\"Whatwouldyouconsiderfairplay？\"sheinquired。
\"Itwouldbefairtolistentomewithoutprejudice——toletmeexplainhowithashappenedthatIhaveappearedtoyoua——ablackguard——Ihavenodoubtyouwouldcallit——andafool。\"Hethrewouthishandinanimpatientgesture——impatientofhimself——hisfate——thetricksofbadfortunewhichitimpliedhadmadeofhimamoreerringmortalthanhewouldhavebeeniflefttohimself，andtreateddecently。
\"Donotputitsostrongly，\"withconservativepoliteness。
\"Idon’trefusetoadmitthatIamhandicappedbyadevilofatemperament。Thatisaninheritedthing。\"
\"Ah！\"saidBetty。\"Oneofthetemperamentsonereadsabout——forwhichnooneistobeblamedbutone’sdeceasedrelatives。Afterall，thatiscomparativelyeasytodealwith。
Onecanjustgoondoingwhatonewantstodo——andthencondemnone’sgrandparentsseverely。\"
Arepellentqualityinher——whichhadalsothetrickoftransformingitselfintoanexasperatingattraction——wasthatshedeprivedhimoftheluxuryhehadbeenmosttenaciousofthroughouthisexistence。Iftheinjusticeoffatehasfailedtobestowuponamanfortune，goodlooksorbrilliance，hisexerciseofthepowertodisturb，toenragethosewhodarenotresent，towoundandtakethenonsenseoutofthoseabouthim，will，atallevents，precludethepossibilityofhisbeingpassedoverasafactornottobeconsidered。Iftocharmandbestowgivesthesenseofpower，tothwartandhumiliatemaybefoundnotwhollyunsatisfying。
Butinhercasetheinadequacyoftheusualmethodshadforceditselfuponhim。Itwasasifthedartbeingaimedather，shecaughtitinherhandinitsflight，brokeoffitspointandthrewitlightlyasidewithoutcomment。Mostwomencannotresistthetemptationtoansweraspeechcontainingastingorareproach。Itwaspartofherabnormalitythatshecouldletsuchthingsgobyinadetachedsilence，whichdidnotexpresseventhegermofcommentoropinionuponthem。This，hesaid，wastheresultofherbeastlysenseofsecurity，which，initsturn，wastheresultoftheatmosphereofwealthshehadbreathedsinceherbirth。Therehadbeennoobstaclewhichcouldnotberemovedforher，nolawoflimitationhadlaiditsreinonherneck。Shehadnotbeentaughtbyherexistencetheimportanceofpropitiatingopinion。
Undersuchconditions，howwasfeartobelearned？Shehadnotlearnedit。Butforthedevilinthebluebetweenherlashes，herealisedthatheshouldhavebrokenlooselongago。
\"IsupposeIdeservedthatformakingastupidappealtosympathy，\"heremarked。\"Iwillnotdoitagain。\"
Ifshehadbeenthewomanwhocanbegentlygoadedintoreply，shewouldhavemadeanswertothis。Butsheallowedtheobservationtopass，givingitfreeflightintospace，whereitlostitselfaftertheannoyingmannerofitskind。
\"HaveyouanyobjectiontotellingmewhyyoudecidedtocometoEnglandthisyear？\"heinquired，withacasualair，afterthepausewhichshedidnotfillin。
Thebluntnessofthequestiondidnotseemtodisturbher。
Shewasnotsorry，infact，thathehadaskedit。Sheletherworklieuponherknee，andleanedbackinherlowgardenchair，herhandsrestinguponitswickerarms。Sheturnedonhimaclearunprejudicedgaze。
\"IcametoseeRosy。Ihavealwaysbeenveryfondofher。Ididnotbelievethatshehadforgottenhowmuchwehadlovedher，orhowmuchshehadlovedus。IknewthatifIcouldseeheragainIshouldunderstandwhyshehadseemedtoforgetus。\"
\"Andwhenyousawher，you，ofcourse，decidedthatIhadbehaved，toquotemyownwords——likeablackguardandafool。\"
\"Itis，ofcourse，veryrudetosayyouhavebehavedlikeafool，but——ifyou’llexcusemysayingso——thatiswhathasimpressedmeverymuch。Don’tyouknow，\"withamoderation，whichsingularlydroveitselfhome，\"thatifyouhadbeenkindtoher，andhadmadeherhappy，youcouldhavehadanythingyouwishedfor——withouttrouble？\"
Thiswasoneoftheunadornedfactswhicharelikebullets。
Disgustedly，hefoundhimselfveeringtowardsanoutlookwhichforcedhimtoadmitthattherewasprobablytruthinwhatshesaid，andheknewheheardmoretruthasshewenton。
\"Shewouldhavewantedonlywhatyouwanted，andshewouldnothaveaskedmuchinreturn。ShewouldnothaveaskedasmuchasIshould。Whatyoudidwasnotbusiness—
like。\"Shepausedamomenttogivethoughttoit。\"Youpaidtoohighapricefortheluxuryofindulgingtheinheritedtemperament。Yourluxurywasnottocontrolit。Butitwasabadinvestment。\"
\"Thefigureofspeechisrathercommercial，\"coldly。
\"Itiscuriousthatmostthingsare，asarule。Thereisalwaystheparallelofprofitandlosswhetheroneseesitornot。Theprofitsarehappinessandfriendship——enjoymentoflifeandapprobation。Iftheinheritedtemperamentsuppliesonewithallonewantsofsuchthings，itcannotbecalledaloss，ofcourse。\"
\"Youthink，however，thatminehasnotbroughtmemuch？\"
\"Idonotknow。Itisyouwhoknow。\"
\"Well，\"viciously，\"thereHASbeenasortofluxuryinitinlashingoutwithone’sheels，andsmashingthings——andinknowingthatpeopleprefertokeepclear。\"
Sheliftedhershouldersalittle。
\"Thenperhapsithaspaid。\"
\"No，\"suddenlyandfiercely，\"damnit，ithasnot！\"
Andsheactuallymadenoreplytothat。
\"Whatdoyoumeantodo？\"hequestionedasbluntlyasbefore。Heknewshewouldunderstandwhathemeant。
\"Notmuch。ToseethatRosyisnotunhappyanymore。
Wecanpreventthat。Shewasoutofrepair——asthehousewas。Sheisbeingrebuiltanddecorated。Sheknowsthatshewillbetakencareof。\"
\"Iknowherbetterthanyoudo，\"withalaugh。\"Shewillnotgoaway。Sheistoofrightenedoftherowitwouldmake——
ofwhatIshouldsay。Ishouldhaveplentytosay。Icanmakehershakeinhershoes。\"
Bettylethereyesrestfulluponhim，andhesawthatshewassoftlysumminghimup——quitewithoutprejudice，merelyininterestedspeculationupontheworkingsoftype。
\"Youarelettingtheinheritedtemperamentrunawaywithyouatthismoment，\"shereflectedaloud——herquietscrutinyalmostabstracted。\"Itwasfoolishtosaythat。\"
Hehadknownitwasfoolishtwosecondsafterthewordshadlefthislips。Butatemperwhichhasbeenallowedtoleaphedges，uncheckedthroughoutlife，isinperilofformingahabitoftakingthemevenatsuchtimesasaleapmaylanditsownerinaditch。Thislastwaswhatherinterestedeyeswereobviouslysaying。Itsuitedhimbestatthemomenttotrytolaugh。
\"Don’tlookatmelikethat，\"hethrewoff。\"Asifyouwerecalculatingthattwoandtwomakefour。\"
\"Noprejudiceofminecaninducethemtomakefiveorsix——orthreeandahalf，\"shesaid。\"Noprejudiceofmine——
orofyours。\"
Thetwoandtwoshewascalculatingwithwerethelikelihoodsandunlikelihoodsoftheinheritedtemperament，andthepracticalpowersshecouldabsolutelycountonifdifficultyarosewithregardtoRosy。
Heguessedatthis，andbegantomakecalculationshimself。
Buttherewasnofurtherconversationforthem，astheywereobligedtorisetotheirfeettoreceivevisitors。LadyAlanbyofDoleandSirThomas，hergrandson，werebeingbroughtoutofthehousetothembyRosalie。
Hewentforwardtomeetthem——hismannerthatofthegracefulhost。LadyAlanby，havingbeenwelcomedbyhim，andledtothemostcomfortable，tree—shadedchair，foundhisbearingsoelegantlychastenedthatshegazedathimwithprivatecuriosity。Toherfar—seeingandhighlyexperiencedoldminditseemedthebearingofamanwhowas\"uptosomething。\"Whatspecialthingdidhechancetobe\"upto\"？HisglancecertainlylurkedafterMissVanderpoeloddly。
Washefallinginunholylovewiththegirl，underhisstupidlittlewife’sverynose？
Shecouldnot，however，giveherundividedattentiontohim，asshewishedtokeephereyeonhergrandsonand——outrageouslyenoughfithappenedthatjustasteawasbroughtoutandTommywasbeginningtocheerupandquitecomeoutalittleunderthespuroftheactivitiesofhandingbreadandbutterandcresssandwiches，whoshouldappearbutthetwoLithcomgirls，escortedbytheiraunt，Mrs。Manners，withwhomtheylived。Astheywereorphanswithoutmoney，iftheManners，whowereratherwelloff，hadnottakenthemin，theywouldhavehadtogototheworkhouse，orintogenteelamateurshops，astheywerenotcleverenoughforgovernesses。
Mary，withherturned—upnose，lookedjustaboutasusual，butJanehadanewfrockonwhichwasexactlythecolourofthebig，appealingeyes，withtheirtrickoffollowingpeopleabout。Shelookedalittlepaleandpathetic，whichsomehowgaveheraspeciousairofbeingpretty，whichshereallywasnotatall。Theswayingyoungthinnessofthoseveryslightgirlswhosesoftsummermuslinsmakethemlooklikedelicatebagstiedinthemiddlewithflutteringribbons，hasalmostinvariablyafoolishattractionforburlyyoungmenwhosecharactersarechieflymarkedbylackofforethought，andLadyAlanbysawTommy’srobustyoungbodygiveasortofjerkasthepartyofthreewasbroughtacrossthegrass。Afterithepulledhimselftogetherhastily，andlookedstiffandpink，shakinghandsasifhiselbowjointwasoutoforder，beingatoncetoolooseandtoorigid。Hebegantobeclumsywiththebreadandbutter，and，ceasinghistalkwithMissVanderpoel，fellintosilence。Whyshouldhegoontalking？
hethought。MissVanderpoelwasacrackinghandsomegirl，butshewastoocleverforhim，andhehadtothinkofallsortsofnewthingstosaywhenhetalkedtoher。And——
well，afellowcouldneverimaginehimselfstretchedoutonthegrass，puffinghappilyawayatapipe，withagirllikethatsittingnearhim，smiling——thehotturfsmellingalmostlikehay，thehotblueskycurvingoverhead，andboththegirlandhimselfperfectlyhappy——chockfullofjoy——thoughneitherofthemweresayinganythingatall。Youcouldimagineitwithsomegirls——youDIDimagineitwhenyouwakenedearlyonasummermorning，andlayinluxuriousstillnesslisteningtothebirdssinginglikemad。
LadyJanewasanicely—behavedgirl，andshetriedtokeepherfollowingblueeyesfixedonthegrass，oronLadyAnstruthers，orMissVanderpoel，buttherewassomethinglikeastring，whichsometimespulledtheminanotherdirection，andoncewhenthishadhappened——quiteagainstherwill——shewasterrifiedtofindLadyAlanby’sglassliftedandfixeduponher。
AsLadyAlanby’sopinionofMrs。Mannerswasbutapoorone，andasMrs。MannerswasstrickendumbbyhercombineddislikeandaweofLadyAlanby，aslightstiffnessmighthavesettleduponthegatheringifBettyhadnotmadeaneffort。SheappliedherselftoLadyAlanbyandMrs。Mannersatonce，andendedbymakingthemtalktoeachother。
Whentheylefttheteatableunderthetreestolookatthegardens，shewalkedbetweenthem，playingupontheprimevalhorticulturalpassionswhichdominatetheexistenceofallrespectableandnormalcountryladies，untilthegulfbetweenthemwastemporarilybridged。Thisbeingachieved，sheadroitlypassedthemovertoLadyAnstruthers，who，Nigelobservedwithsomecuriosity，acceptedthecasualresponsibilitywithoutmanifestdiscomfiture。
TotheachingTommythemannerinwhich，afewminuteslater，hefoundhimselfstandingalonewithJaneLithcominapathofclippedlaurelswasalmostbewilderinglysimple。
Attheendofthelaurelwalkwasaprettypeepofthecountry，andMissVanderpoelhadbroughthimtoseeit。NigelAnstruthershadbeenloiteringbehindwithJaneandMary。AsMissVanderpoelturnedwithhimintothepath，shestoopedandpickedablossomfromaclumpofspeedwellgrowingatthefootofabitofwall。
\"LadyJane’seyesarejustthecolourofthisflower，\"shesaid。
\"Yes，theyare，\"heanswered，glancingdownatthelovelylittlebluethingasshehelditinherhand。Andthen，withathumpoftheheart，\"Mostpeopledonotthinksheispretty，butI——\"quitedesperately——\"IDO。\"Hismoodhadbecomerash。
\"SodoI，\"BettyVanderpoelanswered。
Thentheothersjoinedthem，andMissVanderpoelpausedtotalkalittle——andwhentheywentonshewaswithMaryandNigelAnstruthers，andhewaswithJane，walkingslowly，andsomehowtheothersmeltedaway，turninginaperfectlynaturalmannerintoasidepath。Theirownslowpacebecameslower。Infact，inafewmoments，theywerestandingquitestillbetweenthegreenwalls。Janeturnedalittleaside，andpickedoffsomesmallleaves，nervously。Hesawthemuslinonherchestliftquiveringly。
\"Oh，littleJane！\"hesaidinabig，shakywhisper。Thefollowingeyesincontinentlybrimmedover。Someshiningdropsfellonthesoftnessofthebluemuslin。
\"Oh，Tommy，\"givingup，\"it’snouse——talkingatall。\"
\"Youmustn’tthink——youmustn’tthink——ANYTHING，\"hefalteringlycommanded，drawingnearer，becauseitwasimpossiblenottodoit。
Whathereallymeant，thoughhedidnotknowhowdecorouslytosayit，wasthatshemustnotthinkthathecouldbemovedbyanytallbeauty，towardsthesplendourofwhosepossessionshisreveredgrandmothermightbedrivinghim。
\"Iamnotthinkinganything，\"criedJaneinanswer。\"Butsheiseverything，andIamnothing。Justlookather——andthenlookatme，Tommy。\"
\"I’lllookatyouaslongasyou’llletme，\"gulpedTommy，andhewasboyenoughandmanenoughtoputahandoneachofhershoulders，anddrownhislonginginherbrimmingeyes……
MaryandMissVanderpoelweretalkingwithacuriousintimacy，inanotherpartofthegarden，wheretheyweretogetheralone，SirNigelhavingbeenreattachedtoLadyAlanby。
\"YouhaveknownSirThomasalongtime？\"Bettyhadjustsaid。
\"Sincewewerechildren。JaneremindedmeattheDunholms’ballthatshehadplayedcricketwithhimwhenshewaseight。\"
\"Theyhavealwayslikedeachother？\"MissVanderpoelsuggested。
Marylookedupather，andthemeetingoftheireyeswasfranktorevelation。ButforthecleargirlishlikingforherselfshesawinBettyVanderpoel’s，Marywouldhaveknownhernextspeechtobeofimbecilebluntness。ShehadheardthatAmericansoftenhadaqueer，delightfulunderstandingofunconventionalthings。Thissplendidgirlwasunderstandingher。
\"Oh！YouSEE！\"shebrokeout。\"Youleftthemtogetheronpurpose！\"
\"Yes，Idid。\"AndtherewasacomprehensionsodeepinherlookthatMaryknewitwasdeeperthanherown，andsomehowfoundedonsomesubtlerfeelingthanherown。
\"Whentwopeoplewantsomuch——caresomuchtobetogether，\"MissVanderpoeladdedquiteslowly——evenasifthewordsratherforcedthemselvesfromher，\"itseemsasifthewholeworldoughttohelpthem——everythingintheworld——
theverywind，andrain，andsun，andstars——oh，thingshavenoRIGHTtokeepthemapart。\"
Marystaredather，movedandfascinated。Shescarcelyknewthatshecaughtatherhand。
\"IhaveneverbeeninthestatethatJaneis，\"shepouredforth。\"AndIcan’tunderstandhowshecanbesuchafool，but——butwecareabouteachothermorethanmostgirlsdo——
perhapsbecausewehavehadnopeople。Andit’sthekindofthingthereisnousetalkingagainst，itseems。It’skillingtheyoungnessinher。Ifitendsmiserably，itwillbeasifshehadhadanillness，andgotupfromitafaded，done—forspinsterwithastretchofhideousyearstolive。Herblueeyeswilllooklikeboiledgooseberries，becauseshewillhavecriedallthecolouroutofthem。Oh！YouUNDERSTAND！I
seeyoudo。\"
BeforeshehadfinishedbothMissVanderpoel’shandswereholdinghers。
\"Ido！Ido，\"shesaid。Andshedid，asayearagoshehadnotknownshecould。\"IsitLadyAlanby？\"sheventured。
\"Yes。Tommywillbehelplesslypoorifshedoesnotleavehimhermoney。Andshewon’tifhemakesherangry。Sheisverydetermined。Shewillleaveittoanawfulcousinifshegetsinarage。AndTommyisnotclever。Hecouldneverearnhisliving。NeithercouldJane。TheycouldNEVERmarry。
YouCAN’Tdefyrelatives，andmarryonnothing，unlessyouareacharacterinabook。\"
\"HasshelikedLadyJaneinthepast？\"MissVanderpoelasked，asifshewas，mentally，rapidlygoingovertheground，thatshemightquitecomprehendeverything。
\"Yes。Sheusedtomakeratherapetofher。Shedidn’tlikeme。ShewastakenbyJane’smeek，attentive，obedientways。Janewasbornasweetlittleaffectionateworm。LadyAlanbycan’thateher，evennow。Shejustpushesheroutofherpath。\"
\"Because？\"saidBettyVanderpoel。
Maryprefacedheranswerwithabrief，half—embarrassedlaugh。
\"BecauseofYOU。\"
\"Becauseshethinks————？\"
\"Idon’tseehowshecanbelievehehasmuchofachance。
Idon’tthinkshedoes——butshewillneverforgivehimifhedoesn’tmakeatryatfindingoutwhetherhehasoneornot。\"
\"Itisverybusinesslike，\"Bettymadeobservation。
Marylaughed。
\"WetalkofAmericanbusinessoutlook，\"shesaid，\"butveryfewofusEnglishpeoplearedreamyidealists。Weareofacoolnessandadaring——whenwearedealingwithquestionsofthissort。Idon’tthinkyoucanknowthethingyouhavebroughthere。Youdescendonadullcountryplace，withyourmoneyandyourlooks，andyousimplySTAYandamuseyourselfbydoingextraordinarythings，asiftherewasnoLondonwaitingforyou。Everyoneknowsthiswon’tlast。
Nextseasonyouwillbepresented，andhaveahugesuccess。
Youwillbewhirledaboutinavortex，andpeoplewillsitontheedge，andcastbigstronglines，baitedwiththemostglitteringthingstheycangettogether。Youwon’tbeabletogetaway。LadyAlanbyknowstherewouldbenochanceforTommythen。Itwouldbetooidiotictoexpectit。Hemustmakehistrynow。\"
Theireyesmetagain，andMissVanderpoellookedneithershockednorangry，butanoddsmallshadowsweptacrossherface。Mary，ofcourse，didnotknowthatshewasthinkingofthethingshehadrealisedsooften——thatitwasnoteasytodetachone’sselffromthefactthatonewasReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughter。Asaresultofithereonewasindecentlyandunwillinglydisturbingthelivesofinnocent，unassuminglovers。
\"AndsolongasSirThomashasnottried——andfoundout——
LadyJanewillbemadeunhappy？\"
\"Ifheweretoletyouescapewithouttrying，hewouldnotbeforgiven。Hisgrandmotherhashadherownwayallherlife。\"
\"ButsupposeafterIwentawaysomeoneelsecame？\"
Maryshookherhead。
\"Peoplelikeyoudon’tHAPPENinoneneighbourhoodtwiceinalifetime。Iamtwenty—sixandyouarethefirstIhaveseen。\"
\"Andhewillonlybesafeif？\"
MaryLithcomnodded。
\"Yes——IF，\"sheanswered。\"It’ssilly——andfrightful——butitistrue。\"
MissVanderpoellookeddownonthegrassafewmoments，andthenseemedtoarriveatadecision。
\"Helikesyou？Youcanmakehimunderstandthings？\"sheinquired。
\"Yes。\"
\"Thengoandtellhimthatifhewillcomehereandaskmeadirectquestion，Iwillgivehimadirectanswer——whichwillsatisfyLadyAlanby。\"
LadyMarycaughtherbreath。
\"Doyouknow，youarethemostwonderfulgirlIeversaw！\"sheexclaimed。\"ButifyouonlyknewwhatIfeelaboutJanie！\"Andtearsrushedintohereyes。
\"Ifeeljustthesamethingaboutmysister，\"saidMissVanderpoel。\"IthinkRosyandLadyJaneareratheralike。\"……
WhenTommytrampedacrossthegrasstowardsherhewasturningredandwhitebyturns，andlookingsomewhatlikeayoungmanwhowasbeingmarcheduptoacannon’smouth。
ItstruckhimthatitwasanAmericankindofthinghewascalledupontodo，andhewasnotanAmerican，butBritishfromthetopofhisclosely—croppedheadtotheratherthicksolesofhisboots。Hewas，intruth，overwhelmedbyhissenseofhisinadequacytothedemandsofthebrilliantlyconceived，butunheard—ofsituation。Joyandterrorsweptoverhisbeinginwaves。
Thetall，proud，wood—nymphlookofherasshestoodunderatree，waitingforhim，wouldhavestruckhiscouragedeadonthespotandcausedhimtoturnandfleeinanguish，ifshehadnotmadealittlemovetowardshim，withaheavenly，every—dayhumannessinhereyes。Thewayshemanageditwasanamazingthing。Hecouldneverhavemanageditatallhimself。
Shecameforwardandgavehimherhand，andreallyitwasHERhandwhichheldhisowncomparativelysteady。
\"ItisforLadyJane，\"shesaid。\"Thatpreventsitfrombeingridiculousorimproper。ItisforLadyJane。Hereyes，\"withasoft—touchedlaugh，\"arethecolourofthebluespeedwellI
showedyou。Itisthecolourofbabies’eyes。Andherslookastheirsdo——asiftheyaskedeverybodynottohurtthem。\"
Heactuallyfelluponhisknee，andbendinghisheadoverherhand，kissedithalfadozentimeswithadoration。GoodLord，howsheSAWandKNEW！
\"IfJanewerenotJane，andyouwerenotYOU，\"thewordsrushedfromhim，\"itwouldbethemostoutrageous——themostimpudentthingamaneverhadthecheektodo。\"
\"Butitisnot。\"Shedidnotdrawherhandaway，andoh，thegirlishkindnessofhersmiling，supportinglook。\"Youcametoaskmeif————\"
\"Ifyouwouldmarryme，MissVanderpoel，\"hisheadbendingoverherhandagain。\"Ibegyourpardon，Ibegyourpardon。
OhLord，Ido。’
\"Ithankyouforthecomplimentyoupayme，\"sheanswered。\"I
likeyouverymuch，SirThomas——andIlikeyoujustnowmorethanever——butIcouldnotmarryyou。Ishouldnotmakeyouhappy，andIshouldnotbehappymyself。Thetruthis————\"thinkingamoment，\"eachofusreallybelongstoadifferentkindofperson。
Andeachofknowsthefact。\"
\"Godblessyou，\"hesaid。\"Ithinkyouknoweverythingintheworldawomancanknow——andremainanangel。\"
Itwasanoutburstofeloquence，andshetookitintheprettiestway——withtheprettiestlaugh，whichhadinitnotouchofmockeryordisbeliefinhim。
\"WhatIhavesaidisquitefinal——ifLadyAlanbyshouldinquire，\"shesaid——addingratherquickly，\"Someoneiscoming。\"
Itpleasedhertoseethathedidnothurrytohisfeetclumsily，butevenstoodupright，withashadeofboyishdignity，anddidnotreleaseherhandbeforehehadbenthisheadlowoveritagain。
SirNigelwasbringingwithhimLadyAlanby，Mrs。Manners，andhiswife，andwhenBettymethiseyes，sheknewatoncethathehadnotmadehiswaytothisparticulargardenwithoutintention。HehaddiscoveredthatshewaswithTommy，andithadentertainedhimtobreakinuponthem。
\"IdidnotintendtointerruptSirThomasathisdevotions，\"
heremarkedtoherafterdinner。\"Acceptmyapologies。\"
\"Itdidnotmatterintheleast，thankyou，\"saidBetty……
\"Iamgladtobeabletosay，Thomas，thatyoudidnotlookanentirefoolwhenyougotupfromyourknees，aswecameintotherosegarden。\"ThusLadyAlanby，astheircarriageturnedoutofStornhamvillage。
\"I’mgladmyself，\"Tommyanswered。
\"Whatwereyoudoingthere？Evenifyouwereaskinghertomarryyou，itwasnotnecessarytogothatfar。Wearenotintheseventeenthcentury。
ThenTommyflushed。
\"Ididnotintendtodoit。Icouldnothelpit。Shewasso——soniceabouteverything。Thatgirlisanangel。Itoldherso。\"
\"Veryrightandproperspirittoapproachherin，\"answeredtheoldwoman，watchinghimkeenly。\"Wassheangelenoughtosayshewouldmarryyou？\"
Tommy，forsomeoccultreason，hadthecouragetostarebackintohisgrandmother’seyes，quiteasifhewereaman，andnotahobbledehoy，expectingtobebullied。
\"Shedoesnotwantme，\"heanswered。\"AndIknewshewouldn’t。Whyshouldshe？Ididwhatyouorderedmetodo，andsheansweredmeasIknewshewould。Shemighthavesnubbedme，butshehassuchawaywithher——suchawayofsayingthingsandunderstanding，that——that——well，I
foundmyselfononeknee，kissingherhand——asifIwasbeingpresentedatcourt。\"
OldLadyAlanbylookedoutonthepassinglandscape。
\"Well，youdidyourbest，\"shesummedthematterupatlast，\"ifyouwentdownonyourkneesinvoluntarily。Ifyouhaddoneitonpurpose，itwouldhavebeenunpardonable。\"
