TenminuteslaterG。SeldenwaswalkingdownFifthAvenue，wonderingiftherewasanychanceofhisbeingarrestedbyapolicemanuponthechargethathewasreeling，insteadofwalkingsteadily。Hehopedheshouldgetbacktothehallbedroomsafely。NickBaumgartenandJemBolterboth\"roomed\"inthehousewithhim。Hecouldtellthemboth。ItwasJemwhohadmadeuptheyarnaboutoneofthemsavingReubenS。Vanderpoel’slife。Therehadbeennolife—saving，butthethinghadcometrue。
\"But，ifithadn’tbeenforLordMountDunstan，\"hesaid，thinkingitoverexcitedly，\"IshouldneverhaveseenMissVanderpoel，and，ifithadn’tbeenforMissVanderpoel，IshouldneverhavegotnexttoReubenS。inmylife。BothsidesoftheAtlanticOceangotbusytodoagoodturntoLittleWillie。Hullygee！\"
InhisstudyMr。VanderpoelwasrereadingBetty’sletters。
HefeltthathehadgainedacertainknowledgeofLordMountDunstan。
CHAPTERXXXIX
ONTHEMARSHES
THEmarshesstretchedmellowintheautumnsun，sheepwanderedabout，nibblingcontentedly，orlaydowntorestingroups，theskyreflectingitselfinthenarrowdykesgaveabluecolourtothewater，ascentoftheseawasintheairasonebreathedit，flocksofploverrose，nowandthen，cryingsoftly。Betty，walkingwithherdog，hadpassedaheronstandingattheedgeofapool。
Fromherfirstdiscoveryofthem，shehadbeenattractedbythemarsheswiththeirEnglishsuggestionoftheRomanCampagna，theirbroadexpanseoflevellandspreadouttothesunandwind，thethousandsofwhitesheepdottedorclusteredasfaraseyecouldreach，thehuesofthemarshgrassandtheplantsgrowingthickatthebordersofthestripsofwater。Itsbeautywasallitsownandcuriouslyalooffromthesoftly—
wooded，undulatingworldaboutit。Drivingorwalkingalongthehighroad——theroadtheRomanshadbuilttoLondontownlongcenturiesago——oneithersideofoneweremeadows，farms，scatteredcottages，andhopgardens，butbeyondandbelowstretchedthemarshland，goldenandgrey，andalwaysalluringonebyitssilence。
\"Ineverpassitwithoutwantingtogotoit——totakesolitarywalksoverit，tobeoneofthespotsonitasthesheepare。Itseemsasif，lyingthereundertheblueskyorthelowgreycloudswithalltheworldheldatbaybymerespaceandstillness，theymustfeelsomethingweknownothingof。Iwanttogoandfindoutwhatitis。\"
ThisshehadoncesaidtoMountDunstan。
Soshehadfallenintothehabitofwalkingtherewithherdogathersideashersolecompanion，forhavingneedfortimeandspaceforthought，shehadfoundtheminthesilenceandaloofness。
Lifehadbeenavividandpleasurablethingtoher，asfarasshecouldlookbackuponit。Shebegantorealisethatshemusthavebeenveryhappy，becauseshehadneverfoundherselfdesiringexistenceotherthansuchashadcometoherdaybyday。ExceptforherpassionatechildishregretatRosy’smarriage，shehadexperiencednopainfulfeeling。Infact，shehadfacednohurtinherlife，andcertainlyhadbeenconfrontedbynolimitations。Arguingthatgirlsintheirteensusuallyfallinlove，herfatherhadoccasionallywonderedthatshepassedthroughnolittleepisodesofsentiment，butthefactwasthatherinterestshadbeenlargerandmorenumerousthantheinterestsofgirlsgenerallyare，andheraffectionateintimacywithhimselfhadleftnosuchsmallvacantspacesasarefrequentlyfilledbyunimportantyoungemotions。Becauseshewasalogicalcreature，andhadwatchedlifeandthoselivingitwithclearandinterestedeyes，shehadnotbeenblindtothepathwhichhadmarkeditselfbeforeherduringthesummer’sgrowthandwaning。Shehadnot，atfirst，perhaps，knownexactlywhenthingsbegantochangeforher——whentheclarityofhermindbegantobedisturbed。Shehadthoughtinthebeginning——aspeoplehaveahabitofdoing——thataninstance——aproblem——asituationhadattractedherattentionbecauseitwasabsorbingenoughtothinkover。Herviewofthematterhadbeenthatasthesamethingwouldhaveinterestedherfather，ithadinterestedherself。ButfromthemorningwhenshehadbeenconsciousofthesuddenfuryrousedinherbyNigelAnstruthers’uglysneeratMountDunstan，shehadbetterunderstoodthethingwhichhadcomeuponher。Daybydayithadincreasedandgatheredpower，andsherealisedwithacertainsenseofimpatiencethatshehadnotinanydegreeunderstooditwhenshehadseenandwonderedatitseffectonotherwomen。Eachdayhadbeenlikeawaveencroachingfartherupontheshoreshestoodupon。Attheoutsetacertainignoblepride——sheknewitignoble——filledherwithrebellion。Shehadseensomuchofthiskindofsituation，andhadheardsomuchofthegeneralcomment。Peoplehadlearnedhowtosneerbecauseexperiencehadtaughtthem。Ifshegavethemcause，whyshouldtheynotsneeratherasatthings？Sherecalledwhatshehadherselfthoughtofsuchthings——thefollyofthem，theobviousness——thealmostdeserveddisaster。Shehadarrogatedtoherselfjudgmentofwomen——andmen——whomight，yes，whomighthavestoodupontheirstripofsand，asshestood，withthewavescreepingin，eachonehigher，stronger，andmoreengulfingthanthelast。Theremighthavebeenthoseamongthemwhoalsohadknowledgeofthatsuddendeadlyjoyatthesightofoneface，atthedropofonevoice。Whenthatwavesubmergedone’spulsingbeing，whathadtheworldtodowithone——howcouldonehearandthinkofwhatitsspeechmightbe？Itsvoiceclamouredtoofaroff。
Asshewalkedacrossthemarshshewasthinkingthisfirstphaseover。Shehadreachedanewone，andatfirstshelookedbackwithafaint，evenratherhard，smile。Shewalkedstraightahead，hermastiff，Roland，paddingalongheavilycloseatherside。Howstillandwideandgoldenitwas；howthecryofploverandliftingtrillofskylarkassuredonethatonewaswhollyencircledbysolitudeandspacewhichweremoreenclosingthananywalls！ShewasgoingtothemoundstowhichMr。PenzancehadtrundledG。Seldenintheponychaise，whenhehadgivenhimthemarvelloushourwhichhadbroughtRomancampandRomanlegionstolifeagain。Uponthelargesthillockonecouldsitenthroned，restingchininhandandlookingoutunderlevellidsattheunstirring，softly—livinglovelinessofthemarsh—landworld。Soshewaspresentlyseated，withherheavy—limbedRolandatherfeet。Shehadcomeheretotrytoputthingsclearlytoherself，toplanwithsuchreasonasshecouldcontrol。Shehadbeguntobeunhappy，shehadbegun——withsomeunfairness——tolookbackupontheBettyVanderpoelofthepastasanunwittinglyself—sufficientyoungwoman，tofindherselfsuddenlyentangledbythings，eventoknowatouchofdesperateness。
\"Nottotakearemnantfromtheducalbargaincounter，\"
shewassayingmentally。Thatwaswhyhersmilewasalittlehard。Whatiftheremnantfromtheducalbargaincounterhadprejudicesofhisown？
\"Ifhewerepassionately——passionatelyinlovewithme，\"shesaid，withredstaininghercheeks，\"hewouldnotcome——hewouldnotcome——hewouldnotcome。And，becauseofthat，heismoretome——MORE！Andmorehewillbecomeeveryday——andthemorestronglyhewillholdme。Andtherewestand。\"
Rolandliftedhisfineheadfromhispaws，and，holdingiterectonastiff，strongneck，staredatherinobviousinquiry。
Sheputoutherhandandtenderlypattedhim。
\"Hewillhavenoneofme，\"shesaid。\"Hewillhavenoneofme。\"Andshefaintlysmiled，butthenextinstantshookherheadalittlehaughtily，and，havingdoneso，lookeddownwithanalteredexpressionupontheclothofherskirt，becauseshehadshakenuponit，fromtheextravagantlashes，twocleardrops。
Itwasnottheresultofchancethatshehadseennothingofhimforweeks。Shehadnotattemptedtopersuadeherselfofthat。TwicehehaddeclinedaninvitationtoStornham，andoncehehadriddenpastherontheroadwhenhemighthavestoppedtoexchangegreetings，orhaveriddenonbyherside。
Hedidnotmeantoseemtodesire，eversolightly，tobecountedasinthelists。Whetherhewasdrawnbyanylikingforherornot，itwasplainhehaddeterminedonthis。
Ifsheweretogoawaynow，theywouldnevermeetagain。
Theirwaysinthisworldwouldpartforever。Shewouldnotknowhowlongittooktobreakhimutterly——ifsuchamancouldbebroken。Ifnomagicchangetookplaceinhisfortunes——andwhatchangecouldcome？——thedecayabouthimwouldspreaddaybyday。Stonewallslastalongtime，sothehousewouldstandwhileeverybeautyandstatelinesswithinitfellintoruin。Gardenswouldbecomewildernesses，terracesandfountainscrumbleandbeovergrown，wallsthatwereto—dayleaningwouldfallwithtime。Theyearswouldpass，andhisyouthwiththem；hewouldgraduallychangeintoanoldmanwhilehewatchedthethingshelovedwithpassiondieslowlyandhard。HowstrangeitwasthatlivesshouldtouchandpassontheoceanofTime，andnothingshouldresult——nothingatall！Whenshewentonherway，itwouldbeasifashiploadedwitheveryaidoffoodandtreasurehadpassedaboatinwhichastrongmantossed，starvingtodeath，andhadnotevenrunupaflag。
\"Butonecannotrunupaflag，\"shesaid，strokingRoland。
\"Onecannot。Therewestand。\"
ToherrecognitionofthisdeadlockofFate，therehadbeenaddingthegrowingdisturbancecausedbyyetanotherthingwhichwasincreasinglytroubling，increasinglydifficulttoface。
Gradually，andatfirstwithwonderfulnaturalnessofbearing，NigelAnstruthershadmanagedtocreateforhimselfasingularplaceinhereverydaylife。Ithadbegunwithacertainpersonalnessinhisattitude，apersonalnesswhichwasathingtodislike，butalmostimpossibleopenlytoresent。Certainly，asaself—invitedguestinhishouse，shecouldscarcelyprotestagainsttheamiabilityofhisdemeanourandhisexteriorcourtesyandattentivenessofmannerinhisconducttowardsher。Shehadtriedtosweepawaytheobjectionablequalityinhisbearing，byfrankness，byindifference，byentirelackofresponse，butshehadremainedconsciousofitsincreasingasaspider’swebmightincreaseasthespiderspunitquietlyoverone，throwingoutthreadssoimpalpablethatonecouldnotbrushthemawaybecausetheyweretooslighttobeseen。Shewasawarethatinthefirstyearsofhismarriedlifehehadalternatelyresentedthescarcityoftheinvitationssentthemandrudelyrefusedsuchaswerereceived。SincehehadreturnedtofindheratStornham，hehadinsistedthatnoinvitationsshouldbedeclined，andhadescortedhiswifeandherselfwherevertheywent。Whatcouldhavebeenconventionallymoreproper——whatmoreimproperthanthatheshouldhavepersistentlyhaveremainedathome？Andyettherecameatimewhen，astheythreedrovetogetheratnightintheclosedcarriage，Bettywasconsciousthat，ashesatoppositetoherinthedark，whenhespoke，whenhetouchedherinarrangingtherobeoverher，oropeningorshuttingthewindow，hesubtly，butpersistently，conveyedthatthepersonalnessofhisvoice，look，andphysicalnearnesswasasortofhideousconfidencebetweenthemwhichtheywerecleverlyconcealingfromRosalieandtheoutsideworld。
Whensherodeaboutthecountry，hehadawayofappearingatsometurningandmakinghimselfhercompanion，ridingtoocloselyatherside，andassuminganoticeableairofbeingengagedinmeaninglyconfidentialtalk。Once，whenhehadbeenleaningtowardsherwithanaudaciouslytendermanner，theyhadbeenpassedbytheDunholmcarriage，andLadyDunholmandthefrienddrivingwithherhadevidentlytriednottolooksurprised。LadyAlanby，meetingtheminthesamewayatanothertime，hadputupherglassesandstaredinopendisapproval。ShemightadmireastrikinglyhandsomeAmericangirl，butherfavourwouldnotlastthroughanysuchvulgarsillinessasflirtationswithdisgracefulbrothers—in—law。WhenBettystrolledabouttheparkorthelanes，shemuchtoooftenencounteredSirNigelstrollingalso，andknewthathedidnotmeantoallowhertoridherselfofhim。Inpublic，hemadeapointofkeepingobservablyclosetoher，ofhoveringinhervicinityandlookingonatallshedidwitheyessherebelledagainstfindingfixedonhereachtimeshewasobligedtoturninhisdirection。Hehadafashionofcomingtohersideandspeakinginadroppedvoice，whichexcludedothers，asafavouredlovermight。Shehadseenbothmenandwomenglanceatherinhalf—embarrassmentattheirsuddensenseoffindingthemselvesslightlydetrop。Shehadsaidaloudtohimononesuchoccasion——andshehadsaiditwithsmilingcasualnessforthebenefitofLadyAlanby，towhomshehadbeentalking：
\"Don’talarmmebydroppingyourvoice，Nigel。Iameasilyfrightened——andLadyAlanbywillthinkweareconspirators。\"
Foraninstanthewastakenbysurprise。Hehadbeenpleasedtobelievethattherewasnowayinwhichshecoulddefendherself，unlessshewouldcondescendtosomethingstupidlylikeascene。Heflushedanddrewhimselfup。
\"Ibegyourpardon，mydearBetty，\"hesaid，andwalkedawaywiththemannerofanoffendedadorer，leavinghertorealiseanodiouslyunpleasanttruth——whichisthatthereareincidentsonlymademoreinexplicablebyanefforttoexplain。
Shesawalsothathewasquiteawareofthis，andthathisoffendeddeparturewasabrilliantinspiration，andhadlefther，asitwere，inthelurch。TohavesaidtoLadyAlanby：\"Mybrother—in—law，inwhosehouseIammerelystayingformysister’ssake，istryingtoleadyoutobelievethatIallowhimtomakelovetome，\"wouldhavesuggestedeitherfollyorinsanityonherownpart。Asitwas——afteraglanceatSirNigel’sstifflyretreatingback——LadyAlanbymerelylookedawaywithawhollyuninvitingexpression。
WhenBettyspoketohimafterwards，haughtilyandwithdetermination，helaughed。
\"Mydearestgirl，\"hesaid，\"ifIwatchyouwithinterestanddropmyvoicewhenIgetachancetospeaktoyou，Ionlydowhateveryothermandoes，andIdoitbecauseyouareanalluringyoungwoman——whichnooneismoreperfectlyawareofthanyourself。Yourpretencethatyoudonotknowyouarealluringisthemostcaptivatingthingaboutyou。AndwhatdoyouthinkofdoingifIcontinuetooffendyou？Doyouproposetodesertus——toleavepoorRosalietosinkbackagainintothebundleofoldclothesshewaswhenyoucame？ForHeaven’ssake，don’tdothat！\"
Allthathiswordssuggestedtookformbeforehervividly。
Howwellheunderstoodwhathewassaying。Butsheansweredhimbravely。
\"No。Idonotmeantodothat。\"
Hewatchedherforafewseconds。Therewascuriosityinhiseyes。
\"Don’tmakethemistakeofimaginingthatIwillletmywifegowithyoutoAmerica，\"hesaidnext。\"SheisasfarofffromthatasshewaswhenIbroughthertoStornham。I
havetoldherso。Amancannottiehiswifetothebedpostinthesedays，buthecanmakehereffortstoleavehimsodecidedlyunpleasantthatdecentwomenprefertostayathomeandtakewhatiscoming。Ihaveseenthatoftenenough`tobankonit，’
ifImayquoteyourAmericanfriends。\"
\"Doyouremembermyoncesaying，\"Bettyremarked，\"thatwhenawomanhasbeenPROPERLYill—treatedthetimecomeswhennothingmatters——nothingbutreleasefromthelifesheloathes？\"
\"Yes，\"heanswered。\"Andtoyounothingwouldmatterbut——excusemysayingit——yourowndamnable，headstrongpride。ButRosalieisdifferent。Everythingmatterstoher。
Andyouwillfinditso，mydeargirl。\"
AndthatthiswasatleasthalftruewasbroughthometoherbythefactthatlatethesamenightRosycametoherwhitewithcrying。
\"Itisnotyourfault，Betty，\"shesaid。\"Don’tthinkthatI
thinkitisyourfault，buthehasbeeninmyroominoneofthosehumourswhenheseemslikeadevil。HethinksyouwillgobacktoAmericaandtrytotakemewithyou。But，Betty，youmustnotthinkaboutme。Itwillbebetterforyoutogo。
Ihaveseenyouagain。Ihavehadyoufor——foratime。Youwillbesaferathomewithfatherandmother。\"
Bettylaidahandonhershoulderandlookedatherfixedly。
\"Whatisit，Rosy？\"shesaid。\"Whatisithedoestoyou——thatmakesyoulikethis？\"
\"Idon’tknow——butthathemakesmefeelthatthereisnothingbutevilandliesintheworldandnothingcanhelponeagainstthem。Thosethingshesaysabouteveryone——menandwomen——thingsonecan’trepeat——makemesick。AndwhenItrytodenythem，helaughs。\"
\"Doeshesaythingsaboutme？\"Bettyinquired，veryquietly，andsuddenlyRosaliethrewherarmsroundher。
\"Betty，darling，\"shecried，\"gohome——gohome。Youmustnotstayhere。\"
\"WhenIgo，youwillgowithme，\"Bettyanswered。\"I
amnotgoingbacktomotherwithoutyou。\"
Shemadeacollectionofmanyfactsbeforetheirinterviewwasatanend，andtheypartedforthenight。AmongthefirstwasthatNigelhadpreparedforcertainpossibilitiesaswiseholdersofafortressprepareforsiege。Aratherlongsittingaloneoverwhiskyandsodahad，withoutmakinghimloquacious，heatedhisbloodinsuchamannerasledhimtobelesssubtlethanusual。Drinkdidnotmakehimdrunk，butmalignant，andwhenamanisinthemalignantmood，heforgetshiscleverness。Soherevealedmorethanheabsolutelyintended。
Itwastobegatheredthathedidnotmeantopermithiswifetoleavehim，evenforavisit；hewouldnotallowhimselftobemaderidiculousbysuchathing。Amanwhocouldnotcontrolhiswifewasafoolanddeservedtobealaughing—stock。
AsUghtredandhisfutureinheritanceseemedtohavebecomeofinteresttohisgrandfather，andweretobewellnursedandtakencareof，hisintentionwasthattheboyshouldremainunderhisownsupervision。HecouldamusehimselfwellenoughatStornham，nowthatithadbeenputinorder，ifitwaskeptupproperlyandhefilleditwithpeoplewhodidnotborehim。Therewerepeoplewhodidnotborehim——plentyofthem。Rosaliewouldstaywhereshewasandreceivehisguests。
IfsheimaginedthatthelittleepisodeofFfolliotthadbeenentirelydormant，shewasmistaken。Heknewwherethemanwas，andexactlyhowseriousitwouldbetohimifscandalwasstirredup。Hehadbeenatsometroubletofindout。Thefellowhadrecentlyhadthelucktofallintoaveryfineliving。
IthadbeenbestowedonhimbytheoldDukeofBroadmorlands，whowasthemoststrait—lacedoldboyinEngland。
Hehadbecomesoinhisdisgustatthelightbehaviourofthewifehehaddivorcedinhisearlymanhood。Nigelcackledgentlyashedetailedthat，byanagreeablecoincidence，ithappenedthatherGracehadsuddenlybecomefilledwithpiousfervour——rousedtheretobyagood—lookinglocumtenens——
result，painfuldiscoveries——thepairbeingnowrumouredtobekeepingalodging—housetogethersomewhereinAustralia。A
wordtogoodoldBroadmorlandswouldproducetheeffectofalightedmatchonabarrelofgunpowder。ItwouldbetheendofFfolliott。NeitherwoulditbeagoodintroductiontoBetty’sfirstseasoninLondon，neitherwoulditbeenjoyedbyhermother，whomherememberedasawomanwithprimitiveviewsofdomesticrectitude。HesmiledtheawfulsmileashetookoutofhispockettheenvelopecontainingthewordshiswifehadwrittentoMr。Ffolliott，\"Donotcometothehouse。MeetmeatBartyonWood。\"Itdidnottakemuchtoconvincepeople，ifonemanagedthingswithdecentforethought。TheBrents，forinstance，werefondneitherofhernorofBetty，andtheyhadneverforgottenthequestionableconductoftheirlocumtenens。Then，suddenly，hehadchangedhismannerandhadsatdown，laughing，anddrawnRosalietohiskneeandkissedher——yes，hehadkissedherandtoldhernottolooklikealittlefooloractlikeone。Nothingunpleasantwouldhappenifshebehavedherself。Bettyhadimprovedhergreatly，andshehadgrownyoungandprettyagain。Shelookedquitelikeachildsometimes，nowthatherboneswerecoveredandshedressedwell。Ifshewantedtopleasehimshecouldputherarmsroundhisneckandkisshim，ashehadkissedher。
\"Thatiswhathasmadeyoulookwhite，\"saidBetty。
\"Yes。Thereissomethingabouthimthatsometimesmakesyoufeelasiftheverybloodinyourveinsturnedwhite，\"
answeredRosy——inalowvoice，whichthenextmomentrose。
\"Don’tyousee——don’tyousee，\"shebrokeout，\"thattodispleasehimwouldbelikemurderingMr。Ffolliott——likemurderinghismotherandmine——andlikemurderingUghtred，becausehewouldbekilledbytheshameofthings——andbybeingtakenfromme。Wehavelovedeachothersomuch——somuch。
Don’tyousee？\"
\"Iseeallthatrisesupbeforeyou，\"Bettysaid，\"andI
understandyourfeelingthatyoucannotsaveyourselfbybringingruinuponaninnocentmanwhohelpedyou。Irealisethatonemusthavetimetothinkitover。But，Rosy，\"asuddenringinhervoice，\"Itellyouthereisawayout——thereisawayout！Theendofthemiseryiscoming——anditwillnotbewhathethinks。\"
\"Youalwaysbelieve————\"beganRosy。
\"Iknow，\"answeredBetty。\"Iknowtherearesomethingssobadthattheycannotgoon。Theykillthemselvesthroughtheirownevil。IKNOW！IKNOW！Thatisall。\"
CHAPTERLX
\"DON’TGOONWITHTHIS\"
Ofthesethings，asofothers，shehadcometohersolitudetothink。Shelookedoutoverthemarshesscarcelyseeingthewanderingorrestingsheep，scarcelyhearingthecryingplover，becausesomuchseemedtoconfronther，andshemustlookitallwellintheface。Shehadfulfilledthepromiseshehadmadetoherselfasachild。ShehadcomeinsearchofRosy，shehadfoundherassimpleandlovingofheartasshehadeverbeen。Themostpainfuldiscoveriesshehadmadehadbeenconcealedfromhermotheruntiltheiraspectwasmodified。
Mrs。VanderpoelneednowfeelnoshockatthesightoftherestoredRosy。LadyAnstruthershadbeenstillyoungenoughtorespondbothphysicallyandmentallytolove，companionship，agreeableluxuries，andstimulatinginterests。ButforNigel’santagonismtherewasnownoreasonwhysheshouldnotbetakenhomeforavisittoherfamily，andherlong—yearned—forNewYork，noreasonwhyherfatherandmothershouldnotcometoStornham，andthusestablishthecustomarysocialrelationsbetweentheirdaughter’shomeandtheirown。ThatthisseemedoutofthequestionwasowingtothefactthatattheoutsetofhismarriedlifeSirNigelhadallowedhimselftocommiterrorsintactics。Aperverseegotism，notwhollynormalinitsrancour，hadledhimintodeedswhichhehadbeguntosuspectofhavingcosthimtoomuch，evenbeforeBettyherselfhadpointedouttohimtheirunbusinesslikeindiscretion。Hehaddonethingshecouldnotundo，andnow，tohismind，hisonlyresourcewastotreatthemboldlyashavingbeentheproperresultsofdecisionfoundedonsoundjudgment，whichhehadnodesiretoexcuse。Asufficientlyarrogantloftinessofbearingwould，hehoped，carryhimthroughthematter。ThisBettyherselfhadguessed，butshehadnotrealisedthatthisloftinessofattitudewasindangeroflosingsomeofitseffectivenessthroughhisbeingincreasinglystungandspurredbycircumstancesandfeelingsconnectedwithherself，whichwereatonceexasperatingandattimesalmostoverpowering。When，inhismingleddislikeandadmiration，hehadbeguntostudyhissister—in—law，andthehalf—amusedweavingofthesmallplotswhichwouldmakethingssufficientlyunpleasanttobeusedasfactorsinherremovalfromthescene，ifnecessary，hehadnotcalculated，eversoremotely，onthechanceofthatmadnessbesettinghimwhichusuallybesetsmenonlyintheiryouth。Hehadimaginednootherresultstohimselfthanasubtly—excitingprivateentertainment，suchaswouldgivespicetothedullnessofvirtuouslifeinthecountry。But，despitehimselfandhisintentions，hehadfoundthesituationalter。HisfirstuncertaintyofhimselfhadarisenattheDunholmball，whenhehadsuddenlyrealisedthathewasdetestingmenwho，beingyoungandfree，wereatlibertytopaygallantcourttothenewbeauty。
PerhapsthemostdisturbingthingtohimhadbeenhisconsciousnessofhissuddenleapofantagonismtowardsMountDunstan，who，despitehisobviouslackofchance，somehowespeciallyrousedinhimtherageofwarringmaleinstinct。
Therehadbeenadmissionshehadbeenforced，atlength，tomaketohimself。Youcouldnot，itappeared，liveinthehousewithasplendidcreaturelikethisone——withherbrillianteyes，herbeautyoflineandmovementbeforeyoueveryhour，herbloom，herproudfinenessholdingthemselveswhollyintheirownkeeping——withouttherebeingthedeviltopay。Latelyhehadsometimesgonehotandcoldinrealisingthat，havingoncetoldhimselfthathemightchoosetodecidetogetridofher，henowknewthatthemerethoughtofhersailingawayofherownchoicewasmaddeningtohim。ThereWASthedeviltopay！