Mrs.
Mainwaring was not well enough to appear, and the rector therefore
was able to indulge himself in what he called a bachelor party. As
a rule he disliked clergymen, but at the last had been driven to
invite his curate because he thought six a better number than five
for joviality. He began by asking questions as to the Trefoils
which were not very fortunate. Of course he had heard that Morton
was to marry Arabella Trefoil, and though he made no direct
allusion to the fact, as Reginald had done, he spoke in that bland
eulogistic tone which clearly showed his purpose. "They went with
you to Lord Rufford's, I was told."
"Yes;--they did."
"And now they have left the neighbourhood. A very clever young
lady, Miss Trefoil;--and so is her mother, a very clever woman."
The Senator, to whom a sort of appeal was made, nodded his assent.
"Lord Augustus, I believe, is a brother of the Duke of Mayfair?"
"Yes, he is," said Morton. "I am afraid we are going to have frost
again." Then Reginald Morton was sure that the marriage would never
take place.
"The Trefoils are a very distinguished family," continued the
rector. "I remember the present Duke's father when he was in the
cabinet, and knew this man almost intimately when we were at
Christchurch together. I don't think this Duke ever took a
prominent part in politics.
Pages:
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426