ntly trying to prevent me getting possession； and I know that old Nicholas Rawdon would give his eyelids to own Rawdon Court。 As to the Judge〃
〃My son wants none of it。 You can make your mind easy on that score。〃
〃I think I behaved very decently； though； of course； no one gives me credit for it； for as soon as I saw I must foreclose in order to get my own I thought at once of Ethel。 It seemed to me that if we could love each other the money claims of Mostyn and the inherited claims of Rawdon would both be satisfied。 Unfortunately； I found that I could not love Ethel as a wife should be loved。〃
〃And I can tell you； Fred； that Ethel never could have loved you as a husband should be loved。 She was a good deal disappointed in you from the very first。〃
〃I thought I made a favorable impression on her。〃
〃In a way。 She said you played the piano nicely； but Ethel is all for handsome men； tall； erect six…footers； with a little swing and swagger to them。 She thought you small and finicky。 But Ethel's rich enough to have her fancy； I hope。〃
〃It is little matter now what she thought。 I can't please every one。〃
〃No； it's rather harder to do that than most people think it is。 I would please my conscience first of all； Fred。 That's the point worth mentioning。 And I shall just remind you of one thing more： your money all in a lump on Rawdon Manor is safe。 It is in one place； and in such shape as it can't run away nor be smuggled away by any man's trickery。 Now； then； turn your eighty thousand pounds into dollars； and divide them among a score of securities； and you'll soon find out that a fortune may be easily squandered when it is in a great many hands； and that what looks satisfactory enough when reckoned up on paper doesn't often realize in hard money to the same tune。 I've said all now I am going to say。〃
〃Thank you for the advice given me。 I will take it as far as I can。 This afternoon the Judge has promised to talk over the business with me。〃
〃The Judge never saw Rawdon Court； and he cares nothing about it； but he can give you counsel about the ‘good things' Bryce Denning offers you。 And you may safely listen to it； for； right or wrong； I see plainly it is your own advice you will take in the long run。〃
Mostyn laughed pleasantly and went back to his hotel to think over the facts gleaned from his conversation with Madam。 In the first place； he understood that any overt act against Squire Rawdon would be deeply resented by his American relatives。 But then he reminded himself that his own relationship with them was merely sentiment。 He had now nothing to hope for in the way of money。 Madam's apparently spontaneous and truthful assertion； that the Judge cared nothing for Rawdon Court； was； however； very satisfactory to him。 He had been foolish enough to think that the thing he desired so passionately was of equal value in the estimation of others。 He saw now that he was wrong； and he then remembered that he had never found Judge Rawdon to evince either interest or curiosity about the family home。
If he had been a keen observer； the Judge's face when he called might have given his comfortable feelings some pause。 It was contracted； subtle； intricate； but he came forward with a congratulation on Mostyn's improved appearance。 〃A few weeks at the seaside would do you good；〃 he added； and Mostyn answered； 〃I think of going to Newport for a month。〃
〃And then？〃
〃I want your opinion about that。 McLean advises me to see the countryto go to Chicago； St。 Louis； Denver； cross the Rockies； and on to California。 It seems as if that would be a grand summer programme。 But my lawyer writes me that the man in charge at Mostyn is cutting too much timber and is generally too extravagant。 Then there is the question of Rawdon Court。 My finances will not let me carry the mortgage on it longer； unless I buy the place。〃
〃Are you thinking of that as probable？〃
〃Yes。 It will have to be sold。 And Mostyn seems to be the natural owner after Rawdon。 The Mostyns have married Rawdons so frequently that we are almost like one family； and Rawdon Court lies； as it were； at Mostyn's gate。 The Squire is now old； and too easily persuaded for his own welfare； and I hear the Tyrrel…Rawdons have been visiting him。 Such a thing would have been incredible a few years ago。〃
〃Who are the Tyrrel…Rawdons？ I have no acquaintance with them。〃
〃They are the descendants of that Tyrrel… Rawdon who a century ago married a handsome girl who was only an innkeeper's daughter。 He was of course disowned and disinherited； and his children sank to the lowest social grade。 Then when power…loom weaving was introduced they went to the mills； and one of them was clever and saved money and built a little mill of his own； and his son built a much larger one； and made a great deal of money； and became Mayor of Leeds。 The next generation saw the Tyrrel… Rawdons the largest loom…lords in Yorkshire。 One of the youngest generation was my opponent in the last election and beat mea Radical fellow beats the Conservative candidate always where weavers and spinners hold the vote but I thought it my duty to uphold the Mostyn banner。 You know the Mostyns have always been Tories and Conservatives。〃
〃Excuse me； but I am afraid I am ignorant concerning Mostyn politics。 I take little interest in the English parties。〃
〃Naturally。 Well； I hope you will take an interest in my affairs and give me your advice about the sale of Rawdon Court。〃
〃I think my advice would be useless。 In the first place； I never saw the Court。 My father had an old picture of it； which has somehow disappeared since his death； but I cannot say that even this picture interested me at all。 You know I am an American； born on the soil； and very proud of it。 Then； as you are acquainted with all the ins and outs of the difficulties and embarrassments； and I know nothing at all about them； you would hardly be foolish enough to take my opinion against your own。 I suppose the Squire is in favor of your buying the Court？〃
〃I never named the subject to him。 I thought perhaps he might have written to you on the matter。 You are the last male of the house in that line。〃
〃He has never written to me about the Court。 Then； I am not the last male。 From what you say； I think the Tyrrel…Rawdons could easily supply an heir to Rawdon。〃
〃That is the thing to be avoided。 It would be a great offense to the county families。〃
〃Why should they be considered？ A Rawdon is always a Rawdon。〃
〃But a cotton spinner； sir！ A mere mill… owner！〃
〃Well； I do not feel with you and the other county people in that respect。 I think a cotton spinner； giving bread to a thousand families； is a vastly more respectable and important man than a fox…hunting； idle landlord。 A mill…owning Rawdon might do a deal of good in the sleepy old village of Monk…Rawdon。〃
〃Your sentiments are American； not English； sir。〃
〃As I told you； we look at things from very different standpoints。〃
〃Do you feel inclined to lift the mortgage yourself； Judge？〃
〃I have not the power； even if I had the inclination to do so。 My money is well invested； and I could not； at this time； turn bonds and securities into cash without making a sacrifice not to be contemplated。 I confess； however； that if the Court has to be sold； I should like the Tyrrel…Rawdons to buy it。 I dare say the picture of the offending youth is still in the gallery； and I have heard my mother say that what is another's always yearns for its lord。 Driven from his heritage for Love's sake； it would be at least interesting if Gold gave back to his children what Love lost them。〃
〃That is pure sentiment。 Surely it would be more natural that the Mostyns should succeed the Rawdons。 We have； as it were； bought the right with at least a dozen intermarriages。〃
〃That also is pure sentiment。 Gold at last will carry the succession。〃
〃But not your gold； I infer？〃
〃Not my gold； certainly not。〃
〃Thank you for your decisive words They make my course clear。〃
〃That is well。 As to your summer movements； I am equally unable to give you advice。 I think you need the sea for a month； and after that McLean's scheme is good。 And a return to Mostyn to look after your affairs is equally good。 If I were you； I should follow my inclinations。 If you put your heart into anything； it is well done and enjoyed； if you do a thing because you think you ought to do it； failure and disappointment are often the results。 So do as you want to do； it is the only advice I can offer you。〃
〃Thank you； sir。 It is very acceptable。 I may leave for Newport to…morrow。 I shall call on the ladies in the morning。〃
〃I will tell them； but it is just possible that they； too； go to the country to…morrow； to look after a little cottage on the Hudson we occupy in the summer。 Good…by； and I hope you will soon recover your usual health。〃
Then the Judge lifted his hat； and with a courteous movement left the room。 His face had the same suave urbanity of expression； but he could hardly restrain the passion in his heart。 Placid as he looked when he entered his house； he threw off all pretenses as soon as he reached his room。 The Yorkshire spirit which Ethel had declared found him out once in three hundred and sixty…four days and twenty…three hours was then in full pos… session。 The American Judge had disappeared。 He looked as like his ancestors as anything outside of a painted picture could do。 His flushed face； his flashing eyes； his passionate exclamations； the stamp of his foot； the blow of his hand； the threatening attitude of his whole figure was but a replica of his great…grandfather； Anthony Rawdon； giving Radicals at the hustings or careless keepers at the kennels 〃a bit of his mind。〃
〃‘Mostyn； seems to be the natural owner of Rawdon！ Rawdon Court lies at Mostyn's gate！ Natural that the Mostyns should succeed the Rawdons！ Bought the right by a dozen intermarriages！' Confound the impudent rascal！ Does he think I will see Squire Rawdon rogued out of his home？ Not if I can help it！ Not if Ethel can help it！ Not if heaven and earth can help it！ He's a downright rascal！ A cool； unruffled； impudent rascal！〃 And these ejaculations were followed by a bitter； biting； blasting hailstorm of such epithets as could only be written w