This was all very civil, but there was something in it that was almost too civil.  There came upon Morton a suspicion, which he did not even define to himself, that the invitation was due to Arabella’s charms.  There were many reasons why he did not wish to accept it.  His grandmother was left out and he feared that she would be angry.  He did not feel inclined to take the American Senator to the lord’s house, knowing as he did that the American Senator was interfering in a ridiculous manner on behalf of Goarly.  And he did not particularly wish to be present at Rufford Hall with the Trefoil ladies.  Hitherto he had received very little satisfaction from their visit to Bragton,—­so little that he had been more than once on the verge of asking Arabella whether she wished to be relieved from her engagement.  She had never quite given him the opportunity.  She had always been gracious to him in a cold, disagreeable, glassy manner,—­in a manner that irked his spirit but still did not justify him in expressing anger.  Lady Augustus was almost uncivil to him, and from time to time said little things which were hard to bear; but he was not going to marry Lady Augustus, and could revenge himself against her by resolving in his own breast that he would have as little as possible to do with her after his marriage., That was the condition of his mind towards them, and in that condition he did not want to take them to Lord Rufford’s house.  Their visit to him would be over on Monday, and it would he thought be better for him that they should then go on their way to the Gores as they had proposed.

But he did not like to answer the letter by a refusal without saying a word to his guests on the subject.  He would not object to ignore the Senator, but he was afraid that if nothing were to be said to Arabella she would hear of it hereafter and would complain of such treatment.  He therefore directed that the man might be kept waiting while he consulted the lady of his choice.  It was with difficulty that he found himself alone with her,—­and then only by sending her maid in quest of her.  He did get her at last into his own sitting-room and then, having placed her in a chair near the fire, gave her Lord Rufford’s letter to read.  “What can it be,” said she looking up into his face with her great inexpressive eyes, “that has required all this solemnity?” She still looked up at him and did not even open the letter.

“I did not like to answer that without showing it to you.  I don’t suppose you would care to go.”

“Go where?”

“It is from Lord Rufford,—­for Monday.”

“From Lord Rufford!”

“It would break up all your plans and your mother’s, and would probably be a great bore.”