When she came
into the drawing-room, a little late, he was not there. "We won't
wait, Duchess," said the Duke to his wife at three minutes past
eight. The Duke's punctuality at dinner-time was well known, and
everybody else was then assembled. Within two minutes after the
Duke's word dinner was announced, and a party numbering about
thirty walked away into the dinner-room. Arabella, when they were
all settled, found that there was a vacant seat next herself. If
the man were to come, fortune would have favoured her in that.
The fish and soup had already disappeared and the Duke was wakening
himself to eloquence on the first entree when Lord Rufford entered
the room. "There never were trains so late as yours, Duchess," he
said, "nor any part of the world in which hired horses travel so
slowly. I beg the Duke's pardon, but I suffer the less because I
know his Grace never waits for anybody."
"Certainly not," said the Duke, "having some regard for my friends'
dinners."
"And I find myself next to you," said Lord Rufford as he took his
seat. "Well; that is more than I deserve."
CHAPTER X
How Things were arranged
"Jack is here," said Lord Rufford, as soon as the fuss of his late
arrival had worn itself away.
"I shall be proud to renew my acquaintance."
"Can you come to-morrow?"
"Oh yes," said Arabella, rapturously.
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