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thought at once of Ethel。 It seemed to me that if we could love each other
the money claims of Mostyn and the inherited claims of Rawdon would
both be satisfied。 Unfortunately； I found that I could not love Ethel as a
wife should be loved。〃
〃And I can tell you； Fred； that Ethel never could have loved you as a
husband should be loved。 She was a good deal disappointed in you from
the very first。〃
〃I thought I made a favorable impression on her。〃
〃In a way。 She said you played the piano nicely； but Ethel is all for
handsome men； tall； erect six…footers； with a little swing and swagger to
them。 She thought you small and finicky。 But Ethel's rich enough to have
her fancy； I hope。〃
〃It is little matter now what she thought。 I can't please every one。〃
〃No； it's rather harder to do that than most people think it is。 I would
please my conscience first of all； Fred。 That's the point worth mentioning。
And I shall just remind you of one thing more： your money all in a lump
on Rawdon Manor is safe。 It is in one place； and in such shape as it can't
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run away nor be smuggled away by any man's trickery。 Now； then； turn
your eighty thousand pounds into dollars； and divide them among a score
of securities； and you'll soon find out that a fortune may be easily
squandered when it is in a great many hands； and that what looks
satisfactory enough when reckoned up on paper doesn't often realize in
hard money to the same tune。 I've said all now I am going to say。〃
〃Thank you for the advice given me。 I will take it as far as I can。 This
afternoon the Judge has promised to talk over the business with me。〃
〃The Judge never saw Rawdon Court； and he cares nothing about it；
but he can give you counsel about the ‘good things' Bryce Denning offers
you。 And you may safely listen to it； for； right or wrong； I see plainly it is
your own advice you will take in the long run。〃
Mostyn laughed pleasantly and went back to his hotel to think over the
facts gleaned from his conversation with Madam。 In the first place； he
understood that any overt act against Squire Rawdon would be deeply
resented by his American relatives。 But then he reminded himself that his
own relationship with them was merely sentiment。 He had now nothing to
hope for in the way of money。 Madam's apparently spontaneous and
truthful assertion； that the Judge cared nothing for Rawdon Court； was；
however； very satisfactory to him。 He had been foolish enough to think
that the thing he desired so passionately was of equal value in the
estimation of others。 He saw now that he was wrong； and he then
remembered that he had never found Judge Rawdon to evince either
interest or curiosity about the family home。
If he had been a keen observer； the Judge's face when he called might
have given his comfortable feelings some pause。 It was contracted； subtle；
intricate； but he came forward with a congratulation on Mostyn's improved
appearance。 〃A few weeks at the seaside would do you good；〃 he added；
and Mostyn answered； 〃I think of going to Newport for a month。〃
〃And then？〃
〃I want your opinion about that。 McLean advises me to see the
countryto go to Chicago； St。 Louis； Denver； cross the Rockies； and on to
California。 It seems as if that would be a grand summer programme。 But
my lawyer writes me that the man in charge at Mostyn is cutting too much
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timber and is generally too extravagant。 Then there is the question of
Rawdon Court。 My finances will not let me carry the mortgage on it
longer； unless I buy the place。〃
〃Are you thinking of that as probable？〃
〃Yes。 It will have to be sold。 And Mostyn seems to be the natural
owner after Rawdon。 The Mostyns have married Rawdons so frequently
that we are almost like one family； and Rawdon Court lies； as it were； at
Mostyn's gate。 The Squire is now old； and too easily persuaded for his
own welfare； and I hear the Tyrrel…Rawdons have been visiting him。 Such
a thing would have been incredible a few years ago。〃
〃Who are the Tyrrel…Rawdons？ I have no acquaintance with them。〃
〃They are the descendants of that Tyrrel… Rawdon who a century ago
married a handsome girl who was only an innkeeper's daughter。 He was of
course disowned and disinherited； and his children sank to the lowest
social grade。 Then when power…loom weaving was introduced they went
to the mills； and one of them was clever and saved money and built a little
mill of his own； and his son built a much larger one； and made a great deal
of money； and became Mayor of Leeds。 The next generation saw the
Tyrrel… Rawdons the largest loom…lords in Yorkshire。 One of the youngest
generation was my opponent in the last election and beat mea Radical
fellow beats the Conservative candidate always where weavers and
spinners hold the vote but I thought it my duty to uphold the Mostyn
banner。 You know the Mostyns have always been Tories and
Conservatives。〃
〃Excuse me； but I am afraid I am ignorant concerning Mostyn politics。
I take little interest in the English parties。〃
〃Naturally。 Well； I hope you will take an interest in my affairs and give
me your advice about the sale of Rawdon Court。〃
〃I think my advice would be useless。 In the first place； I never saw the
Court。 My father had an old picture of it； which has somehow disappeared
since his death； but I cannot say that even this picture interested me at all。
You know I am an American； born on the soil； and very proud of it。 Then；
as you are acquainted with all the ins and outs of the difficulties and
embarrassments； and I know nothing at all about them； you would hardly
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be foolish enough to take my opinion against your own。 I suppose the
Squire is in favor of your buying the Court？〃
〃I never named the subject to him。 I thought perhaps he might have
written to you on the matter。 You are the last male of the house in that
line。〃
〃He has never written to me about the Court。 Then； I am not the last
male。 From what you say； I think the Tyrrel…Rawdons could easily supply
an heir to Rawdon。〃
〃That is the thing to be avoided。 It would be a great offense to the
county families。〃
〃Why should they be considered？ A Rawdon is always a Rawdon。〃
〃But a cotton spinner； sir！ A mere mill… owner！〃
〃Well； I do not feel with you and the other county people in that
respect。 I think a cotton spinner； giving bread to a thousand families； is a
vastly more respectable and important man than a fox…hunting； idle
landlord。 A mill…owning Rawdon might do a deal of good in the sleepy old
village of Monk…Rawdon。〃
〃Your sentiments are American； not English； sir。〃
〃As I told you； we look at things from very different standpoints。〃
〃Do you feel inclined to lift the mortgage yourself； Judge？〃
〃I have not the power； even if I had the inclination to do so。 My money
is well invested； and I could not； at this time； turn bonds and securities into
cash without making a sacrifice not to be contemplated。 I confess；
however； that if the Court has to be sold； I should like the Tyrrel…Rawdons
to buy it。 I dare say the picture of the offending youth is still in the gallery；
and I have heard my mother say that what is another's always yearns for
its lord。 Driven from his heritage for Love's sake； it would be at least
interesting if Gold gave back to his children what Love lost them。〃
〃That is pure sentiment。 Surely it would be more natural that the
Mostyns should succeed the Rawdons。 We have； as it were； bought the
right with at least a dozen intermarriages。〃
〃That also is pure sentiment。