Her aunt might now do her a good
turn; and some lies she must have told;--such had been the
emergencies of her position! As she thought of it all she was glad
that her aunt had met her; and when Lord Rufford was summoned to
take her out to dinner on that very Sunday,--a matter as to which
her aunt managed everything herself,--she was immediately aware
that her lies had done her good service.
"This was more than I expected," Lord Rufford said when they were
seated.
"She knew that she had overdone it when she sent you away in that
cavalier way," replied Arabella, "and now she wants to show that
she didn't mean anything."
CHAPTER XII
The Day at Peltry
The Duchess did tell the Duke the whole story about Lord Rufford
and Arabella that night,--as to which it may be said that she also
was false. But according to her conscience there were two ways of
telling such a secret. As a matter of course she told her husband
everything. That idle placid dinner-loving man was in truth
consulted about each detail of the house and family; but the secret
was told to him with injunctions that he was to say nothing about
it to any one for twenty-four hours. After that the Duchess was of
opinion that he should speak to Lord Rufford. "What could I say to
him?" asked the Duke. "I'm not her father."
"But your brother is so indifferent"
"No doubt.
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