"What does he mean to do now, Arabella?"
"What does who mean, aunt?"
"Lord Rufford."
"He means to marry me. And he means to go from here to Mr.
Surbiton's to-morrow. I don't quite understand the question."
"And what do you mean to do?"
"I mean to marry him. And I mean to join mamma in London on
Wednesday. I believe we are to go to the Connop Green's the next
day. Mr. Connop Green is a sort of cousin of mamma;--but they are
odious people."
"Who is to see Lord Rufford? However, my dear, if you are very
tired, I will leave you now."
"No, aunt. Stay a moment if you will be so very kind. I am tired;
but if I were twice as tired I would find strength to talk about
this. If my uncle would speak to Lord Rufford at once I should take
it as the very kindest thing he could do. I could not send him to
my uncle; for, after all, one's uncle and one's father are not the
same. I could only refer him to papa. But if the Duke would speak
to him!"
"Did he renew his offer to-day?"
"He has done nothing else but renew it ever since he has been in
the carriage with me. That's the plain truth. He made his offer at
Rufford. He renewed it in the wood yesterday;--and he repeated it
over and over again as we came home to-day. It may have been very
wrong, but so it was." Miss Trefoil must have thought that kissing
and proposing were the same thing.
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