ostentatiouslyamiabletoher。Afterwardsshesawhimdancing，talking，beingpresentedtopeople，being，withatactfuleasiness，takencareofbyhishostandhostess，andLordWestholt。Shewasstruckbythegracefulmagicwithwhichthistactfuleasesurroundedhimwithoutanyobviousness。TheDunholmshadgivenalead，asLadyAlanbyhadsaid，andtherestwerefollowingitandignoringintervalswithreposefulreadiness。Itwaswonderfullywelldone。
Apparentlytherehadbeennopastatall。Allbeganwiththislargeyoungman，who，despitehisVikingtype，reallylookedparticularlywellineveningdress。LadyAlanbyheldhimbyherchairforsometime，openlyenjoyinghertalkwithhim，andcallingupTommy，thattheymightmakefriends。
Afterawhile，Bettysaidtoherself，hewouldcomeandaskforadance。Buthedidnotcome，andshedancedwithonemanafteranother。Westholtcametoherseveraltimesandhadmoredancesthanone。Whydidtheothernotcome？Severaltimestheywhirledpasteachother，andwhenitoccurredtheylooked——bothfeelingitanaccident——intoeachother’seyes。
Thestrongandstrangething——thatwhichmovesonitswayasdobirthanddeath，andtherisingandsettingofthesun——
hadbeguntomoveinthem。Itwasnonewandrarething，butanancientandcommonone——ascommonandancientasdeathandbirththemselves；andpartofthelawastheyare。Asitcomestoroyalpersonstowhomonemakesobeisanceattheirmerepassingby，asitcomestoscullerymaidsinroyalkitchens，andgroomsinroyalstables，asitcomestoladies—in—waitingandthewomenwhoservethem，soithadcometothesetwowhohadbeendrawnneartoeachotherfromtheoppositesidesoftheearth，andeachstartedatthetouchofit，andwithdrewapaceinbewilderment，andsomefear。
\"Iwish，\"MountDunstanwasfeelingthroughouttheevening，\"thathereyeshadsomefaultintheirexpression——thattheydrewoneless——thattheydrewMEless。Iamlosingmyhead。\"
\"Itwouldbebetter，\"Bettythought，\"ifIdidnotwishsomuchthathewouldcomeandaskmetodancewithhim——
thathewouldnotkeepawayso。Heiskeepingawayforareason。Whyishedoingit？\"
Themusicswungoninlovelymeasures，andthedancersswungwithit。SirNigelwalkeddutifullythroughtheLancersoncewithhiswife，andoncewithhisbeautifulsister—in—law。
LadyAnstruthers，inhernewbloom，hadnotlackedpartners，whodiscoveredthatshewasachildishlylightcreaturewhodancedextremelywell。Everyonewaskindtoher，andtheverygrandoldladies，whoadmiredBetty，wereabsolutelybenignintheirmanner。Betty’spartnerspaidingenuouscourttoher，andSirNigelfoundhehadnotbeenmistakeninhisestimateofthedignityhispositionofescortandmalerelationgavetohim。
Rosy，standingforamomentlookingoutonthebrilliancyandstateabouther，meetingBetty’seyes，laughedquiveringly。
\"Iaminadream，\"shesaid。
\"Youhaveawakenedfromadream，\"Bettyanswered。
Fromtheoppositesideoftheroomsomeonewascomingtowardsthem，and，seeinghim，Rosysmiledinwelcome。
\"IamsureLordMountDunstaniscomingtoaskyoutodancewithhim，\"shesaid。\"Whyhaveyounotdancedwithhimbefore，Betty？\"
\"Hehasnotaskedme，\"Bettyanswered。\"Thatistheonlyreason。\"
\"LordDunholmandLordWestholtcalledattheMountafewdaysaftertheymethimatStornham，\"Rosalieexplainedinanundertone。\"Theywantedtoknowhim。Thenitseemstheyfoundtheylikedeachother。LadyDunholmhasbeentellingmeaboutit。ShesaysLordDunholmthanksyou，becauseyousaidsomethingilluminating。Thatwasthewordsheused——`illuminating。’Ibelieveyouarealwaysilluminating，Betty。\"
MountDunstanwascertainlycomingtothem。Howbroadhisshoulderslookedinhisclose—fittingblackcoat，howwellbuilthiswholestrongbodywas，andhowsteadilyheheldhiseyes！Hereandthereoneseesamanorwomanwhois，throughsometrickoffate，bynatureacompellingthingunconsciouslydemandingthatoneshouldsubmittosomedomineeringattraction。
Onedoesnotcallitdomineering，butitisso。Thisspecialcreatureischargedunfairlywithmorethanhisorhersingleshareofforce。BettyVanderpoelthoughtthisoutasthis\"otherone\"cametoher。Hedidnotusetheballroomformulawhenhespoketoher。Hesaidinratheralowvoice：
\"Willyoudancewithme？\"
\"Yes，\"sheanswered。
LordDunholmandhiswifeagreedafterwardsthatsonoticeableapairhadneverbeforedancedtogetherintheirballroom。
Certainlynopairhadeverbeenwatchedwithquitethesameinterestedcuriosity。Someonlookersthoughtitsingularthattheyshoulddancetogetheratall，somepleasedthemselvesbyreflectingonthefactthatnoothertwocouldhaverepresentedwithsuchpicturesquenesstheoppositepolesoffateandcircumstance。Nooneattemptedtodenythattheywereanextraordinarilystriking—lookingcouple，andthatone’seyesfollowedtheminspiteofone’sself。
\"Takentogethertheyproduceaneffectthatissomehowratheramazing，\"oldLadyAlanbycommented。\"Heisamagnificentlybuiltman，youknow，andsheisamagnificentlybuiltgirl。Everybodyshouldlooklikethat。MyimpressionwouldbethatAdamandEvedid，butforthefactthatneitherofthemhadanyparticularcharacter。Thataffairoftheapplewassosilly。Evehasalwaysstruckmeasbeingthekindofwomanwho，ifshelivedto—day，wouldrunupstupidbillsatherdressmakersandbeafraidtotellherhusband。ThatwonderfulblackheadofMissVanderpoel’slooksverynicepoisednearMountDunstan’sdarkredone。\"
\"Iamgladtobedancingwithhim，\"Bettywasthinking。
\"Iamgladtobenearhim。\"
\"Willyoudancethiswithmetotheveryend，\"askedMountDunstan——\"totheverylatenote？\"
\"Yes，\"answeredBetty。
Hehadspokeninalowbutlevelvoice——thekindofvoicewhosetoneplacesamanandwomanalonetogether，andwhollyapartfromallothersbywhomsoevertheyaresurrounded。
Therehadbeennopreliminaryspeechandnoexplanationoftherequestfollowed。Themusicwasaperfectthing，thebrilliant，loftyballroom，thebeautyofcolourandsoundaboutthem，thejewelsandfairfaces，thewarmbreathofflowersintheair，theverysenseofroyalpresenceanditsaccompanyingstateandceremony，seemedmerelyanaturallyarrangedbackgroundforthestrangeconsciousnesseachheldcloseandsilently——knowingnothingofthemindoftheother。
Thiswaswhatwaspassingthroughtheman’smind。
\"Thisisthethingwhichmostmenexperienceseveraltimesduringtheirlives。Itwouldbereasonenoughforallthegreatdeedsandallthecrimesonehearsof。Itisanenormouskindofanguishandafearfulkindofjoy。Itisscarcelytobeborne，andyet，atthismoment，Icouldkillmyselfandher，atthethoughtoflosingit。IfIhadbegunearlier，wouldithavebeeneasier？No，itwouldnot。Withmeitisboundtogohard。AttwentyIshouldprobablynothavebeenabletokeepmyselffromshoutingitaloud，andIshouldnothaveknownthatitwasonlytheworkingoftheLaw。`Only！’GoodGod，whatafoolIam！ItisbecauseitisonlytheLawthatIcannotescape，andmustgoontotheend，grindingmyteethtogetherbecauseIcannotspeak。Oh，hersmoothyoungcheek！
Oh，thedeepshadowsofherlashes！Andwhileweswayroundandroundtogether，Iholdherslimstrongbodyinthehollowofmyarm。\"
Itwas，quitepossibly，ashethoughtthisthatNigelAnstruthers，followinghimwithhiseyesashepassed，begantofrown。Hehadbeenwatchingthepairasothershad，hehadseenwhatotherssaw，andnowhehadanideathathesawsomethingmore，anditwassomethingwhichdidnotpleasehim。
Theinstinctofthemalebestirreditself——thecuriousinstinctofresentmentagainstanotherman——anyotherman。And，inthiscase，MountDunstanwasnotanyotherman，butoneforwhomhisantipathywaspersonal。
\"Iwon’thavethat，\"hesaidtohimself。\"Iwon’thaveit。\"……
Themusicroseandswelled，andthensankintosoftbreathing，astheymovedinharmonytogether，glidingandswirlingastheythreadedtheirwayamongothercoupleswhoswirledandglidedalso，someofthemlightandsmiling，someexchanginglow—tonedspeech——perhapssayingwordswhich，unheardbyothers，touchedondeepthings。Theexaltedguestfellintomomentarysilenceashelookedon，beingamanmuchattractedbyphysicalfinenessandtemperamentalpowerandcharm。A
girllikethatwouldbringagreatdealtoamanandtothecountryhebelongedto。Agreatracemightbefoundedonsuchsuperbnessofphysiqueandhealthandbeauty。Combinedwithabnormalresources，certainlynomorecouldbeasked。
HeexpressedsomethingofthekindtoLordDunholm，whostoodnearhiminattendance。
ToherselfBettywassaying：\"Thatwasastrangethingheaskedme。Itiscuriousthatwesaysolittle。Ishouldneverknowmuchabouthim。Ihavenointelligencewhereheisconcerned——onlyastrong，stupidfeeling，whichisnotlikeafeelingofmyown。IamnolongerBettyVanderpoel——
andIwishtogoondancingwithhim——onandon——tothelastnote，ashesaid。\"
Shefeltalittlehotwaverunoverhercheekuncomfortably，andthenextinstantthebigarmtighteneditsclaspofher——
forjustonesecond——notmorethanone。Shedidnotknowthathe，himself，hadseenthesuddenrippleofredcolour，andthattheequallysuddencontractionofthearmhadbeenasunexpectedtohimandasinvoluntaryasthequickwaveitself。Ithadhorrifiedandmadehimangry。Helookedthenextinstantentirelystiffandcold。
\"Hedidnotknowithappened，\"Bettyresolved。
\"Themusicisgoingtostop，\"saidMountDunstan。\"I
knowthewaltz。Wecangetonceroundtheroomagainbeforethefinalchord。Itwastobethelastnote——theverylast，\"
buthesaiditquiterigidly，andBettylaughed。
\"Quitethelast，\"sheanswered。
Themusichastenedalittle，andtheirglidingwhirlbecamemorerapid——alittlefaster——alittlefasterstill——arunningsweepofnotes，abig，terminatingharmony，andthethingwasover。
\"Thankyou，\"saidMountDunstan。\"Onewillhaveittoremember。\"Andhistonewasslightlysardonic。
\"Yes，\"Bettyacquiescedpolitely。
\"Oh，notyou。OnlyI。Ihaveneverwaltzedbefore。\"
Bettyturnedtolookathimcuriously。
\"Undercircumstancessuchasthese，\"heexplained。\"I
learnedtodanceataparticularlyhideousboys’schoolinFrance。Iabhorredit。Andthetrendofmylifehasmadeitquiteeasyformetokeepmytwelve—year—oldvowthatIwouldneverdanceafterIlefttheplace，unlessIWANTEDtodoit，andthat，especially，nothingshouldmakemewaltzuntilcertainagreeableconditionswerefulfilled。WaltzingIapprovedof——outofhideousschools。Iwasapig—headed，objectionablechild。Idetestedmyselfeven，then。\"
Betty’scomposurereturnedtoher。
\"Iamtrusting，\"sheremarked，\"thatImaysecretlyregardmyselfasoneoftheagreeableconditionstobefulfilled。Donotdispelmyhopesroughly。\"
\"Iwillnot，\"heanswered。\"Youare，infact，severalofthem。\"
\"Onebreatheswithmuchgreaterfreedom，\"sheresponded。
Thissortofcoolnonsensewassafe。Itdispelledfeelingsoftenseness，andcarriedthemtotheplacewhereSirNigelandLadyAnstruthersawaitedthem。Aslightstirwasbeginningtobefeltthroughouttheballroom。Theroyalguestwasretiring，andsoontherestbegantomeltaway。TheAnstruthers，whohadalongreturndrivebeforethem，wereamongthosewhowentfirst。
WhenLadyAnstruthersandhersisterreturnedfromthecloakroom，theyfoundSirNigelstandingnearMountDunstan，whowasgoingalso，andtalkingtohiminanamiablydetachedmanner。MountDunstan，himself，didnotlookamiable，orseemtobesayingmuch，butSirNigelshowednosignsofbeingdisturbed。
\"Nowthatyouhaveceasedtoforsweartheworld，\"hesaidashiswifeapproached，\"IhopeweshallseeyouatStornham。YourvisitsmustnotceasebecausewecannotofferyouG。Seldenanylonger。\"
Hehadhisownreasonsforgivingtheinvitation——severalofthem。Andtherewasasatisfactioninlettingthefellowknow，casually，thathewasnotintheridiculouspositionofbeingunawareofwhathadoccurredduringhisabsence——thattherehadbeenvisits——andalsotheobjectionableepisodeoftheAmericanbounder。Thattheepisodehadbeenobjectionable，heknewhehadadroitlyconveyedbymeretoneandmanner。
MountDunstanthankedhimintheusualformula，andthenspoketoBetty。
\"G。Seldenleftustremulousandfeveredwithecstaticanticipation。HecarriedyourkindlettertoMr。Vanderpoel，nexttohisheart。Hisbrainseemedtowhirlatthethoughtofwhat`theboys’wouldsay，whenhearrivedwithitinNewYork。Youhavematerialisedthedreamofhislife！\"
\"Ihaveinterestedmyfather，\"Bettyanswered，withabrilliantsmile。\"HelikedtheromanceoftheReubenS。
VanderpoelwhorewardedthesaverofhislifebyunboundedordersfortheDelkoff。\"……
Astheircarriagedroveaway，SirNigelbentforwardtolookoutofthewindow，andhavingdoneit，laughedalittle。
\"MountDunstandoesnotplaythegamewell，\"heremarked。
ItwasannoyingthatneitherBettynorhiswifeinquiredwhatthegameinquestionmightbe，andthathistemperamentforcedhimintoexplainingwithoutencouragement。
\"Heshouldhave`stoodmotionlesswithfoldedarms，’orsomethingofthesort，and`watchedherequipageuntilitwasoutofsight。’\"
\"Andhedidnot？\"saidBetty\"Heturnedonhisheelassoonasthedoorwasshut。\"
\"Peopleoughtnottodosuchthings，\"washersimplecomment。Towhichitseemeduselesstoreply。
CHAPTERXXXIII
FORLADYJANE
Thereisnoonethingonearthofsuchinterestasthestudyofthelawsoftemperament，whichimpel，support，orentrapintofollyanddangerthebeingtheyrule。Asachild，notoldenoughtogiveadefinitenametothethingshewatchedandponderedon，inchildfashion，BettinaVanderpoelhadthoughtmuchonthissubject。Asshehadgrownolder，shehadneverbeenignorantoftheworkingsofherowntemperament，andshehadlookedonforyearsatthelawswhichhadwroughtinherfather’sbeing——thelawsofstrength，executivecapacity，andthatpleasureingreatschemes，whichisrousedlessbyadesireforgainthanforastrongly—feltnecessityforaction，resultinginsuccess。Shementallyfollowedotherpeopleontheirway，sometimesaskingherselfhowfartheindividualwastobepraisedorblamedforhistreadingofthepathheseemedtochoose。AndnowtherewasgivenhertheopportunitytostudytheworkingsofthenatureofNigelAnstruthers，whichwasacuriousthing。
Hewasnotanindividualtobeenvied。Neverwasmanmoretormentedbylackofpowertocontrolhisspecialdevil，attherightmomentoftime，andtherefore，neverwasthereonesoinevitablyhisownfrustration。ThisBettysawafterthepassingofbutafewdays，andwonderedhowfarhewasconsciousorunconsciousofthething。Attimesitappearedtoherthathewasinastateofunrest——thathewasasamanwaveringbetweenlinesofaction，swayedatonemomentbyonethought，atanotherbyanideaquitedifferent，andthathewasharriedbecausehecouldnotholdhisownwithhimself。
Thiswastrue。TheballatDunholmCastlehadbeenenlightening，andhadwroughtsomechangesinhispointsofview。Alsootherfactorshadinfluencedhim。Inthefirstplace，thechangedatmosphereofStornham，thefitnessandluxuryofhissurroundings，thenewdignitygiventohispositionbythealteredaspectofthings，renderedexternalamiabilitymoreeasy。Torideaboutthecountryonagoodhorse，ordriveinasmartphaeton，orsuitablecarriage，andtofindthatpeoplewhoayearagohadpassedhimwiththemerestrecognition，salutedhimwithpoliteintention，was，toacertaindegree，stimulatingtoavanitywhichhadbeenlongill—fed。Thepowerwhichproducedtheseresultsshould，ofcourse，havebeeninhisownhands——hismoney—makingfather—
in—lawshouldhaveseenthatitwashisaffairtoprovideforthat——butsincehehadnotdoneso，itwasratherentertainingthatitshouldbe，forthepresent，inthehandsofthisextraordinarilygood—lookinggirl。
Hehadbegunbymerelythinkingofherinthismanner——
as\"thisextraordinarilygood—lookinggirl，\"andhadnot，foramoment，hesitatedbeforetheedifyingideaofitsnotbeingimpossibletoarrangealivelyflirtationwithher。Shewasatanagewhen，inhisopinion，girlhoodwaspoisedforflightwithadventure，andhistasteshadnotledhiminthedirectionofyouthwhichwasfastidious。HisRivieraepisodehadlefthisvanityblisteredandrequiringsomesoothingapplication。
Hislifehadworkedevilwithhim，andhehadfallenillonthehandsofawomanwhohadtreatedhimasashattered，uselessthingwhosedaywasdoneandwithwhomstrengthandbloomcouldnotbeburdened。Hehadkepthisillnessahiddensecret，onhisreturntoStornham，hisonedesirehavingbeentoforget——eventodisbelieveinit，butdreamsofitssuggestionsometimesawakenedhimatnightwithshuddersandcoldsweat。Hewashideouslyafraidofdeathandpain，andhehadhadmonstrouspain——andwhilehehadlainbattlingwithit，uponhisbedinthevillaontheMediterranean，hehadbeenabletohear，inthegardenoutside，thelowvoicesandlaughteroftheSpanishdancerandthehealthy，strongyoungfoolwhowashernewadorer。
WhenhehadfoundhimselffacetofacewithBettyintheavenue，afterthefirstleapofannoyance，whichhadsuddenlydieddownintoperverselyinterestedcuriosity，hecouldhavelaughedoutrightatthenoveltyandoddunexpectednessofthesituation。Theill—mannered，impudently—staring，littleNewYorkbeasthaddevelopedintoTHIS！Hangit！Nomancouldguesswhattheembryofemalecreaturemightresultin。
Hismereshakinessofphysicalconditionaddedstrengthtoherattraction。Shewaslikeayounggoddessofhealthandlifeandfire；theveryspringofherfirmfootuponthemossbeneathitwasastimulatingthingtoamanwhosenervessprungsecretfearsuponhim。Thereweresparksbetweenthesweepofherlashes，butshemanagedtocarryherselfwiththeairofbeingascoolasacucumber，whichgavespicetotheeffortto\"upset\"her。Ifshedidnotprovesuitablyamenable，therewouldbepiquancyingettingthebetterofher——instirringupunpleasantlittlethings，whichwouldmakeiteasierforhertogoawaythanremainonthespot——ifoneshouldendbychoosingtogetridofher。But，forthemoment，hehadnodesiretogetridofher。Hewantedtoseewhatsheintendedtodo——toseethethingout，infact。ItamusedhimtohearthatMountDunstanwasonhertrack。Thereexistsforpersonsofacertaintypeapleasurefull—fedbythemeresenseofhaving\"goteven\"withanopponent。Throughouthislifehehadmadeapointof\"gettingeven\"withthosewhohadirritatinglycrossedhispath，ormuchdislikedhim。Theworkingoutofsmallorlargeplanstoachievethisendhadformedoneofhismostagreeablerecreations。HehadlongowedMountDunstanadebt，whichhehadalwaysmeanttopay。HehadnotintendedtoforgettheepisodeofthenicelittlevillagegirlwithwhomTenhamandhimselfhadbeengettingalongsoenormouslywell，whentheragingyoungasshadfoundthemout，andmadeanabsurdlyexaggeratedscene，evengoingsofarasthreateningtosmashthepairofthem，marchingofftothefatherandmother，andsettingthevicaron，andthenscratchingtogether——Godknowshow——moneyenoughtopackthelotofftoAmerica，wheretheyhadsincedonewell。Whyshouldamanforgiveanotherwhohadmadehimlooklikeaschoolboyandafool？So，tofindMountDunstanrushingdownasteephillintothisthing，wasedifying。Youcannottakemuchoutofamanifyouneverencounterhim。Ifyoumeethim，youareprovidedbyHeavenwithopportunities。Youcanfindoutwhathefeelsmostsharply，andwhathewillsuffermostbybeingdeprivedof。HisimpressionwasthattherewasagooddealtobegotoutofMountDunstan。Hewasanobstinate，haughtydevil，andjustthefellowtoconcealwithafuryofprideascoreoftenderplacesinhishide。
Attheballhehadseenthatthegirl’seffecthadbeenofakindwhichevenmoneyandgoodlooksuncombinedwithanotherthingmightnothaveproduced。Andshehadtheotherthing——whatsoeveritmightbe。HeobservedthewayinwhichtheDunholmsmetandgreetedher，hemarkedtheglanceoftheroyalpersonage，andhismanner，whenafterherpresentationheconversedwithanddetainedher，hesawtheturningofheadsandexchangeofremarksasshemovedthroughtherooms。Mostespecially，hetookinthebearingoftheverygrandoldladies，ledbyLadyAlanbyofDole。
Barriershadthrownthemselvesdown，theseportentous，rigorousoldpussycatsadmiredher，evenlikedher。
\"Uponmyword，\"hesaidtohimself。\"Shehasawaywithher，youknow。SheisacombinationofEthelNewcomeandBeckySharp。Butsheismorelevel—headedthaneitherofthem，There’satouchofTrixEsmond，too。\"
Thesenseofthesuccesswhichfollowedher，andthegradually—
growingexcitementoflookingonatherlightwhirlsofdance，thecarnationofhercheek，andthelaughterandpleasureshedrewabouther，hadaffectedhiminawaybywhichhewassecretlyalittleexhilarated。Hewasconsciousofarashdesiretoforcehiswaythroughtheselaughing，vauntingyoungidiots，juggleorsnatchtheirdancesawayfromthem，andseizeonthegirlhimself。Hehadnotforsolongatimebeenimpelledbysuchagreeablefollythathehadsometimesfeltthestabofthethoughtthathewaspastit。Thatitshouldriseinhimagainmadehimfeelyoung。TherewasnothingwhichsoirritatedhimagainstMountDunstanashisownrebellingrecognitionoftheman’syouth，thestrengthofhisfinebody，hishigh—heldheadandcleareye。
Thesethingsandothersitwaswhichswayedhim，aswasplaintoBettyinthetimewhichfollowed，tomanychangesofmood。
\"Areyousorryforamanwhoisillanddepressed，\"heaskedoneday，\"ordoyoudespisehim？\"
\"Iamsorry。\"
\"Thenbesorryforme。\"
Hehadcomeoutofthehousetoherasshesatonthelawn，underabroad，level—branchedtree，andhadthrownhimselfuponarugwithhishandsclaspedbehindhishead。
\"Areyouill？\"
\"WhenIwasontheRivieraIhadafall。\"Heliedsimply。
\"Istrainedsomemuscleorother，andithasleftmeratherlame。SometimesIhaveagooddealofpain。\"
\"Iamverysorry，\"saidBetty。\"Very。\"
Awomanwhocanbemadesorryitisrarelyimpossibletomanage。Todwellwithpatheticpatienceonyourgrievances，ifsheisweakandunintelligent，todeplore，withhonestregret，yourfaultsandblunders，ifsheisstrong，arenotbadideas。
Helookedatherreflectively。
\"Yes，youarecapableofbeingsorry，\"hedecided。Forafewmomentsofsilencehiseyesrestedupontheviewspreadbeforehim。Togivetheexpressionofdignifiedreflectionwasnotabadideaeither。
\"Doyouknow，\"hesaidatlength，\"thatyouproduceanextraordinaryeffectuponme，Betty？\"
ShewasoccupyingherselfbyaddingafewstitchestooneofRosy’sancientstripsofembroidery，andassheanswered，shelaiditflatuponherkneetoconsideritseffect\"Goodorbad？\"sheinquired，withdelicateabstraction。
Heturnedhisfacetowardsheragain——thistimequickly。
\"Both，\"heanswered。\"Both。\"
Histoneheldtheflashofaheatwhichhefeltshouldhavestartledherslightly。Butapparentlyitdidnot。
\"Idonotlike`both，’\"withcomposedlightness。\"Ifyouhadsaidthatyoufeltyourselfdevelopangelicqualitieswhenyouwerenearme，Ishouldfeelflattered，andswellwithpride。But`both’leavesmeunsatisfied。Itinterfereswiththehappylittleconceitthatoneisanall—pervading，beneficentpower。Onelikestocontemplatealargepictureofone’sself——
notplain，butcoloured——asawholesalereformer。\"
\"Isee。Thankyou，\"stifflyandflushing。\"Youdonotbelieveme。\"
Hereffectuponhimwassuchthat，forthemoment，hefoundhimselfchoosingtobelievethathewasinearnest。Hisdesiretoimpressherwithhismoodhadactuallyledtothisresult。Sheoughttohavebeenrathermoved——alittlefluttered，perhaps，athearingthatshedisturbedhisequilibrium。
\"Yousetyourselfagainstme，asachild，Betty，\"hesaid。
\"Andyousetyourselfagainstmenow。Youwillnotgivemefairplay。Youmightgivemefairplay。\"Hedroppedhisvoiceatthelastsentence，andknewitwaswelldone。A
touchofhopelessnessisnotoftenlostonawoman。
