Such a thing had never happened to her before. She could
not recollect that, on any of those annual visits which she had
made to Mistletoe for more years than she now liked to think of,
she had ever had five minutes' conversation alone with her aunt. It
had always seemed that she was to be allowed to come and go by
reason of her relationship, but that she was to receive no special
mark of confidence or affection. The message was whispered into her
ear by her aunt's own woman as she was listening with great
attention to Lady Drummond's troubles in regard to her nursery
arrangements. She nodded her head, heard a few more words from Lady
Drummond, and then, with a pretty apology and a statement made so
that all should hear her, that her aunt wanted her, followed the
maid up-stairs. "My dear," said her aunt, when the door was closed,
"I want to ask you whether you would like me to ask Mr. Morton to
come here while you are with us?" A thunderbolt at her feet could
hardly have surprised or annoyed her more. If there was one thing
that she wanted less than another it was the presence of the
Paragon at Mistletoe. It would utterly subvert everything and rob
her of every chance. With a great effort she restrained all emotion
and simply shook her head. She did it very well, and betrayed
nothing. "I ask," said the Duchess, "because I have been very glad
to hear that you are engaged to marry him.
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