ladies of course agreed, and partners were selected within the house party.  Lord Rufford stood up with Arabella and John Morton with Lady Penwether.  Mr. Gotobed selected Miss Penge, and Hampton and Battersby the two Miss Godolphins.  They all took their places with a lugubrious but business-like air, as aware that they were sacrificing themselves in the performance of a sad duty.  But Morton was not allowed to dance in the same quadrille with the lady of his affections.  Lady Penwether explained to him that she and her brother had better divide themselves,—­for the good of the company generally,—­and therefore he and Arabella were also divided.

A rumour had reached Lady Penwether of the truth in regard to their guests from Bragton.  Mr. Gotobed had whispered to her that he had understood that they certainly were engaged; and, even before that, the names of the two lovers had been wafted to her ears from the other side of the Atlantic.  Both John Morton and Lady Augustus were “somebodies,” and Lady Penwether generally knew what there was to be known of anybody who was anybody.  But it was quite clear to her,—­more so even than to poor John Morton, that the lady was conducting herself now as though she were fettered by no bonds, and it seemed to Lady Penwether also that the lady was very anxious to contract other bonds.  She knew her brother well.  He was always in love with somebody; but as he had hitherto failed of success where marriage was desirable, so had he avoided disaster when it was not.  He was one of those men who are generally supposed to be averse to matrimony.  Lady Penwether and some other relatives were anxious that he should take a wife;—­but his sister was by no means anxious that he should take such a one as Arabella Trefoil.  Therefore she thought that she might judiciously ask Mr. Morton a few questions.  “I believe you knew the Trefoils in Washington?” she said.  Morton acknowledged that he had seen much of them there.  “She is very handsome certainly.”

“I think so.”

“And rides well I suppose.”

“I don’t know.  I never heard much of her riding.”

“Has she been staying long at Bragton?” “Just a week.”

“Do you know Lord Augustus?” Morton said that he did not know Lord Augustus and then answered sundry other questions of the same nature in the same uncommunicative way.  Though he had once or twice almost fancied that he would like to proclaim aloud that the girl was engaged to him, yet he did not like to have the fact pumped out of him.  And if she were such a girl as she now appeared to be, might it not be better for him to let her go?  Surely her conduct here at Rufford Hall was opportunity enough.  No doubt she was handsome.  No doubt he loved her,—­after his fashion of loving.  But to lose her now would not break his heart, whereas to lose her after he was married to her, would, he knew well, bring him to the very ground.  He would ask her a question or two this very night, and then