CHAPTERXXXII
AGREATBALL
Acertaingreatball，givenyearlyatDunholmCastle，wasoneofthemostnotablesocialfeaturesofthecounty。Ittookplacewhenthehousewasfullofitsmostinterestinglydistinguishedguests，and，thoughotherballsmightbegivenatothertimes，thisonewasmarkedbyadegreeofgreaterstate。
Onseveraloccasionsthechiefguestshadbeengreatpersonagesindeed，andtobebiddentomeetthemimpliedaselectionflatteringinitself。One’sinvitationmustconveybyinferencethatonewaseitherbrilliant，beautiful，oradmirable，ifnotimportant。
NigelAnstruthershadneverappearedatwhattheuninvitedwerewont，withderisivesmiles，tocallTheGreatPanjandrumFunction——whichwasanironicdesignationnotemployedbysuchpersonsasreceivedcardsbiddingthemtothefestivity。StornhamCourtwasnotpopularinthecounty；
noonehadyearnedforthesocietyoftheDowagerLadyAnstruthers，eveninheryouth；andanottoowell—favouredyoungmanwithanill—favouredtemper，noticeablyonthelookoutforgrievances，isnotanadditiontoone’scircle。AtnineteenNigelhaddiscoveredtheolderLordMountDunstanandhissonTenhamtobecongenialacquaintances，andhadbeensooftenabsentfromhomethathisneighbourswouldhavefoundsocialintercoursewithhimdifficult，evenifdesirable。
Accordingly，whenthecountypaperrecordedthesplendoursofTheGreatPanjandrumFunction——whichitbynomeansmentionedbythatname——thelistof\"Amongthosepresent\"
hadnotsofarcontainedthenameofSirNigelAnstruthers。
So，onamorningafewdaysafterhisreturn，themasterofStornhamturnedoveracardofinvitationandreaditseveraltimesbeforespeaking。
\"Isupposeyouknowwhatthismeans，\"hesaidatlasttoRosalie，whowasalonewithhim。
\"ItmeansthatweareinvitedtoDunholmCastlefortheball，doesn’tit？\"
Herhusbandtossedthecardasideonthetable。
\"ItmeansthatBettywillbeinvitedtoeveryhousewherethereisasonwhomustbedisposedofprofitably。
\"Sheisinvitedbecausesheisbeautifulandclever。Shewouldbeinvitedifshehadnomoneyatall，\"saidRosydaringly。Shewasactuallygrowingdaring，shethoughtsometimes。Itwouldnothavebeenpossibletosayanythinglikethisafewmonthsago。
\"Don’tmakesillymistakes，\"saidNigel。\"Thereareagoodmanyhandsomegirlswhoreceivecomparativelylittleattention。Butthehoundsofwarareletloose，whenoneofyourswollenAmericanfortunesappears。Theobviousnessofit`virtuously’makesmesick。It’sasvulgar——asNewYork。\"
WhatbefelnextbroughttoSirNigelashockofcuriousenlightenment，butnoonewasmoreamazedthanRosyherself。
Shefelt，whensheheardherownvoice，asifshemustberathermad。
\"Iwouldrather，\"shesaidquitedistinctly，\"thatyoudidnotspeaktomeofNewYorkinthatway。\"
\"What！\"saidAnstruthers，staringatherwithcontemptwhichwasderision。
\"Itismyhome，\"sheanswered。\"ItisnotproperthatI
shouldhearitspokenofslightingly。\"
\"Yourhome！Ithasnottakentheslightestnoticeofyoufortwelveyears。Yourpeopledroppedyouasifyouwereahotpotato。\"
\"Theyhavetakenmeupagain。\"Stillinamazementatherownboldness，butsomehowlearningsomethingasshewenton。
Hewalkedovertoherside，andstoodbeforeher。
\"Lookhere，Rosalie，\"hesaid。\"Youhavebeentakinglessonsfromyoursister。Sheisabeautyandyoungandyouarenot。Peoplewillstandthingsfromhertheywillnottakefromyou。Iwouldstandsomethingsmyself，becauseitratheramusesamantoseeafinegirlpeacocking。It’smerelyridiculousinyou，andIwon’tstandit——notabitofit。\"
Itwasnotspeciallyfortunateforhimthatthedooropenedashewasspeaking，andBettycameinwithherowninvitationinherhand。Hewasquickenough，however，toturntogreetherwithashrugofhisshoulders。
\"Iambeingfavouredwithalittlescenebymywife，\"heexplained。\"Sheiscapableofgettingupexcellentlittlescenes，butIdaresayshedoesnotshowyouthatsideofhertemper。\"
Bettytookacomfortablechintz—covered，easychair。Herexpressionwasevasivelyspeculative。
\"WasitasceneIinterrupted？\"shesaid。\"ThenImustnotgoawayandleaveyoutofinishit。Youweresayingthatyouwouldnot`stand’something。Whatdoesamandowhenhewillnot`stand’athing？Italwayssoundssofinalandappalling——asifhewerethreateninghorriblethingssuchas，perhaps，werearesourceinfeudaltimes。WhatIStheresourceinthesedulldaysoflawandorder——andpolicemen？\"
\"IsthisAmericanchaff？\"hewasdisagreeablyconsciousthathewasnotwhollysuccessfulinhisefforttobelofty。
ThefranknessofBetty’ssmilewasquitewithoutprejudice。
\"Dearme，no，\"shesaid。\"Itisonlytheunpicturesqueresultofanunfeminineknowledgeofthelaw。AndIwasthinkinghowoneislimited——andyethowthingsaresimplifiedafterall。\"
\"Simplified！\"disgustedly。
\"Yes，really。Yousee，ifRosywereviolentshecouldnotbeatyou——evenifshewerestrongenough——becauseyoucouldringthebellandgiveherintocustody。Andyoucouldnotbeatherbecausethesameunpleasantthingwouldhappentoyou。Policemendorobthingsofcolour，don’tthey？Andbesides，whenoneremembersthatmerevulgarlawinsiststhatnoonecanbeforcedtolivewithanotherpersonwhoisbrutalorloathsome，that’ssimple，isn’tit？YoucouldgoawayfromRosy，\"withsweetclearness，\"atanymomentyouwished——asfarawayasyouliked。\"
\"Youseemtoforget，\"stillfeelingthatconvincingloftinesswasnoteasy，\"thatwhenamanleaveshiswife，orshedesertshim，itisshewhoislikelytobecalledupontobeartheonusofpublicopinion。\"
\"Wouldshebecalledupontobearitunderallcircumstances？\"
\"Damnedcleverwomanasyouare，youknowthatshewould，aswellasIknowit。\"Hemadeanabruptgesturewithhishand。\"YouknowthatwhatIsayistrue。WomenwhotaketotheirheelsaredeucedlyunpopularinEngland。\"
\"IhavenotbeenlonginEngland，butIhavebeenstruckbytheprevalenceofasortofconstitutionalBritishsenseoffairplayamongthepeoplewhoreallycount。TheDunholms，forinstance，haveitmarkedly。InAmericaitisthemenwhoforcewomentotaketotheirheelswhoaredeucedlyunpopular。TheAmericans’senseoffairplayistheirmostEnglishquality。Itwasbroughtoverinshipsbythefirstcolonists——likethepiecesoffinesolidoldfurniture，oneevennowsees，hereandthere，inhousesinVirginia。\"
\"Butthefactremains，\"saidNigel，withanunpleasantlaugh，\"thefactremains，mydeargirl。\"
\"Thefactthatdoesremain，\"saidBetty，notunpleasantlyatall，andstillwithhergentleairofmereunprejudicedspeculation，\"isthat，ifamanorwomanisproperlyill—
treated——PROPERLY——notinanyamateurishway——theyreachthepointofnotcaringintheleast——nothingmatters，butthattheymustgetawayfromthehorroroftheunbearablething——nevertoseeorhearofitagainisheavenenoughtomakeanythingelseathingtosmileat。Butonecouldsettletheotherpointbyexperimenting。SupposeyourunawayfromRosy，andthenwecanseeifsheiscutbythecounty。\"
Hislaughwasunpleasantagain。
\"Solongasyouarewithher，shewillnotbecut。Thereareanumberofpennilessyoungmenoffamilyinthis，aswellastheadjoining，counties。DoyouthinkMountDunstanwouldcuther？\"
Shelookeddownatthecarpetthoughtfullyamoment，andthenliftedhereyes。
\"Idonotthinkso，\"sheanswered。\"ButIwillaskhim。\"
Hewasstartledbyasuddenfeelingthatshemightbecapableofit。
\"Oh，comenow，\"hesaid，\"thatgoesbeyondajoke。Youwillnotdoanysuchabsurdthing。Onedoesnotwantone’sdomesticdifficultiesdiscussedbyone’sneighbours。\"
Bettyopenedcoollysurprisedeyes。
\"Ididnotunderstanditwasapersonalmatter，\"sheremarked。\"Wheredothedomesticdifficultiescomein？\"
Hestaredatherafewsecondswiththelookshedidnotlike，whichwaslesslikeableatthemoment，becauseitcombineditselfwithotherthings。
\"Hangit，\"hemuttered。\"IwishIcouldkeepmytemperasyoucankeepyours，\"andheturnedonhisheelandlefttheroom。
Rosyhadnotspoken。Shehadsatwithherhandsinherlap，lookingoutofthewindow。Shehadatfirsthadamomentofterror。Shehad，indeed，onceutteredinhersoultheabjectcry：\"Don’tmakehimangry，Betty——oh，don’t，don’t！\"Andsuddenlyithadbeenstilled，andshehadlistened。ThiswasbecausesherealisedthatNigelhimselfwaslistening。Thatmadeherseewhatshehadnotdaredtoallowherselftoseebefore。Thesetritethingsweretrue。Therewerelawstoprotectone。IfBettyhadnotbeendealingwithmeretruths，Nigelwouldhavestoppedher。Hehadbeensupercilious，buthecouldnotcontradicther。
\"Betty，\"shesaid，whenhersistercametoher，\"yousaidthattoshowMEthings，aswellastoshowthemtohim。I
knewyoudid，andlistenedtoeveryword。Itwasgoodformetohearyou。\"
\"Clear—cut，unadornedfactsarelikebullets，\"saidBetty。
\"Theyreachhome，ifone’saimisgood。Theshiftiestpeoplecannotevadethem。\"……
AcertainthingbecameevidenttoBettyduringthetimewhichelapsedbetweenthearrivaloftheinvitationsandthegreatball。Despiteanobviousintentiontoassumeanamiableposeforthetimebeing，SirNigelcouldnotconcealanotquiteunexplainableantipathytooneindividual。ThisindividualwasMountDunstan，whomitdidnotseemeasyforhimtoleavealone。Heseemedtorecurtohimasasubject，withoutanyspecialreason，andthissomewhatpuzzledBettyuntilsheheardfromRosalieofhisintimacywithLordTenham，which，inameasure，explainedit。Thewholetruthwasthat\"TheLout，\"ashehadbeencalled，hadindulgedinfrankspeechinhisrareintercoursewithhisbrotherandhisfriends，andhadonceinterferedwithhotyoungfuryinamatterinwhichthepairhadspeciallywishedtoavoidallinterference。Hisopenscornoftheirmethodsofentertainingthemselvestheyhadfelttobedisgustingimpudence，whichwouldhavebeendeservedlypunishedwithahorsewhip，iftheyoungsterhadnotbeenabig—muscled，clumsyoaf，withadangerouseye。Uponthisfootingtheiracquaintancehadstoodinpastyears，andtodecide——asSirNigelhaddecided——thattheoafinquestionhadbeguntomakehisbidforsplendidfortuneundertheroofofStornhamCourtitselfwasathingnottoberegardedcalmly。Itwasmorethanhecouldstand，andthefollyoftemper，whichwasforeverhisundoing，betrayedhimintomistakesmorethanonce。Thisgirl，withherbeautyandherwealth，hechosetoregardasasortofpropertyrightfullyhisown。Shewashissister—in—law，atleast；
shewaslivingunderhisroof；hehadmoreorlessthepowertoencourageordiscouragesuchaspirantsasappeared。Uponthewholetherewassomethingsoothingtoone’svanityinappearingbeforetheworldasthepersonatpresentresponsibleforher。Itgaveamanacertaindignityofposition，andhischiefgirdingatfatehadalwaysrisenfromthefactthathehadnothaddignityofposition。Hewouldnotbeheldcheapinthismatter，atleast。Butsometimes，ashelookedatthegirlheturnedhotandsick，asitwasdrivenhometohimthathewasnolongeryoung，thathehadneverbeengood—looking，andthathehadcutthegroundfromunderhisfeettwelveyearsago，whenhehadmarriedRosalie！Ifhecouldhavewaited——ifhecouldhavedoneseveralotherthings——perhapsthecleveractingofapart，andhispowerofdominationmighthavegivenhimachance。EventhatblackguardofaMountDunstanhadabetteronenow。Hewasyoung，atleast，andfree——andabigstrongbeast。Hewasforced，withbitterreluctance，toadmitthathehimselfwasnotevenparticularlystrong——oflatehehadfeltithideously。
SohedetestedMountDunstanthemoreforincreasingreasons，ashethoughtthematterover。Itwouldseem，perhaps，butasubtlepleasuretothenormalmind，buttohimtherewaspleasure——support——aggrandisement——inreferringtotheillcaseoftheMountDunstanestate，inrelatingillustrativeanecdotes，indwellinguponthehopelessnessoftheoutlook，andthenotableunpopularityofthemanhimself。A
confidingyoungladyfromtheStateswasrequired，hesaidononeoccasion，butitwouldbenecessarythatsheshouldbeayoungpersonofmuchsimplicity，whowouldnotbealarmedorchilledbytheobvious。NoonewouldrealisethismoreclearlythanMountDunstanhimself。Hesaiditcoldlyandcasually，asifitwerethesimplestmatteroffact。IfthefellowhadbeenmakinghimselfagreeabletoBetty，itwasaswellthatcertainpointsshouldbe——asitwereinadvertently——broughtbeforeher。
MissVanderpoelwasreallyratherfine，peoplesaidtoeachotherafterwards，whensheenteredtheballroomatDunholmCastlewithherbrother—in—law。Sheboreherselfascomposedlyasifshehadbeenescortedbythemostadmirableanddignifiedofconservativerelatives，insteadofbyamanwhowasmoredefinitelydislikedanddisapprovedofthananyothermaninthecountywhomdecentpeoplewerelikelytomeet。
Yet，shewasfartoocleveragirlnottorealisethesituationclearly，theysaidtoeachother。ShehadarrivedinEnglandtofindhersisteraneglectedwreck，herfortunesquandered，andherexistencestrippedbareofevensuchthingsasonefelttobethemeredecencies。Therewasbutonethingtobededucedfromthefactswhichhadstaredherintheface。Butofherdeductionsshehadsaidnothingwhatever，whichwas，ofcourse，remarkableinayoungperson。Itmaybementionedthat，perhaps，therehadbeenthosewhowouldnothavebeenreluctanttohearwhatshemusthavehadtosay，andwhohadevenpossiblygivenheradelicatelead。Buttheleadhadneverbeentaken。Oneladyhadevenremarkedthat，onherpart，shefeltthatatoogreatreservevergeduponsecretiveness，whichwasnotadesirablegirlishquality。
OfcoursethesituationhadbeensomuchdiscussedthatpeoplewerenaturallyonthelookoutforthearrivaloftheStornhamparty，asitwasknownthatSirNigelhadreturnedhome，andwouldbelikelytopresenthimselfwithhiswifeandsister—in—law。Therewasnotadowagerpresentwhodidnotknowhowandwherehehadreprehensiblyspentthelastmonths。ItservedhimquiterightthattheSpanishdancingpersonhadcoollylefthiminthelurchforayoungerandmoreattractive，aswellasaricherman。IfitwerenotforMissVanderpoel，oneneednotpretendthatoneknewnothingabouttheaffair——infact，ifithadnotbeenforMissVanderpoel，hewouldnothavereceivedaninvitation——andpoorLadyAnstrutherswouldbesittingathome，stilltheforlornlittlefrumpandinvalidshehadsowonderfullyceasedtobesincehersisterhadtakenherinhand。Shewasabsolutelygrowingevenprettyandyoung，andherclotheswerereallybeautiful。Thewholethingwasamazing。
Betty，aswellasRosalieandNigel——knewthatmanypeopleturnedundisguisedlytolookatthem——eventowatchthemastheycameintothesplendidballroom。Itwasasplendidballroomandastatelyone，andLordDunholmandLordWestholtsharedacertainthoughtwhentheymether，whichwasthatherswasdistinctlytheproudyoungbrillianceofpresencewhichfiguredmostperfectlyagainstitsbackground。
MuchaspeoplewantedtolookatSirNigel，theireyesweredrawnfromhimtoMissVanderpoel。Afterallitwasshewhomadehimanobjectofinterest。Onewantedtoknowwhatshewoulddowithhim——howshewould\"carryhimoff。\"
Howmuchdidsheknowofthedistastepeoplefeltforhim，sinceshewouldnottalkorencouragetalk？TheDunholmscouldnothaveinvitedherandhersister，andhaveignoredhim；butdidshenotguessthattheywouldhaveignoredhim，iftheycould？andwastherenotnaturalembarrassmentinfeelingforcedtoappearinpomp，asitwere，underhisescort？
Butnoembarrassmentwasperceptible。Hermannercommittedhertonorecognitionofashadowofaflawinthecharacterofhercompanion。Itevencarriedacertainconvictionwithit，andthelookers—onfelttheimpossibilityofsuggestinganysuchflawbytheirownmanner。Forthisevening，atleast，themanmustactuallybetreatedasifhewereanentirelyunobjectionableperson。Itappearedasifthatwaswhatthegirlwanted，andintendedshouldhappen。
ThiswaswhatNigelhimselfhadbeguntoperceive，buthedidnotputitpleasantly。Deucedlyclevergirlasshewas，hesaidtohimself，shesawthatitwouldbemoreagreeabletohavenononsensetalked，andnorufflingoftempers。Hehadalwaysbeenabletoconveytopeoplethattherufflingofhistemperwasathingtobeavoided，andperhapsshehadalreadybeensharpenoughtorealisethiswasafacttobecountedwith。Shewassharpenough，hesaidtohimself，toseeanything。
Thefunctionwasasuperbone。Thehousewassuperb，theroomsofentertainmentwereineveryproportionperfect，andwerequiterenownedforthebeautyofthespacetheyoffered；thepeoplethemselveswere，throughcenturiesofdignifiedliving，soplacedthatintercoursewiththeirkindwasaneasyanddelightfulthing。Theyneedneverdoubteithertheirowneffect，ortheeffectoftheirhospitalities。
SirNigelsawabouthimallthepeoplewhoheldenviableplaceinthecounty。Someofthemhehadneverknown，someofthemhadlongceasedtorecallhisexistence。Therewerethoseamongthemwholiftedlorgnettesorstuckmonoclesintotheireyesashepassed，askingeachotherinpolitelysubduedtoneswhothemanwaswhoseemedtobeinattendanceonMissVanderpoel。Nigelknewthisandgirdedatitinternally，whilehemadethemostofhissuavesmile。
Thedistinguishedpersonagewhowasthechiefguestwastobeseenattheupperendoftheroomtalkingtoatallmanwithbroadshoulders，whowasplainlyinterestinghimforthemoment。AstheStornhampartypassedon，thisperson，makinghisbow，retired，and，asheturnedtowardsthem，SirNigelrecognisinghim，theagreeablesmilewasforthemomentlost。
\"HowinthenameofHeavendidMountDunstancomehere？\"brokefromhimwithinvoluntaryheat。
\"Woulditberashtoconclude，\"saidBetty，asshereturnedthebowofaverygrandoldladyinblackvelvetandanimposingtiara，\"thathecameinresponsetoinvitation？\"
Theverygrandoldladyseemedpleasedtoseeher，and，witharoyallittlesign，calledhertoherside。AsBettyVanderpoelwasagreatsuccesswiththeMrs。WeldensandoldDobysofvillagelife，shewasalsoasuccessamonggrandoldladies。Whenshestoodbeforethemtherewasadelicatesubmissioninherairwhichwassuggestiveofobediencetothedignityoftheiryearsandstate。Stronglyconservativeandratherfeudaloldpersonsweremuchpleasedbythis。Inthepresentirreverenticonoclasmofmoderntimes，itwasmostagreeabletotalktoahandsomecreaturewhowasasbeautifullyattentiveasifshehadbeenaspeciallyperfectyounglady—in—waiting。
ThisoneevenpattedBetty’shandalittle，whenshetookit。Shewasagreatcountypotentate，whowasknownasLadyAlanbyofDole——herhousebeingoneofthemostancientandinterestinginEngland。
\"Iamgladtoseeyouhereto—night，\"shesaid。\"Youarelookingverynice。Butyoucannothelpthat。\"
Bettyaskedpermissiontopresenthersisterandbrother—in—
law。LadyAlanbywaspolitetobothofthem，butshegaveNigelarathersharpglancethroughhergoldpince—nezasshegreetedhim。
\"JaneyandMary，\"shesaidtothetwogirlsnearesther，\"IdaresayyouwillkindlychangeyourchairsandletLadyAnstruthersandMissVanderpoelsitnexttome。\"
TheLadiesJaneandMaryLithcom，whohadbeenorderedaboutbyherfromtheirinfancy，obeyedwithpolitesmiles。
Theywerenotparticularlyprettygirls，andwereoftheindigentnoble。Jane，whohadalmostoverlargeblueeyes，sighedasshereseatedherselfafewchairslowerdown。
\"Itdoesseembeastlyunfair，\"shesaidinalowvoicetohersister，\"thatagirlsuchasthatshouldbesoawfullygood—looking。Sheoughttohaveaturned—upnose。\"
\"Thankyou，\"saidMary，\"Ihaveaturned—upnosemyself，andI’vegotnothingtobalanceit。\"
\"Oh，Ididn’tmeananiceturned—upnoselikeyours，\"saidJane；\"Imeantanuglyone。OfcourseLadyAlanbywantsherforTommy。\"Andhermannerwasnotresigned。
\"Whatshe，oranyoneelseforthatmatter，\"disdainfully，\"couldwantwithTommy，Idon’tknow，\"repliedMary。
\"Ido，\"answeredJaneobstinately。\"IplayedcricketwithhimwhenIwaseight，andI’velikedhimeversince。ItisAWFUL，\"inasmotheredoutburst，\"whatgirlslikeushavetosuffer。\"
LadyMaryturnedtolookathercuriously。
\"Jane，\"shesaid，\"areyouSUFFERINGaboutTommy？\"
\"Yes，Iam。Oh，whataquestiontoaskinaballroom！
Doyouwantmetoburstoutcrying？\"
\"No，\"sharply，\"lookatthePrince。Stareatthatfatwomancurtsyingtohim。Stareandthenwinkyoureyes。\"
LadyAlanbywastalkingaboutMountDunstan。
\"LordDunholmhasgivenusalead。Heisanoldfriendofmine，andhehasbeentalkingtomeaboutit。Itappearsthathehasbeenlookingintothingsseriously。Modernasheis，herathertiltsatinjustices，inaquietway。HehassatisfactorilyconvincedhimselfthatLordMountDunstanhasbeensufferingforthesinsofthefathers——whichmustbeannoying。\"
\"IsLordDunholmquitesureofthat？\"putinSirNigel，withasuggestivelycivilair。
OldLadyAlanbygavehimanunencouraginglook。
\"Quite，\"shesaid。\"Hewouldbelikelytobebeforehetookanysteps。\"
\"Ah，\"remarkedNigel。\"IknewLordTenham，yousee。\"
LadyAlanby’slookwasmoreunencouragingstill。Shequietlyandopenlyputupherglassandstared。Thereweretimeswhenshehadnottheremotestobjectiontobeingrudetocertainpeople。
\"Iamsorrytohearthat，\"sheobserved。\"ThereneverwasanyroomformistakeaboutTenham。Heisnotusuallymentioned。\"
\"Idonotthinkthismanwouldbeusuallymentioned，ifeverythingwereknown，\"saidNigel。
Thenanappallingthinghappened。LadyAlanbygazedathimafewseconds，andmadenoreplywhatever。Shedroppedherglass，andturnedagaintotalktoBetty。Itwasasifshehadturnedherbackonhim，andSirNigel，stillwearinganamiableexterior，usedinternallysomebadlanguage。
\"ButIwasafooltospeakofTenham，\"hethought。\"Agreatfool。\"
AlittlelaterMissVanderpoelmadehercurtsytotheexaltedguest，andwascommenteduponagainbythosewholookedon。Itwasnotatallunnaturalthatoneshouldfindoneseyesfollowingagirlwho，representingasortofroyalpower，shouldhavethegoodfortuneofpossessingsuchlooksandbearing。
Rememberinghischildbetenoirofthelonglegsandsquare，audaciouslittleface，NigelAnstruthersfoundhimselfrestrainingaslightgrinashelookedonatherdancing。
Partnersflockedaboutherlikebees，andLadyAlanbyofDole，andotherverygrandoldormiddle—agedladiesallfoundtheeveningmoreinterestingbecausetheycouldwatchher。
\"Sheisfullofspirit，\"saidLadyAlanby，\"andsheenjoysherselfasagirlshould。Itisapleasuretolookather。I
likeagirlwhogetsamagnificentcolourandstarsinhereyeswhenshedances。Itlookshealthyandyoung。\"
ItwasTommyMissVanderpoelwasdancingwithwhenherladyshipsaidthis。Tommywashergrandsonandayoungmanofgreaterrankthanfortune。Hewasanice，frank，heavyyouth，wholovedasimplecountylifespentintrampingaboutwithguns，andinfriendlyhobnobbingwiththeneighbours，andeatinggreatafternoonteaswithpeoplewhosejokeswereeasytounderstand，andwhowerereadytolaughifyoutriedajokeyourself。Helikedgirls，andespeciallyhelikedJaneLithcom，butthatwasaweaknesshisgrandmotherdidnotatallencourage，and，ashedancedwithBettyVanderpoel，helookedoverhershouldermorethanonceatapairofbig，unhappyblueeyes，whoseownersatagainstthewall。
BettyVanderpoelherselfwasnotthinkingofTommy。Infact，duringthisbrillianteveningshefacedstillfurtherdevelopmentsofherownstrangecase。Certainnewthingswerehappeningtoher。Whenshehadenteredtheballroomshehadknownatoncewhothemanwaswhostoodbeforetheroyalguest——shehadknownbeforehebowedlowandwithdrew。Andherrecognitionhadbroughtwithitashockofjoy。Forafewmomentsherthroatfelthotandpulsing。Itwastrue——thethingswhichconcernedhimconcernedher。Allthathappenedtohimsuddenlybecameheraffair，asifinsomewaytheywereofthesameblood。Nigel’sslightingofhimhadinfuriatedher；thatLordDunholmhadofferedhimfriendshipandhospitalitywasathingwhichseemeddonetoherself，andfilledherwithgratitudeandaffection；thatheshouldbeatthisplace，onthisspecialoccasion，sweptawaydarkthingsfromhispath。Itwasasifitwerestatedwithoutwordsthataconservativemanoftheworld，whoknewthingsastheywere，havingmeansofreachingtruths，vouchedforhimandplacedhisdignityandfirmnessathisside。
Andtherewasthegladnessatthesightofhim。Itwasanoverpoweringlystrongthing。Shehadneverknownanythinglikeit。ShehadnotseenhimsinceNigel’sreturn，andherehewas，andsheknewthatherlifequickenedinherbecausetheyweretogetherinthesameroom。Hehadcometothemandsaidafewcourteouswords，buthehadsoongoneaway。AtfirstshewonderedifitwasbecauseofNigel，whoatthetimewasmakinghimselfrather