第1章

CHAPTERI

THEWEAVINGOFTHESHUTTLE

NomanknewwhentheShuttlebeganitsslowandheavyweavingfromshoretoshore，thatitwasheldandguidedbythegreathandofFate。Fatealonesawthemeaningofthewebitwove，themightofit，anditsplaceinthemakingofaworld’shistory。Menthoughtbutlittleofeitherweborweaving，callingthembyothernamesandlighterones，forthetimeunconsciousofthestrengthofthethreadthrownacrossthousandsofmilesofleaping，heaving，greyorblueocean。

FateandLifeplannedtheweaving，anditseemedmerecircumstancewhichguidedtheShuttletoandfrobetweentwoworldsdividedbyagulfbroaderanddeeperthanthethousandsofmilesofsalt，fiercesea——thegulfofabitterquarreldeepenedbyhatredandthesheddingofbrothers’

blood。BetweenthetwoworldsofEastandWesttherewasnowilltodrawnearer。Eachheldapart。Thosewhohadrebelledagainstthatwhichtheirsoulscalledtyranny，havingstruggledmadlyandshedbloodintearingthemselvesfree，turnedsternbacksupontheirunconqueredenemies，brokeallcordsthatboundthemtothepast，flingingofftiesofname，kinshipandrank，beginningwithfiercedisdainanewlife。

Thosewho，beingrebelledagainst，foundtherebelstoopassionateintheirdeterminationandtoodesperateintheirdefenceoftheirstrongholdstobelessthanunconquerable，sailedbackhaughtilytotheworldwhichseemedsofarthegreaterpower。Plungingintonewbattles，theyaddednewconquestsandsplendourtotheirland，lookingbackwithsomethingofcontempttothehalf—savageWestlefttobuilditsowncivilisationwithoutotheraidthanthestrengthofitsownstrongrighthandandstrongunculturedbrain。

Butwhilethetwoworldsheldapart，theShuttle，weavingslowlyinthegreathandofFate，drewthemcloserandheldthemfirm，eachofthemallunknowingformanyayear，thatwhathadatfirstbeenmerethreadsofgossamer，wasformingawebwhosestrengthintimenonecouldcompute，whoseseverancecouldbeaccomplishedbutbytragedyandconvulsion。

Theweavingwasbutinitsearlyandslow—movingyearswhenthisstoryopens。SteamerscrossedandrecrossedtheAtlantic，buttheyaccomplishedthejourneyatleisureandwithheavyrollingsandallsuchdiscomfortsassmallcraftcanafford。Theirstateroomsanddeckswerenotcrowdedwithpeopletowhomthevoyagewasamereincident——inmanycasesayearlyone。\"Acrossing\"inthosedayswasanevent。

Itwasplannedseriously，longthoughtof，discussedandre—

discussed，withandamongthevariousmembersofthefamilytowhichthevoyagerbelonged。Acertainboldness，borderingonrecklessness，wasalmosttobepresupposedintheindividualwho，turninghisbackuponNewYork，Philadelphia，Boston，andlikecities，turnedhisfacetowards\"Europe。\"

InthosedayswhentheShuttlewoveatleisure，amandidnotlightlyrunovertoLondon，orParis，orBerlin，hegravelywentto\"Europe。\"

Thejourneybeinglikelytobemadeonceinalifetime，thetraveller’sintentionwastoseeasmuchaspossible，tovisitasmanycitiescathedrals，ruins，galleries，ashistimeandpursewouldallow。PeoplewhocouldspeakwithanydegreeoffamiliarityofHydePark，theChampsElysees，thePincio，hadgainedacertaindignity。Theabilitytotouchwithanintimatebearinguponsuchlocalitieswasaraisondeplusforbeingaskedouttoteaortodinner。Topossessphotographsandrelicswastobeofinterest，tohaveseenEuropeancelebritiesevenatadistance，tohavewanderedabouttheoutsideofpoets’gardensandphilosophers’houses，wastobeentitledtorespect。TheperiodwasafarcryfromthetimewhentheShuttle，havingshottoandfro，fasterandfaster，weekbyweek，monthbymonth，weavingnewthreadsintoitswebeachyear，haswovenwarpandwoofuntiltheybindfarshoretoshore。

Itwasincomparativelyearlydaysthatthefirstthreadwefollowwaswovenintotheweb。Manysuchhavebeenwovensinceandhaveaddedgreaterstrengththananyothers，twiningthecordofsexandhome—buildingandrace—founding。

Butthiswasaslightandweakone，beingonlythethreadofthelifeofoneofReubenVanderpoel’sdaughters——theprettylittlesimpleonewhosenamewasRosalie。

Theywere——theVanderpoels——oftheAmericanswhosefortuneswereaportionofthehistoryoftheircountry。Thebuildingofthesefortuneshadbeenapartof，orhadcreatedepochsandcrises。Theirmillionscouldscarcelyberegardedasprivateproperty。Newspapersbandiedthemabout，sotospeak，employingthemasfactorsinargument，usingthemasfiguresofspeech，incorporatingthemintomethodsofcalculation。Literaturetoucheduponthem，moralsystemsconsideredthem，storiesfortheyoungtreatedthemgravelyasillustrative。

ThefirstReubenVanderpoel，whoinearlydaysofdangerhadtradedwithsavagesforthepeltsofwildanimals，wasthelaudedheroofstoriesofthriftandenterprise。Throughouthishard—workinglifehehadbeenirresistiblyimpelledtoactionbyanabsolutegeniusofcommerce，expressingitselfattheoutsetbytheexhibitionofcourageinmereexchangeandbarter。Analertpowertoperceivethepotentialvalueofthingsandthepossiblemalleabilityofmenandcircumstances，hadstoodhiminmarvellousgoodstead。Hehadboughtatlowpricesthingswhichintheeyesofthelessdiscerningwereworthless，but，havingobtainedpossessionofsuchthings，thelessdiscerninghadalmostinvariablyawakenedtothefactthat，inhishands，valuesincreased，andmethodsofremunerativedisposition，beingsought，werefound。Nothingremainedunutilisable。Thepractical，sordid，uneducatedlittlemandevelopedthepowertocreatedemandforhisownsupplies。Ifhewasbetrayedintoanerror，hequicklyretrievedit。Hecouldliveuponnothingandconsequentlycouldtravelanywhereinsearchofsuchthingsashedesired。Hecouldbarelyreadandwrite，andcouldnotspell，buthewasdaringandastute。Hisuntaughtbrainwasthatofafinancier，hisbloodburnedwiththefeverofbutonedesire——thedesiretoaccumulate。Moneyexpressedtohisnature，notexpenditure，butinvestmentinsuchsmallorlargepropertiesascouldberesoldatprofitinthenearorfarfuture。Thefutureheldfascinationsforhim。Heboughtnothingforhisownpleasureorcomfort，nothingwhichcouldnotbesoldorbarteredagain。Hemarriedawomanwhowasatrader’sdaughterandsharedhispassionforgain。ShewasofNorthofEnglandblood，herfatherhavingbeenahard—fistedsmalltradesmaninanunimportanttown，whohadbeendaringenoughtoemigratewhenemigrationmeantthefacingofunknowndangersinahalf—savageland。ShehadexcitedReubenVanderpoel’sadmirationbytakingoffherpetticoatonebitterwinter’sdaytosellittoasquawinexchangeforanornamentforwhichshechancedtoknowanothersquawwouldpaywithaskinofvalue。ThefirstMrs。Vanderpoelwasaswonderfulasherhusband。Theywerebothwonderful。Theywerethefoundersofthefortunewhichacenturyandahalflaterwasthedelight——infactthepiecederesistance——ofNewYorksocietyreporters，itsenormitybeingrestatedinroundfigureswhenablankspacemustbefilledup。Themethodofstatementlentitselftoinfinitevarietyandwasalwaysinterestingtoaparticularclass，someelementsofwhichfeltitencouragingtobeassuredthatsomuchmoneycouldbeapersonalpossession，someelementsfeelingthefactanadditionalargumenttobeusedagainsttheinfamyofmonopoly。

ThefirstReubenVanderpoeltransmittedtohissonhisaccumulationsandhisfeverforgain。Hehadbutonechild。

ThesecondReubenbuiltuponthefoundationsthisaffordedhim，afortuneasmuchlargerthanthefirstastherapidgrowthandincreasingcapabilitiesofthecountrygavehimenlargingopportunitiestoacquire。Itwasnolongernecessarytodealwithsavages：hispowerswerecalledupontocopewiththoseofwhitemenwhocametoanewcountrytostruggleforlivelihoodandfortune。Somewereshrewd，someweredesperate，someweredishonest。Butshrewdnessneveroutwitted，desperationneverovercame，dishonestyneverdeceivedthesecondReubenVanderpoel。Eachcharacteristicendedbyadaptingitselftohisownpurposesandqualities，andasaresultofeachitwashewhoinanybusinesstransactionwasthegainer。

ItwasthecommonsayingthattheVanderpoelswerepossessedofamoney—makingspell。Theirspelllayintheirentirementalandphysicalabsorptioninoneidea。TheirpeculiaritywasnotsomuchthattheywishedtoberichasthatNatureitselfimpelledthemtocollectwealthastheload—stonedrawstowardsitiron。Havingpossessednothing，theybecamerich，havingbecomerichtheybecamericher，havingfoundedtheirfortunesonsmallschemes，theyincreasedthembyenormousones。Intimetheyattainedthatomnipotenceofwealthwhichitwouldseemnocircumstancecancontrolorlimit。ThefirstReubenVanderpoelcouldnotspell，thesecondcould，thethirdwasaswelleducatedasamancouldbewhosesoleprofessionismoney—making。Hischildrenweretaughtallthatexpensiveteachersandexpensiveopportunitiescouldteachthem。AfterthesecondgenerationthemeagreandmercantilephysicaltypeoftheVanderpoelsimproveduponitself。Femininegoodlooksappearedandweremadethemostof。TheVanderpoelelementinvestedevengoodlookstoanadvantage。ThefourthReubenVanderpoelhadnosonandtwodaughters。Theywerebroughtupinabrown—stonemansionbuiltuponafashionableNewYorkthoroughfareroaringwithtraffic。TothefarthestpointoftheRockyMountainsthenumberofdollarsthis\"mansion\"（itwasalwayscalledso）hadcost，wasknown。TheremayhaveexistedPuebloIndianswhohadheardrumoursofthepriceofit。Alltheshop—keepersandfarmersintheUnitedStateshadreadnewspaperdescriptionsofitsfurnishingsandknewthevalueofthebrocadewhichhunginthebedroomsandboudoirsoftheMissesVanderpoel。

ItwasafactmuchcherishedthatMissRosalie’sbathwasofCarraramarble，andtogoodsoulsactivelyengagedindoingtheirownwashinginsmallNewEnglandorWesterntowns，itwasadistinctluxurytobeawarethatthewaterintheCarraramarblebathwasperfumedwithFlorentineIris。

Circumstancessuchastheseseemedtobecomepersonalpossessionsandeventolightensomewhattheburdenoftoil。

RosalieVanderpoelmarriedanEnglishmanoftitle，andpartofthestoryofhermarriedlifeformsmyprologue。Herswasoftheearlyinternationalmarriages，andtherepublicanmindhadnotyetadjusteditselftoallthatsuchalliancesmightimply。

Itwasyetingenuous，imaginativeandconfidinginsuchmatters。AbaronetcyandamanorhousereigningoveranoldEnglishvillageandovervillagersinpossiblesmockfrocks，presentedelementsofpicturesquedignitytopeoplewhoseintimacywithsuchallurementshadbeenlimitedbythenovelsofMrs。Oliphantandotherwriters。Themostordinarylittleanecdotesinwhichvicarages，gamekeepers，anddowagersfigured，wereexcitingintheseearlydays。\"SirNigelAnstruthers，\"whenengraveduponavisitingcard，woreanairofdistinctionalmoststartling。SirNigelhimselfwasnotaspicturesqueashisname，thoughhewasnotentirelywithoutattraction，whenforreasonsofhisownhechosetoaimatagreeablenessofbearing。Hewasamanwithagoodfigureandagoodvoice，andbutforaheavinessoffeaturetheresultofobjectionableliving，mighthavegiventheimpressionofbeingbetterlookingthanhereallywas。NewYorklaidamusedandatthesametime，charmedstressuponthefactthathespokewithan\"Englishaccent。\"Hisenunciationwasinfactclearcutandtreateditsvowelswell。Hewasamanwhoobservedwithanairofaccustomedpunctiliousnesssuchsocialrulesandcourtesiesashedeemeditexpedienttoconsider。AnastuteworldlinghadremarkedthathewasatoncemoreceremoniousandmorecasualinhismannerthanmenbredinAmerica。

\"Ifyouinvitehimtodinner，\"thewordingsaid，\"orifyoudie，ormarry，ormeetwithanaccident，hisnotesofcondolenceorcongratulationarepromptandcivil，buttheactualtruthisthathecaresnothingwhateveraboutyouoryourrelations，andifyoudon’tpleasehimhedoesnothesitatetosulkorbeastonishinglyrude，whichlastanAmericandoesnotallowhimselftobe，asarule。\"

BymanypeopleSirNigelwasnotanalysed，butaccepted。

HewasoftheearlyEnglishwhocametoNewYork，andwasanoveltyofinterest，withhisbackgroundofManorHouseandvillageandoldfamilyname。Hewasverymuchtalkedofatvivaciousladies’luncheonparties，hewasverymuchtalkedtoatequallyvivaciousafternoonteas。Atdinnerpartieshewasfurtivelywatchedagooddeal，butafterdinnerwhenhesatwiththemenovertheirwine，hewasnotpopular。

Hewasnotperhapsexactlydisliked，butmenwhosechiefinterestatthatperiodlayinstocksandrailroads，didnotfindconversationeasywithamanwhosesoleoccupationhadbeentheshootingofbirdsandthehuntingoffoxes，whenhewasnotabsolutelyloiteringaboutLondon，withhistimeonhishands。Thestorieshetold——andtheywerefew——werechieflyanecdoteswhosepointsgainedtheirhumourbythefactthatamanwasacomicallybadshotorbadriderandeitherpepperedagamekeeperorwasthrownintoaditchwhenhishorsewentoverahedge，andsuchrelationsdidnotincreaseinthepoignancyoftheirinterestbybeingfilteredthroughbrainsaccustomedtoapplyingtheirpowerstoproblemsofspeculationandcommerce。HewasnotsodullbutthatheperceivedthisatanearlystageofhisvisittoNewYork，whichwasprobablythereasonoftheinfrequencyofhisstories。

Heonhissidewasnaturallynotquicktorisetothehumourofa\"bigdeal\"orabigblundermadeonWallStreet——ortothewitofjokesconcerningthem。Uponthewholehewouldhavebeengladtohaveunderstoodsuchmattersmoreclearly。Hiscircumstancesweresuchashadatlastforcedhimtocontemplatetheworldofmoney—makerswithsomethingofanannoyedrespect。\"Thesefellows\"whohadneithertitlesnorestatestokeepupcouldmakemoney。He，asheacknowledgeddisgustedlytohimself，wasmuchworsethanabeggar。TherewasStornhamCourtinastateofruin——

theestategoingtothedogs，thefarmhousestumblingtopiecesandhe，sotospeak，withoutasixpencetoblesshimselfwith，andheadoverheelsindebt。Englishmenoftherankwhichinbygonetimeshadnotassociateditselfwithtradehadbegunatleasttotriflewithit——toconsideritspotentialitiesasfactorspossiblytobemadeusefulbythearistocracy。Countesseshadnotyetspiritedlyopenedmilliners’

shops，norbeltedEarlsadornedthestage，butcertainnoblemenhaddalliedwithbeerandcoquettedwithstocks。OneofthefirstcommercialdevelopmentshadbeenthediscoveryofAmerica——particularlyofNewYork——asaplacewhereifonecouldmakeupone’smindtotheplunge，onemightmarryone’ssonsprofitably。Attheoutsetitpresentedafieldsopromisingastoleadtorashnessandindiscretiononthepartofpersonsnotgiventoanalysisofcharacterandinconsequencerelyingtooserenelyuponaningenuousnesswhichratherspeedilyrevealedthatithaditslimits。Ingenuousnesscombiningitselfwithremarkablealertnessofperceptiononoccasion，isratherAmericanthanEnglish，andis，therefore，totheEnglishmind，misleading。

Atfirstyoungersons，who\"gavetrouble\"totheirfamilies，weresentout。Theirnames，theirbackgroundsofcastlesormanors，relativesofdistinction，Londonseasons，foxhunting，BuckinghamPalaceandGoodwoodRaces，formedapicturesqueallurement。Thatthecastlesandmanorswouldbelongtotheirelderbrothers，thattherelativesofdistinctiondidnotencourageintimacywithswarmsoftheyoungerbranchesoftheirfamilies；thatLondonseasons，hunting，andracingwerefortheireldersandbetters，werefactsnotrealisedinalltheirimportancebytherepublicanmind。Inthecourseoftimetheywererealisedtothefull，butinRosalieVanderpoel’snineteenthyeartheycoveredwhatwasatthattimealmostunknownterritory。OnemayrestassuredSirNigelAnstrutherssaidnothingwhatsoeverinNewYorkofaninterviewhehadhadbeforesailingwithanintenselydisagreeablegreat—aunt，whowasthewifeofaBishop。Shewasahorribleoldwomanwithabroadface，bluntfeaturesandaraucousvoice，whosetonesaddedacriditytoherobservationswhenshewasindulginginherfavouritepastimeofinterferingwiththebusinessofheracquaintancesandrelations。

\"IdonotknowwhatyouaregoingchasingofftoAmericafor，Nigel，\"shecommented。\"Youcan’tafforditanditisperfectlyridiculousofyoutotakeituponyourselftotravelforpleasureasifyouwereamanofmeansinsteadofbeinginsuchastateofpocketthatMariatellsmeyoucannotpayyourtailor。NeithertheBishopnorIcandoanythingforyouandIhopeyoudon’texpectit。AllIcanhopeisthatyouknowyourselfwhatyouaregoingtoAmericainsearchof，andthatitissomethingmorepracticalthanbuffaloes。

YouhadbetterstopinNewYork。Thosebigshopkeepers’

daughtersareenormouslyrich，theysay，andtheyareimmenselypleasedbyattentionsfrommenofyourclass。Theysaythey’llmarryanythingifithasanauntoragrandmotherwithatitle。YoucanmentiontheMarchioness，youknow。Youneednotrefertothefactthatshethoughtyourfatherablackguardandyourmotheraninterloper，andthatyouhaveneverbeeninvitedtoBroadmeresinceyouwereborn。YoucanrefercasuallytomeandtotheBishopandtothePalace，too。APalace——evenaBishop’s——oughttogoalongwaywithAmericans。Theywillthinkitissomethingroyal。\"Sheendedherremarkswithoneofhermostinsultingsnortsoflaughter，andSirNigelbecamedarkredandlookedasifhewouldliketoknockherdown。

Itwasnot，however，hersentimentswhichwereparticularlyrevoltingtohim。Ifshehadexpressedtheminamannermoreflatteringtohimselfhewouldhavefeltthattherewasagooddealtobesaidforthem。Infact，hehadputthesamethingtohimselfsometimepreviously，and，insumminguptheAmericanmatter，hadreachedcertainthriftydecisions。

Theimpulsetoknockherdownsurgedwithinhimsolelybecausehehadabrutallybadtemperwhenhisvanitywasinsulted，andhewasfuriousatherimpudenceinspeakingtohimasifhewereavillageroutofworkwhomshewasatlibertytobullyandlecture。

\"Forawomanwhoissupposedtohavebeenbornofgentlepeople，\"hesaidtohismotherafterwards，\"AuntMarianisthemostvulgaroldbeastIhaveeverbeheld。Shehasthetasteofafemalecostermonger。\"Whichwasentirelytrue，butitmightbeaddedthathisownwasnobetterandhispointsofviewandmoralswhollycoincidedwithhistaste。

NaturallyRosalieVanderpoelknewnothingofthissideofthematter。Shehadbeenapetted，butterflychild，whohadbeenprettyandadmiredandindulgedfromherinfancy；shehadgrownupintoapetted，butterflygirl，prettyandadmiredandsurroundedbyinordinateluxury。Herworldhadbeenmadeupofgood—natured，lavishfriendsandrelations，whoenjoyedthemselvesandfeltadelightinhergirlishtoilettesandtriumphs。Shehadspentheroneseasonofbelledominbeingwhirledfromfestivitytofestivity，indancinginroomsfestoonedwiththousandsofdollars’worthofflowers，inlunchingordiningattablesloadedwithrosesandvioletsandorchids，fromwhichballroomsorfeastsshehadborneawaywonderful\"favours\"andgifts，whoseprices，beingrecordedinthenewspapers，causedathrillofdelightorenvytopassovertheland。Shewasaslimlittlecreature，withquantitiesoflightfeatheryhairlikeaFrenchdoll’s。Shehadsmallhandsandsmallfeetandasmallwaist——asmallbrainalso，itmustbeadmitted，butshewasaninnocent，sweet—temperedgirlwithachildlikesimplenessofmind。Infine，shewasexactlythegirltofindSirNigel’sdomineeringtemperamentatonceimposingandattractive，solongasitwascloakedbytheceremoniesofexternalgoodbreeding。

HersisterBettina，whowasstillachild，wasofastrongerandlesssusceptiblenature。Betty——ateight——hadlonglegsandasquarebutdelicatesmallface。Herwell—openedsteel—

blueeyeswerenoticeableforratherextravagantink—blacklashesandastraightyoungstarewhichseemedtoaccuseifnottocondemn。Shewasbeingeducatedataruinouslyexpensiveschoolwithanumberofotherinordinatelyrichlittlegirls，whowerealltoowonderfullydressedandtoolavishlysuppliedwithpocketmoney。Theschoolconsidereditselfespeciallyrefinedandselect，butwasinfactinterestinglyvulgar。

Theinordinatelyrichlittlegirls，whohadmostofthemprettyandspiritualorprettyandpiquantfaces，ateagreatmanybonbonsandchatteredagreatdealinhighunmodulatedvoicesaboutthepartiestheirsistersandotherrelativeswenttoandthedressestheywore。Someofthemwerenicelittlesouls，whointhefuturewouldemergefromtheirchrysalisstateenchantingwomen，buttheyusedcolloquialismsfreely，andhadaningenuoushabitofreferringtothepricesofthings。BettinaVanderpoel，whowastherichestandcleverestandmostpromisinglyhandsomeamongthem，wascolloquialtoslanginess，butshehadadeep，mellow，childvoiceandanamazingcarriage。

ShecouldnotendureSirNigelAnstruthers，and，beinganAmericanchild，didnothesitatetoexpressherselfwithforce，ifwithsomecrudeness。\"He’sahatefulthing，\"shesaid，\"Iloathehim。He’sstuckupandhethinksyouareafraidofhimandhelikesit。\"

SirNigelhadknownonlyEnglishchildren，littlegirlswholivedinthatdiscreetcorneroftheirparents’townorcountryhousesknownas\"theschoolroom，\"apparentlyemergingonlyfordailywalkswithgovernesses；girlswithlonghairandboysinlittlehighhatsandwithfaceswhichseemedcuriouslymadetomatchthem。Bothboysandgirlsweredecentlykeptoutofthewayandnotintheleastdweltonexceptwhenbroughtoutforinspectionduringtheholidaysandtakentothepantomime。

SirNigelhadnotrealisedthatanAmericanchildwasanabsolutefactortobecountedwith，anda\"youngster\"whoenteredthedrawing—roomwhenshechoseandjoinedfearlesslyinadultconversationwasanelementheconsideredannoying。

ItwasquitetruethatBettinatalkedtoomuchandtooreadilyattimes，butithadnotbeenexplainedtoherthattheopinionsofeightyearsarenotalwaysofabsorbinginteresttothemature。ItwasalsotruethatSirNigelwasagreatfoolforinterferingwithwhatwasclearlynoaffairofhisinsuchamanneraswouldhavemadehimanenemyevenhadnotthechild’sinstinctarrayedheragainsthimattheoutset。

\"YouAmericanyoungstersaretoocheeky，\"hesaidononeoftheoccasionswhenBettyhadtalkedtoomuch。\"IfyouweremysisterandlivedatStornhamCourt，youwouldbelearninglessonsintheschoolroomandwearingapinafore。

NobodyeversawmysisterEmilywhenshewasyourage。\"

\"Well，I’mnotyoursisterEmily，\"retortedBetty，\"andIguessI’mgladofit。\"

Itwasratherimpudentofher，butitmustbeconfessedthatshewasnotinfrequentlyratherimpudentinarudelittle—girlway，butshewasserenelyunconsciousofthefact。

SirNigelflusheddarklyandlaughedashort，unpleasantlaugh。IfshehadbeenhissisterEmilyshewouldhavefaredillatthemoment，forhisvillainoustemperwouldhavegotthebetterofhim。

\"I`guess’thatImaybecongratulatedtoo，\"hesneered。

\"IfIwasgoingtobeanybody’ssisterEmily，\"saidBetty，excitedalittlebythesenseofthefray，\"Ishouldn’twanttobeyours。\"

\"NowBetty，don’tbehateful，\"interposedRosalie，laughing，andherlaughwasnervous。\"There’sMinaThalbergcomingupthefrontsteps。Goandmeether。\"

Rosalie，poorgirl，alwaysfoundherselfnervouswhenSirNigelandBettywereintheroomtogether。SheinstinctivelyrecognisedtheirantagonismandwasafraidBettywoulddosomethinganEnglishbaronetwouldthinkvulgar。HersimplebraincouldnothaveexplainedtoherwhyitwasthatsheknewSirNigeloftenthoughtNewYorkersvulgar。Shewas，however，quiteawareofthisbutimperfectlyconcealedfact，andfeltatimiddesiretobeexplanatory。

WhenBettinamarchedoutoftheroomwithherextraordinarycarriagefinelymanifest，Rosy’slittlelaughwaspropitiatory。

\"Youmustn’tmindher，\"shesaid。\"She’sarealsplendidlittlething，butshe’sgotaquicktemper。It’salloverinaminute。\"

\"Theywouldn’tstandthatsortofthinginEngland，\"

saidSirNigel。\"She’sdeucedlyspoiled，youknow。\"

Hedetestedthechild。Hedislikedallchildren，butthisoneawakenedinhimmorethanmeredislike。ThefactwasthatthoughBettyherselfwaswhollyunconsciousofthesubtletruth，theasyetundevelopedintellectwhichlatermadeherabrilliantandcaptivatingpersonality，vaguelysawhimashewas，anunscrupulous，sordidbrute，asremorselessanadventurerandswindlerinhisspecialline，asifhehadbeenengagedindrawingfalsechequesandarranginghugejewelrobberies，insteadofplanningtoentrapintoadisadvantageousmarriageagirlwhosegentlenessandfortunecouldbeusedbyablackguardofreputablename。Themanwascold—

bloodedenoughtoseethathergentleweaknesswasofvaluebecauseitcouldbebullied，hermoneywastobecountedonbecauseitcouldbespentonhimselfandhisdegeneratevicesandonhisrackedandruinednameandestate，whichmustberebuiltandrestockedatanearlydatebysomeoneorother，lesttheytumbledintoignominiouscollapsewhichcouldnotbeconcealed。Bettinaoftheaccusingeyesdidnotknowthatinthedepthofheryetcrudeyoungbeing，instinctwassummingupforherthepotentialitiesofanunusuallyfinespecimenoftheBritishblackguard，butthiswasneverthelesstheinterestingtruth。WhenlatershewastoldthathersisterhadbecomeengagedtoSirNigelAnstruthers，aflameofcolourflashedoverherface，shestaredsilentlyamoment，thenbitherlipandburstintotears。

\"Well，Bett，\"exclaimedRosalie，\"youarethequeerestthingIeversaw。\"

Bettina’stearswereanoutburst，notaflow。Shesweptthemawaypassionatelywithhersmallhandkerchief。

\"He’lldosomethingawfultoyou，\"shesaid。\"He’llnearlykillyou。Iknowhewill。I’dratherbedeadmyself。\"