第20章

ThenitappearedthatKedgersalmostbecamepale。Beingaforeigner，perhapsshedidnotknowhowmuchshewasimplyingwhenshesaidsuchathingtoamanwhohadneverheldaplacelikeTimson’s。

"Miss，"hehesitated，evenshamefacedly，becausetosuggesttosuchafine—mannered，calmyoungladythatshemightbeignorant，seemedperilouslynearimpertinence。"Miss，didyoumeanyouwantedonlytheLiliumGiganteum，or——orotherthings，aswell。"

"Ishouldliketosee，"sheansweredhim，"allthatyousee。I

shouldliketohearmoreofitall，whenwehavetimetotalkitover。Iunderstandweshouldneedtimetodiscussplans。"

Thequietwayshewenton！Seemingtobelieveinhim，almostasifhewasMr。Timson。Theoldfeeling，bornandfosteredbythegreatheadgardener’srule，reasserteditself。

"Itmeansmoretowork——andsomeoneoverthem，miss，"

hesaid。"If——ifyouhadamanlikeMr。Timson————"

"Youhavenotforgottenwhatyoulearned。Withmenenoughunderyouitcanbeputintopractice。"

"Youmeanyou’dtrustme，miss——sameasifIwasMr。Timson？"

"Yes。IfyoueverfeeltheneedofamanlikeTimson，nodoubtwecanfindone。Butyouwillnot。Youlovetheworktoomuch。"

Thenstillstandinginthesunshine，ontheweed—grownpath，shecontinuedtotalktohim。Itrevealeditselfthatsheunderstoodagooddeal。Ashewastoassumeheavierresponsibilities，hewastoreceivehigherwages。Itwashisexperiencewhichwastobeconsidered，nothisyears。Thiswasanewpointofview。Themerepropellerofwheel—

barrowsanddiggerofthesoil——particularlyafterhavingbeenattackedbyrheumatism——depreciatesinvalueafteryouthispast。KedgersknewthataMr。Timson，witharegimentofundergardeners，anddailyincreasingknowledgeofhisprofession，couldcontinuetodirect，thoughyearsrolledby。

Buttosuchfortunehehadnotdaredtoaspire。

Oneofthelodgesmightbeputinorderforhimtolivein。Hemighthavethehothousestoputinorder，too；hemighthaveimplements，plants，shrubs，evensomeofthenewerbookstoconsult。Kedgers’brainreeled。

"You——thinkIamtobetrusted，miss？"hesaidmorethanonce。"Youthinkitwouldbeallright？Iwasn’tevensecondorthirdunderMr。Timson——but——ifIsayitasshouldn’t——Ineverlostachanceoflearningthings。Iwasjustmadaboutit。T’aintonlyLiliums——Lord，Iknow’emall，asiftheyweremyownchildrenbornan’bred——shrubs，coniferas，herbaceousbordersthatbloominsuccession。Myword！whatyoucandowithjustdelphiniumsan’campanulaan’acquilegiaan’poppies，everydaythingslikethem，that’llgrowinanycottagegarden，an’bulbsan’annuals！Roses，miss——why，Mr。Timsonhadtheminthickets——an’carpets——

an’clamberingovertreesandtumblingoverwallsinsheetsan’torrents——justknowtheirwaysan’whattheywant，an’

they’llgrowinariot。Buttheywantfeeding——feeding。A

roseisagrossfeeder。FeedaGlorydeejon，andwatchoverhim，an’he’llcoverahousetopan’giveyoutwobloomings。"

"IhaveneverlivedinanEnglishgarden。Ishouldliketoseethisoneatitsbest。"

Leavingherwithsalutesofabjectgratitude，Kedgersmovedawaybewildered。Whatmancouldbelieveittrue？Atthreeorfouryards’distancehestoppedand，turning，camebacktotouchhiscapagain。

"Youunderstand，miss，"hesaid。"Iwasn’tevensecondorthirdunderMr。Timson。I’mnotdeceivingyou，amI，miss？"

"Youaretobetrusted，"saidMissVanderpoel，"firstbecauseyoulovethethings——andnextbecauseofTimson。"

CHAPTERXXII

ONEOFMR。VANDERPOEL’SLETTERS

Mr。Germen，thesecretaryofthegreatMr。Vanderpoel，inarrangingtheneatstacksofletterspreparatorytohischief’sentrancetohisprivateroomeachmorning，knowingwhereeachshouldbeplaced，understoodthatsuchaswereaddressedinMissVanderpoel’shandwouldbereadbeforeanythingelse。ThishadbeenthecaseevenwhenshehadjustbeenplacedinaFrenchschool，atall，slimlittlegirl，withimmensedemandingeyes，andathickblackplaitofhairswingingbetweenherstraight，ratherthin，shoulders。Betweenotherfinancialpotentatesandtheirlittlegirls，Mr。Germenknewthattheoddlyconfidentialrelationwhichexistedbetweenthesetwowasunusual。Herschoolgirlletters，ithadbeenunderstood，shouldbegiventhefirstplaceonthestacksofenvelopeseachincomingoceansteamerbroughtinitsmailbags。Sincethebeginningofhervisittohersister，LadyAnstruthers，theexactdatesofmailsteamersseemedtobeofincreasedimportance。MissVanderpoelevidentlyfoundmuchtowriteabout。Eachsteamerbroughtafull—lookingenvelopetobeplacedinaprominentposition。

OnahotmorningintheearlysummerMr。Germenfoundtwoorthree——twoofthemoflargersizeandseemingtocontainbusinesspapers。Theseheplacedwheretheywouldbeseenatonce。Mr。Vanderpoelwasalittlelaterthanusualinhisarrival。Atthisseasonhecamefromhisplaceinthecountry，andbeforeleavingitthismorninghehadbeentalkingtohiswife，whomhefoundratherdisturbedbyachanceencounterwithayoungwomanwhohadreturnedtovisithermotherafterayearspentinEnglandwithherEnglishhusband。Thisyoungwoman，nowLadyBowen，onceMillyJones，hadbeenoneoftheamusingmarvelsofNewYork。

Agirlneitherrichnorsoendowedbynatureastobeabletopressupontheworldanyspecialclaimtoconsiderationasabeauty，herenterprise，andthedaringofhertactics，hadbeenthedelightofmanyasatiriconlooker。Inherschool—

daysshehadingenuouslymappedoutherfuturecareer。OtherAmericangirlsmarriedmenwithtitles，andsheintendedtodothesamething。Theotherlittlegirlslaughed，buttheylikedtohearhertalk。Allinformationregardingsuchunionsaswastobefoundinthenewspapersandmagazines，shecollectedandstudiouslyread——sometimesaloudtohercompanions。

Socialparagraphsaboutroyalties，dukesandduchesses，lordsandladies，courtballsandglitteringfunctions，shedevouredandlearnedbyheart。Anabominablyvulgarlittleperson，shewasaninterestinglypertinaciouscreature，andwroughtnightanddayatacquiringanairoffashionableelegance，atfirstnaturallylayingitoninsuchmannerassuggestedthatitshouldbescrapedoffwithaknife，butwithexperiencegainingacertainspeciousknowledgeofforms。

Howtheover—maturechildatschoolhadassimilatedheruncannyyoungworldliness，itwouldhavebeenlessdifficulttodecide，ifpossiblesourceshadbeenlessnumerous。Theairwasfullofit，theliteratureoftheday，thechatterofafternoonteas，thegossipofthehour。Beforeshewasfifteenshesawtheindiscretionofherchildishfrankness，andrealisedthatitmighteasilybedetrimentaltoherambitions。Shesaidnomoreofherplansforherfuture，andeventooktheastutetoneofcarelesslytreatingasajokehervulgarlittlepast。Butnotitledforeignerappeareduponthehorizonwithoutsettinghersmall，butbusiness—like，brainatwork。

Herlackofwealthandassuredpositionmadehersituationratherhopeless。Shewasnotoftheclassofluckyyoungwomenwhoseparents’gorgeousestablishmentsofferedattractionstowanderingpersonsofrank。Sheandhermotherlivedinaflat，andgaveratherpatheticafternoonteasinreturnforsuchmorebrillianthospitalitiesascarefulandpertinaciouscallingandrecallingobligedtheiracquaintancestofeeltheycouldnotdecentlybeleftwhollyoutof。Millyandheranxiousmotherhadworkedhard。Theylostnoopportunityofwritinganote，orsendingaChristmascard，oraneconomicalfuneralwreath。Bydailytoilandtheamicableignoringofcasualnessofmannerorslights，theymanagedtoclingtotheedgeoftheprecipiceofsocialoblivion，intowhosedepthsalesserdegreeofassiduity，oragreatersensitiveness，wouldhaveplungedthem。Once——earlyinMilly’scareer，whenherever—readychatterandhersuperficialbrightnesswereanovelty，ithadseemedforashorttimethatluckmightbeglancingtowardsher。AyoungmanofforeigntitleandofBohemiantastesmetheratastudiodance，and，misledbythesmartnessofherdressandheralwayscarefullycarriedairofcarelessprosperity，begantopayadelusivecourttoher。Forafewweeksallherfreshestfrockswerewornassiduouslyandcreditwasstrainedtobuynewones。Theflatwasadornedwithfreshflowersandseveralnewyellowandpalebluecushionsappearedatthelittleteas，whichbegantoassumeamorefestiveair。Desirablepeople，whowentordinarilytotheteasatlongintervalsandthroughreluctantweakness，orsometimesrebelliousamiability，weredrummedupandbroughtfirmlytothefore。Millyherselfbegantolookpinkandfluffythroughmerehopefulgoodspirits。Herthinlittlelaughwasheardincessantly，andpeopleamusedlyiftheyweregood—tempered，derisivelyiftheywerespiteful，wonderedifitreallywouldcometosomething。Butitdidnot。TheyoungforeignersuddenlyleftNewYork，makinghisadieuswithentirelightness。Therewastheendofit。Hehadheardsomethingaboutlackofincomeanduncertaintyofcredit，whichhadsuggestedtohimthatdiscretionwasthebetterpartofvalour。HemarriedlaterayoungladyintheWest，whosefatherwasasolidperson。

Lessastuteyoungwomen，underthecircumstances，wouldhaveallowedthemselvesaweekorsoofheadacheorinfluenza，butMillydidnot。Shemadecallsinthenewfrocks，andwithsuchpersistentspiritthatshefishedforthfromthedepthsofindifferenthospitalitytwoorthreeexcellentinvitations。Sheworeherfreshestpinkfrock，andanamazinglycleverlittleParisiandiamondcrescentinherhair，atthehugeMonsonballatDelmonico’s，anditwasrecordedthatitwasonthatglitteringoccasionthather"UncleJames"

wasfirstbroughtuponthescene。Hewasonlymentionedlightlyatfirst。ItwastoMilly’screditthathewasnotmadetoomuchof。Hewascasuallytoucheduponasaveryrichuncle，wholivedinDakota，andhadactuallylivedtheresincehisyouth，lettinghisfewrelationsknownothingofhim。

Hehadbeenratherablacksheepasaboy，butMilly’smotherhadlikedhim，and，whenhehadrunawayfromNewYork，hehadtoldherwhathewasgoingtodo，andhadkissedherwhenshecried，andhadtakenherdaguerreotypewithhim。Nowhehadwritten，anditturnedoutthathewasenormouslyrich，andwasinterestedinMilly。FromthattimeUncleJamesformedanatmosphere。HedidnotappearinNewYork，butMillyspentthenextseasoninLondon，andtheMonsons，beingatHurlinghamoneday，hadherpointedouttothemasanewAmericangirl，whowastheidolofamillionaireuncle。Shewasnotlivinginanultrafashionablequarter，orwithultrafashionablepeople，butshewas，onalloccasions，theyheard，beautifullydressedandbeautifully——ifalittleheavily——hungwithgaudsandgems，herringsbeingsaidtobequiteamazingandsuggestinganimpassionedlavishnessonthepartofUncleJames。London，havingbecomeinuredtoAmericanmarvels——Milly’sbitofit——acceptedandenjoyedUncleJamesandallthesumptuousattributesofhisDakota。

Englishpeoplewouldswallowanythingsometimes，Mrs。

Monsoncommentedsagely，andyetsometimestheystaredandevidentlythoughtyouwerelyingaboutthesimplestthings。

Milly’scornerofSouthKensingtonhadgulpeddowntheDakotauncle。Hermanaginginthisway，iftherewasnouncle，wastoocleverandamusing。Shehadlefthermotherathometoscrimpandsave，andbyhookorbycrookshehadcontrivedtogetanumberofquitegoodthingstowear。Sheworethemwithsuchanairofaccustomedresourcethatthejewelsmighteasily——mixedwithsomerelicsofhermother’sbetterdays——beoftheorderofthecleverlittleParisiandiamondcrescent。ItwasMilly’snever—laid—asidemannerwhichdidit。TheannouncementofherunionwithSirArthurBowenwasreceivedincertainNewYorkcircleswithlittlesuppressedshrieksofglee。Ithadbeensosharpofhertoaimlowandtorealisesoquicklythatshecouldnotaimhigh。

Thebaronetcywasarecentone，andnotunconnectedwithtrade。SirArthurwasnotarichman，and，haditleakedout，believedinUncleJames。Ifhedidnotfindhimallhisfancypainted，Millywascleverenoughtokeephimquiet。Shewas，whenallwassaidanddone，oneoftheAmericanwomenoftitle，herservantsandthetradespeopleaddressedheras"mylady，"andwithhercapacityforappropriatingwhatwasmostuseful，andhereasyassumptionofpossessingallrequired，shewasaverysmartpersonindeed。SheprovidedherselfwithanEnglishaccent，anEnglishvocabulary，andanEnglishmanner，andincertaincircleswasfelttobemostimpressive。

AtanafternoonfunctioninthecountryMrs。VanderpoelhadmetLadyBowen。Shehadbeenoneofthefewkindlyones，whointhepasthadgivenanoccasionaltreattoMillyJonesforhergirlhood’ssake。LadyBowen，havinggatheredasmallgroupofhearers，wastalkingvolublytoit，whenthenicewomanentered，and，catchingsightofher，shesweptacrosstheroom。ItwouldnothavebeenlikeMillytofailtoseeandgreetatoncethewifeofReubenVanderpoel。Shewouldcountanywhere，eveninLondonsetsitwasnoteasytoconnectone’sselfwith。ShehadalreadydiscoveredthattherewerealmostasmanydifficultiestobesurmountedinLondonbythewifeofanunimportantbaronetastherehadbeentobeovercomeinNewYorkbyagirlwithoutmoneyorplace。Itwaswelltohavesomethinginthewayofinformationtoofferinone’ssmalltalkwiththeluckyonesandMillyknewwhatsubjectlaynearesttoMrs。Vanderpoel’sheart。

"MissVanderpoelhasevidentlybeenenjoyinghervisittoStornhamCourt，"shesaid，afterherfirstfewsentences。

"ImetMrs。WorthingtonattheEmbassy，andshesaidshehadburiedherselfinthecountry。ButIthinkshemusthaverunuptotownquietlyforshopping。IsawheronedayinPiccadilly，andIwasalmostsureLadyAnstrutherswaswithherinthecarriage——almostsure。"

Mrs。Vanderpoel’sheartquickeneditsbeat。

"Youweresoyoungwhenshemarried，"shesaid。"I

daresayyouhaveforgottenherface。"

"Oh，no！"Millyprotestedeffusively。"Irememberherquitewell。Shewassoprettyandpinkandhappy—looking，andherhaircurlednaturally。IusedtoprayeverynightthatwhenIgrewupImighthavehairandacomplexionlikehers。"

Mrs。Vanderpoel’skind，maternalfacefell。

"Andyouwerenotsureyourecognisedher？Well，I

supposetwelveyearsdoesmakeadifference，"hervoicedraggingalittle。

Millysawthatshehadmadeablunder。ThefactwasshehadnotevenguessedatRosy’sidentityuntillongafterthecarriagehadpassedher。

"Oh，yousee，"shehesitated，"theircarriagewasnotnearme，andIwasnotexpectingtoseethem。Andperhapsshelookedalittledelicate。Iheardshehadbeenratherdelicate。"

Shefeltshewasfloundering，andbravelyflounderedawayfromthesubject。SheplungedintotalkofBettyandpeople’sanxietytoseeher，andthefactthatthesocietycolumnswerealreadyfaintlyheraldingher。Shewouldsurelycomesoontotown。ItwastoolateforthefirstDrawing—roomthisyear。WhendidMrs。Vanderpoelthinkshewouldbepresented？

WouldLadyAnstrutherspresenther？Mrs。VanderpoelcouldnotbringherbacktoRosy，andthenatureofthechangewhichhadmadeitdifficulttorecogniseher。

Theresultofthischanceencounterwasthatshedidnotsleepverywell，andthenextmorningtalkedanxiouslytoherhusband。

"WhatIcouldsee，Reuben，wasthatMillyBowenhadnotknownheratall，evenwhenshesawherinthecarriagewithBetty。Shecouldn’thavechangedasmuchasthat，ifshehadbeentakencareof，andhappy。"

Heraffectionandadmirationforherhusbandweresuchasmadethetaskofsoothingheracomparativelysimplething。

TheinstinctoftendernessforthematehisyouthhadchosenwasanunchangeableoneinReubenVanderpoel。Hewasnotaprimitiveman，butinthishewasasunquestioninglysimpleasifhehadbeenakindlyNewEnglandfarmer。Hehadoutgrownhiswife，buthehadalwayslovedandprotectedhergentlegoodness。Hehadneverfailedherinhersmallestdifficulty，hecouldnotbeartoseeherhurt。Bettyhadbeenhiscompeerandhiscompanionalmostsinceherchildhood，buthiswifewasthetenderestcareofhisdays。TherewasastrongsenseofreliefinhisthoughtofBettynow。Itwasgoodtorememberthefinenessofherperceptions，herclearnessofjudgment，andrecallthattheywerequalitieshemightrelyupon。

Whenhelefthiswifetotakehistraintotown，helefthersmilingagain。Shescarcelyknewhowherfearshadbeendispelled。Histalkhadallbeenkindly，practical，andreasonable。ItwastrueBettyhadsaidinherletterthatRosyhadbeenratherdelicate，andhadnotbeentakingverygoodcareofherself，butthatwastoberemedied。Rosyhadmadealittlejokeorsoaboutitherself。

"BettysaysIamnotfatenoughforanEnglishmatron。

Iamdrinkingmilkandbreakfastinginbed，andamgoingtobemassagedtopleaseher。IbelieveweallusedtoobeyBettywhenshewasachild，andnowsheissotallandsplendid，onewouldneverdaretocrossher。Oh，mother！Iamsohappyathavingherwithme！"

Torereadjustthesesimplethingscausedthesuggestionofthingsnotcomfortablynormaltomeltaway。Mrs。

Vanderpoelsatdownatasunnywindowwithherlapfullofletters，andforgotMillyBowen’sfloundering。

WhenMr。Vanderpoelreachedhisofficeandglancedathiscarefullyarrangedmorning’smail，Mr。Germensawhimsmileatthesightoftheenvelopesaddressedinhisdaughter’shand。Hesatdowntoreadthematonce，and，asheread，thesmileofwelcomebecameashrewdanddeeplyinterestedone。

"Shehasundertakenagood—sizedcontract，"hewassayingtohimself，"andshe’stobetrustedtoseeitthrough。Itisratherfine，thewayshemanagestocombineemotionsandromanceandsentimentswithpracticalgoodbusiness，withoutlettingoneinterferewiththeother。It’snoneofitbadbusinessthis，astheestateisentailed，andtheboyisRosy’s。

It’sgoodbusiness。"

ThiswaswhatBettyhadwrittentoherfatherinNewYorkfromStornhamCourt。

"ThethingsIambeginningtodo，itwouldbeimpossibleformetoresistdoing，anditwouldcertainlybeimpossibleforyou。ThethingIamseeingIhaveneverseen，atclosehand，before，thoughIhavetakeninsomethingalmostitsparallelaspartofcertainpicturesquenessofscenesinothercountries。ButIamLIVINGwiththisandalso，throughrelationshiptoRosy，I，inameasure，belongtoit，anditbelongstome。YouandImayhaveoftenseeninAmericanvillagescrudeness，incompleteness，lackofcomfort，andthecompositionofapicture，aroughuglinesstheresultofhasteandunsettledlifewhichstaysnowherelong，butpacksupitsgoodsandchattelsandwandersfartherafieldinsearchofsomethingbetterorworse，inanycaseinsearchofchange，butwehaveneverseenripe，gradualfallingtoruinofwhatgenerationsagowasbeautiful。Tomeitiswonderfulandtragicandtouching。IfyoucouldseetheCourt，ifyoucouldseethevillage，ifyoucouldseethechurch，ifyoucouldseethepeople，allquietlydisintegrating，andsodearlyperfectintheirwaythatifoneknewabsolutelythatnothingcouldbedonetosavethem，onecouldonlystandstillandcatchone’sbreathandburstintotears。ThechurchhasstoodsincetheConquest，and，asitstillstands，greyandfine，withitsmassofsquaretower，anddespitethestateofitsroof，isnotyetgivenwhollytothewindsandweather，itwill，nodoubt，standafewcenturieslonger。TheCourt，however，cannotlongremainapossiblehabitation，ifitisnotgivenanewleaseoflife。Idonotmeanthatitwillcrumbleto—morrow，orthedayafter，butweshouldnotthinkithabitablenow，evenwhileweshouldadmitthatnothingcouldbemoredelightfultolookat。Thecottagesinthevillagearealready，manyofthem，amazing，whenregardedasthedwellingsofhumanbeings。Howlongagothecottagersgaveupexpectingthatanythinginparticularwouldbedoneforthem，Idonotknow。Iamimpressedbythefactthattheyareanunexpectingpeople。Theircalmnon—expectancyfillsmewithinterest。Onlycenturiesofwaitingfortheirsuperiorsinranktodothingsforthem，andtheslowformationofthehabitofrealisingthatnottosubmittodisappointmentwasnouse，couldhaveproducedthealmostSERENITYoftheirattitude。Itisallverywellfornewbornrepublicannations——meaningmynativeland——tosniffsternlyandsaythatsuchastateofaffairsisaninsulttothespiritoftherace。

Perhapsitisnow，butitwasnotapparentlycenturiesago，whichwaswhenitallbeganandwhen`Man’andthe`Race’

hadnotdevelopedtothepointofaskingquestions，towhichtheydemandreplies，aboutthemselvesandthethingswhichhappenedtothem。ItbeganinthetimeofEgbertandCanute，andearlier，inthedaysoftheDruids，whentheyusedpeacefullytoallowthemselvestobeburnedbythescore，enclosedinwickeridols，asnaturalofferingstoplacatethegods。Themodernacceptanceofthingsisonlyasomewhatattenuatedremnantoftheancientidea。AndthisiswhatIhavetodealwithandunderstand。WhenIbegintodothethingsIamgoingtodo，withtheaidofyourpracticaladvice，ifIhaveyourapproval，thepeoplewillbeatfirstratherafraidofme。TheywillprivatelysuspectIammad。Itwill，also，notseematallunlikelythatanAmericanshouldbeofunreasoninglyextravagantandflightymind。Stornham，havinglongslumberedinremotepeacethroughlackofrailroadconvenience，stillregardsAmericaasalmostofthecharacterofwildrumour。RosywastheironeAmerican，andshedisappearedfromtheirviewsosoonthatshehadnottimetomakeanylastingimpression。

Iamaskingmyselfhowdifficult，orhowsimple，itwillbetoquiteunderstandthesepeople，andtomakethemunderstandme。Igreatlydoubtitsbeingsimple。Layersandlayersandlayersofcenturiesmustbefarfromeasytoburrowthrough。Theylooksimple，theydonotknowthattheyarenotsimple，butreallytheyarenot。TheirpointofviewhasbeenthepointofviewoftheEnglishpeasantsomanyhundredyearsthatanAmericanpointofview，whichhashadnomorethanatriflingcenturyandahalftoformitselfin，mayfinditsthewsandsinewsthelesspowerfulofthetwo。

WhenIwalkdownthevillagestreet，facesappearatwindows，andfigures，stolidly，atdoors。WhatIseeisthat，vaguelyandremotely，AmericanthoughIam，thefactthatIamof`herladyship’sblood，’andthatherladyship——Americanthoughsheis——hastheclaimonthemofbeingthemotherofthesonoftheowneroftheland——stirsinthemafeelingthatIhaveashadowysortofrelationshipinthewholething，andwithregardtotheirbadroofsandbadchimneys，totheirbrokenpalings，anddampfloors，totheircomfortsanddiscomforts，asortofresponsibility。Thatisthewholething，andyou——justyou，father——willunderstandmewhenIsaythatI

actuallylikeit。ImightnotlikeitifIwerepoorRosy，but，beingmyself，Iloveit。Thereissomethingpatriarchalinitwhichmovesme。

"Isitanaboundingandarrogantdelightinpowerwhichmakesitappealtome，orisitsomethingbetter？Tofeelthateverymanontheland，everywoman，everychildknewone，countedonone’shonourandfriendship，turnedtoonebelievinglyintimeofstress，toknowthatonecouldhelpandbeafinelyfaithfulthing，theveryknowledgeofitwouldgiveonevigourandwarmbloodintheveins。IwishIhadbeenborntoit，IwishthefirstsoundsfallingonmynewbornearshadbeentheclangingofthepealfromanoldNormanchurchtower，callingouttome，`Welcome；newcomerofourhouse，longlifeamongus！Welcome！’Still，thoughthefirstsoundsthatgreetedmewereprobablytherattlingofaFifthAvenuestage，IhavebroughtthemSOMETHING，andwhoknowswhetherIcouldhavebroughtitfromwithouttherangeofthatprosaic，butcheerful，rattle。"

Therestoftheletterwasdetailofabusiness—likeorder。

Alargeenvelopecontainedthedetail—notesofthingstobedone，notesconcerningroofs，windows，flooring，parkfences，gardens，greenhouses，toolhouses，pottingsheds，gardenwalls，gates，woodwork，masonry。Sharplittlesketches，suchasButtlehadseen，notesconcerningButtle，Fox，Tread，Kedgers，andlessaccomplishedworkmen；concerningwagesofdaylabourers，hours，capabilities。Buttle，ifhehadchancedtoseethem，wouldhavebrokenintoalightperspirationattheideaofayoungwomanhavingcompiledthedocuments。HehadneverheardofthefirstReubenVanderpoel。

Herfather’sreplytoBettywasaslongasherowntohim，andgaveherkeenpleasurebyitssupport，bothofsympatheticinterestandpracticaladvice。Heleftnoneofherpointsunnoted，anddealtwitheachofthemasshehadmosthopedandindeedhadfeltsheknewhewould。Thiswashisfinalsummingup：