The letter was not written from Murray's Hotel, Lady Augustus
having insisted on staying at certain lodgings in Orchard Street
because her funds were low. But on previous occasions they had
stayed at Murray's. And her mamma, instead of being asleep when the
letter was written, was making up her accounts. And every word
about Mistletoe had been false. She had not yet secured her
invitation. She was hard at work on the attempt, having induced her
father absolutely to beg the favour from his brother. But at the
present moment she was altogether diffident of success. Should she
fail she must only tell Lord Rufford that her mother's numerous
engagements had at the last moment made her happiness impossible.
That she was going to Lady Smijth's was true, and at Lady Smijth's
house she received the following note from Lord Rufford. It was
then January, and the great Mistletoe question was not as yet
settled.
Letter No. 3.
December 31.
My Dear Miss Trefoil,
Here I am still at Surbiton's and we have had such good sport that
I'm half inclined to give the Duke the slip. What a pity that you
can't come here instead. Wouldn't it be nice for you and half a
dozen more without any of the Dowagers or Duennas? You might win
some of the money which I lose. I have been very unlucky and, if
you had won it all, there would be plenty of room for hats and
gloves,--and for sending two or three Jacks about all the winter
into the bargain.
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