Part 43 (2/2)

”My dear, it shouldn't have been done. You ought to have known that.

I certainly wouldn't have had you here had I thought that there would be anything of the kind.”

”It is going to be all right,” said Arabella laughing.

According to her Grace's view of things it was not and could not be made ”all right.” It would not have been all right were the girl to become Lady Rufford to-morrow. The scandal, or loud reproach due to evil doings, may be silenced by subsequent conduct. The merited punishment may not come visibly. But nothing happening after could make it right that a young lady should come home from hunting in a postchaise alone with a young unmarried man. When the d.u.c.h.ess first heard it she thought what would have been her feelings if such a thing had been suggested in reference to one of her own daughters!

Lord Rufford had come to her in the drawing-room and had told her the story in a quiet pleasant manner,--merely saying that Miss Trefoil was too much fatigued to show herself at the present moment. She had thought from his manner that her niece's story had been true. There was a cordiality and apparent earnestness as to the girl's comfort which seemed to be compatible with the story. But still she could hardly understand that Lord Rufford should wish to have it known that he travelled about the country in such a fas.h.i.+on with the girl he intended to marry. But if it were true, then she must look after her niece. And even if it were not true,--in which case she would never have the girl at Mistletoe again,--yet she could not ignore her presence in the house. It was now the 18th of January. Lord Rufford was to go on the following day, and Arabella on the 20th.

The invitation had not been given so as to stretch beyond that.

If it could be at once decided,--declared by Lord Rufford to the Duke,--that the match was to be a match, then the invitation should be renewed, Arabella should be advised to put off her other friends, and Lord Rufford should be invited to come back early in the next month and spend a week or two in the proper fas.h.i.+on with his future bride. All that had been settled between the Duke and the d.u.c.h.ess. So much should be done for the sake of the family. But the Duke had not seen his way to asking Lord Rufford any question.

The d.u.c.h.ess must now find out the truth if she could,--so that if the story were false she might get rid of the girl and altogether shake her off from the Mistletoe roof tree. Arabella's manner was certainly free from any appearance of hesitation or fear. ”I don't know about being all right,” said the d.u.c.h.ess. ”It cannot be right that you should have come home with him alone in a hired carriage.”

”Is a hired carriage wickeder than a private one?”

”If a carriage had been sent from here for you, it would have been different;--but even then he should not have come with you.”

”But he would I'm sure;--and I should have asked him. What;--the man I'm engaged to marry! Mayn't he sit in a carriage with me?”

The d.u.c.h.ess could not explain herself, and thought that she had better drop that topic. ”What does he mean to do now, Arabella?”

”What does who mean, aunt?”

”Lord Rufford.”

”He means to marry me. And he means to go from here to Mr. Surbiton's to-morrow. I don't quite understand the question.”

”And what do you mean to do?”

”I mean to marry him. And I mean to join mamma in London on Wednesday. I believe we are to go to the Connop Green's the next day.

Mr. Connop Green is a sort of cousin of mamma;--but they are odious people.”

”Who is to see Lord Rufford? However, my dear, if you are very tired, I will leave you now.”

”No, aunt. Stay a moment if you will be so very kind. I am tired; but if I were twice as tired I would find strength to talk about this. If my uncle would speak to Lord Rufford at once I should take it as the very kindest thing he could do. I could not send him to my uncle; for, after all, one's uncle and one's father are not the same. I could only refer him to papa. But if the Duke would speak to him!”

”Did he renew his offer to-day?”

”He has done nothing else but renew it ever since he has been in the carriage with me. That's the plain truth. He made his offer at Rufford. He renewed it in the wood yesterday;--and he repeated it over and over again as we came home to-day. It may have been very wrong, but so it was.” Miss Trefoil must have thought that kissing and proposing were the same thing. Other young ladies have, perhaps, before now made such a mistake. But this young lady had had much experience and should have known better.

”Lord Rufford had better perhaps speak to your uncle.”

”Will you tell him so, aunt?”

The d.u.c.h.ess thought about it for a moment. She certainly could not tell Lord Rufford to speak to the Duke without getting the Duke's leave to tell him so. And then, if all this were done, and Lord Rufford were to a.s.sure the Duke that the young lady had made a mistake, how derogatory would all that be to the exalted quiescence of the house of Mayfair! She thoroughly wished that her niece were out of the house; for though she did believe the story, her belief was not thorough. ”I will speak to your uncle,” she said. ”And now you had better go to sleep.”

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