But she had collected her courage
sufficiently to make that last appeal to the lord, which had been
successful. Three weeks now might settle all that and for three
weeks it might still be possible so to manage her affairs that she
might fall back upon Patagonia as her last resource.
About this time Morton returned to Bragton, waiting however till he
was assured that the Senator had completed his visit to
Dillsborough. He had been a little ashamed of the Senator in regard
to the great Goarly conflict and was not desirous of relieving his
solitude by the presence of the American. On this occasion he went
quite alone and ordered no carriages from the Bush and no increased
establishment of servants. He certainly was not happy in his mind.
The mission to Patagonia was well paid, being worth with house and
etceteras nearly 3000 pounds a year; and it was great and quick
promotion for one so young as himself. For one neither a lord nor
connected with a Cabinet Minister Patagonia was a great place at
which to begin his career as Plenipotentiary on his own bottom;--
but it is a long way off and has its drawbacks. He could not look
to be there for less than four years; and there was hardly reason
why a man in his position should expatriate himself to such a place
for so long a time. He felt that he should not have gone but for
his engagement to Arabella Trefoil, and that neither would he have
gone had his engagement been solid and permanent.
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