CHAPTER I

WhenAnnaEstcourtwastwenty-five,andhadbeguntowonderwhetherthepleasureextractablefromlifeatallcounterbalancedthebotherofit,awonderfulthinghappened. Shewasanexceedinglyprettygirl,whooughttohavebeenenjoyingherself.Shehadasoft,irregularface,charmingeyes,dimples,apleasantlaugh,andlimbsthatwerelongandslender.Certainlysheoughttohavebeenenjoyingherself.Instead,shewastedhertimeinthatfoolishponderingoverthepuzzlesofexistence,overthoseunanswerablewhysandwherefores,whichisasarulerestricted,amongwomen,totheelderlyandplain.ManyandvariousarethemotivesthatimpelawomansotoponderinAnna'scasethemotivewasnothingmoreexaltedthantheperpetualpresenceofasister-in-law.Thesister-in-lawwasrich—initselfapleasingcircumstancebutthesister-in-lawwasalsofrank,andherhusbandandAnnawereentirelydependentonher,andherrichnessandherfranknesscombinedurgedhertomakefatiguinglyfrequentallusionstotheEstcourtpoverty.Exceptfortheirbadtasteherhusbanddidnotmindtheseallusionsmuch,forheconsideredthathehadgivenherafullequivalentforhermoneyinbestowinghisnameonapersonwhohadpracticallynone:hewasSirPeterEstcourtoftheDevonshireEstcourts,andshewasaDobbsofBirmingham.Besides,hewasaphilosopher,andphilosophersnevermindanything.ButAnnawasinalessagreeablesituation.Shewasnotaphilosopher,shewasthin-skinned,shehadbestowednothingandwastakingeverything,andshewasofanindependentnatureandanindependentnature,wherethereisnomoney,isagreatnuisancetoitspossessor. Whenshewasyoungerandmorehigh-flownshesometimestalkedofsweepingcrossingsbuthersister-in-lawSusiewouldnothearofcrossings,anddressedherbeautifully,andtookherout,andmadeherdanceanddineanddoasothergirlsdid,beingofopinionthatarichhusbandofgoodpositionwasmoresatisfactorythancrossings,andfarmorelikelytomakesomereturnforalltheexpensesshehadhad. AteighteenAnnawassoprettythattheperfecthusbandseemedtobeamerequestionofdays.Whatcouldthemostdesirableofmen,thoughtSusie,consideringher,wantmorethansobewitchingayoungcreature?Buthedidnotcome,somehow,thatmanofSusie'sdreamsandafterayearortwo,whenAnnabegantounderstandwhatallthisdressinganddancingreallymeant,andaftershehadhadoffersfrompeopleshedidnotlike,andhadherselffalleninlovewithayouthofnomeanswhowasprudentenoughtomarrysomebodyelsewithmoney,sheshrankbackandgrewcolder,andobjectedmoreandmoredecidedlytoSusie'sstrenuousprivatematrimonialurgings,andsometimesmaderemarksofacynicalnaturetoheradmirers,whotookfrightatsuchsymptomsofadvancingage,andfelloffconsiderablyinnumbers. Itwasatthisperiod,whenshewasbarelytwenty-two,thatshespokeofcrossings.Susiehadseriouslyreprovedherfornotmeetingtheadvancesofanoldandrichandsinglepersonwithmoreenthusiasm,andhadatthesametimealludedtothenumberofpoundsshehadspentonhereveryyearforthelastthreeyears,andthenecessityforputtinganend,bymarrying,toallthisoutlayandinsteadofbeingsensible,andtalkingthingsoverquietly,Annahadpouredoutafloodoffoolishsentimentsaboutthemiseryofknowingthatshewasexpectedtobenicetoeverymanwithmoney,theintolerablenessofthelifeshewasleading,andthesuperiorattractionsofcrossing-sweepingasameansofearningalivelihood. "Why,youhaven'tenoughmoneyforthebroom,"saidSusieimpatiently."Youcan'tsweepwithoutabroom,youknow.Iwishyouwerealittlelesssilly,Anna,andalittlemoregrateful.Mostgirlswouldjumpatthesplendidopportunityyou'vegotnowofmarrying,andtakingupapositionofyourown.Youtalkagreatdealofstuffaboutbeingindependent,andwhenyougetthechance,andIdoallIcantohelpyou,youfl