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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。
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The Man Between
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
envious； selfish misery of the 〃dog in the manger〃 was eating at his
heartstrings。 He did not want Ethel； but oh； how he hated the thought of
either John Thomas or that American Raw… don winning her！ His seat at
the dinner… table also annoyed him。 It was far enough from the objects of
his resentment to prevent him hearing or interfering in their merry
conversation； and he told himself with passionate indignation that Ethel
had never once in all their intercourse been so beautiful and bright as she
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The Man Between
revealed herself that evening to those two Rawdon youthsone a mere
loom…master； the other an American whom no one knew anything about。
The long； bewitching hours of the glorious evening added fuel to the
flame of his anger。 He could only procure from Ethel the promise of one
unimportant dance at the close of her programme； and the American had
three dances； and the mere loom…man two。 And though he attempted to
restore his self… complacency by devoting his whole attentions to the only
titled young ladies in the room； he had throughout the evening a sense of
being snubbed； and of being a person no longer of much importance at
Rawdon Court。 And the reasoning of wounded self…love is a singular
process。 Mostyn was quite oblivious of any personal cause for the change；
he attributed it entirely to the Squire's ingratitude。
〃I did the Squire a good turn when he needed it； and of course he hates
me for the obligation； and as for the Judge and his fine daughter； they
interfered with my business did me a great wrongand they are only
illustrating the old saying； ‘Since I wronged you I never liked you。'〃 After
indulging such thoughts awhile； he resolved to escort the ladies Aur