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Manningham was very sorry for the little lady； but he said also ‘it was a
bad precedent； and ought not to be discussed。' And Squire Bentley said； ‘If
English gentlemen would marry American women； they must put up with
American women's ways；' and so on。 None of them think it prudent to
approve Mrs。 Mostyn's course。 But they won't get off as easy as they think。
The women are standing up for her。 Did you ever hear anything like that？
And I'll warrant some husbands are none so easy in their minds； as my
Nicholas said； ‘Mrs。 Mostyn had sown seed that would be seen and heard
tell of for many a long day。' Our Lucy； I suspect； had more to do with the
move than she will confess。 She got a lot of new； queer notions at college；
and I do believe in my heart she set the poor woman up to the business。
John Thomas； of course； says not a word； but he looks at Lucy in a very
proud kind of way； and I'll be bound he has got an object lesson he'll
remember as long as he lives。 So has Nicholas； though he bluffs more than
a little as to what he'd do with a wife that got a running… away notion into
her head。 Bless you； dear； they are all formulating their laws on the subject；
and their wives are smiling queerly at them； and holding their heads a bit
higher than usual。 I've been doing it myself； so I know how they feel。〃
Thus； though very little was said in the newspapers about the affair；
the notoriety Mostyn dreaded was complete and thorough。 It was the
private topic of conversation in every household。 Men talked it over in all
the places where men met； and women hired the old Mostyn servants in
order to get the very surest and latest story of the poor wife's wrongs； and
then compared reports and even discussed the circumstances in their own
particular clubs。
At the Court； Tyrrel and Ethel tried to forget； and their own interests
were so many and so important that they usually succeeded； especially
after a few lines from Mrs。 Denning assured them of Dora's safety and
comfort。 And for many weeks the busy life of the Manor sufficed； there
was the hay to cut in the meadow lands； and after it the wheat fields to
harvest。 The stables； the kennels； the farms and timber； the park and the
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garden kept Tyrrel constantly busy。 And to these duties were added the
social ones； the dining and dancing and entertaining； the horse racing； the
regattas； and the enthusiasm which automobiling in its first fever
engenders。
And yet there were times when Tyrrel looked bored； and when nothing
but Squire Percival's organ or Ethel's piano seemed to exorcise the unrest
and ennui that could not be hid。 Ethel watched these moods with a wise
and kind curiosity； and in the beginning of September； when they
perceptibly increased； she asked one day； 〃Are you happy； Tyrrel？ Quite
happy？〃
〃I am having a splendid holiday；〃 he answered； 〃but〃
〃But what； dear？〃
〃One could not turn life into a long holiday that would be harder than
the hardest work。〃
She answered 〃Yes；〃 and as soon as she was alone fell to thinking； and
in the midst of her meditation Mrs。 Nicholas Rawdon entered in a whirl of
tempestuous delight。
〃What do you think？〃 she asked between laughing and crying。
〃Whatever do you think？ Our Lucy had twins yesterday； two fine boys as
ever was。 And I wish you could see their grandfather and their father。 They
are out of themselves with joy。 They stand hour after hour beside the two
cradles； looking at the little fellows； and they nearly came to words this
morning about their names。〃
〃I am so delighted！〃 cried Ethel。 〃And what are you going to call
them？〃
〃One is an hour older than the other； and John Thomas wanted them
called Percival and Nicholas。 But my Nicholas wanted the eldest called
after himself； and he said so plain enough。 And John Thomas said ‘he
could surely name his own sons； and then Nicholas told him to remember
he wouldn't have been here to have any sons at all but for his father。' And
just then I came into the room to have a look at the little lads； and when I
heard what they were fratching about； I told them it was none of their
business； that Lucy had the right to name the children； and they would just
have to put up with the names she gave them。〃
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〃And has Lucy named them？〃
〃To be sure。 I went right away to her and explained the dilemma； and I
said； ‘Now； Lucy； it is your place to settle this question。' And she answered
in her positive little way； ‘You tell father the eldest is to be called Nicholas；
and tell John Thomas the youngest is to be called John Thomas。 I can
manage two of that name very well。 And say that I won't have any more
disputing about names； the boys are as good as christened already。' And of
course when Lucy said that we all knew it was settled。 And I'm glad the
eldest is Nicholas。 He is a fine； sturdy little York… shireman； bawling out
already for what he wants； and flying into a temper if he doesn't get it as
soon as he wants it。 Dearie me； Ethel； I am a proud woman this morning。
And Nicholas is going to give all the hands a holiday； and a trip up to
Ambleside on Saturday； though John Thomas is very much against it。〃
〃Why is he against it？〃
〃He says they will be holding a meeting on Monday night to try and
find out what Old Nicholas is up to； and that if he doesn't give them the
same treat on the same date next year； they'll hold an indignation meeting
about being swindled out of their rights。 And I'll pledge you my word John
Thomas knows the men he's talking about。 However； Nicholas is close
with his money； and it will do him good happen to lose a bit。 Blood…letting
is healthy for the body； and perhaps gold…letting may help the soul more
than we think for。〃
This news stimulated Ethel's thinking； and when she also stood beside
the two cradles； and the little Nicholas opened his big blue eyes and began
to 〃bawl for what he wanted；〃 a certain idea took fast hold of her； and she
nursed it silently for the next month； watch… ing Tyrrel at the same time。 It
was near October； however； before she found the proper opportunity for
speaking。 There had been a long letter from the Judge。 It said Ruth and he
were home