasmuchgazedatandcommentedupon。Herheightandherlongslenderneckheldherheadabovethoseofothergirls，thedenseblackofherhairmadearichnoteofshadowamidtheprevailingEnglishblondness。Hermerecolouringsetherapart。Rosyusedtowatchherwithtenderwonder，recallinghermemoryofnine—year—oldBetty，withthelongslimlegsandthedemandingandaccusingchild—eyes。Shehadalwaysbeenthiscreatureeveninthosefar—offdays。AtthegardenpartyatDunholmCastleitbecameevidentthatshewas，afteramanner，unusuallythecentralfigureoftheoccasion。Itwasnotatallsurprising，peoplesaidtoeachother。NothingcouldhavebeenmoredesirableforLordWestholt。Hecombinedrankwithfortune，andtheVanderpoelwealthalmostconstitutedrankinitself。BothLordandLadyDunholmseemedpleasedwiththegirl。LordDunholmshowedhergreatattention。
Whenshetookpartinthedancingonthelawn，helookedondelightedly。Hewalkedaboutthegardenswithher，anditwasplaintoseethattheirconversationwasnottheordinarypoliteefforttoaccord，usuallymarkingthetalkbetweenamaturemanandamerelyprettygirl。LordDunholmsometimeslaughedwithunfeigneddelight，andsometimesthetwoseemedtotalkofgravethings。
\"Suchoccasionsastheseareasortofyearlytakingofthesocialcensusofthecounty，\"LordDunholmexplained。\"OneinvitesALLone’sneighboursandisinvitedagain。Itisafriendlydutyoneowes。\"
\"IdonotseeLordMountDunstan，\"Bettyanswered。\"Ishehere？\"
ShehadneverdeniedtoherselfherinterestinMountDunstan，andshehadlookedforhim。LordDunholmhesitatedasecond，ashissonhaddoneatMissVanderpoel’smentionofthetabooedname。But，beinganolderman，hefeltmoreatlibertytospeak，andgaveheraratherlongkindlook。
\"Mydearyounglady，\"hesaid，\"didyouexpecttoseehimhere？\"
\"Yes，IthinkIdid，\"Bettyreplied，withslowsoftness。
\"IbelieveIratherhopedIshould。\"
\"Indeed！Youareinterestedinhim？\"
\"Iknowhimverylittle。ButIaminterested。Iwilltellyouwhy。\"
Shepausedbyaseatbeneathatree，andtheysatdowntogether。Shegave，withafewswiftvividtouches，asketchofthered—hairedsecond—classpassengerontheMeridiana，ofwhomshehadonlythoughtthathewasanunhappy，rough—
lookingyoungman，untilthebriefmomentinwhichtheyhadstoodfacetoface，eachcomprehendingthattheotherwastobereliedoniftheworstshouldcometotheworst。Shehadunderstoodhispromptdisappearancefromthescene，andhadlikedit。Whensherelatedtheincidentofhermeetingwithhimwhenshethoughthimamerekeeperonhisownlands，LordDunholmlistenedwithachangedandthoughtfulexpression。Theeffectproduceduponherimaginationbywhatshehadseen，hersilentwanderingthroughthesadbeautyofthewrongedplace，ledbythemanwhotriedstifflytobearhimselfasaservant，hisunintendedself—revelations，herclear，well—arguedpointofviewcharmedhim。Shehadseenthethingsetapartfromitscountyscandal，andsohadreadpossibilitiesothershadbeenblindto。HewasimmenselytouchedbycertainthingsshesaidabouttheFirstMan。
\"Heisoneofthem，\"shesaid。\"Theyfindtheirwayintheend——theyfindtheirway。Butjustnowhethinksthereisnone。Heisstandinginthedark——wheretheroadsmeet。\"
\"Youthinkhewillfindhisway？\"LordDunholmsaid。
\"Whydoyouthinkso？\"
\"BecauseIKNOWhewill，\"sheanswered。\"ButIcannottellyouWHYIknow。\"
\"Whatyouhavesaidhasbeeninterestingtome，becauseofthelightyourownthoughtthrewuponwhatyousaw。IthasnotbeenMountDunstanIhavebeencaringfor，butforthelightyousawhimin。Youmethimwithoutprejudice，andyoucarriedthelightinyourhand。Youalwayscarryalight，myimpressionis，\"veryquietly。\"Somewomendo。\"
\"Theprejudiceyouspeakofmustbeabitterthingforaproudmantobear。Isitajustprejudice？Whathashedone？\"
LordDunholmwasgravelysilentforafewmoments。
\"Itisanextraordinarythingtoreflect，\"——hiswordscameslowly——\"thatitmayNOTbeajustprejudice。_I_donotknowthathehasdoneanything——butseemrathersulky，andbethesonofhisfather，andthebrotherofhisbrother。\"
\"AndgotoAmerica，\"saidBetty。\"Hecouldhaveavoideddoingthat——buthecannotbecalledtoaccountforhisrelations。
Ifthatisall——theprejudiceisNOTjust。\"
\"No，itisnot，\"saidLordDunholm，\"andonefeelsratherawkwardathavingsharedit。Youhavesetmethinkingagain，MissVanderpoel。\"
CHAPTERXXIX
THETHREADOFG。SELDEN
TheShuttlehavinginitsweavingcaughtupthethreadofG。Selden’srudimentaryexistenceanddrawnit，withtheyoungmanhimself，acrossthesea，usedcuriouslythethreadinquestion，intheformingofthedesignofitshugeweb。Aswoolandcoarselinenaresometimesinterwovenwithrichsilkfordecorativeorutilitarianpurposes，soperhapswasthispreviouslyunvaluedmaterialemployed。
Itwas，indeed，aninterestingtruththattheyoungman，duringhisconvalescence，withouthisownknowledge，actedasaspeciesofmagnetwhichdrewtogetherpersonswhomightnoteasilyotherwisehavemet。Mr。PenzanceandMountDunstanrodeovertoseehimeveryfewdays，andtheirvisitsnaturallyestablishedrelationswithStornhamCourtmuchmoreintimatethancouldhaveformedthemselvesinthesamelengthoftimeunderanyoftheordinarycircumstancesofcountrylife。ConventionalitieslosttheirprominenceinfriendlyintercoursewithSelden。Itwasnot，however，thathehimselfdesiredtodispensewithconvention。Hisintensewishto\"dotherightthing，\"andavoidgivingoffencewasthemostingenuousandtouchingfeatureofhisbroadcosmopolitangoodnature。
\"IfIevermakeabreak，sir，\"hehadoncesaid，withalmostpassionatefervour，intalkingtoMr。Penzance，\"pleasetellme，andsetmeontherighttrack。Nofellowlikestolooklikeahoosier，butIdon’tmindthathalfasmuchas——asseemingnottoAPPRECIATE。\"
Heusedtheword\"appreciate\"frequently。Itexpressedforhimmanydegreesofthanks。
\"Itellyouthat’sfine，\"hesaidtoUghtred，whobroughthimaflowerfromthegarden。\"Iappreciatethat。\"
ToBettyhesaidmorethanonce：
\"YouknowhowIappreciateallthis，MissVanderpoel。
YouDOknowIappreciateit，don’tyou？\"
HehadanimmenseadmirationforMountDunstan，andtalkedtohimagreatdealaboutAmerica，oftenaboutthesheepranch，andwhatitmighthavedoneandoughttohavedone。ButhisadmirationforMr。Penzancebecameaffection。
TohimhetalkedofteneraboutEngland，andlistenedtothevicar’sscholarlystoriesofitshistory，itspastgloriesanditspresentones，ashemighthavelistenedatfourteentostoriesfromtheArabianNights。
Thesetwobeingfrequentlyabsorbedinconversation，MountDunstanwasratherthrownuponBetty’shands。Whentheystrolledtogetherabouttheplaceorsatunderthedeepshadeofgreentrees，theytalkednotonlyofEnglandandAmerica，butofdiversthingswhichincreasedtheirknowledgeofeachother。Itispointsofviewwhichrevealqualities，tendencies，andinnatedifferences，oraccordancesofthought，andthepointsofviewofeachinterestedtheother。
\"Mr。SeldenisaskingMr。PenzancequestionsaboutEnglishhistory，\"Bettysaid，ononeoftheafternoonsinwhichtheysatintheshade。\"Ineednotaskyouquestions。YouAREEnglishhistory。\"
\"AndyouareAmericanhistory，\"MountDunstananswered。
\"IsupposeIam。\"
AtoneoftheirchancemeetingsMissVanderpoelhadtoldLordDunholmandLordWestholtsomethingofthestoryofG。Selden。Thenoveltyofithaddelightedandamusedthem。LordDunholmhad，atpoints，beentouchedasPenzancehadbeen。WestholthadfeltthathemustrideovertoStornhamtoseetheconvalescent。HewantedtolearnsomeNewYorkslang。
HewouldtakelessonsfromSelden，andhewouldalsobuyaDelkoff——twoDelkoffs，ifthatwouldbebetter。Heknewahard—workingfellowwhooughttohaveatypewriter。
\"Heathoughttohaveone，\"hehadsaidtohisfather。
Heathwasthehouse—steward。\"Thinkofthelettersthepoorchaphastowritetotrades—peopletoorderthings，andun—
orderthem，andblackguardtheshopkeeperswhentheyarenotsatisfactory。InvestinoneforHeath，father。\"
\"Itisbynomeansabadidea，\"LordDunholmreflected。
\"Timewouldbesavedbytheuseofit，Ihavenodoubt。\"
\"Itsavestimeinanydepartmentwhereitcanbeused，\"
Bettyhadanswered。\"ThreearenowinuseatStornham，andIamgoingtopresentonetoKedgers。ThisisatestimonialIamoffering。ThreeweeksagoIbegantousetheDelkoff。SincethenIhaveusednoother。IfYOUusethemyouwillintroducethemtothecounty。\"
Sheunderstoodthefeelingofthejuniorassistant，whenhefoundhimselfinthepresenceofpossiblepurchasers。Herbloodtingledslightly。Shewishedshehadbroughtacatalogue。
\"WewillcometoStornhamtoseethecatalogue，\"LordDunholmpromised。
\"Perhapsyouwillreaditaloudtous，\"Westholtsuggestedgleefully。
\"G。Seldenknowsitbyheart，andwillrepeatittoyouwithrunningcomments。DoyouknowIshallbeverygladifyoudecidetobuyone——ortwo——orthree，\"withanupliftoftheIrishblueeyestoLordDunholm。\"ThebloodofthefirstReubenVanderpoelstirsinmyveins——alsoIhavebeguntobefondofG。Selden。\"
ThereforeitoccurredthatontheafternoonreferredtoLadyAnstruthersappearedcrossingtheswardwithtwomalevisitorsinherwake。
\"LordDunholmandLordWestholt，\"saidBetty，rising。
ForthismeetingbetweenthemenSeldenwas，withoutdoubt，responsible。WhilehisfathertalkedtoMountDunstan，Westholtexplainedthattheyhadcomeathirstforthecatalogue。PresentlyBettytookhimtotheshelteredcornerofthelawn，wheretheconvalescentsatwithMr。Penzance。
But，forashorttime，LordDunholmremainedtoconversewithMountDunstan。Inawaythesituationwasdelicate。Toencounterbychanceaneighbourwhomone——
forreasons——hasnotseensincehischildhood，andtobeequaltopassingoverandgracefullyobliteratingtheinterveningyears，makesdemandevenuponfinishedtact。LordDunholm’sworldhadbeenalargeone，andhehadacquiredexperiencetendingtothedevelopmentofthemostperfectmethods。IfG。Seldenhadchancedtobethemagnetwhichhaddecidedhiscoursethisspecialafternoon，MissVanderpoelitwaswhohadstirredinhimsufficientinterestinMountDunstantocausehimtousethebestofthesemethodswhenhefoundhimselffacetofacewithhim。
Hebeautifullyeliminatedtheyears，heeliminatedallbutthefactsthattheyoungman’sfatherandhimselfhadbeenacquaintancesinyouth，thatherememberedMountDunstanhimselfasachild，thathehadheardwithinterestofhisvisittoAmerica。Whatsoevertheyoungmanfelt，hemadenosignwhichpresentedobstacles。Heacceptedtheeliminationswithoutwardcomposure。Hewasapowerful—lookingfellow，withafinewayofcarryinghisshoulders，andaneyewhichmightbeabletolightsavagely，butjustnow，atleast，heshowednothingofthesulkinesshewasaccusedof。
LordDunholmprogressedadmirablywithhim。Hesoonfoundthatheneednotbeuponanystrainwithregardtotheeliminations。Themanhimselfcouldeliminate，whichwasanassistance。
TheytalkedtogetherwhentheyturnedtofollowtheotherstotheretreatofG。Selden。
