\"HereIam，Patton，\"MountDunstansaid。\"Youneednotspeak。\"
Buthemustspeak。Herewasthestrengthhissinkingsoulhadlongedfor。
\"Cruelbad——goin’fast——m’lord，\"hepanted。
MountDunstanmadeasigntothenurse，whogavehimachair。Hesatdownclosetothebed，andtookthebloodlesshandinhisown。
\"No，\"hesaid，\"youarenotgoing。You’llstayhere。I
willseetothat。\"
Thepoorfellowsmiledwanly。Vagueyearningshadledhimsometimes，inthepast，towanderintochapelsorstopandlistentostreetpreachers，andorthodoxplatitudescamebacktohim。
\"God’s——will，\"hetrailedout。
\"It’snothingofthesort。It’sGod’swillthatyoupullyourselftogether。Amanwithawifeandthreechildrenhasnorighttoslipout。\"
Ayearninglookflickeredinthelad’seyes——hewasscarcelymorethanalad，havingmarriedatseventeen，andhadachildeachyear。
\"She’s——agood——girl。\"
\"Keepthatinyourmindwhileyoufightthisout，\"saidMountDunstan。\"Sayitovertoyourselfeachtimeyoufeelyourselflettinggo。Holdontoit。Iamgoingtofightitoutwithyou。Ishallsithereandtakecareofyouallday——allnight，ifnecessary。Thedoctorandthenursewilltellmewhattodo。Yourhandiswarmeralready。Shutyoureyes。\"
Hedidnotleavethebedsideuntilthemiddleofthenight。
Bythattimetheworstwasover。Hehadactedthroughoutthehoursunderthedirectionofnurseanddoctor。Noonebuthimselfhadtouchedthepatient。WhenPatton’seyeswereopen，theyrestedonhimwithaweirdgrowingbelief。
Hebeggedhislordshiptoholdhishand，andwasuneasywhenhelaiditdown。
\"Keeps——me——up，\"hewhispered。
\"Hepourssomethingintothem——vigour——magneticpower——life。He’slikeachargedbattery，\"Dr。Thwaitesaidtohisco—workers。\"HesatdownbyPattonjustintime。Itsetsonetothinking。\"
HavingsavedPatton，hemustsaveothers。Whenamanorwomansank，orhadincreasedfever，theybelievedthathealonecouldgivethemhelp。Indeliriumpatientscriedoutforhim。Hefoundhimselfdoinghardwork，buthedidnotflinchfromit。Theadorationforhimbecameasortofpassion。Haggardfaceslightedupintolifeatthesoundofhisfootstep，andheavyheadsturnedlonginglyontheirpillowsashepassedby。Inthewinterdaystocometherewouldbemanyanhour’stalkinEastEndcourtsandalleysofthequeertimewhenascoreormoreofthemhadlaininthegreatroomwiththedancingandfloatinggoddesseslookingdownatthemfromthehigh，paintedceiling，andtheswell，whowasalord，walkingaboutamongthem，workingforthemasthenursesdid，andsittingbysomeofthemthroughawfulhours，sometimesholdingburningorslackeningandchillinghandswithagripwhosesteadinessseemedtoholdthembackfromthebrinkoftheabysstheywereslippinginto。Themereignorantlychildishdesiretodohisprowesscreditandtoplayhimfairsavedmorethanonemanandwomanfromgoingoutwiththetide。
\"ItisthefirsttimeinmylifethatIhavefairlycountedamongmen。It’sthefirsttimeIhaveknownhumanaffection，otherthanyours，Penzance。Theywantme，thesepeople；
theyarebetterforthesightofme。Itisanewexperience，anditisgoodforaman’ssoul，\"hesaid。
CHAPTERXLIII
HISCHANCE
BettywalkedmuchaloneuponthemarsheswithRolandatherside。AtintervalssheheardfromMr。Penzance，buthisnoteswerenecessarilybrief，andatothertimesshecouldonlyrelyuponreportfornewsofwhatwasoccurringatMountDunstan。LordMountDunstan’salmostmilitarysupervisionofandcommandoverhisvillagershadcertainlysavedthemfromthehorrorsofanuncontrollableepidemic；hisdecisionandenergyhadfilledthealarmedGuardianswithrespectandthisrespecthadbeguntobesharedbymanyotherpersons。Amanaspromptinaction，andasfaithfultosuchresponsibilitiesasmanymenmighthavefoundplausiblereasonsenoughforshirking，inevitablyassumedacertaindignityofaspect，whenallwassaidanddone。LordDunholmwasmostclearinhisexpressionsofopinionconcerninghim。LadyAlanbyofDolemadeapracticeofspeakingofhiminpublicfrequently，alwayswithadmiringapproval，andinthatfinalmannerofhers，towhoseauthorityherneighbourshadsolongsubmitted。
Itbegantobeacceptedasafactthathewasanewdevelopmentofhisrace——asherladyshiphadputit，\"AneworderofMountDunstan。\"
Thestoryofhispoweroverthestrickenpeople，andoftheirpassionateaffectionandadmirationforhim，wasonelikelytospreadfar，andbeimmenselypopular。Thedramaofcertainincidentsappealedgreatlytotherusticmind，andbycottagefiresideshewasrepresentedwithrapturousawe，asraisingmen，women，andchildrenfromthedead，bythemeremiracleoftouch。Mrs。WeldenandoldDobyrevelledinthrilling，almostBiblical，versionsofcurrentanecdotes，whenBettypaidhervisitstothem。
\"It’sliketheScripture，wothedoneforthatyoungmanasthelastbreathhadgoneoutofhim，an’himlyin’stiffeningfast。`Youngman，arise，’hesays。`TheLordAlmightycalls。You’vegotayoungwifean’threechildrentotakecareof。Takeupyourbedan’walk。’Notashewantedhimtocarryhisbedanywheres，butitwasamannerofspeaking。
An’uptheyoungmangot。An’asensibleway，\"saidoldMrs。Weldenfrankly，\"fortheLordtolookatit——
forImustsay，miss，ifIwasstruckdownforit，thoughI
s’poseit’sonlymysinfulignorance——thatthere’stimeswhentheLordseemstothinknomoreofsweepin’awayasteadyeighteen—shillin’aweek，andp’rapsseveninfamily，an’oneatthebreast，an’anotherontheway——thanifitwasnothin’。
Butlikelyenough，eighteenshillin’aweekan’confinementsdoesseempaltrytotheMakerof’eavenan’earth。\"
But，tothegirlwalkingoverthemarshland，thehumannessofthethingssheheardgavetoherthesenseofnearness——ofbeingalmostwithinsightandsound——whichMountDunstanhimselfhadfelt，wheneachdaywasfilledwiththeresultofherthoughtoftheneedsofthepoorsoulsthrownbyfateintohishands。Inthesedays，afterlisteningtooldMrs。
Welden’sanecdotes，throughwhichshegatheredthesimplertruthofthings，BettywasabletoconstructforherselfalessScripturalversionofwhatshehadheard。Shewasglad——gladinhissittingbyabedsideandholdingahandwhichlayinhishotorcold，butalwaystrustingtosomethingwhichhisstrongbodyandstrongsoulgavewithoutstint。Therewouldbenorestraintthere。Yes，hewaskind——kind——kind——withthekindnessawomanloves，andwhichshe，ofallwomen，lovedmost。Sometimesshewouldsituponsomemound，and，whilehereyesseemedtorestontheyellowingmarshanditsbirdsandpools，theysawotherthings，andtheircolourgrewdeepanddarkasthemarshwaterbetweentherushes。
Thetimewaspressingwhenachangeinherlifemustcome。
ShefrequentlyaskedherselfifwhatshesawinNigelAnstruthers’facewasthenormalthinkingofasaneman，whichhehimselfcouldcontrol。Therehadbeenmomentswhenshehadseriouslydoubtedit。Hewashaggard，agingandrestless。
Sometimeshe——alwaysasifbychance——followedherasshewentfromoneroomtoanother，andwouldseathimselfandfixhismiserableeyesuponherforsolongatimethatitseemedhemustbeunconsciousofwhathewasdoing。Thenhewouldappearsuddenlytorecollecthimselfandwouldstartupwithamutteredexclamation，andstalkoutoftheroom。HespentlonghoursridingordrivingaloneaboutthecountryorwanderingwretchedlythroughtheParkandgardens。Oncehewentuptotown，and，afterafewdays’
absence，camebacklookingmorehaggardthanbefore，andwearingahuntedlookinhiseyes。Hehadgonetoseeaphysician，and，afterhavingseenhim，hehadtriedtolosehimselfinaplungeintodeepandturbidenoughwaters；buthefoundthathehadevenlostthetasteofhighflavours，forwhichhehadoncehadanepicureanpalate。Theefforthadendedinhisbeingoverpoweredagainbyhishorrors——thehorrorsinwhichhefoundhimselfstaringatthatendofthingswhennopleasurehadspice，nodebaucherythestingoflife，andmen，suchashe，stoodupontheshoreoftimeshudderingandnakedsouls，watchingthegreattide，bearingitstreasures，recedeforever，andleavethemtothecoldandhideousdark。
DuringonedayofhisstayintownhehadseenTeresita，whohadatfirststaredhalffrightenedbythechangeshesawinhim，andthenhadtoldhimtruthshecouldhavewrungherneckforputtingintowords。
\"Youlookanoldman，\"shesaid，withtheforeignaccenthehadoncefounddeliciouslyamusing，butwhichnowseemedtoaddasting。\"Andsomesingiseatingyouop。Youaremadinlofewithsomebeautifulonewhowillnotlookatyou。
Ihafseenitinmansbefore。Itisshewhoeatsyouop——yourevilthinkingsofher。Itserveyouright。Youreyeslookmad。\"
Hehimself，attimes，suspectedthattheydid，andcursedhimselfbecausehecouldnotkeepcool。Itwaspartofhishorrorsthatheknewhisinternalfurieswereworsethanfolly，andyethecouldnotrestrainthem。Thecreepingsuspicionthatthiswasonlytheresultofthesimplefactthathehadnevertriedtorestrainanytendencyofhisownwasmaddening。Hisnervoussystemwasawreck。Hedrankagreatdealofwhiskytokeephimself\"straight\"duringtheday，andherosemanytimesduringhisblackwakinghoursinthenighttodrinkmorebecauseheobstinatelyrefusedtogiveupthehopethat，ifhedrankenough，itwouldmakehimsleep。
AsthroughthethoughtsofMountDunstan，whowasacleanandhealthyhumanbeing，thereranonethreadwhichwouldnotdisentangleitself，sothereranthroughhisunwholesomethinkingathreadwhichburnedlikefire。Hissecretravingswouldnothavebeengoodtohear。Hispassionwasmorethanhalfhatred，andadesireforvengeance，forthechancetore—
asserthisownpower，toprovehimselfmaster，togetthebetterinonewayoranotherofthisarrogantyoungoutsiderandherhigh—handedpride。Theconditionofhismindwassofarfromnormalthathefailedtoseethatthethingshesaidtohimself，theplanshelaid，weregrotesqueintheirfolly。Theoldcrueldominanceofthemanoverthewomanthing，whichhadseemedthemerenaturalworkingofthelawamongmenofhisraceincenturiespast，wasawakeinhim，amidthelimitationsofmoderndays。
\"MyGod，\"hesaidtohimselfmorethanonce，\"Iwouldliketohavehadherinmyhandsafewhundredyearsago。
Womenwerekeptintheirplaces，then。\"
Hewasevenfrenziedenoughtothinkoverwhathewouldhavedone，ifsuchathinghadbeen——ofherutterhelplessnessagainstthatwhichragedinhim——ofthegreythicknessofthewallswherehemighthaveheldandwroughthiswilluponher——insult，torment，death。Hisalcohol—excitedbrainranriot——but，whenitdiditsfoolishworst，hewasbaffledbyonething。
\"Damnher！\"hefoundhimselfcryingout。\"IfIhadhungherupandcutherintostripsshewouldhavediedstaringatmewithherbigeyes——withoututteringasound。\"
Therewasalongreachbetweenhisimaginingsandthetimehelivedin。Americahadnotbeendiscoveredinthosedecentdays，andnowamancouldnotbeatevenhisownwife，orspendhermoney，withoutbeingmeddledwithbyfools。HewasthinkingofaNewYorkyoungwomanofthenineteenthcenturywhocouldactuallydoasshehangedpleased，andwhopleasedtobedamnedhighandmighty。Forthatreasoninitselfitwasincumbentuponamantogetevenwithherinonewayoranother。Highandmightinesswasnotthehardestthingtoreach。Itofferedagoodaim。
HistemperwhenhereturnedtoStornhamwasoftheorderwhichinpastyearshadsetRosalieandherchildshudderingandhadsenttheservantsaboutthehousewithpaleorsullenfaces。Betty’spresencehadtheoddeffectofrestraininghim，andheeventoldhersowithsneeringresentment。
\"Therewouldbethedeviltopayifyouwerenothere，\"hesaid。\"Youkeepmeinorder，byJove！Ican’tworkupsteamproperlywhenyouwatchme。\"
Hehimselfknewthatitwaslikelythatsomechangewouldtakeplace。ShewouldnotstayatStornhamandshewouldnotleavehiswifeandchildalonewithhimagain。Itwouldbelikehertoholdhertongueuntilshewasreadywithherinfernalplansandcouldspringthemonhim。Herletterstoherfatherhadprobablypreparedhimforsuchactionassuchamanwouldbelikelytotake。Hecouldguesswhatitwouldbe。TheywerefreeandeasyenoughinAmericaintheirdealingswiththemarriagetie。Theirideawoulddoubtlessbeadivorcewithcustodyofthechild。Hewonderedalittlethattheyhadremainedquietsolong。TherehadbeenAmericanshrewdnessinhercomingboldlytoStornhamtolookoverthegroundherselfandactuallysettheplaceinorder。Itdidnotpresentitselftohismindthatwhatshehaddonehadbeennopartofascheme，butthemereresultofhertemperamentandtraining。Hetoldhimselfthatithadbeenplannedbeforehandandcarriedoutinhard—headedcommercialAmericanfashionasamatterofbusiness。Thethingwhichmostenragedhimwastheimpliedcool，practicalrealisationofthefactthathe，asinheritorofanentailedestate，wasbutownerincharge，andnotyoungenoughtoberegardedasaninsurmountableobstacletotheirplans。Hecouldnotundothegreaterpartofwhathadbeendone，andtheywerecalculating，heargued，thathiswouldnotbelikelytobealonglife，andif——ifanythinghappened——StornhamwouldbeUghtred’sandthewholevulgarlotofthemwouldcomeoverandtakepossessionandswaggerabouttheplaceasiftheyhadbeenbornonit。Astodivorceorseparation——iftheytookthatline，hewouldatleastgivethemagoodrunfortheirmoney。Theywouldwishtheyhadletsleepingdogsliebeforethethingwasover。
TherightkindoflawyercouldbullyRosalieintosayinganythinghechoseonthewitness—stand。Therewasnotmuchlimittotheevidenceamancouldbringifhewasexperiencedenoughtobecircumstantial，andknewwhomhewasdealingwith。Theveryfactthatthelittlefoolcouldbemadetoappeartohavebeensoslyandsanctimoniouswouldstirthegallofanyjuryofmen。Hisowncondoningthematterforthesakeofhissensitiveboy，deformedbyhismother’sunrestrainedandviolenthysteriabeforehisbirth，wouldgoalongway。Letthemgettheirdivorce，theywouldhavepaidforit，thewholelotofthem，thebeautifulMissVanderpoelandall。SuchastoryasthenewspaperswouldrevelinwouldnotbearecommendationtoEnglishmenofunsmirchedreputation。Thenhisexultationwouldsuddenlydropashismentalexcitementproduceditseffectofinevitablephysicalfatigue。Evenifhemadethempayforgettingtheirownway，whatwouldhappentohimselfafterwards？Nomorbidvanityofself—bolsteringcouldmaketheoutlookanythingbutunpromising。Ifhehadnothadsuchdiabolicalluckinhisfewinvestmentshecouldhavelivedhisownlife。Asitwas，oldVanderpoelwouldpossiblycondescendtomakehimsomeinsufficientallowancebecauseRosaliewouldwishthatitmightbedone，andhewouldbeexpectedtodragouttotheendthekindoflifeamanpensionedbyhiswife’srelativesinevitablydoes。Ifheattemptedtoliveinthecountryheshouldblowouthisbrains。Whenhisdepressionwasatitsworst，hesawhimselfagingandshabby，ramblingaboutfromonecheapContinentaltowntoanother，blackballedbygoodclubs，cold—shoulderedevenbytheTeresitas，cutofffromsocietybyhislimitedmeansandthestorieshiswife’sfriendswouldspread。HegroundhisteethwhenhethoughtofBetty。
Hersplendidvitalityhaddonesomethingtolifeforhim——hadgivenitsavour。Whenhehadcomeuponherintheavenuehisbloodhadstirred，eventhoughithadbeenmaliciously，andtherehadbeenspiceinhisveryresentmentofherpresence。
Andshewouldgoaway。Hewouldnotbelikelytoseeheragainifhiswifebrokewithhim；shewouldbesweptoutofhisdays。Itwashideoustothinkof，andhisragewouldoverpowerhimandhisnervesgotopiecesagain。
\"Whatareyougoingtodo？\"hebrokeforthsuddenlyoneevening，whenhefoundhimselftemporarilyalonewithher。
\"Youaregoingtodosomething。Iseeitinyoureyes。\"
Hehadbeenforsometimewatchingherfrombehindhisnewspaper，whileshe，withanunreadbookuponherlap，had，infact，beenthinkingdeeplyandputtingtoherselfseriousquestions。
Heranswermadehimstirratheruncomfortably。
\"IamgoingtowritetomyfathertoaskhimtocometoEngland。\"
Sothiswaswhatshehadbeenpreparingtospringuponhim。
Helaughedinsolently。
\"Toaskhimtocomehere？\"
\"Withyourpermission。\"
\"Withmine？DoesanAmericanfather—in—lawwaitforpermission？\"
\"IsthereanypracticalreasonwhyyoushouldpreferthatheshouldNOTcome？\"
Helefthisseatandwalkedovertoher。
\"Yes。Yoursendingforhimisadeclarationofwar。\"
\"Itneednotbeso。Whyshouldit？\"
\"InthiscaseIhappentobeawarethatitis。Thechoiceisyourown，Isuppose，\"withreadybravado，\"thatyouandhearepreparedtofacetheconsequences。ButisRosalie，andisyourmother？\"
\"Myfatherisabusinessmanandwillknowwhatcanbedone。Hewillknowwhatisworthdoing，\"sheanswered，withoutnoticinghisquestion。\"But，\"sheaddedthewordsslowly，\"Ihavebeenmakingupmymind——beforeIwritetohim——tosaysomethingtoyou——toaskyouaquestion。\"
Hemadeamocksentimentalgesture。
\"Toaskmetosparemywife，to`rememberthatsheisthemotherofmychild’？\"
Shepassedoverthatalso。
\"Toaskyouifthereisnopossiblewayinwhichallthisunhappinesscanbeendeddecently。\"
\"Theonlydecentwayofendingitwouldbethatthereshouldbenofurtherinterference。LetRosaliesupplythedecencybyshowingmetheconsiderationduefromawifetoherhusband。Theplacehasbeenputinorder。Itwasnotformybenefit，andIhavenomoneytokeepitup。LetRosaliebeprovidedwithmeanstodoit。\"
Ashespokethewordsherealisedthathehadopenedawayforembarrassingcomment。HeexpectedhertoremindhimthatRosaliehadnotcometohimwithoutmoney。Butshesaidnothingaboutthematter。Sheneversaidthethingsheexpectedtohear。
\"YoudonotwantRosalieforyourwife，\"shewenton\"butyoucouldtreathercourteouslywithoutlovingher。Youcouldallowhertheprivilegesothermen’swivesareallowed。
Youneednotseparateherfromherfamily。Youcouldallowherfatherandmothertocometoherandleaveherfreetogotothemsometimes。Willyounotagreetothat？Willyounotletherlivepeaceablyinherownsimpleway？Sheisverygentleandhumbleandwouldasknothingmore。\"
\"Sheisafool！\"heexclaimedfuriously。\"Afool！ShewillstaywheresheisanddoasItellher。\"
\"Youknewwhatshewaswhenyoumarriedher。Shewassimpleandgirlishandpretendedtobenothingshewasnot。
Youchosetomarryherandtakeherfromthepeoplewholovedher。Youbrokeherspiritandherheart。YouwouldhavekilledherifIhadnotcomeintimetopreventit。\"
\"Iwillkillheryetifyouleaveher，\"hisfollymadehimsay。
\"Youaretalkinglikeafeudallordholdingthepoweroflifeanddeathinhishands，\"shesaid。\"Powerlikethatisancienthistory。Youcanhurtnoonewhohasfriends——withoutbeingpunished。\"
Itwastheoldstory。Shefilledhimwiththedesiretoshakeordisturbheratanycost，andhedidhisutmost。Ifshewasproposingtomaketermswithhim，hewouldshowherwhetherhewouldacceptthemornot。Heletherhearallhehadsaidtohimselfinhisworstmoments——allthathehadarguedconcerningwhatsheandherpeoplewoulddo，andwhathisownactionswouldbe——allhisintentiontomakethempaytheuttermostfarthinginhumiliationifhecouldnotfrustratethem。Hismethodswouldbedefiniteenough。HehadnotwatchedhiswifeandFfolliottforweekstonoend。Hehadknownwhathewasdealingwith。Hehadputotherpeopleuponthetrackandtheywouldtestifyforhim。Hepouredforthunspeakablestatementsandintimations，going，asusual，furtherthanhehadknownheshouldgowhenhebegan。Underthespurofexcitementhisimaginationservedhimwell。Atlasthepaused。
\"Well，\"heputittoher，\"whathaveyoutosay？\"
\"I？\"withtheremoteintentcuriositygrowinginhereyes。
\"Ihavenothingtosay。Iamleavingyoutosaythings。\"
\"Youwill，ofcourse，trytodeny————\"heinsisted。
\"No，Ishallnot。WhyshouldI？\"
\"Youmayassumeyourairofmagnificence，butIamdealingwithuncomfortablefactors。\"Hestoppedinspiteofhimself，andthenburstforthinaneworderofrage。\"Youaretryingsomeconfoundedexperimentonme。Whatisit？\"
Sherosefromherchairtogooutoftheroom，andstoodamomentholdingherbookhalfopeninherhand。
\"Yes。Isupposeitmightbecalledanexperiment，\"washeranswer。\"Perhapsitwasamistake。Iwantedtomakequitesureofsomething。\"
\"Ofwhat？\"
\"Ididnotwanttoleaveanythingundone。Ididnotwanttobelievethatanymancouldexistwhohadnotonetouchofdecentfeelingtoredeemhim。Itdidnotseemhuman。\"
Whitedintsshowedthemselvesabouthisnostrils。
\"Well，youhavefoundone，\"hecried。\"Youhavealashingtongue，byGod，whenyouchoosetoletitgo。ButI
couldteachyouagoodmanythings，mygirl。AndbeforeI
havedoneyouwillhavelearnedmostofthem。\"
Butthoughhethrewhimselfintoachairandlaughedaloudasshelefthim，heknewthathisarroganceandbullyingwereprovingpoorweapons，thoughtheyhaddonehimgoodserviceallhislife。Andheknew，too，thatitwasmeresimpletruththat，asaresultoftheintellectual，ethicalvagarieshescathinglyderided——shehadactuallybeengivinghimasortofchancetoretrievehimself，andthatifhehadbeenanothersortofmanhemighthavetakenit。
CHAPTERXLIV
AFOOTSTEP
Itwascoldenoughforfiresinhallsandbedrooms，andLadyAnstruthersoftensatoverhersandwatchedtheglowingbedofcoalswithafixedthoughtfulnessoflook。Shewassosittingwhenhersisterwenttoherroomtotalktoher，andshelookedupquestioninglywhenthedoorclosedandBettycametowardsher。
\"Youhavecometotellmesomething，\"shesaid。
Aslightshadeofanxiousnessshoweditselfinhereyes，andBettysatdownbyherandtookherhand。ShehadcomebecausewhatsheknewwasthatRosaliemustbepreparedforanysteptaken，andthetimehadarrivedwhenshemustnotbeallowedtoremaininignoranceevenofthingsitwouldbeunpleasanttoputintowords。
\"Yes，\"sheanswered。\"IwanttotalktoyouaboutsomethingIhavedecidedtodo。IthinkImustwritetofatherandaskhimtocometous。\"
Rosalieturnedwhite，butthoughherlipspartedasifsheweregoingtospeak，shesaidnothing。
\"Donotbefrightened，\"Bettysaid。\"Ibelieveitistheonlythingtodo。\"
\"Iknow！Iknow！\"
Bettywenton，holdingthehandalittlecloser。\"WhenI
camehereyouweretooweakphysicallytobeabletofaceeventhethoughtofastruggle。Isawthat。Iwasafraiditmustcomeintheend，butIknewthatatthattimeyoucouldnotbearit。Itwouldhavekilledyouandmighthavekilledmother，ifIhadnotwaited；anduntilyouwerestronger，I
knewImustwaitandreasoncoollyaboutyou——abouteverything。\"
\"Iusedtoguess——sometimes，\"saidLadyAnstruthers。
\"Icantellyouaboutitnow。Youarenotasyouwerethen，\"Bettysaid。\"IdidnotknowNigelatfirst，andIfeltIoughttoseemoreofhim。Iwantedtomakesurethatmychildhatredofhimdidnotmakemeunfair。Ieventriedtohopethatwhenhecamebackandfoundtheplaceinorderandthingsgoingwell，hemightrecognisethewisdomofbehavingwithdecentkindnesstoyou。IfhehaddonethatIknewfatherwouldhaveprovidedforyouboth，thoughhewouldnothavelefthimtheopportunitytodoagainwhathedidbefore。Nobusinessmanwouldallowsuchathingasthat。ButastimehasgonebyIhaveseenIwasmistakeninhopingforarespectablecompromise。Evenifheweregivenafreehandhewouldnotchange。Andnow————\"Shehesitated，feelingitdifficulttochoosesuchwordsaswouldnotbetoounpleasant。
HowwasshetotellRosyoftheugly，morbidsituationwhichmadeordinarypassivenessimpossible。\"Nowthereisareason————\"shebeganagain。
TohersurpriseandreliefitwasRosaliewhoendedforher。
Shespokewiththepainfulcouragewhichstrongaffectiongivesaweakthing。Herfacewaspalenolonger，butslightlyreddened，andsheliftedthehandwhichheldhersandkissedit。
