\"ThatIwasinlucknottohavebrokenmyneck。\"
\"Youhadbetterhaveaglassofwine，\"touchingabell。
\"Youdonotlookequaltoanyexertion。\"
Ingatheringhimselftogether，SirNigelfelthewasforcedtouseenormouseffort。IthadcosthimagruesomephysicalstruggletoendurethedriveovertoBroadmorlands，thoughitwasonlyafewmilesfromMedham。Therehadbeensomethingunnaturalintheexertionnecessarytosituprightandkeephisminddecentlyclear。Thatwastheworstofit。Thefeverandraginghoursofthepastdaysandnightshadsoshakenhimthathehadbecomeexhausted，andhisbrainwasnotalert。Hewasnotthinkingrapidly，andseveraltimeshehadlostsightofapointitwasimportanttoremember。Hegrewhotandcoldandknewhishandsandvoiceshook，asheanswered。But，perhaps——hefeltdesperately——signsofemotionwerenotbad。
\"Iamnotquiteequaltoexertion，\"hebeganslowly。\"Butamancannotlieonhisbedwhilesomethingsareundone——
aMANcannot。\"
AstheoldDukesatupright，theblueeyesunderhisbentbrowswerestartled，aswellascurious。Wasthemangoingoutofhismindaboutsomething？Helookedratherlikeit，withthedampnessstartingoutonhishaggardface，andtheuglylooksuddenlystampedthere。ThefactwasthattheinsensatefurywhichhadpossessedandtornAnstruthersashehadwrithedinhisinnbedroomhadsprunguponhimagaininfullforce，andhisweaknesscouldnotcontrolit，thoughitwouldhavebeenwisertoholditincheck。Healsofeltfrightfullyill，whichfilledhimwithdespair，and，throughthisfact，helostsightoftheeffectheproduced，ashestoodup，shakingallover。
\"IcometoyoubecauseyouaretheonemanwhocanmosteasilyunderstandthethingIhavebeenconcealingforagoodmanyyears。\"
TheDukewasirritated。Confoundtheobjectionableidiot，whatdidhemeanbytakingthatintimatetonewithamanwhowasnotpreparedtoconcernhimselfinhisaffairs？
\"Excuseme，\"hesaid，holdingupanauthoritativehand，\"areyougoingtomakeaconfession？Idon’tlikesuchthings。Iprefertobeexcused。Personalconfidencesarenotparochialmatters。\"
\"Thisoneis。\"AndSirNigelwassickeninglyconsciousthathewasputtingthestatementrashly，whileatthesametimeallbetterwordsescapedhim。\"Itisasmuchaparochialmatter，\"losingallholdonhiswitsandstammering，\"aswas——aswas——theaffairof——yourwife。\"
ItwastheDukewhostoodupnow，scarletwithanger。
Hesprangfromhischairasifhehadbeenayoungmaninwhomsomeinsulthadstruckblazingfire。
\"You——youdare！\"heshouted。\"Youinsolentblackguard！
Youforceyourwayinhereanddare——dare————！\"
Andheclenchedhisfist，wildlyshakingit。
NigelAnstruthers，staggeringonhisuncertainfeet，wouldhaveshoutedalso，butcouldnot，thoughhetried，andheheardhisownvoicecomeforthbrokenly。
\"Yes，Idare！I——your——myown——my————！\"
Swayingandtottering，heswungroundtothechairhehadleft，andfellintoit，evenwhiletheoldDuke，whostoodragingbeforehim，startedbackinoutragedamazement。Whatwasthefellowdoing？Washemakingfacesathim？Thedrawnmalignantmouthandmusclessuggestedit。Washealunatic，indeed？Butthesenseofdisgustedoutragechangedallatoncetohorror，as，withacountenancestillmorehideouslylividandtwisted，hisvisitorslidhelplesslyfromhisseatandlayahuddlingheapofclothesonthefloor。
CHAPTERL
THEPRIMEVALTHING
WhenMr。VanderpoellandedinEnglandhiswifewaswithhim。Thisquiet—facedwoman，whowasknowntobeonherwaytojoinherdaughterinEngland，wasmuchdiscussed，envied，andglancedat，whenshepromenadedthedeckwithherhusband，orsatinherchairsoftlywrappedinwonderfulfurs。Gradually，duringthepastmonths，shehadbeentoldcertainmodifiedtruthsconnectedwithherelderdaughter’smarriage。Theyhadbeenpainfultruths，buthadbeensosoftenedandexpurgatedoftheirworstfeaturesthatithadbeenpossibletobearthem，whenonerealisedthattheydidnot，atleast，meanthatRosyhadforgottenorceasedtolovehermotherandfather，orwishtovisitherhome。ThesteadyclearnessofforesightandreadinessofresourcewhichwereoftenspokenofasbeingspeciallycharacteristicofReubenS。
Vanderpoel，wereallrequired，andemployedwithgreattenderness，inthemanagementofthissituation。Aslittleasitwaspossiblethathiswifeshouldknow，wastheutmostshemusthearandbehurtby。Unlessensuingeventscompelledfurtherrevelations，therestofitshouldbekeptfromher。Asfurtherprotection，herhusbandhadfranklyaskedhertocontentherselfwithadegreeoflimitedinformation。
\"Ihavemeantallourlives，Annie，tokeepfromyoutheunpleasantthingsawomanneednotbetroubledwith，\"hehadsaid。\"IpromisedmyselfIwouldwhenyouwereagirl。
Iknewyouwouldfacethings，ifIneededyourhelp，butyouwereagentlelittlesoul，likeRosy，andIneverintendedthatyoushouldbearwhatwasuseless。Anstrutherswasablackguard，andgirlsofallnationshavemarriedblackguardsbefore。
WhenyouhaveRosysafeathome，andknownothingcanhurtheragain，youbothmayfeelyouwouldliketotalkitover。
Tillthenwewon’tgointodetail。Youtrustme，Iknow，whenItellyouthatyoushallholdRosyinyourarmsverysoon。
Wemayhavesomethingofafight，buttherecanonlybeoneendtoitinacountryasdecentasEngland。Anstruthersisn’texactlywhatIshouldcallanEnglishman。Menratherlikehimaretobefoundintwoorthreeplaces。\"Hisgood—looking，shrewd，elderlyfacelightedwithafinesmile。\"MyhandsomeBettyhassavedusagooddealbycarryingoutherfifteen—year—oldplanofgoingtofindhersister，\"heended。
BeforetheylandedtheyhaddecidedthatMrs。VanderpoelshouldbecomfortablyestablishedinahotelinLondon，andthatafterthiswasarranged，herhusbandshouldgotoStornhamCourtalone。IfSirNigelcouldbeinducedtolistentologic，Rosalie，herchild，andBettyshouldcomeatoncetotown。
\"And，ifhewon’tlistentologic，\"addedMr。Vanderpoel，withadrycomposure，\"theyshallcomejustthesame，mydear。\"Andhiswifeputherarmsroundhisneckandkissedhimbecausesheknewwhathesaidwasquitetrue，andsheadmiredhim——asshehadalwaysdone——greatly。
Butwhenthepilotcameonboardandtherebegantostirintheshiptheagreeableandexcitingbustleofthedeliveryoflettersandwelcomingtelegrams，amongMr。Vanderpoel’smanyyellowenvelopesheopenedonethecontentsofwhichcausedhimtostandstillforsomemoments——sostill，indeed，thatsomeofthebystandersbegantotoucheachother’selbowsandwhisper。Hecertainlyreadthemessagetwoorthreetimesbeforehefoldeditup，returnedittoitsreceptacle，andwalkedgravelytohiswife’ssitting—room。
\"Reuben！\"sheexclaimed，afterherfirstlookathim，\"haveyoubadnews？Oh，Ihopenot！\"
Hecameandsatdownquietlybesideher，takingherhand。
\"Don’tbefrightened，Annie，mydear，\"hesaid。\"IhavejustbeenremindedofaverseintheBible——aboutvengeancenotbelongingtomerehumanbeings。NigelAnstruthershashadastrokeofparalysis，anditisnothisfirst。Apparently，evenifheliesonhisbackforsomemonthsthinkingofharm，hewon’tbeabletodoit。Heisfinished。\"
Whenhewascarriedbytheexpresstrainthroughthecountry，hesawallthatBettyhadseen，thoughthesummerhadpassed，andtherewereneithergreentreesnorhedges。
Heknewallthatthelonglettershadmeantofstirredemotionandaffection，andhewasstronglymoved，thoughhismindwasfullofmanythings。Therewerethefarmhouses，thesquare—toweredchurches，thered—pointedhopoasts，andthevillagechildren。Howdistinctlyshehadmadehimseethem！
HisBetty——hissplendidBetty！Hisheartbeatatthethoughtofseeingherhigh，youngblackhead，andholdinghersafeinhisarmsagain。Safe！Heresentedhavingusedtheword，becausetherewasashockinseemingtoadmitthepossibilitythatanythingintheuniversecoulddowrongtoher。Yetonemanhadbeenvillainenoughtomeanherharm，andtothreatenherwithit。Heslightlyshudderedashethoughtofhowthemanwasfinished——donefor。
Thetrainbegantopuffmoreloudly，asitslackeneditspace。
Itwasdrawingneartoarusticlittlestation，and，asitpassedin，hesawacarriagestandingoutside，waitingontheroad，andafootmaninalongcoat，glancingintoeachwindowasthetrainwentby。Twoorthreecountrypeoplewerewatchingitintently。MissVanderpoel’sfatherwascomingupfromLondononit。Thestationmasterrushedtoopenthecarriagedoor，andthefootmanhastenedforward，butatalllovelythingingreywasoppositethestepasMr。Vanderpoeldescendedittotheplatform。Shedidnotrecognisethepresenceofanyotherhumanbeingthanhimself。Forthemomentsheseemedtoforgeteventhebroad—shoulderedmanwhohadplainlycomewithher。AsReubenS。Vanderpoelfoldedherinhisarms，shefoldedhimandkissedhimashewasnotsureshehadeverkissedhimbefore。
\"MysplendidBetty！Myownfinegirl！\"hesaid。
Andwhenshecriedout\"Father！Father！\"shebentandkissedthebreastofhiscoat。
Heknewwhothebigyoungmanwasbeforesheturnedtopresenthim。
\"ThisisLordMountDunstan，father，\"shesaid。\"SinceNigelwasbroughthome，hehasbeenverygoodtous。\"
ReubenS。Vanderpoellookedwellintotheman’seyes，asheshookhandswithhimwarmly，andthiswaswhathesaidtohimself：
\"Yes，she’ssafe。Thisisquitesafe。Itistobetrustedwiththewholething。\"
Notmanydaysafterherhusband’sarrivalatStornhamCourt，Mrs。VanderpoeltravelleddownfromLondon，and，duringherjourney，scarcelysawthewintryhedgesandbaretrees，because，asshesatinhercushionedcorneroftherailwaycarriage，shewasinwardlyofferingupgentle，patheticallyardentprayersofgratitude。Shewasthewomanwhoprays，andthemanysadpetitionsofthepastyearswerebeingansweredatlast。ShewasbeingallowedtogotoRosy——
whatsoeverhappened，shecouldneverbereallypartedfromhergirlagain。Sheaskedpardonmanytimesbecauseshehadnotbeenabletobereallysorrywhenshehadheardofherson—in—law’sdesperatecondition。Shecouldfeelpityforhiminhisawfulcase，shetoldherself，butshecouldnotwishforthethingwhichperhapssheoughttowishfor。Shehadconfidedthistoherhusbandwithinnocent，penitenttears，andhehadstrokedhercheek，whichhadalwaysbeenhiscomfortingwaysincetheyhadbeenyoungthingstogether。
\"Mydear，\"hesaid，\"ifatigerwithhydrophobiawerelooseamongalotofdecentpeople——orindecentones，forthematterofthat——youwouldnotfeelityourdutytobeverysorryif，inspringingonagroupofthem，heimpaledhimselfonanironfence。Don’treproachyourselftoomuch。\"And，thoughtherealismofthepicturehepresentedwassuchastomakeherexclaim，\"No！No！\"therewerestilloccasionalmomentswhenshebreathedarequestforpardonifshewashardofheart——thissoftestofcreatureshuman。
ItwasarrangedbythetwowhobestknewandlovedherthathermeetingwithRosalieshouldhavenospectators，andthattheirfirsthourtogethershouldbewhollyunbrokeninupon。
\"Youhavenotseeneachotherforsolong，\"Bettysaid，when，onherarrival，sheledheratoncetothemorning—roomwhereRosywaited，palewithjoy，butwhenthedoorwasopened，thoughthetwofiguresweresweptintoeachother’sarmsbyonewild，tremulousrushofmovement，therewerenosoundstobeheard，onlycaughtbreaths，untilthedoorhadclosedagain。
ThetalkswhichtookplacebetweenMr。VanderpoelandLordMountDunstanweremanyandlong，andwereofabsorbinginteresttoboth。Eachpresentedtotheotheranewworld，andatypeofwhichhispreviousknowledgehadbeenbutincomplete。
\"Iwonder，\"Mr。Vanderpoelsaid，inthecourseofoneofthem，\"ifmyworldappealstoyouasyoursappealstome。
Naturally，fromyourstandpoint，itscarcelyseemsprobable。
Perhapstheup—buildingoflargefinancialschemespresupposesacertaindegreeofimagination。IambecomingaromanticNewYorkmanofbusiness，andIrevelinit。Kedgers，forinstance，\"withthesmilewhich，somehow，suggestedBetty，\"KedgersandtheLiliumGiganteum，Mrs。WeldenandoldDobythreatentodevelopintoquitenecessaryfactorsintheschemeofhappiness。WhatBettyhasfeltisevenmorecomprehensiblethanitseemedatfirst。\"
Theywalkedandrodetogetheraboutthecountryside；whenMountDunstanitselfwassweptcleanofdanger，andonlyafewconvalescentslingeredtobetakencareofinthehugeballroom，theyspentmanydaysingoingovertheestate。ThedesolatebeautyofitappealedtoandtouchedMr。Vanderpoel，asithadappealedtoandtouchedhisdaughter，and，also，wakenedinhimmuchnewandcuriousdelight。ButMountDunstan，withatouchofhisoldobstinacy，insistedthatheshouldignorethebeauty，andlookcloselyatlessadmirablethings。
\"Youmustseetheworstofthis，\"hesaid。\"YoumustunderstandthatIcanputnogoodfaceuponthings，thatI
offernothing，becauseIhavenothingtooffer。\"
Ifhehadnotbeensweptthroughandthroughbyapowerfulandrapturouspassion，hewouldhavedetestedandabhorredthesedaysofdeliberateproudlayingbareofthenakednessoftheland。ButinthehourshespentwithBettyVanderpoelthepassiongavehimknowledgeofthethingswhich，beingelemental，donotconcernthemselveswithprideandobstinacy，anddonotrememberthem。Toomuchhadended，andtoomuchbegun，toleavespaceorthoughtforpoorthings。Intheireyes，whentheyweretogether，andevenwhentheywereapart，dweltaglowwhichwasdeeplymovingtothosewho，lookingon，weresufficientlyprofoundofthoughttounderstand。
Watchingthetwowalkingslowlysidebysidedowntheleaflessavenueonacrystalwinterday，Mr。Vanderpoelconversedwiththevicar，whomhegreatlyliked。
\"AyoungmanofthenameofSelden，\"heremarked，\"toldmemoreofthisthanheknew。\"
\"G。Selden，\"saidthevicar，withaffectionatesmiling。\"Heisnotawarethathewaslargelyconcernedinthematter。Infact，withoutG。Selden，Idonotknowhow，exactly，weshouldhavegoton。Howishe，nicefellow？\"
\"Extremelywell，andinthesedaysinmyemploy。Heisofthehonest，indefatigablestuffwhichmakesitsway。\"
Hisownsmiles，ashewatchedthetwotallfiguresinthedistance，settledintoanexpressionofspeculativeabsorption，becausehewasreflectinguponprofoundlyinterestingmatters。
\"Thereisagreatprimevalthingwhichsometimes——notoften，onlysometimes——occurstotwopeople，\"hewenton。
\"Whenitleapsintobeing，itiswellifitisnotthwarted，ordonetodeath。IthashappenedtomygirlandMountDunstan。
Iftheyhadbeentwoyoungtinkersbytheroadside，theywouldhavecometogether，anddefiedtheirbeggary。Asitis，Irecognise，asIsithere，thattheoutcomeofwhatistobemayreachfar，andopenupbroadnewways。\"
\"Yes，\"saidthevicar。\"Shewilllivehereandfillastrongman’slifewithwonderfulhumanhappiness——hersplendidchildrenwillbebornhere，andamongthemwillbethosewholeadthevanandmakehistory。\"
ForsometimeNigelAnstrutherslayinhisroomatStornhamCourt，surroundedbyallofaidandluxurythatwealthandexaltedmedicalsciencecouldgatherabouthim。Sometimeshelayalividunconsciousmask，sometimeshisnursesanddoctorsknewthatinhisholloweyestherewasthelightofaraginghalfreason，andtheysawthathestruggledtouttercoherentsoundswhichtheymightcomprehend。Thisheneveraccomplished，andoneday，inthemidstofsuchaneffort，hewasstrickendumbagain，andsoonafterwardssankintostillnessanddied。
AndtheShuttleinthehandofFate，througheveryhourofeveryday，andthroughtheslow，deepbreathingofallthesilentnights，weavestoandfro——toandfro——drawingwithitthethreadsofhumanlifeandthoughtwhichstrengthenitsweb：andtracethefiguresofitsyetvagueanduncompleteddesign。
End
