the man between-第4节

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rop　the　subject。〃

〃Content；　I　am　a　little　tired　of　the　clan　Denningthat　is　their　original　name　Dora　says。　I　will　go　now　and　dress　for　dinner。〃

Then　Ruth　rose　and　looked　inquisitively　around　the　room。　It　was　as　she　wished　it　to　bethe　very　expression　of　elegant　comfort　warm　and　light；　and　holding　the　scent　of　roses：　a　place　of　deep；　large　chairs　with　no　odds　and　ends　to　worry　about；　a　room　to　lounge　and　chat　in；　and　where　the　last　touch　of　perfect　home　freedom　was　given　by　a　big　mastiff　who；　having　heard　the　door…bell　ring；　strolled　in　to　see　who　had　called。



CHAPTER　II

DURING　dinner　both　Ruth　and　Ethel　were　aware　of　some　sub…interest　in　the　Judge's　manner；　his　absent…mindedness　was　unusual；　and　once　Ruth　saw　a　faint　smile　that　nothing　evident　could　have　induced。　Unconsciously　also　he　set　a　tone　of　constraint　and　hurry；　the　meal　was　not　loitered　over；　the　conversation　flagged；　and　all　rose　from　the　table　with　a　sense　of　relief；　perhaps；　indeed；　with　a　feeling　of　expectation。

They　entered　the　parlor　together；　and　the　mastiff　rose　to　meet　them；　asking　permission　to　remain　with　the　little　coaxing　push　of　his　nose　which　brought　the　ready　answer：

〃Certainly；　Sultan。　Make　yourself　comfortable。〃

Then　they　grouped　themselves　round　the　fire；　and　the　Judge　lit　his　cigar　and　looked　at　Ethel　in　a　way　that　instantly　brought　curiosity　to　the　question：

〃You　have　a　secret；　father；〃　she　said。　〃Is　it　about　grandmother？〃

〃It　is　news　rather　than　a　secret；　Ethel。　And　grandmother　has　a　good　deal　to　do　with　it；　for　it　is　about　her　familythe　Mostyns。〃

〃Oh！〃

The　tone　of　Ethel's　〃Oh！〃　was　not　encouraging；　and　Ruth's　look　of　interest　held　in　abeyance　was　just　as　chilling。　But　something　like　this　attitude　had　been　expected；　and　Judge　Rawdon　was　not　discouraged　by　it；　he　knew　that　youth　is　capable　of　great　and　sudden　changes；　and　that　its　ability　to　find　reasonable　motives　for　them　is　unlimited；　so　he　calmly　continued：

〃You　are　aware　that　your　grandmother's　name　before　marriage　was　Rachel　Mostyn？〃

〃I　have　seen　it　a　thousand　times　at　the　bottom　of　her　sampler；　father；　the　one　that　is　framed　and　hanging　in　her　morning　room　Rachel　Mostyn；　November；　Anno　Domini；　1827。〃

〃Very　well。　She　married　George　Rawdon；　and　they　came　to　New　York　in　1834。　They　had　a　pretty　house　on　the　Bowling　Green　and　lived　very　happily　there。　I　was　born　in　1850；　the　youngest　of　their　children。　You　know　that　I　sign　my　name　Edward　M。　Rawdon；　it　is　really　Edward　Mostyn　Rawdon。〃

He　paused；　and　Ruth　said；　〃I　suppose　Mrs。　Rawdon　has　had　some　news　from　her　old　home？〃

〃She　had　a　letter　last　night；　and　I　shall　probably　receive　one　to…morrow。　Frederick　Mostyn；　her　grand…nephew；　is　coming　to　New　York；　and　Squire　Rawdon；　of　Rawdon　Manor；　writes　to　recommend　the　young　man　to　our　hospitality。〃

〃But　you　surely　do　not　intend　to　invite　him　here；　Edward。　I　think　that　would　not　do。〃

〃He　is　going　to　the　Holland　House。　But　he　is　our　kinsman；　and　therefore　we　must　be　hospitable。〃

〃I　have　been　trying　to　count　the　kinship。　It　is　out　of　my　reckoning；〃　said　Ethel。　〃I　hope　at　least　he　is　nice　and　presentable。〃

〃The　Mostyns　are　a　handsome　family。　Look　at　your　grandmother。　And　Squire　Rawdon　speaks　very　well　of　Mr。　Mostyn。　He　has　taken　the　right　side　in　politics；　and　is　likely　to　make　his　mark。　They　were　always　great　sportsmen；　and　I　dare　say　this　representative　of　the　family　is　a　good…looking　fellow；　well…mannered；　and　perfectly　dressed。〃

Ethel　laughed。　〃If　his　clothes　fit　him　he　will　be　an　English　wonder。　I　have　seen　lots　of　Englishmen；　they　are　all　frights　as　to　trousers　and　vests。　There　was　Lord　Wycomb；　his　broadcloths　and　satins　and　linen　were　marvels　in　quality；　but　the　make！　The　girls　hated　to　be　seen　walking　with　him；　and　he　would　walk‘good　for　the　constitution；'　was　his　explanation　for　all　his　peculiarities。　The　Caylers　were　weary　to　death　of　them。〃

〃And　yet；〃　said　Ruth；　〃they　sang　songs　of　triumph　when　Lou　Cayler　married　him。〃

〃That　was　a　different　thing。　Lou　would　make　him　get　‘fits'　and　stop　wearing　sloppy；　baggy　arrangements。　And　I　do　not　suppose　the　English　lord　has　now　a　single　peculiarity　left；　unless　it　be　his　constitutional　walk　that；　of　course。　I　have　heard　English　babies　get　out　of　their　cradles　to　take　a　constitutional。〃

During　this　tirade　Ruth　had　been　thinking。　〃Edward；〃　she　asked；　〃why　does　Squire　Rawdon　introduce　Mr。　Mostyn？　Their　relationship　cannot　be　worth　counting。〃

〃There　you　are　wrong；　Ruth。〃　He　spoke　with　a　little　excitement。　〃Englishmen　never　deny　matrimonial　relationships；　if　they　are　worthy　ones。　Mostyn　and　Rawdon　are　bound　together　by　many　a　gold　wedding　ring；　we　reckon　such　ties　relationships。　Squire　Raw…　don　lost　his　son　and　his　two　grandsons　a　year　ago。　Perhaps　this　young　man　may　eventually　stand　in　their　place。　The　Squire　is　nearly　eighty　years　old；　he　is　the　last　of　the　English　Rawdonsat　least　of　our　branch　of　it。〃

〃You　suppose　this　Mr。　Mostyn　may　become　Squire　of　Rawdon　Manor？〃

〃He　may；　Ruth；　but　it　is　not　certain。　There　is　a　large　mortgage　on　the　Manor。〃

〃Oh！〃

Both　girls　made　the　ejaculation　at　the　same　moment；　and　in　both　voices　there　was　the　same　curious　tone　of　speculation。　It　was　a　cry　after　truth　apprehended；　but　not　realized。　Mr。　Rawdon　remained　silent；　he　was　debating　with　himself　the　advisability　of　further　confidence；　but　he　came　quickly　to　the　conclusion　that　enough　had　been　told　for　the　present。　Turning　to　Ethel；　he　said：　〃I　suppose　girls　have　a　code　of　honor　about　their　secrets。　Is　Dora　Denning's　‘extraordinary　news'　shut　up　in　it？〃

〃Oh；　no；　father。　She　is　going　to　be　married。　That　is　all。〃

〃That　is　enough。　Who　is　the　man？〃

〃Reverend　Mr。　Stanhope。〃

〃Nonsense！〃

〃Positively。〃

〃I　never　heard　anything　more　ridiculous。　That　saintly　young　priest！　Why；　Dora　will　be　tired　to　death　of　him　in　a　month。　And　he？　Poor　fellow！〃

〃Why　poor　fellow？　He　is　very　much　in　love　with　her。〃

〃It　is　hard　to　understand。　St。　Jerome's　love　‘pale　with　midnight　prayer'　would　be　more　believable　than　the　butterfly　Dora。　Goodness；　gracious！　The　idea　of　that　man　being　in　love！　It　pulls　him　down　a　bit。　I　thought　he　never　looked　at　a　woman。〃

〃Do　you　know　him；　father？〃

〃As　many　people　know　himby　good　report。　I　know　that　he　is　a　clergyman　who　believes　what　he　preaches。　I　know　a　Wall　Street　broker　who　left　St。　Jude's　church　because　Mr。　Stanhope's　sermons　on　Sunday　put　such　a　fine　edge　on　his　conscience　that　Mondays　were　dangerous　days　for　him　to　do　business　on。　And　whatever　Wall　Street　financiers　think　of　the　Bible　personally；　they　do　like　a　man　who　sticks　to　his　colors；　and　who　holds　intact　the　truth　committed　to　him。　Stanhope　does　this　emphatically；　and　he　is　so　well　trusted　that　if　he　wanted　to　build　a　new　church　he　could　get　all　the　money　necessary；　from　Wall　Street　men　in　an　hour。　And　he　is　going　to　marry！　Going　to　marry　Dora　Denning！　It　is　‘extraordinary　news；'　indeed！〃

Ethel　was　a　little　offended　at　such　unusual　surprise。　〃I　think　you　don't　quite　understand　Dora；〃　she　said。　〃It　will　be　Mr。　Stanhope's　fault　if　she　is　not　led　in　the　right　way；　for　if　he　only　loves　and　pets　her　enough　he　may　do　all　he　wishes　with　her。　I　know；　I　have　both　coaxed　and　ordered　her　for　four　yearssometimes　one　way　is　best；　and　sometimes　the　other。〃

〃How　is　a　man　to　tell　which　way　to　take？　What　do　her　parents　think　of　the　marriage？〃

〃They　are　pleased　with　it。〃

〃Pleased　with　it！　Then　I　have　nothing　more　to　say；　except　that　I　hope　they　will　not　appeal　to　me　on　any　question　of　divorce　that　may　arise　from　such　an　unlikely　marriage。〃

〃They　are　only　lovers　yet；　Edward；〃　said　Ruth。　〃It　is　not　fair；　or　kind；　to　even　think　of　divorce。〃

〃My　dear　Ruth；　the　fashionable　girl　of　today　accepts　marriage　with　the　provision　of　divorce。〃

〃Dora　is　hardly　one　of　that　set。〃

〃I　hope　she　may　keep　out　of　it；　but　marriage　will　give　her　many　opportunities。　Well；　I　am　sorry　for　the　young　priest。　He　isn't　fit　to　manage　a　woman　like　Dora　Denning。　I　am　afraid　he　will　get　the　worst　of　it。〃

〃I　think　you　are　very　unkind；　father。　Dora　is　my　friend；　and　I　know　her。　She　is　a　girl　of　intense　feelings　and　very　affectionate。　And　she　has　dissolved　all　her　life　and　mind　in　Mr。　Stanhope's　life　and　mind；　just　as　a　lump　of　sugar　is　dissolved　in　water。〃

Ruth　laughed。　〃Can　you　not　find　a　more　poetic　simile；　Ethel？〃

〃It　will　do。　This　is　an　age　of　matter；　a　material　symbol　is　the　proper　thing。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　she　has　dissolved　her　mind　in　Stanhope's；〃　said　Judge　Rawdon。　〃Dora's　intellect　in　itself　is　childish。　What　did　the　man　see　in　her　that　he　should　desire　her？〃

〃Father；　you　never　can　tell　how　much　brains　men　like　with　their　beauty。　Very　little　will　do　generally。　And　Dora　has　beauty　great　beauty；　no　one　can　deny　that。　I　think　Dora　is　giving　up　a　great　deal。　To　her；　at　least；　marriage　is　a　state　of　passing　from　perfect　freedom　into　the　comparative　condition　of　a　slave；　giving　up　her　own　way　constantly　for　some　one　else's　way。〃

〃Well；　Ethel；　the　remedy　is　in　the　lady's　hands。　She　is　not　forced　to　marry；　and　the　slavery　that　is　voluntary　is　no　hardship。　Now；　my　dear；　I　have　a　case　to　look　over；　and　you　must　excuse　me　to…night。　To…morrow　we　shall　know　more　concerning　Mr。　Mostyn；　and　it　is　easier　to　talk　about　certainties　t