You have never seen
me and Miss Trefoil in a room together."
"Everybody says so. of course such a thing cannot be arranged
without being talked about"
"It has not been arranged."
"If you don't mean to have it arranged, you had better look to it.
I am speaking in earnest, Rufford. I am not going to give up
authorities. Indeed if I did I might give up everybody. The very
servants suppose that they know it, and there isn't a groom or
horseboy about who isn't in his heart congratulating the young lady
on her promotion."
"I'll tell you what it is, Tom."
"Well;--what is it?"
"If this had come from any other man than yourself I should quarrel
with him. I am not engaged to the young lady, nor have I done
anything to warrant anybody in saying so."
"Then I may contradict it."
"I don't want you either to contradict it or affirm it. It would be
an impertinence to the young lady if I were to instruct any one to
contradict such a report. But as a fact I am not engaged to marry
Miss Trefoil, nor is there the slightest chance that I ever shall
be so engaged." So saying he took up his candlestick and walked
off.
Early on the next morning he saw his friend and made some sort of
laughing apology for his heat on the previous evening. "It is so
d-- hard when these kind of things are said because a man has lent
a young lady a horse.
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