as a word like a watch…cry； she called all her senses together when it was uttered in her presence。
〃Business！〃 she ejaculated sharply。 〃Whose business？〃
〃I think I may say the business of the whole family。〃
〃Nay； I am not in it。 My business is just as I want it； and I am not going to talk about itone way or the other。〃
〃Is not Rawdon Court of some interest to you？ It has been the home and seat of the family for many centuries。 A good many。 Mostyn women have been its mistress。〃
〃I never heard of any Mostyn woman who would not have been far happier away from Rawdon Court。 It was a Calvary to them all。 There was little Nannie Mostyn； who died with her first baby because Squire Anthony struck her in a drunken passion； and the proud Alethia Mostyn； who suffered twenty years' martyrdom from Squire John； and Sara； who took thirty thousand pounds to Squire Hubert； to fling away at the green table； and Harriet； who was made by her husband； Squire Humphrey； to jump a fence when out hunting with him； and was brought home crippled and scarred for lifea lovely girl of twenty who went through agonies for eleven years without aught of love and help； and died alone while he was following a fox； and there was pretty Barbara Mostyn〃
〃Come； come； mother。 I did not call here this morning to hear the Rawdons abused； and you forget your own marriage。 It was a happy one； I am sure。 One Rawdon； at least； must be excepted； and I think I treated my wife as a good husband ought to treat a wife。〃
〃Not you！ You treated Mary very badly。〃
〃Mother； not even from you〃
〃I'll say it again。 The little girl was dying for a year or more； and you were so busy making money you never saw it。 If she said or looked a little complaint； you moved restless…like and told her ‘she moped too much。' As the end came I spoke to you； and you pooh…poohed all I said。 She went suddenly； I know； to most people； but she knew it was her last day； and she longed so to see you； that I sent a servant to hurry you home； but she died before you could make up your mind to leave your ‘cases。' She and I were alone when she whispered her last message for youa loving one； too。〃
〃Mother！ Mother！ Why recall that bitter day？ I did not thinkI swear I did not think〃
〃Never mind swearing。 I was just reminding you that the Rawdons have not been the finest specimens of good husbands。 They make landlords； and judges； and soldiers； and even loom…lords of a very respectable sort； but husbands！ Lord help their poor wives！ So you see； as a Mostyn woman； I have no special interest in Rawdon Court。〃
〃You would not like it to go out of the family？〃
〃I should not worry myself if it did。〃
〃I suppose you know Fred Mostyn has a mortgage on it that the present Squire is unable to lift。〃
〃Aye； Fred told me he had eighty thousand pounds on the old place。 I told him he was a fool to put his money on it。〃
〃One of the finest manors and manor… houses in England； mother。〃
〃I have seen it。 I was born and brought up near enough to it； I think。〃
〃Eighty thousand pounds is a bagatelle for the place； yet if Fred forces a sale； it may go for that； or even less。 I can't bear to think of it。〃
〃Why not buy it yourself？〃
〃I would lift the mortgage to…morrow if I had the means。 I have not at present。〃
〃Well； I am in the same box。 You have just spoken as if the Mostyns and Rawdons had an equal interest in Rawdon Court。 Very well； then； it cannot be far wrong for Fred Mostyn to have it。 Many a Mostyn has gone there as wife and slave。 I would dearly like to see one Mostyn go as master。〃
〃I shall get no help from you； then； I understand that。〃
〃I'm Mostyn by birth； I'm only Rawdon by； marriage。 The birth…band ties me fast to my family。〃
〃Good morning； mother。 You have failed me for the first time in your life。〃
〃If the money had been for you； Edward； or yours〃
〃It isgood…by。〃
She called him back peremptorily； and he returned and stood at the open door。
〃Why don't you ask Ethel？〃
〃I did not think I had the right； mother。〃
〃More right to ask her than I。 See what she says。 She's Rawdon； every inch of her。〃
〃Perhaps I may。 Of course； I can sell securities； but it would be at a sacrifice a great sacrifice at present。〃
〃Ethel has the cash； and； as I said； she is RawdonI'm not。〃
〃I wish my father were alive。〃
〃He wouldn't move meyou needn't think that。 What I have said to you I would have said to him。 Speak to Ethel。 I'll be bound she'll listen if Rawdon calls her。〃
〃I don't like to speak to Ethel。〃
〃It isn't what you like to do； it's what you find you'll have to do； that carries the day； and a good thing； too； considering。〃
〃Good morning； again。 You are not quite yourself； I think。〃
〃Well； I didn't sleep last night； so there's no wonder if I'm a bit cross this morning。 But if I lose my temper； I keep my understanding。〃
She was really cross by this time。 Her son had put her in a position she did not like to assume。 No love for Rawdon Court was in her heart。 She would rather have advanced the money to buy an American estate。 She had been little pleased at Fred's mortgage on the old place； but to the American Rawdons she felt it would prove a white elephant； and the appeal to Ethel was advised because she thought it would amount to nothing。 In the first place； the Judge had the strictest idea of the sacredness of the charge committed to him as guardian of his daughter's fortune。 In the second； Ethel inherited from her Yorkshire ancestry an intense sense of the value and obligations of money。 She was an ardent American； and not likely to spend it on an old English manor； and； furthermore； Madam's penetration had discovered a growing dislike in her granddaughter for Fred Mostyn。
〃She'd never abide him for a lifelong neighbor；〃 the old lady decided。 〃It is the Rawdon pride in her。 The Rawdon men have condescended to go to Mostyn for wives many and many a time； but never once have the Mostyn men married a Rawdon girlproud； set…up women； as far as I remember； and Ethel has a way with her just like them。 Fred is good enough and nice enough for any girl； and I wonder what is the matter with him！ It is a week and more since he was here； and then he wasn't a bit like himself。〃
At this moment the bell rang and she heard Fred's voice inquiring 〃if Madam was at
home。〃 Instantly she divined the motive of his call。 The young man had come to the conclusion the Judge would try to influence his mother； and before meeting him in the afternoon he wished to have some idea of the trend matters were likely to take。 His policy cunning； Madam called itdid not please her。 She immediately assured herself that 〃she wouldn't go against her own flesh and blood for anyone；〃 and his wan face and general air of wretchedness further antagonized her。 She asked him fretfully 〃what he had been doing to himself； for；〃 she added； 〃it's mainly what we do to ourselves that makes us sick。 Was it that everlasting wedding of the Denning girl？〃
He flushed angrily； but answered with much of the same desire to annoy； 〃I suppose it was。 I felt it very much。 Dora was the loveliest girl in the city。 There are none left like her。〃
〃It will be a good thing for New York if that is the case。 I'm not one that wants the city to myself； but I can spare Dora STANHOPE； and feel the better for it。〃
〃The most beautiful of God's creatures！〃
〃You've surely lost your sight or your judgment； Fred。 She is just a dusky…skinned girl； with big； brown eyes。 You can pick her sort up by the thousand in any large city。 And a wandering…hearted； giddy creature； too； that will spread as she goes； no doubt。 I'm sorry for Basil Stanhope； he didn't deserve such a fate。〃
〃Indeed； he did not！ It is beyond measure too good for him。〃
〃I've always heard that affliction is the surest way to heaven。 Dora will lead him that road； and it will be more sure than pleasant。 Poor fellow！ He'll soon be as ready to curse his wedding…day as Job was to curse his birthday。 A costly wife she will be to keep； and misery in the keeping of her。 But if you came to talk to me about Dora STANHOPE； I'll cease talking； for I don't find it any great entertainment。〃
〃I came to talk to you about Squire Rawdon。〃
〃What about the Squire？ Keep it in your mind that he and I were sweethearts when we were children。 I haven't forgotten that fact。〃
〃You know Rawdon Court is mortgaged to me？〃
〃I've heard you say somore than once。〃
〃I intend to foreclose the mortgage in September。 I find that I can get twice yes； three timesthe interest for my money in American securities。〃
〃How do you know they are securities？〃
〃Bryce Denning has put me up to several good things。〃
〃Well； if you think good things can come that road； you are a bigger fool than I ever thought you。〃
〃Fool！ Madam； I allow no one to call me a fool； especially without reason。〃
〃Reason； indeed！ What reason was there in your dillydallying after Dora Denning when she was engaged； and then making yourself like a ghost for her after she is married？ As for the good things Bryce Denning offers you in exchange for a grand English manor； take them； and then if I called you not fool before； I will call you fool in your teeth twice over； and much too good for you！ Aye； I could call you a worse name when I think of the old Squirehe's two years older than I ambeing turned out of his lifelong home。 Where is he to go to？〃
〃If I buy the place； for of course it will have to be sold； he is welcome to remain at Rawdon Court。〃
〃And he would deserve to do it if he were that low…minded； but if I know Squire Percival； he will go to the poor…house first。 Fred； you would surely scorn such a dirty thing as selling the old man out of house and home？〃
〃I want my money； or else I want Rawdon Manor。〃
〃And I have no objections either to your wanting it or having it； but； for goodness' sake； wait until death gives you a decent warrant for buying it。〃
〃I am afraid to delay。 The Squire has been very cool with me lately； and my agent tells me the Tyrrel…Rawdons have been visiting him； also that he has asked a great many questions about the Judge and Ethel。 He is evidently trying to prevent me getting possession； and I know that old Nicholas Rawdon would give his eye