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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 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 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； 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 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； o