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against Basil Stanhope from the first。 〃He had always known how that
marriage would end；〃 and so on。
Ethel declined to give any opinion。 〃She must hear both sides；〃 she
said。 〃Dora had been so reasonable lately； she had appeared happy。〃
〃Oh； Dora is a little fox；〃 he replied； 〃she doubles on herself always。〃
Ruth was properly regretful。 She wondered 〃if any married woman
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was really happy。〃 She did not apparently concern herself about Basil。 The
Judge rather leaned to Basil's consideration。 He understood that Dora's
overt act had shattered his professional career as well as his personal
happiness。 He could feel for the man there。 〃My dears；〃 he said； with his
dilettante air； 〃the goddess Calamity is delicate； and her feet are tender。
She treads not upon the ground； but makes her path upon the hearts of
men。〃 In this non…committal way he gave his comment； for he usually
found a bit of classical wisdom to fit modern emergencies； and the habit
had imparted an antique bon…ton to his conversation。 Ethel could only
wonder at the lack of real sympathy。
In the morning she went to see her grandmother。 The old lady had
〃heard〃 all she wanted to hear about Dora and Basil Stanhope。 If men
would marry a fool because she was young and pretty； they must take the
consequences。 〃And why should Stanhope have married at all？〃 she asked
indignantly。 〃No man can serve God and a woman at the same time。 He
had to be a bad priest and a good husband； or a bad husband and a good
priest。 Basil Stanhope was honored； was doing good； and he must needs be
happy also。 He wanted too much； and lost everything。 Serve him right。〃
〃All can now find some fault in poor Basil Stanhope；〃 said Ethel。
〃Bryce was bitter against him because Miss Caldwell shivers at the word
‘divorce。'〃
〃What has Bryce to do with Jane Caldwell？〃
〃He is going to marry her； he says。〃
〃Like enough； she's a merry miss of two… score； and rich。 Bryce's
marriage with anyone will be a well…considered affaira marriage with all
the advantages of a good bargain。 I'm tired of the whole subject。 If women
will marry they should be as patient as Griselda； in case there ever was
such a woman； if not； there's an end of the matter。〃
〃There are no Griseldas in this century； grandmother。〃
〃Then there ought to be no marriages。 Basil Stanhope was a grand man
in public。 What kind of a man was he in his home？ Measure a man by his
home conduct； and you'll not go wrong。 It's the right place to draw your
picture of him； I can tell you that。〃
〃He has no home now； poor fellow。〃
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〃Whose fault was it？ God only knows。 Where is his wife？〃
〃She has gone to Paris。〃
〃She has gone to the right place if she wants to play the fool。 But there；
now； God forbid I should judge her in the dark。 Women should stand by
womenconsidering。〃
〃Considering？〃
〃What they may have to put up with。 It is easy to see faults in others。 I
have sometimes met with people who should see faults in themselves。
They are rather uncommon； though。〃
〃I am sure Basil Stanhope will be miserable all his life。 He will break
his heart； I do believe。〃
〃Not so。 A good heart is hard to break； it grows strong in trouble。 Basil
Stanhope's body will fail long before his heart does； and even so an end
must come to life； and after that peace or what God wills。〃
This scant sympathy Ethel found to be the usual tone among her
acquaintances。 St。 Jude's got a new rector and a new idol； and the
Stanhope affair was relegated to the limbo of things 〃it was proper to
forget。〃
So the weeks of the long winter went by； and Ethel in the joy and hope
of her own love…life naturally put out of her mind the sorrow of lives she
could no longer help or influence。 Indeed； as to Dora； there were frequent
reports of her marvelous social success in Paris； and Ethel did not doubt
Stanhope had found some everlasting gospel of holy work to comfort his
desolation。 And then also
〃Each day brings its petty dust； Our soon…choked souls to fill；
And we forget because we must； And not because we will。〃
One evening when May with heavy clouds and slant rains was
making the city as miserable as possible； Ethel had a caller。 His card bore
a name quite unknown； and his appearance gave no clew to his identity。
〃Mr。 Edmonds？〃 she said interrogatively。
〃Are you Miss Ethel Rawdon？〃 he asked。
〃Yes。〃
〃Mr。 Basil Stanhope told me to put this parcel in your hands。〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Stanhope！ I am glad to hear from him。 Where is he now？〃
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〃We buried him yesterday。 He died last Sunday as the bells were
ringing for church pneumonia； miss。 While reading the ser… vice over a
poor young man he had nursed many weeks he took cold。 The poor will
miss him sorely。〃
〃DEAD！〃 She looked aghast at the speaker； and again ejaculated the
pitiful； astounding word。
〃Good evening； miss。 I promised him to return at once to the work he
left me to do。〃 And he quietly departed； leaving Ethel standing with the
parcel in her hands。 She ran upstairs and locked it away。 Just then she
could not bear to open it。
〃And it is hardly twelve months since he was married；〃 she sobbed。
〃Oh； Ruth； Ruth； it is too cruel！〃
〃Dear；〃 answered Ruth； 〃there is no death to such a man as Basil
Stanhope。〃
〃He was so young； Ruth。〃
〃I know。 ‘His high…born brothers called him hence' at the age of
twenty…nine； but
〃‘It is not growing like a tree； In bulk； doth make men
better be； Or standing like an oak three hundred year； To fall at last；
dry； bald and sear： A lily of a day Is fairer far in May；
Although it fall and die that night； It was the plant and flower of light。'〃
At these words the Judge put down his Review to listen to Ethel's
story； and when she ceased speaking he had gone far further back than any
antique classic for compensation and satisfaction：
〃He being made perfect in a short time fulfilled a long time。 For his
soul pleased the Lord； therefore hasted He to take him away from among
the wicked。〃＇2＇ And that evening there was little conversation。 Every heart
was busy with its own thoughts。
＇2＇ Wisdom of Solomon； IV。； 13； 14。
CHAPTER XI
TRADE and commerce have their heroes as well as arms； and the
struggle in which Tyrrel Rawdon at last plucked victory from apparent
failure was as arduous a campaign as any military operations could have
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afforded。 It had entailed on him a ceaseless； undaunted watch over
antagonists rich and powerful； and a fight for rights which contained not
only his own fortune； but the honor of his father； so that to give up a
fraction of them was to turn traitor to the memory of a parent whom he
believed to be beyond all doubt or reproach。 Money； political power； civic
influence； treachery； bribery； the law's delay and many other hindrances
met him on every side； but his heart was encouraged daily to perseverance
by love's tenderest sympathy。 For he told Ethel everything； and received
both from her fine intuitions and her father's legal skill priceless comfort
and advice。 But at last the long trial was over； the marriage day was set；
and Tyrrel； with all his rights conceded； was honorably free to seek the
happiness he had safeguarded on every side。
It was a lovely day in the beginning of May； nearly two years after
their first meeting； when Tyrr