\"Toomuch！\"exclaimedRosalie。\"Theyhavelosteverything，youknow；theirhayricksandcattleaswellastheirhouse；Iguessitwon’tbehalfenough。\"
Mrs。Brentdraggedherintothevicar’sstudyandtalkedtoher。ShetriedtoexplainthatinEnglishvillagessuchthingswerenotdoneinamannersocasual，asiftheywerethemereresultofunconsideredfeeling，asiftheywerequitenaturalthings，suchasanyhumanpersonmightdo。WhenRosaliecried：\"Butwhynot——whynot？Theyoughttobe。\"Mrs。
Brentcouldnotseemtomakeherselfquiteclear。Rosalieonlygatheredinabewilderedwaythatthereoughttobemoreceremony，moredeliberation，moreholdingoff，beforeapersonofrankindulgedinsuchmunificence。Therecipientoughttobemadetofeelitmore，tounderstandfullywhatagreatthingwasbeingdone。
\"Theywillthinkyouwilldoanythingforthem。\"
\"SoIwill，\"saidyoungLadyAnstruthers，\"ifIhavethemoneywhentheyareinsuchawfultrouble。Supposewelosteverythingintheworldandtherewerepeoplewhocouldeasilyhelpusandwouldn’t？\"
\"YouandSirNigel——thatisquitedifferent，\"saidMrs。
Brent。\"Iamafraidthatifyoudonotdiscussthematterandaskadvicefromyourhusbandandmother—in—lawtheywillbeverymuchoffended。\"
\"IfIweredoingitwiththeirmoneytheywouldhavetherighttobe，\"repliedRosalie，withentireingenuousness。
\"Iwouldn’tpresumetodosuchathingasthat。Thatwouldn’tberight，ofcourse。\"
\"Theywillbeangrywithme，\"saidthevicaressawkwardly。Thisqueer，sillygirl，whoseemedtoseenothingintherightlight，frequentlymadeherfeelawkward。Mrs。Brenttoldherhusbandthatsheappearedtohavenosenseofdignityorproperappreciationofherposition。
Thewifeofthefarmer，JohnWilson，carriedawaythecheque，quitestunned。Shewasbreathlesswithamazementandturnedratherfaintwithexcitement，bewildermentandhersenseofrelief。Shehadtositdowninthevicaragekitchenforafewminutesanddrinkaglassofthethinvicaragebeer。
RosaliepromisedthatshewoulddiscussthematterandaskadvicewhenshereturnedtotheCourt。JustassheleftthehouseMrs。Brentsuddenlyrememberedsomethingshehadforgotten。
\"TheWilsontroublecompletelydroveitoutofmymind，\"
shesaid。\"Itwasastupidmistakeofthepostboy’s。Heleftaletterofyoursamongminewhenhecamethismorning。Itwasmostcareless。Ishallspeaktohisfatheraboutit。Itmighthavebeenimportantthatyoushouldreceiveitearly。\"
WhenshesawtheletterRosalieutteredanexclamation。Itwasaddressedinherfather’shandwriting。
\"Oh！\"shecried。\"It’sfromfather！AndthepostmarkisHavre。Whatdoesitmean？\"
Shewassoexcitedthatshealmostforgottoexpressherthanks。Herheartleapedupinherthroat。CouldtheyhavecomeoverfromAmerica——couldthey？WhywasitwrittenfromHavre？Couldtheybenearher？
Shewalkedalongtheroadchokedwithecstatic，laughingsobs。Herhandshooksothatshecouldscarcelytearopentheenvelope；shetoreacorneroftheletter，andwhenthesheetwasspreadopenhereyeswerefullofwild，delightedtears，whichmadeitimpossibleforhertoseeforthemoment。
Butshesweptthetearsawayandreadthis：
DEARDAUGHTER：
Itseemsasifwehadhadprettybadluckinnotseeingyou。
Wehadcountedonitverymuch，andyourmotherfeelsitallthemorebecausesheisweakafterherillness。Wedon’tquiteunderstandwhyyoudidnotseemtoknowaboutherhavinghaddiphtheriainParis。YoudidnotanswerBetty’sletter。Perhapsitmissedyouinsomeway。Thingsdosometimesgowronginthemail，andseveraltimesyourmotherhasthoughtaletterhasbeenlost。Shethoughtsobecauseyouseemedtoforgettorefertothings。WecameovertoleaveBettyataFrenchschoolandwehadexpectedtovisityoulater。Butyourmotherfellillofdiphtheriaandnothearingfromyouseemedtomakeherhomesick，sowedecidedtoreturntoNewYorkbythenextsteamer。IranovertoLondon，however，tomakesomeinquiriesaboutyou，andonthefirstdayIarrivedImetyourhusbandinBondStreet。HeatonceexplainedtomethatyouhadgonetoahousepartyatsomecastleinScotland，andsaidyouwerewellandenjoyingyourselfverymuch，andhewasonhiswaytojoinyou。
Iamsorry，daughter，thatithasturnedoutthatwecouldnotseeeachother。Itseemsalongtimesinceyouleftus。
ButIamveryglad，however，thatyouaresowellandreallylikeEnglishlife。IfwehadtimeforitIamsureitwouldbedelightful。Yourmothersendsherloveandwantsverymuchtohearofallyouaredoingandenjoying。Hopingthatwemayhavebetterluckthenexttimewecross——
Youraffectionatefather，REUBENL。VANDERPOEL。
Rosaliefoundherselfrunningbreathlesslyuptheavenue。
Shewasclutchingtheletterstillinherhand，andstaggeringfromsidetoside。Nowandthensheutteredhorriblelittleshortcries，likeananimal’s。Sheranandran，seeingnothing，andnowandthenwiththeclenchedhandinwhichtheletterwascrushedstrikingasharpblowatherbreast。
Shestumbledupthebigstonestepsshehadmountedonthedayshewasbroughthomeasabride。Herdresscaughtherfeetandshefellonherkneesandscrambledupagain，gasping；
shedashedacrossthehugedarkhall，and，hurlingherselfagainstthedoorofthemorningroom，appeared，dishevelled，haggard—eyed，andwithscarletpatchesonherwild，whiteface，beforetheDowager，whostartedangrilytoherfeet：
\"WhereisNigel？WhereisNigel？\"shecriedoutfrenziedly。
\"Whatinheaven’snamedoyoumeanbysuchmanners？\"
demandedherladyship。\"Apologiseatonce！\"
\"WhereisNigel？Nigel！Nigel！\"thegirlraved。\"Iwillseehim——Iwill——Iwillseehim！\"
Shewhohadbeenthemildestofsweet—temperedcreaturesallherlifehadsuddenlygonealmostinsanewithheartbroken，hystericgriefandrage。Shedidnotknowwhatshewassayinganddoing；sheonlyrealisedinanagonyofdespairthatshewasathingcaughtinatrap；thatthesepeoplehadherintheirpower，andthattheyhadtrickedandliedtoherandkeptherapartfromwhathergirl’sheartsocriedouttoandlongedfor。
Herfather，hermother，herlittlesister；theyhadbeennearherandhadbeenliedtoandsentaway\"Youarequitemad，youviolent，uncontrolledcreature！\"
criedtheDowagerfuriously。\"Yououghttobeputinastraitjacketanddrenchedwithcoldwater。\"
ThenthedooropenedagainandNigelstrodein。Hewasinridingdressandwasbreathlessandlividwithanger。Hewasinanicemoodtoconfrontawifeonthevergeofscreaminghysterics。Afterabadhalfhourwithhissteward，whohadbeentalkingofimpendingdisasters，hehadheardbychanceofWilson’sconflagrationandthehundred—poundcheque。Hehadgallopedhomeatthetopofhishorse’sspeed。
\"Hereisyourwiferavingmad，\"criedouthismother。
Rosaliestaggeredacrosstheroomtohim。Sheheldupherhandclenchingtheletterandshookitathim。
\"Mymotherandfatherhavebeenhere，\"sheshrieked。
Mymotherhasbeenill。Theywantedtocometoseeme。
Youknewandyoukeptitfromme。Youtoldmyfatherlies——lies——hideouslies！YousaidIwasawayinScotland——
enjoyingmyself——whenIwashereanddyingwithhomesickness。
YoumadethemthinkIdidnotcareforthem——orforNewYork！
Youhavekilledme！Whydidyoudosuchawickedthing！
Helookedatherwithglaringeyes。Ifamanbornagentlemaniseverinthemoodtokickhiswifetodeath，ascostermongersdo，hewasinthatmood。Hehadlostcontroloverhimselfascompletelyasshehad，andwhileshewasonlyadesperate，hystericgirl，hewasaviolentman。
\"IdiditbecauseIdidnotmeantohavethemhere，\"hesaid。\"IdiditbecauseIwon’thavethemhere。\"
\"Theyshallcome，\"shequaveredshrillyinherwildness。
\"Theyshallcometoseeme。Theyaremyownfatherandmother，andIwillhavethem。\"
Hecaughtherarminsuchagripthatshemusthavethoughthewouldbreakit，ifshecouldhavethoughtorfeltanything。
\"No，youwillnothavethem，\"hegroundforthbetweenhisteeth。\"YouwilldoasIorderyouandlearntobehaveyourselfasadecentmarriedwomanshould。YouwilllearntoobeyyourhusbandandrespecthiswishesandcontrolyourdevilishAmericantemper。\"
\"Theyhavegone——gone！\"wailedRosalie。\"Yousentthemaway！Myfather，mymother，mysister！\"
\"Stopyourindecentravings！\"orderedSirNigel，shakingher。\"Iwillnotsubmittobedisgracedbeforetheservants。\"
\"Putyourhandoverhermouth，Nigel，\"criedhismother。
\"Theveryscullerymaidswillhear。\"
Shewasasinfuriatedasherson。And，indeed，tobeholdcivilisedhumanbeingsinthestateofuncontrolledviolencethesethreehadreachedwasasighttoshudderat。
\"Iwon’tstop，\"criedthegirl。\"Whydidyoutakemeawayfromeverything——Iwasquitehappy。Everybodywaskindtome。Ilovedpeople，Ihadeverything。Nooneever——
ever——everill—usedanyone————\"
SirNigelclutchedherarmmorebrutallystillandshookherwithabsoluteviolence。Herhairbrokelooseandfellaboutherawfullittledistorted，sobbingface。
\"Ididnottakeyoutogiveyouanopportunitytodisplayyourvulgarostentationbythrowingawayhundred—poundchequestovillagers，\"hesaid。\"Ididn’ttakeyoutogiveyouthepositionofaladyandbemadeafoolofbyyou。\"
\"Youhaveruinedhim，\"burstforthhismother。\"YouhaveputitoutofhispowertomarryanEnglishwomanwhowouldhaveknownitwasherdutytogivesomethinginreturnforhisnameandprotection。\"
Herladyshiphadbeguntoravealso，andasmotherandsonwereofequalviolencewhentheyhadceasedtocontrolthemselves，Rosaliebegantofindherselfenlightenedunsparingly。Sheandherpeoplewerevulgarsharpers。TheyhadtrappedagentlemanintoalowAmericanmarriageandhadnotthedecencytopayforwhattheyhadgot。IfshehadbeenanEnglishwoman，wellborn，andofdecentbreeding，allherfortunewouldhavebeenproperlytransferredtoherhusbandandhewouldhavehadthedispensingofit。Herhusbandwouldhavebeeninthepositiontocontrolherexpenditureandseethatshedidnotmakeafoolofherself。Asitwasshewasthederisionofalldecentpeople，ofallpeoplewhohadbeenproperlybroughtupandknewwhatwasingoodtasteandofgoodmorality。
FirstitwastheDowagerwhopouredforth，andthenitwasSirNigel。Theybrokeinoneachother，theyinterruptedoneanotherwithexclamationsandinterpolations。Theyhadsofarlostthemselvesthattheydidnotknowtheybecamegrotesqueintheviolenceoftheirfury。Rosalie’sbrainwhirled。Herhysteriamountedandmounted。Shestaredfirstatoneandthenattheother，gaspingandsobbingbyturns；sheswayedonherfeetandclutchedatachair。
\"Ididnotknow，\"shebrokeforthatlast，tryingtomakehervoiceheardinthestorm。\"Ineverunderstood。Iknewsomethingmadeyouhateme，butIdidn’tknowyouwereangryaboutmoney。\"Shelaughedtremulouslyandwildly。
\"Iwouldhavegivenittoyou——fatherwouldhavegivenyousome——ifyouhadbeengoodtome。\"Thelaughbecamehystericalbeyondhermanagement。Pealafterpealbrokefromher，sheshookalloverwithherghastlymerriment，sobbingatoneandthesametime。
\"Oh！oh！oh！\"sheshrieked。\"Yousee，Ithoughtyouweresoaristocratic。Iwouldn’thavedaredtothinkofsuchathing。IthoughtanEnglishgentleman——anEnglishgentleman——
oh！oh！tothinkitwasallbecauseIdidnotgiveyoumoney——justcommondollarsandcentsthat——thatIdaren’toffertoadecentAmericanwhocouldworkforhimself。\"
SirNigelsprangather。Hestruckherwithhisopenhanduponthecheek，andasshereeledshehelduphersmall，feverish，shakinghand，laughingmorewildlythanbefore。
\"Yououghtnottostrikeme，\"shecried。\"Yououghtn’t！
Youdon’tknowhowvaluableIam。Perhaps————\"withalittle，crazyscream——\"perhapsImighthaveason。\"
Shefellinashudderingheap，andasshedroppedshestruckheavilyagainsttheprotrudingendofanoakchestandlayuponthefloor，herarmsflungoutandlimp，asifshewereadeadthing。
CHAPTERV
ONBOTHSIDESOFTHEATLANTIC
InthecourseoftwelveyearstheShuttlehadwovensteadilyand——itsmovementslubricatedbytimeandcustom——withincreasingrapidity。Threadsofcommerceitcaughtupandshottoandfro，withthreadsofliteratureandart，threadsoflifedrawnfromoneshoretotheotherandbackagain，untiltheywereboundinthefabricofitsweaving。Coldnesstherehadbeenbetweenbothlands，broaddivergenceoftasteandthought，argumentacrossseas，sometimesresentment，butthewebinFate’shandsbroadenedandstrengthenedandheldfast。Coldnessfaintlywarmeddespiteitself，tasteandthoughtdrawnintonearercontact，reflectingupontheirdivergences，grewintotoleranceandtheknowledgethatthediverging，seenmoreclearly，wasnotsobroad；argumentcomingwithinspeakingdistancereasoneditselftologicalandpracticalconclusions。
Problemswhichhadstirredangerbegantofindsolutions。
Books，inthefirstplace，didperhapsmorethanallelse。
Cheap，piratededitionsofEnglishworks，muchquarrelledoverbyauthorsandpublishers，beingscatteredovertheland，broughtbeforeAmericaneyessoft，home—likepicturesofplaceswhichwere，afterallwassaidanddone，thehomesofthosewhoreadofthem，atleastinthesenseofhavingbeenthebirthplacesoffathersorgrandfathers。Somesubtle，far—reachingpowerofnaturecausedastirringoftheblood，avague，unexpressedyearningandlingeringoverpageswhichdepictedsweet，greenlanes，broadacresrichwithcenturiesofnourishmentandcare；
greychurchtowers，redroofs，andvillagechildrenplayingbeforecottagedoors。Noneofthesethingswerenewtothosewhoponderedoverthem，kinsmenhaddweltonmemoriesofthemintheirfiresidetalk，andtheirchildrenhadseentheminfancyandindreams。Oldgrievanceshavinghadtimetofadeawayandtakeonlesspoignantcolour，thestirringofthebloodstirredalsoimaginations，andwakenedsomethingakintohomesickness，thoughnomancalledthefeelingbyitsname。Andthis，perhaps，wasthestrongestcordtheShuttlewoveandwasthetruemeaningofitspower。Beingdrawnbyit，Americansinincreasingnumbersturnedtheirfacestowardstheolderland。Graduallyitwasdiscoveredthatitwasthesimplestaffairintheworldtodrivedowntothewharvesandtakeasteamerwhichlandedone，afteramoreorlessinterestingvoyage，inLiverpool，oratsomeotherconvenientport。FromthereonewenttoLondon，orParis，orRome；infact，whither—
soeverone’sfancyguided，butfirstorlastitalwaysledthetravellertothetreadingofgreen，velvetEnglishturf。Andoncestandingonsuchvelvet，bothmenandwomen，lookingaboutthem，felt，despitethemselves，thestrangeoldthrillwhichsomeofthemhalfresentedandsomewarmlyloved。
Inthecourseoftwelveyears，alengthoftimewhichwilltransformalittlegirlwearingashortfrockintoayoungwomanwearingalongone，thepaceoflifeandtheorderingofsocietymaybecomesoalteredastoappearamazingwhenonefindstimetoreflectonthesubject。Butonedoesnotoftenfindtime。Changesoccursograduallythatonescarcelyobservesthem，orsoswiftlythattheytaketheformofakindofamazedshockwhichonegetsoverasquicklyasoneexperiencesitandrealisesthatitscauseisalreadyafixedfact。
IntheUnitedStatesofAmerica，whichhavenotyetacquiredtheserenesenseofconservativeself—satisfactionandreposewhichcenturiesofagemaybestow，thespiritoflifeitselfistheaspirationforchange。Ambitionitselfonlymeanstheinsistenceonchange。Eachdayistobebetterthanyesterdayfullerofplans，ofbriskness，ofinitiative。Eachto—daydemandsofto—morrownewmen，newminds，newwork。Ato—daywhichhasnotlaunchednewships，explorednewcountries，constructednewbuildings，addedstoriestooldones，mayconsideritselfafailure，unworthyevenofbeingconsignedtothelimboofrespectableyesterdays。Suchacountrylivesbyleapsandbounds，andthetenyearswhichfollowedthemarriageofReubenVanderpoel’seldestdaughtermademanysuchboundsandleaps。Theywereyearswhichinitiatedandestablishedinternationalsocialrelationsinamannerwhichcausedthemtoincorporatethemselveswiththehistoryofbothcountries。
AsAmericadiscoveredEurope，thatcontinentdiscoveredAmerica。
AmericanbeautiesbegantoappearinEnglishdrawing—roomsandContinentalsalons。TheywerepresentedatcourtandcommenteduponintheRowandtheBois。Theirlittletransatlantictricksofspeechandtheirmotswererepeatedwithgusto。Itbecameunderstoodthattheywereamusingandamazing。Americans\"camein\"astheheroesandheroinesofnovelsandstories。Punchdelightedinthemvastly。Shop—
keepersandhotelproprietorsstocked，furnished，andprovisionedforthem。Theyspentmoneyenormouslyandweresingularlyindifferent（attheoutset）underimposition。They\"cameover\"inamannerasepoch—making，thoughlesswar—likethanthatofWilliamtheConqueror。
Internationalmarriagesceasedtobeanovelty。AsBettinaVanderpoelgrewup，shegrewup，sotospeak，inthemidstofthem。Shesawhercountry，itspeople，itsnewspapers，itsliterature，innocentlyrejoicedbythealliancesitscharmingyoungwomencontractedwithforeignrank。Shesawitaffectionately，gleefully，rubbingitshandsoveritsduchesses，itscountesses，itsmiladies。TheAmericanEaglespreaditswingsandflappedthemsometimesatrifle，overthisnewbutsonaturalandinevitabletriumphofitsvirgins。Itwasofcourseonly\"American\"thatsuchthingsshouldhappen。Americaruledtheuniverse，anditswomenruledAmerica，bullyingitalittle，prettily，perhaps。WhatcouldbemoreamatterofcoursethanthatAmericanwomen，beingaidedbyadoringfathers，brothersandhusbands，sumptuouslytoshipthemselvestootherlands，shouldbegintoruletheselandsalso？Betty，inhergrowingup，heardallthisintimated。Attwelveyearsold，thoughshehaddetestedRosalie’smarriage，shehadratherlikedtohearpeopletalkofthepicturesquenessofplaceslikeStornhamCourt，andofthelifeledbywomenofrankintheirhousesintownandcountry。Suchtalknearlyalwaysinvolvedthedescriptionofthingsandpeople，whosecolourandtonehadonlyreachedherthroughthemediumofbooks，mostfrequentlyfiction。
Shewas，however，ofanunusuallyobservingmind，evenasachild，andthetimecamewhensherealisedthatthenationalbirdspreaditswingslessproudlywhenthesubjectofinternationalmatcheswastouchedupon，andevenatsuchtimesshowedsignsofrestlessness。Nowandthenthingshadnotturnedoutastheyappearedtopromise；twoorthreeseeminglybrilliantunionshadresultedindisaster。Shehadnotunderstoodallthedetailsthenewspaperscheerfullyprovided，butitwascleartoherthatmorethanonepreviouslyenviedyoungwomanhadhadpracticalreasonsfordiscoveringthatshehadmadeanastonishinglybadbargain。Thisbeingthecase，sheusedfrequentlytoponderoverthecaseofRosy——Rosy！whohadbeensweptawayfromthemandswallowedup，asitseemed，bythatotherandolderworld。Shewasincertainwaysasilentchild，andnoonebutherselfknewhowlittleshehadforgottenRosy，howoftensheponderedoverher，howsometimesshehadlainawakeinthenightandpuzzledoutlinesofargumentconcerningherandthingswhichmightbetrue。
TheonegriefofpoorMrs。Vanderpoel’slifehadbeentheapparentestrangementofhereldestchild。AfterherfirstsixmonthsinEnglandLadyAnstruthers’lettershadbecomefewerandfartherbetween，andhadgivensolittleinformationconnectedwithherselfthataffectionatecuriositybecamediscouraged。SirNigel’sbriefandrareepistlesrevealedsolittledesireforanyrelationshipwithhiswife’sfamilythatgraduallyRosy’simageseemedtofadeintofardistanceandbecomefainterwiththepassingofeachmonth。Itseemedalmostanincrediblething，whentheyallowedthemselvestothinkofit，butnomemberofthefamilyhadeverbeentoStornhamCourt。Twoorthreeeffortstoarrangeavisithadbeenmade，butoneachoccasionhadfailedthroughsomeapparentlyaccidentalcause。OnceLadyAnstruthershadbeenaway，oncealetterhadseeminglyfailedtoreachher，onceherchildrenhadhadscarletfeverandtheordersofthephysiciansinattendancehadbeenstringentinregardtovisitors，evenrelativeswhodidnotfearcontagion。
\"IfshehadbeenlivinginNewYorkandherchildrenhadbeenillIshouldhavebeenwithherallthetime，\"poorMrs。
Vanderpoelhadsaidwithtears。\"Rosy’schangedawfully，somehow。Herlettersdon’tsoundabitlikesheusedtobe。
Itseemsasifshejustdoesn’tcaretoseehermotherandfather。\"
Bettyhadfrownedagooddealandthoughtintenselyinsecret。ShedidnotbelievethatRosywasashamedofherrelations。Sheremembered，however，itistrue，thatClaraNewell（whohadbeenaschoolmate）hadbecomeverysuper—fineandindifferenttoherfamilyafterhermarriagetoanaristocraticandlearnedGerman。Hershadbeenoneofthesuccessfulalliances，andafterlivingafewyearsinBerlinshehadquitelookeddownuponNewYorkers，andhadmadeherselfexceedinglyunpopularduringheronebriefvisittoherrelatives。Sheseemedtothinkherfatherandmotherundignifiedanduncultivated，andshedisapprovedentirelyofhersistersdressandbearing。Shesaidthattheyhadnodistinctionofmannerandthatalltheirinterestswerefrivolousandunenlightened。
\"ButClaraalwayswasaconceitedgirl，\"thoughtBetty。
\"Shewasalwayspatronisingpeople，andRosywasonlyprettyandsweet。Shealwayssaidherselfthatshehadnobrains。
Butshehadaheart。\"
AfterthelapseofafewyearstherehadbeennofurtherdiscussionofplansforvisitingStornham。Rosaliehadbecomesoremoteastoappearalmostunreachable。ShehadbeenpresentedatCourt，shehadhadthreechildren，theDowagerLadyAnstruthershaddied。Onceshehadwrittentoherfathertoaskforalargesumofmoney，whichhehadsenttoher，becausesheseemedtowantitverymuch。Sherequiredittopayoffcertaindebtsontheestateandspoketouchinglyofherboywhowouldinherit。
\"Heisadelicateboy，father，\"shewrote，\"andIdon’twanttheestatetocometohimburdened。\"
Whenshereceivedthemoneyshewrotegratefullyofthegenerosityshownher，butshespokeveryvaguelyoftheprospectoftheirseeingeachotherinthefuture。Itwasasifshefeltherownremotenessevenmorethantheyfeltitthemselves。
InthemeantimeBettinahadbeentakentoFranceandplacedatschoolthere。Theresultingexperiencewasanenlighteningone，farmoreilluminatingtothequick—wittedAmericanchildthanitwouldhavebeentoanEnglish，French，orGermanone，whowouldnothavehadsomuchtolearn，andprobablywouldnothavebeensoquickatthelearning。
BettyVanderpoelknewnothingwhichwasnotAmerican，andonlyvaguelyafewthingswhichwerenotofNewYork。
ShehadlivedinFifthAvenue，attendedschoolinanumberedstreetnearherownhome，playedinandbeendrivenroundCentralPark。ShehadspentthehotmonthsofthesummerinplacesuptheHudson，oronLongIsland，andsuchresortsofpleasure。Shehadbelievedimplicitlyinallshesawandknew。Shehadbeensurroundedbywealthanddecentgoodnaturethroughoutherexistence，andhadenjoyedherlifefartoomuchtoadmitofanydoubtthatAmericawasthemostperfectcountryintheworld，Americansthecleverestandmostamusingpeople，andthatothernationswerealittleoutofit，andconsequentlysufficientlyscantofresourcetorenderpitywithoutcondemnationanaturalsentimentinconnectionwithone’soccasionalthoughtsofthem。
Butherswasamentalitybynomeansordinary。Inheritanceinhernaturehadcombinedwithcircumstances，asithasahabitofdoinginallhumanbeings。Butinhercasethecombinationswereunusualandproducedaresultsomewhatremarkable。Thequalityofbrainswhich，inthefirstReubenVanderpoelhadexpresseditselfinthemarvellouslysuccessfulplanningandcarryingtotheirendsofcommercialandfinancialschemes，theabsolutegeniusofpenetrationandcalculationofthesordidanduneducatedlittletraderinskinsandbartererofgoods，havingfilteredthroughtwogenerationsofgradualeducationandrefinementofexistence，whichwasnolongerthatofthemeretrader，hadbeentransformedinthegreat—granddaughterintokeen，clearsight，level—headedperceptivenessandalogicalsenseofvalues。AsthefirstReubenhadknownbyinstinctthevaluesofpeltsandlands，Bettinaknewbyinstinctthevaluesofqualities，ofbrains，ofhearts，ofcircumstances，andtheincidentswhichaffectthem。