Then she got up
and went out and Arabella of course followed her. Lord Rufford had
heard it all but had stood at the window and said nothing. He had
not been to church at all, and was quite accustomed to the idea
that as a young nobleman who only lived for pleasure he was
privileged to be wicked. Had the Duchess of Mayfair been blessed
with a third daughter fit for marriage she would not have thought
of repudiating such a suitor as Lord Rufford because he did not go
to church.
When the house was cleared Arabella went upstairs and put on her
hat. It was a bright beautiful winter's day, not painfully cold
because the air was dry, but still a day that warranted furs and a
muff. Having prepared herself she made her way alone to a side door
which led from a branch of the hall on to the garden terrace, and
up and down that she walked two or three times,--so that any of the
household that saw her might perceive that she had come out simply
for exercise. At the end of the third turn instead of coming back
she went on quickly to the conservatory and took the path which led
round to the further side. There was a small lawn here fitted for
garden games, and on the other end of it an iron gate leading to a
path into the woods. At the further side of the iron gate and
leaning against it, stood Lord Rufford smoking a cigar.
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