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right with at least a dozen intermarriages。〃
〃That also is pure sentiment。 Gold at last will carry the succession。〃
〃But not your gold； I infer？〃
〃Not my gold； certainly not。〃
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〃Thank you for your decisive words They make my course clear。〃
〃That is well。 As to your summer movements； I am equally unable to
give you advice。 I think you need the sea for a month； and after that
McLean's scheme is good。 And a return to Mostyn to look after your
affairs is equally good。 If I were you； I should follow my inclinations。 If
you put your heart into anything； it is well done and enjoyed； if you do a
thing because you think you ought to do it； failure and disappointment are
often the results。 So do as you want to do； it is the only advice I can offer
you。〃
〃Thank you； sir。 It is very acceptable。 I may leave for Newport to…
morrow。 I shall call on the ladies in the morning。〃
〃I will tell them； but it is just possible that they； too； go to the country
to…morrow； to look after a little cottage on the Hudson we occupy in the
summer。 Good…by； and I hope you will soon recover your usual health。〃
Then the Judge lifted his hat； and with a courteous movement left the
room。 His face had the same suave urbanity of expression； but he could
hardly restrain the passion in his heart。 Placid as he looked when he
entered his house； he threw off all pretenses as soon as he reached his
room。 The Yorkshire spirit which Ethel had declared found him out once
in three hundred and sixty…four days and twenty…three hours was then in
full pos… session。 The American Judge had disappeared。 He looked as like
his ancestors as anything outside of a painted picture could do。 His flushed
face； his flashing eyes； his passionate exclamations； the stamp of his foot；
the blow of his hand； the threatening attitude of his whole figure was but a
replica of his great…grandfather； Anthony Rawdon； giving Radicals at the
hustings or careless keepers at the kennels 〃a bit of his mind。〃
〃‘Mostyn； seems to be the natural owner of Rawdon！ Rawdon Court
lies at Mostyn's gate！ Natural that the Mostyns should succeed the
Rawdons！ Bought the right by a dozen intermarriages！' Confound the
impudent rascal！ Does he think I will see Squire Rawdon rogued out of his
home？ Not if I can help it！ Not if Ethel can help it！ Not if heaven and earth
can help it！ He's a downright rascal！ A cool； unruffled； impudent rascal！〃
And these ejaculations were followed by a bitter； biting； blasting hailstorm
of such epithets as could only be written with one letter and a dash。
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But the passion of imprecation cooled and satisfied his anger in this its
first impetuous outbreak； and he sat down； clasped the arms of his chair；
and gave himself a peremptory order of control。 In a short time he rose；
bathed his head and face in cold water； and began to dress for dinner。 And
as he stood before the glass he smiled at the restored color and calm of his
countenance。
〃You are a prudent lawyer；〃 he said sarcastically。 〃How many
actionable words have you just uttered！ If the devil and Fred Mostyn have
been listening； they can； as mother says； ‘get the law on you'； but I think
Ethel and I and the law will be a match even for the devil and Fred
Mostyn。〃 Then； as he slowly went downstairs； he repeated to himself；
〃Mostyn seems to be the natural owner of Rawdon。 No； sir； neither natural
nor legal owner。 Rawdon Court lies at Mostyn gate。 Not yet。 Mostyn lies
at Rawdon gate。 Natural that the Mostyns should succeed the Rawdons。
Power of God！ Neither in this generation nor the next。〃
And at the same moment Mostyn； having thought over his interview
with Judge Rawdon； walked thoughtfully to a window and muttered to
himself： 〃Whatever was the matter with the old man？ Polite as a courtier；
but something was wrong。 The room felt as if there was an iceberg in it；
and he kept his right hand in his pocket。 I be… lieve he was afraid I would
shake hands with himit is Ethel； I suppose。 Naturally he is disappointed。
Wanted her at Rawdon。 Well； it is a pity； but I really cannot！ Oh； Dora！
Dora！ My heart； my hungry and thirsty heart calls you！ Burning with love；
dying with longing； I am waiting for you！〃
The dinner passed pleasantly enough； but both Ethel and Ruth noticed
the Judge was under strong but well…controlled feeling。 While servants
were present it passed for high spirits； but as soon as the three were alone
in the library； the excitement took at once a serious aspect。
〃My dears；〃 he said； standing up and facing them； 〃I have had a very
painful interview with Fred Mostyn。 He holds a mortgage over Rawdon
Court； and is going to press it in Septemberthat is； he proposes to sell the
place in order to obtain his money and the poor Squire！〃 He ceased
speaking； walked across the room and back again； and appeared greatly
disturbed。
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〃What of the Squire？〃 asked Ruth。
〃God knows； Ruth。 He has no other home。〃
〃Why is this thing to be done？ Is there no way to prevent it？〃
〃Mostyn wants the money； he says； to invest in American securities。
He does not。 He wants to force a sale； so that he may buy the place for the
mortgage； and then either keep it for his pride； or more likely resell it to
the Tyrrel…Rawdons for double the money。〃 Then with gradually
increasing passion he repeated in a low； intense voice the remarks which
Mostyn had made； and which had so infuriated the Judge。 Before he had
finished speaking the two women had caught his temper and spirit。 Ethel's
face was white with anger； her eyes flashing； her whole attitude full of
fight。 Ruth was troubled and sorrowful； and she looked anxiously at the
Judge for some solution of the condition。 It was Ethel who voiced the
anxiety。 〃Father；〃 she asked； 〃what is to be done？ What can you do？〃
〃Nothing； I am sorry to say； Ethel。 My money is absolutely tied upfor
this year； at any rate。 I cannot touch it without wronging others as well as
myself； nor yet without the most ruinous sacrifice。〃
〃If I could do anything； I would not care at what sacrifice。〃
〃You can do all that is necessary； Ethel； and you are the only person
who can。 You have at least eight hundred thousand dollars in cash and
negotiable securities。 Your mother's fortune is all yours； with its legitimate
accruements； and it was left at your own disposal after your twenty…first
birthday。 It has been at your own disposal WITH MY CONSENT since
your nineteenth birthday。〃
〃Then； father； we need not trouble about the Squire。 I wish with all my
heart to make his home sure to him as long as he lives。 You are a lawyer；
you know what ought to be done。〃
〃Good girl！ I knew what you would say and do； or I should not have
told you the trouble there was at Rawdon。 Now； I propose we all make a
visit to Rawdon Court； see the Squire and the property； and while there
perfect such arrangements as seem kindest and wisest。 Ruth； how soon can
we be ready to sail？〃
〃Father； do you really mean that we are to go to England？〃
〃It is the only thing to do。 I must see that all is as Mostyn says。 I must
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not let you throw your money away。〃
〃That is only prudent；〃 said Ruth； 〃and we can be ready for the first
steamer if you wish it。〃
〃I am delighted； father。 I long to see England； more than all； I long to
see Rawdon。 I did not know until this moment how much I loved it。〃
〃Well； then； I will have all ready for us to sail next Saturday。 Say
nothing about it to Mostyn。 He will call to…morrow morning to bid you
good…by before leaving for Newport with McLean。 Try and be out。〃
〃I shall certainly be out；〃 said Ethel。 〃I do not wish ever to see his face
again； and I must see grandmother and tel