He thought of that other Sunday at Mistletoe,
when he had been compelled to wander with Arabella, when he met the
Duchess, and when, as he often told himself, a little more
good-nature or a little more courage on her grace's part would have
completed the work entirely. Certainly had the Duke come to him
that night, after the journey from Stamford, he would have
capitulated. As he walked along and allowed himself to be talked to
by Miss Penge, he did tell himself that she would be the better
angel of the two. She could not hunt with him, as Arabella would
have done; but then a man does not want his wife to gallop across
the country after him. She might perhaps object to cigars and soda
water after eleven o'clock, but then what assurance had he that
Arabella would not have objected still more loudly. She had sworn
that she would never be opposed to his little pleasures; but he
knew what such oaths were worth. Marriage altogether was a bore;
but having a name and a large fortune, it was incumbent on him to
transmit them to an immediate descendant. And perhaps it was a
worse bore to grow old without having specially bound any other
human being to his interests. "How well I recollect that spot,"
said Miss Penge. "It was there that Major Caneback took the fence."
"That was not where he fell"
"Oh no;--I did not see that.
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