the man between(夹在中间的人)-第21章
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〃I really cannot； Dora。 It is not my house。 I am only a guest there。〃
〃Never mind。 Make no more excuses。 I see how it is。 You always were
jealous of Fred's liking for me。 And of course when he goes down to
Mostyn you would prefer me to be absent。〃
〃Good…by； Dora！ I have a deal of shopping to do； and there is not much
time before the ball； for many things will be to make。〃
〃The ball！ What ball？〃
〃Only one at Rawdon Court。 The neighbors have been exceedingly
kind to us； and the Squire is going to give a dinner and ball on the first of
August。〃
〃Sit down and tell me about the neighbors and the ball。〃
〃I cannot。 I promised Ruth to be back at five。 Our modiste is to see us
at that hour。〃
〃So Ruth is with you！ Why did she not call on me？〃
〃Did you think I should come to London alone？ And Ruth did not call
because she was too busy。〃
〃Everyone and everything comes before me now。 I used to be first of
all。 I wish I were in Newport with dad and mamma； even Bryce would be
a comfort。〃
〃As I said before； you have Mr。 Stanhope。〃
〃Are you going to send for me to the ball？〃
〃I cannot promise that； Dora。 Good…by。〃
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Dora did not answer。 She buried her face in the soft pillow； and Ethel
closed the door to the sound of her sobs。 But they did not cause her to
return or to make any foolish promises。 She divined their insincerity and
their motive； and had no mind to take any part in forwarding the latter。
And Ruth assured her she had acted wisely。 〃If trouble should ever
come of this friendship；〃 she said； 〃Dora would very likely complain that
you had always thrown Mostyn in her way； brought him to her house in
New York； and brought her to him at Rawdon； in England。 Marriage is
such a risk； Ethel； but to marry without the courage to adapt oneself。 AH！〃
〃You think that condition unspeakably hard？〃
〃There are no words for it。〃
〃Dora was not reticent； I assure you。〃
〃I am sorry。 A wife's complaints are self… inflicted wounds； scattered
seeds； from which only misery can spring。 I hope you will not see her
again at this time。〃
〃I made no promise to do so。〃
〃And where all is so uncertain； we had better suppose all is right than
that all is wrong。 Even if there was the beginning of wrong； it needs but an
accident to prevent it； and there are so many。〃
〃Accidents！〃
〃Yes； for accident is God's part in affairs。 We call it accident； it would
be better to say an interposition。〃
〃Dora told me Mostyn intended to buy Rawdon Court in September；
and he has even invited the Stanhopes to stay there next summer。〃
〃What did you say？〃
〃Nothing against it。〃
〃Very good。 Do you think Mostyn is in London now？〃
〃I should not wonder。 I am sure Dora is expecting him。〃
In fact； the next morning they met Dora and Basil Stanhope； driving in
Hyde Park with Mostyn； but the smiling greeting which passed between
the parties did not； except in the case of Basil Stanhope； fairly represent
the dominant feeling of anyone。 As for Stanhope； his nature was so clear
and truthful that he would hardly have comprehended a smile which was
intended to veil feelings not to be called either quite friendly or quite
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pleasant。 After this meeting all the joy went out of Ruth and Ethel's
shopping。 They wanted to get back to the Court； and they attended strictly
to business in order to do so。
Mostyn followed them very quickly。 He was exceedingly anxious to
see and hear for himself how his affairs regarding Rawdon stood。 They
were easily made plain to him； and he saw with a pang of disappointment
that all his hopes of being Squire of Rawdon Manor were over。 Every
penny he could righteously claim was paid to him； and on the title deeds
of the ancient place he had no longer the shadow of a claim。 The Squire
looked ten years younger as he affectionately laid both hands on the
redeemed parchments； and Mostyn with enforced politeness congratulated
him on their integrity and then made a hurried retreat。 Of its own kind this
disappointment was as great as the loss of Dora。 He could think of neither
without a sense of immeasurable and disastrous failure。 One petty
satisfaction regarding the payment of the mortgage was his only com… fort。
He might now show McLean that it was not want of money that had made
him hitherto shy of 〃the good investments〃 offered him。 He had been sure
McLean in their last interview had thought so； and had； indeed； felt the
half…veiled contempt with which the rich young man had expressed his
pity for Mostyn's inability to take advantage at the right moment of an
exceptional chance to play the game of beggaring his neighbor。 Now； he
told himself； he would show McLean and his braggart set that good birth
and old family was for once allied with plenty of money； and he also
promised his wounded sensibilities some very desirable reprisals； every
one of which he felt fully competent to take。
It was； after all； a poor compensation； but there was also the gold。 He
thanked his father that day for the great thoughtfulness and care with
which he had amassed this sum for him； and he tried to console himself
with the belief that gold answered all purposes； and that the yellow metal
was a better possession than the house and lands which he had longed for
with an inherited and insensate craving。
Two days after this event Ethel； at her father's direction； signed a
number of papers； and when that duty was completed； the Squire rose
from his chair； kissed her hands and her cheeks； and in a voice full of
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tenderness and pride said； 〃I pay my respects to the future lady of Rawdon
Manor； and I thank God for permitting me to see this hour。 Most welcome；
Lady Ethel； to the rights you inherit； and the rights you have bought。〃 It
was a moment hardly likely to be duplicated in any life； and Ethel escaped
from its tense emotions as soon as possible。 She could not speak； her heart
was too full of joy and wonder。 There are souls that say little and love
much。 How blessed are they！
On the following morning the invitations were sent for the dinner and
dance； but the time was put forward to the eighth of August。 In everyone's
heart there was a hope that before that day Mostyn would have left
Rawdon； but the hope was barely mentioned。 In the meantime he came
and went between Mostyn and Rawdon as he desired； and was received
with that modern politeness which considers it best to ignore offenses that
our grandfathers and grandmothers would have held for strict account and
punishment。
It was evident that he had frequent letters from Dora。 He knew all her
movements； and spoke several times of opening Mostyn Hall and inviting
the Stanhopes to stay with him until their return to America。 But as this
suggestion did not bring from any member of the Rawdon family the
invitation hoped for； it was not acted upon。 He told himself the expense
would be great； and the Hall； in spite of all he could do in the interim；
would look poor and shabby compared with Rawdon Court； so he put
aside the proposal on the ground that he could not persuade his aunt to do
the entertaining necessary。 And for all the irritation and humiliations
centering round his loss of Rawdon and his inabilities with regard to Dora
he blamed Ethel。 He was sure if he had been more lovable and
encouraging he could have married her； and thus finally reached Rawdon
Court； and then； with all the unreason imaginable； nursed a hearty dislike
to her because she would not understand his desires； and provide means
for their satisfaction。 The bright； joyous girl with her loving heart； her
abounding vitality； and constant cheerfulness； made him angry。 In none of
her excellencies he had any share； consequently he hated her。
He would have quickly returned to London； but Dora and her husband
were staying with the Stanhopes； and her letters from Stanhope Castle
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were lachrymose complaints of the utter weariness and dreariness of life
there the preaching and reading aloud； the regular walking and drivingall
the innocent method of lives which recognized they were here for some
higher purpose than mere physical enjoyment。 And it angered Mostyn that
neither Ruth nor Ethel felt any sympathy for Dora's ennui； and proposed
no means of releasing her from it。 He considered them both disgustingly
selfish and ill… natured； and was certain that all their reluctance at Dora's
presence arose from their jealousy of her beauty and her enchanting grace。
On the afternoon of the day preceding the intended entertainment Ruth；
Ethel； and the Squire were in the great dining…room superintending its
decoration。 They were merrily laughing and chatting； and were not aware
of the arrival of any visitors until Mrs。 Nicholas Rawdon's rosy； good…
natured face appeared at the open door。 Everyone welcomed her gladly；
and the Squire offered her a seat。
〃Nay； Squire；〃 she said； 〃I'm come to ask a favor； and I won't sit till I
know whether I get it or not； for if I don't get it； I shall say good…by as
quickly as I can。 Our John Thomas came home this morning and his friend
with him； and I want invitations for the young men； both of them。 My
great pleasure lies that wayif you'll give it to me。〃
〃Most gladly；〃 answered the Squire； and Ethel immediately went for
the necess
