Do you think that if I were at home here it
wouldn't make Mistletoe a very different sort of place for you? The
Duke does like papa in a sort of way, and he's civil enough to me
when I'm there. He never did like you."
"Everybody is so fond of you! It was what you did when young
Stranorlar was there which made the Duchess almost turn us out of
the house."
"What's the good of your saying that, mamma? If you go on like that
I'll separate myself from you and throw myself on papa."
"Your father wouldn't lift his little finger for you."
"I'll try at any rate. Will you consent to my going there without
you if I can manage it?"
"What did Lord Rufford say?" Arabella here made a grimace. "You can
tell me something. What are the lawyers to say to Mr. Morton's
people?"
"Whatever they like."
"If they come to arrangements do you mean to marry him?"
"Not for the next two months certainly. I shan't see him again now
heaven knows when. He'll write no doubt,--one of his awfully
sensible letters, and I shall take my time about answering him. I
can stretch it out for two months. If I'm to do any good with this
man it will be all arranged before that time. If the Duke could
really be made to believe that Lord Rufford was in earnest I'm sure
he'd have me there. As to her, she always does what he tells her.
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