the man between-第26节

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She　rose　at　this　memory　and　shook　out　her　silk　skirts；　and　walked　up　and　down　the　room　with　an　air　that　was　the　visible　expression　of　the　mockery　and　jealousy　in　her　heart。　This　was　an　entirely　different　Dora　to　the　lachrymose；　untidy　wife　at　the　Savoy　Hotel　in　London；　and　Ethel　had　a　momentary　pang　at　the　thought　of　the　suffering　which　was　responsible　for　the　change。

〃If　I　had　thought；　Dora；　you　were　so　uncomfortable；　I　would　have　asked　Basil　and　you　to　the　Court。〃

〃You　saw　I　was　not　happy　when　I　was　at　the　Savoy。〃

〃I　thought　you　and　Basil　had　had　a　kind　of　lovers'　quarrel；　and　that　it　would　blow　over　in　an　hour　or　two；　no　one　likes　to　meddle　with　an　affair　of　that　kind。　Are　you　going　to　Newport；　or　is　Mrs。　Denning　in　New　York？〃

〃That　is　another　trouble；　Ethel。　When　I　wrote　mother　I　wanted　to　come　to　her；　she　sent　me　word　she　was　going　to　Lenox　with　a　friend。　Then；　like　you；　she　said　‘she　had　no　liberty　to　invite　me；'　and　so　on。　I　never　knew　mother　act　in　such　a　way　before。　I　nearly　broke　my　heart　about　it　for　a　few　days；　then　I　made　up　my　mind　I　wouldn't　care。〃

〃Mrs。　Denning；　I　am　sure；　thought　she　did　the　wisest　and　kindest　thing　possible。〃

〃I　didn't　want　mother　to　be　wise。　I　wanted　her　to　understand　that　I　was　fairly　worn　out　with　my　present　life　and　needed　a　change。　I'm　sure　she　did　understand。　Then　why　was　she　so　cruel？〃　and　she　shrugged　her　shoulders　impatiently　and　sat　down。　〃I'm　so　tired　of　life；〃　she　continued。　〃When　did　you　hear　of　Fred　Mostyn？〃

〃I　know　nothing　of　his　movements。　Is　he　in　America？〃

〃Somewhere。　I　asked　mother　if　he　was　in　Newport；　and　she　never　answered　the　ques…　tion。　I　suppose　he　will　be　in　New　York　for　the　winter　season。　I　hope　so。〃

This　topic　threatened　to　be　more　dangerous　than　the　other；　and　Ethel；　after　many　and　futile　attempts　to　bring　conversation　into　safe　commonplace　channels；　pleaded　other　engagements　and　went　away。　She　was　painfully　depressed　by　the　interview。　All　the　elements　of　tragedy　were　gathered　together　under　the　roof　she　had　just　left；　and；　as　far　as　she　could　see；　there　was　no　deliverer　wise　and　strong　enough　to　prevent　a　calamity。　She　did　not　repeat　to　Ruth　the　conversation　which　had　been　so　painful　to　her。　She　described　Dora's　dress　and　appearance；　and　commented　on　Fred　Mostyn's　description　of　Tyrrel　Rawdon；　and　on　Mrs。　Denning's　refusal　of　her　daughter's　proposed　visit。

Ruth　thought　the　latter　circumstance　significant。　〃I　dare　say　Mostyn　was　in　Newport　at　that　time；〃　she　answered。　〃Mrs。　Denning　has　some　very　quick　perceptions。〃　And　Ruth's　opinion　was　probably　correct；　for　during　dinner　the　Judge　remarked　in　a　casual　manner　that　he　had　met　Mr。　Mostyn　on　the　avenue　as　he　was　coming　home。　〃He　was　well；〃　he　said；　〃and　made　all　the　usual　inquiries　as　to　your　health。〃　And　both　Ruth　and　Ethel　understood　that　he　wished　them　to　know　of　Mostyn's　presence　in　the　city；　and　to　be　prepared　for　meeting　him；　but　did　not　care　to　discuss　the　subject　further；　at　least　at　that　time。　The　information　brought　precisely　the　same　thought　at　the　same　moment　to　both　women；　and　as　soon　as　they　were　alone　they　uttered　it。

〃She　knew　Mostyn　was　in　the　city；〃　said　Ethel　in　a　low　voice。

〃Certainly。〃

〃She　was　expecting　him。〃

〃I　am　sure　of　it。〃

〃Her　elaborate　and　beautiful　dressing　was　for　him。〃

〃Poor　Basil！〃

〃She　asked　me　to　stay　and　lunch　with　her；　but　very　coolly；　and　when　I　refused；　did　not　press　the　matter　as　she　used　to　do。　Yes；　she　was　expecting　him。　I　understand　now　her　nervous　manner；　her　restlessness；　her　indifference　to　my　short　visit。　I　wish　I　could　do　anything。〃

〃You　cannot；　and　you　must　not　try。〃

〃Some　one　must　try。〃

〃There　is　her　husband。　Have　you　heard　from　Tyrrel　yet；〃

〃I　have　had　a　couple　of　telegrams。　He　will　write　from　Chicago。〃

〃Is　he　going　at　once　to　the　Hot　Springs？〃

〃As　rapidly　as　possible。　Colonel　Rawdon　is　now　there；　and　very　ill。　Tyrrel　will　put　his　father　first　of　all。　The　trouble　at　the　mine　can　be　investigated　afterwards。〃

〃You　will　miss　him　very　much。　You　have　been　so　happy　together。〃

〃Of　course　I　shall　miss　him。　But　it　will　be　a　good　thing　for　us　to　be　apart　awhile。　Love　must　have　some　time　in　which　to　grow。　I　am　a　little　tired　of　being　very　happy；　and　I　think　Tyrrel　also　will　find　absence　a　relief。　In　‘Lalla　Rookh'　there　is　a　line　about　love　‘falling　asleep　in　a　sameness　of　splendor。'　It　might。　How　melancholy　is　a　long　spell　of　hot；　sunshiny　weather；　and　how　gratefully　we　welcome　the　first　shower　of　rain。〃

〃Love　has　made　you　a　philosopher；　Ethel。〃

〃Well；　it　is　rather　an　advantage　than　otherwise。　I　am　going　to　take　a　walk；　Ruth；　into　the　very　heart　of　Broadway。　I　have　had　enough　of　the　peace　of　the　country。　I　want　the　crack；　and　crash；　and　rattle；　and　grind　of　wheels；　the　confused　cries；　the　snatches　of　talk　and　laughter；　the　tread　of　crowds；　the　sound　of　bells；　and　clocks；　and　chimes。　I　long　for　all　the　chaotic；　unintelligible　noise　of　the　streets。　How　suggestive　it　is！　Yet　it　never　explains　itself。　It　only　gives　one　a　full　sense　of　life。　Love　may　need　just　the　same　stimulus。　I　wish　grandmother　would　come　home。　I　should　not　require　Broadway　as　a　stimulus。　I　am　afraid　she　will　be　very　angry　with　me；　and　there　will　be　a　battle　royal　in　Gramercy　Park。〃

It　was　nearly　a　week　before　Ethel　had　this　crisis　to　meet。　She　went　down　to　it　with　a　radiant　face　and　charming　manner；　and　her　reception　was　very　cordial。　Madam　would　not　throw　down　the　glove　until　the　proper　moment；　besides；　there　were　many　very　interesting　subjects　to　talk　over；　and　she　wanted　〃to　find　things　out〃　that　would　never　be　told　unless　tempers　were　propitious。　Added　to　these　reasons　was　the　solid　one　that　she　really　adored　her　granddaughter；　and　was　immensely　cheered　by　the　very　sight　of　the　rosy；　smiling　countenance　lifted　to　her　sitting…room　window　in　passing。　She；　indeed；　pretended　to　be　there　in　order　to　get　a　good　light　for　her　new　shell　pattern；　but　she　was　watching　for　Ethel；　and　Ethel　understood　the　shell…pattern　fiction　very　well。　She　had　heard　something　similar　often。

〃My　darling　grandmother；〃　she　cried；　〃I　thought　you　would　never　come　home。〃

〃It　wasn't　my　fault；　dear。　Miss　Hillis　and　an　imbecile　young　doctor　made　me　believe　I　had　a　cold。　I　had　no　cold。　I　had　nothing　at　all　but　what　I　ought　to　have。　I've　been　made　to　take　all　sorts　of　things；　and　do　all　sorts　of　things　that　I　hate　to　take　and　hate　to　do。　For　ten　days　I've　been　kicking　my　old　heels　against　bedclothes。　Yesterday　I　took　things　in　my　own　hands。〃

〃Never　mind；　Granny　dear；　it　was　all　a　good　discipline。〃

〃Discipline！　You　impertinent　young　lady！　Discipline　for　your　grandmother！　Discipline；　indeed！　That　one　word　may　cost　you　a　thousand　dollars；　miss。〃

〃I　don't　care　if　it　does；　only　you　must　give　the　thousand　dollars　to　poor　Miss　Hillis。〃

〃Poor　Miss　Hillis　has　had　a　most　comfortable　time　with　me　all　summer。〃

〃I　know　she　has；　consequently　she　will　feel　her　comfortless　room　and　poverty　all　the　more　after　it。　Give　her　the　thousand；　Granny。　I'm　willing。〃

〃What　kind　of　company　have　you　been　keeping；　Ethel　Rawdon？　Who　has　taught　you　to　squander　dollars　by　the　thousand？　Discipline！　I　think　you　are　giving　me　a　little　nowa　thousand　dollars　a　lesson；　it　seems　no　wonder；　after　the　carryings…on　at　Rawdon　Court。〃

〃Dear　grandmother；　we　had　the　loveliest　time　you　can　imagine。　And　there　is　not；　in　all　the　world；　such　a　noble　old　gentleman　as　Squire　Percival　Rawdon。〃

〃I　know　all　about　Percival　Rawdona　proud；　careless；　extravagant；　loose…at…ends　man；　dancing　and　singing　and　loving　as　it　suited　time　and　season；　taking　no　thought　for　the　future；　and　spending　with　both　hands；　hard　on　women；　too；　as　could　be。〃

〃Grandmother；　I　never　saw　a　more　courteous　gentleman。　He　worships　women。　He　was　never　tired　of　talking　about　you。〃

〃What　had　he　to　say　about　me？〃

〃That　you　were　the　loveliest　girl　in　the　county；　and　that　he　never　could　forget　the　first　time　he　saw　you。　He　said　you　were　like　the　vision　of　an　angel。〃

〃Nonsense！　I　was　just　a　pretty　girl　in　a

book　muslin　frock　and　a　white　sash；　with　a　rose　at　my　breast。　I　believe　they　use　book　muslin　for　linings　now；　but　it　did　make　the　sheerest；　lightest　frocks　any　girl　could　want。　Yes；　I　remember　that　time。　I　was　going　to　a　little　party　and　crossing　a　meadow　to　shorten　the　walk；　and　Squire　Percival　had　been　out　with　his　gun；　and　he　laid　it　down　and　ran　to　help　me　over　the　stile。　A　handsome　young　fellow　he　was　then　as　ever　stepped　in　shoe　leather。〃

〃And　he　must　have　loved　you　dearly。　He　would　sit　hour　after　hour　telling　Ruth　and　me　how　bright　you　were；　and　how　all　the　young　beaux　around　Monk…Rawdon　adored　you。〃

〃Nonsense！　Nonsense！　I　had　beaux　to　be　sure。　What　pretty　girl　hasn't？〃

〃And　he　said　his　brother　Edward　won　you　because　he　was　most　worthy　of　your　love。〃

〃Well；　now；　I　chose　Edward　Rawdon　because　he　was　willing　to　come　to　America。　I　longed　to　get　away　from　Monk…Rawdon。　I　was　faint　and　weary　with　the　whole　stupid　place。　And　the　idea　of　living　a　free　and　equal　life；　and　not　caring　what　lords　and　squires　and　their　proud　ladies　said　or　did；　pleased　me　wonderfully。　We　read　about　Niagara　and　the　great　prairies　and　the　new　bright　cities；　and　Edward　and　I　resolved　to　make　our　home　there。　Your　grandfather　wasn't　a