He asked her
in so many words what he should do to amuse her. Would she like to
ride with him, as if so he would endeavour to get saddle-horses.
Would she like to go out hunting? Would she be taken round to see
the neighbouring towns, Rufford and Norrington? "Lord Rufford lives
somewhere near Rufford?" she asked. Yes; he lived at Rufford Hall,
three or four miles from the town. Did Lord Rufford hunt? Morton
believed that he was greatly given to hunting. Then he asked
Arabella whether she knew the young lord. She had just met him, she
said, and had only asked the question because of the name. "He is
one of my neighbours down here," said Morton;--"but being always
away of course I see nothing of him." After that Arabella consented
to be taken out on horseback to see a meet of the hounds although
she could not hunt. "We must see what we can do about horses," he
said. She however professed her readiness to go in the carriage if
a saddle-horse could not be found.
The dinner party I fear was very dull. Mr. Mainwaring perhaps liked
it because he was fond of dining anywhere away from home. Mr.
Cooper was glad once more to see his late old friend's old
dining-room. Mr. Gotobed perhaps obtained some information. But
otherwise the affair was dull. "Are we to have a week of this?"
said Lady Augustus when she found herself up-stairs.
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