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loose…at…ends man； dancing and singing and loving as it suited time and
season； taking no thought for the future； and spending with both hands；
hard on women； too； as could be。〃
〃Grandmother； I never saw a more courteous gentleman。 He worships
women。 He was never tired of talking about you。〃
〃What had he to say about me？〃
〃That you were the loveliest girl in the county； and that he never could
forget the first time he saw you。 He said you were like the vision of an
angel。〃
〃Nonsense！ I was just a pretty girl in a book muslin frock and a white
sash； with a rose at my breast。 I believe they use book muslin for linings
now； but it did make the sheerest； lightest frocks any girl could want。 Yes；
I remember that time。 I was going to a little party and crossing a meadow
to shorten the walk； and Squire Percival had been out with his gun； and he
laid it down and ran to help me over the stile。 A handsome young fellow
he was then as ever stepped in shoe leather。〃
〃And he must have loved you dearly。 He would sit hour after hour
telling Ruth and me how bright you were； and how all the young beaux
around Monk…Rawdon adored you。〃
〃Nonsense！ Nonsense！ I had beaux to be sure。 What pretty girl hasn't？〃
〃And he said his brother Edward won you because he was most
worthy of your love。〃
〃Well； now； I chose Edward Rawdon because he was willing to come
to America。 I longed to get away from Monk…Rawdon。 I was faint and
weary with the whole stupid place。 And the idea of living a free and equal
life； and not caring what lords and squires and their proud ladies said or
did； pleased me wonderfully。 We read about Niagara and the great prairies
and the new bright cities； and Edward and I resolved to make our home
there。 Your grandfather wasn't a man to like being ‘the Squire's brother。'
He could stand alone。〃
〃Are you glad you came to America？〃
〃Never sorry a minute for it。 Ten years in New York is worth fifty
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years in Monk… Rawdon； or Rawdon Court either。〃
〃Squire Percival was very fond of me。 He thought I resembled you；
grandmother； but he never admitted I was as handsome as you were。〃
〃Well； Ethel dear； you are handsome enough for the kind of men you'll
pick up in this generationmost of them bald at thirty； wearing spectacles
at twenty or earlier； and in spite of the fuss they make about athletics
breaking all to nervous bits about fifty。〃
〃Grandmother； that is pure slander。 I know some very fine young men；
handsome and athletic both。〃 〃Beauty is a matter of taste； and as to their
athletics； they can run a mile with a blacksmith； but when the thermometer
rises to eighty…five degrees it knocks them all to pieces。 They sit fanning
themselves like schoolgirls； and call for juleps and ice…water。 I've got eyes
yet； my dear。 Squire Percival was a different kind of man； he could follow
the hounds all day and dance all night。 The hunt had not a rider like him；
he balked at neither hedge； gate； nor water； a right gallant； courageous；
honorable； affectionate gentleman as ever Yorkshire bred； and she's bred
lots of superfine ones。 What ever made him get into such a mess with his
estate？ Your grandfather thought him as straight as a string in money
matters。〃
〃You said just now he was careless and extravagant。〃
〃Well； I did him wrong； and I'm sorry for it。 How did he manage to
need eighty thousand pounds？〃
〃It is rather a pitiful story； grandmother； but he never once blamed
those who were in the wrong。 His son for many years had been the real
manager of the estate。 He was a speculator； his grandsons were wild and
extravagant。 They began to borrow money ten years ago and had to go
on。〃
〃Whom did they borrow from？〃
〃Fred Mostyn's father。〃
〃The devil！ Excuse me； Ethelbut the name suits and may stand。〃
〃The dear old Squire would have taken the fault on himself if he could
have done so。 They that wronged him were his own； and they were dead。
He never spoke of them but with affection。〃
〃Poor Percival！ Your father told me he was now out of Mostyn's power；
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he said you had saved the estate； but he gave me no particulars。 How did
you save it？〃
〃Bought it！〃
〃Nonsense！〃
〃House and lands and outlying farms and timbereverything。〃
Then a rosy color overspread Madam's face； her eyes sparkled； she
rose to her feet； made Ethel a sweeping courtesy； and said：
〃My respect and congratulations to Ethel； Lady of Rawdon Manor。〃
〃Dear grandmother； what else could I do？〃
〃You did right。〃
〃The Squire is Lord of the Manor as long as he lives。 My father says I
have done well to buy it。 In the future； if I do not wish to keep it； Nicholas
Rawdon will relieve me at a great financial advantage。〃
〃Why didn't you let Nicholas Rawdon buy it now？〃
〃He would have wanted prompt possession。 The Squire would have
had to leave his home。 It would have broken his heart。〃
〃I dare say。 He has a soft； loving heart。 That isn't always a blessing。 It
can give one a deal of suffering。 And I hear you have all been making
idols of these Tyrrel…Rawdons。 Fred tells me they are as vulgar a lot as can
be。〃
〃Fred lies！ Excuse me； grandmotherbut the word suits and may stand。
Mr。 Nicholas is pompous； and walks as slowly as if he had to carry the
weight of his great fortune； but his manners are all right； and his wife and
son are delightful。 She is handsome； well dressed； and so good…hearted
that her pretty county idioms are really charming。 John Thomas is a man
by himselfnot handsome； but running over with good temper； and
exceedingly clever and wide…awake。 Many times I was forced to tell
myself； John Thomas would make an ideal Squire of Rawdon。〃
〃Why don't you marry him。〃
〃He never asked me。〃
〃What was the matter with the men？〃
〃He was already engaged to a very lovely young lady。〃
〃I am glad she is a lady。〃
〃She is also very clever。 She has been to college and taken high honors；
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a thing I have not done。〃
〃You might have done and overdone that caper； you were too sensible
to try it。 Well； I'm glad that part of the family is looking up。 They had the
right stuff in them； and it is a good thing for families to dwell together in
unity。 We have King David's word for that。 My observation leads me to
think it is far better for families to dwell apart； in unity。 They seldom get
along comfortably together。〃
Then Ethel related many pleasant； piquant scenes between the two
families at Monk… Rawdon； and especially that one in which the room of
the first Tyrrel had been opened and his likeness restored to its place in the
family gallery。 It touched the old lady to tears； and she murmured； 〃Poor
lad！ Poor lad！ I wonder if he knows！ I wonder if he knows！〃
The crucial point of Ethel's revelations had not yet been revealed； but
Madam was now in a gentle mood； and Ethel took the opportunity to
introduce her to Tyrrel Rawdon。 She was expecting and waiting for this
topic； but stubbornly refused to give Ethel any help toward bringing it
forward。 At last； the girl felt a little anger at her pretended indifference；
and said； 〃I suppose Fred Mostyn told you about Mr。 Tyrrel Rawdon； of
California？〃
〃Tyrrel Rawdon； of California！ Pray； who may he be？〃
〃The son of Colonel Rawdon； of the United States Army。〃
〃Oh； to be sure！ Well； what of him？〃
〃I am going to marry him。〃
〃I shall see about that。〃
〃We were coming here together to see you； but before we left the
steamer he got a telegram urging him to go at once to his father； who is
very ill。〃
〃I have not asked him to come and see me。 Perhaps he will wait till I
do so。〃
〃If you are not going to love Tyrrel； you need not love me。 I won't
have you for a grandmother any lo