“Oh, yes.  But I had rather not.”

“She’ll be sure to come.  And, Bella, Jack must be yours now.”

“You are joking.”

“Never more serious in my life.  Of course he must remain with me just at present, but he is your horse.”  Then, as the carriage was stopping, she took his hand and kissed it.

She got to her room as quickly as possible; and then, before she had even taken off her hat, she sat down to think of it all,—­ sending her maid away meanwhile to fetch her a cup of tea.  He must have meant it for an offer.  There had at any rate been enough to justify her in so taking it.  The present he had made to her of the horse could mean nothing else.  Under no other circumstances would it be possible that she should either take the horse or use him.  Certainly it was an offer, and as such she would instruct her uncle to use it.  Then she allowed her imagination to revel in thoughts of Rufford Hall, of the Rufford house in town, and a final end to all those weary labours which she would thus have brought to so glorious a termination.

CHAPTER XIII

Lord Rufford wants to see a Horse

Lord Rufford had been quite right about the Duchess.  Arabella had only taken off her hat and was drinking her tea when the Duchess came up to her.  “Lord Rufford says that you were too tired to come in,” said the Duchess.

“I am tired, aunt;—­very tired.  But there is nothing the matter with me.  We had to ride ever so far coming home and it was that knocked up.

“It was very bad, your in a post chaise, Arabella.”

“Why was it bad, aunt?  I thought it very nice.”

“My dear, it shouldn’t have been done.  You ought to have known that.  I certainly wouldn’t have had you here had I thought that there would be anything of the kind.”

“It is going to be all right,” said Arabella laughing.

According to her Grace’s view of things it was not and could not be made “all right.”  It would not have been all right were the girl to become Lady Rufford to-morrow.  The scandal, or loud reproach due to evil doings, may be silenced by subsequent conduct.  The merited punishment may not come visibly.  But nothing happening after could make it right that a young lady should come home from hunting in a post chaise alone with a young unmarried man.  When the Duchess first heard it she thought what would have been her feelings if such a thing had been suggested in reference to one of her own daughters!  Lord Rufford had come to her in the drawing-room and had told her the story in a quiet pleasant manner,—­merely saying that Miss Trefoil was too much fatigued to show herself at the present moment.  She had thought from his manner that her niece’s story had been true.  There was a cordiality and apparent earnestness as to the girl’s comfort which seemed to be compatible with the story.  But still she could hardly understand