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！
both Tyrrel and Ethel should make a swift； though silent； comparison
between this feast of sensation and flow of human attraction and the still；
sweet order of the Rawdon dining…room； with its noiseless service； and its
latticed win… dows open to all the wandering scents and songs of the
garden。
Perhaps the latter would have the sweetest and dearest and most
abiding place in their hearts； but just in the present they were enthralled
and excited by the beauty and good comradeship of the social New York
dinner function。 Their eyes were shining； their hearts thrilling； they went
to their own apartments hand in hand； buoyant； vivacious； feeling that life
was good and love unchangeable。 And the windows being open； they
walked to one and stood looking out upon the avenue。 All signs of
commerce had gone from the beautiful street； but it was busy and noisy
with the traffic of pleasure； and the hum of multitudes； the rattle of
carriages； the rush of autos； the light； hurrying footsteps of pleasure…
seekers insistently demanded their sympathy。
〃We cannot go out to…night；〃 said Ethel。 〃We are both more weary than
we know。〃
〃No； we cannot go to…night； but； oh； Ethel； we are in New York again！
Is not that joy enough？ I am so happy！ I am so happy。 We are in New York
again！ There is no city like it in all the world。 Men live here； they work
156
… Page 157…
The Man Between
here； they enjoy here。 How happy； how busy we are going to be； Ethel！〃
During these joyful； hopeful expectations he was walking up and down
the room； his eyes dilating with rapture； and Ethel closed the window and
joined him。 They magnified their joy； they wondered at it； they were sure
no one before them had ever loved as they loved。 〃And we are going to
live here； Ethel； going to have our home here！ Upon my honor； I cannot
speak the joy I feel； but〃 and he went impetuously to the piano and
opened it〃but I can perhaps sing it
〃‘There is not a spot in this wide…peopled earth So dear to the
heart as the Land of our Birth； 'Tis the home of our childhood； the
beautiful spot Which Memory retains when all else is forgot。 May
the blessing of God ever hallow the sod； And its valleys and hills by
our children be trod！
〃‘May Columbia long lift her white crest o'er the wave； The
birthplace of science and the home of the brave。 In her cities may peace
and prosperity dwell； And her daughters in virtue and beauty excel。
May the blessing of God ever hallow the sod； And its valleys and hills
by our children be trod。'〃
With the patriotic music warbling in his throat he turned to Ethel； and
looked at her as a lover can； and she answered the look； and thus leaning
toward each other in visible beauty and affection their new life began。
Between smiles and kisses they sat speaking； not of the past with all its
love and loveliness； but of the high things calling to them from the future；
the work and duties of life set to great ends both for public and private
good。 And as they thus communed Tyrrel took his wife's hand and slowly
turned on her finger the plain gold wedding ring behind its barrier of
guarding gems。
〃Ethel；〃 he said tenderly； 〃what enchantments are in this ring of gold！
What romances I used to weave around it； and； dearest； it has turned every
Romance into Reality。〃
〃And； Tyrrel； it will also turn all our Realities into Romances。 Nothing
in our life will ever become common。 Love will glorify everything。〃
〃And we shall always love as we love now？〃
〃We shall love far better； far stronger； far more tenderly。〃
157
… Page 158…
The Man Between
〃Even to the end of our lives； Ethel？〃
〃Yes； to the very end。〃
CHAPTER XIII
A PAUSE of blissful silence followed this assurance。 It was broken
by a little exclamation from Ethel。 〃Oh； dear；〃 she said； 〃how selfishly
thoughtless my happiness makes me！ I have forgotten to tell you； until this
moment； that I have a letter from Dora。 It was sent to grandmother's care；
and I got it this afternoon； also one from Lucy Rawdon。 The two together
bring Dora's affairs； I should say； to a pleasanter termination than we could
have hoped for。〃
〃Where is the Enchantress？〃
〃In Paris at present。〃
〃I expected that answer。〃
〃But listen； she is living the quietest of lives； the most devoted
daughter cannot excel her。〃
〃Is she her own authority for that astonishing statement？ Do you
believe it？〃
〃Yes； under the circumstances。 Mr。 Denning went to Paris for a critical
and painful operation； and Dora is giving all her love and time toward
making his convalescence as pleasant as it can be。 In fact； her description
of their life in the pretty chateau they have rented outside of Paris is quite
idyllic。 When her father is able to travel they are going to Algiers for the
winter； and will return to New York about next May。 Dora says she never
intends to leave America again。〃
〃Where is her husband？ Keeping watch on the French chateau？〃
〃That is over。 Mr。 Denning persuaded Dora to write a statement of all
the facts concerning the birth of the child。 She told her husband the name
under which they traveled； the names of the ship； the captain； and the
ship's doctor； and Mrs。 Denning authenticated the statement； but； oh； what
a mean； suspicious creature Mostyn is！〃
〃What makes you reiterate that description of him？〃
〃He was quite unable to see any good or kind intent in this paper。 He
158
… Page 159…
The Man Between
proved its correctness； and then wrote Mr。 Denning a very contemptible
letter。〃
〃Which was characteristic enough。 What did he say？〃
〃That the amende honorable was too late； that he supposed Dora
wished to have the divorce proceedings stopped and be reinstated as his
wife； but he desired the whole Denning family to understand that was now
impossible； he was ‘fervently； feverishly awaiting his freedom； which he
expected at any hour。' He said it was ‘sickening to remember the weariness
of body and soul Dora had given him about a non…existing child； and
though this could never be atoned for； he did think he ought to be refunded
the money Dora's contemptible revenge had cost him。〃'
〃How could he？ How could he？〃
〃Of course Mr。 Denning sent him a check； a pretty large one； I dare say。
And I suppose he has his freedom by this time； unless he has married
again。〃
〃He will never marry again。〃
〃Indeed； that is the strange part of the story。 It was because he wanted
to marry again that he was ‘fervently； feverishly awaiting his freedom。'〃
〃I can hardly believe it； Ethel。 What does Dora say？〃
〃I have the news from Lucy。 She says when Mostyn was ignored by
everyone in the neighborhood； one woman stood up for him almost
passionately。 Do you remember Miss Sadler？〃
〃That remarkable governess of the Surreys？ Why； Ethel； she is the
very ugliest woman I ever saw。〃
〃She is so ugly that she is fascinating。 If you see her one minute you
can never forget her； and she is brains to her finger tips。 She ruled
everyone at Surrey House。 She was Lord Surrey's secretary and Lady
Surrey's adviser。 She educated the children； and they adored her； she ruled
the servants； and they obeyed her with fear and trembling。 Nothing was
done in Surrey House without her approval。 And if her face was not
handsome； she had a noble presence and a manner that was irresistible。〃
〃And she took Mostyn's part？〃
〃With enthusiasm。 She abused Dora individually； and American
women generally。 She pitied Mr。 Mostyn； and made others do so； and
159
… Page 160…