the man between-第3章

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ction。　It　is　very　provoking；　Dora；　and　if　I　were　you　I　would　not　allow　Basil　to　begin　a　song　about　‘the　English　Stanhopes。'　Aunt　Ruth　and　I　get　very　tired　often　of　the　English　Rawdons；　and　are　really　thankful　for　the　separating　Atlantic。〃

〃I　don't　think　I　shall　feel　in　that　way；　Ethel。　I　like　the　nobility；　so　does　father；　he　says　the　Dennings　are　a　fine　old　family。〃

〃Why　talk　of　genealogies　when　there　is　such　a　man　as　Basil　Stanhope　to　consider？　Let　us　grant　him　perfection　and　agree　that　he　is　to　marry　you　in　the　Spring；　well　then；　there　is　the　ceremony；　and　the　wedding　garments！　Of　course　it　is　to　be　a　church　wedding？〃

〃We　shall　be　married　in　Basil's　own　church。　I　can　hardly　eat　or　sleep　for　thinking　of　the　joy　and　the　triumph　of　it！　There　will　be　women　there　ready　to　eat　their　hearts　with　envyI　believe　indeed；　Ethel；　that　every　woman　in　the　church　is　in　love　with　Basil。〃

〃You　have　said　that　before；　and　I　am　sure　you　are　wrong。　A　great　many　of　them　are　married　and　are　in　love　with　their　own　husbands；　and　the　kind　of　girls　who　go　to　St。　Jude's　are　not　the　kind　who　marry　clergymen。　Mr。　Stanhope's　whole　income　would　hardly　buy　their　gloves　and　parasols。〃

〃I　don't　think　you　are　pleased　that　I　am　going　to　marry。　You　must　not　be　jealous　of　Basil。　I　shall　love　you　just　the　same。〃

〃Under　no　conditions；　Dora；　would　I　allow　jealousy　to　trouble　my　life。　All　the　same；　you　will　not　love　me　after　your　marriage　as　you　have　loved　me　in　the　past。　I　shall　not　expect　it。〃

Passionate　denials　of　this　assertion；　reminiscences　of　the　past；　assurances　for　the　future　followed；　and　Ethel　accepted　them　without　dispute　and　without　faith。　But　she　understood　that　the　mere　circumstance　of　her　engagement　was　all　that　Dora　could　manage　at　present；　and　that　the　details　of　the　marriage　merged　themselves　constantly　in　the　wonderful　fact　that　Basil　Stanhope　loved　her；　and　that　some　time；　not　far　off；　she　was　going　to　be　his　wife。　This　joyful　certainty　filled　her　heart　and　her　comprehension；　and　she　had　a　natural　reluctance　to　subject　it　to　the　details　of　the　social　and　religious　ceremonies　necessary；　Such　things　permitted　others　to　participate　in　her　joy；　and　she　resented　the　idea。　For　a　time　she　wished　to　keep　her　lover　in　a　world　where　no　other　thought　might　trouble　the　thought　of　Dora。

Ethel　understood　her　friend's　mood；　and　was　rather　relieved　when　her　carriage　arrived。　She　felt　that　her　presence　was　preventing　Dora's　absolute　surrender　of　herself　to　thoughts　of　her　lover；　and　all　the　way　home　she　marveled　at　the　girl's　infatuation；　and　wondered　if　it　would　be　possible　for　her　to　fall　into　such　a　dotage　of　love　for　any　man。　She　answered　this　query　positively　〃No；　if　I　should　lose　my　heart；　I　shall　not　therefore　lose　my　head〃and　then；　before　she　could　finish　assuring　herself　of　her　determinate　wisdom；　some　mocking　lines　she　had　often　quoted　to　love…sick　girls　went　laughing　through　her　memory

　　〃O　Woman！　Woman！　O　our　frail；　frail　sex！　　　No　wonder　tragedies　are　made　from　us！　　　Always　the　samenothing　but　loves　and　cradles。〃


She　found　Ruth　Bayard　dressed　for　dinner；　but　her　father　was　not　present。　That　was　satisfactory；　for　he　was　always　a　little　impatient　when　the　talk　was　of　lovers　and　weddings；　and　just　then　this　topic　was　uppermost　in　Ethel's　mind。

〃Ruth；〃　she　said；　〃Dora　is　engaged；〃　and　then　in　a　few　sentences　she　told　the　little　romance　Dora　had　lived　for　the　past　year；　and　its　happy　culmination。　〃Setting　money　aside；　I　think　he　will　make　a　very　suitable　husband。　What　do　you　think；　Ruth？〃

〃From　what　I　know　of　Mr。　Stanhope；　I　should　doubt　it。　I　am　sure　he　will　put　his　duties　before　every　earthly　thing；　and　I　am　sure　Dora　will　object　to　that。　Then　I　wonder　if　Dora　is　made　on　a　pattern　large　enough　to　be　the　moneyed　partner　in　matrimony。　I　should　think　Mr。　Stanhope　was　a　proud　man。〃

〃Dora　says　he　is　connected　with　the　English　noble　family　of　Stanhopes。〃

〃We　shall　certainly　have　all　the　connections　of　the　English　nobility　in　America　very　soon　nowbut　why　does　he　marry　Dora？　Is　it　her　money？〃

〃I　think　not。　I　have　heard　from　various　sources　some　fine　things　of　Basil　Stanhope。　There　are　many　richer　girls　than　Dora　in　St。　Jude's。　I　dare　say　some　one　of　them　would　have　married　him。〃

〃You　are　mistaken。　Do　you　think　Margery　Starey；　Jane　Lewes；　or　any　of　the　girls　of　their　order　would　marry　a　man　with　a　few　thousands　a　year？　And　to　marry　for　love　is　beyond　the　frontiers　of　such　women's　intelligence。　In　their　creed　a　husband　is　a　banker；　not　a　man　to　be　loved　and　cared　for。　You　know　how　much　of　a　banker　Mr。　Stanhope　could　be。〃

〃Bryce　Denning　is　very　angry　at　what　he　evidently　considers　his　sister's　mesalliance。〃

〃If　Mr。　Stanhope　is　connected　with　the　English　Stanhopes；　the　mesalliance　must　be　laid　to　his　charge。〃

〃Indeed　the　Dennings　have　some　pretenses　to　good　lineage；　and　Bryce　spoke　of　his　sister　‘disgracing　his　family　by　her　contemplated　marriage。'〃

〃His　family！　My　dear　Ethel；　his　grandfather　was　a　manufacturer　of　tin　tacks。　And　now　that　we　have　got　as　far　away　as　the　Denning's　grandfather；　suppose　we　drop　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