the man between(夹在中间的人)-第8节
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pretty； cousin of mine thought of the music and the musician。 I fancy we
shall be good friends； she is proudthat is no fault； and she has very
decided opinionswhich might be a great fault； but I think I rather
astonished them。〃
To such reflections he stepped rather pompously down the avenue； not
at all influenced by any premonition that his satisfactory feelings might be
imperfectly shared。 Yet silence was the first result of his departure。 Judge
Rawdon took out his pocketbook and began to study its entries。 Ruth
Bayard rose and closed the piano。 Ethel lifted a magazine； while it was
Madam who finally asked in an impatient tone：
〃What do you think of Frederick？ I suppose； Edward； you have an
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opinion。 Isn't he a very clever man？〃
〃I should not wonder if he were； mother； clever to a fault。〃
〃I never heard a young man talk better。〃
〃He talked a great deal； but then； you know； he was not on his oath。〃
〃I'll warrant every word he said。〃
〃Your warrant is fine surety； mother； but I am not bound to believe all I
hear。 You women can please yourselves。〃
And with these words he left the women to find out； if they could；
what manner of man their newly…found kinsman might be。
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER III
ONE of the most comfortable things about Frederick Mostyn was his
almost boyish delight in the new life which New York opened to him。
Every phase of it was so fresh； so unusual； that his Yorkshire existence at
Mostyn Hall gave him no precedents and no experiences by which to
measure events。 The simplest things were surprising or interesting。 He was
never weary of taking those exciting 〃lifts〃 to the top of twenty…three story
buildings and admiring the wonderful views such altitudes gave him。 He
did not perhaps comprehend how much he was influenced by the friction
of two million wills and interests； did not realize how they evoked an
electric condition that got behind the foreground of existence and stirred
something more at the roots of his being than any previous experience had
ever done。 And this feeling was especially entrancing when he saw the
great city and majestic river lying at his feet in the white； uncanny light of
electricity； all its color gone； its breath cold； its life strangely remote and
quiet； men moving like shadows； and sounds hollow and faint and far off；
as if they came from a distant world。 It gave him a sense of dreamland
quite as much as that of reality。 The Yorkshire moors and words grew dull
and dreary in his memory； even the thought of the hunting field could not
lure his desire。 New York was full of marvelous novelties； its daily routine；
even in the hotel and on the streets； gripped his heart and his imagination；
and he confessed to himself that New York was life at first hand； fresh
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drawn； its very foam sparkling and intoxicating。 He walked from the Park
to the Battery and examined all that caught his eye。 He had a history of the
city and sought out every historical site； he even went over to Weehawken；
and did his best to locate the spot where Burr and Hamilton fought。 He
admired Hamilton； but after reading all about the two men； gave his
sympathy to Burr； 〃a clever； unlucky little chap；〃 he said。 〃Why do clever
men hate each other？〃 and then he smiled queerly as he remembered
political enemies of great men in his own day and his own country； and
concluded that 〃it was their nature to do so。〃
But in these outside enthusiasms he did not forget his personal
relations。 It took him but a few days to domesticate himself in both the
Rawdon houses。 When the weather drove him off the streets； he found a
pleasant refuge either with Madam or with Ethel and Miss Bayard。 Ethel
he saw less frequently than he liked； she was nearly always with Dora
Denning； but with Ruth Bayard he contracted a very pleasant friendship。
He told her all his adventures and found her more sympathetic than
Madam ever pretended to be。 Madam thought him provincial in his tastes；
and was better pleased to hear that he had a visiting entry at two good
clubs； and had hired a motor ear； and was learning how to manage it。 Then
she told herself that if he was good to her； she would buy him one to be
proud of before he returned to Yorkshire。
It was at the Elite Club Bryce Denning first saw him。 He came in with
Shaw McLaren； a young man whose acquaintance was considered as most
definitely satisfactory。 Vainly Bryce Denning had striven to obtain any
notice whatever from McLaren； whose exclusiveness was proverbial。 Who
then was this stranger he appeared so anxious to entertain？ His look of
supreme satisfaction； his high… bred air； and peculiar intonation quickly
satisfied Bryce as to his nationality。
〃English； of course；〃 he reflected； 〃and probably one of the aristocrats
that Shaw meets at his recently ennobled sister's place。 He is forever
bragging about them。 I must find out who Shaw's last British lion is；〃 and
just as he arrived at this decision the person appeared who could satisfy
him。
〃That man！〃 was the reply to the inevitable question〃why； he is some
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relative of the old lady Rawdon。 He is staying at the Holland House； but
spends his time with the Rawdons； old and young； the young one is a
beauty； you know。〃
〃Do you think so？ She is a good deal at our house。 I suppose the
fellow has some pretentions。 Judge Rawdon will be a man hard to satisfy
with a son…in…law。〃
〃I fancy his daughter will take that subject in her own hand。 She looks
like a girl of spirit； and this man is not as handsome as most Englishmen。〃
〃Not if you judge him by bulk； but women want more than mere bulk；
he has an air of breeding you can't mistake； and he looks clever。〃
〃His name is Mostyn。 I have heard him spoken of。 Would you like to
know him？〃
〃I could live without that honor〃then Bryce turned the conversation
upon a recent horse sale； and a few moments later was sauntering up the
avenue。 He was now resolved to make up his quarrel with Dora。 Through
Dora he could manage to meet Mostyn socially； and he smiled in
anticipation of that proud moment when he should parade in his own
friendly leash McLaren's new British lion。 Besides； the introduction to Mr。
Mostyn might； if judiciously managed； promote his own acquaintance
with Shaw McLaren； a sequence to be much desired； an end he had
persistently looked for。
He went straight to his sister's apartments and touched the bell quite
gently。 Her maid opened the door and looked annoyed and uncertain。 She
knew all about the cruelly wicked opposition of Miss Denning's brother to
that nice young man； Basil Stanhope； and also the general attitude of the
Denning household； which was a comprehensive disapproval of all that
Mr。 Bryce said and did。
Dora had； however； talked all her anger away； she wished now to be
friends with her brother。 She knew that his absence from her wedding
would cause unpleasant notice； and she had other reasons； purely selfish；
all emphasizing the advantages of a reconciliation。 So she went to meet
Bryce with a pretty； pathetic air of injury patiently endured； and when
Bryce put out his hands and said； 〃Forgive me； Dodo！ I cannot bear your
anger any longer！〃 she was quite ready for the next act； which was to lay
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her pretty head on his shoulder and murmur； 〃I am not angry； BryceI am
grieved； dear。〃
〃I know； Dodoforgive me！ It was all my fault。 I think I was jealous of
you； it
