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ns were followed by a bitter； biting； blasting hailstorm of such epithets as could only be written with one letter and a dash。
But the passion of imprecation cooled and satisfied his anger in this its first impetuous outbreak； and he sat down； clasped the arms of his chair； and gave himself a peremptory order of control。 In a short time he rose； bathed his head and face in cold water； and began to dress for dinner。 And as he stood before the glass he smiled at the restored color and calm of his countenance。
〃You are a prudent lawyer；〃 he said sarcastically。 〃How many actionable words have you just uttered！ If the devil and Fred Mostyn have been listening； they can； as mother says； ‘get the law on you'； but I think Ethel and I and the law will be a match even for the devil and Fred Mostyn。〃 Then； as he slowly went downstairs； he repeated to himself； 〃Mostyn seems to be the natural owner of Rawdon。 No； sir； neither natural nor legal owner。 Rawdon Court lies at Mostyn gate。 Not yet。 Mostyn lies at Rawdon gate。 Natural that the Mostyns should succeed the Rawdons。 Power of God！ Neither in this generation nor the next。〃
And at the same moment Mostyn； having thought over his interview with Judge Rawdon； walked thoughtfully to a window and muttered to himself： 〃Whatever was the matter with the old man？ Polite as a courtier； but something was wrong。 The room felt as if there was an iceberg in it； and he kept his right hand in his pocket。 I be… lieve he was afraid I would shake hands with himit is Ethel； I suppose。 Naturally he is disappointed。 Wanted her at Rawdon。 Well； it is a pity； but I really cannot！ Oh； Dora！ Dora！ My heart； my hungry and thirsty heart calls you！ Burning with love； dying with longing； I am waiting for you！〃
The dinner passed pleasantly enough； but both Ethel and Ruth noticed the Judge was under strong but well…controlled feeling。 While servants were present it passed for high spirits； but as soon as the three were alone in the library； the excitement took at once a serious aspect。
〃My dears；〃 he said； standing up and facing them； 〃I have had a very painful interview with Fred Mostyn。 He holds a mortgage over Rawdon Court； and is going to press it in Septemberthat is； he proposes to sell the place in order to obtain his money and the poor Squire！〃 He ceased speaking； walked across the room and back again； and appeared greatly disturbed。
〃What of the Squire？〃 asked Ruth。
〃God knows； Ruth。 He has no other home。〃
〃Why is this thing to be done？ Is there no way to prevent it？〃
〃Mostyn wants the money； he says； to invest in American securities。 He does not。 He wants to force a sale； so that he may buy the place for the mortgage； and then either keep it for his pride； or more likely resell it to the Tyrrel…Rawdons for double the money。〃 Then with gradually increasing passion he repeated in a low； intense voice the remarks which Mostyn had made； and which had so infuriated the Judge。 Before he had finished speaking the two women had caught his temper and spirit。 Ethel's face was white with anger； her eyes flashing； her whole attitude full of fight。 Ruth was troubled and sorrowful； and she looked anxiously at the Judge for some solution of the condition。 It was Ethel who voiced the anxiety。 〃Father；〃 she asked； 〃what is to be done？ What can you do？〃
〃Nothing； I am sorry to say； Ethel。 My money is absolutely tied upfor this year； at any rate。 I cannot touch it without wronging others as well as myself； nor yet without the most ruinous sacrifice。〃
〃If I could do anything； I would not care at what sacrifice。〃
〃You can do all that is necessary； Ethel； and you are the only person who can。 You have at least eight hundred thousand dollars in cash and negotiable securities。 Your mother's fortune is all yours； with its legitimate accruements； and it was left at your own disposal after your twenty…first birthday。 It has been at your own disposal WITH MY CONSENT since your nineteenth birthday。〃
〃Then； father； we need not trouble about the Squire。 I wish with all my heart to make his home sure to him as long as he lives。 You are a lawyer； you know what ought to be done。〃
〃Good girl！ I knew what you would say and do； or I should not have told you the trouble there was at Rawdon。 Now； I propose we all make a visit to Rawdon Court； see the Squire and the property； and while there perfect such arrangements as seem kindest and wisest。 Ruth； how soon can we be ready to sail？〃
〃Father； do you really mean that we are to go to England？〃
〃It is the only thing to do。 I must see that all is as Mostyn says。 I must not let you throw your money away。〃
〃That is only prudent；〃 said Ruth； 〃and we can be ready for the first steamer if you wish it。〃
〃I am delighted； father。 I long to see England； more than all； I long to see Rawdon。 I did not know until this moment how much I loved it。〃
〃Well； then； I will have all ready for us to sail next Saturday。 Say nothing about it to Mostyn。 He will call to…morrow morning to bid you good…by before leaving for Newport with McLean。 Try and be out。〃
〃I shall certainly be out；〃 said Ethel。 〃I do not wish ever to see his face again； and I must see grandmother and tell her what we are going to do。〃
〃I dare say she guesses already。 She advised me to ask you about the mortgage。 She knew what you would say。〃
〃Father； who are the Tyrrel…Rawdons？〃
Then the Judge told the story of the young Tyrrel…Rawdon； who a century ago had lost his world for Love； and Ethel said 〃she liked him better than any Rawdon she had ever heard of。〃
〃Except your father； Ethel。〃
〃Except my father； my dear； good father。 And I am glad that Love did not always make them poor。 They must now be rich； if they want to buy the Court。〃
〃They are rich manufacturers。 Mostyn is much annoyed that the Squire has begun to notice them。 He says one of the grandsons of the Tyrrel…Rawdons； disinherited for love's sake； came to America some time in the forties。 I asked your grandmother if this story was true。 She said it is quite true； that my father was his friend in the matter； and that it was his reports about America which made them decide to try their fortune in New York。〃
〃Does she know what became of him？〃
〃No。 In his last letter to them he said he had just joined a party going to the gold fields of California。 That was in 1850。 He never wrote again。 It is likely he perished on the terrible journey across the plains。 Many thousands did。〃
〃When I am in England I intend to call upon these Tyrrel…Rawdons。 I think I shall like them。 My heart goes out to them。 I am proud of this bit of romance in the family。〃
〃Oh； there is plenty of romance behind you； Ethel。 When you see the old Squire standing at the entrance to the Manor House； you may see the hags of Cressy and Agincourt； of Marston and Worcester behind him。 And the Rawdon women have frequently been daughters of Destiny。 Many of them have lived romances that would be incredible if written down。 Oh； Ethel； dear； we cannot； we cannot for our lives； let the old home fall into the hands of strangers。 At any rate； if on inspection we think it wrong to interfere； I can at least try and get the children of the disinherited Tyrrel bac