“I did not like to answer that without showing it to you. I don’t suppose you would care to go.”
“Go where?”
“It is from Lord Rufford—for Monday.”
“From Lord Rufford!”
“It would break up all your plans and your mother’s, and would probably be a great bore.”
Then she did read the letter, very carefully and very slowly, weighing every word of it as she read it. Did it mean more than it said? But though she read it slowly and carefully and was long before she made him any answer, she had very quickly resolved that the invitation should be accepted. It would suit her very well to know Lady Penwether. It might possibly suit her still better to become intimate with Lord Rufford. She was delighted at the idea of riding Lord Rufford’s horse. As her eyes dwelt on the paper she, too, began to think that the invitation had been chiefly given on her account. At any rate she would go. She had understood perfectly well from the first tone of her lover’s voice that he did not wish to subject her to the allurements of Rufford Hall. She was clever enough, and could read it all. But she did not mean to throw away a chance for the sake of pleasing him. She must not at once displease him by declaring her purpose strongly, and therefore, as she slowly continued her reading, she resolved that she would throw the burden upon her mother. “Had I not better show this to mamma?” she said.
“You can if you please. You are going to the Gores on Monday.”
“We could not go earlier; but we might put it off for a couple of days if we pleased. Would it bore you?”
“I don’t mind about myself. I’m not a very great man for dances.”
“You’d sooner write a report—wouldn’t you—about the products of the country?”
“A great deal sooner,” said the Paragon.
“But you see we haven’t all of us got products to write about. I don’t care very much about it myself;—but if you don’t mind I’ll ask mamma.” Of course he was obliged to consent, and merely informed her as she went off with the letter that a servant was waiting for an answer.
“To go to Lord Rufford’s!” said Lady Augustus.
“From Monday till Wednesday, mamma. Of course we must go.”
“I promised poor Mrs. Gore.”
“Nonsense, mamma! The Gores can do very well without us. That was only to be a week and we can still stay out our time. Of course this has only been sent because we are here.”
“I should say so. I don’t suppose Lord Rufford would care to know Mr. Morton. Lady Penwether goes everywhere; doesn’t she?”
“Everywhere. It would suit me to a T to get on to Lady Penwether’s books. But, mamma, of course it’s not that. If Lord Rufford should say a word it is so much easier to manage down in the country than up in London. He has £40,000 a year, if he has a penny.”
“How many girls have tried the same thing with him! But I don’t mind. I’ve always said that John Morton and Bragton would not do.”
“No, mamma; you haven’t. You were the first to say they would do.”
“I only said that if there were nothing else—”
“Oh, mamma, how can you say such things! Nothing else—as if he were the last man! You said distinctly that Bragton was £7,000 a year, and that it would do very well. You may change your mind if you like; but it’s no good trying to back out of your own doings.”
“Then I have changed my mind.”
“Yes—without thinking what I have to go through. I’m not going to throw myself at Lord Rufford’s head so as to lose my chance here;—but we’ll go and see how the land lies. Of course you’ll go, mamma.”
“If you think it is for your advantage, my dear.”
“My advantage! It’s part of the work to be done and we may as well do it. At any rate I’ll tell him to accept. We shall have this odious American with us, but that can’t be helped.”
“And the old woman?”
“Lord Rufford doesn’t say anything about her. I don’t suppose he’s such a muff but what he can leave his grandmother behind for a couple of days.” Then she went back to Morton and told him that her mother was particularly anxious to make the acquaintance of Lady Penwether and that she had decided upon going to Rufford Hall. “It will be a very nice opportunity,” said she, “for you to become acquainted with Lord Rufford.”
Then he was almost angry. “I can make plenty of such opportunities for myself, when I want them,” he said. “Of course if you and Lady Augustus like it, we will go. But let it stand on its right bottom.”
“It may stand on any bottom you please.”
“Do you mean to ride the man’s horse?”
“Certainly I do. I never refuse a good offer. Why shouldn’t I ride the man’s horse? Did you never hear before of a young lady borrowing a gentleman’s horse?”
“No lady belonging to me will ever do so—unless the gentleman be a very close friend indeed.”
“The lady in this case does not belong to you, Mr. Morton, and therefore, if you have no other objection, she will ride Lord Rufford’s horse. Perhaps you will not think it too much trouble to signify the lady’s acceptance of the mount in your letter.” Then she swam out of the room knowing that she left him in anger. After that he had to find Mr. Gotobed. The going was now decided on as far
