that Lord Rufford should wish to have it known that he travelled about the country in such a fashion with the girl he intended to marry.  But if it were true, then she must look after her niece.  And even if it were not true,—­ in which case she would never have the girl at Mistletoe again,—­ yet she could not ignore her presence in the house.  It was now the 18th of January.  Lord Rufford was to go on the following day, and Arabella on the 20th.  The invitation had not been given so as to stretch beyond that.  If it could be at once decided,—­declared by Lord Rufford to the Duke,—­that the match was to be a match, then the invitation should be renewed, Arabella should be advised to put off her other friends, and Lord Rufford should be invited to come back early in the next month and spend a week or two in the proper fashion with his future bride.  All that had been settled between the Duke and the Duchess.  So much should be done for the sake of the family.  But the Duke had not seen his way to asking Lord Rufford any question.

The Duchess must now find out the truth if she could,—­so that if the story were false she might get rid of the girl and altogether shake her off from the Mistletoe roof tree.  Arabella’s manner was certainly free from any appearance of hesitation or fear.  “I don’t know about being all right,” said the Duchess.  “It cannot be right that you should have come home with him alone in a hired carriage.”

“Is a hired carriage wickeder than a private one?”

“If a carriage had been sent from here for you, it would have been different;—­but even then he should not have come with you.”

“But he would I’m sure;—­and I should have asked him.  What;—­the man I’m engaged to marry!  Mayn’t he sit in a carriage with me?”

The Duchess could not explain herself, and thought that she had better drop that topic.  “What does he mean to do now, Arabella?”

“What does who mean, aunt?”

“Lord Rufford.”

“He means to marry me.  And he means to go from here to Mr. Surbiton’s to-morrow.  I don’t quite understand the question.”

“And what do you mean to do?”

“I mean to marry him.  And I mean to join mamma in London on Wednesday.  I believe we are to go to the Connop Green’s the next day.  Mr. Connop Green is a sort of cousin of mamma;—­but they are odious people.”

“Who is to see Lord Rufford?  However, my dear, if you are very tired, I will leave you now.”

“No, aunt.  Stay a moment if you will be so very kind.  I am tired; but if I were twice as tired I would find strength to talk about this.  If my uncle would speak to Lord Rufford at once I should take it as the very kindest thing he could do.  I could not send him to my uncle; for, after all, one’s uncle and one’s father are not the same.  I could only refer him to papa.  But if the Duke would speak to him!”

“Did he renew his offer to-day?”