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.