TheperceptionsshehadbroughtwithherfilledherjourneyintoKentwithdeliciousthings，deliciousrecognitionofbeautiesshehadbeforeknowntheexistenceofonlythroughthereadingofbooks，andthedwellingupontheircharmsasreproduced，moreorlessperfectly，oncanvas。Shesawrollbyher，withthepassingofthetrain，thelovelinessoflandandpicturesquenessoflivingwhichshehadsavedforherselfwithepicureanintentionforyears。Herfancy，whendetachedfromherthoughtsofhersister，hadbeenepicurean，andshehadbeenquiteawarethatitwasso。Whenshehadleftthesuburbsandthosevillagesalreadytouchedwithsuburbanitybehind，shefeltherselfsettleintoaglowofluxuriousenjoymentinthefreshnessofherpleasureinthefamiliar，andyetunfamiliar，objectsinthethick—hedgedfields，whosebroad—
branched，thick—foliagedoaksandbeechesweremoreemboweringintheirshade，andsweeterintheirgreenthananythingsherememberedthatothercountrieshadofferedher，evenattheirbest。Withinthefieldsthehawthornhedgesbeautifullyenclosedweregroupsofresignedmothersheepwiththeiryounglambsaboutthem。Thecuriouspointedtopsoftheredhopkilns，piercingthetreesnearthefarmhouses，woreanalmostintentionalairofaddingpicturesquedetail。
Therewereclustersofoldbuildingsanddotsofcottagesandcottagegardenswhichmadehernowandthenutterexclamationsofdelight。LittleinarticulateRosyhadseenandfeltitalltwelveyearsbeforeonherhopelessbridalhome—comingwhenNigelhadsathuddledunbecominglyinthecorneroftherailwaycarriage。Herpowerofexpressionhadbeenlimitedtolittlejoyfulgaspsandobviouslaudatoryadjectives，smotheredintheirbirthbyherfirstglanceatherbridegroom。
Betty，inseeingit，knewalltheexquisitenessofherownpleasure，andallthemeaningsofit。
Yes，itwasEngland——England。ItwastheEnglandofConstableandMorland，ofMissMitfordandMissAusten，theBrontesandGeorgeEliot。Thelandwhichsoftlyrolledandclotheditselfintherichverdureofmanytrees，sometimesinlovelyclusters，sometimesincoveringcopse，wasConstable’s；theripeyoungwomanwiththefat—leggedchildrenandthefarmyardbeastsabouther，asshefedthehensfromthewoodenpigginunderherarm，wasMorland’sown。
ThevillagestreetmightbeMissMitford’s，thewell—to—dohouseJaneAusten’sownfancy，initswarmbrickandcomfortabledecorum。Shelaughedalittleasshethoughtit。
\"ThatisAmerican，\"shesaid，\"thehabitofcomparingeverystickandstoneandbreathingthingtosomeliteraryparallel。Wealmostinvariablysaythatthingsremindusofpicturesorbooks——mostusuallybooks。Itseemsalittlecrude，butperhapsitmeansthatweareanintenselyliteraryandartisticpeople。\"
Shecontinuedtofindcomparisonsrevealingtohertheirappositeness，untilherjourneyhadendedbythetrain’sslackeningspeedandcomingtoastandstillbeforetherural—lookinglittlestationwhichhadpresenteditsquaintaspecttoLadyAnstruthersonherhome—comingofyearsbefore。
Ithadnot，duringtheyearswhichcertainlyhadgiventimeforchange，alteredintheleast。Thestationmasterhadgrownstouterandmorerosy，andcameforwardwithhisrespectful，hospitableair，toattendtotheunusual—lookingyounglady，whowastheonlyfirst—classpassenger。Hethoughtshemustbeavisitorexpectedatsomecountryhouse，butnoneofthecarriages，whosecoachmenwerehisfamiliaracquaintances，wereinwaiting。Thatsuchafineyoungladyshouldbepayingavisitatanyhousewhoseownersdidnotsendanequipagetoattendhercoming，struckhimasunusual。
Thebroughamfromthe\"Crown，\"thoughadecentcountrytownvehicle，seemedinadequate。Yet，thereitstooddrawnupoutsidethestation，andshewenttoitwiththemannerofayoungladywhohadordereditsattendanceandknewitwouldbethere。
Wellsfeltagooddealofinterest。Amongthemanyyoungladieswhodescendedfromthefirst—classcompartmentsandpassedthroughthelittlewaiting—roomontheirwaytothecarriagesofthegentrytheyweregoingtovisit，hedidnotknowwhenayoungladyhad\"caughthiseye，\"sotospeak，asthisonedid。Shewasnotexactlythekindofyoungladyonewouldimmediatelyclassmentallyas\"aforeigner，\"buttheblueofhereyeswassodeep。andherhairandeyelashessodark，thatthesethings，combiningthemselveswithacertain\"way\"shehad，madehimfeelhertobeofatypeunfamiliartotheregion，atleast。
Hewasstruck，also，bythefactthattheyoungladyhadnomaidwithher。ThetruthwasthatBettinahadpurposelylefthermaidintown。Ifawkwardthingsoccurred，thepresenceofanattendantwouldbeasortofcomplication。Itwasbetter，onthefirstapproach，tobewhollyunencumbered。
\"HowfararewefromStornhamCourt？\"sheinquired。
\"Fivemiles，mylady，\"heanswered，touchinghiscap。Sheexpressedsomethingwhichtotheruralandingenuous，whosestandardsweredefined，demandedarecognitionofprobablerank。
\"I’dliketoknow，\"washiscommenttohiswifewhenhewenthometodinner，\"whohasgonetoStornhamCourtto—day。
There’sfewenoughvisitorsgothere，andnonesuchasher，forcertain。Shedon’tliveanywhereonthelineabovehere，either，forI’veneverseenherfacebefore。Shewasatall，handsomeone——shewas，butitisn’tjustthatmadeyoulookafterher。
Shewasacleveronewithaspirit，I’llbebound。Iwaswonderingwhatherladyshipwouldhavetosaytoher。\"
\"PerhapsshewasoneofHISfineladies？\"suggestively。
\"Thatshewasn’t，either。And，asforthat，Iwonderwhathe’dhavetosaytosuchassheis。\"
Therewascomplexityofelementenoughinthethingshewasonherwaytodo，Bettinawasthinking，asshewasdrivenoverthewhiteribbonofcountryroadthatunrolledoverriseandhollow，betweenthesheep—dottedgreennessoffieldsandthescentedhedges。Thesoftbeautyenclosingherwasalittleshutoutfromherbyhermentalattitude。Shebroughtforwardforherowndecisionsuponsuitableactionanumberofpossiblesituationsshemightfindherselfcalledupontoconfront。Theonethingnecessarywasthatsheshouldbepreparedforanythingwhatever，evenforRosy’snotbeingpleasedtoseeher，orforfindingSirNigelathoroughlyreformedandamiablecharacter\"ItisthethingwhichseeminglyCANNOThappenwhichoneismostlikelytofindone’sselffacetofacewith。Itwillbealittleawkwardtoarrange，ifhehasdevelopedeverydomesticvirtue，andisdelightedtoseeme。\"
Undersuchratherconfusingconditionsherplanwouldbetopresenttothem，asanaffectionatesurprise，theunheraldedvisit，whichmightappearatrifleuncalledfor。Shefelthappilysureofherselfunderanycircumstancesnotpartakingofthenatureofcollisionsatsea。YetshehadnotbehavedabsolutelyillatthetimeofthethreatenedcatastropheintheMeridiana。Herremembrance，anoddlysuddenone，ofthedefinitemannerofthered—hairedsecond—classpassenger，assuredherofthat。Hehadcertainlyhadallhissensesabouthim，andhehadspokentoherasapersontobecountedon。
HerpulsebeatalittlemorehurriedlyasthebroughamenteredStornhamvillage。Itwaspicturesque，butstruckheraslookingneglected。Manyofthecottageshadanairofdilapidation。Thereweremanybrokenwindowsandunmendedgardenpalings。Asuggestedlackofwhitewashinseveralcaseswasnotcheerful。
\"IknownothingofthedutiesofEnglishlandlords，\"shesaid，lookingthroughhercarriagewindow，\"butIshoulddoitmyself，ifIwereRosy。\"
Shesaw，asshewastakenthroughtheparkgateway，thatthatstructurewasoutoforder，andthatdamageddiamondpanespeeredoutfromunderthethicknessoftheivymassingitselfoverthelodge。
\"Ah！\"washerthought，\"itdoesnotpromiseasitshould。
Happypeopledonotletthingsfalltopieces。\"
Evenwindingavenue，andspreadingsward，andgorse，andbroom，andbracken，enfoldingalltheearthbeneathhugetrees，werenotfairenoughtoremoveasuddenremotefearwhicharoseinherrapidlyreasoningmind。Itsuggestedtoherapointofviewsonewthat，whileshewasamazedatherselffornothavingcontemplateditbefore，shefoundherselfwishingthatthecoachmanwoulddriverathermoreslowly，actuallythatshemighthavemoretimetoreflect。
Theywerenearingadipinthepark，wheretherewasalonelylookingpool。Thebrackenwasthickandhighthere，andthesun，whichhadjustbrokenthroughacloud，hadpiercedthetreeswithagoldengleam。
Alittlewithdrawnfromthisshaftofbrightnessstoodtwofigures，adowdylittlewomanandahunchbackedboy。Thewomanheldsomefernsinherhand，andtheboywassittingdownandrestinghischinonhishands，whichwerefoldedonthetopofastick。
\"Stophereforamoment，\"Bettinasaidtothecoachman。
\"Iwanttoaskthatwomanaquestion。\"
ShehadthoughtthatshemightdiscoverifhersisterwasattheCourt。Sherealisedthattoknowwouldbeapointofadvantage。Sheleanedforwardandspoke。
\"Ibegyourpardon，\"shesaid，\"Iwonderifyoucantellme————\"
Thewomancameforwardalittle。Shehadalistlessstepandafaded，listlessface。
\"Whatdidyouask？\"shesaid。
Bettyleanedstillfurtherforward。
\"Canyoutellme————\"shebeganandstopped。Asenseofstrictureinthethroatstoppedher，ashereyestookinthewashed—outcolourofthethinface，thewashed—outcolourofthethinhair——thindrabhair，draggedinstraight，hardunbecomingnessfromtheforeheadandcheeks。
Wasittruethatherheartwasthumping，asshehadhearditsaidthatagitationmadeheartsthump？
Shebeganagain。
\"Canyou——tellmeif——LadyAnstruthersisathome？\"
sheinquired。Asshesaiditshefeltthebloodsurgeupfromthefuriousheart，andthehandshehadlaidonthehandleofthedoorofthebroughamclutcheditinvoluntarily。
Thedowdylittlewomanansweredherindifferently，staringatheralittle。
\"IamLadyAnstruthers，\"shesaid。
Bettinaopenedthecarriagedoorandstoodupontheground。
\"Goontothehouse，\"shegaveordertothecoachman，and，withasomewhatstartledlook，hedroveaway。
\"Rosy！\"Bettina’svoicewasahushed，almostawed，thing。
\"YOUareRosy？\"
Thefadedlittlewreckofacreaturebegantolookfrightened。
\"Rosy！\"sherepeated，withasmall，wry，painfulsmile。
Shewasthenextmomentheldinthefoldingofstrong，youngarms，againstaquicklybeatingheart。Shewasbeingwildlykissed，andtheveryairseemedrichwithwarmthandlife。
\"IamBetty，\"sheheard。\"Lookatme，Rosy！IamBetty。Lookatmeandremember！\"
LadyAnstruthersgasped，andbrokeintoafaint，hystericlaugh。ShesuddenlyclutchedatBettina’sarm。Foraminutehergazewaswildasshelookedup。
\"Betty，\"shecriedout。\"No！No！No！Ican’tbelieveit！Ican’t！Ican’t！\"
Thatjustthisthingcouldhavetakenplaceinher，Bettinahadneverthought。Asshehadreflectedonherwayfromthestation，theimpossibleiswhatonefindsone’sselffacetofacewith。Twelveyearsshouldnothavechangedaprettyblondethingofnineteentoaworn，unintelligent—lookingdowdyoftheorderofdowdinesswhichseemstohavelivedbeyondageandsex。Shelookedevenstupid，oratleaststupefied。Atthismomentshewasasilly，middle—agedwoman，whodidnotknowwhattodo。ForafewsecondsBettinawonderedifshewasgladtoseeher，oronlyfeltawkwardandunequaltothesituation。
\"Ican’tbelieveyou，\"shecriedoutagain，andbegantoshiver。\"Betty！LittleBetty？No！No！itisn’t！\"
Sheturnedtotheboy，whohadliftedhischinfromhisstick，andwasstaring。
\"Ughtred！Ughtred！\"shecalledtohim。\"Come！Shesays——shesays————\"
Shesatdownuponaclumpofheatherandbegantocry。
Shehidherfaceinhersparehandsandbrokeintosobbing。
\"Oh，Betty！No！\"shegasped。\"It’ssolongago——it’ssofaraway。Younevercame——noone——noone——came！\"
Thehunchbackedboydrewnear。Hehadlimpeduponhisstick。Hespokelikeanelderly，affectionategnome，notlikeachild。
\"Don’tdothat，mother，\"hesaid。\"Don’tletitupsetyouso，whateveritis。\"
\"It’ssolongago；it’ssofaraway！\"shewept，withcatchesinherbreathandvoice。\"Younevercame！\"
Bettykneltdownandenfoldedheragain。Herbell—likevoicewasfirmandclear。
\"Ihavecomenow，\"shesaid。\"Anditisnotfaraway。
Acablewillreachfatherintwohours。\"
Pursuingacertainvividthoughtinhermind，shelookedatherwatch。
\"Ifyouspoketomotherbycablethismoment，\"sheadded，withaccustomedcoolness，andshefelthersisteractuallystartasshespoke，\"shecouldansweryoubyfiveo’clock。\"
LadyAnstruther’sstartendedinalaughandgaspmorehystericthanherfirst。Therewasevenakindofwanawakeninginherface，assheliftedittolookatthewonderfulnewcomer。Shecaughtherhandandheldit，trembling，assheweaklylaughed。
\"ItmustbeBetty，\"shecried。\"Thatlittlesternway！
Itissolikeher。Betty——Betty——dear！\"Shefellintoasobbing，shakenheapupontheheather。TheharrowingthoughtpassedthroughBetty’smindthatshelookedalmostlikealimpbundleofshabbyclothes。Shewassohelplessinherpathetic，apologetichysteria。
\"Ishall——bebetter，\"shegasped。\"It’snothing。Ughtred，tellher。\"
\"She’sveryweak，really，\"saidtheboyUghtred，inhismatureway。\"Shecan’thelpitsometimes。I’llgetsomewaterfromthepool。\"
\"Letmego，\"saidBetty，andshedarteddowntothewater。
Shewasbackinamoment。Theboywasrubbingandpattinghismother’shandstenderly。
\"Atanyrate，\"heremarked，asoneconsoledbyareflection，\"fatherisnotathome。\"
CHAPTERXI
\"ITHOUGHTYOUHADALLFORGOTTEN\"
As，afterasingularhalfhourspentamongthebrackenunderthetrees，theybegantheirreturntothehouse，Bettinafeltthathersenseofadventurehadaltereditscharacter。Shewasstillinthemidstofaremarkablesortofexploit，whichmightendanywhereorinanything，butithadbecomeatoncemoreprosaicindetailandmoreintenseinitssignificance。Whatitssignificancemightprovelikelytobewhenshefacedit，shehadnotknown，itistrue。Butthiswasdifferentfrom——
fromanything。Astheywalkedupthesun—dappledavenueshekeptglancingasideatRosy，andendeavouringtodrawusefulconclusions。Thepoorgirl’sairofbeingaplain，insignificantfrump，longpastyouth，struckanextraordinaryand，forthetime，unexplainablenote。Herill—cut，out—of—
datedress，thecheapsuitofthehunchbackedboy，wholimpedpatientlyalong，helpedbyhiscrutch，suggestedpossibleexplanationswhichwerewithoutdoubtconnectedwiththethoughtwhichhadriseninBettina’smind，asshehadbeendriventhroughthebroken—hingedentrancegate。WhatextraordinarydisposalwasbeingmadeofRosy’smoney？Buthereachglanceathersisteralsosuggestedcomplicationuponcomplication。
Thesingularhalfhourunderthetreesbythepool，spent，afterthefirsthystericmomentswereover，invagueexclaimingsandquestions，whichseemedhalffrightenedandallatsea，hadgraduallyshownherthatshewastalkingtoacreaturewhollyotherthantheRosaliewhohadsowellknownandlovedthemall，andwhomtheyhadsowelllovedandknown。
Theydidnotknowthisone，andshedidnotknowthem，shewasevenalittleafraidofthestirandmovementoftheirlifeandbeing。TheRosytheyhadknownseemedtobeimprisonedwithinthewalltheyearsofherseparatedlifehadbuiltabouther。AteachbreathshedrewBettinasawhowlongtheyearshadbeentoher，andhowfarherhomehadseemedtolieaway，sofarthatitcouldnottouchher，andwasonlyasortofdream，therecallingofwhichmadehersuddenlybegintocryagaineveryfewminutes。ToBettina’ssensitivelyalertminditwasplainthatitwouldnotdointheleasttodraghersuddenlyoutofherprison，orcloister，whichsoeveritmightbe。Todosowouldbelikeforcingacreatureaccustomedonlytodarkness，tostareattheblazingsun。Tohaveburstuponherwiththeoldimpetuous，candidfondnesswouldhavebeentofrightenandshockherasifwithsomethingborderingonindecency。Shecouldnothavestoodit；perhapssuchfondnesswassoremotefromherinthesedaysthatshehadevenceasedtobeabletounderstandit。
\"Whereareyourlittlegirls？\"Bettinaasked，rememberingthattherehadbeennoticegivenoftheadventoftwogirlbabies。
\"Theydied，\"LadyAnstruthersansweredunemotionally。\"Theybothdiedbeforetheywereayearold。ThereisonlyUghtred。\"
Bettyglancedattheboyandsawasmallflameofredcreepuponhischeek。Instinctivelysheknewwhatitmeant，andsheputoutherhandandlightlytouchedhisshoulder。
\"Ihopeyou’lllikeme，Ughtred，\"shesaid。
Healmoststartedatthesoundofhervoice，butwhenheturnedhisfacetowardsherheonlygrewredder，andlookedawkwardwithoutanswering。Hismannerwasthatofaboywhowasunusedtotheamenitiesofpolitesociety，andwhowasonlymadeshybythem。
Withoutwarning，amomentorsolater，Bettinastoppedinthemiddleoftheavenue，andlookedupatthearchinggiantbranchesofthetreeswhichhadreachedoutfromonesidetotheother，asiftoclasphandsorencompassaninterlacingembrace。Asfarastheeyereached，theydidthis，andthebeholderstoodasinahighstatelypergola，withbreaksofdeepazureskybetween。Severalmellow，cawingrookswerefloatingsolemnlybeneathorabovethebranches，nowwandthensettlinginsomehighestoneordisappearinginthethickgreenness。
LadyAnstruthersstoppedwhenhersisterdidso，andglancedatherinvagueinquiry。Itwasplainthatshehadoutlivedevenhersenseofthebeautysurroundingher。
\"Whatareyoulookingat，Betty？\"sheasked。
\"Atallofit，\"Bettyanswered。\"Itissowonderful。\"
\"Shelikesit，\"saidUghtred，andthenratherslunkastepbehindhismother，asifhewereashamedofhimself。
\"Thehouseisjustbeyondthosetrees，\"saidLadyAnstruthers。
Theycameinfullviewofitthreeminuteslater。Whenshesawit，Bettyutteredanexclamationandstoppedagaintoenjoyeffects。
\"Shelikesthat，too，\"saidUghtred，and，althoughhesaiditsheepishly，therewasimperfectlyconcealedbeneaththeawkwardnessapleasureinthefact。
\"Doyou？\"askedRosalie，withhersmall，painfulsmile。
Bettylaughed。
\"Itistoopicturesque，initsspecialway，tobequitecredible，\"shesaid。
\"IthoughtthatwhenIfirstsawit，\"saidRosy。
\"Don’tyouthinkso，now？\"
\"Well，\"wastheratheruncertainreply，\"asNigelsays，there’snotmuchgoodinaplacethatisfallingtopieces。\"
\"Whyletitfalltopieces？\"Bettyputittoherwithimpartialpromptness。
\"Wehaven’tmoneyenoughtoholdittogether，\"resignedly。
Astheyclimbedthelow，broad，lichen—blotchedsteps，whosebrokenstonebalustradeswerealmosthiddeninclutching，untrimmedivy，Bettyfeltthemtobealmostincredible，too。Theunevenstonesoftheterracethestepsmountedtowerelichen—
blotchedandbrokenalso。Tuftsofgreengrowthshadforcedthemselvesbetweentheflags，andaddedanuntidybeauty。
Theivytossedinbranchesovertheredroofandwallsofthehouse。Ithadbeenleftunclipped，untilitwasratheranendlesslyclamberingtreethanacreeper。Thehalltheyenteredhadthebeautyofspaciousformandgood，oldoakenpanelling。Thereweredeepwindowseatsandanancienthigh—backedsettleorso，andamassivetablebythefirelesshearth。Buttherewerenopicturesinplaceswherepictureshadevidentlyoncehung，andtheonlycoveringsonthestonefloorwerethefadedremnantsofacentralrugandaworntigerskin，theheadalmostbaldandaglasseyeknockedout。
Bettinatookintheunpromisingdetailswithoutaquiveroftheextravagantlashes。These，indeed，andtheeyespertainingtothem，seemedrathertosweepthefineroof，andacertainminstrel’sgalleryandstaircase，thanwhichnothingcouldhavebeenmuchfiner，withthelookofanappreciativeadmirerofarchitecturalfeaturesandoldoak。ShehadnotjourneyedtoStornhamCourtwiththeintentionofdisturbingRosy，orofbeingherselfobviouslydisturbed。Shehadcometoobservesituationsandrearrangethemwiththatintelligenceofwhichunconsideredemotionorexclamationformnopart。
\"ItisthefirstoldEnglishhouseIhaveseen，\"shesaid，withasighofpleasure。\"Iamsoglad，Rosy——Iamsogladthatitisyours。\"
SheputahandoneachofRosy’sthinshoulders——shefeltsharplydefinedbonesasshedidso——andbenttokissher。Itwasthenaturalaffectionateexpressionofherfeeling，buttearsstartedtoRosy’seyes，andtheboyUghtred，whohadsatdowninawindowseat，turnedredagain，andshiftedinhisplace。
\"Oh，Betty！\"wasRosy’sfaintnervousexclamation，\"youseemsobeautifuland——so——sostrange——thatyoufrightenme。\"
Bettylaughedwiththesoftestpossiblecheerfulness，shakingheralittle。
\"Ishallnotseemstrangelong，\"shesaid，\"afterIhavestayedwithyouafewweeks，ifyouwillletmestaywithyou。\"
\"Letyou！Letyou！\"inasortofgasp。
PoorlittleLadyAnstrutherssankontoasettleandbegantocryagain。Itwasplainthatshealwayscriedwhenthingsoccurred。Ughtred’sspeechfromhiswindowseattestifiedatoncetothat。
\"Don’tcry，mother，\"hesaid。\"Youknowhowwe’vetalkedthatovertogether。It’shernerves，\"heexplainedtoBettina。\"Weknowitonlymakesthingsworse，butshecan’tstopit。\"
Bettinasatonthesettle，too。Sheherselfwasnotthenawareofthewonderfulfeelingthepoorlittlesparefigureexperienced，ashersoftlystrongyoungarmscurvedaboutit。Shewasonlyawarethatsheherselffeltthatthiswasaheart—breakingthing，andthatshemustnot——MUSTnotletitbeseenhowmuchsherecogniseditswoefulness。Thiswaspretty，fairRosy，whohadneverdoneaharminherhappylife——thisforlornthingwasherRosy。
\"Nevermind，\"shesaid，halflaughingagain。\"Iratherwanttocrymyself，andIamstrongerthansheis。Iamimmenselystrong。\"
\"Yes！Yes！\"saidLadyAnstruthers，wipinghereyes，andmakingatremendouseffortatself—respectingcomposure。
\"Youarestrong。Ihavegrownsoweakin——well，ineveryway。Betty，I’mafraidthisisapoorwelcome。Yousee——I’mafraidyou’llfinditallsodifferentfrom——fromNewYork。\"
\"Iwantedtofinditdifferent，\"saidBetty。
\"But——but——Imean——youknow————\"LadyAnstruthersturnedhelplesslytotheboy。Bettinawasstruckwiththepainfultruththatshelookedevensillyassheturnedtohim。
\"Ughtred——tellher，\"sheended，andhungherhead。
Ughtredhadgotdownatoncefromhisseatandlimpedforward。Hisunprepossessingfacelookedasifhepulledhischildishnesstogetherwithanunchildisheffort。
\"Shemeans，\"hesaid，inhisawkwardway，\"thatshedoesn’tknowhowtomakeyoucomfortable。Theroomsareallsoshabby——everythingissoshabby。Perhapsyouwon’tstaywhenyousee。\"
Bettinaperceptiblyincreasedthefirmnessofherholdonhersister’sbody。Itwasasifshedrewitnearertohersideinakindoftakingpossession。Sheknewthatthemomenthadcomewhenshemightgothisfar，atleast，withoutexpressingalarmingthings。
\"Youcannotshowmeanythingthatwillfrightenme，\"
wastheanswershemade。\"Ihavecometostay，Rosy。Wecanmakethingsrightiftheyrequireit。Whynot？\"
LadyAnstruthersstartedalittle，andstaredather。Sheknewtenthousandreasonswhythingshadnotbeenmaderight，andthecasualinferencethatsuchreasonscouldbelightlysweptawayasifbythemerewaveofahand，impliedapowerappertainingtoatimeseemingsolostforeverthatitwastoomuchforher。