P.S. We had two miserably abortive days last week.
Arabella felt that a great deal of the compliment was taken away by
the postscript; but still she was grateful and contented.
CHAPTER V
"It is a long Way"
While the correspondence given in the last chapter was going on
Miss Trefoil had other troubles besides those there narrated, and
other letters to answer. Soon after her departure from Rufford she
received a very serious but still an affectionate epistle from John
Morton in which he asked her if it was her intention to become his
wife or not. The letter was very long as well as very serious and
need not be given here at length. But that was the gist of it; and
he went on to say that in regard to money he had made the most
liberal proposition in his power, that he must decline to have any
further communication with lawyers, and that he must ask her to let
him know at once,--quite at once,--whether she did or did not
regard herself as engaged to him. It was a manly letter and ended
by a declaration that as far as he himself was concerned his
feelings were not at all altered. This she received while staying
at the Gores', but, in accordance with her predetermined strategy,
did not at once send any answer to it. Before she heard again from
Morton she had received that pleasant first letter from Lord
Rufford, and was certainly then in no frame of mind to assure Mr.
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