按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
〃Well； well！ Everyone knows the Squire is a grand player。 I don't suppose there is another to match him in the whole world； and the old feeling about church…going is getting slack among the young people。 They serve God now very much at their ease。〃
〃Is not that better than serving Him on compulsion？〃 asked Ruth。
〃I dare say。 I'm no bigot。 I was brought up an Independent； and went to their chapel until I married Nicholas Rawdon。 My fa… ther was a broad…thinking man。 He never taught me to locate God in any building； and I'm sure I don't believe our parish church is His dwelling…place。 If it is； they ought to mend the roof and put a new carpet down and make things cleaner and more respectable。 Well； Squire； you have silver enough to tempt all the rogues in Yorkshire； and there's a lot of them。 But now I've seen it； I'll go home with these bits of paper。 I shall be a very important woman to…night。 Them two lads won't know how to fleech and flatter me enough。 I'll be waited on hand and foot。 And Nicholas will get a bit of a set…down。 He was bragging about Miss Ethel bringing his invitation to his hand and promising to dance with him。 I wouldn't do it if I were Miss Ethel。 She'll find out； if she does； what it means to dance with a man that weighs twenty stone； and who has never turned hand nor foot to anything but money…making for thirty years。〃
She went away with a sweep and a rustle of her shimmering silk skirt； and left behind her such an atmosphere of hearty good…nature as made the last rush and crowd of preparations easily ordered and quickly accomplished。 Before her arrival there had been some doubt as to the weather。 She brought the shining sun with her； and when he set； he left them with the promise of a splendid to…morrowa promise amply redeemed when the next day dawned。 Indeed； the sunshine was so brilliant； the garden so gay and sweet； the lawn so green and firm； the avenues so shady and full of wandering songs； that it was resolved to hold the preliminary reception out of doors。 Ethel and Ruth were to receive on the lawn； and at the open hall door the Squire would wait to welcome his guests。
Soon after five o'clock there was a brilliant crowd wandering and resting in the pleasant spaces； and Ethel； wearing a diaphanously white robe and carrying a rush basket full of white carnations； was moving among them distributing the flowers。 She was thus the center of a little laughing； bantering group when the Nicholas Rawdon party arrived。 Nicholas remained with the Squire； Mrs。 Rawdon and the young men went toward Ethel。 Mrs。 Rawdon made a very handsome appearance〃an aristocratic Britannia in white liberty silk and old lace；〃 whispered Ruth； and Ethel looked up quickly； to meet her merry eyes full of some unexplained triumph。 In truth； the proud mother was anticipating a great pleasure； not only in the presentation of her adored son； but also in the curiosity and astonishment she felt sure would be evoked by his friend。 So； with the boldness of one who brings happy tidings； she pressed forward。 Ethel saw her approach； and went to meet her。 Suddenly her steps were arrested。 An extraordinary thing was going to happen。 The Apollo of her dreams； the singer of the Holland House pavement； was at Mrs。 Rawdon's side； was talking to her； was evidently a familiar friend。 She was going to meet him； to speak to him at last。 She would hear his name in a few moments； all that she had hoped and believed was coming true。 And the clear； resonant voice of Lydia Rawdon was like music in her ears as she said； with an air of triumph she could not hide：
〃Miss Rawdon； I want you to know my son； Mr。 John Thomas Rawdon； and also John Thomas's cousin； Mr。 Tyrrel Rawdon； of the United States。〃 Then Mr。 Tyrrel Rawdon looked into Ethel's face； and in that marvelous meeting of their eyes； swift as the firing of a gun； their pupils dilated and flashed with recognition； and the blood rushed crimson over both faces。 She gave the gentlemen flowers； and listened to Mrs。 Rawdon's chatter； and said in reply she knew not what。 A swift and exquisite excitement had followed her surprise。 Feelings she could not voice were beating at her lips； and yet she knew that without her conscious will she had expressed her astonishment and pleasure。 It was； indeed； doubtful whether any after speech or explanation would as clearly satisfy both hearts as did that momentary flash from soul to soul of mutual remembrance and interest。
〃I thought I'd give you a surprise；〃 said Mrs。 Rawdon delightedly。 〃You didn't know the Tyrrel…Rawdons had a branch in America； did you？ We are a bit proud of them； I can tell you that。〃
And； indeed； the motherly lady had some reason。 John Thomas was a handsome youth of symmetrical bone and flesh and well…developed muscle。 He had clear； steady； humorous eyes； a manner frank and independent； not to be put upon； and yet Ethel divined； though she could not have declared； the 〃want〃 in his appearancethat all…overish grace and elasticity which comes only from the development of the brain and nervous system。 His face was also marred by the seal of commonness which trade impresses on so many men； the result of the subjection of the intellect to the will； and of the impossibility of grasping things except as they relate to self。 In this respect the American cousin was his antipodes。 His whole body had a psychical expressionslim； elastic； alert。 Over his bright gray eyes the eyelids drew themselves horizontally； showing his dexterity and acuteness of mind； indeed； his whole expression and mien
〃Were； as are the eagle's keen； All the man was aquiline。〃
These personal characteristics taking some minutes to describe were almost an instantaneous revelation to Ethel； for what the soul sees it sees in a flash of understanding。 But at that time she only answered her impressions without any inquiry concerning them。 She was absorbed by the personal presence of the men； and all that was lovely and lovable in her nature responded to their admiration。
As they strolled together through a flowery alley； she made them pass their hands through the thyme and lavender； and listen to a bird singing its verses； loud and then soft； in the scented air above them。 They came out where the purple plums and golden apricots were beginning to brighten a southern wall； and there； moodily walking by himself； they met Mostyn face to face。 An angry flash and movement interpreted his annoyance； but he immediately recovered himself； and met Ethel and his late political opponent with polite equanimity。 But a decided constraint fell on the happy party； and Ethel was relieved to hear the first tones of the great bell swing out from its lofty tower the call to the dining…room。
As far as Mostyn was concerned； this first malapropos meeting indicated the whole evening。 His heart was beating quickly to some sense of defeat which he did not take the trouble to analyze。 He only saw the man who had shattered his political hopes and wasted his money in possession also of what he thought he might rightly consider his place at Ethel's side。 He had once contemplated making Ethel his bride； and though the matrimonial idea had collapsed as completely as the political one； the