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trange kindred from a far…off land。
In the evening they sat together in the old hall talking of the Rawdons。 〃There is great family of us； living and dead；〃 said the Squire； 〃and I count them all my friends。 Bare is the back that has no kin behind it。 That is not our case。 Eight hundred years ago there was a Rawdon in Rawdon； and one has never been wanting since。 Saxon； Danish； Norman； and Stuart kings have been and gone their way； and we remain； and I can tell you every Rawdon born since the House of Hanover came to England。 We have had our share in all England's strife and glory； for if there was ever a fight going on anywhere Rawdon was never far off。 Yes； we can string the centuries together in the battle flags we have won。 See there！〃 he cried； pointing to two standards interwoven above the central chimney…piece； 〃one was taken from the Paynim in the first Crusade； and the other my grandson took in Africa。 It seems but yesterday； and Queen Victoria gave him the Cross for it。 Poor lad； he had it on when he died。 It went to the grave with him。 I wouldn't have it touched。 I fancy the Rawdons would know it。 No one dare say they don't。 I think they meddle a good deal more with this life than we count on。〃
The days that followed were days in The House Wonderful。 It held the treasure…trove of centuries； all its rooms were full of secrets。 Even the common sitting…room had an antique homeliness that provoked questions as to the dates of its furniture and the whereabouts of its wall cupboards and hidden recesses。 Its china had the marks of forgotten makers； its silver was puzzling with half… obliterated names and dates； its sideboard of oak was black with age and full of table accessories； the very names of which were forgotten。 For this house had not been built in the ordinary sense； it had grown through centuries； grown out of desire and necessity； just as a tree grows； and was therefore fit and beautiful。 And it was no wonder that about every room floated the perfume of ancient things and the peculiar family aura that had saturated all the inanimate objects around them。
In a few days； life settled itself to orderly occupations。 The Squire was a late riser； the Judge and his family breakfasted very early。 Then the two women had a ride in the park； or wandered in the garden； or sat reading； or sewing； or writing in some of the sweet； fair rooms。 Many visitors soon appeared； and there were calls to return and courtesies to accept。 Among these visitors the Tyrrel… Rawdons were the earliest。 The representatives of that family were Nicholas Rawdon and his wife Lydia。 Nicholas Rawdon was a large； stout man； very arrogant； very complete； very alert for this world； and not caring much about the other。 He was not pleased at Judge Rawdon's visit； but thought it best to be cousinly until his cousin interfered with his plans〃rights〃 he called them〃and then！〃 and his 〃THEN〃 implied a great deal； for Nicholas Rawdon was a man incapable of conceiving the idea of loving an enemy。
His wife was a pleasant； garrulous woman； who interested Ethel very much。 Her family was her chief topic of conversation。 She had two daughters； one of whom had married a baronet； 〃a man with money and easy to manage〃； and the other； 〃a rich cotton lord in Manchester。〃
〃They haven't done badly；〃 she said confidentially； 〃and it's a great thing to get girls off your hands early。 Adelaide and Martha were well educated and suitable； but； 〃she added with a glow of pride； 〃you should see my John Thomas。 He's manager of the mill； and he loves the mill； and he knows every pound of warp or weft that comes in or goes out of the mill； and what his father would do without him； I'm sure I don't know。 And he is a member of Parliament； tooRadical ticket。 Won over Mostyn。 Wiped Mostyn out pretty well。 That was a thing to do； wasn't it？〃
〃I suppose Mr。 Mostyn was the Conservative candidate？〃
〃You may be sure of that。 But my John Thomas doesn't blame him for itthe gentry have to be Conservatives。 John Thomas said little against his politics； he just set the crowd laughing at his wayshis dandified ways。 And he tried to wear one eyeglass； and let it fall； and fall； and then told the men ‘he couldn't manage half a pair of spectacles； but he could manage their interests and fight for their rights；' and such like talk。 And he walked like Mostyn； and he talked like Mostyn； and spread out his legs； and twirled his walking stick like Mostyn； and asked them ‘if they would wish him to go to Parliament in that kind of a shape； as he'd try and do it if they wanted a tailor…made man'； and they laughed him down； and then he spoke reasonable to them。 John Thomas knows what Yorkshire weavers want； and he just prom… ised them everything they had set their hearts on； and so they sent him to Parliament； and Mostyn went to America； where； perhaps； they'll teach him that a man's life is worth a bit more than a bird or a rabbit。 Mostyn is all for preserving game； and his father was a mean creature。 When one thinks of his father； one has to excuse the young man a little bit。〃
〃I saw a good deal of Mr。 Mostyn in New York；〃 said Ethel。 〃He used to speak highly of his father。〃
〃I'll warrant he did； and he ought to keep at it； for he's the only one in this world that will use his tongue for that end。 Old Samuel Mostyn never learned to live godly or even manly； but after his death he ceased to do evil； and that； I've no doubt； often feels like a blessing to them that had to live anyway near to him。 But my John Thomas！〃
〃Oh；〃 cried Ethel； laughing； 〃you must not tell me so much about John Thomas； he might not like it。〃
〃John Thomas can look all he does and all he says straight in the face。 You may talk of him all day； and find nothing to say that a good girl like you might not listen to。 I should have brought him with us； but he's away now taking a bit of a holiday。 I'm sure he needs it。〃
〃Where is he taking his holiday？〃
〃Why； he went with a cousin to show him the sights of London； but somehow they got through London sights very quick； and thought they might as well put Paris in。 I wish they hadn't。 I don't trust foreigners and foreign ways； and they don't have the same kind of money as ours； but Nicholas says I needn't worry； he is sure that our John Thomas； if change is to make； will make it to suit himself。〃
〃How soon will he be home？〃
〃I might say to…day or any other early day。 He's been idling for a month now； and his father says ‘the very looms are calling out for him。' I'll bring him to see you just as soon as he comes home； looms or no looms； and he'll be fain to come。 No one appreciates a pretty girl more than John Thomas does。〃
So the days passed sweetly and swiftly onward； and there was no trouble in them。 Such business as was to be done went on behind the closed doors of the Squire's office； and with no one present but himself； Judge Rawdon； and the attorneys attached to the Rawdon and Mostyn estates。 And as there were no entanglements and no possible reason for disputing； a settlement was quickly arrived at。 Then； as Mostyn's return was uncertain； an attorney's messenger； properly accredited； was sent to America to procure his signatures。 Allowing for unfore