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May the blessing of God ever hallow the sod； And its valleys and hills
by our children be trod。'〃
With the patriotic music warbling in his throat he turned to Ethel； and
looked at her as a lover can； and she answered the look； and thus leaning
toward each other in visible beauty and affection their new life began。
Between smiles and kisses they sat speaking； not of the past with all its
love and loveliness； but of the high things calling to them from the future；
the work and duties of life set to great ends both for public and private
good。 And as they thus communed Tyrrel took his wife's hand and slowly
turned on her finger the plain gold wedding ring behind its barrier of
guarding gems。
〃Ethel；〃 he said tenderly； 〃what enchantments are in this ring of gold！
What romances I used to weave around it； and； dearest； it has turned every
Romance into Reality。〃
〃And； Tyrrel； it will also turn all our Realities into Romances。 Nothing
in our life will ever become common。 Love will glorify everything。〃
〃And we shall always love as we love now？〃
〃We shall love far better； far stronger； far more tenderly。〃
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〃Even to the end of our lives； Ethel？〃
〃Yes； to the very end。〃
CHAPTER XIII
A PAUSE of blissful silence followed this assurance。 It was broken
by a little exclamation from Ethel。 〃Oh； dear；〃 she said； 〃how selfishly
thoughtless my happiness makes me！ I have forgotten to tell you； until this
moment； that I have a letter from Dora。 It was sent to grandmother's care；
and I got it this afternoon； also one from Lucy Rawdon。 The two together
bring Dora's affairs； I should say； to a pleasanter termination than we could
have hoped for。〃
〃Where is the Enchantress？〃
〃In Paris at present。〃
〃I expected that answer。〃
〃But listen； she is living the quietest of lives； the most devoted
daughter cannot excel her。〃
〃Is she her own authority for that astonishing statement？ Do you
believe it？〃
〃Yes； under the circumstances。 Mr。 Denning went to Paris for a critical
and painful operation； and Dora is giving all her love and time toward
making his convalescence as pleasant as it can be。 In fact； her description
of their life in the pretty chateau they have rented outside of Paris is quite
idyllic。 When her father is able to travel they are going to Algiers for the
winter； and will return to New York about next May。 Dora says she never
intends to leave America again。〃
〃Where is her husband？ Keeping watch on the French chateau？〃
〃That is over。 Mr。 Denning persuaded Dora to write a statement of all
the facts concerning the birth of the child。 She told her husband the name
under which they traveled； the names of the ship； the captain； and the
ship's doctor； and Mrs。 Denning authenticated the statement； but； oh； what
a mean； suspicious creature Mostyn is！〃
〃What makes you reiterate that description of him？〃
〃He was quite unable to see any good or kind intent in this paper。 He
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proved its correctness； and then wrote Mr。 Denning a very contemptible
letter。〃
〃Which was characteristic enough。 What did he say？〃
〃That the amende honorable was too late； that he supposed Dora
wished to have the divorce proceedings stopped and be reinstated as his
wife； but he desired the whole Denning family to understand that was now
impossible； he was ‘fervently； feverishly awaiting his freedom； which he
expected at any hour。' He said it was ‘sickening to remember the weariness
of body and soul Dora had given him about a non…existing child； and
though this could never be atoned for； he did think he ought to be refunded
the money Dora's contemptible revenge had cost him。〃'
〃How could he？ How could he？〃
〃Of course Mr。 Denning sent him a check； a pretty large one； I dare say。
And I suppose he has his freedom by this time； unless he has married
again。〃
〃He will never marry again。〃
〃Indeed； that is the strange part of the story。 It was because he wanted
to marry again that he was ‘fervently； feverishly awaiting his freedom。'〃
〃I can hardly believe it； Ethel。 What does Dora say？〃
〃I have the news from Lucy。 She says when Mostyn was ignored by
everyone in the neighborhood； one woman stood up for him almost
passionately。 Do you remember Miss Sadler？〃
〃That remarkable governess of the Surreys？ Why； Ethel； she is the
very ugliest woman I ever saw。〃
〃She is so ugly that she is fascinating。 If you see her one minute you
can never forget her； and she is brains to her finger tips。 She ruled
everyone at Surrey House。 She was Lord Surrey's secretary and Lady
Surrey's adviser。 She educated the children； and they adored her； she ruled
the servants； and they obeyed her with fear and trembling。 Nothing was
done in Surrey House without her approval。 And if her face was not
handsome； she had a noble presence and a manner that was irresistible。〃
〃And she took Mostyn's part？〃
〃With enthusiasm。 She abused Dora individually； and American
women generally。 She pitied Mr。 Mostyn； and made others do so； and
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when she perceived there would be but a shabby and tardy restoration for
him socially； she advised him to shake off the dust of his feet from Monk…
Rawdon； and begin life in some more civilized place。 And in order that he
might do so； she induced Lord Surrey to get him a very excellent civil
appointment in Calcutta。〃
〃Then he is going to India？〃
〃He is probably now on the way there。 He sold the Mostyn estate〃
〃I can hardly believe it。〃
〃He sold it to John Thomas Rawdon。 John Thomas told me it belonged
to Rawdon until the middle of the seventeenth century； and he meant to
have it back。 He has got it。〃
〃Miss Sadler must be a witch。〃
〃She is a sensible； practical woman； who knows how to manage men。
She has soothed Mostyn's wounded pride with appreciative flattery and
stimulated his ambition。 She has promised hi