RosalieVanderpoelwasaclean—mindedlittleperson，herpeoplewereoftheclean—mindedtype，thereforeshedidnotunderstandallthatthisironicspeechimplied，butshegatheredenoughofitssignificancetocausehertoturnfirstredandthenpaleandthentoburstintotears。ShewascryingandtryingtoconcealthefactwhenHannahreturned。Shebentherheadandtouchedhereyesfurtivelywhilehertoilettewascompleted。
SirNigelhadretiredfromthescene，buthehaddonesofeelingthathehadplantedaseedandbestowedapracticallesson。Hehad，itistrue，bestowedone，butagainshehadnotunderstooditssignificanceandwasonlyleftbewilderedandunhappy。Shebegantobenervousanduncertainaboutherselfandabouthismoodsandpointsofview。Shehadneverbeenmadetofeelsoathome。Everyonehadbeenkindtoherandlenienttoherlackofbrilliancy。Noonehadexpectedhertobebrilliant，andshehadbeenquitesweet—
temperedlyresignedtothefactthatshewasnotthekindofgirlwhoshoneeitherinsocietyorelsewhere。Shedidnotresentthefactthatsheknewpeoplesaidofher，\"Sheisn’tintheleastbitbright，RosyVanderpoel，butshe’sanice，sweetlittlething。\"Shehadtriedtobeniceandsweetandhadaspiredtonothinghigher。
Butnowthatseemedsomuchlessthanenough。PerhapsNigeloughttohavemarriedoneofthecleverones，someonewhowouldhaveknownhowtounderstandhimandwhowouldhavebeenmoreentertainingthanshecouldbe。Perhapsshewasbeginningtoborehim，perhapshewasfindingheroutandbeginningtogettired。Atthispointthealwaystooreadytearswouldrisetohereyesandshewouldbeoverwhelmedbyasenseofhomesickness。Oftenshecriedherselfsilentlytosleep，longingforhermother——hernice，comfortable，ordinarymother，whomshehadseveraltimesfeltNigelhadsomedifficultyinbeingunreservedlypoliteto——thoughhehadbeenpoliteonthesurface。
Bythetimetheylandedshehadbeenlivingundersomuchstraininherefforttoseemquiteunchanged，thatshehadlosthernerve。Shedidnotfeelwellandwassometimesafraidthatshemightdosomethingsillyandhystericalinspiteofherself，begintocryforinstancewhentherewasreallynoexplanationforherdoingit。ButwhenshereachedLondonthenoveltyofeverythingsoexcitedherthatshethoughtshewasgoingtobebetter，andthenshesaidtoherselfitwouldbeprovedtoherthatallherfearshadbeennonsense。Thisreturnofhopemadeherquitelight—spirited，andshewasalmostgayinherlittleoutburstsofdelightandadmirationasshedroveaboutthestreetswithherhusband。Shedidnotknowthatheringenuousignoranceofthingshehadknownallhislife，herraptureovercommonmonumentsofhistory，ledhimtosaytohimselfthathefeltratherasifheweretakingahousemaidtoseeaLordMayor’sShow。
BeforegoingtoStornhamCourttheyspentafewdaysintown。Therehadbeennointentionofproclaimingtheirpresencetotheworld，andtheydidnotdoso，butunluckilycertaintradesmendiscoveredthefactthatSirNigelAnstruthershadreturnedtoEnglandwiththebridehehadsecuredinNewYork。Theconclusiontobededucedfromthiscircumstancewasthattheparticularmomentwasagoodoneatwhichtosendinbillsfor\"acct。rendered。\"ThetradesmenquitesharedAnstruthers’pointofview。Theirreasoningwasdelightfullysimpleandtheywerewhollyunawarethatitmighthavebeencalledgross。Amanoverhisheadandearsindebtnaturallyexpectedhiscreditorswouldbepaidbytheyoungwomanwhohadmarriedhim。Americahadinthesedaysbeensolittleexploredbythethriftyimpecuniouswell—bornthatitsingenuoussentimentalityincertainmatterswasbynomeanscomprehended。
ByeachpostSirNigelreceivednumerousbills。Sometimeslettersaccompaniedthem，andonceortwicerespectfulbutfirmmalepersonsbroughtthembyhandanddemandedinterviewswhichirritatedSirNigelextremely。GiventimetoarrangematterswithRosalie，totrainhertosomesenseofherduty，hebelievedthatthe\"acct。rendered\"couldbewipedoff，buthesawhemusthavetime。Shewassuchalittlefool。Againandagainhewasfuriousatthefatewhichhadforcedhimtotakeher。
ThetruthwasthatRosalieknewnothingwhateveraboutunpaidbills。ReubenVanderpoel’sdaughtershadneverencounteredanindignanttradesmanintheirlives。Whentheywentinto\"stores\"theywerereceivedwithunfeignedrapture。
Everythingwasdraggedforthtobedisplayedtothem，attendantswaitedtoleapforthtosupplytheirsmallestbehest。
Theyknewnootherphaseofexistencethantheoneinwhichonecouldbuyanythingonewantedandpayanypricedemandedforit。
ConsequentlyRosaliedidnotrecognisesignswhichwouldhavebeenobviouslyrecognisablebytheinitiated。IfSirNigelAnstruthershadbeenaniceyoungfellowwhohadlovedher，andhehadbeenhonestenoughtomakeacleanbreastofhisdifficulties，shewouldhavethrownherselfintohisarmsandimploredhimeffusivelytomakeuseofallheravailablefunds，andifthesupplyhadbeeninsufficient，wouldhaveimmediatelywrittentoherfatherforfurtherdonations，knowingthatherappealwouldberespondedtoatonce。ButSirNigelAnstrutherscherishednosentimentforanyotherindividualthanhimself，andhehadnointentionofexplainingthathismerevanityhadcausedhimtomisleadher，thathisrankandestatecountedfornothingandthathewasinfactapauperloadedwithdishonestdebts。Hewantedmoney，buthewantedittobegiventohimasifheconferredafavourbyreceivingit。
Itmustbetransferredtohimasthoughitwerehisbyright。
Whatdidamanmarryfor？Thereforehiswife’sunconsciousnessthatshewasinflictingoutrageuponhimbyhermerementalattitudefilledhisbeingwithslowlyrisinggall。
PoorRosaliewentjoyfullyforthshoppingafterthemannerofallnewlyarrivedAmericans。SheboughtnewtoilettesandgewgawsandpresentsforherfriendsandrelationsinNewYork，andeachpackagewhichwasdeliveredatthehoteladdedtoSirNigel’srage。
Thatthelittleblockheadshouldbeallowedtodowhatshelikedwithhermoneyandthatheshouldnotbeabletoforbidher！Thishesaidtohimselfatintervalsoffiveminutesthroughtheday——whichledtoanothersmallepisode。
\"Youarespendingagreatdealofmoney，\"hesaidonemorninginhiscondemnatorymanner。Rosalielookedupfromthelaceflouncewhichhadjustbeendeliveredandgavethelittlenervouslaugh，whichwasbecomingentirelyuncertainofpropitiating。
\"AmI？\"sheanswered。\"TheysayallAmericansspendagooddeal。\"
\"Yourmoneyoughttobeinproperhandsandproperlymanaged，\"hewentonwithcoldprecision。\"IfyouwereanEnglishwoman，yourhusbandwouldcontrolit。\"
\"Wouldhe？\"Thesimple，sweet—temperedobtusenessofhertonewasaninfuriatingthingtohim。Therewastheusualshadeoftroubledsurpriseinhereyesastheymethis。
\"Idon’tthinkmeninAmericaeverdothat。Idon’tbelievetheniceoneswantto。Youseetheyhavesuchaprideaboutalwaysgivingthingstowomen，andtakingcareofthem。I
believeaniceAmericanmanwouldbreakstonesinthestreetratherthantakemoneyfromawoman——evenhiswife。Imeanwhilehecouldwork。Ofcourseifhewasillorhadillluckoranythinglikethat，hewouldn’tbesoproudasnottotakeitfromthepersonwholovedhimmostandwantedtohelphim。
Youdosometimeshearofamanwhowon’tworkandletshiswifesupporthim，butit’sveryseldom，andtheyarealwaysthelowkindthatothermenlookdownon。\"
\"Wantedtohelphim。\"SirNigelselectedthephraseandquoteditbetweenpuffsofthecigarheheldinhisfine，rathercruel—lookinghands，andhisvoiceexpressedanottoosubtlesneer。\"Awomanisnot`helping’herhusbandwhenshegiveshimcontrolofherfortune。Sheisonlydoingherdutyandacceptingherproperpositionwithregardtohim。Thelawusedtosettlethethingdefinitely。\"
\"Did—didit？\"Rosyfalteredweakly。Sheknewhewasoffendedagainandthatshewasoncemoresomehowinthewrong。Somanythingsaboutherseemedtodispleasehim，andwhenhewasdispleasedhealwaysremindedherthatshewasstupidly，objectionablyguiltyofnotbeinganEnglishwoman。
Whatsoeverithappenedtobe，thefaultshehadcommittedoutofherdepthofignorance，hedidnotforgetit。Itwasnohabitofhistoendeavourtodismissoffences。Hepreferredtoholdtheminpossessionasiftheyweretreasuresandtoturnthemoverandover，inthementalseclusionwhichnourishesthegrowthofinjuries，sincewithinitsbarriersthereisnochanceoftheirbeingpalliatedbytheapologiesorexplanationsoftheoffender。
DuringtheirjourneytoStornhamCourtthenextdayhewasinoneofhisblackmoods。Onceintherailwaycarriagehepaidsmallattentiontohiswife，butsatrigidlyreadinghisTimes，untilaboutmidwaytotheirdestinationhedescendedatastationandpaidavisittothebuffetinthesmallrefreshmentroom，afterwhichhesettledhimselftodozeinanexceedinglyunbecomingattitude，histravellingcappulleddown，hisratherheavyfacecongestedwiththedarkflushRosaliehadnotyetlearnedwasduetothefactthathehadhastilytossedofftwoorthreewhiskiesandsodas。Thoughhewasnevereitherthickofutteranceorunsteadyonhisfeet，whiskyandsodaformedanimportantfactorinhisexistence。Whenhewasannoyedordullheatoncetookthenecessaryprecautionsagainstbeingovercomebythesefeelings，andtheeffectuponaconstitutionallyeviltemperwastotransformitintoaninfernalone。ThenighthadbeenabadoneforRosy。Suchfloodsofhomesicklonginghadoverpoweredherthatshehadnotbeenabletosleep。ShehadrisenfeelingshakyandhystericalandhernervousnesshadbeenaddedtobyherfearthatNigelmightobserveherandmakecomment。OfcourseshetoldherselfitwasnaturalthatheshouldnotwishhertoappearatStornhamCourtlookingapale，pink—nosedlittlefright。Hereffortstobecheerfulhadindeedbeensomewhattouching，buttheyhadmetwithsmallencouragement。
Shethoughtthegreen—clothedcountrylovelyasthetrainspedthroughit，andalumproseinhersmallthroatbecausesheknewshemighthavebeensohappyifshehadnotbeensofrightenedandmiserable。Thethingwhichhadbeendawninguponhertookclearer，moreawfulform。Incidentsshehadtriedtoexplainandexcusetoherself，uponallsortsoffutile，simplegrounds，begantoloomupbeforeherinsomethingliketheiractualproportions。Shehadheardofmenwhohadchangedtheirmannertowardsgirlsaftertheyhadmarriedthem，butshedidnotknowtheyhadbeguntochangesosoon。Thiswassoearlyinthehoneymoontobesittinginarailwaycarriage，inacornerremotefromthatoccupiedbyabridegroom，whoreadhispaperinwhatwasobviouslyintentional，resentfulsolitude。EmilySoame’sfather，sheremembereditagainstherwill，hadbeenobligedtogetadivorceforEmilyafterhertwoyearsofwretchedmarriedlife。ButAlfredSoameshadbeenquiteniceforsixmonthsatleast。Itseemedasifallthismustbeadream，oneofthosenightmarethings，inwhichyousuddenlyfindyourselfmarriedtosomeoneyoucannotbear，andyoudon’tknowhowithappened，becauseyouyourselfhavehadnothingtodowiththematter。Shefeltthatpresentlyshemustwakenwithastartandfindherselfbreathingfast，andpantingout，halflaughing，halfcrying，\"Oh，Iamsogladit’snottrue！Iamsogladit’snottrue！\"
Butthiswastrue，andtherewasNigel。Andshewasinanew，unexploredworld。Herlittletremblinghandsclutchedeachother。Thehappy，lightgirlishdaysfullofeaseandfriendlinessanddecencyseemedgoneforever。ItwasnotRosalieVanderpoelwhopressedhercolourlessfaceagainsttheglassofthewindow，lookingoutattheflyingtrees；itwasthewifeofNigelAnstruthers，andsuddenly，bysomehideousmagic，shehadbeensnatchedfromtheworldtowhichshebelongedandwasbeingdraggedbyagaolertoaprisonfromwhichshedidnotknowhowtoescape。AlreadyNigelhadmanagedtoconveytoherthatinEnglandawomanwhowasmarriedcoulddonothingtodefendherselfagainstherhusband，andthattoendeavourtodoanythingwasthelastimpossibletouchofvulgarignominy。
Thevividrealisationofthesituationseizeduponherlikeapossessionassheglancedsidewaysatherbridegroomandhurriedlyglancedawayagainwithalittlehystericalshudder。
NewYork，good—tempered，lenient，freeNewYork，wasmillionsofmilesawayandNigelwassoloathlynearand——andsougly。Shehadneverknownbeforethathewassougly，thathisfacewassoheavy，hisskinsothickandcoarseandhisexpressionsoevillyill—tempered。Shewasnotsufficientlyanalyticaltobeconsciousthatshehadwithoneboundleapedtotheappallingpointoffeelinguncontrollablephysicalabhorrenceofthecreaturetowhomshewaschainedforlife。Shewasterrifiedatfindingherselfforcedtocombattherealisationthattherewerecertainexpressionsofhiscountenancewhichmadeherfeelsickwithrepulsion。Herself—reproachalsowasasgreatasherterror。Hewasherhusband——herhusband——andshewasawickedgirl。Sherepeatedthewordstoherselfagainandagain，butremotelysheknewthatwhenshesaid，\"Heismyhusband，\"thatwastheworstthingofall。
Thisinwardstrugglewasabadpreparationforanyaddedmisery，andwhentheirrailroadjourneyterminatedatStornhamStationshewasmetbynewbewilderment。
Thestationitselfwasarusticplacewherewildrosesclimbeddownabanktomeettheverytrainitself。Thestationmaster’scottagehadrosesandclustersoflilieswavinginitstinygarden。Thestationmaster，agood—natured，red—facedman，cameforward，baringhishead，toopentherailroadcarriagedoorwithhisownhand。Rosythoughthimdelightfulandbowedandsmiledsweet—temperedlytohimandtohiswifeandlittlegirls，whowerecurtseyingatthegardengate。Shewassufficientlyhomesicktobeactuallygratefultothemfortheirairofwelcomingher。ButasshesmiledsheglancedfurtivelyatNigeltoseeifshewasdoingexactlytherightthing。
Hehimselfwasnotsmilinganddidnotunbendevenwhenthestationmaster，whohadknownhimfromhisboyhood，feltatlibertytoofferadeferentialwelcome。
\"Happytoseeyouhomewithherladyship，SirNigel，\"hesaid；\"veryhappy，ifImaysayso。\"
SirNigelrespondedtotherespectfulamiabilitywithahalf—
militaryliftingofhisrighthand，accompaniedbyagrunt。
\"D’yedo，Wells，\"hesaid，andstrodepasthimtospeaktothefootmanwhohadcomefromStornhamCourtwiththecarriage。
ThenewandnervouslittleLadyAnstruthers，whowaslefttotrotafterherhusband，smiledagainattheruddy，kind—
lookingfellow，thistimeinconsciousdeprecation。Inthesimplicityofherrepublicansympathywithawell—meaningfellowcreaturewhomightfeelhimselfsnubbed，shecouldhaveshakenhimbythehand。ShehadevenpartedherlipstoventureawordofcivilitywhenshewasstartledbyhearingSirNigel’svoiceraisedinangryrating。
\"Damnedbadmanagementnottobringsomethingelse，\"
sheheard。\"Kindofthingyoufellowsarealwaysdoing。\"
Shemadeherwaytothecarriage，flurriedagainbynotknowingwhethershewasdoingrightorwrong。SirNigelhadgivenhernoinstructionsandshehadnotyetlearnedthatwhenhewasinacertainhumourtherewasequalfaultinobeyingordisobeyingsuchordersashegave。
ThecarriagefromtheCourt——notintheleastaneworsmartequipage——wasdrawnupbeforetheentranceofthestationandSirNigelwasinaragebecausethevehiclebroughtfortheluggagewastoosmalltocarryitall。
\"Verysorry，SirNigel，\"saidthecoachman，touchinghishattwoorthreetimesinhisagitation。\"Verysorry。Theomnibuswasalittleoutoforder——thesprings，SirNigel——andIthought————\"
\"Youthought！\"wastheheatedinterruption。\"Whatrighthadyoutothink，damnit！Youarenotpaidtothink，youarepaidtodoyourworkproperly。Herearealotofdamnedboxeswhichoughttogowithusand——where’syourmaid？\"
wheelingrounduponhiswife。
Rosalieturnedtowardsthewoman，whowasapproachingfromthewaitingroom。
\"Hannah，\"shesaidtimorously。
\"Dropthoseconfoundedbundles，\"orderedSirNigel，\"andshowJamestheboxesherladyshipisobligedtohavethisevening。Bequickaboutitanddon’tpickouthalfadozen。Thecartcan’ttakethem。\"
Hannahlookedfrightened。Thissortofthingwasnewtoher，too。Sheshuffledherpackagesontoaseatandfollowedthefootmantotheluggage。SirNigelcontinuedratingthecoachman。Anyformofviolentself—assertionwaswelcometohimatanytime，andwhenhewasirritatedhefounditadistinctluxurytokickadogorthrowabootatacat。Thespringsoftheomnibus，heargued，hadnorighttobebrokenwhenitwasknownthathewascominghome。Hisangerwasonlyaddedtobythecoachman’shaltingendeavoursinhisexcusestoveilafactheknewhismasterwasawareof，thateverythingatStornhamwasmoreorlessoutoforder，andthatdilapidationsweretheinevitableresultoftherebeingnomoneytopayforrepairs。Themanleanedforwardonhisboxandspokeatlastinalowtone。
\"Thebushasbeenbrokensometime，\"hesaid。\"It’s——it’sanexpensivejob，SirNigel。Herladyshipthoughtitbetterto————\"SirNigelturnedwhiteaboutthemouth。
\"Holdyourtongue，\"hecommanded，andthecoachmangotredintheface，saluted，bitinghislips，andsatverystiffanduprightonhisbox。
Thestationmasteredgedawayuneasilyandtriedtolookasifhewerenotlistening。ButRosaliecouldseethathecouldnothelphearing，norcouldthecountrypeoplewhohadbeenpassengersbythetrainandwhowerecollectingtheirbelongingsandgettingintotheirtraps。
LadyAnstrutherswasignoredandremainedstandingwhilethescenewenton。ShecouldnothelprecallingthemannerinwhichshehadbeeninvariablyreceivedinNewYorkonherreturnfromanyjourney，howshewasmetbycomfortable，merrypeopleandtakencareofatonce。Thiswassostrange，itwassoqueer，sodifferent。
\"Oh，nevermind，Nigeldear，\"shesaidatlast，withinnocentindiscretion。\"Itdoesn’treallymatter，youknow。\"
SirNigelturneduponherablazeofhaughtyindignation。
\"Ifyou’llpardonmysayingso，itdoesmatter，\"hesaid。
\"Itmattersconfoundedly。Begoodenoughtotakeyourplaceinthecarriage。\"
Hemovedtothecarriagedoor，andnottoocivillyputherin。Shegaspedalittleforbreathasshesatdown。Hehadspokentoherasifshehadbeenanimpertinentservantwhohadtakenaliberty。Thepoorgirlwasbewilderedtothevergeofpanic。Whenhehadendedhistiradeandtookhisplacebesideherheworehismosthaughtilyintolerantair。
\"MayIrequestthatinfutureyouwillbegoodenoughnottointerferewhenIamreprovingmyservants，\"heremarked。
\"Ididn’tmeantointerfere，\"sheapologisedtremulously。
\"Idon’tknowwhatyoumeant。Ionlyknowwhatyoudid，\"washisresponse。\"YouAmericanwomenaretoofondofcuttingin。AnEnglishmancanthinkforhimselfwithouthiswife’sassistance。\"
Thetearsrosetohereyes。Theintroductionoftheinternationalquestionoverpoweredherasalways。
\"Don’tbegintobehysterical，\"wastheamelioratingtendernesswithwhichheobservedthetwohotsaltdropswhichfelldespiteher。\"Ishouldscarcelywishtopresentyoutomymotherbathedintears。\"
Shewipedthesaltdropshastilyawayandsatforamomentsilentinthecornerofthecarriage。Beingwhollyprimitiveandunanalytical，shewasashamedandbegantoblameherself。
Hewasright。Shemustnotbesillybecauseshewasunusedtothings。Sheoughtnottobedisturbedbytrifles。Shemusttrytobeniceandlookcheerful。Shemadeaneffortanddidnospeakforafewminutes。Whenshehadrecoveredherselfshetriedagain。
\"Englishcountryissopretty，\"shesaid，whenshethoughtshewasquitesurethathervoicewouldnottremble。\"Idosolikethehedgesandthedarlinglittlered—roofedcottages。\"
Itwasaninnocenttentativeatsayingsomethingagreeablewhichmightpropitiatehim。Shewasbeginningtorealisethatshewascontinuallymakingeffortstopropitiatehim。Butoneoftheformsofunpleasantnessmostenjoyabletohimwasthesnubbingofanygentleeffortatpalliatinghismood。Hecondescendedinthiscasenoresponsewhatever，butmerelycontinuedstaringcontemptuouslybeforehim。
\"Itissopicturesque，andsounlikeAmerica，\"wasthepatheticlittlecommonplacesheventurednext。\"Ain’tit，Nigel？\"
Heturnedhisheadslowlytowardsher，asifshehadtakenanewlibertyindisturbinghismeditations。
\"Wha——at？\"hedrawled。
Itwasalmosttoomuchforhertosustainherselfunder。
Hercouragecollapsed。
\"Iwasonlysayinghowprettythecottageswere，\"shefaltered。\"Andthatthere’snothinglikethisinAmerica。\"
\"Youendedyourremarkbyadding，`ain’tit，’\"herhusbandcondescended。\"ThereisnothinglikethatinEngland。
IshallaskyoutodomethefavourofleavingAmericanismsoutofyourconversationwhenyouareinthesocietyofEnglishladiesandgentlemen。Itwon’tdo。\"
\"Ididn’tknowIsaidit，\"Rosyansweredfeebly。
\"Thatisthedifficulty，\"washisresponse。\"Youneverknow，buteducatedpeopledo。\"
Therewasnothingmoretobesaid，atleastforagirlwhohadneverknownwhatitwastobebullied。Thisonefeltlikeabeggarorascullerymaid，who，beingratedbyhermaster，hadnottherefugeofbeingableto\"givewarning。\"
Shecouldnevergivewarning。TheAtlanticOceanwasbetweenherandthosewhohadlovedandprotectedherallhershortlife，andthecarriagewasbearingheronwardstothehomeinwhichshewastolivealoneasthisman’scompaniontotheendofherexistence。
Shemadenofurtherpropitiatoryefforts，butsatandstaredinsimpleblanknessatthecountry，whichseemedtoincreaseinlovelinessateachnewpointofview。Sometimesshesawsweetwooded，rollinglandsmadelovelierbythehomelyfarm—
housesandcottagesenclosedandshelteredbythickhedgesandtrees；onceortwicetheydrovepastaparkenfoldingagreathouseguardedbyitshugesentineloaksandbeeches；oncethecarriagepassedthroughanadorablelittlevillage，wherechildrenplayedonthegreenandasquare—toweredgreychurchseemedtowatchoverthesteep—roofedcottagesandcreeper—
coveredvicarage。IfshehadbeenahappyAmericantouristtravellingincompanywithimpressionablefriends，shewouldhavebrokenintoecstaticlittleexclamationsofadmirationeveryfiveminutes，butithadbeendrivenhometoherthattoherpresentcompanion，towhomnothingwasnew，herrapturewouldmerelyrepresentthecrudenesswhichhadexistedincontentmentinabrown—stonehouseonanoisythoroughfare，throughalifewhichhadbeenpassedtrampingupanddownnumberedstreetsandavenues。
Theyapproachedatlastasecondvillagewithagreen，agrass—grownstreetandtheirregularred—tiledcottages，whichtotheunaccustomedeyeseemedrathertorepresentstudiesforsketchesthanabsoluterealities。Thebellsinthechurchtowerbrokeforthintoachimeandpeopleappearedatthedoorsofthecottages。Thementouchedtheirforeheadsasthecarriagepassed，andthechildrenmadebobbingcurtsies。SirNigelcondescendedtostraightenhimselfatrifleinhisseat，andrecognisedthegreetingswiththestiff，half—militarysalute。Thepoorgirlathissidefeltthatheputaslittlefeelingaspossibleintothemovement，andthatifsheherselfhadbeenabowingvillagershewouldalmosthavepreferredtobewhollyignored。Shelookedathimquestioningly。
\"Arethey——must_I_？\"shebegan。
\"Makesomecivilrecognition，\"answeredSirNigel，asifhewereinstructinganignorantchild。\"Itiscustomary。\"
Soshebowedandtriedtosmile，andthejoyousclamourofthebellsbroughttheawfullumpintoherthroatagain。ItremindedheroftheringingofthechimesattheNewYorkchurchonthatdayofhermarriage，whichhadbeensofullofgay，luxuriousbustle，socrowdedwithweddingpresents，andflowers，andwarm—hearted，affectionatecongratulations，andgoodwishesutteredinmerryAmericanvoices。
TheparkatStornhamCourtwaslargeandbeautifulandold。Thetreesweremagnificent，andthebroadsweepofswardandrichdipoffernydellallthattheimaginationcoulddesire。TheCourtitselfwasold，andmany—gabledandmellow—redandfine。Rosaliehadlearnedfromnoprecedentasyetthathousesofitskindmayrepresenttheapotheosisofdiscomfortanddilapidationwithin，andonlybecomemorebeautifulwithout。Tumbled—downchimneysandbrokentiles，beingclamberedoverbytossingivy，arepicturestodelightthesoul。