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mockery and jealousy in her heart。 This was an entirely different Dora to
the lachrymose； untidy wife at the Savoy Hotel in London； and Ethel had a
momentary pang at the thought of the suffering which was responsible for
the change。
〃If I had thought； Dora； you were so uncomfortable； I would have
asked Basil and you to the Court。〃
〃You saw I was not happy when I was at the Savoy。〃
〃I thought you and Basil had had a kind of lovers' quarrel； and that it
would blow over in an hour or two； no one likes to meddle with an affair
of that kind。 Are you going to Newport； or is Mrs。 Denning in New York？〃
〃That is another trouble； Ethel。 When I wrote mother I wanted to come
to her； she sent me word she was going to Lenox with a friend。 Then； like
you； she said ‘she had no liberty to invite me；' and so on。 I never knew
mother act in such a way before。 I nearly broke my heart about it for a few
days； then I made up my mind I wouldn't care。〃
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〃Mrs。 Denning； I am sure； thought she did the wisest and kindest thing
possible。〃
〃I didn't want mother to be wise。 I wanted her to understand that I was
fairly worn out with my present life and needed a change。 I'm sure she did
understand。 Then why was she so cruel？〃 and she shrugged her shoulders
impatiently and sat down。 〃I'm so tired of life；〃 she continued。 〃When did
you hear of Fred Mostyn？〃
〃I know nothing of his movements。 Is he in America？〃
〃Somewhere。 I asked mother if he was in Newport； and she never
answered the ques… tion。 I suppose he will be in New York for the winter
season。 I hope so。〃
This topic threatened to be more dangerous than the other； and Ethel；
after many and futile attempts to bring conversation into safe
commonplace channels； pleaded other engagements and went away。 She
was painfully depressed by the interview。 All the elements of tragedy were
gathered together under the roof she had just left； and； as far as she could
see； there was no deliverer wise and strong enough to prevent a calamity。
She did not repeat to Ruth the conversation which had been so painful to
her。 She described Dora's dress and appearance； and commented on Fred
Mostyn's description of Tyrrel Rawdon； and on Mrs。 Denning's refusal of
her daughter's proposed visit。
Ruth thought the latter circumstance significant。 〃I dare say Mostyn
was in Newport at that time；〃 she answered。 〃Mrs。 Denning has some very
quick perceptions。〃 And Ruth's opinion was probably correct； for during
dinner the Judge remarked in a casual manner that he had met Mr。 Mostyn
on the avenue as he was coming home。 〃He was well；〃 he said； 〃and made
all the usual inquiries as to your health。〃 And both Ruth and Ethel
understood that he wished them to know of Mostyn's presence in the city；
and to be prepared for meeting him； but did not care to discuss the subject
further； at least at that time。 The information brought precisely the same
thought at the same moment to both women； and as soon as they were
alone they uttered it。
〃She knew Mostyn was in the city；〃 said Ethel in a low voice。
〃Certainly。〃
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〃She was expecting him。〃
〃I am sure of it。〃
〃Her elaborate and beautiful dressing was for him。〃
〃Poor Basil！〃
〃She asked me to stay and lunch with her； but very coolly； and when I
refused； did not press the matter as she used to do。 Yes； she was expecting
him。 I understand now her nervous manner； her restlessness； her
indifference to my short visit。 I wish I could do anything。〃
〃You cannot； and you must not try。〃
〃Some one must try。〃
〃There is her husband。 Have you heard from Tyrrel yet；〃
〃I have had a couple of telegrams。 He will write from Chicago。〃
〃Is he going at once to the Hot Springs？〃
〃As rapidly as possible。 Colonel Rawdon is now there； and very ill。
Tyrrel will put his father first of all。 The trouble at the mine can be
investigated afterwards。〃
〃You will miss him very much。 You have been so happy together。〃
〃Of course I shall miss him。 But it will be a good thing for us to be
apart awhile。 Love must have some time in which to grow。 I am a little
tired of being very happy； and I think Tyrrel also will find absence a relief。
In ‘Lalla Rookh' there is a line about love ‘falling asleep in a sameness of
splendor。' It might。 How melancholy is a long spell of hot； sunshiny
weather； and how gratefully we welcome the first shower of rain。〃
〃Love has made you a philosopher； Ethel。〃
〃Well； it is rather an advantage than otherwise。 I am going to take a
walk； Ruth； into the very heart of Broadway。 I have had enough of the
peace of the country。 I want the crack； and crash； and rattle； and grind of
wheels； the confused cries； the snatches of talk and laughter； the tread of
crowds； the sound of bells； and clocks； and chimes。 I long for all the
chaotic； unintelligible noise of the streets。 How suggestive it is！ Yet it
never explains itself。 It only gives one a full sense of life。 Love may need
just the same stimulus。 I wish grandmother would come home。 I should
not require Broadway as a stimulus。 I am afraid she will be very angry
with me； and there will be a battle royal in Gramercy Park。〃 It was
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nearly a week before Ethel had this crisis to meet。 She went down to it
with a radiant face and charming manner； and her reception was very
cordial。 Madam would not throw down the glove until the proper moment；
besides； there were many very interesting subjects to talk over； and she
wanted 〃to find things out〃 that would never be told unless tempers were
propitious。 Added to these reasons was the solid one that she really adored
her granddaughter； and was immensely cheered by the very sight of the
rosy； smiling countenance lifted to her sitting…room window in passing。
She； indeed； pretended to be there in order to get a good light for her new
shell pattern； but she was watching for Ethel； and Ethel understood the
shell…pattern fiction very well。 She had heard something similar often。
〃My darling grandmother；〃 she cried； 〃I thought you would never
come home。〃
〃It wasn't my fault； dear。 Miss Hillis and an imbecile young doctor
made me believe I had a cold。 I had no cold。 I had nothing at all but what I
ought to have。 I've been made to take all sorts of things； and do all sorts of
things that I hate to take and hate to do。 For ten days I've been kicking my
old heels against bedclothes。 Yesterday I took things in my own hands。〃
〃Never mind； Granny dear； it was all a good discipline。〃
〃Discipline！ You impertinent young lady！ Discipline for your
grandmother！ Discipline； indeed！ That one word may cost you a thousand
dollars； miss。〃
〃I don't care if it does； only you must give the thousand dollars to poor
Miss Hillis。〃
〃Poor Miss Hillis has had a most comfortable time with me all
summer。〃
〃I know she has； consequently she will feel her comfortless room and
poverty all the more after it。 Give her the thousand； Granny。 I'm willing。〃
〃What kind of company have you been keeping； Ethel Rawdon？ Who
has taught you to squander dollars by the thousand？ Discipline！ I think
you are giving me a little nowa thousand dollars a lesson； it seems no
wonder； after the carryings…on at Rawdon Court。〃
〃Dear grandmother； we had the loveliest time you can imagine。 And
there is not； in all the world； such a noble old gentleman as Squire Percival
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Rawdon。〃
〃I know all about Percival Rawdona proud； careless； extravagant；
loose…at…ends man； dancing and singing and loving as it suited time and
season； taki