the man between-第16章

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owd　laughing　at　his　wayshis　dandified　ways。　And　he　tried　to　wear　one　eyeglass；　and　let　it　fall；　and　fall；　and　then　told　the　men　‘he　couldn't　manage　half　a　pair　of　spectacles；　but　he　could　manage　their　interests　and　fight　for　their　rights；'　and　such　like　talk。　And　he　walked　like　Mostyn；　and　he　talked　like　Mostyn；　and　spread　out　his　legs；　and　twirled　his　walking　stick　like　Mostyn；　and　asked　them　‘if　they　would　wish　him　to　go　to　Parliament　in　that　kind　of　a　shape；　as　he'd　try　and　do　it　if　they　wanted　a　tailor…made　man'；　and　they　laughed　him　down；　and　then　he　spoke　reasonable　to　them。　John　Thomas　knows　what　Yorkshire　weavers　want；　and　he　just　prom…　ised　them　everything　they　had　set　their　hearts　on；　and　so　they　sent　him　to　Parliament；　and　Mostyn　went　to　America；　where；　perhaps；　they'll　teach　him　that　a　man's　life　is　worth　a　bit　more　than　a　bird　or　a　rabbit。　Mostyn　is　all　for　preserving　game；　and　his　father　was　a　mean　creature。　When　one　thinks　of　his　father；　one　has　to　excuse　the　young　man　a　little　bit。〃

〃I　saw　a　good　deal　of　Mr。　Mostyn　in　New　York；〃　said　Ethel。　〃He　used　to　speak　highly　of　his　father。〃

〃I'll　warrant　he　did；　and　he　ought　to　keep　at　it；　for　he's　the　only　one　in　this　world　that　will　use　his　tongue　for　that　end。　Old　Samuel　Mostyn　never　learned　to　live　godly　or　even　manly；　but　after　his　death　he　ceased　to　do　evil；　and　that；　I've　no　doubt；　often　feels　like　a　blessing　to　them　that　had　to　live　anyway　near　to　him。　But　my　John　Thomas！〃

〃Oh；〃　cried　Ethel；　laughing；　〃you　must　not　tell　me　so　much　about　John　Thomas；　he　might　not　like　it。〃

〃John　Thomas　can　look　all　he　does　and　all　he　says　straight　in　the　face。　You　may　talk　of　him　all　day；　and　find　nothing　to　say　that　a　good　girl　like　you　might　not　listen　to。　I　should　have　brought　him　with　us；　but　he's　away　now　taking　a　bit　of　a　holiday。　I'm　sure　he　needs　it。〃

〃Where　is　he　taking　his　holiday？〃

〃Why；　he　went　with　a　cousin　to　show　him　the　sights　of　London；　but　somehow　they　got　through　London　sights　very　quick；　and　thought　they　might　as　well　put　Paris　in。　I　wish　they　hadn't。　I　don't　trust　foreigners　and　foreign　ways；　and　they　don't　have　the　same　kind　of　money　as　ours；　but　Nicholas　says　I　needn't　worry；　he　is　sure　that　our　John　Thomas；　if　change　is　to　make；　will　make　it　to　suit　himself。〃

〃How　soon　will　he　be　home？〃

〃I　might　say　to…day　or　any　other　early　day。　He's　been　idling　for　a　month　now；　and　his　father　says　‘the　very　looms　are　calling　out　for　him。'　I'll　bring　him　to　see　you　just　as　soon　as　he　comes　home；　looms　or　no　looms；　and　he'll　be　fain　to　come。　No　one　appreciates　a　pretty　girl　more　than　John　Thomas　does。〃

So　the　days　passed　sweetly　and　swiftly　onward；　and　there　was　no　trouble　in　them。　Such　business　as　was　to　be　done　went　on　behind　the　closed　doors　of　the　Squire's　office；　and　with　no　one　present　but　himself；　Judge　Rawdon；　and　the　attorneys　attached　to　the　Rawdon　and　Mostyn　estates。　And　as　there　were　no　entanglements　and　no　possible　reason　for　disputing；　a　settlement　was　quickly　arrived　at。　Then；　as　Mostyn's　return　was　uncertain；　an　attorney's　messenger；　properly　accredited；　was　sent　to　America　to　procure　his　signatures。　Allowing　for　unforeseen　delays；　the　perfected　papers　of　release　might　certainly　be　on　hand　by　the　fifteenth　of　July；　and　it　was　proposed　on　the　first　of　August　to　give　a　dinner　and　dance　in　return　for　the　numerous　courtesies　the　American　Rawdons　had　received。

As　this　date　approached　Ruth　and　Ethel　began　to　think　of　a　visit　to　London。　They　wanted　new　gowns　and　many　other　pretty　things；　and　why　not　go　to　London　for　them？　The　journey　was　but　a　few　hours；　and　two　or　three　days'　shopping　in　Regent　Street　and　Piccadilly　would　be　delightful。　〃We　will　make　out　a　list　of　all　we　need　this　afternoon；〃　said　Ruth；　〃and　we　might　as　well　go　to…morrow　morning　as　later；〃　and　at　this　moment　a　servant　entered　with　the　mail。　Ethel　lifted　her　letter　with　an　exclamation。　〃It　is　from　Dora；〃　she　said；　and　her　voice　had　a　tone　of　annoyance　in　it。　〃Dora　is　in　London；　at　the　Savoy。　She　wants　to　see　me　very　much。〃

〃I　am　so　sorry。　We　have　been　so　happy。〃

〃I　don't　think　she　will　interfere　much；　Ruth。〃

〃My　dears；〃　said　Judge　Rawdon；　〃I　have　a　letter　from　Fred　Mostyn。　He　is　coming　home。　He　will　be　in　London　in　a　day　or　two。〃

〃Why　is　he　coming；　father？〃

〃He　says　he　has　a　proposal　to　make　about　the　Manor。　I　wish　he　were　not　coming。　No　one　wants　his　proposal。〃　Then　the　breakfast…　table；　which　had　been　so　gay；　became　silent　and　depressed；　and　presently　the　Judge　went　away　without　exhibiting　further　interest　in　the　London　journey。

〃I　do　wish　Dora　would　let　us　alone；〃　said　Ruth。　〃She　always　brings　disappointment　or　worry　of　some　kind。　And　I　wonder　what　is　the　meaning　of　this　unexpected　London　visit。　I　thought　she　was　in　Holland。〃

〃She　said　in　her　last　letter　that　London　would　be　impossible　before　August。〃

〃Is　it　an　appointmentor　a　coincidence？〃

And　Ethel；　lifting　her　shoulders　sarcastically；　as　if　in　hostile　surrender　to　the　inevitable；　answered：

〃It　is　a　fatality！〃



CHAPTER　VIII

THREE　days　afterward　Ethel　called　on　Dora　Stanhope　at　the　Savoy。　She　found　her　alone；　and　she　had　evidently　been　crying。　Indeed；　she　frankly　admitted　the　fact；　declaring　that　she　had　been　〃so　bored　and　so　homesick；　that　she　relieved　she　had　cried　her　beauty　away。〃　She　glanced　at　Ethel's　radiant　face　and　neat　fresh　toilet　with　envy；　and　added；　〃I　am　so　glad　to　see　you；　Ethel。　But　I　was　sure　that　you　would　come　as　soon　as　you　knew　I　wanted　you。〃

〃Oh；　indeed；　Dora；　you　must　not　make　yourself　too　sure　of　such　a　thing　as　that！　I　really　came　to　London　to　get　some　new　gowns。　I　have　been　shopping　all　morning。〃

〃I　thought　you　had　come　in　answer　to　my　letter。　I　was　expecting　you。　That　is　the　reason　I　did　not　go　out　with　Basil。〃

〃Don't　you　expect　a　little　too　much；　Dora？　I　have　a　great　many　interests　and　duties〃

〃I　used　to　be　first。〃

〃When　a　girl　marries　she　is　supposed　to〃

〃Please　don't　talk　nonsense。　Basil　does　not　take　the　place　of　everyone　and　everything　else。　I　think　we　are　often　very　tired　of　each　other。　This　morning；　when　I　was　telling　him　what　trouble　I　had　with　my　maid；　Julia；　he　actually　yawned。　He　tried　to　smother　the　yawn；　but　he　could　not；　and　of　course　the　honeymoon　is　over　when　your　bridegroom　yawns　in　your　face　while　you　are　telling　him　your　troubles。〃

〃I　should　think　you　would　be　glad　it　was　over。　Of　all　the　words　in　the　English　language　‘honeymoon'　is　the　most　ridiculous　and　imbecile。〃

〃I　suppose　when　you　get　married　you　will　take　a　honeymoon。〃

〃I　shall　have　more　sense　and　more　selfishness。　A　girl　could　hardly　enter　a　new　life　through　a　medium　more　trying。　I　am　sure　it　would　need　long…tested　affections　and　the　sweetest　of　tempers　to　make　it　endurable。〃

〃I　cannot　imagine　what　you　mean。〃

〃I　mean　that　all　traveling　just　after　marriage　is　a　great　blunder。　Traveling　makes　the　sunniest　disposition　hasty　and　peevish；　for　women　don't　love　changes　as　men　do。　Not　one　in　a　thousand　is　seen　at　her　best　while　traveling；　and　the　majority　are　seen　at　their　very　worst。　Then　there　is　the　discomfort　and　desolation　of　European　hotels　their　mysterious　methods　and　hours；　and　the　ways　of　foreigners；　which　are　not　as　our　ways。〃

〃Don't　talk　of　them；　Ethel。　They　are　dreadful　places；　and　such　queer　people。〃

〃Add　to　these　troubles　ignorance　of　language　and　coinage；　the　utter　weariness　of　railway　travel；　the　plague　of　customs；　the　trunk　that　won't　pack；　the　trains　that　won't　wait；　the　tiresome　sight…seeing；　the　climatic　irritability；　broiling　suns；　headache；　loneliness；　fretfulnessconsequently　the　pitiful　boredom　of　the　new　husband。〃

〃Ethel；　what　you　say　is　certainly　too　true。　I　am　weary　to　death　of　it　all。　I　want　to　be　at　Newport　with　mother；　who　is　having　a　lovely　time　there。　Of　course　Basil　is　very　nice　to　me；　and　yet　there　have　been　little　tiffs　and　strugglesvery　gentle　onesfor　the　mastery；　which　he　is　not　going　to　get。　To…day　he　wanted　me　to　go　with　him　and　Canon　Shackleton　to　see　something　or　other　about　the　poor　of　London。　I　would　not　do　it。　I　am　so　lonely；　Ethel；　I　want　to　see　some　one。　I　feel　fit　to　cry　all　the　time。　I　like　Basil　best　of　anyone　in　the　world；　but〃

〃But　in　the　solitude　of　a　honeymoon　among　strangers　you　find　out　that　the　person　you　like　best　in　the　world　can　bore　you　as　badly　as　the　person　you　don't　like　at　all。　Is　that　so？〃

〃Exactly。　Just　fancy　if　we　were　among　our　friends　in　Newport。　I　should　have　some　pleasure　in　dressing　and　looking　lovely。　Why　should　I　dress　here？　There　is　no　one　to　see　me。〃

〃Basil。〃

〃Of　course；　but　Basil　spends　all　the　time　in　visiting　cathedrals　and　clergymen。　If　we　go　out；　it　is　to　see　something　about　the　poor；　or　about　schools　and　such　like。　We　were　not　in　London　two　hours　until　he　was　off　to　Westminster　Abbey；　and　I　didn't　care　a　cent　about　the　old　place。　He　says　I　must　not　ask　him　to　go　to　theaters；　but　historical　old　houses　don't　interest　me　at　all。　What　does　it　matter　if　Cromwell　slept　in　a　certain　ancient　shabby　room？　And　as　for　all　the　palaces　I　have　seen；　my　father's　house　is　a　great　deal　handsomer；　and　more　convenient；　and　more　comfortable；　and　I　wish　I　were　there。　I　hate　Europe；　and　England　I　hate　worst　of　all。〃

〃You　have　not　seen　England。　We　are　all　enraptured　with　its　beauty　and　its　old　houses　and　pleasant　life。〃

〃You　are　among　friendsat　home；　as　it　were。　I　have　heard　all　about　Rawdon　Court。　Fred　Mostyn　told　me。　He　is　going　to　buy　it。〃

〃When？〃

〃Some　time　this　fall。　Then　next　year　he　will　entertain　us；　and　that　will　be　a　little　different　to　this　desolate　hotel；　I　think。〃

〃How　long　will　you　be　in　London？〃

〃I　cannot　say。　We　are　invited　to　Stanhope　Castle；　but　I　don't　want　to　go　there。　We　stayed　with　the　Stanhopes　a　week　when　we　first　came　over。　They　were　then　in　their　London　house；　and　I　got　enough　of　them。〃

〃Did　you　dislike　the　family？〃

〃No；　I　cared　nothing　about　them。　They　just　bored　me。　They　are　extremely　religious。　We　had　prayers　night　and　morning；　and　a　prayer　before　and　after　every　meal。　They　read　only　very　good　books；　and　the　Honorable　Misses　Stanhope　sew　for　the　poor　old　women　and　teach　the　poor　young　ones。　They　work　harder　than　anyone　I　ever　knew；　and　they　call　it　‘improving　the　time。'　They　thought　me　a　very　silly；　reckless　young　woman；　and　I　think　they　all　prayed　for　me。　One　night　after　they　had　sung　some　very　nice　songs　they　asked　me　to　play；　and　I　began　with　‘My　Little　Brown　Rose'you　know　they　all　adore　the　negro　and　little　by　little　I　dropped　into　the　funniest　coon　songs　I　knew；　and　oh　how　they　laughed！　Even　the　old　lord　stroked　his　knees　and　laughed　out　loud；　while　the　young　ladies　laughed　into　their　handkerchiefs。　Lady　Stanhope　was　the　only　one　who　comprehended　I　was　guying　them；　and　she　looked　at　me　with　half…shut　eyes　in　a　way　that　would　have　spoiled　some　girls'　fun。　It　only　made　me　the　merrier。　So　I　tried　to　show　them　a　cake　walk；　but　the　old　lord　rose　then　and　said　‘I　must　be　tired；　and　they　would　excuse　me。'　Somehow　I　could　not　manage　him。　Basil　was　at　a　workman's　concert；　and　when　he　came　home　I　think　there　were　some　advices　and　remonstrances；　but　Basil　never　told　me。　I　felt　as　if　they　were　all　glad　when　I　went　away；　and　I　don't　wish　to　go　to　the　Castle　and　I　won't　go　either。〃

〃But　if　Basil　wishes　to　go〃

〃He　can　go　alone。　I　rather　think