按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃When？〃
〃Some time this fall。 Then next year he will entertain us； and that will
be a little different to this desolate hotel； I think。〃
〃How long will you be in London？〃
〃I cannot say。 We are invited to Stanhope Castle； but I don't want to go
there。 We stayed with the Stanhopes a week when we first came over。
86
… Page 87…
The Man Between
They were then in their London house； and I got enough of them。〃
〃Did you dislike the family？〃
〃No； I cared nothing about them。 They just bored me。 They are
extremely religious。 We had prayers night and morning； and a prayer
before and after every meal。 They read only very good books； and the
Honorable Misses Stanhope sew for the poor old women and teach the
poor young ones。 They work harder than anyone I ever knew； and they call
it ‘improving the time。' They thought me a very silly； reckless young
woman； and I think they all prayed for me。 One night after they had sung
some very nice songs they asked me to play； and I began with ‘My Little
Brown Rose'you know they all adore the negro and little by little I
dropped into the funniest coon songs I knew； and oh how they laughed！
Even the old lord stroked his knees and laughed out loud； while the young
ladies laughed into their handkerchiefs。 Lady Stanhope was the only one
who comprehended I was guying them； and she looked at me with half…
shut eyes in a way that would have spoiled some girls' fun。 It only made
me the merrier。 So I tried to show them a cake walk； but the old lord rose
then and said ‘I must be tired； and they would excuse me。' Somehow I
could not manage him。 Basil was at a workman's concert； and when he
came home I think there were some advices and remonstrances； but Basil
never told me。 I felt as if they were all glad when I went away； and I don't
wish to go to the Castle and I won't go either。〃
〃But if Basil wishes to go〃
〃He can go alone。 I rather think Fred Mostyn will be here in a few
days； and he will take me to places that Basil will notinnocent places
enough； Ethel； so you need not look so shocked。 Why do you not ask me
to Rawdon Court？〃
〃Because I am only a guest there。 I have no right to ask you。〃
〃I am sure if you told Squire Rawdon how fond you are of me； and
how lonely I am； he would tell you to send for me。〃
〃I do not believe he would。 He has old… fashioned ideas about newly
married people。 He would hardly think it possible that you would be
willing to go anywhere without Basilyet。〃
〃He could ask Basil too。〃
87
… Page 88…
The Man Between
〃If Mr。 Mostyn is coming home； he can ask you to Mostyn Hall。 It is
very near Rawdon Court。〃
〃Yes。 Fred said as soon as he had possession of the Court he could put
both places into a ring fence。 Then he would live at the Court。 If he asks us
there next summer I shall be sure to beg an invitation for you also； so I
think you might deserve it by getting me one now。 I don't want to go to
Mostyn yet。 Fred says it needs entire refurnishing； and if we come to the
Court next summer； I have promised to give him my advice and help in
making the place pretty and up to date。 Have you seen Mostyn Hall？〃
〃I have passed it several times。 It is a large； gloomy…looking place I
was going to say haunted…looking。 It stands in a grove of yew trees。〃
〃So you are not going to ask me to Rawdon Court？〃
〃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。〃
88
… Page 89…
The Man Between
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
89
… Page 90…
The Man Between
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 tha