Mounser was satisfied, but was very strong in urging her to
seek, yet once again, the favour of her magnificent uncle and her
magnificent aunt.
"What good can they do us?" said Arabella, who was almost afraid to
make the appeal.
"It would be everything for you to be married from Mistletoe," he
said. "People would know then that you were not blamed about Lord
Rufford. And it might serve me very much in my profession. These
things do help very much. It would cost us nothing, and the proper
kind of notice would then get into the newspapers. If you will
write direct to the Duchess I will get at the Duke through Lord
Drummond. They know where we are going, and that we are not likely
to want anything else for a long time."
"I don't think the Duchess would have mamma if it were ever so."
"Then we must drop your mother for the time;--that's all. When my
aunt hears that you are to be married from the Duke's, she will be
quite willing that you should remain with her till you go down to
Mistletoe."
Arabella, who perhaps knew a little more than her lover, could not
bring herself to believe that the appeal would be successful, but
she made it. It was a very difficult letter to write, as she could
not but allude to the rapid transference of her affections. "I will
not conceal from you," she said, "that I have suffered very much
from Lord Rufford's heartless conduct.
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