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！
home as quickly as possible； for twilight was already becoming night； and
under the trees the darkness felt oppressive。
The little fire on the hearth and their belated dinner somewhat relieved
the tension； but it was not until they had retired to a small parlor； and
Tyrrel had smoked a cigar； that the tragedy of the evening became a
possible topic of conversation。 Tyrrel opened the subject by a question as
to whether 〃he ought to have gone with Dora to London。〃
〃Dora opposed the idea strongly when I named it to her；〃 answered
Ethel。 〃She said it would give opportunities for Mostyn to slander both
herself and you； and I think she was correct。 Every way she was best
alone。〃
〃Perhaps； but I feel as if I ought to have gone； as if I had been
142
… Page 143…
The Man Between
something less than a gentleman； in fact； as if I had been very un… gentle。〃
〃There is no need；〃 answered Ethel a little coldly。
〃It is a terrible position for Mostyn。〃
〃He deserves it。〃
〃He is so sensitive about public opinion。〃
〃In that case he should behave decently in private。〃
Then Tyrrel lit another cigar； and there was another silence； which
Ethel occupied in irritating thoughts of Dora's unfortunate fatality in
trouble…making。 She sat at a little table standing between herself and
Tyrrel。 It held his smoking utensils； and after awhile she pushed them
aside； and let the splendid rings which adorned her hand fall into the
cleared space。 Tyrrel watched her a few moments； and then asked； 〃What
are you doing； Ethel； my dear？〃
She looked up with a smile； and then down at the hand she had laid
open upon the table。 〃I am looking at the Ring of all Rings。 See； Tyrrel； it
is but a little band of gold； and yet it gave me more than all the gems of
earth could buy。 Rubies and opals and sapphires are only its guard。 The
simple wedding ring is the ring of great price。 It is the loveliest ornament a
happy woman can wear。〃
Tyrrel took her hand and kissed it； and kissed the golden band； and
then answered； 〃Truly an ornament if a happy wife wears it； but oh； Ethel；
what is it when it binds a woman to such misery as Dora has just fled
from？〃
〃Then it is a fetter； and a woman who has a particle of self…respect will
break it。 The Ring of all Rings！〃 she ejaculated again； as she lifted the
rubies and opals； and slowly but smilingly encircled the little gold band。
〃Let us try now to forget that sorrowful woman；〃 said Tyrrel。 〃She will
be with her mother in a few hours。 Mother…love can cure all griefs。 It never
fails。 It never blames。 It never grows weary。 It is always young and warm
and true。 Dora will be comforted。 Let us forget； we can do no more。〃
For a couple of days this was possible； but then came Mrs。 Nicholas
Rawdon； and the subject was perforce opened。 〃It was a bad case；〃 she
said； 〃but it is being settled as quickly and as quietly as possible。 I believe
the man has entered into some sort of recognizance to keep the peace； and
143
… Page 144…
The Man Between
has disappeared。 No one will look for him。 The gentry are against pulling
one another down in any way； and this affair they don't want talked about。
Being all of them married men； it isn't to be expected； is it？ Justice
Manningham was very sorry for the little lady； but he said also ‘it was a
bad precedent； and ought not to be discussed。' And Squire Bentley said； ‘If
English gentlemen would marry American women； they must put up with
American women's ways；' and so on。 None of them think it prudent to
approve Mrs。 Mostyn's course。 But they won't get off as easy as they think。
The women are standing up for her。 Did you ever hear anything like that？
And I'll warrant some husbands are none so easy in their minds； as my
Nicholas said； ‘Mrs。 Mostyn had sown seed that would be seen and heard
tell of for many a long day。' Our Lucy； I suspect； had more to do with the
move than she will confess。 She got a lot of new； queer notions at college；
and I do believe in my heart she set the poor woman up to the business。
John Thomas； of course； says not a word； but he looks at Lucy in a very
proud kind of way； and I'll be bound he has got an object lesson he'll
remember as long as he lives。 So has Nicholas； though he bluffs more than
a little as to what he'd do with a wife that got a running… away notion into
her head。 Bless you； dear； they are all formulating their laws on the subject；
and their wives are smiling queerly at them； and holding their heads a bit
higher than usual。 I've been doing it myself； so I know how they feel。〃
Thus； though very little was said in the newspapers about the affair；
the notoriety Mostyn dreaded was complete and thorough。 It was the
private topic of conversation in every household。 Men talked it over in all
the places where men met； and women hired the old Mostyn servants in
order to get the very surest and latest story of the poor wife's wrongs； and
then compared reports and even discussed the circumstances in their own
particular clubs。
At the Court； Tyrrel and Ethel tried to forget； and their own interests
were so many and so important that they usually succeeded； especially
after a few lines from Mrs。 Denning assured them of Dora's safety and
comfort。 And for many weeks the busy life of the Manor sufficed； there
was the hay to cut in the meadow lands； and after it the wheat fields to
harvest。 The stables； the kennels； the farms and timber； the park and the
144
… Page 145…
The Man Between
garden kept Tyrrel constantly busy。 And to these duties were added the
social ones； the dining and dancing and entertaining； the horse racing； the
regattas； and the enthusiasm which automobiling in its first fever
engenders。
And yet there were times when Tyrrel looked bored； and when nothing
but Squire Percival's organ or Ethel's piano seemed to exorcise the unrest
and ennui that could not be hid。 Ethel watched these moods with a wise
and kind curiosity； and in the beginning of September； when they
perceptibly increased； she asked one day； 〃Are you happy； Tyrrel？ Quite
happy？〃
〃I am having a splendid holiday；〃 he answered； 〃but〃
〃But what； dear？〃
〃One could not turn life into a long holiday that would be harder than
the hardest work。〃
She answered 〃Yes；〃 and as soon as she was alone fell to thinking； and
in the midst of her meditation Mrs。 Nicholas Rawdon entered in a whirl of
tempestuous delight。
〃What do you think？〃 she asked between laughing and crying。
〃Whatever do you think？ Our Lucy had twins yesterday； two fine boys as
ever was。 And I wish you could see their grandfather and their father。 They
are out of themselves with joy。 They stand hour after hour beside the two
cradles； looking at the little fellows； and they nearly came to words this
morning about their names。〃
〃I am so delighted！〃 cried Ethel。 〃And what are you going to call
them？〃
〃One is an hour older than the other； and John Thomas wanted them
called Percival and Nicholas。 But my Nicholas wanted the eldest called
after himself； and he said so plain enough。 And John Thomas said ‘he
could surely name his own sons； and then Nicholas told him to remember
he wouldn't have been here to have any sons at all but for his father。' And
just then I came into the room to have a look at the little lads； and when I
heard what they were fratching about； I told them it was none of their
business； that Lucy had the right to name the children； and they would just
have to put up with the names she gave them。〃
145
… Page 146…
The Man Between
〃And has Lucy named them？〃
〃To be sure。 I went right away to her and explained the di