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be。〃
〃Fred lies！ Excuse me； grandmotherbut the word suits and may stand。
Mr。 Nicholas is pompous； and walks as slowly as if he had to carry the
weight of his great fortune； but his manners are all right； and his wife and
son are delightful。 She is handsome； well dressed； and so good…hearted
that her pretty county idioms are really charming。 John Thomas is a man
by himselfnot handsome； but running over with good temper； and
exceedingly clever and wide…awake。 Many times I was forced to tell
myself； John Thomas would make an ideal Squire of Rawdon。〃
〃Why don't you marry him。〃
〃He never asked me。〃
〃What was the matter with the men？〃
〃He was already engaged to a very lovely young lady。〃
〃I am glad she is a lady。〃
〃She is also very clever。 She has been to college and taken high honors；
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a thing I have not done。〃
〃You might have done and overdone that caper； you were too sensible
to try it。 Well； I'm glad that part of the family is looking up。 They had the
right stuff in them； and it is a good thing for families to dwell together in
unity。 We have King David's word for that。 My observation leads me to
think it is far better for families to dwell apart； in unity。 They seldom get
along comfortably together。〃
Then Ethel related many pleasant； piquant scenes between the two
families at Monk… Rawdon； and especially that one in which the room of
the first Tyrrel had been opened and his likeness restored to its place in the
family gallery。 It touched the old lady to tears； and she murmured； 〃Poor
lad！ Poor lad！ I wonder if he knows！ I wonder if he knows！〃
The crucial point of Ethel's revelations had not yet been revealed； but
Madam was now in a gentle mood； and Ethel took the opportunity to
introduce her to Tyrrel Rawdon。 She was expecting and waiting for this
topic； but stubbornly refused to give Ethel any help toward bringing it
forward。 At last； the girl felt a little anger at her pretended indifference；
and said； 〃I suppose Fred Mostyn told you about Mr。 Tyrrel Rawdon； of
California？〃
〃Tyrrel Rawdon； of California！ Pray； who may he be？〃
〃The son of Colonel Rawdon； of the United States Army。〃
〃Oh； to be sure！ Well； what of him？〃
〃I am going to marry him。〃
〃I shall see about that。〃
〃We were coming here together to see you； but before we left the
steamer he got a telegram urging him to go at once to his father； who is
very ill。〃
〃I have not asked him to come and see me。 Perhaps he will wait till I
do so。〃
〃If you are not going to love Tyrrel； you need not love me。 I won't
have you for a grandmother any longer。〃
〃I did without you sixty years。 I shall not live another twelve months；
and I think I can manage to do without you for a granddaughter any
longer。〃
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〃You cannot do without me。 You would break your heart； and I should
break mine。〃 Whereupon Ethel began to cry with a passion that quite
gratified the old lady。 She watched her a few moments； and then said
gently：
〃There now； that will do。 When he comes to New York bring him to
see me。 And don't name the man in the meantime。 I won't talk about him
till I've seen him。 It isn't fair either way。 Fred didn't like him。〃
〃Fred likes no one but Dora Stanhope。〃
〃Eh！ What！ Is that nonsense going on yet？〃
Then Ethel described her last two interviews with Dora。 She did this
with scrupulous fidelity； making no suggestions that might prejudice the
case。 For she really wanted her grandmother's decision in order to frame
her own conduct by it。 Madam was not； however； in a hurry to give it。
〃What do you think？〃 she asked Ethel。
〃I have known Dora for many years； she has always told me
everything。〃
〃But nothing about Fred？〃
〃Nothing。〃
〃Nothing to tell； perhaps？〃
〃Perhaps。〃
〃Where does her excellent husband come in？〃
〃She says he is very kind to her in his way。〃
〃And his way is to drag her over the world to see the cathedrals thereof；
and to vary that pleasure with inspecting schools and reformatories and
listening to great preachers。 Upon my word； I feel sorry for the child！ And
I know all about such excellent people as the Stanhopes。 I used to go to
what they call ‘a pleasant evening' with them。 We sat around a big room lit
with wax candles； and held improving conversation； or some one sang one
or two of Mrs。 Hemans' songs； like ‘Passing Away' or ‘He Never Smiled
Again。' Perhaps there was a comic recitation； at which no one laughed； and
finally we had wine and hot waterthey called it ‘port negus'and tongue
sandwiches and caraway cakes。 My dear Ethel； I yawn now when I think
of those dreary evenings。 What must Dora have felt； right out of the
maelstrom of New York's operas and theaters and dancing parties？〃
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〃Still； Dora ought to try to feel some interest in the church affairs。 She
says she does not care a hairpin for them； and Basil feels so hurt。〃
〃I dare say he does； poor fellow！ He thinks St。 Jude's Kindergarten and
sewing circles and missionary societies are the only joys in the world。
Right enough for Basil； but how about Dora？〃
〃They are his profession； she ought to feel an interest in them。〃
〃Come now； look at the question sensibly。 Did Dora's father bring his
‘deals' and stock…jobbery home； and expect Dora and her mother to feel an
interest in them？ Do doctors tell their wives about their patients； and
expect them to pay sympathizing visits？ Does your father expect Ruth and
yourself to listen to his cases and arguments； and visit his poor clients or
make underclothing for them？ Do men； in general； consider it a wife's
place to interfere in their profession or business？〃
〃Clergymen are different。〃
〃Not at all。 Preaching and philanthropy is their business。 They get so
much a year for doing it。 I don't believe St。 Jude's pays Mrs。 Stanhope a
red cent。 There now； and if she isn't paid； she's right not to work。 Amen to
that！〃
〃Before she was married Dora sai