Morton that she was ready to declare herself his affianced wife
before all the world. Then, after ten days, he had written to her
again and had written much more severely. It wanted at that time
but a few days to Christmas, and she was waiting for a second
letter from Lord Rufford. Let what might come of it she could not
now give up the Rufford chance. As she sat thinking of it, giving
the very best of her mind to it, she remembered the warmth of that
embrace in the little room behind the drawing-room, and those
halcyon minutes in which her head had been on his shoulder, and his
arm round her waist. Not that they were made halcyon to her by any
of the joys of love. In giving the girl her due it must be owned
that she rarely allowed herself to indulge in simple pleasures. If
Lord Rufford, with the same rank and property, had been personally
disagreeable to her it would have been the same. Business to her
had for many years been business, and her business had been so very
hard that she had never allowed lighter things to interfere with
it. She had had justice on her side when she rebuked her mother for
accusing her of flirtations. But could such a man as Lord Rufford--
with his hands so free,--venture to tell himself that such tokens
of affection with such a girl would mean nothing? If she might
contrive to meet him again of course they would be repeated; and
then he should be forced to say that they did mean something.
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