Acommon—lookingyoungmanonabicycle，whohadwheeledintothevillagewiththecarriage，ridingalongsideitforahundredyardsorso，stoppedbeforetheClockInnanddismounted，justasMrs。Brentnearedhim。Hesawherlookingaftertheequipage，andliftinghiscapspoketohercivilly。
\"ThisisStornhamvillage，ain’tit，ma’am？\"heinquired。
\"Yes，myman。\"Hiscostumeandgeneralaspectseemedtoindicatethathewasoftheclassoneaddressedas\"myman，\"
thoughtherewassomethingalittleoddabouthim。
\"Thankyou。Thatwasn’tMissVanderpoel’seldestsisterinthatcarriage，wasit？\"
\"MissVanderpoel’s————\"Mrs。Brenthesitated。\"DoyoumeanLadyAnstruthers？\"
\"I’dforgottenhername。IknowMissVanderpoel’seldestsisterlivesatStornham——ReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughter。\"
\"LadyAnstruthers’youngersisterisaMissVanderpoel，andsheisvisitingatStornhamCourtnow。\"Mrs。Brentcouldnothelpadding，curiously，\"Whydoyouask？\"
\"Iamgoingtoseeher。I’manAmerican。\"
Mrs。Brentcoughedtocoveraslightgasp。ShehadheardremarkablethingsofthedemocraticcustomsofAmerica。Itwaspainfulnottobeabletoaskquestions。
\"TheladyinthecarriagewastheCountessofDunholm，\"
shesaidrathergrandly。\"TheyaregoingtotheCourttocallonMissVanderpoel。\"
\"ThenMissVanderpoel’sthereyet。That’sallright。
Thankyou，ma’am，\"andliftinghiscapagainheturnedintothelittlepublichouse。
TheDunholmpartyhadbeenaccustomedontheirrarevisitstoStornhamtobereceivedbythekindofman—servantinthekindofliverywhichisamanifest，thoughunwilling，confession。Themenwhothrewopenthedoorswereofregulationheight，welldressed，andoftrainedbearing。Theentrancehallhadlostitshopelessshabbiness。Itwasacompleteandpicturesquelyluxuriousthing。Thechangesuggestedmagic。Themagicwhichhadbeenused，LordDunholmreflected，wasthesimplestandmostpowerfulonearth。Givensurroundings，combinedwithagiftforknowingvaluesofformandcolour，ifyouhavethepowertospendthousandsofguineasontigerskins，Orientalrugs，andotherbeauties，barrennessiseasilytransformed。
Thedrawing—roomworeachangedaspect，andatafirstglanceitwastobeseenthatinpoorlittleLadyAnstruthers，asshehadgenerallybeencalled，therewastobenotedalterationalso。Inhercasethechange，beinginitsfirststages，couldnotperhapsbeyetcalledtransformation，but，aidedbysoftlyprettyarrangementofdressandhair，alightinhereyes，andasuggestionofpinkunderherskin，onerecalledthatshehadoncebeenaprettylittlewoman，andthatafterallshewasonlyaboutthirty—twoyearsoldThathersister，MissVanderpoel，hadbeauty，itwasnotnecessarytohesitateindeciding。NeitherLordDunholmnorhiswifenortheirsondidhesitate。Agirlwithlonglimbsanalluringprofile，andextraordinaryblacklashessetroundlovelyIrish—blueeyes，possessesphysicalcapitalnottobearguedabout。
Shewasnotoneofthecurious，exoticlittlecreatures，whosethin，thoughsometimesrathersweet，andalwaysgay，high—
pitchedyoungvoicesLordDunholmhadbeensoespeciallystruckbyintheearlydaysoftheAmericaninvasion。Hervoicehadatoneonewouldbelikelytorememberwithpleasure。
Howwellshemoved——howwellherblackheadwassetonherneck！Yes，shewasofthenewtype——thelatergeneration。
Theseamazing，oddlypracticalpeoplehadevolvedit——plannedit，perhaps，bought——figurativelyspeaking——thearchitectsandmaterialtodesignandbuildit——boughttheminwhatevercountrytheyfoundthem，England，France，ItalyGermany——pocketingthemcoollyandcarryingthembackhometodevelop，complete，andsendforthintotheworldwhentheirinventionwasaperfectedthing。Struckbythehumourofhisfancy，LordDunholmfoundhimselfsmilingintotheIrish—blueeyes。Theysmiledbackathiminawaywhichwarmedhisheart。Therewerenopausesintheconversationwhichfollowed。Intimespast，callsatStornhamhadgenerallyheldpainfullyblankmoments。LadyDunholmwasaspleasedasherhusband。Areallycharminggirlwasanenormousacquisitiontotheneighbourhood。
Westholt，hisfathersaw，hadfoundevenmorethanthestoryofoldDoby’spipehadpreparedhimtoexpect。
Countrycallswerenotusuallyinterestingorstimulating，andthisonewas。LordDunholmlaidsubtlybrilliantplanstoleadMissVanderpoeltotalkofhernativelandandherviewsofit。Heknewthatshewouldsaythingsworthhearing。
Incidentallyonegatheredpicturesquedetail。Tohavevibratedbetweenthetwocontinentssinceherthirteenthyear，tohavespentafewyearsatschoolinonecountry，afewyearsinanother，andyetafewyearsmoreinstillanother，aspartofanarrangededucationalplan；tohavecrossedtheAtlanticfortheholidays，andtohavejourneyedthousandsofmileswithherfatherinhisprivatecar；tomakethevisitsofamanofgreatschemestohispossessionsofmines，railroads，andlandswhichwerealmostprincipalities——thesethingshadbeenmerelydetailsofherlife，addinginterestandvariety，itwastrue，butseemingthemerelynormaloutcomeofexistence。
TheywerenormaltoVanderpoelsandothersoftheirclasswhowereabnormalitiesinthemselveswhencomparedwiththerestoftheworld。
Herownverylackofanyabnormalityreached，inLordDunholm’smind，thehighestpointofillustrationofthephaseoflifeshebeautifullyrepresented——forbeautifulhefeltitsrarecharmswere。
Whentheystrolledouttolookatthegardenshefoundtalkwithhernolessastimulatingthing。ShetoldherstoryofKedgers，andshowedthechosenspotwherethicketsofliliesweretobloom，withthegiantsliftingwhitearchangeltrumpetsabovetheminthecentre。
\"Hecanbetrusted，\"shesaid。\"Ifeelsurehecanbetrusted。Helovesthem。Hecouldnotlovethemsomuchandnotbeabletotakecareofthem。\"Andasshelookedathiminfrankappealforsympathy，LordDunholmfeltthatforthemomentshelookedlikeatall，queenlychild。
Butpleasedashewas，hepresentlygaveuphisplaceathersidetoWestholt。Hemustnotbeaselfisholdfellowandmonopoliseher。Hehopedtheywouldseeeachotheroften，hesaidcharmingly。HethoughtshewouldbesuretolikeDunholm，whichwasreallyathoroughlyEnglisholdplace，markedbyallthefeaturessheseemedsomuchattractedby。Thereweresomebeautifulrelicsofthepastthere，andsomerathershockingones——certaindungeons，forinstance，andagallowsmount，onwhichingoodoldtimesthefamilygallowshadstood。Thishadapparentlybeenaworkingadjuncttothedomesticarrangementsofeveryrespectablefamily，andthatirritatingpersonsshoulddanglefromithadbeenasimpledomesticnecessity，ifoneweretobelieveoldstories。
\"Itwasthenthatnobleswereregardedwithrespect，\"hesaid，withhisfinesmile。\"Inthedayswhenamanappearedwithclangofarmsandwithjavelinsandspearsbefore，anddonjonkeepsinthebackground，theattitudeofbentkneesandawfulreverenceweretheinevitableresults。Whenonecouldhangaservantonone’sownprivategallows，orchopoffhishandforirreverenceordisobedience——obedienceandreverencewerearule。Now，amonth’snoticeistheextremityofpunishment，andtheoldpompofarmedservitorssuggestscomicopera。ButwecanshowyourelicsofitatDunholm。\"
HejoinedhiswifeandbeganatoncetomakehimselfsodelightfultoRosythatsheceasedtobeafraidofhim，andendedbytalkingalmostgailyofherLondonvisit。
BettyandWestholtwalkedtogether。Theafternoonbeinglovely，theyhadallsaunteredintotheparktolookatcertainviews，andthesunwasshiningbetweenthetrees。Bettythoughttheyoungmanalmostascharmingashisfather，whichwassayingmuch。ShehadfallenwhollyinlovewithLordDunholm——withhishandsome，elderlyface，hisvoice，hiserectbearing，hisfinesmile，hisattractionofmanner，hiscourteouseaseandwit。Hewasoneofthemenwhostoodforthebestofalltheyhadbeenborntorepresent。
Herownfather，shefelt，stoodforthebestofallsuchanAmericanashimselfshouldbe。LordWestholtwouldintimebewhathisfatherwas。Hehadinheritedfromhimgoodlooks，goodfeeling，andasenseofhumour。Yes，hehadbeengivenfromtheoutsetallthattheothermanhadbeendenied。
ShewasthinkingofMountDunstanas\"theotherman，\"andspokeofhim。
\"YouknowLordMountDunstan？\"shesaid。
Westholthesitatedslightly。
\"Yes——andno，\"heanswered，afterthehesitation。\"Nooneknowshimverywell。Youhavenotmethim？\"withatouchofsurpriseinhistone。
\"HewasapassengerontheMeridianawhenIlastcrossedtheAtlantic。Therewasaslightaccidentandwewerethrowntogetherforafewmoments。AfterwardsImethimbychanceagain。Ididnotknowwhohewas。\"
LordWestholtshowedsignsofhesitationanew。Infact，hewasratherdisturbed。SheevidentlydidnotknowanythingwhateveroftheMountDunstans。Shewouldnotbelikelytohearthedetailsofthescandalwhichhadobliteratedthem，asitwere，fromthedecentworld。
Thepresentman，thoughhehadnotopenlybeenmixedupwiththehideousthing，hadbornethebrandbecausehehadnotprovedhimselftopossessanyqualitieslikelytorecommendhim。Itwasgenerallyunderstoodthathewasabadlotalso。
TosuchamantheallurementssuchayoungwomanasMissVanderpoelwouldpresentwouldbeextraordinary。Itwasunfortunatethatsheshouldhavebeenthrowninhisway。Atthesametimeitwasnotpossibletostatethecaseclearlyduringone’sfirstcallonabeautifulstranger。
\"HisgoingtoAmericawasratherspirited，\"saidthemellowvoicebesidehim。\"IthoughtonlyAmericanstooktheirfatesintheirhandsinthatway。Foramanofhisclasstofacearancher’slifemeansdetermination。Itmeansthespirit————\"
withalowlittlelaughattheleapofherimagination——\"ofthemenwhowereMountDunstansinearlydaysandwentforthtofightforwhattheymeanttohave。Hewenttofight。Heoughttohavewon。Hewillwinsomeday。\"
\"Idonotknowaboutfighting，\"LordWestholtanswered。
Hadthefellowbeentellingherromanticstories？\"ThegeneralimpressionwasthathewenttoAmericatoamusehimself。\"
\"No，hedidnotdothat，\"saidBetty，withsimplefinality。
\"Asheepranchisnotamusing————\"Shestoppedshortandstoodstillforamoment。Theyhadbeenwalkingdowntheavenue，andshestoppedbecausehereyeshadbeencaughtbyafigurehalfsitting，halflyinginthemiddleoftheroad，aprostratebicyclenearit。Itwasthefigureofacheaplydressedyoungman，who，asshelooked，seemedtomakeanineffectualefforttorise。
\"Isthatmanill？\"sheexclaimed。\"Ithinkhemustbe。\"
Theywenttowardshimatonce，andwhentheyreachedhimheliftedadazedwhiteface，downwhichastreamofbloodwastricklingfromacutonhisforehead。Hewas，infact，verywhiteindeed，anddidnotseemtoknowwhathewasdoing。
\"Iamafraidyouarehurt，\"Bettysaid，andasshespoketherestofthepartyjoinedthem。Theyoungmanvacantlysmiled，andmakinganunconscious—lookingpassacrosshisfacewithhishand，smearedthebloodoverhisfeaturespainfully。
Bettykneeleddown，anddrawingoutherhandkerchief，lightlywipedthegruesomesmearsaway。LordWestholtsawwhathadhappened，havinggivenalookatthebicycle。
\"Hischainbrokeashewascomingdowntheincline，andashefellhegotanastyknockonthisstone，\"touchingwithhisfootaratherlargeone，whichhadevidentlyfallenfromsomecartloadofbuildingmaterial。
Theyoungman，stillvacantlysmiling，wasfumblingathisbreastpocket。Hebegantotalkincoherentlyingood，nasalNewYork，atthemeresoundofwhichLadyAnstruthersmadealittleyearningstepforward。
\"Superioranyother，\"hemuttered。\"Tabulatorspacer——
marginalreleasekey——callyour’tention——instantly——’justable——Delkoff——noequalonmarket。\"Andhavingfoundwhathehadfumbledfor，hehandedacardtoMissVanderpoelandsankunconsciousonherbreast。
\"Letmesupporthim，MissVanderpoel，\"saidWestholt，startingforward。
\"Nevermind，thankyou，\"saidBetty。\"IfhehasfaintedIsupposehemustbelaidflatontheground。Willyoupleasetoreadthecard。
ItwasthecardMountDunstanhadreadthedaybefore。
J。BURRIDGE&SON，DELKOFFTYPEWRITERCO。
BROADWAY，NEWYORK。G。SELDEN。
\"HeisprobablyG。Selden，\"saidWestholt。\"Travellingintheinterestsofhisfirm，poorchap。Theclueisnotofmuchimmediateuse，however。\"
Theywerefortunatelynotfarfromthehouse，andWestholtwentbackquicklytosummonservantsandsendforthevillagedoctor。TheDunholmswerekindlysympathetic，andeachofthepartylentahandkerchieftostaunchthebleeding。
LordDunholmhelpedMissVanderpoeltolaytheyoungmandowncarefully。
\"Iamafraid，\"hesaid；\"Iamreallyafraidhislegisbroken。
Itwastwistedunderhim。Whatcanbedonewithhim？\"
MissVanderpoellookedathersister。
\"Willyouallowhimtobecarriedtothehousetemporarily，Rosy？\"sheasked。\"Thereisapparentlynothingelsetobedone。\"
\"Yes，yes，\"saidLadyAnstruthers。\"Howcouldonesendhimaway，poorfellow！Lethimbecarriedtothehouse。\"
MissVanderpoelsmiledintoLordDunholm’smuchapproving，elderlyeyes。
\"G。Seldenisacompatriot，\"shesaid。\"PerhapsheheardIwashereandcametosellmeatypewriter。\"
LordWestholtreturningwithtwofootmenandalightmattress，G。Seldenwascarriedwithcautiouscaretothehouse。
Theafternoonsun，breakingthroughthebranchesoftheancestraloaks，kindlytouchedhiskeen—featured，whiteyoungface。LordDunholmandLordWestholteachlentafriendlyhand，andMissVanderpoel，keepingnear，onceortwicewipedawayaninsistenttrickleofbloodwhichshoweditselffrombeneaththehandkerchiefs。LadyDunholmfollowedwithLadyAnstruthers。
Afterwards，duringhisconvalescence，G。Seldenfrequentlyfeltwithregretthatbyhisunconsciousnessofthedignityofhiscortegeatthemomenthehadmissedfeelinghimselftobeforonceinapositionhewouldhavedesignatedas\"outofsight\"inthenoveltyofitsimportance。Tohavebeheldhim，bornebynoblesandliveriedmenials，accompaniedbyladiesoftitle，uptheavenueofanEnglishparkonhiswaytobecaredforinbaronialhalls，would，heknew，haveaddedajoytothefinalmomentsofhisgrandmother，whichtheconsolationsofreligioncouldscarcelyhavemetequallyincompetition。
Hisownpointofview，however，wouldnot，itistrue，havebeenthatoftheoldwomanintheblacknetcapandpurpleribbons，butofalessreverentnature。Hisenjoyment，infact，wouldhavebeenbaseduponthattransatlanticsenseofhumour，whosesoulisgleeattheincompatible，whichwouldhavebeenfullfedbytheincongruityof\"LittleWilliebeingyankedalongbyabunchofearls，andReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughtersfollowingthefuneral。\"Thathehimselfshouldhavebeenunconsciousofthesituationseemedtohimlike\"throwingawaymoney。\"
Thedoctorarrivingafterhehadbeenputtobedfoundslightconcussionofthebrainandabrokenleg。WithLadyAnstruthers’kindpermission，itwouldcertainlybebestthatheshouldremainforthepresentwherehewas。So，inabedroomwhosewindowslookedoutuponspreadinglawnsandbroad—branchedtrees，hewasascomfortablyestablishedaswaspossible。G。Selden，throughthecapriciousinterventionofFate，ifhehadnot\"gotnext\"toReubenS。Vanderpoelhimself，hadmostundisputably\"gotnext\"tohisfavouritedaughter。
AstheDunholmcarriagerolleddowntheavenuetherereignedforafewminutesareflectivesilence。ItwasLadyDunholmwhobrokeit。\"That，\"shesaidinhersoftlydecidedvoice，\"thatisanicegirl。\"
LordDunholm’sagreeable，humoroussmileflickeredintoevidence。
\"Thatisit，\"hesaid。\"Thankyou，Eleanor，forsupplyingmewithaquitedelightfulearlyVictorianword。IbelieveIwantedit。Sheisabeautyandsheisclever。Sheisanumberofotherthings——butsheisalsoanicegirl。Ifyouwillallowmetosayso，Ihavefalleninlovewithher。\"
\"Ifyouwillallowmetosayso，\"putinWestholt，\"sohaveI——quitefatally。\"
\"That，\"saidhisfather，withspeculationinhiseye，\"ismoreserious。\"
CHAPTERXXVI
\"WHATITMUSTBETOYOU——JUSTYOU！\"
G。Selden，awakeningtoconsciousnesstwodayslater，layandstaredatthechintzcoveringofthetopofhisfour—postbedthroughafewminutesofvacantamazement。Itwasafour—
postbedhewaslyingon，wasn’tit？Andhislegwasbandagedandfeltunmovable。Thelastthingherememberedwasgoingdownaninclineinatree—borderedavenue。Therewasnothingmore。Hehadbeenallrightthen。Wasthisafour—
postbedorwasitnot？Yes，itwas。Andwasitpartofthefurnishingsofaswellbedroom——thekindofbedroomhehadneverbeeninbefore？Tiptop，infact？Hestaredandtriedtorecallthings——butcouldnot，andinhisbewildermentexclaimedaloud。
\"Well，\"hesaid，\"ifthisain’tthelimit！YoumaysearchME！\"
Arespectablepersoninawhiteaproncametohimfromtheothersideoftheroom。ItwasButtle’swife，whohadbeenhastilycalledin。
\"Sh——sh，\"shesaidsoothingly。\"Don’tyouworry。
Nobodyain’tgoin’tosearchyou。Nobodyain’t。There！Sh，sh，sh，\"ratherasifhewereababy。Beginningtobeconsciousofacurioussenseofweakness，Seldenlayandstaredatherinahelplessnesswhichmighthavebeenconsideredpathetic。
Perhapshehadgot\"batsinhisbelfry，\"andtherewasnouseintalking。
Atthatmoment，however，thedooropenedandayoungladyentered。Shewas\"alooker，\"G。Selden’sweaknessdidnotinterferewithhisperceiving。\"Alooker，bygee！\"Shewasdressed，asifforgoingout，insoftlytinted，exquisitethings，andalarge，strangehydrangeablueflowerunderthebrimofherhatrestedonsoftandfullblackhair。Theblackhairgavehimaclue。ItwashairlikethathehadseenasReubenS。Vanderpoel’sdaughterrodebywhenhestoodattheparkgatesatMountDunstan。\"Batsinhisbelfry，\"ofcourse。
\"Howishe？\"shesaidtothenurse。
\"He’sbeenseemingcomfortableallday，miss，\"thewomananswered，\"buthe’slight—headedyet。Heopenedhiseyesquitesensiblelookingabitago，buthespokequeer。Hesaidsomethingwasthelimit，andthatwemightsearchhim。\"
Bettyapproachedthebedsidetolookathim，andmeetingthedisturbedinquiryinhisupliftedeyes，laughed，because，seeingthathewasnotdelirious，shethoughtsheunderstood。ShehadnotlivedinNewYorkwithouthearingitsargot，andsherealisedthattheexclamationwhichhadappeareddeliriumtoMrs。ButtlehadprobablyindicatedthattheunexplainablenessofthesituationinwhichG。Seldenfoundhimselfstruckhimasreachingthelimitofprobability，andthatthemostextendedsearchofhispersonwouldfailtorevealanycluetosatisfactoryexplanation。
Shebentoverhim，withherlaughstillshininginhereyes。
\"Ihopeyoufeelbetter。Canyoutellme？\"shesaid。
Hisvoicewasnotstrong，buthisanswerwasthatofayoungmanwhoknewwhathewassaying。
\"IfI’mnotoffmyhead，ma’am，I’mquitecomfortable，thankyou，\"hereplied。
\"Iamgladtohearthat，\"saidBetty。\"Don’tbedisturbed。
Yourmindisquiteclear。\"
\"AllIwant，\"saidG。Seldenimpartially，\"isjusttoknowwhereI’mat，andhowIblewinhere。Itwouldhelpmetorestbetter。\"
\"Youmetwithanaccident，\"the\"looker\"explained，stillsmilingwithbothlipsandeyes。\"Yourbicyclechainbrokeandyouwerethrownandhurtyourself。Ithappenedintheavenueinthepark。Wefoundyouandbroughtyouin。YouareatStornhamCourt，whichbelongstoSirNigelAnstruthers。LadyAnstruthersismysister。IamMissVanderpoel。\"
\"Hullygee！\"ejaculatedG。Seldeninevitably。\"HullyGEE！\"Thesplendourofthemomentwassuchthathisbrainwhirled。Asitwasnotyetinthephysicalconditiontowhirlwithanycomfort，hefoundhimselfclosinghiseyesweakly。
\"That’sright，\"MissVanderpoelsaid。\"Keepthemclosed。Imustnottalktoyouuntilyouarestronger。Liestillandtrynottothink。Thedoctorsaysyouaregettingonverywell。Iwillcomeandseeyouagain。\"
Asthesoftsweepofherdressreachedthedoorhemanagedtoopenhiseyes。
\"Thankyou，MissVanderpoel，\"hesaid。\"Thankyou，ma’am。Andashiseyelidsclosedagainhemurmuredinluxuriouspeace：
\"Well，ifthat’sher——shecanhaveME——andwelcome！\"……
Shecametoseehimagaineachday——sometimesinalinenfrockandgardenhat，sometimesinhersofttintsandlaceandflowersbeforeorafterherdriveintheafternoon，andtwoorthreetimesintheevening，withlovelyshouldersandwonderfullytrailingdraperies——lookinglikethewomenhehadcaughtfar—offglimpsesofontherareoccasionofhishavingindulgedhimselfinthehighestandmostremotelyplacedseatinthegalleryattheopera，whichinconveniencehehadbornenotthroughanyardentdesiretohearthemusic，butbecausehewantedtoseetheshowandget\"alook—in\"attheFourHundred。HebelievedveryimplicitlyinhisFourHundred，andprivately——thoughperhapsalmostunconsciously——cherishedthedistinctionhisshareofthemconferreduponhim，asfondlyastheEnglishyoungmanofhisrudimentarytypecherisheshisdukesandduchesses。TheEnglishyoungmanmayrevelinhiscoronetedbeautiesinphotographshops，theyoungAmericandwellsfondlyonflattering，orveryunflattering，reproductionsofhismulti—millionaires’wivesanddaughtersinthevoluminousillustratedsheetsofhisSundaypaper，withoutwhichlifewouldbeawretchedandsavourlessthing。
SeldenhadneverseenMissVanderpoelinhisSundaypaper，andherehewaslyinginaroominthesamehousewithher。AndshecomingintoseehimandtalktohimasifhewasoneoftheFourHundredhimself！Thecomfortandluxurywithwhichhefoundhimselfsurroundedsankintoinsignificancewhencomparedwithsuchunearthlyluckasthis。
LadyAnstrutherscameintoseehimalso，andsheseveraltimesbroughtwithheraqueerlittlelamefellow，whowasspokenofas\"MasterUghtred。\"\"Master\"wassupposedbyG。Seldentobeasortoftitleconferreduponthesmallsonsofbaronetsandthelike。ThechildrenheknewinNewYorkandelsewhereansweredtothenamesofBob，orJimmy，orBill。Noparallelto\"Master\"hadbeeninvogueamongthem。
LadyAnstrutherswasnotlikehersister。Shewasalittlething，andbothsheandMasterUghtredseemedfondoftalkingofNewYork。Shehadnotbeenhomeforyears，andtheyoungsterhadneverseenitatall。HehadsomequeerideasaboutAmerica，andseemednevertohaveseenanythingbutStornhamandthevillage。G。Seldenlikedhim，andwasvaguelysorryforalittlechaptowhomadescriptionofthefestivitiesattendantupontheFourthofJulyandaPresidentialelectionseemedlikestoriesfromtheArabianNights。
\"TellmeabouttheTammanyTiger，ifyouplease，\"hesaidonce。\"Iwanttoknowwhatkindofananimalitis。\"
FromapointofviewsomewhatdifferentfromthatofMountDunstanandMr。Penzance，BettyVanderpoelfoundtalkwithhiminteresting。Toherhedidnotweartheaspectofaforeignproduct。Shehadnotmetandconversedwithyoungmenlikehim，butsheknewofthem。Stringentprecautionsweretakentoprotectherfatherfromtheiringenuousenterprises。Theywerenotpermittedtoenterhisoffices；theywereevendiscouragedfromhoveringabouttheirneighbourhoodwhenseenandsuspected。Theatmosphere，itwasunderstood，wastobe，ifpossible，disinfectedofagents。Thisone，lyingsoftlyinthefour—postbed，cheerfullygratefulforthekindnessshownhim，andplainlyfilledwithdelightinhisadventure，despitethephysicaldiscomfortsattendingit，gaveher，ashebegantorecover，newviewsofthelifehelivedincommonwithhiskind。ItwaslikereadingscenesfromarealisticnovelofNewYorklifetolistentohisfrank，slangyconversation。Toher，aswellastoMr。Penzance，sidelightswerethrownuponexistenceinthe\"hallbedroom\"anduponpreviouslyunknownphasesofbusinesslifeinBroadwayandroaring\"downtown\"streets。
Hisdetermination，hissharpreadiness，hiscontroloftemperunderrebuffandsuperfluousharshness，hisodd，impersonalsummingupofmenandthings，andgood—naturedpatiencewiththeworldingeneral，were，sheknew，businessassets。Shewasevenmoved——noless——bytheremoteconnectionofsuchalifewiththatofthefirstReubenVanderpoelwhohadlaidthehuge，solidfoundationsoftheirmodernfortune。ThefirstReubenVanderpoelmusthaveseenandknownthefacesofmenasG。Seldensawandknewthem。
Fightinghiswaystepbystep，knockingpertinaciouslyateverygatewaywhichmightgiveingresstosomepassageleadingtoeventhesmallestgain，meetingwithrebuffandindifferenceonlytobeovercomebysteadyandcontinuedassault——ifG。
Seldenwasanuisance，thefirstVanderpoelhadwithoutdoubtwornthataspectuponinnumerableoccasions。Noonedesiresthepresenceofthemanwhowhilehavingnothingtogivemustpersistinkeepinghimselfinevidence，evenifbystrategyorforce。Fromstoriesshewasfamiliarwith，shehadgatheredthatthefirstReubenVanderpoelhadcertainlylackedacertainyouthofsoulshefeltinthismodernstrugglerforlife。Hehadbeenthecleverermanofthetwo；G。Seldenshesecretlylikedthebetter。
ThecuriosityofMrs。Buttle，whowasthenurse，hadbeenawakenedbyasingularfeatureofherpatient’sfeverishwanderings。
\"Hekeepsmuttering，miss，thingsIcan’tmakeoutaboutLordMountDunstan，andMr。Penzance，andsomechildhecallsLittleWillie。Hetalkstothemthesameasifheknewthem——sameasifhewaswiththemandtheyweretalkingtohimquitefriendly。\"