“He is going to write to you?”

“I told you that before, mamma.  What is the good of asking a lot of questions?  You know now what my plan is, and if you won’t help me I must carry it out alone.  And, remember, I don’t want to start to-morrow till after Morton and that American have gone.”  Then without a kiss or wishing her mother good night she went off to her own room.

The next morning at about nine Arabella heard from her maid that the Major was still alive but senseless.  The London surgeon had been there and had declared it to be possible that the patient should live, but barely possible.  At ten they were all at breakfast, and the carriage from Bragton was already at the door to take back Mr. Morton and his American friend.  Lady Augustus had been clever enough to arrange that she should have the phaeton to take her to the Rufford Station a little later on in the day, and had already hinted to one of the servants that perhaps a cart might be sent with the luggage.  The cart was forthcoming.  Lady Augustus was very clever in arranging her locomotion and seldom paid for much more than her railway tickets.

“I had meant to say a few words to you, my lord, about that man Goarly,” said the Senator, standing. before the fire in the breakfast-room, “but this sad catastrophe has stopped me.”

“There isn’t much to say about him, Mr. Gotobed.”

“Perhaps not; only I would not wish you to think that I would oppose you without some cause.  If the man is in the wrong according to law let him be proved to be so.  The cost to you will be nothing.  To him it might be of considerable importance.”

“Just so.  Won’t you sit down and have some breakfast.  If Goarly ever makes himself nuisance enough it may be worth my while to buy him out at three times the value of his land.  But he’ll have to be a very great nuisance before I shall do that.  Dillsborough wood is not the only fox covert in the county.”  After that there was no more said about it; but neither did Lord Rufford understand the Senator nor did the Senator understand Lord Rufford.  John Runce had a clearer conviction on his mind than either of them.  Goarly ought to be hanged, and no American should under any circumstances be allowed to put his foot upon British soil.  That was Runce’s idea of the matter.

The parting between Morton and the Trefoils was very chill and uncomfortable.  “Good-bye, Mr. Morton;—­we had such a pleasant time at Bragton!” said Lady Augustus.  “I shall write to you this afternoon,” he whispered to Arabella as he took her hand.  She smiled and murmured a word of adieu, but made him no reply.  Then they were gone, and as he got into the carriage he told himself that in all probability he would never see her again.  It might be that he would curtail his leave of absence and get back to Washington as quickly as possible.