Of course I am
quite prepared to own that I did not intend to tell you anything."
"I can well believe that"
"Because I could hardly hope for your sympathy. You have never
liked me."
"You have no right to say that"
"I don't do it in the way of finding fault. I don't know why you
should. But I have been too much afraid of you to tell you my
secrets. I must do so now because you have found me walking with
Lord Rufford. I could not otherwise excuse myself."
"Is he engaged to marry you?"
"He has asked me"
"No!"
"But he has, aunt. You must be a little patient and let me tell it
you all. Mamma did make up an engagement between me and Mr. Morton
at Washington."
"Did you know Lord Rufford then?"
"I knew him, but did not think he was behaving quite well. It is
very hard sometimes to know what a man means. I was angry when I
went to Washington. He has told me since that he loves me,--and has
offered."
"But you are engaged to marry the other man."
"Nothing on earth shall make me marry Mr. Morton. Mamma did it, and
mamma now has very nearly broken it off because she says he is very
shabby about money. Indeed it is broken off. I bad told him so even
before Lord Rufford had proposed to me."
"When did he propose and where?"
"At Rufford. We were staying there in November."
"And you asked to come here that you might meet him?"
"Just so.
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