“Lord Rufford,” said the Duchess, “I don’t think this is a proper time for walking out.”

“Don’t you, Duchess?  The air is very nice.”

“It is becoming dark and my niece had better return to the house with me.  Arabella, you can come this way.  It is just as short as the other.  If you go on straight, Lord Rufford, it will take you to the house.”  Of course Lord Rufford went on straight and of course Arabella had to turn with her aunt.  “Such conduct as this is shocking,” began the Duchess.

“Aunt, let me tell you.”

“What can you tell me?”

“I can tell you a great deal if you will let me.  Of course I am quite prepared to own that I did not intend to tell you anything.”

“I can well believe that”

“Because I could hardly hope for your sympathy.  You have never liked me.”

“You have no right to say that”

“I don’t do it in the way of finding fault.  I don’t know why you should.  But I have been too much afraid of you to tell you my secrets.  I must do so now because you have found me walking with Lord Rufford.  I could not otherwise excuse myself.”

“Is he engaged to marry you?”

“He has asked me”

“No!”

“But he has, aunt.  You must be a little patient and let me tell it you all.  Mamma did make up an engagement between me and Mr. Morton at Washington.”

“Did you know Lord Rufford then?”

“I knew him, but did not think he was behaving quite well.  It is very hard sometimes to know what a man means.  I was angry when I went to Washington.  He has told me since that he loves me,—­and has offered.”

“But you are engaged to marry the other man.”

“Nothing on earth shall make me marry Mr. Morton.  Mamma did it, and mamma now has very nearly broken it off because she says he is very shabby about money.  Indeed it is broken off.  I bad told him so even before Lord Rufford had proposed to me.”

“When did he propose and where?”

“At Rufford.  We were staying there in November.”

“And you asked to come here that you might meet him?”

“Just so.  Was that strange?  Where could I be better pleased to meet him than in my uncle’s house?”

“Yes;—­if you had told us all this before.”

“Perhaps I ought; but you are so severe, I did not dare.  Do not turn against me now.  My uncle could not but like that his niece should marry Lord Rufford.”

“How can I turn against you if it is settled?  Lord Rufford can do as he pleases.  Has he told your father,—­or your mother?”

“Mamma knows it.”

“But not from him?” asked the Duchess.

Arabella paused a moment but hardly a moment before she answered.  It was hard upon her that she should have to make up her mind on matters of such importance with so little time for consideration.  “Yes,” she said; “mamma knows it from him.  Papa is so very indifferent about everything that Lord Rufford has not spoken to him.”