Did he speak of
marriage at Rufford? I suppose he did because you told me that you
were engaged to him when you went to Mistletoe."
"So I was."
"What had he said?"
"What nonsense! How am I to remember what he said? As if a girl
ever knows what a man says to her."
"Did he kiss you?"
"Yes."
"At Rufford?"
"I cannot stand this, mamma. If you like to go you may go. My uncle
seems to think it is the best thing, and so I suppose it ought to
be done. But I won't answer such questions as you are asking for
Lord Rufford and all that he possesses."
"What am I to say then? How am I to call back to his recollection
the fact that he committed himself, unless you will tell me how and
when he did so?"
"Ask him if he did not assure me of his love when we were in the
carriage together."
"What carriage?"
"Coming home from hunting."
"Was that at Mistletoe or Rufford?"
"At Mistletoe, mamma," replied Arabella, stamping her foot.
"But you must let me know how it was that you became engaged to him
at Rufford."
"Mamma, you mean to drive me mad," exclaimed Arabella as she
bounced out of the room.
There was very much more of this, till at last Arabella found
herself compelled to invent facts. Lord Rufford, she said, had
assured her of his ever lasting affection in the little room at
Rufford, and had absolutely asked her to be his wife coming home in
the carriage with her to Stamford.
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