"He could ask Basil too."
"If Mr. Mostyn is coming home, he can ask you to Mostyn Hall. It is very near Rawdon Court."
"Yes. Fred said as soon as he had possession of the Court he could put both places into a ring fence. Then he would live at the Court. If he asks us there next summer I shall be sure to beg an invitation for you also; so I think you might deserve it by getting me one now. I don't want to go to Mostyn yet. Fred says it needs entire refurnishing, and if we come to the Court next summer, I have promised to give him my advice and help in making the place pretty and up to date. Have you seen Mostyn Hall?"
"I have passed it several times. It is a large, gloomy-looking place I was going to say haunted-looking. It stands in a grove of yew trees."
"So you are not going to ask me to Rawdon Court?"
"I really cannot, Dora. It is not my house. I am only a guest there."
"Never mind. Make no more excuses. I see how it is. You always were jealous of Fred's liking for me. And of course when he goes down to Mostyn you would prefer me to be absent."
"Good-by, Dora! I have a deal of shopping to do, and there is not much time before the ball, for many things will be to make."
"The ball! What ball?"
"Only one at Rawdon Court. The neighbors have been exceedingly kind to us, and the Squire is going to give a dinner and ball on the first of August."
"Sit down and tell me about the neighbors--and the ball."
"I cannot. I promised Ruth to be back at five. Our modiste is to see us at that hour."
"So Ruth is with you! Why did she not call on me?"
"Did you think I should come to London alone? And Ruth did not call because she was too busy."
"Everyone and everything comes before me now. I used to be first of all. I wish I were in Newport with dad and mamma; even Bryce would be a comfort."
"As I said before, you have Mr. Stanhope."
"Are you going to send for me to the ball?"
"I cannot promise that, Dora. Good-by."
Dora did not answer. She buried her face in the soft pillow, and Ethel closed the door to the sound of her sobs. But they did not cause her to return or to make any foolish promises. She divined their insincerity and their motive, and had no mind to take any part in forwarding the latter.