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〃Why not buy it yourself？〃
〃I would lift the mortgage to…morrow if I had the means。 I have not at
present。〃
〃Well； I am in the same box。 You have just spoken as if the Mostyns
and Rawdons had an equal interest in Rawdon Court。 Very well； then； it
cannot be far wrong for Fred Mostyn to have it。 Many a Mostyn has gone
there as wife and slave。 I would dearly like to see one Mostyn go as
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master。〃
〃I shall get no help from you； then； I understand that。〃
〃I'm Mostyn by birth； I'm only Rawdon by； marriage。 The birth…band
ties me fast to my family。〃
〃Good morning； mother。 You have failed me for the first time in your
life。〃
〃If the money had been for you； Edward； or yours〃
〃It isgood…by。〃
She called him back peremptorily； and he returned and stood at the
open door。
〃Why don't you ask Ethel？〃
〃I did not think I had the right； mother。〃
〃More right to ask her than I。 See what she says。 She's Rawdon； every
inch of her。〃
〃Perhaps I may。 Of course； I can sell securities； but it would be at a
sacrifice a great sacrifice at present。〃
〃Ethel has the cash； and； as I said； she is RawdonI'm not。〃
〃I wish my father were alive。〃
〃He wouldn't move meyou needn't think that。 What I have said to
you I would have said to him。 Speak to Ethel。 I'll be bound she'll listen if
Rawdon calls her。〃
〃I don't like to speak to Ethel。〃
〃It isn't what you like to do； it's what you find you'll have to do； that
carries the day； and a good thing； too； considering。〃
〃Good morning； again。 You are not quite yourself； I think。〃
〃Well； I didn't sleep last night； so there's no wonder if I'm a bit cross
this morning。 But if I lose my temper； I keep my understanding。〃
She was really cross by this time。 Her son had put her in a position she
did not like to assume。 No love for Rawdon Court was in her heart。 She
would rather have advanced the money to buy an American estate。 She
had been little pleased at Fred's mortgage on the old place； but to the
American Rawdons she felt it would prove a white elephant； and the
appeal to Ethel was advised because she thought it would amount to
nothing。 In the first place； the Judge had the strictest idea of the sacredness
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of the charge committed to him as guardian of his daughter's fortune。 In
the second； Ethel inherited from her Yorkshire ancestry an intense sense of
the value and obligations of money。 She was an ardent American； and not
likely to spend it on an old English manor； and； furthermore； Madam's
penetration had discovered a growing dislike in her granddaughter for
Fred Mostyn。
〃She'd never abide him for a lifelong neighbor；〃 the old lady decided。
〃It is the Rawdon pride in her。 The Rawdon men have condescended to go
to Mostyn for wives many and many a time； but never once have the
Mostyn men married a Rawdon girlproud； set…up women； as far as I
remember； and Ethel has a way with her just like them。 Fred is good
enough and nice enough for any girl； and I wonder what is the matter with
him！ It is a week and more since he was here； and then he wasn't a bit like
himself。〃
At this moment the bell rang and she heard Fred's voice inquiring 〃if
Madam was at home。〃 Instantly she divined the motive of his call。 The
young man had come to the conclusion the Judge would try to influence
his mother； and before meeting him in the afternoon he wished to have
some idea of the trend matters were likely to take。 His policy cunning；
Madam called itdid not please her。 She immediately assured herself that
〃she wouldn't go against her own flesh and blood for anyone；〃 and his wan
face and general air of wretchedness further antagonized her。 She asked
him fretfully 〃what he had been doing to himself； for；〃 she added； 〃it's
mainly what we do to ourselves that makes us sick。 Was it that everlasting
wedding of the Denning girl？〃
He flushed angrily； but answered with much of the same desire to
annoy； 〃I suppose it was。 I felt it very much。 Dora was the loveliest girl in
the city。 There are none left like her。〃
〃It will be a good thing for New York if that is the case。 I'm not one
that wants the city to myself； but I can spare Dora STANHOPE； and feel
the better for it。〃
〃The most beautiful of God's creatures！〃
〃You've surely lost your sight or your judgment； Fred。 She is just a
dusky…skinned girl； with big； brown eyes。 You can pick her sort up by the
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thousand in any large city。 And a wandering…hearted； giddy creature； too；
that will spread as she goes； no doubt。 I'm sorry for Basil Stanhope； he
didn't deserve such a fate。〃
〃Indeed； he did not！ It is beyond measure too good for him。〃
〃I've always heard that affliction is the surest way to heaven。 Dora will
lead him that road； and it will be more sure than pleasant。 Poor fellow！
He'll soon be as ready to curse his wedding…day as Job was to curse his
birthday。 A costly wife she will be to keep； and misery in the keeping of
her。 But if you came to talk to me about Dora STANHOPE； I'll cease
talking； for I don't find it any great entertainment。〃
〃I came to talk to you about Squire Rawdon。〃
〃What about the Squire？ Keep it in your mind that he and I were
sweethearts when we were children。 I haven't forgotten that fact。〃
〃You know Rawdon Court is mortgaged to me？〃
〃I've heard you say somore than once。〃
〃I intend to foreclose the mortgage in September。 I find that I can get
twice yes； three timesthe interest for my money in American securities。〃
〃How do you know they are securities？〃
〃Bryce Denning has put me up to several good things。〃
〃Well； if you think good things can come that road； you are a bigger
fool than I ever thought you。〃
〃Fool！ Madam； I allow no one to call me a fool； especially without
reason。〃
〃Reason； indeed！ What reason was there in your dillydallying after
Dora Denning when she was engaged； and then making yourself like a
ghost for her after she is married？ As for the good things Bryce Denning
offers you in exchange for a grand English manor； take them； and then if I
called you not fool before； I will call you fool in your teeth twice over； and
much too good for you！ Aye； I could call you a worse name when I think
of the old Squirehe's two years older than I ambeing turned out of his
lifelong home。 Where is he to go to？〃
〃If I buy the place； for of course it will have to be sold； he is welcome
to remain at Rawdon Court。〃
〃And he would deserve to do it if he were that low…minded； but if I
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know Squire Percival； he will go to the poor…house first。 Fred； you would
surely scorn such a dirty thing as selling the old man out of house and
home？〃
〃I want my money； or else I want Rawdon Manor。〃
〃And I have no objections either to your wanting it or having it； but；
for goodness' sake； wait until death gives you a decent warrant for buying
it。〃
〃I am afraid to delay。 The Squire has been very cool with me lately；
and my agent tells me the Tyrrel…Rawdons have been visiting him； also
that he has asked a great many questions about the Judge and Ethel。 He is
evidently trying to prevent me getting possession； and I know that old
Nicholas Rawdon would give his eyelids to own Rawdon Court。 As to the
Judge〃
〃My son wants none of it。 You can make your mind easy on that
score。〃
〃I think I behaved very decently； though； of course； no one gives me
credit for it； for as soon as I saw I must foreclose in order to get my own I
thought at once of Ethel。 It seemed to me that if we could love each other
the mone