Both John Morton and Lady Augustus were
"somebodies," and Lady Penwether generally knew what there was to
be known of anybody who was anybody. But it was quite clear to
her,--more so even than to poor John Morton, that the lady was
conducting herself now as though she were fettered by no bonds, and
it seemed to Lady Penwether also that the lady was very anxious to
contract other bonds. She knew her brother well. He was always in
love with somebody; but as he had hitherto failed of success where
marriage was desirable, so had he avoided disaster when it was not.
He was one of those men who are generally supposed to be averse to
matrimony. Lady Penwether and some other relatives were anxious
that he should take a wife;--but his sister was by no means anxious
that he should take such a one as Arabella Trefoil. Therefore she
thought that she might judiciously ask Mr. Morton a few questions.
"I believe you knew the Trefoils in Washington?" she said. Morton
acknowledged that he had seen much of them there. "She is very
handsome certainly."
"I think so."
"And rides well I suppose."
"I don't know. I never heard much of her riding."
"Has she been staying long at Bragton?" "Just a week."
"Do you know Lord Augustus?" Morton said that he did not know Lord
Augustus and then answered sundry other questions of the same
nature in the same uncommunicative way.
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