Sir George
was clearly of opinion that it was Lord Rufford's duty to see Lady
Augustus. "Yes, you must have interviews with all of them, if they
ask it," said Sir George. "You must show that you are not afraid to
hear what her friends have got to say. When a man gets wrong he
can't put himself right without some little annoyance."
"Since the world began," said Lord Rufford, "I don't think that
there was ever a man born so well adapted for preaching sermons as
you are." Nevertheless he did as he was bid, and consented to meet
Lady Augustus in Piccadilly on the day named by her. On that very
day the hounds met at Impington and Lord Rufford began to feel his
punishment. He assented to the proposal made and went up to London,
leaving the members of the U.R.U. to have the run of the season
from the Impington coverts.
When Lady Augustus was sitting in the back room of the mansion
waiting for Lord Rufford she was very much puzzled to think what
she would say to him when he came. With all her investigation she
had received no clear idea of the circumstances as they occurred.
That her daughter had told her a fib in saying that she was engaged
when she went to Mistletoe, she was all but certain. That something
had occurred in the carriage which might be taken for an offer she
thought possible. She therefore determined to harp upon the
carriage as much as possible and to say as little as might be as to
the doings at Rufford.
Pages:
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624