Then they had agreed to meet at Mistletoe,
and she had begged her aunt to receive her. She had not told her
aunt at once, and her aunt had been angry with her because they had
walked together. Then she had told everything to the Duchess and
had begged the Duchess to ask the Duke to speak to Lord Rufford. At
Mistletoe Lord Rufford had twice renewed his offer,--and she had
then accepted him. But the Duke had not spoken to him before he
left the place. She owned that she thought the Duchess had been a
little hard to her. Of course she did not mean to complain, but the
Duchess had been angry with her because she had hunted. And now, in
answer to the note from herself, had come a letter from Lord
Rufford in which he repudiated the engagement. "I only got it
yesterday and I came at once to you. I do not think you will see
your cousin treated in that way without raising your hand. You will
remember that I have no brother?"
"But what can I do?" asked Lord Mistletoe. She had taken great
trouble with her face, so that she was able to burst out into
tears. She had on a veil which partly concealed her. She did not
believe in the effect of a pocket handkerchief, but sat with her
face half averted. "Tell him what you think about it," she said.
"Such engagements, Arabella," he said, "should always be
authenticated by a third party.
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