Then she did read the letter, very carefully and very slowly, weighing every word of it as she read it.  Did it mean more than it said?  But though she read it slowly and carefully and was long before she made him any answer, she had very quickly resolved that the invitation should be accepted.  It would suit her very well to know Lady Penwether.  It might possibly suit her still better to become intimate with Lord Rufford.  She was delighted at the idea of riding Lord Rufford’s horse.  As her eyes dwelt on the paper she, too, began to think that the invitation had been chiefly given on her account.  At any rate she would go.  She had understood perfectly well from the first tone of her lover’s voice that he did not wish to subject her to the allurements of Rufford Hall.  She was clever enough, and could read it all.  But she did not mean to throw away a chance for the sake of pleasing him.  She must not at once displease him by declaring her purpose strongly, and therefore, as she slowly continued her reading, she resolved that she would throw the burden upon her mother.  “Had I not better show this to mamma?” she said.

“You can if you please.  You are going to the Gores on Monday.”

“We could not go earlier; but we might put it off for a couple of days if we pleased.  Would it bore you?”

“I don’t mind about myself.  I’m not a very great man for dances.”

“You’d sooner write a report,—­wouldn’t you,—­about the products of the country?”

“A great deal sooner,” said the Paragon.

“But you see we haven’t all of us got products to write about.  I don’t care very much about it myself;—­but if you don’t mind I’ll ask mamma.”  Of course he was obliged to consent, and merely informed her as she went off with the letter that a servant was waiting for an answer.

“To go to Lord Rufford’s!” said Lady Augustus.

“From Monday till Wednesday, mamma.  Of course we must go:” 

“I promised poor Mrs. Gore.”

“Nonsense, mamma!  The Gores can do very well without us.  That was only to be a week and we can still stay out our time.  Of course this has only been sent because we are here.”

“I should say so.  I don’t suppose Lord Rufford would care to know Mr. Morton.  Lady Penwether goes everywhere; doesn’t she?”

“Everywhere.  It would suit me to a `t’ to get on to Lady Penwether’s books.  But, mamma, of course it’s not that.  If Lord Rufford should say a word it is so much easier to manage down in the country than up in London.  He has 40,000 pounds a year, if he has a penny.”

“How many girls have tried the same thing with him!  But I don’t mind.  I’ve always said that John Morton and Bragton would not do?”

“No, mamma; you haven’t.  You were the first to say they would do.”

“I only said that if there were nothing else—­”

“Oh, mamma, how can you say such things!  Nothing else,—­as if he were the last man!  You said distinctly that Bragton was 7,000 pounds a year, and that it would do very well.  You may change your mind if you like; but it’s no good trying to back out of your own doings.”