Was that strange? Where could I be better pleased to meet
him than in my uncle's house?"
"Yes;--if you had told us all this before."
"Perhaps I ought; but you are so severe, I did not dare. Do not
turn against me now. My uncle could not but like that his niece
should marry Lord Rufford."
"How can I turn against you if it is settled? Lord Rufford can do
as he pleases. Has he told your father,--or your mother?"
"Mamma knows it."
"But not from him?" asked the Duchess.
Arabella paused a moment but hardly a moment before she answered.
It was hard upon her that she should have to make up her mind on
matters of such importance with so little time for consideration.
"Yes," she said; "mamma knows it from him. Papa is so very
indifferent about everything that Lord Rufford has not spoken to
him."
"If so, it will be best that the Duke should speak to him."
There was another pause, but hardly long enough to attract notice.
"Perhaps so," she said; "but not quite yet. He is so peculiar, so
touchy. The Duke is not quite like my father and he would think
himself suspected."
"I cannot imagine that if he is in earnest."
"That is because you do not know him as I do. Only think where I
should be if I were to lose him!"
"Lose him!"
"Oh, aunt, now that you know it I do hope that you will be my
friend.
Pages:
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389