\"Tee—hee！Tee—hee—ee！Dearyme！Thankee——thankee，mylady，\"hetittered，andhegazedandblinkedatherbeautythroughheavenlytears。
\"Nearlyahundredyearsold，andhehaslivedonsixteenshillingsaweekallhislife，andearneditbyworkingeveryhourbetweensunriseandsunset，\"Bettysaidtohersister，whenshewenthome。\"Amanhasonelife，andhishaspassedlikethat。Itisdonenow，andalltheyearsandworkhaveleftnothinginhisoldhandsbuthispipe。That’sall。I
shouldnotliketoputitoutforhim。WhoamIthatI
canbuyhimanewone，andkeepitfilledforhimuntiltheend？Howdidithappen？No，\"suddenly，\"Imustnotlosetimeinaskingmyselfthat。Imustgetthenewpipe。\"
Shedidit——apipeofgreatmagnificence——suchasdrewtotheDobycottageasmanycallersasthevillagecouldprovide，eachcomingwithfeveredinterest，tolookatit——tobeallowedtoholdandexamineitforafewmoments，guessingatitsprobableenormouscost，andreturningitreverently，togazeatDobywithrespect——theincreaseofwhichcanbeimaginedwhenitwasknownthathewasnotonlypossessorofthepipe，butofanassurancethathewouldbesuppliedwithasmuchtobaccoashecoulduse，totheendofhisdays。Fromthetimeoftheadventofthepipe，GrandfatherDobybecameamanofmark，andhislifeinthechimneycornerachangedthing。Amanwhoownssplendoursandunlimited，excellentshagmaylikefriendstodropinandcrackjokes——andevensmokeapipewithhim——acommonpipe，which，however，isnotamisswhenexcellentshagcomesfree。
\"Helivesinawildwhirlofgaiety——asocialvortex，\"saidBettytoLadyAnstruthers，afteroneofhervisits。\"Heisactuallyrejuvenated。Imustordersomenewwhitesmocksforhimtoreceivehisvisitorsin。SomeonebroughthimanoldcopyoftheIllustratedLondonNewslastnight。Wewillsendhimillustratedpaperseveryweek。\"
Inthedulloldbrain，Godknowswhatsparkoflifehadbeenrelighted。YoungMrs。Dobyrelatedwithchucklesthatgranddadhadbeggedthathischairmightbedraggedtothewindow，thathemightsitandwatchthevillagestreet。Sittingthere，dayafterday，hesmokedandlookedathispictures，anddozedanddreamed，hispipeandtobaccojarbesidehimonthewindowledge。Atanysoundofwheelsorfootstepshisfacelighted，andif，bychance，hecaughtaglimpseofBetty，hetotteredtohisfeet，andstoodhurriedlytouchinghisbaldforeheadwithareverent，palsiedhand。
\"’Tis’urr，\"hewouldsay，enrapt。\"Iseen’urr——Idid。\"
AndyoungMrs。Dobyknewthatthiswashisjoy，andwhathewaitedforasonewaitsforthecomingofthesun。
\"’Tis’urr！’Tis’urr！\"
Thevicar’swife，Mrs。Brent，whosincetheaffairofJohnWilson’sfirehaddroppedintothebackgroundandfeltitindiscreettopresenttalesofdistressattheCourt，begantorecoverhercourage。Herperfunctoryvisitsassumedanewcharacter。Thevicaragehad，ofcourse，calledpromptlyuponMissVanderpoel，afterherarrival。Mrs。BrentadmiredMissVanderpoelhugely。
\"YouseemsounlikeanAmerican，\"shesaidonceinhermosttactful，ingratiatingmanner——whichwasveryingratiatingindeed。
\"DoI？WhatisonelikewhenoneislikeanAmerican？
Iamone，youknow。\"
\"Icanscarcelybelieveit，\"withsweetardour。
\"Praytry，\"saidBettywithsimplebrevity，andMrs。BrentfeltthatperhapsMissVanderpoelwasnotreallyveryeasytogetonwith。
\"ShemeanttoimplythatIdidnotspeakthroughmynose，andtalktoomuch，andtoovivaciously，inashrillvoice，\"
Bettysaidafterwards，intalkingtheinterviewoverwithRosy。
\"Iliketoconvincemyselfthatisnotone’ssolenationalcharacteristic。AlsoitwasnotexactlyMrs。Brent’splacetokindlyencouragemewiththeinformationthatIdonotseemtobelongtomyowncountry。\"
LadyAnstrutherslaughed，andBettylookedatherinquiringly。
\"Yousaidthatjustlike——justlikeanEnglishwoman。\"
\"DidI？\"saidBetty。
Mrs。BrenthadcometotalktoherbecauseshedidnotwishtotroubledearLadyAnstruthers。LadyAnstruthersalreadylookedmuchstronger，butshehadbeendelicatesolongthatonehesitatedtodistressherwithvillagematters。
Shedidnotaddthatsherealisedthatshewascomingtoheadquarters。Thevicarandherselfweremuchdisturbedaboutarathertiresomeoldwoman——oldMrs。Welden——wholivedinatinycottageinthevillage。Shewaseighty—threeyearsold，andarespectableoldperson——awidow，whohadrearedtenchildren。Thechildrenhadallgrownup，andscattered，andoldMrs。Weldenhadnothingwhatevertoliveon。Nooneknewhowshelived，andreallyshewouldbebetteroffintheworkhouse。ShecouldbesenttoBrexleyUnion，andcomfortablytakencareof，butshehadthatsingular，obstinatedisliketogoing，whichitwassodifficulttomanage。Shehadaskedforashillingaweekfromtheparish，butthatcouldnotbeallowedher，asitwouldmerelyupholdherinherobstinateintentionofremaininginhercottage，andtakingcareofherself——whichshecouldnotdo。Bettygatheredthattheshillingaweekwouldbeadrainontheparishfunds，andwouldsoraisetheoldcreaturetoaffluencethatshewouldfeelshecoulddefyfate。Andthecontumacityofoldmenandwomenshouldnotbestrengthenedbytherecklessbestowalofshillings。
KnowingthatMissVanderpoelhadalreadygainedinfluenceamongthevillagepeople，Mrs。Brentsaid，shehadcometoaskherifshewouldseeoldMrs。Weldenandarguewithherinsuchamanneraswouldconvinceherthattheworkhousewasthebestplaceforher。Itwas，ofcourse，somuchpleasanteriftheseoldpeoplecouldbeinducedtogotoBrexleywillingly。
\"ShallIbeunderminingthewholePoliticalEconomyofStornhamifItakecareofhermyself？\"suggestedBetty。
\"You——youwillleadotherstoexpectthesamethingwillbedoneforthem。\"
\"Whenonehasresourcestodrawon，\"MissVanderpoelcommented，\"inthecaseofawomanwhohaslivedeighty—
threeyearsandbroughtuptenchildrenuntiltheywereoldandstrongenoughtoleavehertotakecareofherself，itisdifficultfortheweakofmindtoapplythelawsofPoliticalEconomics。IwillgoandseeoldMrs。Welden。\"
IftheVanderpoelswouldprovideforalltheobstinateoldmenandwomenintheparish，thePoliticalEconomicsofStornhamwouldproffernomarkedobjections。\"AgoodmanyAmericans，\"Mrs。Brentreflected，\"seemedtohavethoseodd，lavishways，\"aswitnessLadyAnstruthersherself，onherfirstintroductiontovillagelife。MissVanderpoelwasevidentlyamuchstrongercharacter，andextremelyclever，andsomehowthestreamoftheAmericanfortunewasatlastbeingdirectedtowardsStornham——which，ofcourse，shouldhavehappenedlongago。Agooddealwas\"beingdone，\"andthewholesituationlookedmorepromising。Sowasthematterdiscussedandsummedup，thesameeveningafterdinner，atthevicarage。
BettyfoundoldMrs。Welden’scottage。Itwasinagreenlane，turningfromthevillagestreet——whichwasalmostagreenlaneitself。Atinyhedged—infrontgardenwasbeforethecottagedoor。Acrazy—lookingwicketgatewasinthehedge，andafuschiabushandafewoldroseswereinthefewyardsofgarden。Therewereactuallytwoorthreegeraniumsinthewindow，showingcheerfulscarletbetweentheshort，whitedimitycurtains。
\"AhousethissizeandofthispovertyinanAmericanvillage，\"wasBetty’sthought，\"wouldbeabareandstragglinghideousness，witholdtomatocansinthefrontyard。Hereisoneofthethingswehavetolearnfromthem。\"
Whensheknockedatthedooranoldwomanopenedit。
Shewasawell—preservedandmarkedlyrespectableoldperson，inadecentprintfrockandacap。Atthesightofhervisitorshebeamedandmadeasuggestionofcurtsey。
\"Howdoyoudo，Mrs。Welden？\"saidBetty。\"IamLadyAnstruthers’sister，MissVanderpoel。IthoughtIwouldliketocomeandseeyou。\"
\"Thankyou，miss，Iamobligedforthekindness，miss。
Won’tyoucomeinandhaveachair？\"
Therewerenosignsofdecrepitudeabouther，andshehadacheeryoldeye。Thetinyfrontroomwasneat，thoughtherewasscarcelyspaceenoughinittocontainthetablecoveredwithitsblue—checkedcottoncloth，thenarrowsofa，andtwoorthreechairs。Therewereafewsmallcolouredprints，andaframedphotographorsoonthewalls，andonthetablewasaBible，andabrownearthenwareteapot，andaplate。
\"TomWood’swife，that’sneighbournextdoortome，\"shesaid，\"gavemeapincho’tea——an’I’vejustbeen’avinit。
TomWoods，miss，’asjustbeentookonbyMusterKedgersasoneofthenewundergardenersattheCourt。\"
Bettyfoundherdelightful。Shemadenocomplaints，andwasevidentlypleasedwiththeexcitementofreceivingavisitor。Thetruthwas，thatincommonwitheveryotheroldwoman，shehadsecretlyaspiredtobeingvisitedsomedaybytheamazingyoungladyfrom\"Meriker。\"Bettyhadyettolearnoftheheartburningswhichmaybeoccasionedbyanunconsciousfavouritism。ShewasnotawarethatwhenshedroppedintotalktooldDoby，hisneighbour，oldMegworth，peeredfrombehindhiscurtains，withthedewofenvyinhisrheumyeyes。
\"S’ems，\"hemumbled，\"asiftheywasn’tnobodynowinStornhamvillagebutGaargeDoby——s’emsnot。\"Theywereveryfierceintheirjealousyofattention，andonemustbewareofrousingevilpassionsintheoctogenarianbreast。
Theyoungladyfrom\"Meriker\"hadnotsofarhadtimetomakeacallatanycottageinoldMrs。Welden’slane——andshehadknockedjustatoldMrs。Welden’sdoor。Thiswasenoughtoputingoodspiritsevenalesscheeryoldperson。
AtfirstBettywonderedhowshecouldwithdelicacyaskpersonalquestions。Afewminutes’conversation，however，showedherthatthepersonalaffairsofSirNigel’stenantswerealsotheaffairsofnotonlyhimself，butofsuchofhisrelativesasattendedtotheirnaturalduty。Herpresenceinthecottage，andherinterestinMrs。Welden’sreadyflowofsimpletalk，weredesirableandpropercomplimentstotheoldwomanherself。Shewasadecentandself—respectingoldperson，butinhermindtherewasnofaintestglimmerofresentmentofquestionsconcerningrentandfoodandtheneedsofhersimple，hard—drivenexistence。Shehadansweredsuchquestionsonmanyoccasions，whentheyhadnotbeenaskedinthemannerinwhichherladyship’ssisteraskedthem。Mrs。
Brenthadscoldedherand\"pokedabout\"hercottage，goingintohertiny\"wash’us，\"andupintoherinfinitesimalbedroomundertheslantingroof，toseethattheywerekeptclean。
MissVanderpoelshowednodispositionto\"poke。\"Shesatandlistened，andmadeaninquiryhereandthere，inanicevoiceandwithasmileinhereyes。Therewassomepleasureinrelatingthewholehistoryofyoureighty—threeyearstoayoungladywholistenedasifshewantedtohearit。SooldMrs。Weldenprattledon。Abouthergooddays，whenshewasyoung，andwaskitchenmaidattheparsonageinavillagetwentymilesaway；abouthermarriagewithayoungfarmlabourer；abouthis\"steady\"habits，andthecomforttheyhadtogether，inspiteoftheyearlyarrivalofanewbaby，andthecrowdingofthebitofacottagehismasterallowedthem。Tenof’em，andithadbeen\"upbeforesunrise，andagoodbitofhardworktokeepthemallfedandclean。\"
ButshehadnotmindedthatuntilJackdiedquitesuddenafterasunstroke。Itwasoddhowmuchcolourherrusticphraseologyheld。ShemadeBettyseeitall。Theapparentnaturalinevitablenessoftheirbeingturnedoutofthecottage，becauseanothermanmusthaveit；theyearsduringwhichsheworkedherwaywhilethetenweregrowingup，havingmeasles，andchickenpox，andscarletfever，onedyinghereandthere，droppingoutquiteinthenaturalorderofthings，andbeingburiedbytheparishincornersoftheancientchurchyard。Threeofthem\"wastook\"byscarletfever，thenoneofa\"decline，\"thenoneortwobyotherillnesses。Onlyfourreachedmanandwomanhood。OnehadgonetoAustralia，butheneverwasonetowrite，andafterayearortwo，Bettygathered，hehadseemedtomeltawayintothegreatdistance。
Twogirlshadmarried，andMrs。Weldencouldnotsaytheyhadbeen\"comf’able。\"Theycouldbarelyfeedthemselvesandtheirswarmsofchildren。Theothersonhadneverbeensteadylikehisfather。HehadatlastgonetoLondon，andLondonhadswallowedhimup。Bettywasstruckbythefactthatshedidnotseemtofeelthatthemotheroftenmighthaveexpectedsomereturnforherlabours，ateighty—three。
Herunresentfulacceptanceofthingswasatoncesignificantandmoving。Bettyfoundheramazing。Whatshelivedonitwasnoteasytounderstand。Sheseemedratherlikeacheerfuloldbird，gettingupeachunprovided—formorning，andpickinguphersustenancewhereshefoundit。
\"There’smoreinthesayin’`theLordpervides’thanagoodmanythinks，\"shesaidwithasmallchuckle，markedmorebyagenialandcomfortablesenseofhumourthanbyanairofmeritoriouslyquotingthevicar。\"HeDO。\"
Shepaidoneandthreepenceaweekinrentforhercottage，andthiswasthemostseriousdrainuponherresources。
Sheapparentlycouldlivewithoutfoodorfire，buttherentmustbepaid。\"An’Idogetabitbe’indsometimes，\"sheconfessedapologetically，\"an’thenit’satroubletogetstraight。\"
Hercottagewasoneofashortrow，andshedidoddjobsforthewomenwhowereherneighbours。Therewerealwaysbabiestobelookedafter，and\"bitsof’elp\"needed，sometimestherewere\"movings\"fromonecottagetoanother，and\"confinements\"wereplainlyatonceexhilaratingandenriching。
Hertemperamentalgoodcheer，combinedwithherexperience，madeheradesirablecompanionandassistant。Shewasengaginglyfrank。
\"Whenthey’renewtoit，an’abitfrightened，Ijustgive’emacupof’ottea，an’jokewith’emtocheer’emup，\"
shesaid。\"IsaystoCharlesJenkins’wife，aslivesnextdoor，`comenow，megirl，it’sbeengoin’onsinceAdaman’Eve，an’there’sagoodmanyofusleft，isn’tthere？’An’afineboyitwas，too，miss，an’’erupan’aboutbefore’ermonth。\"
Shewaspaidinsixpencesandspareshillings，andincupsoftea，orafresh—bakedloaf，orscrewsofsugar，oreveninagarmentnotyetwornbeyondrepair。Andshewasfreetoruninandout，andgrowaflowerorsoinhergarden，andtalkwithaneighbouroverthelowdividinghedge。
\"Theywantmetogointothe`Ouse，’\"reachingthedangeroussubjectatlast。\"TheysayI’llbetookcareofan’
lookedafter。ButIdon’twanttodoit，miss。Iwanttokeepmybitofa’omeifIcan，an’befreetocomean’go。
I’meighty—three，an’itwon’tbelong。I’adashillingaweekfromtheparish，buttheystoppeditbecausetheysaidIoughttogointothe`Ouse。’\"
ShelookedatBettywithamomentarilyanxioussmile。
\"P’rapsyoudon’tquiteunderstand，miss，\"shesaid。\"It’llseemlikenothin’toyou——aplacelikethis。\"
\"Itdoesn’t，\"Bettyanswered，smilingbravelybackintotheoldeyes，thoughshefeltaslightfulnessofthethroat。\"I
understandallaboutit。\"
ItispossiblethatoldMrs。Weldenwasalittletakenabackbyanattitudewhich，satisfactorytoherownprejudicesthoughitmightbe，was，takeninconnectionwithfixedcustoms，atrifleunnatural。
\"Youdon’tmindmenotwantin’togo？\"shesaid。
\"No，\"wastheanswer，\"notatall。\"
Bettybegantoaskquestions。Howmuchtea，sugar，soap，candles，bread，butter，bacon，couldMrs。Weldenuseinaweek？
Itwasnotveryeasytofindouttheexactquantities，asMrs。
Welden’sestimatesofsuchthingshadbeenbased，duringherentireexistence，uponcalculationastohowlittle，nothowmuchshecoulduse。
WhenBettysuggestedapoundoftea，ahalfpound——theoldwomansmiledattheinnocentignorancethesuggestionofsuchrecklessprofusionimplied。
\"Oh，no！Blessyou，miss，no！Icouldn’tneverdoawaywithit。Aquarter，miss——that’dbeplenty——aquarter。\"
Mrs。Welden’sideaof\"thebest，\"wasthatattwoshillingsapound。Quarterofapoundwouldcostsixpence（twelvecents，thoughtBetty）。Apoundofsugarwouldbetwopence，Mrs。Weldenwouldusehalfapound（theriotousextravaganceoftwocents）。Halfapoundofbutter，\"Goodtubbutter，miss，\"wouldbetenpencethreefarthingsapound。
Soap，candles，bacon，bread，coal，wood，inthequantitiesrequiredbyMrs。Welden，might，withtheadditionofrent，amounttothedizzyingheightofeightortenshillings。
\"Withcarefulextravagance，\"Bettymentallysummedup，\"Imightspendalmosttwodollarsaweekinsurroundingherwithariotofluxury。\"
Shemadealistofthethings，andaddedsomeextrasasanideaofherown。Lifehadnotaffordedherthiskindofthingbefore，sherealised。Shefeltforthefirsttimethejoyofrecklessextravagance，andthrilledwiththeexcitementofit。
\"YouneednotthinkofBrexleyUnionanymore，\"shesaid，whenshe，havingrisentogo，stoodatthecottagedoorwitholdMrs。Welden。\"ThethingsIhavewrittendownhereshallbesenttoyoueverySaturdaynight。Iwillpayyourrent。\"
\"Miss——miss！\"Mrs。Weldenlookedaffrighted。\"It’stoomuch，miss。An’coalseighteenpenceahundred！\"
\"Nevermind，\"saidherladyship’ssister，andtheoldwoman，lookingupintohereyes，foundtherethecolourMountDunstanhadthoughtofasbeingthatofbluebellsunderwater。
\"Ithinkwecanmanageit，Mrs。Welden。Keepyourselfaswarmasyoulike，andsometimeIwillcomeandhaveacupofteawithyouandseeiftheteaisgood。\"
\"Oh！Dearyme！\"saidMrs。Welden。\"Ican’tthinkwhattosay，miss。Itliftseverythin’——everythin’。It’snottobebelieved。It’slikebein’leftafortune。\"
Whenthewicketgateswungtoandtheyoungladywentupthelane，theoldwomanstoodstaringafterher。AndherewasapieceofnewstorunintoCharleyJenkins’cottageandtell——andwhatwomanormanintherowwouldquitebelieveit？
CHAPTERXXV
\"WEBEGANTOMARRYTHEM，MYGOODFELLOW！\"
LordDunholmandhiseldestson，LordWestholt，saunteredtogethersmokingtheirafter—dinnercigarsonthebroad—
turfedterraceoverlookingparkandgardenswhichseemedtosweepwithoutboundarylineintothepurplishlandbeyond。
Thegreymassofthecastlestoodclear—cutagainsttheblueofaskywhosetwilightwasstillalmostdaylight，thoughinthepurityofitseveningstillnessastaralreadyhung，hereandthere，andayoungmoonswunglow。Thegreatspacesaboutthemheldasilencewhoseexquisiteentiretywasmarkedatintervalsbythedistantbarkofashepherddogdrivinghismaster’ssheeptothefold，theirsoft，intermittentplaints——themotherewes’mellowansweringtothetender，fretfullambs——
floatedontheair，alovelypartoftheendingday’srepose。
Wheretwowhoarefriendsstrolltogetheratsuchhours，thegreatbeautymakesforsilenceorforthoughtfultalk。Thesetwomen——fatherandson——werefriendsandintimates，andhadbeensofromWestholt’sfirstmemoryofthetimewhenhischildishindividualitybegantodetachitselffromthebackgroundofmistyandindistinctthings。Theyhadlikedeachother，andtheirlikingandintimacyhadincreasedwiththeonwardmovingandchangeofyears。Aftersixtysaneanddecentlyspentactiveyearsoflife，LordDunholm，ineithercountrytweedoreveningdress，wasawell—builtandhandsomeman；atthirty—threehissonwasstilllikehim。
\"Haveyouseenher？\"hewassaying。
\"Onlyatadistance。ShewasdrivingLadyAnstruthersacrossthemarshesinacart。Shedrovewelland————\"helaughedasheflickedtheashfromhiscigar——\"thebackofherheadandshoulderslookedhandsome。\"
\"TheAmericanyoungwomanisatpresentafactorwhichiswithoutdoubttobecountedwith，\"LordDunholmputthematterwithoutlightness。\"Anyyoungwomanisafactor，buttheAmericanyoungwomanjustnow——justnow————\"Hepausedamomentasthoughconsidering。\"Itdidnotseematallnecessarytocountwiththematfirst，whentheybegantoappearamongus。Theyweregenerallycuriouslyexotic，funnylittlecreatureswithoddmannersandvoices。Theywereoftenmostamusing，andonelikedtohearthemchatterandseetheairylightnesswithwhichtheytooksuperfluous，andsometimesunsuperfluous，conventions，asahuntertakesafive—barredgate。Butitneveroccurredtoustomarrythem。Wedidnottakethemseriouslyenough。Butwebegantomarrythem——
webegantomarrythem，mygoodfellow！\"
Thefinalwordsbrokeforthwithsuchasuggestionofsuddenanxietythat，inspiteofhimself，Westholtlaughedinvoluntarily，andhisfather，turningtolookathim，laughedalso。Butherecoveredhisseriousness。
\"Itwasallratheramuddleatfirst，\"hewenton。\"Thingswerenotfairlydone，andcertainbadlotslookedonitasapayingschemeontheoneside，whileitwasamatterofsilly，littleambitionsontheother。Butthatitisanextraordinarycountrythereisnosanedenying——huge，fabulouslyresourcefulineveryway——area，varietyofclimate，wealthofminerals，productsofallsorts，soiltogrowanything，andsunandrainenoughtogiveeachthingwhatitneeds；last，orratherfirst，apeoplewho，consideredasanation，areintheriotofyouth，andwhobeganbybeingEnglish——whichweEnglishmenhaveaninnocentbeliefistheonemethodof`owningtheearth。’ThatfigureofspeechisanAmericanismIcarefullycommittedtomemory。Well，afterall，lookatthemap——lookatthemap！
Thereweare。\"
Theyhadfrequentlydiscussedtogetherthequestionofthedevelopmentofinternationalrelations。LordDunholm，amanoffar—reachingandclearlogic，hadrealisedthattheoddlyunaccentuatedgrowthofintercoursebetweenthetwocountriesmightbeasubjecttobereflectedonwithoutlightness。
\"ThehabitwehaveofregardingAmericaandAmericansasratherajoke，\"hehadoncesaid，\"hasasortofparallelinthecondescendinglyamiableamusementofaparentattheprecocityorwhimsicalnessofachild。Butthechildisshootingupamazingly——amazingly。Inawaywhichsuggestsdiverspossibilities。\"
TheexchangeofvisitsbetweenDunholmandStornhamhadbeenrareandformal。FromthecallmadeupontheyoungerLadyAnstruthersonhermarriage，theDunholmshadreturnedwithasenseofpuzzledpityforthelittleAmericanbride，withherwonderfulfrockandheruneasy，childisheyes。ForsomeyearsLadyAnstruthershadbeentoodelicatetomakeorreturncalls。Oneheardpainfulaccountsofherapparentwretchedill—healthandoftheconditionofherhusband’sestate。
\"Astherelationsbetweenthetwofamilieshaveevidentlybeenstrainedforyears，\"LordDunholmsaid，\"itisinterestingtohearofthesuddenadventofthesister。Itseemstopointtoreconciliation。Andyousaythegirlisanunusualperson。
\"Fromwhatonehears，shewouldbeunusualifshewereanEnglishgirlwhohadspentherlifeonanEnglishestate。
ThatanAmericanwhoismakingherfirstvisittoEnglandshouldseemtoseeatoncethepracticalneedsofaneglectedplaceisathingtowonderat。Whatcansheknowaboutit，onethinks。Butsheapparentlydoesknow。Theysayshehasmadenomistakes——evenwiththevillagepeople。Sheismanaging，inonewayoranother，togiveworktoeverymanwhowantsit。Result，ofcourse——unboundedrusticenthusiasm。\"
LordDunholmlaughedbetweenthesoothingwhiffsofhiscigar。
\"Howcleverofher！Andwhatsensiblegoodfeeling！
Yes——yes！Sheevidentlyhaslearnedthingssomewhere。PerhapsNewYorkhasfounditwisetobegintogiveyoungwomenprofessionaltraininginthemanagementofEnglishestates。Whoknows？Notabadidea。\"
Itwastherusticenthusiasm，Westholtexplained，whichhadinamannerspreadherfame。Oneheardenlighteningandillustrativeanecdotesofher。Herelatedseveralwellworthhearing。Shehadevidentlyasenseofhumourandunexpectedperceptions。
\"OnedetailofthestoryofoldDoby’smeerschaum，\"
Westholtsaid，\"pleasedmeenormously。Shemanagedtoconveytohim——withouthurtinghisagedfeelingsoroverwhelminghimwithembarrassment——thatifhepreferredacleanchurchwardenorhisoldbriarwood，heneednotfeelobligedtosmokethenewpipe。Hecouldregarditasatrophy。Now，howdidshedothatwithoutfillinghimwithfrightandconfusion，lestshemightthinkhimnotsufficientlygratefulforherpresent？
Buttheytellmeshedidit，andthatoldDobyisrapturouslyhappyandtakesthemeerschaumtobedwithhim，butonlysmokesitonSundays——sittingathiswindowblowinggreatcloudswhenhisneighboursarecomingfromchurch。Itwasaclevergirlwhoknewthatanoldfellowmightsecretlylikehisoldpipebest。\"
\"Itwasadeliciouslyclevergirl，\"saidLordDunholm。
\"Onewantstoknowandmakefriendswithher。Wemustdriveoverandcall。Iconfess，IrathercongratulatemyselfthatAnstruthersisnotathome。\"
\"SodoI，\"Westholtanswered。\"Onewondersalittlehowfarheandhissister—in—lawwill`foregather’whenhereturns。He’sanunpleasantbeggar。\"
AfewdayslaterMrs。Brent，returningfromacallonMrs。
CharleyJenkins，waspassedbyacarriagewhoseliveriessherecognisedhalfwayupthevillagestreet。ItwasthecarriagefromDunholmCastle。LordandLadyDunholmandLordWestholtsatinit。Theywere，ofcourse，goingtocallattheCourt。MissVanderpoelwasbeginningtodrawpeople。Shenaturallywould。ShewouldbelikelytomakequiteadifferenceintheneighbourhoodnowthatithadheardofherandLadyAnstruthershadbeenseendrivingwithher，evidentlynolongeranunvisitableinvalid，butactuallydecentlyclothedandinherrightmind。Mrs。Brentslackenedherstepsthatshemighthavethepleasureofreceivingandrespondinggracefullytosalutationsfromtheimportantpersonagesinthelandau。ShefeltthattheDunholmswereimportant。TherewereearldomsANDearldoms，andthatofDunholmwasdignifiedandofdistinction。