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organ； and very soon grand waves of melody rolled outward and upward；
and blended themselves with the clear； soaring voice of Joel； the lad who
blew the bellows of the instrument； and shared all his master's joy in it。
They played and sang until the Squire rose weary； but full of gladness。 The
look of immortality was in his eyes； its sure and certain hope in his heart。
He let Joel lead him to his chair by the window； and then he said to
himself with visible triumph：
〃What Mr。 Spencer or anyone else writes about ‘the Unknowable' I
care not。 I KNOW IN WHOM I have believed。 Joel； sing that last
sequence again。 Stand where I can see thee。〃 And the lad's joyful voice
rang exulting out：
〃Lord； Thou hast been our dwelling…place in all generations。 Before
the mountains were brought forth； or ever Thou hadst formed the world；
from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God！ Thou art God！ Thou art
God！〃
〃That will do； Joel。 Go thy ways now。 Lord； Thou hast been our
dwelling…place in all generations。 ‘Unknowable；' Thou hast been our
dwelling…place in all generations。 No； no； no； what an ungrateful sinner I
would be to change the Lord everlasting for the Unknowable。'〃
CHAPTER IX
NEW YORK is at its very brightest and best in October。 This month of
the year may be safely trusted not to disappoint。 The skies are blue； the air
balmy； and there is generally a delightful absence of wind。 The summer
exiles are home again from Jersey boarding houses； and mountain camps；
and seaside hotels； and thankful to the point of hilarity that this episode of
the year is over； that they can once more dwell under their own roofs
without breaking any of the manifest laws of the great goddess Custom or
Fashion。
Judge Rawdon's house had an especially charming 〃at home〃
appearance。 During the absence of the family it had been made beautiful
inside and outside； and the white stone； the plate glass； and falling lace
evident to the street； had an almost conscious look of luxurious propriety。
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The Judge frankly admitted his pleasure in his home surroundings。 He
said； as they ate their first meal in the familiar room； that 〃a visit to foreign
countries was a grand； patriotic tonic。〃 He vowed that the 〃first sight of
the Stars and Stripes at Sandy Hook had given him the finest emotion he
had ever felt in his life；〃 and was altogether in his proudest American
mood。 Ruth sympathized with him。 Ethel listened smiling。 She knew well
that the English strain had only temporarily exhausted itself； it would have
its period of revival at the proper time。
〃I am going to see grandmother；〃 she said gayly。 〃I shall stay with her
all day。〃
〃But I have a letter from her；〃 interrupted the Judge； 〃and she will not
return home until next week。〃
〃I am sorry。 I was anticipating so eagerly the joy of seeing her。 Well； as
I cannot do so； I will go and call on Dora Stanhope。〃
〃I would not if I were you； Ethel；〃 said Ruth。 〃Let her come and call
on you。〃
〃I had a little note from her this morning； welcoming me home； and
entreating me to call。〃
The Judge rose as Ethel was speaking； and no more was said about the
visit at that time but a few hours later Ethel came down from her room
ready for the street and frankly told Ruth she had made up her mind to call
on Dora。
〃Then I will only remind you； Ethel； that Dora is not a fortunate
woman to know。 As far as I can see； she is one of those who sow pain of
heart and vexation of spirit about every house they enter； even their own。
But I cannot gather experience for you； it will have to grow in your own
garden。〃
〃All right； dear Ruth； and if I do not like its growth； I will pull it up by
the roots； I assure you。〃
Ruth went with her to the door and watched her walk leisurely down
the broad steps to the street。 The light kindled in her eyes and on her face
as she did so。 She already felt the magnetism of the great city； and with a
laughing farewell walked rapidly toward Dora's house。
Her card brought an instant response； and she heard Dora's welcome
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before the door was opened。 And her first greeting was an enthusiastic
compliment； 〃How beautiful you have grown； Ethel！〃 she cried。 〃Ah； that
is the European finish。 You have gained it； my dear； you really are very
much improved。〃
〃And you also； Dora？〃
The words were really a question； but Dora accepted them as an
assertion； and was satisfied。
〃I suppose I am；〃 she answered； 〃though I'm sure I can't tell how it
should be so； unless worry of all kinds is good for good looks。 I've had
enough of that for a lifetime。〃
〃Now； Dora。〃
〃Oh； it's the solid truthpartly your fault too。〃
〃I never interfered〃
〃Of course you didn't； but you ought to have interfered。 When you
called on me in London you might have seen that I was not happy； and I
wanted to come to Rawdon Court； and you would not invite me。 I called
your behavior then ‘very mean；' and I have not altered my opinion of it。〃
〃There were good reasons； Dora； why I could not ask you。〃
〃Good reasons are usually selfish ones； Ethel； and Fred Mostyn told
me what they were。
〃He likely told you untruths； Dora； for he knew nothing about my
reasons。 I saw very little of him。〃
〃I know。 You treated him as badly as you treated me； and all for some
wild West creaturea regular cowboy； Fred said； but then a Rawdon！〃
〃Mr。 Mostyn has misrepresented Mr。 Tyrrel Rawdonthat is all about
it。 I shall not explain ‘how' or ‘why。' Did you enjoy yourself at Stanhope
Castle？〃
〃Enjoy myself！ Are you making fun of me？ Ethel； dear； it was the most
awful experience。 You never can imagine such a life； and such women。
They were dressed for a walk at six o'clock； they had breakfast at half…
past seven。 They went to the village and inspected cottages； and gave
lessons in housekeeping or dressmaking or some other drudgery till noon。
They walked back to the Castle for lunch。 They attended to their own
improvement from half…past one until four； had lessons in drawing and
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chemistry； and； I believe； electricity。 They had another walk； and then
indulged themselves with a cup of tea。 They dressed and received visitors；
and read science or theology between whiles。 There was always some
noted preacher or scholar at the dinner table。 The conversation was about
acids and explosives； or the planets or bishops； or else on the never； never…
ending subject of elevating the workingman and building schools for his
children。 Basil； of course； enjoyed it。 He thought he was giving me a
magnificent object lesson。 He was never done praising the ladies Mary
Elinor and Adelaide Stanhope。 I'm sure I wish he had married one or all of
themand I told him so。〃
〃You could not be so cruel； Dora。〃
〃I managed it with the greatest ease imaginable。 He was always
trotting at their side。 They spoke of him as ‘the most pious young man。' I
have no doubt they were all in love with him。 I hope they were。 I used to
pretend to be very much in love when they were present。 I dare say it
made them wretched。 Besides； they blushed and thought me improper。
Basil didn't approve； either； so I hit all round。〃
She rose at this memory and shook out her silk skirts； and walked up
and down the room with an air that was the visible expression of the
mockery and jealousy in her heart。 This was an entirely different Dora to
the lachrymose； untidy wife at the Savoy Hotel in London； and