le means, for she had made a place for herself in the
world. But she was certain, from the air of commiseration with which
not only the rector but others had regarded her, that she would be
extremely curtailed in such opportunities as depended upon money; and
she had sufficient insight into social affairs to know how the
possession of money broadened opportunity, and the absence of it
limited power.

There was no denying to herself the pain that it gave her to
relinquish such a position. She had accommodated herself to greatness
so naturally that it seemed incredible that she was to sink back into
a life of obscurity. Frankly, she did not like it.

And yet, on the other hand, she felt an unfeigned gladness that
Horace was to come to his own. She rejoiced that no child of hers
would ever stand in his way. She had reason to hope that he would use
his great position to great ends, for the residuum of all her turbid
and agitating thoughts about him was an admiration for the man in his
attitude toward the world, no matter how much she still resented his
attitude toward herself. That this last was so, there needed no
stronger proof than her eager resolution to get away from Kingdon
Hall--out of the country, if possible--before the arrival of the man
whose place her husband had once taken, and who, in another sense,
was now to take his.

CHAPTER XI

It was some time before Bettina realized the changed conditions of
her life consequent upon her husband's extremely small provision for
her. In England, in the only society which she knew, it would be a
mere pittance, after what she had always had there; but in America,
in her old home, which she had always kept as her mother left it, it
would be almost riches. Sometimes she thought of going back there for
good, and leaving the great world in which she had found so little
joy. But it was this world which could give her, as she now knew, the
best substitute that can be offered for joy--active and interesting
occupation. Having once known the inspiration of this, the stagnation
of her old home was not to be thought of for a permanency. It seemed
to her best, however, to go there for a short time to look after the
money interests now become important to her, and from there to seek
some work for the faculties which she had only lately realized that
she possessed.

In her heart she could but feel a certain wounded pride in the
altered position to which her husband had del