AsMissVanderpoelwalkedatalight，swingingpacethroughtheonevillagestreetthegazersfeltwithKedgersthatsomethingnewwaspassingandstirringtheatmosphere。Shelookedstraight，andwithafriendlinesssomehowdominating，atthecuriouswomen；herhandsomeeyesmetthoseofthemeninahumanquestioning；shesmiledandnoddedtothebobbingchildren。Oneofthese，youngenoughtobeuncertainonitsfeet，inrunningtojoinsomeothersstumbledandfellonthepathbeforeher。Openingitsmouthintheinevitableresultantroar，itwasshockedalmostintosilencebythetallyoungladystoopingatonce，pickingitup，andcheerfullydustingitspinafore。
\"Don’tcry，\"shesaid；\"youarenothurt，youknow。\"
Thedeepdimplenearhermouthshoweditself，andthelaughinhereyeswassoreassuringthatthepennysheputintothegrubbyhandwaslessproductiveofeffectthanhermereself。Shewalkedon，leavingthegroupstaringafterherbreathless，becauseofasenseofhavingmetwithawonderfuladventure。Thegrandyoungladywiththeblackhairandthebluehatandtall，straightbodywastheadventure。Sheleftthesamesenseofeventwiththevillageitself。Theytalkedofheralldayovertheirgardenpalings，ontheirdoorsteps，inthestreet；ofherlooks，ofherheight，oftheblackrimoflashesroundhereyes，ofthechancethatshemightberichandreadytogivehalf—crownsandsovereigns，ofthe\"Meriker\"shehadcomefrom，andaboveallofthereasonforhercoming。
Bettyswungwiththelight，firmstepofagoodwalkeroutontothehighway。Towalkuponthefine，smootholdRomanroadwasapleasureinitself，butshesoonstruckawayfromitandwentthroughlanesandby—ways，followingsign—postsbecausesheknewwhereshewasgoing。HerwalkwastotakehertoMountDunstanandhomeagainbyanotherroad。Inwalking，anobjectivepointformsaninterest，andwhatshehadheardoftheestatefromRosaliewasavaguereasonforhercaringtoseeit。ItwasanotherplacelikeStornham，oncedignifiedandnoblyrepresentativeoffinethings，nowlosingtheirmeaningsandvalues。Valuesandmeanings，otherthanmeresignsofwealthandpower，therehadbeen。Centuriesagostrongcreatureshadplannedandbuiltitforsuchreasonsasstrengthhasforitsplanningandbuilding。InBettinaVanderpoel’simaginationtheFirstManheldpowerfulandmovingsway。Itwashewhomshealwayssaw。Inhistory，asachildatschool，shehadunderstoodanddrawnclosetohim。TherewasalwaysaFirstManbehindallthatonesaworwastold，onewhowasthefighter，thehumanthingwhosnatchedweaponsandtoolsfromstonesandtreesandwieldedtheminthecarryingoutofthethoughtwhichwashispossessionandhisstrength。HewastheGodmadehuman；otherswaited，withoutknowledgeoftheirwaiting，forthesignalhegave。A
manlikeothers——withman’sbody，hands，andlimbs，andeyes——