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continued：
〃You are aware that your grandmother's name before marriage was
Rachel Mostyn？〃
〃I have seen it a thousand times at the bottom of her sampler； father；
the one that is framed and hanging in her morning room Rachel Mostyn；
November； Anno Domini； 1827。〃
〃Very well。 She married George Rawdon； and they came to New York
in 1834。 They had a pretty house on the Bowling Green and lived very
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happily there。 I was born in 1850； the youngest of their children。 You
know that I sign my name Edward M。 Rawdon； it is really Edward Mostyn
Rawdon。〃
He paused； and Ruth said； 〃I suppose Mrs。 Rawdon has had some
news from her old home？〃
〃She had a letter last night； and I shall probably receive one to…morrow。
Frederick Mostyn； her grand…nephew； is coming to New York； and Squire
Rawdon； of Rawdon Manor； writes to recommend the young man to our
hospitality。〃
〃But you surely do not intend to invite him here； Edward。 I think that
would not do。〃
〃He is going to the Holland House。 But he is our kinsman； and
therefore we must be hospitable。〃
〃I have been trying to count the kinship。 It is out of my reckoning；〃
said Ethel。 〃I hope at least he is nice and presentable。〃
〃The Mostyns are a handsome family。 Look at your grandmother。 And
Squire Rawdon speaks very well of Mr。 Mostyn。 He has taken the right
side in politics； and is likely to make his mark。 They were always great
sportsmen； and I dare say this representative of the family is a good…
looking fellow； well…mannered； and perfectly dressed。〃
Ethel laughed。 〃If his clothes fit him he will be an English wonder。 I
have seen lots of Englishmen； they are all frights as to trousers and vests。
There was Lord Wycomb； his broadcloths and satins and linen were
marvels in quality； but the make！ The girls hated to be seen walking with
him； and he would walk‘good for the constitution；' was his explanation
for all his peculiarities。 The Caylers were weary to death of them。〃
〃And yet；〃 said Ruth； 〃they sang songs of triumph when Lou Cayler
married him。〃
〃That was a different thing。 Lou would make him get ‘fits' and stop
wearing sloppy； baggy arrangements。 And I do not suppose the English
lord has now a single peculiarity left； unless it be his constitutional walk
that； of course。 I have heard English babies get out of their cradles to take
a constitutional。〃
During this tirade Ruth had been thinking。 〃Edward；〃 she asked； 〃why
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does Squire Rawdon introduce Mr。 Mostyn？ Their relationship cannot be
worth counting。〃
〃There you are wrong； Ruth。〃 He spoke with a little excitement。
〃Englishmen never deny matrimonial relationships； if they are worthy
ones。 Mostyn and Rawdon are bound together by many a gold wedding
ring； we reckon such ties relationships。 Squire Raw… don lost his son and
his two grandsons a year ago。 Perhaps this young man may eventually
stand in their place。 The Squire is nearly eighty years old； he is the last of
the English Rawdonsat least of our branch of it。〃
〃You suppose this Mr。 Mostyn may become Squire of Rawdon
Manor？〃
〃He may； Ruth； but it is not certain。 There is a large mortgage on the
Manor。〃
〃Oh！〃
Both girls made the ejaculation at the same moment； and in both
voices there was the same curious tone of speculation。 It was a cry after
truth apprehended； but not realized。 Mr。 Rawdon remained silent； he was
debating with himself the advisability of further confidence； but he came
quickly to the conclusion that enough had been told for the present。
Turning to Ethel； he said： 〃I suppose girls have a code of honor about their
secrets。 Is Dora Denning's ‘extraordinary news' shut up in it？〃
〃Oh； no； father。 She is going to be married。 That is all。〃
〃That is enough。 Who is the man？〃
〃Reverend Mr。 Stanhope。〃
〃Nonsense！〃
〃Positively。〃
〃I never heard anything more ridiculous。 That saintly young priest！
Why； Dora will be tired to death of him in a month。 And he？ Poor fellow！〃
〃Why poor fellow？ He is very much in love with her。〃
〃It is hard to understand。 St。 Jerome's love ‘pale with midnight prayer'
would be more believable than the butterfly Dora。 Goodness； gracious！
The idea of that man being in love！ It pulls him down a bit。 I thought he
never looked at a woman。〃
〃Do you know him； father？〃
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〃As many people know himby good report。 I know that he is a
clergyman who believes what he preaches。 I know a Wall Street broker
who left St。 Jude's church because Mr。 Stanhope's sermons on Sunday put
such a fine edge on his conscience that Mondays were dangerous days for
him to do business on。 And whatever Wall Street financiers think of the
Bible personally； they do like a man who sticks to his colors； and who
holds intact the truth committed to him。 Stanhope does this emphatically；
and he is so well trusted that if he wanted to build a new church he could
get all the money necessary； from Wall Street men in an hour。 And he is
going to marry！ Going to marry Dora Denning！ It is ‘extraordinary news；'
indeed！〃
Ethel was a little offended at such unusual surprise。 〃I think you don't
quite understand Dora；〃 she said。 〃It will be Mr。 Stanhope's fault if she is
not led in the right way； for if he only loves and pets her enough he may
do all he wishes with her。 I know； I have both coaxed and ordered her for
four yearssometimes one way is best； and sometimes the other。〃
〃How is a man to tell which way to take？ What do her parents think of
the marriage？〃
〃They are pleased with it。〃
〃Pleased with it！ Then I have nothing more to say； except that I hope
they will not appeal to me on any question of divorce that may arise from
such an unlikely marriage。〃
〃They are only lovers yet； Edward；〃 said Ruth。 〃It is not fair； or kind；
to even think of divorce。〃
〃My dear Ruth； the fashionable girl of today accepts marriage with the
provision of divorce。〃
〃Dora is hardly one of that set。〃
〃I hope she may keep out of it； but marriage will give her many
opportunities。 Well； I am sorry for the young priest。 He isn't fit to manage
a woman like Dora Denning。 I am afraid he will get the worst of it。〃
〃I think you are very unkind； father。 Dora is my friend； and I know her。
She is a girl of intense feelings and very affectionate。 And she has
dissolved all her life and mind in Mr。 Stanhope's life and mind； just as a
lump of sugar is dissolved in water。〃
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Ruth laughed。 〃Can you not find a more poetic simile； Ethel？〃
〃It will do。 This is an age of matter； a material symbol is the proper
thing。〃
〃I am glad to hear she has dissolved her mind in Stanhope's；〃 said
Judge Rawdon。 〃Dora's intellect in itself is childish。 What did the man see
in her that he should desire her？〃
〃Father； you never can tell how much brains men like with their beauty。
Very little will do generally。 And Dora has beauty great beauty； no one
can deny that。 I think Dora is giving up a great deal。 To her； at least；
marriage is a state of passing from perfect freedom into the comparative
condition of a slave； giving up her own way constantly for some one else's
way。〃
〃Well； Ethel； the remedy is in the lady's hands。 She is not forced to
marry； and the slavery that is voluntary is no hardship。 Now； my dear； I
have a case to look over； and you must excuse me to…night。 To…morrow we
shall know more concerning Mr。 Mostyn； and it is easier to talk about
certainties than probabilities。〃
But if conversation ceased about Mr。 Mostyn； thought did not； for； a
couple of hours afterwards； Ethel tapped at her aunt