In such a house and among such
people it was natural that the talk should be about hunting, and as
the girl had accepted the loan of a horse it was natural that she
should join in such conversation. She had never sat for a moment
apart with Lord Rufford. It was impossible to say that she had
flirted with the man,--and yet Morton felt that he was neglected,
and felt also that he was only there because this pleasure-seeking
young Lord had liked to have in his house the handsome girl whom
he, Morton, intended to marry. He felt thoroughly ashamed of being
there as it were in the train of Miss Trefoil. He was almost
disposed to get up and declare that the girl was engaged to marry
him. He thought that he could put an end to the engagement without
breaking his heart; but if the engagement was an engagement he
could not submit to treatment such as this, either from her or from
others. He would see her for the last time in the country at the
ball on the following evening,--as of course he would not be near
her during the hunting,--and then he would make her understand that
she must be altogether his or altogether cease to be his. And so
resolving he went to bed, refusing to join the gentlemen in the
smoking-room.
"Oh, mamma," Arabella said to her mother that evening, "I do so
wish I could break my arm tomorrow.
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