Amelia Barr - The Man Between: An International Romance стр 5.

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 walkgood 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 walkthat, 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 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 Dennings 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. Jeromes 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?

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. Judes church because Mr. Stanhopes 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 dont quite understand Dora, she said. It will be Mr. Stanhopes 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 isnt 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. Stanhopes life and mind, just as a lump of sugar is dissolved in water.

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 Stanhopes, said Judge Rawdon. Doras 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 beautygreat 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 elses way.

Well, Ethel, the remedy is in the ladys 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 aunts door and said, Just a moment, Ruth.

Yes, dear, what is it?

Did you notice what father said about the mortgage on Rawdon Manor

Yes.

He seemed to know all about it.

I think he does know all about it.

Do you think he holds it?

He may do soit is not unlikely.

Oh! Then Mr. Fred Mostyn, if he is to inherit Rawdon, would like the mortgage removed?

Of course he would.

And the way to remove it would be to marry the daughter of the holder of the mortgage?

It would be one way.

So he is coming to look me over. I am a matrimonial possibility. How do you like that idea, Aunt Ruth?

I do not entertain it for a moment. Mr. Mostyn may not even know of the mortgage. When men mortgage their estates they do not make confidences about the matter, or talk it over with their friends. They always conceal and hide the transaction. If your father holds the mortgage, I feel sure that no one but himself and Squire Rawdon know anything about it. Dont look at the wrong side of events, Ethel; be content with the right side of lifes tapestry. Why are you not asleep? What are you worrying about?