After that the Duchess made another attempt. "Lord Rufford," she
said, "we should be so glad if you would come back to us the first
week in February. The Prices will be here and the Mackenzies,
and--."
"I am pledged to stay with my sister till the fifth, and on the
sixth Surbiton and all his lot come to me. Battersby, is it not the
sixth that you and Surbiton come to Rufford?"
"I rather think it is," said Battersby.
"I wish it were possible. I like Mistletoe so much. It's so
central."
"Very well for hunting;--is it not, Lord Rufford?" But that horrid
Captain Battersby did not go out of the way.
"I wonder whether Lady Chiltern would do me a favour," said Lord
Rufford stepping across the room in search of that lady. He might
be foolish, but when the Duchess of Omnium declared him to be the
silliest man of the day I think she used a wrong epithet. The
Duchess was very patient and intended to try again, but on that
evening she got no opportunity.
Captain Battersby was Lord Rufford's particular friend on this
occasion and had come over with him from Mr. Surbiton's house.
"Bat," he said as they were sitting close to each other in the
smoking-room that night, "I mean to make an early start tomorrow."
"What;--to get to Surbiton's?"
"I've got something to do on the way. I want to look at a horse at
Stamford.
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