She did think that were she to do so she might still
go with him to Patagonia. But, if so, she must do it at once. The
delay had already been almost too long. In that case she would not
say a word in reply to Lord Rufford, and would allow all that to be
as though it had never been. Then again there arose to her mind the
remembrance of Rufford Hall, of all the glories, of the triumph
over everybody. Then again there was the idea of a "forlorn hope."
She thought that she could have brought herself to do it, if only
death would have been the alternative of success when she had
resolved to make the rush.
It was nearly one when she went to her mother and even then she was
undecided. But the joint agony of the solitude and the doubts had
been too much for her and she found herself constrained to seek a
counsellor. "He has thrown you over," said Lady Augustus as soon as
the door was closed.
"Of course he has," said Arabella walking up the room, and again
playing her part even before her mother.
"I knew it would be so."
"You knew nothing of the kind, mamma, your saying so is simply an
untruth. It was you who put me up to it."
"Arabella, that is false."
"It wasn't you, I suppose, who made me throw over Mr. Morton and
Bragton."
"Certainly not."
"That is so like you, mamma. There isn't a single thing that you do
or say that you don't deny afterwards.
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