"Whom did they borrow from?"
"Fred Mostyn's father."
"The devil! Excuse me, Ethel--but the name suits and may stand."
"The dear old Squire would have taken the fault on himself if he could have done so. They that wronged him were his own, and they were dead. He never spoke of them but with affection."
"Poor Percival! Your father told me he was now out of Mostyn's power; he said you had saved the estate, but he gave me no particulars. How did you save it?"
"Bought it!"
"Nonsense!"
"House and lands and outlying farms and timber--everything."
Then a rosy color overspread Madam's face, her eyes sparkled, she rose to her feet, made Ethel a sweeping courtesy, and said: "My respect and congratulations to Ethel, Lady of Rawdon Manor."
"Dear grandmother, what else could I do?"
"You did right."
"The Squire is Lord of the Manor as long as he lives. My father says I have done well to buy it. In the future, if I do not wish to keep it, Nicholas Rawdon will relieve me at a great financial advantage."
"Why didn't you let Nicholas Rawdon buy it now?"
"He would have wanted prompt possession. The Squire would have had to leave his home. It would have broken his heart."
"I dare say. He has a soft, loving heart. That isn't always a blessing. It can give one a deal of suffering. And I hear you have all been making idols of these Tyrrel-Rawdons. Fred tells me they are as vulgar a lot as can be."
"Fred lies! Excuse me, grandmother--but 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 himself--not 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, a thing I have not done."