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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。〃
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〃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
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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 unforeseen delays； the
perfected papers of release might certainly be on hand by the fifteenth of
July； and it was proposed on the first of August to give a dinner and dance
in return for the numerous courtesies the American Rawdons had received。
As this date approached Ruth and Ethel began to think of a visit to
London。 They wanted new gowns and many other pretty things； and why
not go to London for them？ The journey was but a few hours； and two or
three days' shopping in Regent Street and Piccadilly would be delightful。
〃We will make out a list of all we need this afternoon；〃 said Ruth； 〃and we
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might as well go to…morrow morning as later；〃 and at this moment a
servant entered with the mail。 Ethel lifted her letter with an exclamation。
〃It is from Dora；〃 she said； and her voice had a tone of annoyance in it。
〃Dora is in London； at the Savoy。 She wants to see me very much。〃
〃I am so sorry。 We have been so happy。〃
〃I don't think she will interfere much； Ruth。〃
〃My dears；〃 said Judge Rawdon； 〃I have a letter from Fred Mostyn。 He
is coming home。 He will be in London in a day or two。〃
〃Why is he coming； father？〃
〃He says he has a proposal to make about the Manor。 I wish he were
not coming。 No one wants his proposal。〃 Then the breakfast… table； which
had been so gay； became silent and depressed； and presently the Judge
went away without exhibiting further interest in the London journey。
〃I do wish Dora would let us