“I do think,” said Arabella, when she and her mother were seated in the carriage, “that we have treated him very badly.”
“Quite as well as he deserves! What a house to bring us to;—and what people! Did you ever come across such an old woman before! And she has him completely under her thumb. Are you prepared to live with that harridan?”
“You may let me alone, mamma, for all that. She won’t be in my way after I’m married, I can tell you.”
“You’ll have something to do then.”
“I ain’t a bit afraid of her.”
“And to ask us to meet such people as this American!”
“He’s going back to Washington and it suited him to have him. I don’t quarrel with him for that. I wish I were married to him and back in the States.”
“You do?”
“I do.”
“You have given it all up about Lord Rufford then?”
“No;—that’s just where it is. I haven’t given it up, and I still see trouble upon trouble before me. But I know how it will be. He doesn’t mean anything. He’s only amusing himself.”
“If he’d once say the word he couldn’t get back again. The Duke would interfere then.”
“What would he care for the Duke? The Duke is no more than anybody else nowadays. I shall just fall to the ground between two stools. I know it as well as if it were done already. And then I shall have to begin again! If it comes to that I shall do something terrible. I know I shall.” Then they turned in at Lord Rufford’s gates; and as they were driven up beneath the oaks, through the gloom, both mother and daughter thought how charming it would be to be the mistress of such a park.
XXI
The First Evening at Rufford Hall
The phaeton arrived the first, the driver having been especially told by Arabella that he need not delay on the road for the other carriage. She had calculated that she might make her entrance with better effect alone with her mother than in company with Morton and the Senator. It would have been worth the while of anyone who had witnessed her troubles on that morning to watch the bland serenity and happy ease with which she entered the room. Her mother was fond of a prominent place but was quite contented on this occasion to play a second fiddle for her daughter. She had seen at a glance that Rufford Hall was a delightful house. Oh—if it might become the home of her child and her grandchildren—and possibly a retreat for herself! Arabella was certainly very handsome at this moment. Never did she look better than when got up with care for travelling, especially as seen by an evening light. Her slow motions were adapted to heavy wraps, and however she might procure her large sealskin jacket she graced it well when she had it. Lord Rufford came to the door to meet them and immediately introduced them to his sister. There were six or seven people in the room, mostly ladies, and tea was offered to the newcomers. Lady Penwether was largely made, like her brother; but was a languidly lovely woman, not altogether unlike Arabella herself in her figure and movements, but with a more expressive face, with less colour, and much more positive assurance of high breeding. Lady Penwether was said to be haughty, but it was admitted by all people that when Lady Penwether had said a thing or had done a thing, it might be taken for granted that the way in which she had done or said that thing was the right way. The only other gentleman there was Major Caneback, who had just come in from hunting with some distant pack and who had been brought into the room by Lord Rufford that he might give some account of the doings of the day. According to Caneback, they had been talking in the Brake country about nothing but Goarly and the enormities which had been perpetrated in the U.R.U. “By the by, Miss Trefoil,” said Lord Rufford, “what have you done with your Senator?”
“He’s on the road, Lord Rufford, examining English institutions as he comes along. He’ll be here by midnight.”
“Imagine the man coming to me and telling me that he was a friend of Goarly’s. I rather liked him for it. There was a thorough pluck about it. They say he’s going to find all the money.”
“I thought Mr. Scrobby was to do that?” said Lady Penwether.
“Mr. Scrobby will not have the slightest objection to have that part of the work done for him. If all we hear is true Miss Trefoil’s Senator may have to defend both Scrobby and Goarly.”
“My Senator as you call him will be quite up to the occasion.”
“You knew him in America, Miss Trefoil?” asked Lady Penwether.
“Oh yes. We used to meet him and Mrs. Gotobed everywhere. But we didn’t exactly bring him over with us;—though our party down to Bragton was made up in Washington,” she added, feeling that she might in this way account in some degree for her own presence in John Morton’s house. “It was mamma and Mr. Morton arranged it all.”
“Oh my dear it was you and the Senator,” said Lady Augustus, ready for the occasion.
“Miss Trefoil,” said the lord, “let us have it all out at once. Are you taking Goarly’s part?”
“Taking Goarly’s part!” ejaculated the Major.
Arabella affected to give a little start, as though frightened by the Major’s enthusiasm. “For heaven’s sake let us know our foes,” continued Lord Rufford. “You see the effect such an announcement had upon Major Caneback. Have you made an appointment before dawn with Mr. Scrobby under the elms? Now I look
