Hopkins that she did
not know whether there was or was not an engagement,--her own maid
being at the time almost in her confidence. Very few of the
comforts of a lover had been vouchsafed to John Morton during this
sojourn at Bragton and very little had been done in accordance with
his wishes. Even this visit to Rufford, as she well knew, was being
made in opposition to him. She hoped that her lover would not
attempt to ride to hounds on the Tuesday, so that she might be near
the lord unseen by him,--and that he would leave Rufford on the
Wednesday before herself and her mother. At the ball of course she
could dance with Lord Rufford, and could keep her eye on her lover
at the same time.
She hardly saw Morton on the Sunday afternoon, and she was again
closeted on the Monday till lunch. They were to start at four and
there would not be much more than time after lunch for her to put
on her travelling gear, Then, as they all felt, there was a
difficulty about the carriages. Who was to go with whom? Arabella,
after lunch, took the bull by the horns. "I suppose," she said as
Morton followed her out into the hall, "mamma and I had better go
in the phaeton."
"I was thinking that Lady Augustus might consent to travel with Mr.
Gotobed and that you and I might have the phaeton."
"Of course it would be very pleasant," she answered smiling.
Pages:
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209