The Duchess at first was most serious in her intention to refuse.
She was indeed made very angry by the request. Though it had been
agreed at Mistletoe that Lord Rufford had behaved badly, the
Duchess was thoroughly well aware that Arabella's conduct had been
abominable. Lord Rufford probably had made an offer, but it had
been extracted from him by the vilest of manoeuvres. The girl had
been personally insolent to herself. And this rapid change, this
third engagement within a few weeks, was disgusting to her as a
woman. But, unluckily for herself, she would not answer the letter
till she had consulted her husband. As it happened the Duke was in
town, and while he was there Lord Drummond got hold of him. Lord
Drummond had spoken very highly of Mounser Green, and the Duke, who
was never dead to the feeling that as the head of the family he
should always do what he could for the junior branches, had almost
made a promise. "I never take such things upon myself," he said,
"but if the Duchess has no objection, we will have them down to
Mistletoe."
"Of course if you wish it," said the Duchess,--with more acerbity
in her tone than the Duke had often heard there.
"Wish it? What do you mean by wishing it? It will be a great bore."
"Terrible!"
"But she is the only one there is and then we shall have done with
it.
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