The
letter began "My dear sister-in-law," and ended "Your affectionate
brother-in-law, Mayfair," and was in fact the first letter that the
Duke had ever written to his brother's wife. The other letter was
more difficult, but it was accomplished at last, and confined
itself to a request that Lord Rufford would meet Lady Augustus
Trefoil at a place and at a time, both of which were for the
present left blank.
On the Monday Lord Augustus and Lord Mistletoe were driven to the
station in the same carriage, and on this occasion the uncle said a
few strong words to his nephew on the subject. Lord Augustus,
though perhaps a coward in the presence of his brother, was not so
with other members of the family. "It may be very well you know,
but it's all d-- nonsense."
"I'm sorry that you should think so, uncle."
"What do you suppose her mother can do?--a thoroughly vulgar woman.
I never could live with her. As far as I can see wherever she goes
everybody hates her."
"My dear uncle!"
"Rufford will only laugh at her. If Mayfair would have gone
himself, it is just possible that he might have done something."
"My father is so unwilling to mix himself up in these things."
"Of course he is. Everybody knows that. What the deuce was the good
then of our going down here? I couldn't do anything, and I knew he
wouldn't.
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