She tells me with heart-breaking
concern that you have now repudiated your own proposition,--not
only once made but repeated. Her condition is most distressing. She
is in all respects your Lordship's equal. As her father I am driven
to ask you what excuse you have to make, or whether she has
interpreted you aright.
I have the honour to be,
Your very humble servant,
Augustus Trefoil.
CHAPTER XXIII
"In these Days one can't make a Man marry"
This was going on while Lord Rufford was shooting in the
neighbourhood of Dillsborough; and when the letter was being put
into its envelope at the lodgings in Orchard Street, his Lordship
was just sitting down to dinner with his guests at the Bush. At the
same time John Morton was lying ill at Bragton;--a fact of which
Arabella was not aware.
The letter from Lord Augustus was put into the post on Saturday
evening; but when that line of action was decided upon by Arabella
she was aware that she must not trust solely to her father. Various
plans were fermenting in her brain; all, or any of which, if
carried out at all, must be carried out at the same time and at
once. There must be no delay, or that final chance of Patagonia
would be gone. The leader of a forlorn hope, though he be ever so
resolved to die in the breach, still makes some preparation for his
escape.
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