The truth is, Mistletoe, a man now-a-days may do just
what he pleases. You ain't in that line and it won't do you any
good knowing it, but since we did away with pistols everybody may
do just what he likes."
"I don't like brute force," said Lord Mistletoe. "You may call it
what you please:--but I don't know that it was so brutal after
all." At the station they separated again, as Lord Augustus was
panting for tobacco and Lord Mistletoe for parliamentary erudition.
CHAPTER VII
The Success of Lady Augustus
Lady Augustus was still staying with the Connop Greens in Hampshire
when she received the Duke's letter and Arabella was with her. The
story of Lord Rufford's infidelity had been told to Mrs. Connop
Green,--and of course through her to Mr. Connop Green. Both the
mother and daughter affected to despise the Connop Greens;--but it
is so hard to restrain oneself from confidences when difficulties
arise! Arabella had by this time quite persuaded herself that there
had been an absolute engagement, and did in truth believe that she
had been most cruelly ill-used. She was headstrong, fickle, and
beyond measure insolent to her mother. She had, as we know, at one
time gone down to the house of her former lover, thereby indicating
that she had abandoned all hope of catching Lord Rufford. But still
the Connop Greens either felt or pretended to feel great sympathy
with her, and she would still declare from time to time that Lord
Rufford had not heard the last of her.
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