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     It   was   a   lovely   day   in   the   beginning   of   May;   nearly   two   years   after 

their   first   meeting;   when   Tyrrel   reached   New York。   Ethel   knew   at   what 

hour his train would arrive; she was watching and listening for his step。 

They     met    in  each    other's   arms;    and    the  blessed     hours    of  that   happy 

evening   were   an   over…   payment   of   delight   for   the   long   months   of   their 

separation。 

     In the morning Ethel was to introduce her lover to Madam Rawdon; 

and   side   by   side;   almost   hand   in   hand;   they   walked   down   the   avenue 

together。 Walked? They were so happy they hardly knew whether their feet 

touched earth or not。 They had a constant inclination to clasp hands; to run 

as   little   children   run;   They   wished   to   smile   at   everyone;   to   bid   all   the 

world good morning。 Madam had resolved to be cool and careful in her 

advances;   but   she   quickly   found   herself   unable   to   resist   the   sight   of   so 

much love and hope and happiness。 The young people together took her 

heart   by   storm;   and   she   felt   herself   compelled   to   express   an   interest   in 

their future; and to question Tyrrel about it。 

     〃What   are   you   going   to   do   with   yourself   or   make   of   yourself?〃   she 

asked   Tyrrel   one   evening   when   they   were   sitting   together。   〃I   do   hope 

you'll find some kind of work。 Anything is better than loafing about clubs 

and such like places。〃 

     〃I am going to study law with Judge Rawdon。 My late experience has 

taught me its value。 I do not think I shall loaf in his office。〃 



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     〃Not   if   he   is   anywhere   around。   He   works   and   makes   others   work。 

Lawyering is a queer business; but men can be honest in it if they want 

to。〃 

     〃And;      grandmother;〃       said   Ethel;    〃my    father    says   Tyrrel    has    a 

wonderful gift for public speaking。 He made a fine speech at father's club 

last night。 Tyrrel will go into politics。〃 

     〃Will he; indeed? Tyrrel is a wonder。 If he manages to walk his shoes 

straight   in   the  zigzaggery  ways   of   the  law;  he   will be   one of   that   grand 

breed   called   ‘exceptions。' As   for   politics;   I   don't   like   them;   far   from   it。 

Your grandfather used to say they either found a man a rascal or made him 

one。 However; I'm ready to compromise on law and politics。 I was afraid 

with his grand voice he would set up for a tenor。〃 

     Tyrrel laughed。 〃I did once think of that role;〃 he said。 

     〃I fancied that。 Whoever taught you to use your voice knew a thing or 

two about singing。 I'll say that much。〃 

     〃My mother taught me。〃 

     〃Never! I wonder now!〃 

     〃She was a famous singer。 She was a great and a good woman。 I owe 

her for every excellent quality there is in me。〃 

     〃No;   you   don't。 You   have   got   your   black   eyes   and   hair   her   way;   I'll 

warrant that; but your solid make…up; your pluck and grit and perseverance 

is   the   Rawdon   in   you。   Without   Rawdon   you   would   very   likely   now   be 

strutting about some opera stage; playing at kings and lovemaking。〃 

     〃As it is〃 

     〃As   it   is;   you   will   be   lord   consort   of   Rawdon   Manor;   with   a   silver 

mine to back you。〃 

     〃I am sorry about the Manor;〃 said Tyrrel。 〃I wish the dear old Squire 

were alive to meet Ethel and myself。〃 

     〃To be sure you do。 But I dare say that he is glad now to have passed 

out   of   it。   Death  is   a   mystery   to   those   left;   but   I   have   no   doubt   it   is 

satisfying to those who have gone away。 He died as he lived; very prop… 

erly; walked in the garden that morning as far as the strawberry beds; and 

the gardener gave him the first ripe half…dozen in a young cabbage leaf; 

and he ate them like a boy; and said they tasted as if grown in Paradise; 



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then strolled home and asked Joel to shake the pillows on the sofa in the 

hall; laid himself down; shuffled his head easy among them; and fell on 

sleep。 So Death the Deliverer found him。 A good going home! Nothing to 

fear in it。〃 

     〃Ethel tells me that Mr。 Mostyn is now living at Mostyn Hall。〃 

     〃Yes; he married that girl he would have sold his soul for and took her 

there; four months only after her husband's death。 When I was young he 

durst not have done it; the Yorkshire gentry would have cut them both。〃 

     〃I   think;〃   said   Tyrrel;   〃American   gentlemen   of   to…day   felt   much   the 

same。     Will   Madison      told   me    that  the   club   cut   him   as   soon    as  Mrs。 

Stanhope left her husband。 He went there one day after it was known; and 

no   one   saw   him;   finally   he   walked   up   to   McLean;   and   would   have   sat 

down;      but  McLean       said;  ‘Your    company   is     not   desired;    Mr。   Mostyn。' 

Mostyn said something in re… ply; and McLean answered sternly; ‘True; we 

are none of us saints; but there are lines the worst of us will not pass; and 

if   there   is  any    member      of   this  club    willing    to  interfere    between     a 

bridegroom   and   his   bride;   I   would   like   to   kick   him   out   of   it。'   Mostyn 

struck     the    table    with    some     exclamation;       and    McLean       continued; 

‘Especially  when   the   wronged   husband   is   a   gentleman   of   such   stainless 

character   and   unsuspecting   nature   as   Basil   Stanhopea   clergyman   also! 

Oh; the thing is beyond palliation entirely!' And he walked away and left 

Mostyn。〃 

     〃Well;〃 said Madam; 〃if it came to kicking; two could play that game。 

Fred is   no   coward。   I   don't   want   to   hear   another   word   about   them。 They 

will punish each other without our help。 Let them alone。 I hope you are not 

going   to   have   a   crowd   at   your   wedding。   The   quietest   weddings   are   the 

luckiest ones。〃 

     〃About twenty of our most intimate friends are invited to the church;〃 

said Ethel。 〃There will be no reception until we return to New York in the 

fall。〃 

     〃No   need of   fuss   here;  there   will   be   enough   when   you   reach   Monk… 

Rawdon。  The   village   will   be   garlanded   and   flagged;   the   bells   ring…   ing; 

and all your tenants and retainers out to meet you。〃 

     〃We intend to get into our own home without anyone being aware of it。 



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Come; Tyrrel; my dressmaker is waiting; I know。 It is my wedding gown; 

dear Granny; and oh; so lovely!〃 

     〃You will not be any smarter than I intend to be; miss。 You are shut off 

from color。 I can outdo you。〃 

     〃I am sure you canand will。 Here comes father。 What can he want?〃 

They met him at the door; and with a few laughing words left him with 

Madam。       She   looked     curiously    into   his  face   and   asked;    〃What    is  it; 

Edward?〃 

     〃I   suppose   they   have   told   you   all   the   arrangements。   They   are   very 

simple。 Did they say anything about Ruth?〃 

     〃They never named her。 They said they were going to Washington for 

a week; and then to Rawdon Court。 Ruth seems out of it all。 Are you going 

to turn her adrift; or present her with a few thousand dollars? She has been 

a mother to Ethel。 Something ought to be done for Ruth Bayard。〃 

     〃I intend to marry her。〃 

     〃I thought so。〃 

     〃She will go to her sister's in Philadelphia for a month 's preparation。 I 

shall   marry   her   there;   and   bring   her   home   as   my   wife。   She   is   a   sweet; 

gentle; docile woman。 She will make me happy。〃 

     〃Sweet;   gentle;   docile!   Yes;   that   is   the   style   of   wife   Rawdon   men 

prefer。 What does Ethel say?〃 

     〃She    is  delighted。    It  was   her   idea。  I  was   much     pleased    with   her 

thoughtfulness。       Any    serious   break    in  my    life  would    now    be   a  great 

discomfort。 You need not look so satirical; mother; I thought of Ruth's life 

also。〃 

     〃Also     an  afterthought;     but   Ruth   is  gentle    and   docile;   and   she   is 

satisfied;   and   I   am   satisfied;   so   then   everything   is   proper   and   everyone 

content。 Come for me at ten on Wednesday morning。 I shall be ready。 No 

refreshments;  I suppose。  I   must   look   after   my  own   breakfast。 Won't   you 

feel   a   bit   shabby;   Edward?   〃And   then   the   look   and   handclasp   between 

them turned

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