ItsometimesbroughtbacktohimthathideousshakinessofnervewhichhadbeenafeatureofhisillnesswhenhehadbeenontheRivierawithTeresita。
OfallthisBettyonlyknewtheoutwardsignswhich，takenattheirexteriorsignificance，weredetestableenough，anddroveherhardasshementallydweltontheminconnectionwithotherthings。Howeasy，ifshestoodalone，todefyhisevilinsolencetodoitsworst，andleavingtheplaceatanhour’snotice，tosailawaytoprotection，or，ifshechosetoremaininEngland，tosurroundherselfwithabodyguardofthepeopleinwhoseeyeshisdisreputerelegatedamansuchasNigelAnstrutherstopowerlessnonentity。Alone，shecouldhavesmiledandturnedherbackuponhim。ButshewasheretotakecareofRosy。
Sheoccupiedapositionsomethinglikethatofawomanwhoremainswithamanandenduresoutragebecauseshecannotleaveherchild。Thatthought，initself，broughtUghtredtohermind。TherewasUghtredtobeconsideredaswellashismother。Ughtred’sloveforandfaithinherweredeepandpassionatethings。Hefedonhertendernessforhim，andhadgrownstrongerbecausehespenthoursofeachdaytalking，reading，anddrivingwithher。ThesimpletruthwasthatneithershenorRosaliecoulddesertUghtred，andsolongasNigelmanagedcleverlyenough，thelawwouldgivetheboytohisfather。
\"Youareobligedtoprovethings，youknow，inacourtoflaw，\"hehadsaid，asifwithcasualamiability，onacertainoccasion。\"Provingthingsisthedevil。Peoplelosetheirtempersandrushintorowswhichendinlawsuits，andthenfindtheycanprovenothing。IfIwereavillain，\"slightlyshowinghisteethinanagreeablesmile——\"insteadofamanofblamelesslife，Ishouldgoinonlyforthatbranchofmyprofessionwhichcouldbeexercisedwithoutleavingstupidevidencebehind。\"
SincehisreturntoStornhamtheoutwarddecorumofhisownconducthadentertainedhimandhehadkeptitupwithanincreasingappreciationofitsusefulnessinthepresentsituation。Whatsoeverhappenedintheend，itwasthepartofdiscretiontopresenttotheruralworldabouthimanappearanceofuprightbehaviour。Hehadevenfounditamusingtogotochurchandalsotooccasionallymakeamiablecallsatthevicarage。Itwasnotdifficult，atsuchtimes，toreferdelicatelytohisregretthatdomesticdiscomforthadledhimintotheerrorofremainingmuchawayfromStornham。Heknewthathehadbeenevenrathertouchinginhisexpressionofinterestinthefutureofhisson，andthenecessityoftheboy’sbeingprotectedfromuncontrolledhystericinfluences。
And，intheyearsofRosalie’sunprotectedwretchedness，hehadtakenexcellentcarethatno\"stupidevidence\"shouldbeexposedtoview。
OfallthisBettywasthinkingandsummingupdefinitely，pointafterpoint。Wherewasthewiseandpracticalcourseofdefence？Themostunthinkablethingwasthatonecouldfindone’sselfinapositioninwhichactionseemedinhibited。
Whatcouldonedo？Tosendforherfatherwouldsurelyendthematter——butatwhatcosttoRosy，toUghtred，toFfolliott，beforewhomthefairpathtodignifiedsecurityhadsonewlyopeneditself？Whatwouldbetheeffectofsuddenconfusion，anguish，andpublichumiliationuponRosalie’scarefullyrebuilthealthandstrength——uponhermother’snewhopeandhappiness？
Atmomentsitseemedasifalmostallthathadbeendonemightbeundone。Shewasbesetbysuchamomentnow，andfeltforthetime，atleast，likeacreaturetiedhandandfootwhileinfullstrength。
Certainlyshewasnotpreparedfortheeventwhichhappened。Rolandstiffenedhisears，and，beginningarumblinggrowl，endeditsuddenly，realisingitanunnecessaryprecaution。
Heknewthemanwalkinguptheinclineofthemoundfromthesidebehindthem。SodidBettyknowhim。ItwasSirNigellookingrathergloweringandpaleandwalkingslowly。Hehaddiscoveredwhereshehadmeanttotakerefuge，andhadprobablyriddentosomepointwherehecouldleavehishorseandfollowherattheexpenseoftakingashortcutwhichsavedwalking。
Asheclimbedthemoundtojoinher，Bettyrosetoherfeet。
\"Mydeargirl，\"hesaid，\"don’tgetupasifyoumeanttogoaway。Ithascostmesomeexertiontofindyou。\"
\"Itwillnotcostyouanyexertiontoloseme，\"washerlightanswer。\"IAMgoingaway。\"
Hehadreachedher，andstoodstillbeforeherwithscarcelyayard’sdistancebetweenthem。Hewasslightlyoutofbreathandevenatriflelivid。Heleanedonhisstickandhislookathercombinedleapingbadtemperwithsomethingdeeper。
\"Lookhere！\"hebrokeout，\"whydoyoumakesuchapointoftreatingmelikethedevil？\"
Bettyfeltherheartgiveahastenedbeat，notoffear，butofrepulsion。ThiswasthemoodandmannerwhichsubjugatedRosalie。Hehadsoraisedhisvoicethattwomeninthedistance，whomightbeeitherlabourersorsportsmen，hearingitshightone，glancedcuriouslytowardsthem。
\"Whydoyouaskmeaquestionwhichistotallyabsurd？\"
shesaid。
\"Itisnotabsurd，\"heanswered。\"Iamspeakingoffacts，andIintendtocometosomeunderstandingaboutthem。\"
Forreply，aftermeetinghislookafewseconds，shesimplyturnedherbackandbegantowalkaway。Hefollowedandovertookher。
\"Ishallgowithyou，andIshallsaywhatIwanttosay，\"
hepersisted。\"IfyouhastenyourpaceIshallhastenmine。
Icannotexactlyseeyourunningawayfrommeacrossthemarsh，screaming。Youwouldn’tcaretoberescuedbythosemenovertherewhoarewatchingus。IshouldexplainmyselftothemintermsneitheryounorRosaliewouldenjoy。There！
IknewRosalie’snamewouldpullyouup。GoodGod！IwishIwereaweakfoolwithamagnificentcreatureprotectingmeatallrisks。\"
Ifshehadnothadbloodandfireinherveins，shemighthavefounditeasytoanswercalmly。Butshehadboth，andbothleapedandbeatfuriouslyforafewseconds。Itwasonlyhumanthatitshouldbeso。Butshewasmorethanapassionategirlofhighandtrenchantspirit，andshehadlearned，eveninthedaysattheFrenchschool，whathehadneverbeenabletolearninhislife——self—control。Sheheldherselfinasshewouldhaveheldinahorseoftoogreatfireandaction。Shewasactuallyabletolook——asthefirstReubenVanderpoelwouldhavelooked——athercapitalofresource。Butitmeanttautholdingofthereins。
\"Willyoutellme，\"shesaid，stopping，\"whatitisyouwant？\"
\"Iwanttotalktoyou。Iwanttotellyoutruthsyouwouldratherbetoldherethanonthehighroad，wherepeoplearepassing——oratStornham，wheretheservantswouldoverhearandRosaliebethrownintohysterics。YouwillNOTrunscreamingacrossthemarsh，becauseIshouldrunscreamingafteryou，andweshouldbothlooksilly。Hereisaratherscraggytree。Willyousitonthemoundnearit——forRosalie’ssake？\"
\"Iwillnotsitdown，\"repliedBetty，\"butIwilllisten，becauseitisnotabadideathatIshouldunderstandyou。Buttobeginwith，Iwilltellyousomething。\"Shestoppedbeneaththetreeandstoodwithherbackagainstitstrunk。
\"Ipickupthingsbynoticingpeopleclosely，andIhaverealisedthatallyourlifeyouhavecountedupongettingyourownwaybecauseyousawthatpeople——especiallywomen——haveahorrorofpublicscenes，andwillsubmittoalmostanythingtoavoidthem。Thatistrueveryoften，butnotalways。\"
Hereyes，whichwerewellopened，werequitetheblueofsteel，andresteddirectlyuponhim。\"I，forinstance，wouldletyoumakeascenewithmeanywhereyouchose——inBondStreet——
inPiccadilly——onthestepsofBuckinghamPalace，asIwasgettingoutofmycarriagetoattendadrawing—room——andyouwouldgainnothingyouwantedbyit——nothing。Youmayplaceentireconfidenceinthatstatement。\"
Hestaredbackather，momentarilyhalf—magnetised，andthenbrokeforthintoaharshhalf—laugh。
\"Youaresodamnedhandsomethatnothingelsematters。
I’mhangedifitdoes！\"andthewordswereanexclamation。
Hedrewstillnearertoher，speakingwithasortofsavagery。
\"Cannotyouseethatyoucoulddowhatyoupleasedwithme？Youaretoomagnificentathingforamantowithstand。
Ihavelostmyheadandgonetothedevilthroughyou。
ThatiswhatIcametosay。\"
Inthefewsecondsofsilencethatfollowed，hisbreathcamequicklyagainandhewasevenpalerthanbefore。
\"YoucametometosayTHAT？\"askedBetty。
\"Yes——tosayitbeforeyoudrovemetootherthings。\"
Hergazewasforamomentevenslightlywondering。Hepresentedthecuriouspictureofacynicalmanoftheworld，forthetimebeingruledandimpelledonlybythemostprimitiveinstincts。Toaclear—headedmodernyoungwomanofthemostpowerfulclass，he——hersister’shusband——wasmakingthreateningloveasifhewereasavagechiefandsheasavagebeautyofhistribe。Allthatconcernedhimwasthatheshouldspeakandsheshouldhear——thatheshouldshowherhewasthestrongerofthetwo。
\"AreyouQUITEmad？\"shesaid。
\"Notquite，\"heanswered；\"onlythreeparts——butIambeyondmyowncontrol。Thatisthebestproofofwhathashappenedtome。Youareanarrogantpieceandyouwoulddefymeifyoustoodalone，butyoudon’t，and，bytheLord！I
havereachedapointwhereIwillmakeuseofeveryleverI
canlaymyhandon——yourself，Rosalie，Ughtred，Ffolliott——
thewholelotofyou！\"
Thethingwhichwashardestuponherwasherknowledgeofherownstrength——ofwhatshemighthaveallowedherselfofflamingwordsandinstantaction——butforthememoryofRosy’sghastlylittleface，asithadlookedwhenshecriedout，\"Youmustnotthinkofme。Betty，gohome——gohome！\"
Sheheldthewhitedesperationofitbeforehermentalvisionandansweredhimevenwithacertaininteresteddeliberateness。
\"Doyouknow，\"sheinquired，\"thatyouaretalkingtomeasthoughyouwerethevillaininthemelodrama？\"
\"Thereisanadvantageinthat，\"heanswered，withanunholysmile。\"IfyourepeatwhatIsay，peoplewillonlythinkthatyouareindulginginhystericalexaggeration。Theydon’tbelieveintheexistenceofmelodramainthesedays。\"
Thecynical，absoluteknowledgeofthisrevealedsomuchthatnervewasrequiredtofaceitwithsteadiness。
\"True，\"shecommented。\"NowIthinkIunderstand。\"
\"No，youdon’t，\"heburstforth。\"Youhavespentyourlifestandingonagoldenpedestal，beingkowtowedto，andyouimagineyourselfimmunefromdifficultiesbecauseyouthinkyoucanpayyourwayoutofanything。Butyouwillfindthatyoucannotpayyourwayoutofthis——orratheryoucannotpayRosalie’swayoutofit。\"
\"Ishallnottry。Goon，\"saidthegirl。\"WhatIdonotunderstand，youmustexplaintome。Don’tleaveanythingunsaid。\"
\"GoodGod，whatawomanyouare！\"hecriedoutbitterly。Hehadneverseensuchbeautyinhislifeashesawinherasshestoodwithherstraightyoungbodyflatagainstthetree。Itwasnotamatterofdeepcolourofeye，orhighspiritofprofile——butofsomethingwhichburnedhim。Stillasshewas，shelookedlikeaflame。Shemadehimfeeloldandbody—
worn，andallthemoresenselesslyfurious。
\"Ibelieveyouhateme，\"heraged。\"AndImaythankmywifeforthat。\"Thenhelosthimselfentirely。\"Whycannotyoubehavewelltome？Ifyouwillbehavewelltome，Rosalieshallgoherownway。Ifyouevenlookedatmeasyoulookatothermen——butyoudonot。ThereisalwayssomethingunderyourlasheswhichwatchesmeasifIwereawildbeastyouwerestudying。Don’tfancyyourselfadompteuse。Iamnotyourman。Isweartoyouthatyoudon’tknowwhatyouaredealingwith。IsweartoyouthatifyouplaythisgamewithmeIwilldragyoutwodownifIdragmyselfwithyou。I
havenothingmuchtolose。Youandyoursisterhaveeverything。\"
\"Goon，\"Bettysaidbriefly。
\"Goon！Yes，Iwillgoon。RosalieandFfolliottIholdinthehollowofmyhand。Asforyou——doyouknowthatpeoplearebeginningtodiscussyou？Gossipiseasilystirredinthecountry，wherepeoplearesoboredthattheychatterinself—defence。Ihavebeenconsideredabadlot。Ihavebecomecuriouslyattachedtomysister—in—law。Iamseenhangingabouther，hangingoverheraswerideorwalkalonetogether。AnAmericanyoungwomanisnotlikeanEnglishgirl——sheisusedtoseeingthemarriageceremonyjuggledwith。There’satrifleofprejudiceagainstsuchyoungwomenwhentheyaretoorichandtoohandsome。Don’tlookatmelikethat！\"heburstforth，withmaddenedsharpness，\"Iwon’thaveit！\"
Thegirlwasregardinghimwiththeexpressionhemostresented——thereflectionofanormalpersonwatchinganabnormalone，andstudyinghisabnormality。
\"Doyouknowthatyouareraving？\"shesaid，withquietcuriosity——\"raving？\"
Suddenlyhesatdownonthelowmoundnearhim，andashetouchedhisforeheadwithhishandkerchief，shesawthathishandactuallyshook。
\"Yes，\"heanswered，panting，\"but’waremyravings！
Theymeanwhattheysay。\"
\"Youdoyourselfaninjurywhenyougivewaytothem\"——
steadily，evenwithatouchofslowsignificance——\"aphysicalinjury。Ihavenoticedthatmorethanonce。\"
Hesprangtohisfeetagain。Everydropofbloodlefthisface。Forasecondhelookedasifhewouldstrikeher。Hisarmactuallyflungitselfout——andfell。
\"Youdevil！\"hegasped。\"Youcountonthat？Youshe—devil！\"
Shelefthertreeandstoodbeforehim。
\"Listentome，\"shesaid。\"Youintimatethatyouhavebeenlayingmelodramaticplotsagainstmewhichwillinjuremygoodname。Thatisrubbish。Letusleaveitatthat。YouthreatenthatyouwillbreakRosy’sheartandtakeherchildfromher，yousayalsothatyouwillwoundandhurtmymothertoherdeathanddoyourworsttoruinanhonestman————\"
\"And，byGod，Iwill！\"heraged。\"Andyoucannotstopme，if————\"
\"IdonotknowwhetherIcanstopyouornot，thoughyoumaybesureIwilltry，\"sheinterruptedhim，\"butthatisnotwhatIwasgoingtosay。\"Shedrewastepnearer，andtherewassomethingintheintensityofherlookwhichfascinatedandheldhimforamoment。Shewascuriouslygrave。\"Nigel，I
believeincertainthingsyoudonotbelievein。Ibelieveblackthoughtsbreedblackillstothosewhothinkthem。Itisnotanewidea。ThereisanoldOrientalproverbwhichsays，`Curses，likechickens，comehometoroost。’Ibelievealsothattheworst——theveryworstCANNOTbedonetothosewhothinksteadily——steadily——onlyofthebest。Toyouthatismerelysuperstitiontobelaughedat。Thatisamatterofopinion。
But——don’tgoonwiththisthing——DON’TGOONWITHIT。Stopandthinkitover。\"
Hestaredatherfuriously——triedtolaughoutright，andfailedbecausethelookinhereyeswassooddinitsstrengthandstillness。
\"Youthinkyoucanlaysomeweirdspelluponme，\"hejeeredsardonically。
\"No，Idon’t，\"sheanswered。\"IcouldnotifIwould。Itisnoaffairofmine。Itisyouraffaironly——andthereisnothingweirdaboutit。Don’tgoon，Itellyou。Thinkbetterofit。\"
Sheturnedaboutwithoutfurtherspeech，andwalkedawayfromhimwithlightswiftnessoverthemarsh。Oddlyenough，hedidnotevenattempttofollowher。Hefeltalittleweak——
perhapsbecauseacertainthingshehadsaidhadbroughtbacktohimafamiliartouchofthehorrors。Shehadtheeyesofafalconundertheodd，softshadeoftheextraordinarylashes。
Shehadseenwhathethoughtnoonebuthimselfhadrealised。
Havingwatchedherretreatingfigureforafewseconds，hesatdown——assuddenlyasbefore——onthemoundnearthetree。
\"Oh，damnher！\"hesaid，hisdampforeheadonhishands。
\"Damnthewholeuniverse！\"……
WhenBettyandRolandreachedStornham，thewicker—workponychaisefromthevicaragestoodbeforethestoneentrancesteps。Thedrawing—roomdoorwasopen，andMrs。BrentwasstandingnearitsayingsomelastwordstoLadyAnstruthersbeforeleavingthehouse，afteravisitevidentlymadewithanobject。ThisBettygatheredfromthesolemnityofhermanner。
\"Betty，\"saidLadyAnstruthers，catchingsightofher，\"docomeinforamoment。\"
WhenBettyentered，bothhersisterandMrs。Brentlookedatherquestioningly。
\"Youlookalittlepaleandtired，MissVanderpoel，\"Mrs。
Brentsaid，ratherasifinhastetobethefirsttospeak。\"I
hopeyouarenotatallunwell。Weneedallourstrengthjustnow。Ihavebroughtthemostpainfulnews。MalignanttyphoidfeverhasbrokenoutamongthehoppickersontheMountDunstanestate。SomepoorcreaturewasevidentlysickeningforitwhenhecamefromLondon。Threepeoplediedlastnight。\"
CHAPTERXLI
SHEWOULDDOSOMETHING
SirNigel’sfacewasnotagoodthingtoseewhenheappearedatthedinnertableintheevening。Ashetookhisseatthetwofootmenglancedquicklyateachother，andthebutleratthesideboardfurtivelythrustouthisunderlip。Notamanorwomaninthehouseholdbuthadlearnedthesignaldenotingthemomentwhennoservicewouldplease，nowordormovementbeunobjectionable。LadyAnstruthers’faceunconsciouslyassumeditspropitiatoryexpression，andsheglancedathersistermorethanoncewhenBettywasunawarethatshedidso。
Untilthesouphadbeenremoved，SirNigelscarcelyspoke，merelymakingcurtrepliestoanycasualremark。Thiswasoneofhissimpleandmostengagingmethodsofatonceenjoyinganill—humourandmakinghiswifefeelthatshewasinsomewaytoblameforit。
\"MountDunstanisinadeucedlyunpleasantposition，\"hecondescendedatlast。\"Ishouldnotcaretostandinhisshoes。\"
HehadnotreturnedtotheCourtuntillateintheafternoon，buthavingheardinthevillagetherumouroftheoutbreakoffever，hehadmadeinquiriesandgathereddetail。
\"Youarethinkingoftheoutbreakoftyphoidamongthehoppickers？\"saidLadyAnstruthers。\"Mrs。Brentthinksitthreatenstobeveryserious。\"
\"Anepidemic，withoutadoubt，\"heanswered。\"InawretchedunsanitaryplacelikeDunstanvillage，thewretcheswilldielikeflies。\"
\"Whatwillbedone？\"inquiredBetty。
Hegaveheroneoftheunpleasantpersonalglancesandlaughedderisively。
\"Done？Thecountyauthorities，whocallthemselves`guardians，’willbefrightenedtodeathandwillpotteraboutandfusslikeoldwomen，andprofesstoexamineandprotectandlayrestrictions，buteveryonewillmanagetokeepatadiscreetdistance，andthethingwillrunriotanddoitsworst。
Asfarasonecansee，thereseemsnoreasonwhythewholeplaceshouldnotbesweptaway。NodoubtMountDunstanhaswiselytakentohisheelsalready。\"
\"Ithinkthat，onthecontrary，therewouldbemuchdoubtofthat，\"Bettysaid。\"Hewouldstayanddowhathecould。\"
SirNigelshruggedhisshoulders。
\"Wouldhe？Ithinkyou’llfindhewouldnot。\"
\"Mrs。Brenttellsme，\"Rosaliebrokeinsomewhathurriedly，\"thatthehutsforthehoppersareintheworstpossiblecondition。Theyaresodilapidatedthattherainpoursintothem。Thereisnopropershelterforthepeoplewhoareill，andLordMountDunstancannotaffordtotakecareofthem。\"
\"ButheWILL——heWILL，\"brokeforthBetty。Herheadlifteditselfandshespokealmostasifthroughhersmall，shutteeth。
Awaveofintensebelief——high，proud，andobstinate，sweptthroughher。ItwasafeelingsostrongandvibrantthatshefeltasifMountDunstanhimselfmustbereachedandupbornebyit——asifhehimselfmusthearher。
Rosalielookedatherhalf—startled，and，forthemomentheldfascinatedbythesuddenforcerisinginherandbythesplendidsparkoflightunderherlids。ShewasremindedofthefiercelittleBettyoflongago，withherdelicate，indomitablesmallfaceandthespiritwhichevenatnineyearsoldhadsomehowseemedsostrongandstraitlykeenofsightthatonehadknownitmightalwaysbetrusted。Actually，inoneway，shehadnotchanged。Shesawthetruthofthings。Thenextinstant，however，inadvertentlyglancingtowardsherhusband，shecaughtherbreathquickly。Acrosshisheavy—featuredfacehadshotthesuddengleamofanewexpression。Itwasasifhehadatthemomentrecognisedsomethingwhichfilledhimwitharushoffuryhehimselfwasnotpreparedfor。Thathedidnotwishittobeseensheknewbyhismanner。Therewasabriefsilenceinwhichitpassedaway。Hespokeafterit，withdisagreeableprecision。
\"Hehashadanenormouseffectonyou——thatman，\"hesaidtoBetty。
Hespokeclearlysothatshemighthavethepleasureofbeingcertainthatthemenservantsheard。Theywereclosetothetable，handingfruit——professingtobeautomatons，eyesdown，facesexpressingnothing，butasquickofhearingasitissaidthatblindmenare。Heknewthatifhehadbeeninherplaceandathingasinsultinglysignificanthadbeensaidtohim，heshouldpromptlyhavehurledthenearestobject——plate，wine—
glass，ordecanter——inthefaceofthespeaker。Heknew，too，thatwomencannothurlprojectileswithoutlookinglikeviragosandfools。Theweakly—femininemightburstintotearsorintoasillyrageandleavethetable。Therewasadistinctbreath’sspaceofpause，andBetty，cuttingaclusterfromabunchofhothousegrapespresentedbythefootmanatherside，answeredasclearlyashehadspokenhimself。
\"Heisstrongenoughtoproduceaneffectonanyone，\"shesaid。
\"Ithinkyoufeelthatyourself。Heisamanwhowillnotbebeatenintheend。Fortunewillgivehimsomegoodthing。\"
\"Heisafellowwhoknowswellenoughonwhichhandofhimgoodthingslie，\"hesaid。\"Hewilltakeallthatoffersitself。\"
\"Whynot？\"Bettysaidimpartially。
\"Theremustbenoridingordrivingintheneighbourhoodoftheplace，\"hesaidnext。\"Iwillhavenorisksrun。\"Heturnedandaddressedthebutler。\"Jennings，telltheservantsthatthosearemyorders。\"
Hesatoverhiswinebutashorttimethatevening，andwhenhejoinedhiswifeandsister—in—lawinthedrawing—roomhewentatoncetoBetty。Infact，hewasintheconditionwhenamancannotkeepawayfromawoman，butmustinventsomereasonforreachingherwhetheritisfatuousorplausible。
\"WhatIsaidtoJenningswasanordertoyouaswellastothepeoplebelowstairs。IknowyouareparticularlyfondofridinginthedirectionofMountDunstan。Youareinmycaresolongasyouareinmyhouse。\"
\"Ordersarenotnecessary，\"Bettyreplied。\"Thedayispastwhenonerushedtosmoothpillowsandgivethewrongmedicinewhenone’sfriendswereill。Ifoneisnotaproperly—
trainednurse，itiswisernottoriskbeingverymuchintheway。\"
Hespokeoverhershoulder，droppinghisvoice，thoughLadyAnstrutherssatapart，appearingtoread。
\"Don’tthinkIamfoolenoughnottounderstand。Youhaveyourselfundermagnificentcontrol，butawomanpassionatelyinlovecannotkeepacertainlookoutofhereyes。\"
Hewasstandingonthehearth。Bettyswungherselflightlyround，facinghimsquarely。Herfulllookwassplendid。
\"Ifitisthere——letitstay，\"shesaid。\"IwouldnotkeepitoutofmyeyesifIcould，and，youareright，IcouldnotifI
would——ifitisthere。Ifitis——letitstay。\"
Thedaring，throbbing，humantruthofhermadehisbrainwhirl。Toamanyoungandcleanandfittocountasinthelists，tohaveheardhersaythethingofarivalwouldhavebeenhardenough，butbase，degenerate，andoftheworldbehindherday，tohearitwhilefrenziedforher，wasintolerable。AnditwasMountDunstansheboreherselfsohighlyfor。Whethermelodramaisoutofdateornotthereare，occasionally，somefinemelodramatictouchesintheenmitiesofto—day。
\"Youthinkyouwillreachhim，\"hepersisted。\"Youthinkyouwillhelphiminsomeway。Youwillnotletthethingalone。\"
\"ExcusemymentioningthatwhatsoeverItakethelibertyofdoingwillencroachonnorightofyours，\"shesaid。
But，aloneinherroom，aftershewentupstairs，thefacereflectingitselfinthemirrorwaspaleanditsblackbrowsweredrawntogether。
Shesatdownatthedressing—table，and，seeingthepaledface，drewtheblackbrowscloser，confrontingacomplicatingtruth。
\"IfIwerefreetotakeRosalieandUghtredhometo—morrow，\"shethought，\"Icouldnotbeartogo。Ishouldsuffertoomuch。\"
Shewassufferingnow。Thestronglonginginherheartwaslikeaphysicalpain。Nowordorlookofthisonemanhadgivenherproofthathisthoughtsturnedtoher，andyetitwasintolerable——intolerable——thatinhishourofstressandneedtheywereaswhollyapartasifworldsrolledbetweenthem。
Atanydiremomentitwasmerenaturethatsheshouldgiveherselfinhelpandsupport。If，onthenightatsea，whentheyhadfirstspokentoeachother，theshiphadgonedown，sheknewthattheytwo，strangersthoughtheywere，wouldhaveworkedsidebysideamongthefranticpeople，andhavebeenamongthelasttotaketotheboats。Howdidsheknow？Onlybecause，hebeinghe，andshebeingshe，itmusthavebeensoinaccordancewiththelawsrulingentities。Andnowhestoodfacingacalamityalmostasterrible——andshewithfullhandssatstill。