"
"What could I do with Lady Penwether, Duke? Or what could she do
with him? A man won't care for what his sister says to him. And I
don't suppose she'd undertake to speak to Lord Rufford on the
subject"
"Lady Penwether is an honourable and an accomplished woman."
"I dare say;--though she gives herself abominable airs."
"Of course, if you don't like it, my dear, it shan't be pressed."
"I thought, perhaps, you'd see him yourself," said Lord Augustus,
turning to his brother. "You'd carry more weight than anybody."
"Of course I will if it be necessary; but it would be
disagreeable,--very disagreeable. The appeal should be made to his
feelings, and that I think would better come through female
influence. As far as I know the world a man is always more prone to
be led in such matters by a woman than by another man."
"If you mean me," said the Duchess, "I don't think I could see him.
Of course, Augustus, I don't wish to say anything hard of Arabella.
The fact that we have all met here to take her part will prove
that, I think. But I didn't quite approve of all that was done
here."
Lord Augustus stroked his beard and looked out of the window. "I
don't think, my dear, we need go into that just now," said the
Duke.
"Not at all," said the Duchess, "and I don't intend to say a word.
Only if I were to meet Lord Rufford he might refer to things
which,--which,--which--.
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