It was unfortunate;
but she would not allow herself to be stopped by Lady Penwether.
She bowed stiffly and would have passed on without a word, but that
was impossible. "Miss Trefoil!" said Lady Penwether with
astonishment.
"Your brother is just across the park. I think I see him and will
go to him."
"I had better send and tell him that you are here," said her
ladyship.
"I need not trouble you so far. I can be my own messenger. Perhaps
you will allow the fly to be sent round to the yard for
half-an-hour." As she said this she was still passing down the steps.
But Lady Penwether knew that it behoved her to prevent this if it
might be possible. Of late she had had little or no conversation
with her brother about Miss Trefoil, but she had heard much from
her husband. She would be justified, she thought, in saying or in
doing almost anything which would save him from such an encounter.
"I really think," she said, "that he had better be told that you
are here," and as she spoke she strove to put herself in the
visitor's way. "You had better come in, Miss Trefoil, and he shall
be informed at once."
"By no means, Lady Penwether. I would not for worlds give him or
you so much trouble. I see him and I will go to him." Then Lady
Penwether absolutely put out her hand to detain her; but Arabella
shook it off angrily and looked into the other woman's face with
fierce eyes.
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