the man between-第21节

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〃What　did　you　say？〃

〃Nothing　against　it。〃

〃Very　good。　Do　you　think　Mostyn　is　in　London　now？〃

〃I　should　not　wonder。　I　am　sure　Dora　is　expecting　him。〃

In　fact；　the　next　morning　they　met　Dora　and　Basil　Stanhope；　driving　in　Hyde　Park　with　Mostyn；　but　the　smiling　greeting　which　passed　between　the　parties　did　not；　except　in　the　case　of　Basil　Stanhope；　fairly　represent　the　dominant　feeling　of　anyone。　As　for　Stanhope；　his　nature　was　so　clear　and　truthful　that　he　would　hardly　have　comprehended　a　smile　which　was　intended　to　veil　feelings　not　to　be　called　either　quite　friendly　or　quite　pleasant。　After　this　meeting　all　the　joy　went　out　of　Ruth　and　Ethel's　shopping。　They　wanted　to　get　back　to　the　Court；　and　they　attended　strictly　to　business　in　order　to　do　so。

Mostyn　followed　them　very　quickly。　He　was　exceedingly　anxious　to　see　and　hear　for　himself　how　his　affairs　regarding　Rawdon　stood。　They　were　easily　made　plain　to　him；　and　he　saw　with　a　pang　of　disappointment　that　all　his　hopes　of　being　Squire　of　Rawdon　Manor　were　over。　Every　penny　he　could　righteously　claim　was　paid　to　him；　and　on　the　title　deeds　of　the　ancient　place　he　had　no　longer　the　shadow　of　a　claim。　The　Squire　looked　ten　years　younger　as　he　affectionately　laid　both　hands　on　the　redeemed　parchments；　and　Mostyn　with　enforced　politeness　congratulated　him　on　their　integrity　and　then　made　a　hurried　retreat。　Of　its　own　kind　this　disappointment　was　as　great　as　the　loss　of　Dora。　He　could　think　of　neither　without　a　sense　of　immeasurable　and　disastrous　failure。　One　petty　satisfaction　regarding　the　payment　of　the　mortgage　was　his　only　com…　fort。　He　might　now　show　McLean　that　it　was　not　want　of　money　that　had　made　him　hitherto　shy　of　〃the　good　investments〃　offered　him。　He　had　been　sure　McLean　in　their　last　interview　had　thought　so；　and　had；　indeed；　felt　the　half…veiled　contempt　with　which　the　rich　young　man　had　expressed　his　pity　for　Mostyn's　inability　to　take　advantage　at　the　right　moment　of　an　exceptional　chance　to　play　the　game　of　beggaring　his　neighbor。　Now；　he　told　himself；　he　would　show　McLean　and　his　braggart　set　that　good　birth　and　old　family　was　for　once　allied　with　plenty　of　money；　and　he　also　promised　his　wounded　sensibilities　some　very　desirable　reprisals；　every　one　of　which　he　felt　fully　competent　to　take。

It　was；　after　all；　a　poor　compensation；　but　there　was　also　the　gold。　He　thanked　his　father　that　day　for　the　great　thoughtfulness　and　care　with　which　he　had　amassed　this　sum　for　him；　and　he　tried　to　console　himself　with　the　belief　that　gold　answered　all　purposes；　and　that　the　yellow　metal　was　a　better　possession　than　the　house　and　lands　which　he　had　longed　for　with　an　inherited　and　insensate　craving。

Two　days　after　this　event　Ethel；　at　her　father's　direction；　signed　a　number　of　papers；　and　when　that　duty　was　completed；　the　Squire　rose　from　his　chair；　kissed　her　hands　and　her　cheeks；　and　in　a　voice　full　of　tenderness　and　pride　said；　〃I　pay　my　respects　to　the　future　lady　of　Rawdon　Manor；　and　I　thank　God　for　permitting　me　to　see　this　hour。　Most　welcome；　Lady　Ethel；　to　the　rights　you　inherit；　and　the　rights　you　have　bought。〃　It　was　a　moment　hardly　likely　to　be　duplicated　in　any　life；　and　Ethel　escaped　from　its　tense　emotions　as　soon　as　possible。　She　could　not　speak；　her　heart　was　too　full　of　joy　and　wonder。　There　are　souls　that　say　little　and　love

much。　How　blessed　are　they！

On　the　following　morning　the　invitations　were　sent　for　the　dinner　and　dance；　but　the　time　was　put　forward　to　the　eighth　of　August。　In　everyone's　heart　there　was　a　hope　that　before　that　day　Mostyn　would　have　left　Rawdon；　but　the　hope　was　barely　mentioned。　In　the　meantime　he　came　and　went　between　Mostyn　and　Rawdon　as　he　desired；　and　was　received　with　that　modern　politeness　which　considers　it　best　to　ignore　offenses　that　our　grandfathers　and　grandmothers　would　have　held　for　strict　account　and　punishment。

It　was　evident　that　he　had　frequent　letters　from　Dora。　He　knew　all　her　movements；　and　spoke　several　times　of　opening　Mostyn　Hall　and　inviting　the　Stanhopes　to　stay　with　him　until　their　return　to　America。　But　as　this　suggestion　did　not　bring　from　any　member　of　the　Rawdon　family　the　invitation　hoped　for；　it　was　not　acted　upon。　He　told　himself　the　expense　would　be　great；　and　the　Hall；　in　spite　of　all　he　could　do　in　the　interim；　would　look　poor　and　shabby　compared　with　Rawdon　Court；　so　he　put　aside　the　proposal　on　the　ground　that　he　could　not　persuade　his　aunt　to　do　the　entertaining　necessary。　And　for　all　the　irritation　and　humiliations　centering　round　his　loss　of　Rawdon　and　his　inabilities　with　regard　to　Dora　he　blamed　Ethel。　He　was　sure　if　he　had　been　more　lovable　and　encouraging　he　could　have　married　her；　and　thus　finally　reached　Rawdon　Court；　and　then；　with　all　the　unreason　imaginable；　nursed　a　hearty　dislike　to　her　because　she　would　not　understand　his　desires；　and　provide　means　for　their　satisfaction。　The　bright；　joyous　girl　with　her　loving　heart；　her　abounding　vitality；　and　constant　cheerfulness；　made　him　angry。　In　none　of　her　excellencies　he　had　any　share；　consequently　he　hated　her。

He　would　have　quickly　returned　to　London；　but　Dora　and　her　husband　were　staying　with　the　Stanhopes；　and　her　letters　from　Stanhope　Castle　were　lachrymose　complaints　of　the　utter　weariness　and　dreariness　of　life　there　the　preaching　and　reading　aloud；　the　regular　walking　and　drivingall　the　innocent　method　of　lives　which　recognized　they　were　here　for　some　higher　purpose　than　mere　physical　enjoyment。　And　it　angered　Mostyn　that　neither　Ruth　nor　Ethel　felt　any　sympathy　for　Dora's　ennui；　and　proposed　no　means　of　releasing　her　from　it。　He　considered　them　both　disgustingly　selfish　and　ill…　natured；　and　was　certain　that　all　their　reluctance　at　Dora's　presence　arose　from　their　jealousy　of　her　beauty　and　her　enchanting　grace。

On　the　afternoon　of　the　day　preceding　the　intended　entertainment　Ruth；　Ethel；　and　the　Squire　were　in　the　great　dining…room　superintending　its　decoration。　They　were　merrily　laughing　and　chatting；　and　were　not　aware　of　the　arrival　of　any　visitors　until　Mrs。　Nicholas　Rawdon's　rosy；　good…natured　face　appeared　at　the　open　door。　Everyone　welcomed　her　gladly；　and　the　Squire　offered　her　a　seat。

〃Nay；　Squire；〃　she　said；　〃I'm　come　to　ask　a　favor；　and　I　won't　sit　till　I　know　whether　I　get　it　or　not；　for　if　I　don't　get　it；　I　shall　say　good…by　as　quickly　as　I　can。　Our　John　Thomas　came　home　this　morning　and　his　friend　with　him；　and　I　want　invitations　for　the　young　men；　both　of　them。　My　great　pleasure　lies　that　wayif　you'll　give　it　to　me。〃

〃Most　gladly；〃　answered　the　Squire；　and　Ethel　immediately　went　for　the　necessary　passports。　When　she　returned　she　found　Mrs。　Nicholas　helping　Ruth　and　the　Squire　to　arrange　the　large　silver　and　cut　crystal　on　the　sideboard；　and　talking　at　the　same　time　with　unabated　vivacity。

〃Yes；〃　she　was　saying；　〃the　lads　would　have　been　here　two　days　ago；　but　they　stayed　in　London　to　see　some　American　lady　married。　John　Thomas's　friend　knew　her。　She　was　married　at　the　Ambassador's　house。　A　fine　affair　enough；　but　it　bewilders　me　this　taking　up　marriage　without　priest　or　book。　It's　a　new　commission。　The　Church's　warrant；　it　seems；　is　out　of　date。　It　may　be　right'　it　may　be　legal；　but　I　told　John　Thomas　if　he　ever　got　himself　married　in　that　kind　of　a　way；　he　wouldn't　have　father　or　me　for　witnesses。〃

〃I　am　glad；〃　said　the　Squire；　〃that　the　young　men　are　home　in　time　for　our　dance。　The　young　like　such　things。〃

〃To　be　sure　they　do。　John　Thomas　wouldn't　give　me　a　moment's　rest　till　I　came　here。　I　didn't　want　to　come。　I　thought　John　Thomas　should　come　himself；　and　I　told　him　plainly　that　I　was　ready　to　do　anyone　a　favor　if　I　could；　but　if　he　wanted　me　to　come　because　he　was　afraid　to　come　himself；　I　was　just　as　ready　to　shirk　the　journey。　And　he　laughed　and　said　he　was　not　feared　for　any　woman　living；　but　he　did　want　to　make　his　first　appearance　in　his　best　clothesand　that　was　natural；　wasn't　it？　So　I　came　for　the　two　lads。〃　Then　she　looked　at　the　girls　with　a　smile；　and　said　in　a　comfortable　kind　of　way：　〃You'll　find　them　very　nice　lads；　indeed。　I　can　speak　for　John　Thomas；　I　have　taken　his　measure　long　since；　and　as　far　as　I　can　judge　his　friend；　Nature　went　about　some　full　work　when　she　made　a　man　of　him。　He's　got　a　sweet　temper；　and　a　strong　mind；　and　a　straight　judgment；　if　I　know　anything　about　menwhich　Nicholas　sometimes　makes　me　think　I　don't。　But　Nicholas　isn't　an　ordinary　man；　he's　what　you　call　‘an　exception。'〃　Then　shaking　her　head　at　Ethel；　she　continued　reprovingly：　〃You　were　neither　of　you　in　church　Sunday。　I　know　some　young　women　who　went　to　the　parish　churchMethodists　they　arespecially　to　see　your　new　hats。　There's　some　talk　about　them；　I　can　tell　you；　and　the　village　milliner　is　pestered　to　copy　them。　She　keeps　her　eyes　open　for　you。　You　disappointed　a　lot　of　people。　You　ought　to　go　to　church　in　the　country。　It's　the　most　respectable　thing　you　can　do。〃

〃We　were　both　very　tired；〃　said　Ruth；　〃and　the　sun　was　hot；　and　we　had　a　good　Sabbath　at　home。　Ethel　read　the　Psalms；　Epistle　and　Gospel　for　the　day；　and　the　Squire　gave　us　some　of　the　grandest　organ　music　I　ever　heard。〃

〃Well；　well！　Everyone　knows　the　Squire　is　a　grand　player。　I　don't　suppose　there　is　anot