the man between-第31节

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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；　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。　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　every　word　into　sweetness　and　good…will。

And　as　Ethel　regarded　her　marriage　rather　as　a　religious　rite　than　a　social　function；　she　objected　to　its　details　becoming　in　any　sense　public；　and　her　desires　were　to　be　regarded。　Yet　everyone　may　imagine　the　white　loveli…　ness　of　the　bride；　the　joy　of　the　bridegroom；　the　calm　happiness　of　the　family　breakfast；　and　the　leisurely；　quiet　leave…taking。　The　whole　ceremony　was　the　right　note　struck　at　the　beginning　of　a　new　life；　and　they　might　justly　expect　it　would　move　onward　in　melodious　sequence。


Within　three　weeks　after　their　marriage　they　arrived　at　Rawdon　Court。　It　was　on　a　day　and　at　an　hour　when　no　one　was　looking　for　them；　and　they　stepped　into　the　lovely　home　waiting　for　them　without　outside　observation。　Hiring　a　carriage　at　the　railway　station；　they　dismissed　it　at　the　little　bridge　near　the　Manor　House；　and　sauntered　happily　through　the　intervening　space。　The　door　of　the　great　hall　stood　open；　and　the　fire；　which　had　been　burning　on　its　big　hearth　unquenched　for　more　than　three　hundred　years；　was　blazing　merrily；　as　if　some　hand　had　just　replenished　it。　On　the　long　table　the　broad；　white　beaver　hat　of　the　dead　Squire　was　lying；　and　his　oak　walking　stick　was　beside　it。　No　one　had　liked　to　remove　them。　They　remained　just　as　he　had　put　them　down；　that　last；　peaceful　morning　of　his　life。

In　a　few　minutes　the　whole　household　was　aware　of　their　home…coming；　and　before　the　day　was　over　the　whole　neighborhood。　Then　there　was　no　way　of　avoiding　the　calls；　the　congratulations；　and　the　entertainments　that　followed；　and　the　old　Court　was　once　more　the　center　of　a　splendid　hospitality。　Of　course　the　Tyrrel…Rawdons　were　first　on　the　scene；　and　Ethel　was　genuinely　glad　to　meet　again　the　good…natured　Mrs。　Nicholas。　No　one　could　give　her　better　local　advice；　and　Ethel　quickly　discovered　that　the　best　general　social　laws　require　a　local　interpretation。　Her　hands　were　full；　her　heart　full；　she　had　so　many　interests　to　share；　so　many　people　to　receive　and　to　visit；　and　yet　when　two　weeks　passed　and　Dora　neither　came　nor　wrote　she　was　worried　and　dissatisfied。

〃Are　the　Mostyns　at　the　Hall？〃　she　asked　Mrs。　Nicholas　at　last。　〃I　have　been　expecting　Mrs。　Mostyn　every　day；　but　she　neither　comes　nor　writes　to　me。〃

〃I　dare　say　not。　Poor　little　woman！　I'll　warrant　she　has　been　forbid　to　do　either。　If　Mostyn　thought　she　wanted　to　see　you；　he　would　watch　day　and　night　to　prevent　her　coming。　He's　turning　out　as　cruel　a　man　as　his　father　was；　and　you　need　not　say　a　word　worse　than　that。〃

〃Cruel！　Oh；　dear；　how　dreadful！　Men　will　drink　and　cheat　and　swear；　but　a　cruel　man　seems　so　unnatural；　so　wicked。〃

〃To　be　sure；　cruelty　is　the　joy　of　devils。　As　I　said　to　John　Thomas　when　we　heard　about　Mostyn's　goings…on；　we　have　got　rid　of　the　Wicked　One；　but　the　wicked　still　remain　with　us。〃

This　conversation　having　been　opened；　was　naturally　prolonged　by　the　relation　of　incidents　which　had　come　through　various　sources　to　Mrs。　Rawdon's　ears；　all　of　them　indicating　an　almost　incredible　system　of　petty　tyranny　and　cruel　contradiction。　Ethel　was　amazed；　and　finally　angry　at　what　she　heard。　Dora　was　her　countrywoman　and　her　friend；　she　instantly　began　to　express　her　sympathy　and　her　intention　of　interfering。

〃You　had　better　neither　meddle　nor　make　in　the　matter；〃　answered　Mrs。　Rawdon。　〃Our　Lucy　went　to　see　her