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you fill up the paper with the Tyrrel…Rawdons。〃
〃I will write you often； Granny； and tell you everything。〃
〃I shouldn't wonder if you come across Dora Stanhope； but I wouldn't
ask her to Rawdon。 She'll mix some cup of bother if you do。〃
〃I know。〃
In such loving and intimate conversation the hours sped quickly； and
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Ethel could not bear to cut short her visit。 It was nearly five when she left
Gramercy Park； but the day being lovely； and the avenue full of carriages
and pedestrians； she took the drive at its enforced tardiness without
disapproval。 Almost on entering the avenue from Madison Square there
was a crush； and her carriage came to a standstill。 She was then opposite
the store of a famous English saddler； and near her was an open carriage
occupied by a middle…aged gentleman in military uniform。 He appeared to
be waiting for someone； and in a moment or two a young man came out of
the saddlery store； and with a pleasant laugh entered the carriage。 It was
the Apollo of her dreams； the singer of the Holland House pavement。 She
could not doubt it。 His face； his figure； his walk； and the pleasant smile
with which he spoke to his companion were all positive characteristics。
She had forgotten none of them。 His dress was altered to suit the season；
but that was an improvement； for divested of his heavy coat； and clothed
only in a stylish afternoon suit； his tall； fine figure showed to great
advantage； and Ethel told herself that he was even handsomer than she had
supposed him to be。
Almost as soon as he entered his carriage there was a movement； and
she hoped her driver might advance sufficiently to make recognition
possible； but some feeling； she knew not what； prevented her giving any
order leading to this result。 Perhaps she had an instinctive presentiment
that it was best to leave all to Destiny。 Toward the upper part of the avenue
the carriage of her eager observation came to a stand before a warehouse
of antique furniture and bric…a…brac； and； as it did so； a beautiful woman
ran down the steps； and Apollo； for so Ethel had men… tally called him；
went hurriedly to meet her。 Finally her coachman passed the party； and
there was a momentary recognition。 He was bending forward； listening to
something the lady was saying； when the vehicles almost touched each
other。 He flashed a glance at them； and met the flash of Ethel's eyes full of
interest and curiosity。
It was over in a moment； but in that moment Ethel saw his
astonishment and delight； and felt her own eager questioning answered。
Then she was joyous and full of hope； for 〃these two silent meetings are
promises；〃 she said to Ruth。 〃I feel sure I shall see him again； and then we
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shall speak to each other。〃
〃I hope you are not allowing yourself to feel too much interest in this
man； Ethel； he is very likely married。〃
〃Oh； no！ I am sure he is not； Ruth。〃
〃How can you be sure？ You know nothing about him。〃
〃I cannot tell HOW I know； nor WHY I know； but I believe what I feel；
and he is as much interested in me as I am in him。 I confess that is a great
deal。〃
〃You may never see him again。〃
〃I shall expect to see him next winter； he evidently lives in New York。〃
〃The lady you saw may be his wife。 Don't be interested in any man on
unknown ground； Ethel。 It is not prudentit is not right。〃
〃Time will show。 He will very likely be looking for me this summer at
Newport and elsewhere。 He will be glad to see me when I come home。
Don't worry； Ruth。 It is all right。〃
〃Fred called soon after you went out this morning。 He left for Newport
this afternoon。 He will be at sea now。〃
〃And we shall be there in a few days。 When I am at the seaside I
always feel a delicious torpor； yet Nelly Baldwin told me she loved an
Atlantic passage because she had such fun on board。 You have crossed
several times； Ruth； is it fun or torpor？〃
〃All mirth at sea soon fades away； Ethel。 Passengers are a very dull
class of people； and they know it； they rebel against it； but every hour it
becomes more natural to be dull。 Very soon all mentally accommodate
themselves to being bored； dreamy and dreary。 Then； as soon as it is dark；
comes that old mysterious； hungering sound of the sea； and I for one listen
till I can bear it no longer； and so steal away to bed with a pain in my
heart。〃
〃I think I shall like the ocean。 There are games； and books； and
company； and dinners； and other things。〃
〃Certainly； and you can think yourself happy； until gradually a
contented cretinism steals over you； body and mind。〃
〃No； no！〃 said Ethel enthusiastically。 〃I shall do according to
Swinburne
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〃‘Have therefore in my heart； and in my mouth； The sound of
song that mingles North and South； And in my Soul the sense of all the
Sea！'〃
And Ruth laughed at her dramatic attitude； and answered： 〃The soul
of all the sea is a contented cretinism； Ethel。 But in ten days we may be in
Yorkshire。 And then； my dear； you may meet your Princesome fine
Yorkshire gentleman。〃
〃I have strictly and positively promised myself that my Prince shall be
a fine American gentleman。〃
〃My dear Ethel； it is very seldom
〃‘the time； and the place； And the Loved One； come
together。'〃
〃I live in the land of good hope； Ruth； and my hopes will be
realized。〃
〃We shall see。〃
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PART THIRD
〃I WENT DOWN INTO THE GARDEN TO SEE IF THE
POMEGRANATES BUDDED。 Song of Solomon； VI。 11。
CHAPTER VII
IT was a lovely afternoon on the last day of May。 The sea and all the
toil and travail belonging to it was overpass； and Judge Rawdon； Ruth and
Ethel were driving in lazy； blissful contentment through one of the lovely
roads of the West Riding。 On either hand the beautifully cut hedges were
white and sweet； and a caress of scentthe soul of the hawthorne flower
enfolded them。 Robins were singing on the topmost sprays； and the linnet's
sweet babbling was heard from the happy nests in its secret places； while
from some unseen steeple the joyful sound of chiming bells made music
between heaven and earth fit for bands of traveling angels。
They had dined at a wayside inn on jugged hare； roast beef； and
Yorkshire pudding； clotted cream and haver （oaten） bread； and the careless
stillness of physical well…being and of minds at ease needed no speech； but
the mutual smiling nod of intimate sympathy。 For the sense of joy and
beauty which makes us eloquent is far inferior to that sense which makes
us silent。
This exquisite pause in life was suddenly ended by an exclamation
from the Judge。 They were at the great iron gates of Rawdon Park； and
soon were slowly traversing its woody solitudes。 The soft light； the
unspeakable green of the turf； the voice of ancient days murmuring in the
great oak trees； the deer asleep among the ferns； the stillness of the
summer afternoon filling the air with drowsy peace this was the
atmosphere into which they entered。 Their road through this grand park of
three hundred acres was a wide； straight avenue shaded with beech trees。
The green turf on either hand was starred with primroses。 In the deep
undergrowth； ferns waved and fanned each other； and the scent of hidden
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violets saluted as they passed。 Drowsi