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had a good Sabbath at home。 Ethel read the Psalms； Epistle and Gospel for
the day； and the Squire gave us some of the grandest organ music I ever
heard。〃
〃Well； well！ Everyone knows the Squire is a grand player。 I don't
suppose there is another to match him in the whole world； and the old
feeling about church…going is getting slack among the young people。 They
serve God now very much at their ease。〃
〃Is not that better than serving Him on compulsion？〃 asked Ruth。
〃I dare say。 I'm no bigot。 I was brought up an Independent； and went to
their chapel until I married Nicholas Rawdon。 My fa… ther was a broad…
thinking man。 He never taught me to locate God in any building； and I'm
sure I don't believe our parish church is His dwelling…place。 If it is； they
ought to mend the roof and put a new carpet down and make things
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cleaner and more respectable。 Well； Squire； you have silver enough to
tempt all the rogues in Yorkshire； and there's a lot of them。 But now I've
seen it； I'll go home with these bits of paper。 I shall be a very important
woman to…night。 Them two lads won't know how to fleech and flatter me
enough。 I'll be waited on hand and foot。 And Nicholas will get a bit of a
set…down。 He was bragging about Miss Ethel bringing his invitation to his
hand and promising to dance with him。 I wouldn't do it if I were Miss
Ethel。 She'll find out； if she does； what it means to dance with a man that
weighs twenty stone； and who has never turned hand nor foot to anything
but money…making for thirty years。〃
She went away with a sweep and a rustle of her shimmering silk skirt；
and left behind her such an atmosphere of hearty good…nature as made the
last rush and crowd of preparations easily ordered and quickly
accomplished。 Before her arrival there had been some doubt as to the
weather。 She brought the shining sun with her； and when he set； he left
them with the promise of a splendid to…morrowa promise amply
redeemed when the next day dawned。 Indeed； the sunshine was so brilliant；
the garden so gay and sweet； the lawn so green and firm； the avenues so
shady and full of wandering songs； that it was resolved to hold the
preliminary reception out of doors。 Ethel and Ruth were to receive on the
lawn； and at the open hall door the Squire would wait to welcome his
guests。
Soon after five o'clock there was a brilliant crowd wandering and
resting in the pleasant spaces； and Ethel； wearing a diaphanously white
robe and carrying a rush basket full of white carnations； was moving
among them distributing the flowers。 She was thus the center of a little
laughing； bantering group when the Nicholas Rawdon party arrived。
Nicholas remained with the Squire； Mrs。 Rawdon and the young men went
toward Ethel。 Mrs。 Rawdon made a very handsome appearance〃an
aristocratic Britannia in white liberty silk and old lace；〃 whispered Ruth；
and Ethel looked up quickly； to meet her merry eyes full of some
unexplained triumph。 In truth； the proud mother was anticipating a great
pleasure； not only in the presentation of her adored son； but also in the
curiosity and astonishment she felt sure would be evoked by his friend。 So；
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with the boldness of one who brings happy tidings； she pressed forward。
Ethel saw her approach； and went to meet her。 Suddenly her steps were
arrested。 An extraordinary thing was going to happen。 The Apollo of her
dreams； the singer of the Holland House pavement； was at Mrs。 Rawdon's
side； was talking to her； was evidently a familiar friend。 She was going to
meet him； to speak to him at last。 She would hear his name in a few
moments； all that she had hoped and believed was coming true。 And the
clear； resonant voice of Lydia Rawdon was like music in her ears as she
said； with an air of triumph she could not hide：
〃Miss Rawdon； I want you to know my son； Mr。 John Thomas Rawdon；
and also John Thomas's cousin； Mr。 Tyrrel Rawdon； of the United States。〃
Then Mr。 Tyrrel Rawdon looked into Ethel's face； and in that marvelous
meeting of their eyes； swift as the firing of a gun； their pupils dilated and
flashed with recognition； and the blood rushed crimson over both faces。
She gave the gentlemen flowers； and listened to Mrs。 Rawdon's chatter；
and said in reply she knew not what。 A swift and exquisite excitement had
followed her surprise。 Feelings she could not voice were beating at her lips；
and yet she knew that without her conscious will she had expressed her
astonishment and pleasure。 It was； indeed； doubtful whether any after
speech or explanation would as clearly satisfy both hearts as did that
momentary flash from soul to soul of mutual remembrance and interest。
〃I thought I'd give you a surprise；〃 said Mrs。 Rawdon delightedly。
〃You didn't know the Tyrrel…Rawdons had a branch in America； did you？
We are a bit proud of them； I can tell you that。〃
And； indeed； the motherly lady had some reason。 John Thomas was a
handsome youth of symmetrical bone and flesh and well…developed
muscle。 He had clear； steady； humorous eyes； a manner frank and
independent； not to be put upon； and yet Ethel divined； though she could
not have declared； the 〃want〃 in his appearancethat all…overish grace and
elasticity which comes only from the development of the brain and
nervous system。 His face was also marred by the seal of commonness
which trade impresses on so many men； the result of the subjection of the
intellect to the will； and of the impossibility of grasping things except as
they relate to self。 In this respect the American cousin was his antipodes。
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His whole body had a psychical expressionslim； elastic； alert。 Over his
bright gray eyes the eyelids drew themselves horizontally； showing his
dexterity and acuteness of mind； indeed； his whole expression and mien
〃Were； as are the eagle's keen； All the man was aquiline。〃
These personal characteristics taking some minutes to describe were
almost an instantaneous revelation to Ethel； for what the soul sees it sees
in a flash of understanding。 But at that time she only answered her
impressions without any inquiry concerning them。 She was absorbed by
the personal presence of the men； and all that was lovely and lovable in
her nature responded to their admiration。
As they strolled together through a flowery alley； she made them pass
their hands through the thyme and lavender； and listen to a bird singing its
verses； loud and then soft； in the scented air above them。 They came out
where the purple plums and golden apricots were beginning to brighten a
southern wall； and there； moodily walking by himself； they met Mostyn
face to face。 An angry flash and movement interpreted his annoyance； but
he immediately recovered himself； and met Ethel and his late political
opponent with polite equanimity。 But a decided constraint fell on the
happy party； and Ethel was relieved to hear the first tones of the great bell
swing out from its lofty tower the call to the dining…room。
As far as Mostyn was concerned； this first malapropos meeting
indicated the whole evening。 His heart was beating quickly to some sense
of defeat which he did not take the trouble to analyze。 He only saw the
man who had shattered his political hopes and wasted his money in
possession also of what he thought he might rightly consider his place at
Ethel's side。 He had once contemplated making Ethel his bride； and though
the matrimonial idea had collapsed as completely as the political one； the
envious； selfish misery of the 〃dog in the manger〃 was ea