"I am in great trouble," said Arabella, leaving her hand for a
moment in his as she spoke.
"I am sorry for that. What sort of trouble?" He knew that his uncle
and his aunt's family were always short of money, and was already
considering to what extent he would go in granting her petition.
"Do you know Lord Rufford?"
"Lord Rufford! Yes;--I know him; but very slightly. My father knows
him very much better than I do."
"I have just been at Mistletoe, and he was there. My story is so
hard to tell. I had better out with it at once. Lord Rufford has
asked me to be his wife."
"The deuce he has! It's a very fine property and quite
unembarrassed."
"And now he repudiates his engagement" Upon hearing this the young
lord's face became very long. He also had heard something of the
past life of his handsome cousin, though he had always felt kindly
to her. "It was not once only."
"Dear me! I should have thought your father would be the proper
person."
"Papa has written;--but you know what papa is."
"Does the Duke know of it,--or my mother?"
"It partly went on at Mistletoe. I would tell you the whole story
if I knew how." Then she did tell him her story, during the
telling of which he sat profoundly silent. She had gone to stay
with Lady Penwether at Lord Rufford's house, and then he had first
told her of his love.
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