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Metropole Hotel； because； as Ethel said； no one knew where Dora was；
but if in England； she was likely to be at the Savoy。 They were to be two
days in London。 Tyrrel had banking and other business to fully occupy the
time； and Ethel remembered she had some shopping to do； a thing any
woman would discover if she found herself in the neighborhood of Regent
Street and Piccadilly。 On the afternoon of the second day this duty was
finished； and she returned to her hotel satisfied but a little weary。 As she
was going up the steps she noticed a woman coming slowly down them。 It
was Dora Mostyn。 They met with great enthusiasm on Dora's part； and she
turned back and went with Ethel to her room。
Ethel looked at her with astonishment。 She was not like any Dora she
had previously seen。 Her beauty had developed wondrously； she had
grown much taller； and her childish manner had been superseded by a
carriage and air of superb grace and dignity。 She had now a fine color； and
her eyes were darker； softer； and more dreamy than ever。 〃Take off your
hat； Dora；〃 said Ethel； 〃and tell me what has happened。 You are positively
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splendid。 Where is Mr。 Mostyn？〃
〃I neither know nor care。 He is tramping round the world after me； and
I intend to keep him at it。 But I forget。 I must tell you how THAT has
come about。〃
〃We heard from Mrs。 Denning。 She said she had received you safely。〃
〃My dear mother！ She met me like an angel； comforted and cared for
me； never said one word of blame； only kissed and pitied me。 We talked
things over； and she advised me to go to New York。 So we took three
passages under the names of Mrs。 John Gifford； Miss Gifford； and Miss
Diana Gifford。 Miss Diana was my maid； but mother thought a party of
three would throw Mostyn off our track。〃
〃A very good idea。〃
〃We sailed at once。 On the second day out I had a son。 The poor little
fellow died in a few hours； and was buried at sea。 But his birth has given
me the power to repay to Fred Mostyn some of the misery he caused me。〃
〃How so？ I do not see。〃
〃Oh； you must see； if you will only remember how crazy Englishmen
are about their sons。 Daughters don't count； you know； but a son carries the
property in the family name。 He is its representative for the next
generation。 As I lay suffering and weeping； a fine scheme of revenge came
clearly to me。 Listen！ Soon after we got home mother cabled Mostyn's
lawyer that ‘Mrs。 Mostyn had had a son。' Nothing was said of the boy's
death。 Almost immediately I was notified that Mr。 Mostyn would insist on
the surrender of the child to his care。 I took no notice of the letters。 Then
he sent his lawyer to claim the child and a woman to take care of it。 I
laughed them to scorn； and defied them to find the child。 After them came
Mostyn himself。 He interviewed doctors； overlooked baptismal registers；
advertised far and wide； bribed our servants； bearded father in his office；
abused Bryce on the avenue； waylaid me in all my usual resorts； and
bombarded me with letters； but he knows no more yet than the cable told
him。 And the man is becoming a monomaniac about HIS SON。〃
〃Are you doing right； Dora？〃
〃If you only knew how he had tortured me！ Father and mother think he
deserves all I can do to him。 Anyway； he will have it to bear。 If he goes to
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the asylum he threatened me with； I shall be barely satisfied。 The ‘cat…
faced woman' is getting her innings now。〃
〃Have you never spoken to him or written to him？ Surely〃
〃He caught me one day as I came out of our house； and said； ‘Madam；
where is my son？' And I answered； ‘You have no son。 The child WAS
MINE。 You shall never see his face in this world。 I have taken good care
of that。'
〃‘I will find him some day；' he said； and I laughed at him； and
answered； ‘He is too cunningly hid。 Do you think I would let the boy
know he had such a father as you？ No； indeed。 Not unless there was
property for the disgrace。' I touched him on the raw in that remark； and
then I got into my carriage and told the coachman to drive quickly。 Mostyn
attempted to follow me； but the whip lashing the horses was in the way。〃
And Dora laughed； and the laugh was cruel and mocking and full of
meaning。
〃Dora； how can you？ How can you find pleasure in such revenges；〃
〃I am having the greatest satisfaction of my life。 And I am only
beginning the just retribution； for my beauty is enthralling the man again；
and he is on the road to a mad jealousy of me。〃
〃Why don't you get a divorce？ This is a case for that remedy。 He might
then marry again； and you also。〃
〃Even so； I should still torment him。 If he had sons he would be
miserable in the thought that his unknown son might； on his death； take
from them the precious Mostyn estate； and that wretched； old； haunted
house of his。 I am binding him to misery on every hand。〃
〃Is Mrs。 Denning here with you？〃
〃Both my father and mother are with me。 Father is going to take a
year's rest； and we shall visit Berlin； Vienna； Rome； Paris or wherever our
fancy leads us。〃
〃And Mr。 Mostyn？〃
〃He can follow me round； and see nobles and princes and kings pay
court to the beauty of the ‘cat…faced woman。' I shall never notice him；
never speak to him； but you need not look so suspicious； Ethel。 Neither by
word nor deed will I break a single convention of the strictest
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respectability。〃
〃Mr。 Mostyn ought to give you your freedom。〃
〃I have given freedom to myself。 I have already divorced him。 When
they brought my dead baby for me to kiss； I slipped into its little hand the
ring that made me his mother。 They went to the bottom of the sea together。
As for ever marrying again； not in this life。 I have had enough of it。 My
first husband was the sweetest saint out of heaven； and my second was
some mean little demon that had sneaked his way out of hell； and I found
both insupportable。〃 She lifted her hat as she spoke； and began to pin it on
her beautifully dressed hair。 〃Have no fear for me；〃 she continued。 〃I am
sure Basil watches over me。 Some day I shall be good； and he will be
happy。〃 Then； hand in hand； they walked to the door together； and there
were tears in both voices as they softly said 〃Good…by。〃
CHAPTER XII
A WEEK after this interview Tyrrel and Ethel were in New York。
They landed early in the morning； but the Judge and Ruth were on the pier
to meet them； and they breakfasted together at the fashionable hotel；
where an elegant suite had been reserved for the residence of the Tyrrel…
Rawdons until they had perfected their plans for the future。 Tyrrel was
boyishly excited； but Ethel's interest could not leave her father and his new
wife。 These two had lived in the same home for fifteen years； and then
they had married each other； and both of them looked fifteen years
younger。 The Judge was actually merry； and Ruth； in spite of her supposed
〃docility；〃 had quite reversed the situation。 It was the Judge who was now
docile； and even admiringly obedient to all Ruth's wifely advices and
admonitions。
The breakfast was a talkative； tardy one； but at length the Judge went
to his office and Tyrrel had to go to the Custom House。 Ethel was eager to
see her grandmother； and she was sure the dear old lady was anxiously
waiting her arrival。 And Ruth was just as anxious for Ethel to visit her
renovated home。 She had the young wife's delight in its beauty； and she
wanted Ethel to admire it with her。
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