\"Itwouldbesuretobesomethingunreasonableandwicked，\"saidLadyAnstruthers。\"Itwould，Betty。\"
\"Iwonderwhatitwouldbe？\"Bettysaidmusingly。
\"Hehastoldliesforyearstokeepyouallfromme。Ifhecamenow，hewouldknowthathehadbeenfoundout。
HewouldsaythatIhadtoldyouthings。Hewouldbefuriousbecauseyouhaveseenwhatthereistosee。Hewouldknowthatyoucouldnothelpbutrealisethatthemoneyhemademeaskforhadnotbeenspentontheestate。He，——
Betty，hewouldtrytoforceyoutogoaway。\"
\"Iwonderwhathewoulddo？\"Bettysaidagainmusingly。
Shefeltinterested，notafraid。
\"Itwouldbesomethingcunning，\"Rosyprotested。\"Itwouldbesomethingnoonecouldexpect。Hemightbesorudethatyoucouldnotremainintheroomwithhim，orhemightbequitepolite，andpretendhewasrathergladtoseeyou。Ifhewasonlyfrightfullyrudeweshouldbesafer，becausethatwouldnotbeanunexpectedthing，butifhewaspolite，itwouldbebecausehewasarrangingsomethinghideous，whichyoucouldnotdefendyourselfagainst。\"
\"Canyoutellme，\"saidBettyquiteslowly，because，asshelookeddownatthecarpet，shewasthinkingveryhard，\"thekindofunexpectedthinghehasdonetoyou？\"Liftinghereyes，shesawthatatroubledflushwascreepingoverLadyAnstruthers’face。
\"There——havebeen——somanyqueerthings，\"shefaltered。
ThenBettyknewtherewassomespecialthingshewasafraidtotalkabout，andthatifshedesiredtoobtainilluminatinginformationitwouldbewelltogointothematter。
\"Try，\"shesaid，\"toremembersomeparticularincident。\"
LadyAnstrutherslookednervous。
\"Rosy，\"inthelevelvoice，\"therehasbeenaparticularincident——andIwouldratherhearofitfromyouthanfromhim。
Rosy’slapheldlittleshakinghands。
\"Hehashelditovermeforyears，\"shesaidbreathlessly。
\"Hesaidhewouldwriteaboutittofatherandmother。Hesayshecoulduseitagainstmeasevidencein——inthedivorcecourt。HesaysthatdivorcecourtsinAmericaareforwomen，butinEnglandtheyareformen，and——hecoulddefendhimselfagainstme。\"
Theincongruityofthepictureofthesmall，fadedcreaturearraignedinadivorcecourtonchargesofmisbehaviourwouldhavemadeBettysmileifshehadbeeninsmilingmood。
\"Whatdidheaccuseyouof？\"
\"Thatwasthe——theunexpectedthing，\"miserably。
Bettytooktheunsteadyhandsfirmlyinherown。
\"Don’tbeafraidtotellme，\"shesaid。\"Heknewyousowellthatheunderstoodwhatwouldterrifyyouthemost。I
knowyousowellthatIunderstandhowhedoesit。Didhedothisunexpectedthingjustbeforeyouwrotetofatherforthemoney？\"Asshequitesuddenlypresentedthequestion，Rosyexclaimedaloud。
\"Howdidyouknow？\"shesaid。\"You——youarelikealawyer。Howcouldyouknow？\"
Howsimpleshewas！Howobviouslyaneasyprey！
Shehadbeenunconsciouslygivingevidencewitheveryword。
\"Ihavebeenthinkinghimover，\"Bettysaid。\"Heinterestsme。Ihavebeguntoguessthathealwayswantssomethingwhenheprofessesthathehasagrievance。\"
Thenwithdroopinghead，Rosytoldthestory。
\"Yes，ithappenedbeforehemademewritetofatherforsomuchmoney。Thevicarwasillandwasobligedtogoawayforsixmonths。Theclergymanwhocametotakehisplacewasayoungman。Hewaskindandgentle，andwantedtohelppeople。Hismotherwaswithhimandshewaslikehim。
Theylovedeachother，andtheywerequitepoor。HisnamewasFfolliott。Ilikedtohearhimpreach。Hesaidthingsthatcomfortedme。Nigelfoundoutthathecomfortedme，and——whenhecalledhere，hewasmorepolitetohimthanhehadeverbeentoMr。Brent。Heseemedalmostasifhelikedhim。Heactuallyaskedhimtodinnertwoorthreetimes。Afterdinner，hewouldgooutoftheroomandleaveustogether。Oh，Betty！\"clingingtoherhands，\"Iwassowretchedthen，thatsometimesIthoughtIwasgoingoutofmymind。IthinkIlookedwild。Iusedtokneeldownandtrytopray，andIcouldnot。\"
\"Yes，yes，\"saidBetty。
\"IusedtofeelthatifIcouldonlyhaveonefriend，justone，Icouldbearitbetter。OnceIsaidsomethinglikethattoNigel。HeonlyshruggedhisshouldersandsneeredwhenIsaidit。ButafterwardsIknewhehadremembered。Oneevening，whenhehadaskedMr。Ffolliotttodinner，heledhimtotalkaboutreligion。Oh，Betty！Itmademybloodturncoldwhenhebegan。Iknewhewasdoingitforsomewickedreason。Iknewthelookinhiseyesandtheawful，agreeablesmileonhismouth。Whenhesaidatlast，`Ifyoucouldhelpmypoorwifetofindcomfortinsuchthings，’
Ibegantosee。Icouldnotexplaintoanyonehowhedidit，butwithjustasentence，droppedhereandthere，heseemedtotellthewholestoryofasilly，selfish，Americangirl，thwartedinhervulgarlittleambitions，andposingasamartyr，becauseshecouldnothaveherownwayineverything。
Hesaidonce，quitecasually，`I’mafraidAmericanwomenareratherspoiled。’Andthenhesaid，inthesametolerantway——
`ApoormanisadisappointmenttoanAmericangirl。Americadoesnotbelieveinrankcombinedwithlackoffortune。’
Idarednotdefendmyself。Iamnotcleverenoughtothinkoftherightthingstosay。HemeantMr。FfolliotttounderstandthatIhadmarriedhimbecauseIthoughthewasgrandandrich，andthatIwasadisappointedlittlespitefulshrew。I
triedtoactasifhewasnothurtingme，butmyhandstrembled，andalumpkeptrisinginmythroat。Whenwereturnedtothedrawing—room，andatlastheleftustogether，IwasprayingandprayingthatImightbeabletokeepfrombreakingdown。
Shestoppedandswallowedhard。Bettyheldherhandsfirmlyuntilshewenton。
\"Forafewminutes，Isatstill，andtriedtothinkofsomenewsubject——somethingaboutthechurchorthevillage。ButIcouldnotbegintospeakbecauseofthelumpinmythroat。
Andthen，suddenly，butquietly，Mr。Ffolliottgotup。AndthoughIdarednotliftmyeyes，Iknewhewasstandingbeforethefire，quitenearme。And，oh！whatdoyouthinkhesaid，aslowandgentlyasifhisvoicewasawoman’s。
Ididnotknowthatpeopleeversaidsuchthingsnow，oreventhoughtthem。Butnever，nevershallIforgetthatstrangeminute。Hesaidjustthis：
\"`Godwillhelpyou。Hewill。Hewill。’
\"Asifitwastrue，Betty！AsiftherewasaGod——and——
Hehadnotforgottenme。IdidnotknowwhatIwasdoing，butIputoutmyhandandcaughtathissleeve，andwhenIlookedupintohisface，Isawinhiskind，goodeyes，thatheknew——thatsomehow——Godknowshow——heunderstoodandthatIneednotutterawordtoexplaintohimthathehadbeenlisteningtolies。\"
\"Didyoutalktohim？\"Bettyaskedquietly。
\"Hetalkedtome。WedidnotevenspeakofNigel。HetalkedtomeasIhadneverheardanyonetalkbefore。Somehowhefilledtheroomwithsomethingreal，whichwashopeandcomfortandlikewarmth，whichkeptmysoulfromshivering。Thetearspouredfrommyeyesatfirst，butthelumpinmythroatwentaway，andwhenNigelcamebackIactuallydidnotfeelfrightened，thoughhelookedatmeandsneeredquietly。\"
\"Didhesayanythingafterwards？\"
\"Helaughedalittlecoldlaughandsaid，`Iseeyouhavebeenseekingtheconsolationofreligion。Neuroticwomenlikeconfessors。Idonotobjecttoyourconfessing，ifyouconfessyourownbackslidingsandnotmine。’\"
\"Thatwasthebeginning，\"saidBettyspeculatively。\"Theunexpectedthingwastheend。Tellmetherest？\"
\"Noonecouldhavedreamedofit，\"Rosybrokeforth。
\"Forweekshewasalmostlikeotherpeople。HestayedatStornhamandspenthisdaysinshooting。Heprofessedthathewasratherenjoyinghimselfinadullway。Heencouragedmetogotothevicarage，heinvitedtheFfolliottshere。HesaidMrs。Ffolliottwasagentlewomanandgoodforme。
HesaiditwasproperthatIshouldinterestmyselfinparishwork。OnceortwiceheevenbroughtsomelittlemessagetomefromMr。Ffolliott。\"
Itwasapitiablysimplestory。Bettysaw，throughitsrelation，theunconsciousnessoftheeasilyalluredvictim，theadroitleadingonfromsteptostep，theordinary，natural，seemingmethodwhicharrangedopportunities。ThetwohadbeenthrowntogetherattheCourt，atthevicarage，thechurchandinthevillage，andthehawkhadlookedonandbidedhistime。Forthefirsttimeinheryearsofexile，Rosyhadbeguntofeelthatshemightbeallowedafriend——thoughshelivedinsecrettremorlestthenormallibertypermittedhershouldsuddenlybesnatchedaway。
\"WenevertalkedofNigel，\"shesaid，twistingherhands。
\"Buthemademebegintoliveagain。HetalkedtomeofSomethingthatwatchedandwouldnotleaveme——wouldneverleaveme。Iwaslearningtobelieveit。SometimeswhenIwalkedthroughthewoodtothevillage，Iusedtostopamongthetreesandlookupatthebitsofskybetweenthebranches，andlistentothesoundintheleaves——thesoundthatneverstops——anditseemedasifitwassayingsomethingtome。
AndIwouldclaspmyhandsandwhisper，`Yes，yes，’`I
will，’`Iwill。’IusedtoseeNigellookingatmeattablewithaqueersmileinhiseyesandoncehesaidtome——`Youaregrowingyoungandlovely，mydear。Yourcolourisimproving。Thecounselsofourfriendareofasalutarynature。’
Itwouldhavemademenervous，buthesaiditalmostgood—
naturedly，andIwassillyenougheventowonderifitcouldbepossiblethathewaspleasedtoseemelookinglessill。Itwastrue，Betty，thatIwasgrowingstronger。Butitdidnotlastlong。\"
\"Iwasafraidnot，\"saidBetty。
\"AnoldwomaninthelanenearBartyonWoodwasill。Mr。
Ffolliotthadaskedmetogotoseeher，andIusedtogo。
Shesufferedagreatdealandclungtousboth。Hecomfortedher，ashecomfortedme。Sometimeswhenhewascalledawayhewouldsendanotetome，askingmetogotoher。Onedayhewrotehastily，sayingthatshewasdying，andaskedifIwouldgowithhimtohercottageatonce。IknewitwouldsavetimeifImethiminthepathwhichwasashortcut。
SoIwroteafewwordsandgavethemtothemessenger。
Isaid，`Donotcometothehouse。IwillmeetyouinBartyonWood。’\"
Bettymadeaslightmovement，andinherfacetherewasadawningofmingledamazementandincredulity。Thethoughtwhichhadcometoherseemed——asUghtred’slockingofthedoorhadseemed——toowildformoderndays。
LadyAnstrutherssawherexpressionandunderstoodit。
Shemadeahopelessgesturewithhersmall，bonyhand。
\"Yes，\"shesaid，\"itisjustlikethat。Noonewouldbelieveit。Theworstclevernessofthethingshedoes，isthatwhenonetellsofthem，theysoundlikelies。IhaveabewilderedfeelingthatIshouldnotbelievethemmyselfifIhadnotseenthem。Hemettheboyintheparkandtookthenotefromhim。Hecamebacktothehouseanduptomyroom，whereIwasdressingquicklytogotoMr。Ffolliott。\"
Shestoppedforquiteaminute，ratherasiftorecoverbreath。
\"Heclosedthedoorbehindhimandcametowardsmewiththenoteinhishand。AndIsawinasecondthelookthatalwaysterrifiesme，inhisface。Hehadopenedthenoteandhesmoothedoutthepaperquietlyandsaid，`Whatisthis。Icouldnothelpit——Iturnedcoldandbegantoshiver。
Icouldnotimaginewhatwascoming。\"
\"`IsitmynotetoMr。Ffolliott？’Iasked。
\"`Yes，itisyournotetoMr。Ffolliott，’andhereaditaloud。`\"Donotcometothehouse。IwillmeetyouinBartyonWood。\"Thatisanicenoteforaman’swifetohavewritten，tobepickedupandreadbyastranger，ifyourconfessorisnotcautiousinthematteroflettersfromwomen————’
\"Whenhebeginsathinginthatway，youmayalwaysknowthathehasplannedeverything——thatyoucandonothing——I
alwaysknow。Iknewthen，andIknewIwasquitewhitewhenIansweredhim：
\"`Iwroteitinagreathurry，Mrs。Farneisworse。Wearegoingtogethertoher。IsaidIwouldmeethim——tosavetime。’
\"Helaughed，hisawfullittlelaugh，andtouchedthepaper。
\"`Ihavenodoubt。AndIhavenodoubtthatifotherpersonssawthis，theywouldbelieveit。Itisverylikely。
\"`Butyoubelieveit，’Isaid。`Youknowitistrue。Noonewouldbesosilly——sosillyandwickedasto————’ThenIbrokedownandcriedout。`Whatdoyoumean？Whatcouldanyonethinkitmeant？’IwassowildthatIfeltasifIwasgoingcrazy。Heclenchedmywristandshookme。
\"`Don’tthinkyoucanplaythefoolwithme，’hesaid。`I
havebeenwatchingthisthingfromthefirst。ThefirsttimeIleaveyoualonewiththefellow，Icomebacktofindyouhavebeengivinghimanemotionalscene。Doyousupposeyoursimperinggoodspiritsandyourimbecilepinkcheekstoldmenothing？Theytoldmeexactlythis。Ihavewaitedtocomeuponit，andhereitis。\"Donotcometothehouse——I
willmeetyouinthewood。\"
\"Thatwastheunexpectedthing。Itwasnousetoargueandtrytoexplain。Iknewhedidnotbelievewhathewassaying，butheworkedhimselfintoarage，heaccusedmeofawfulthings，andcalledmeawfulnamesinaloudvoice，sothathecouldbeheard，untilIwasdumbandstaggering。
Allthetime，Iknewtherewasareason，butIcouldnottellthenwhatitwas。Hesaidatlast，thathewasgoingtoMr。
Ffolliott。Hesaid，`IwillmeethiminthewoodandI
willtakeyournotewithme。’
\"Betty，itwassoshamefulthatIfelldownonmyknees。
`Oh，don’t——don’t——dothat，’Isaid。`Ibegofyou，Nigel。
Heisagentlemanandaclergyman。Ibegandbegofyou。
Ifyouwillnot，Iwilldoanything——anything。’AndatthatminuteIrememberedhowhehadtriedtomakemewritetofatherformoney。AndIcriedout——catchingathiscoat，andholdinghimback。`Iwillwritetofatherasyouaskedme。Iwilldoanything。Ican’tbearit。’\"
\"Thatwasthewholemeaningofthewholething，\"saidBettywitheyesablaze。\"Thatwasthebeginning，themiddleandtheend。Whatdidhesay？\"
\"Hepretendedtobemademoreangry。Hesaid，`Don’tinsultmebytryingtobribemewithyourvulgarmoney。
Don’tinsultme。’Buthegraduallygrewsulkyinsteadofraging，andthoughheputthenoteinhispocket，hedidnotgotoMr。Ffolliott。And——Iwrotetofather。\"
\"Irememberthat，\"Bettyanswered。\"DidyoueverspeaktoMr。Ffolliottagain？\"
\"Heguessed——heknew——Isawitinhiskind，browneyeswhenhepassedmewithoutspeaking，inthevillage。Idaresaythevillagersweretoldabouttheawfulthingbysomeservant，whoheardNigel’svoice。Villagersalwaysknowwhatishappening。Hewentawayafewweekslater。Thedaybeforehewent，Ihadwalkedthroughthewood，andjustoutsideit，Imethim。Hestoppedforoneminute——justone——heliftedhishatandsaid，justashehadspokenthemthatfirstnight——justthesamewords，`Godwillhelpyou。
Hewill。Hewill。’\"
Astrange，almostunearthlyjoysuddenlyflashedacrossherface。
\"Itmustbetrue，\"shesaid。\"Itmustbetrue。Hehassentyou，Betty。Ithasbeenalongtime——ithasbeensolongthatsometimesIhaveforgottenhiswords。Butyouhavecome！\"
\"Yes，Ihavecome，\"Bettyanswered。Andshebentforwardandkissedhergently，asifshehadbeensoothingachild。
Therewereotherquestionstoask。Shewasobligedtoaskthem。\"Theunexpectedthing\"hadbeenusedasaninstrumentforyears。Itwasalwaysefficacious。Overtheyearninglyhomesickcreaturehadhungthethreatthatherfatherandmother，thosesheachedandlongedfor，couldbetoldthestoryinsuchamanneraswouldbrandherasawomanwithashamefulsecret。Howcouldsheexplainherself？Thereweretheawful，writtenwords。Hewasherhusband。Hewasremorseless，plausible。Shedarednotwritefreely。Shehadnowitnessestocallupon。Shehaddiscoveredthathehadplannedwithcomposedsteadinessthatmisleadingimpressionsshouldbegiventoservantsandvillagepeople。
WhentheBrentsreturnedtothevicarage，shehadobserved，withterror，thatforsomereasontheystiffened，andlookedaskancewhentheFfolliottswerementioned。
\"Iamafraid，LadyAnstruthers，thatMr。Ffolliottwasagreatmistake，\"Mrs。Brentsaidonce。
LadyAnstruthershadnotdaredtoaskanyquestions。Shehadfelttheawkwardcolourrisinginherfaceandhadknownthatshelookedguilty。Butifshehadprotestedagainsttheinjusticeoftheremark，SirNigelwouldhaveheardofherwordsbeforethedayhadpassed，andsheshudderedtothinkoftheresult。HehadbythattimereachedthepointofreferringtoFfolliottwithsneeringlightness，as\"Yourlover。\"
\"Doyoudefendyourlovertome，\"hehadsaidononeoccasion，whenshehadenteredatimidprotest。Andherwhitefaceandwildhelplesseyeshadbeensuchevidenceastotheeffectthewordhadproduced，thathehadseentheexpediencyofmakingapointofusingit。
ThebloodbeatinBettyVanderpoel’sveins。
\"Rosy，\"shesaid，lookingsteadilyinthefadedface，\"tellmethis。Didyouneverthinkofgettingawayfromhim，ofgoingsomewhere，andtryingtoreachfather，bycable，orletter，bysomemeans？\"
LadyAnstruthers’wearyandwrinkledlittlesmilewasapitiablyilluminatingthing。
\"Mydear\"shesaid，\"ifyouarestrongandbeautifulandrichandwelldressed，sothatpeoplecaretolookatyou，andlistentowhatyousay，youcandothings。Butwho，inEngland，willlistentoashabby，dowdy，frightenedwoman，whensherunsawayfromherhusband，ifhefollowsherandtellspeoplesheishystericalormadorbad？Itistheshabby，dowdywomanwhoisinthewrong。Atfirst，Ithoughtofnothingelsebuttryingtogetaway。AndonceIwenttoStornhamstation。Iwalkedalltheway，onahotday。AndjustasI
wasgettingintoathird—classcarriage，Nigelmarchedinandcaughtmyarm，andheldmeback。IfaintedandwhenI
cametomyselfIwasinthecarriage，beingdrivenbacktotheCourt，andhewassittingoppositetome。Hesaid，`Youfool！Itwouldtakeaclevererwomanthanyoutocarrythatout。’AndIknewitwastheawfultruth。\"
\"Itisnottheawfultruthnow，\"saidBetty，andsherosetoherfeetandstoodlookingbeforeher，butwithalookwhichdidnotrestonchairsandtables。Sheremainedso，standingforafewmomentsofdeadsilence。
\"Whatafoolhewas！\"shesaidatlast。\"Andwhatavillain！Butavillainisalwaysafool。\"
Shebent，andtakingRosy’sfacebetweenherhands，kisseditwithakisswhichseemedlikeaseal。\"Thatwilldo，\"shesaid。\"NowIknow。Onemustknowwhatisinone’shandsandwhatisnot。Thenoneneednotwastetimeintalkingofmiserablethings。Onecansaveone’sstrengthfordoingwhatcanbedone。\"
\"IbelieveyouwouldalwaysthinkaboutDOINGthings，\"
saidLadyAnstruthers。\"ThatisAmerican，too。\"
\"ItisaqualityAmericansinheritedfromEngland，\"lightly；
\"oneoftheresultsofitisthatEnglandcoversaratherlargeshareofthemapoftheworld。Itisapracticalquality。
YouandImightspendhoursintalkingtoeachotherofwhatNigelhasdoneandwhatyouhavedone，ofwhathehassaid，andofwhatyouhavesaid。Wemightgivesomehours，I
daresay，towhattheDowagerdidandsaid。Butwiserpeoplethanwearehavefoundoutthatthinkingofblackthingspastislivingthemagain，anditislikepoisoningone’sblood。
Itisdeteriorationofproperty。\"
Shesaidthelastwordsasifshehadendedwithajest。
Butsheknewwhatshewasdoing。
\"Youweretrickedintogivingupwhatwasyours，toapersonwhocouldnotbetrusted。Whathasbeendonewithit，scarcelymatters。Itisnotyours，butSirNigel’s。Butwearenothelpless，becausewehaveinourhandsthemostpowerfulmaterialagentintheworld。
\"Come，Rosy，andletuswalkoverthehouse。Wewillbeginwiththat。\"
CHAPTERXVII
TOWNLINSON&SHEPPARD
Duringthewholecourseofherinterestinglife——andshehadalwaysfoundlifeinteresting——BettyVanderpoeldecidedthatshehadknownnoexperiencemoreabsorbingthanthismorningspentingoingoverthelong—closedanddesertedportionsoftheneglectedhouse。Shehadneverseenanythingliketheplace，orasfullofsuggestion。Thegreaterpartofithadsimplybeenshutupandlefttotimeandweather，bothofwhichhadhadtheireffects。Thefineoldredroof，havinglosttiles，hadfallenintoleaksthatletinrain，whichhadstainedandrottedwalls，plaster，andwoodwork；windandstormhadbeatenthroughbrokenwindowpanesanddonetheirworstwithsuchfurnitureandhangingsastheyfoundtowhipandtossandleavedampandspottedwithmould。Theypassedthroughcorridors，andupanddownshortorlongstairways，withstainedorfadedwalls，andsometimeswithcrackedorfallenplasteringandwainscotting。Hereandtheretheoakflooringitselfwasuncertain。Therooms，whetherlargeorsmall，allpresentedalikeaspectofpotentialbeautyandcomfort，utterlyuncaredforandforlorn。Thereweremanyrooms，butnonemorethanscantilyfurnished，andanumberofthemwerestrippedbare。Bettyfoundherselfwonderinghowlongatimeithadtakenthebelongingsofthebigplacetodwindleandmeltawayintosuchbareness。
\"Therewasatime，Isuppose，whenitwasallfurnished，\"
shesaid。
\"AlltheseroomswereshutupwhenIcamehere，\"Rosyanswered。\"Isupposethingsworthsellinghavebeensold。
Whenpiecesoffurniturewerebrokeninonepartofthehouse，theywerereplacedbythingsbroughtfromanother。Noonecared。Nigelhatesitall。Hecallsitarathole。Hedeteststhecountryeverywhere，butparticularlythispartofit。AfterthefirstyearIhadlearnedbetterthantospeaktohimofspendingmoneyonrepairs。\"
\"Agooddealofmoneyshouldbespentonrepairs，\"
reflectedBetty，lookingabouther。
Shewasstandinginthemiddleofaroomwhosewallswerehungwiththeremainsofwhathadbeenchintz，coveredwithapatternoflooseclustersofmossrosebuds。Thedampnesshadrottedituntil，insomeplaces，ithadfallenawayinstripsfromitsfastenings。Aquaint，embroideredcouchstoodinonecorner，andasBettylookedatit，amousecreptfromunderthetatteredvalance，staredatherinalarmandsuddenlydartedbackagain，interrorofintrusionsounusual。
Acasementwindowswungopen，onabrokenhinge，andastrongbranchofivy，havingforceditswayinside，hadthrownacoveringofleavesoverthedeepledge，andwasbeginningtoclimbtheinnerwoodwork。Throughthecasementwastobeseenaheavenlyspreadofcountry，whoserollinglandswerecladsoftlyingreenpasturesandthick—branchedtrees。
\"ThisistheRosebudBoudoir，\"saidLadyAnstruthers，smilingfaintly。\"Alltheroomshavenames。Ithoughtthemsodelightful，whenIfirstheardthem。TheDamaskRoom——
theTapestryRoom——theWhiteWainscotRoom——MyLady’sChamber。
ItalmostbrokemyheartwhenIsawwhattheylookedlike。\"
\"Itwouldbeveryinteresting，\"Bettycommentedslowly，\"tomakethemlookastheyoughttolook。\"
AremotefearrosetothesurfaceoftheexpressioninLadyAnstruthers’eyes。ShecouldnotdetachherselffromcertainrecollectionsofNigel——ofhisopinionsofherfamily——ofhisdeterminationnottoallowittoenterasafactorineitherhislifeorhers。AndBettyhadcometoStornham——Bettywhomhehaddetestedasachild——andinthecourseoftwodays，shehadseemedtobecomeanewpartoftheatmosphere，andtomakethedeaddespairoftheplacebegintostirwithlife。
WhatotherthingthanthiswashappeningasshespokeofmakingsuchroomsastheRosebudBoudoir\"lookastheyoughttolook，\"andsaidthewordsnotasiftheywerepartofafantasticvision，butasiftheyexpressedaperfectlypossiblething？