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have you for a grandmother any longer。〃
〃I did without you sixty years。 I shall not live another twelve months；
and I think I can manage to do without you for a granddaughter any
longer。〃
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〃You cannot do without me。 You would break your heart； and I should
break mine。〃 Whereupon Ethel began to cry with a passion that quite
gratified the old lady。 She watched her a few moments； and then said
gently：
〃There now； that will do。 When he comes to New York bring him to
see me。 And don't name the man in the meantime。 I won't talk about him
till I've seen him。 It isn't fair either way。 Fred didn't like him。〃
〃Fred likes no one but Dora Stanhope。〃
〃Eh！ What！ Is that nonsense going on yet？〃
Then Ethel described her last two interviews with Dora。 She did this
with scrupulous fidelity； making no suggestions that might prejudice the
case。 For she really wanted her grandmother's decision in order to frame
her own conduct by it。 Madam was not； however； in a hurry to give it。
〃What do you think？〃 she asked Ethel。
〃I have known Dora for many years； she has always told me
everything。〃
〃But nothing about Fred？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃Nothing to tell； perhaps？〃
〃Perhaps。〃
〃Where does her excellent husband come in？〃
〃She says he is very kind to her in his way。〃
〃And his way is to drag her over the world to see the cathedrals thereof；
and to vary that pleasure with inspecting schools and reformatories and
listening to great preachers。 Upon my word； I feel sorry for the child！ And
I know all about such excellent people as the Stanhopes。 I used to go to
what they call ‘a pleasant evening' with them。 We sat around a big room lit
with wax candles； and held improving conversation； or some one sang one
or two of Mrs。 Hemans' songs； like ‘Passing Away' or ‘He Never Smiled
Again。' Perhaps there was a comic recitation； at which no one laughed； and
finally we had wine and hot waterthey called it ‘port negus'and tongue
sandwiches and caraway cakes。 My dear Ethel； I yawn now when I think
of those dreary evenings。 What must Dora have felt； right out of the
maelstrom of New York's operas and theaters and dancing parties？〃
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〃Still； Dora ought to try to feel some interest in the church affairs。 She
says she does not care a hairpin for them； and Basil feels so hurt。〃
〃I dare say he does； poor fellow！ He thinks St。 Jude's Kindergarten and
sewing circles and missionary societies are the only joys in the world。
Right enough for Basil； but how about Dora？〃
〃They are his profession； she ought to feel an interest in them。〃
〃Come now； look at the question sensibly。 Did Dora's father bring his
‘deals' and stock…jobbery home； and expect Dora and her mother to feel an
interest in them？ Do doctors tell their wives about their patients； and
expect them to pay sympathizing visits？ Does your father expect Ruth and
yourself to listen to his cases and arguments； and visit his poor clients or
make underclothing for them？ Do men； in general； consider it a wife's
place to interfere in their profession or business？〃
〃Clergymen are different。〃
〃Not at all。 Preaching and philanthropy is their business。 They get so
much a year for doing it。 I don't believe St。 Jude's pays Mrs。 Stanhope a
red cent。 There now； and if she isn't paid； she's right not to work。 Amen to
that！〃
〃Before she was married Dora said she felt a great interest in church
work。〃
〃I dare say she did。 Marriage makes a deal of difference in a woman's
likes and dislikes。 Church work was courting…time before marriage； after
marriage she had other opportunities。〃
〃I think you might speak to Fred Mostyn〃
〃I might； but it wouldn't be worth while。 Be true to your friend as long
as you can。 In Yorkshire we stand by our friends； right or wrong； and we
aren't too particular as to their being right。 My father enjoyed justifying a
man that everyone else was down on； and I've stood by many a woman
nobody had a good word for。 I was never sorry for doing it； either。 I'll be
going into a strange country soon； and I should not wonder if some of
them that have gone there first will be ready to stand by me。 We don't
know what friends we'll be glad of there。〃
The dinner bell broke up this conversation； and Ethel during it told
Madam about the cook and cooking at the Court and at Nicholas Rawdon's；
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where John Thomas had installed a French chef。 Other domestic
arrangements were discussed； and when the Judge called for his daughter
at four o'clock； Madam vowed 〃she had spent one of the happiest days of
her life。〃
〃Ruth tells me；〃 said the Judge； 〃that Dora Stanhope called for Ethel
soon after she left home this morning。 Ruth seems troubled at the
continuance of this friendship。 Have you spoken to your grandmother；
Ethel； about Dora？〃
〃She has told me all there is to tell； I dare say；〃 answered Madam。
〃Well； mother； what do you think？〃
〃I see no harm in it yet awhile。 It is not fair； Edward； to condemn upon
likelihoods。 We are no saints； sinful men and women； all of us； and as
much inclined to forbidden fruit as any good Christians can be。 Ethel can
do as she feels about it； she's got a mind of her own； and I hope to
goodness she'll not let Ruth Bayard bit and bridle it。〃
Going home the Judge evidently pondered this question； for he said
after a lengthy silence； 〃Grandmother's ethics do not always fit the social
ethics of this day； Ethel。 She criticises people with her heart； not her
intellect。 You must be prudent。 There is a remarkable thing called
Respectability to be reckoned with remember that。〃
And Ethel answered； 〃No one need worry about Dora。 Some women
may show the edges of their character soiled and ragged； but Dora will be
sure to have hers reputably finished with a hem of the widest propriety。〃
And after a short silence the Judge added； almost in soliloquy； 〃And；
moreover； Ethel；
〃‘There's a divinity that shapes our ends； Rough…hew them how
we will。'〃
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PART FOURTH
THE REAPING OF THE SOWING
CHAPTER X
WHEN Ethel and Tyrrel parted at the steamer they did not expect a
long separation； but Colonel Rawdon never recovered his health； and for
many excellent reasons Tyrrel could not leave the dying man。 Nor did
Ethel wish him to do so。 Under these circumstances began the second
beautiful phase of Ethel's wooing； a sweet； daily correspondence； the best
of all preparations for matrimonial oneness and understanding。 Looking
for Tyrrel's letters； reading them； and answering them passed many happy
hours； for to both it was an absolute necessity to assure each other
constantly；
〃Since I wrote thee yester eve I do love thee； Love； believe；
Twelve times dearer； twelve hours longer； One dream deeper one night
stronger； One sun surerthis much more Than I loved thee； dear；
before。〃
And for the rest； she took up her old life with a fresh enthusiasm。
Among these interests none were more urgent in their claims than
Dora Stanhope； and fortified by her grandmother's opinion； Ethel went at
once to call on her。 She found Basil with his wife； and his efforts to make
Ethel see how much he expected from her influence； and yet at the same
time not even hint a disapproval of Dora； were almost pathetic； for he was
so void of sophistry that his innuendoes were flagrantly open to detection。
Dora felt a contempt for them； and he had hardly left