the man between-第4章

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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　than　probabilities。〃

But　if　conversation　ceased　about　Mr。　Mostyn；　thought　did　not；　for；　a　couple　of　hours　afterwards；　Ethel　tapped　at　her　aunt's　door　and　said；　〃Just　a　moment；　Ruth。〃

〃Yes；　dear；　what　is　it？〃

〃Did　you　notice　what　father　said　about　the　mortgage　on　Rawdon　Manor〃'

〃Yes。〃

〃He　seemed　to　know　all　about　it。〃

〃I　think　he　does　know　all　about　it。〃

〃Do　you　think　he　holds　it？〃

〃He　may　do　soit　is　not　unlikely。〃

〃Oh！　Then　Mr。　Fred　Mostyn；　if　he　is　to　inherit　Rawdon；　would　like　the　mortgage　removed？〃

〃Of　course　he　would。〃

〃And　the　way　to　remove　it　would　be　to　marry　the　daughter　of　the　holder　of　the　mortgage？〃

〃It　would　be　one　way。〃

〃So　he　is　coming　to　look　me　over。　I　am　a　matrimonial　possibility。　How　do　you　like　that　idea；　Aunt　Ruth？〃

〃I　do　not　entertain　it　for　a　moment。　Mr。　Mostyn　may　not　even　know　of　the　mortgage。　When　men　mortgage　their　estates　they　do　not　make　confidences　about　the　matter；　or　talk　it　over　with　their　friends。　They　always　conceal　and　hide　the　transaction。　If　your　father　holds　the　mortgage；　I　feel　sure　that　no　one　but　himself　and　Squire　Rawdon　know　anything　about　it。　Don't　look　at　the　wrong　side　of　events；　Ethel；　be　content　with　the　right　side　of　life's　tapestry。　Why　are　you　not　asleep？　What　are　you　worrying　about？〃

〃Nothing；　only　I　have　not　heard　all　I　wanted　to　hear。〃

〃And　perhaps　that　is　good　for　you。〃

〃I　shall　go　and　see　grandmother　first　thing　in　the　morning。〃

〃I　would　not　if　I　were　you。　You　cannot　make　any　excuse　she　will　not　see　through。　Your　father　will　call　on　Mr。　Mostyn　to…morrow；　and　we　shall　get　unprejudiced　information。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　know　that；　Ruth。　Father　is　intensely　American　three　hundred　and　sixty…　four　days　and　twenty…three　hours　in　a　year；　and　then　in　the　odd　hour　he　will　flare　up　Yorkshire　like　a　conflagration。〃

〃English；　you　mean？〃

〃No。　Yorkshire　IS　England　to　grandmother　and　father。　They　don't　think　anything　much　of　the　other　counties；　and　people　from　them　are　just　respectable　foreigners。　You　may　depend　upon　it；　whatever　grandmother　says　of　Mr。　Fred　Mostyn；　father　will　believe　it；　too。〃

〃Your　father　always　believes　whatever　your　grandmother　says。　Good　night；　dear。〃

〃Good　night。　I　think　I　shall　go　to　grandmother　in　the　morning。　I　know　how　to　manage　her。　I　shall　meet　her　squarely　with　the　truth；　and　acknowledge　that　I　am　dying　with　curiosity　about　Mr。　Mostyn。〃

〃And　she　will　tease　and　lecture　you；　say　you　are　‘not　sweetheart　high　yet；　only　a　little　maid；'　and　so　on。　Far　better　go　and　talk　with　Dora。　To…morrow　she　will　need　you；　I　am　sure。　Ethel；　I　am　very　sleepy。　Good　night　again；　dear。〃

〃Good　night！〃　Then　with　a　sudden　animation；　〃I　know　what　to　do；　I　shall　tell　grandmother　about　Dora's　marriage。　It　is　all　plain　enough　now。　Good　night；　Ruth。〃　And　this　good　night；　though　dropping　sweetly　into　the　minor　third；　had　yet　on　its　final　inflection　something　of　the　pleasant　hopefulness　of　its　major　keyit　expressed　anticipation　and　satisfaction。

What　happened　in　the　night　session　she　could　not　tell；　but　she　awoke　with　a　positive　disinclination　to　ask　a　question　about　Mr。　Mostyn。　〃I　have　received　orders　from　some　one；〃　she　said　to　Ruth；　〃I　simply　do　not　care　whether　I　ever　see　or　hear　of　the　man　again。　I　am　going　to　Dora；　and　I　may　not　come　home　until　late。　You　know　they　will　depend　upon　me　for　every　suggestion。〃

In　fact；　Ethel　did　not　return　home　until　the　following　day；　for　a　snowstorm　came　up　in　the　afternoon；　and　the　girl　was　weary　with　planning　and　writing；　and　well　inclined　to　eat　with　Dora　the　delicate　little　dinner　served　to　them　in　Dora's　private　parlor。　Then　about　nine　o'clock　Mr。　Stanhope　called；　and　Ethel　found　it　pleasant　enough　to　watch　the　lovers　and　listen　to　Mrs。　Denning's　opinions　of　what　had　been　already　planned。　And　the　next　day　she　seemed　to　be　so　absolutely　necessary　to　the　movement　of　the　marriage　preparations；　that　it　was　nearly　dark　before　she　was　permitted　to　return　home。

It　was　but　a　short　walk　between　the　two　houses；　and　Ethel　was　resolved　to　have　the　refreshment　of　the　exercise。　And　how　good　it　was　to　feel　the　pinch　of　the　frost　and　the　gust　of　the　north　wind；　and　after　it　to　come　to　the　happy　portal　of　home；　and　the　familiar　atmosphere　of　the　cheerful　hall；　and　then　to　peep　into　the　firelit　room　in　which　Ruth　lay　dreaming　in　the　dusky　shadows。

〃Ruth；　darling！〃

〃Ethel！　I　have　just　sent　for　you　to　come　home。〃　Then　she　rose　and　took　Ethel　in　her　arms。　〃How　delightfully　cold　you　are！　And　what　rosy　cheeks！　Do　you　know　that　we　have　a　little　dinner　party？〃

〃Mr。　Mostyn？〃

〃Yes；　and　your　grandmother；　and　perhaps　Dr。　Fisherthe　Doctor　is　not　certain。〃

〃And　I　see　that　you　are　already　dressed。　How　handsome　you　look！　That　black　lace　dress；　with　the　dull　gold　ornaments；　is　all　right。〃

〃I　felt　as　if　jewels　would　be　overdress　for　a　family　dinner。〃

〃Yes；　but　jewels　always　snub　men　so　completely。　It　is　not　altogether　that　they　represent　money；　they　give　an　air　of　royalty；　and　a　woman　without　jewels　is　like　an　uncrowned　queenshe　does　not　get　the　homage。　I　can't　account　for　it；　but　there　it　is。　I　shall　wear　my　sapphire　necklace。　What　did　father　say　about　our　new　kinsman？〃

〃Very　little。　It　was　impossible　to　judge　from　his　words　what　he　thought。　I　fancied　that　he　might　have　been　a　little　disappointed。〃

〃I　should　not　wonder。　We　shall　see。〃

〃You　will　be　dressed　in　an　hour？〃

〃In　less　time。　Shall　I　wear　white　or　blue？〃

〃Pale　blue　and　white　flowers。　There　are　some　white　violets　in　the　library。　I　have　a　red　rose。　We　shall　contrast　each　other　very　well。〃

〃What　is　it　all　about？　Do　we　really　care　how　we　look　in　the　eyes　of　this　Mr。　Mostyn？〃

〃Of　course　we　care。　We　should　not　be　women　if　we　did　not　care。　We　must　make　some　sort　of　an　impression；　and　naturally　we　prefer　that　it　should　be　a　pleasant　one。〃

〃If　we　consider　the　mortgage〃

〃Nonsense！　The　mortgage　is　not　in　it。〃

〃Good…by。　Tell　Mattie　to　bring　me　a　cup　of　tea　upstairs。　I　will　be　dressed　in　an　hour。〃

The　tea　was　brought　and　drank；　and　Ethel　fell　asleep　while　her　maid　prepared　every　item　for　her　toilet。　Then　she　spoke　to　her　mistress；　and　Ethel　awakened；　as　she　always　did；　with　a　smile；　nature's　surest　sign　of　a　radically　sweet　temper。　And　everything　went　in　accord　with　the　smile；　her　hair　fell　naturally　into　its　most　becoming　waves；　her　dress　into　its　most　graceful　folds；　the　sapphire　necklace　matched　the　blue　of　her　happy　eyes；　the　roses　of　youth　were　on　her　cheeks；　and　white　violets　on　her　breast。　She　felt　her　own　beauty　and　was　glad　of　it；　and　with　a　laughing　word　of　pleasure　went　down　to　the　parlor。

Madam　Rawdon　was　standing　before　the　fire；　but　when　she　heard　the　door　open　she　turned　her　face　toward　it。

〃Come　here；　Ethel　Rawdon；〃　she　said；　〃and　let　me　have　a　look　at　you。〃　And　Ethel　went　to　her　side；　laid　her　hand　lightly　on　the　old　lady's　shoulder　and　kissed　her　cheek。　〃You　do　look　middling　well；〃　she　continued；　〃and　your　dress　is　about　as　it　should　be。　I　like　a　girl　to　dress　like　a　girlstill；　the　sapphires。　Are　they　necessary？〃

〃You　would　not　say　corals；　would　you；　grandmother？　I　have　those　you　gave　me　when　I　was　three　years　old。〃

〃Keep　your　wit；　my　dear；　for　this　evening。　I　should　not　wonder　but　you　might　need　it。　Fred　Mostyn　is　rather　better　than　I　expected。　It　was　a　great　pleasure　to　see　him。　It　was　like　a　bit　of　my　own　youth　back　again。　When　you　are　a　very　old　woman　there　are　few　things　sweeter；　Ethel。〃

〃But　you　are　not　an　old　woman；　grandmother。〃

Nor　was　she。　In　spite　of　her　seventy…five　years　she　stood　erect　at　the　side　of　her　grand…　daughter。　Her　abundant　hair　was　partly　gray；　but　the　gray　mingled　with　the　little　oval　of　costly　lace　that　lay　upon　it；　and　the　effect　was　soft　and　fair　as　powdering。　She　had　been　very　handsome；　and　her　beauty　lingered　as　the　beauty　of　some　flowers　linger；　in　fainter　tints　and　in　less　firm　outlines；　for　she　had　never　fallen　from　that　〃grace　of　God　vouchsafed　to　children；〃　and　therefore　she　had　kept　not　only　the　enthusiasms　of　her　youth；　but　that　sweet　promise　of　the　〃times　of　restitution〃　when　the　child　shall　die　one　hundred　years　old；　because　the　child…heart　shal