the man between-第36章

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bbing　all　the　time　she　spoke。　Then　the　doctor　told　Mostyn　what　he　thought；　and　there　is　a　quarrel　between　them　every　time　they　meet。〃

But　Ethel　was　not　deterred　by　these　statements；　on　the　contrary；　they　stimulated　her　interest　in　her　friend。　Dora　needed　her；　and　the　old　feeling　of　protection　stirred　her　to　interference。　At　any　rate；　she　could　call　and　see　the　unhappy　woman；　and　though　Tyrrel　was　opposed　to　the　visit；　and　thought　it　every　way　unwise；　Ethel　was　resolved　to　make　it。　〃You　can　drive　me　there；〃　she　said；　〃then　go　and　see　Justice　Manningham　and　call　for　me　in　half　an　hour。〃　And　this　resolution　was　strengthened　by　a　pitiful　little　note　received　from　Dora　just　after　her　decision。　〃Mostyn　has　gone　to　Thirsk；〃　it　said；　〃for　pity's　sake　come　and　see　me　about　two　o'clock　this　afternoon。〃

The　request　was　promptly　answered。　As　the　clock　struck　two　Ethel　crossed　the　threshold　of　the　home　that　might　have　been　hers。　She　shuddered　at　the　thought。　The　atmosphere　of　the　house　was　full　of　fear　and　gloom；　the　furniture　dark　and　shabby；　and　she　fancied　the　wraiths　of　old　forgotten　crimes　and　sorrows　were　gliding　about　the　sad；　dim　rooms　and　stairways。　Dora　rose　in　a　passion　of　tears　to　welcome　her；　and　because　time　was　short　instantly　began　her　pitiful　story。

〃You　know　how　he　adored　me　once；〃　she　said；　〃would　you　believe　it；　Ethel；　we　were　not　two　weeks　married　when　he　began　to　hate　me。　He　dragged　me　through　Europe　in　blazing　heat　and　blinding　snows　when　I　was　sick　and　unfit　to　move。　He　brought　me　here　in　the　depth　of　winter；　and　when　no　one　called　on　us　he　blamed　me；　and　from　morning　till　night；　and　sometimes　all　night　long；　he　taunts　and　torments　me。　After　he　heard　that　you　had　bought　the　Manor　he　lost　all　control　of　himself。　He　will　not　let　me　sleep。　He　walks　the　floor　hour　after　hour；　declaring　he　could　have　had　you　and　the　finest　manor　in　England　but　for　a　cat…faced　woman　like　me。　And　he　blames　me　for　poor　Basil's　death　says　we　murdered　him　together；　and　that　he　sees　blood　on　my　hands。〃　And　she　looked　with　terror　at　her　small；　thin　hands；　and　held　them　up　as　if　to　protest　against　the　charge。　When　she　next　spoke　it　was　to　sob　out；　〃Poor　Basil！　He　would　pity　me！　He　would　help　me！　He　would　forgive　me！　He　knows　now　that　Mostyn　was；　and　is；　my　evil　genius。〃

〃Do　not　cry　so　bitterly；　Dora；　it　hurts　me。　Let　us　think。　Is　there　nothing　you　can　do？〃

〃I　want　to　go　to　mother。〃　Then　she　drew　Ethel's　head　close　to　her　and　whispered　a　few　words；　and　Ethel　answered；　〃You　poor　little　one；　you　shall　go　to　your　mother。　Where　is　she？〃

〃She　will　be　in　London　next　week；　and　I　must　see　her。　He　will　not　let　me　go；　but　go　I　must　if　I　die　for　it。　Mrs。　John　Thomas　Rawdon　told　me　what　to　do；　and　I　have　been　following　her　advice。〃

Ethel　did　not　ask　what　it　was；　but　added；

〃If　Tyrrel　and　I　can　help　you；　send　for　us。　We　will　come。　And；　Dora；　do　stop　weeping；　and　be　brave。　Remember　you　are　an　American　woman。　Your　father　has　often　told　me　how　you　could　ride　with　Indians　or　cowboys　and　shoot　with　any　miner　in　Colorado。　A　bully　like　Mostyn　is　always　a　coward。　Lift　up　your　heart　and　stand　for　every　one　of　your　rights。　You　will　find　plenty　of　friends　to　stand　with　you。〃　And　with　the　words　she　took　her　by　the　hands　and　raised　her　to　her　feet；　and　looked　at　her　with　such　a　beaming；　courageous　smile　that　Dora　caught　its　spirit；　and　promised　to　insist　on　her　claims　for　rest　and　sleep。

〃When　shall　I　come　again；　Dora？〃

〃Not　till　I　send　for　you。　Mother　will　be　in　London　next　Wednesday　at　the　Savoy。　I　intend　to　leave　here　Wednesday　some　time；　and　may　need　you；　will　you　come？〃

〃Surely；　both　Tyrrel　and　I。〃

Then　the　time　being　on　a　dangerous　line　they　parted。　But　Ethel　could　think　of　nothing　and　talk　of　nothing　but　the　frightful　change　in　her　friend；　and　the　unceasing　misery　which　had　produced　it。　Tyrrel　shared　all　her　indignation。　The　slow　torture　of　any　creature　was　an　intolerable　crime　in　his　eyes；　but　when　the　brutality　was　exercised　on　a　woman；　and　on　a　countrywoman；　he　was　roused　to　the　highest　pitch　of　indignation。　When　Wednesday　arrived　he　did　not　leave　the　house；　but　waited　with　Ethel　for　the　message　they　confidently　expected。　It　came　about　five　o'clockurgent；　imperative；　entreating；　〃Come；　for　God's　sake！　He　will　kill　me。〃

The　carriage　was　ready；　and　in　half　an　hour　they　were　at　Mostyn　Hall。　No　one　answered　their　summons；　but　as　they　stood　listening　and　waiting；　a　shrill　cry　of　pain　and　anger　pierced　the　silence。　It　was　followed　by　loud　voices　and　a　confused　noise　noise　of　many　talking　and　exclaiming。　Then　Tyrrel　no　longer　hesitated。　He　opened　the　door　easily；　and　taking　Ethel　on　his　arm；　suddenly　entered　the　parlor　from　which　the　clamor　came。　Dora　stood　in　the　center　of　the　room　like　an　enraged　pythoness；　her　eyes　blazing　with　passion。

〃See！〃　she　cried　as　Tyrrel　entered　the　room〃see！〃　And　she　held　out　her　arm；　and　pointed　to　her　shoulder　from　which　the　lace　hung　in　shreds；　showing　the　white　flesh；　red　and　bruised；　where　Mostyn　had　gripped　her。　Then　Tyrrel　turned　to　Mostyn；　who　was　held　tightly　in　the　grasp　of　his　gardener　and　coachman；　and　foaming　with　a　rage　that　rendered　his　explanation　almost　inarticulate；　especially　as　the　three　women　servants　gathered　around　their　mistress　added　their　railing　and　invectives　to　the　general　confusion。

〃The　witch！　The　cat…faced　woman！〃　he　screamed。　〃She　wants　to　go　to　her　mother！　Wants　to　play　the　trick　she　killed　Basil　Stanhope　with！　She　shall　not！　She　shall　not！　I　will　kill　her　first！　She　is　mad！　I　will　send　her　to　an　asylum！　She　is　a　little　devil！　I　will　send　her　to　hell！　Nothing　is　bad　enough　nothing〃

〃Mr。　Mostyn；〃　said　Tyrrel。

〃Out　of　my　house！　What　are　you　doing　here？　Away！　This　is　my　house！　Out　of　it　immediately！〃

〃This　man　is　insane；〃　said　Tyrrel　to　Dora。　〃Put　on　your　hat　and　cloak；　and　come　home　with　us。〃

〃I　am　waiting　for　Justice　Manningham；〃　she　answered　with　a　calm　subsidence　of　passion　that　angered　Mostyn　more　than　her　reproaches。　〃I　have　sent　for　him。　He　will　be　here　in　five　minutes　now。　That　brute〃　pointing　to　Mostyn〃must　be　kept　under　guard　till　I　reach　my　mother。　The　magistrate　will　bring　a　couple　of　constables　with　him。〃

〃This　is　a　plot；　then！　You　hear　it！　You！　You；　Tyrrel　Rawdon；　and　you；　Saint　Ethel；　are　in　it；　all　here　on　time。　A　plot；　I　say！　Let　me　loose　that　I　may　strangle　the　cat…faced　creature。　Look　at　her　hands；　they　are　already　bloody！〃

At　these　words　Dora　began　to　sob　passionately；　the　servants；　one　and　all；　to　comfort　her；　or　to　abuse　Mostyn；　and　in　the　height　of　the　hubbub　Justice　Manningham　entered　with　two　constables　behind　him。

〃Take　charge　of　Mr。　Mostyn；〃　he　said　to　them；　and　as　they　laid　their　big　hands　on　his　shoulders　the　Justice　added；　〃You　will　consider　yourself　under　arrest；　Mr。　Mostyn。〃

And　when　nothing　else　could　cow　Mostyn；　he　was　cowed　by　the　law。　He　sank　almost　fainting　into　his　chair；　and　the　Justice　listened　to　Dora's　story；　and　looked　indignantly　at　the　brutal　man；　when　she　showed　him　her　torn　dress　and　bruised　shoulder。　〃I　entreat　your　Honor；〃　she　said；　〃to　permit　me　to　go　to　my　mother　who　is　now　in　London。〃　And　he　answered　kindly；　〃You　shall　go。　You　are　in　a　condition　only　a　mother　can　help　and　comfort。　As　soon　as　I　have　taken　your　deposition　you　shall　go。〃

No　one　paid　any　attention　to　Mostyn's　disclaimers　and　denials。　The　Justice　saw　the　state　of　affairs。　Squire　Rawdon　and　Mrs。　Rawdon　testified　to　Dora's　ill…usage；　the　butler；　the　coachman；　the　stablemen；　the　cook；　the　housemaids　were　all　eager　to　bear　witness　to　the　same；　and　Mrs。　Mostyn's　appearance　was　too　eloquent　a　plea　for　any　humane　man　to　deny　her　the　mother…help　she　asked　for。

Though　neighbors　and　members　of　the　same　hunt　and　clubs；　the　Justice　took　no　more　friendly　notice　of　Mostyn　than　he　would　have　taken　of　any　wife…beating　cotton…　weaver；　and　when　all　lawful　preliminaries　had　been　arranged；　he　told　Mrs。　Mostyn　that　he　should　not　take　up　Mr。　Mostyn's　case　till　Friday；　and　in　the　interval　she　would　have　time　to　put　herself　under　her　mother's　care。　She　thanked　him；　weeping；　and　in　her　old；　pretty　way　kissed　his　hands；　and　〃vowed　he　had　saved　her　life；　and　she　would　forever　remember　his　goodness。〃　Mostyn　mocked　at　her　〃play…acting；〃　and　was　sternly　reprov