he kept his right hand in his pocket. I be-lieve he was afraid I
would shake hands with him--it is Ethel, I suppose. Naturally he is
disappointed. Wanted her at Rawdon. Well, it is a pity, but I really
cannot! Oh, Dora! Dora! My heart, my hungry and thirsty heart calls you!
Burning with love, dying with longing, I am waiting for you!"

The dinner passed pleasantly enough, but both Ethel and Ruth noticed the
Judge was under strong but well-controlled feeling. While servants were
present it passed for high spirits, but as soon as the three were alone
in the library, the excitement took at once a serious aspect.

"My dears," he said, standing up and facing them, "I have had a very
painful interview with Fred Mostyn. He holds a mortgage over Rawdon
Court, and is going to press it in September--that is, he proposes to
sell the place in order to obtain his money--and the poor Squire!" He
ceased speaking, walked across the room and back again, and appeared
greatly disturbed.

"What of the Squire?" asked Ruth.

"God knows, Ruth. He has no other home."

"Why is this thing to be done? Is there no way to prevent it?"

"Mostyn wants the money, he says, to invest in American securities. He
does not. He wants to force a sale, so that he may buy the place for the
mortgage, and then either keep it for his pride, or more likely resell
it to the Tyrrel-Rawdons for double the money." Then with gradually
increasing passion he repeated in a low, intense voice the remarks which
Mostyn had made, and which had so infuriated the Judge. Before he
had finished speaking the two women had caught his temper and spirit.
Ethel's face was white with anger, her eyes flashing, her whole attitude
full of fight. Ruth was troubled and sorrowful, and she looked anxiously
at the Judge for some solution of the condition. It was Ethel who voiced
the anxiety. "Father," she asked, "what is to be done? What can you do?"

"Nothing, I am sorry to say, Ethel. My money is absolutely tied up--for
this year, at any rate. I cannot touch it without wronging others as
well as myself, nor yet without the most ruinous sacrifice."

"If I could do anything, I would not care at what sacrifice."

"You can do all that is necessary, Ethel, and you are the only person
who can. You have at least eight hundred thousand dollars in cash and
negotiable securities. Your mother's fortune is all yours, with its
legitimate accruements, and it was left at your own disposal after your