Oh,--if it might become
the home of her child and her grandchildren,--and possibly a
retreat for herself! Arabella was certainly very handsome at this
moment. Never did she look better than when got up with care for
travelling, especially as seen by an evening light. Her slow
motions were adapted to heavy wraps, and however she might procure
her large sealskin jacket she graced it well when she had it. Lord
Rufford came to the door to meet them and immediately introduced
them to his sister. There were six or seven people in the room,
mostly ladies, and tea was offered to the new-comers. Lady
Penwether was largely made, like her brother; but was a languidly
lovely woman, not altogether unlike Arabella herself in her figure
and movements, but with a more expressive face, with less colour,
and much more positive assurance of high breeding. Lady Penwether
was said to be haughty, but it was admitted by all people that when
Lady Penwether had said a thing or had done a thing, it might be
taken for granted that the way in which she had done or said that
thing was the right way. The only other gentleman there was Major
Caneback, who had just come in from hunting with some distant pack
and who had been brought into the room by Lord Rufford that he
might give some account of the doings of the day. According to
Caneback, they had been talking in the Brake country about nothing
but Goarly and the enormities which had been perpetrated to the
U.
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