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〃And has Lucy named them？〃
〃To be sure。 I went right away to her and explained the dilemma； and I
said； ‘Now； Lucy； it is your place to settle this question。' And she answered
in her positive little way； ‘You tell father the eldest is to be called Nicholas；
and tell John Thomas the youngest is to be called John Thomas。 I can
manage two of that name very well。 And say that I won't have any more
disputing about names； the boys are as good as christened already。' And of
course when Lucy said that we all knew it was settled。 And I'm glad the
eldest is Nicholas。 He is a fine； sturdy little York… shireman； bawling out
already for what he wants； and flying into a temper if he doesn't get it as
soon as he wants it。 Dearie me； Ethel； I am a proud woman this morning。
And Nicholas is going to give all the hands a holiday； and a trip up to
Ambleside on Saturday； though John Thomas is very much against it。〃
〃Why is he against it？〃
〃He says they will be holding a meeting on Monday night to try and
find out what Old Nicholas is up to； and that if he doesn't give them the
same treat on the same date next year； they'll hold an indignation meeting
about being swindled out of their rights。 And I'll pledge you my word John
Thomas knows the men he's talking about。 However； Nicholas is close
with his money； and it will do him good happen to lose a bit。 Blood…letting
is healthy for the body； and perhaps gold…letting may help the soul more
than we think for。〃
This news stimulated Ethel's thinking； and when she also stood beside
the two cradles； and the little Nicholas opened his big blue eyes and began
to 〃bawl for what he wanted；〃 a certain idea took fast hold of her； and she
nursed it silently for the next month； watch… ing Tyrrel at the same time。 It
was near October； however； before she found the proper opportunity for
speaking。 There had been a long letter from the Judge。 It said Ruth and he
were home again after a wonderful trip over the Northern Pacific road。 He
wrote with enthusiasm of the country and its opportunities； and of the big
cities they had visited on their return from the Pacific coast。 Every word
was alive； the magnitude and stir of traffic and wrestling humanity seemed
to rustle the paper。 He described New York as overflowing with business。
His own plans； the plans of others； the jar of politics； the thrill of music
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and the dramaall the multitudinous vitality that crowded the streets and
filled the air； even to the roofs of the twenty…story buildings； contributed to
the potent exhilaration of the letter。
〃Great George！〃 exclaimed Tyrrel。 〃That is life！ That is living！ I wish
we were back in America！〃
〃So do I； Tyrrel。〃
〃I am so glad。 When shall we go？ It is now the twenty…eighth of
September。〃
〃Are you very weary of Rawdon Court〃'
〃Yes。 If a man could live for the sake of eating and sleeping and
having a pleasant time； why Rawdon Court would be a heaven to him； but
if he wants to DO something with his life； he would be most unhappy
here。〃
〃And you want to do something？〃
〃You would not have loved a man who did not want TO DO。 We have
been here four months。 Think of it！ If I take four months out of every year
for twenty years； I shall lose； with travel； about seven years of my life； and
the other things to be dropped with them may be of incalculable value。〃
〃I see； Tyrrel。 I am not bound in any way to keep Rawdon Court。 I can
sell it to… morrow。〃
〃But you would be grieved to do so？〃
〃Not at all。 Being a lady of the Manor does not flatter me。 The other
squires would rather have a good man in my place。〃
〃Why did you buy it？〃
〃As I have told you； to keep Mostyn out； and to keep a Rawdon here。
But Nicholas Rawdon craves the place； and will pay well for his desire。 It
cost me eighty thousand pounds。 He told father he would gladly give me
one hundred thousand pounds whenever I was tired of my bargain。 I will
take the hundred thousand pounds to…morrow。 There would then be four
good heirs to Rawdon on the place。〃
Here the conversation was interrupted by Mrs。 Nicholas； who came to
invite them to the christening feast of the twins。 Tyrrel soon left the ladies
together； and Ethel at once opened the desired conversation。
〃I am afraid we may have left the Court before the christening；〃 she
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said。 〃Mr。 Rawdon is very unhappy here。 He is really homesick。〃
〃But this is his home； isn't it？ And a very fine one。〃
〃He cannot feel it so。 He has large interests in America。 I doubt if I
ever induce him to come here again。 You see； this visit has been our
marriage trip。〃
〃And you won't live here！ I never heard the line。 What will you do
with the Court？ It will be badly used if it is left to servants seven or eight
months every year。〃
〃I suppose I must sell it。 I see no〃
〃If you only would let Nicholas buy it。 You might be sure then it
would be well cared for； and the little lads growing up in it； who would
finally heir it。 Oh； Ethel； if you would think of Nicholas first。 He would
honor the place and be an honor to it。〃
Out of this conversation the outcome was as satisfactory as it was
certain； and within two weeks Nicholas Rawdon was Squire of Rawdon
Manor； and possessor of the famous old Manor House。 Then there
followed a busy two weeks for Tyrrel； who had the superintendence of the
packing； which was no light business。 For though Ethel would not denude
the Court of its ancient furniture and ornaments； there were many things
belonging to the personal estate of the late Squire which had been given to
her by his will； and could not be left behind。 But by the end of October
cases and trunks were all sent off to the steamship in which their passage
was taken； and the Rawdon estate； which had played such a momentous
part in Ethel's life having finished its mission； had no further influence；
and without regret passed out of her physical life forever。
Indeed； their willingness to resign all claims to the old home was a
marvel to both Tyrrel and Ethel。 On their last afternoon there they walked
through the garden； and stood under the plane tree where their vows of
love had been pledged； and smiled and wondered at their indifference。 The
beauteous glamor of first love was gone as com… pletely as the flowers and
scents and songs that had then filled the charming place。 But amid the
sweet decay of these things they once more clasped hands； looking with
supreme confidence into each other's eyes。 All that had then been
promised was now certain； and with an affection infinitely sweeter and
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surer； Tyrrel drew Ethel to his heart； and on her lips kissed the tenderest；
proudest words a woman hears； 〃My dear wife！〃
This visit was their last adieu； all the rest had been said； and early the
next morning they left Monk…Rawdon station as quietly as they had
arrived。 During their short reign at Rawdon Court they had been very
popular； and perhaps their resignation was equally so。 After all； they were
foreigners； and Nicholas Rawdon was Yorkshire； root and branch。
〃Nice young people；〃 said Justice Manningham at a hunt dinner； 〃but
our ways are not their ways； nor like to be。 The young man was born a
fighter； and there are neither bears nor Indians here for him to fight； and
our politics are Greek to him； and the lady； very sweet and beautiful； but
full of new ideasideas not suitable for women； and we do not wish our
women changed。〃
〃Good enough as they are；〃 mumbled Squire Oakes。
〃Nicest Americans I ever met；〃 added Earl Danvers； 〃but Nicholas
Rawdon will be better at Rawdon Court。〃 To which statement there was a
general assent； and then the subject was considered settled。
In the meantime Tyrrel and Ethel had reached London and gone to the
Metropole Hotel； because； as Ethel said； no one knew where Dora was；