“Then I have changed my mind.”

“Yes,—­without thinking what I have to go through.  I’m not going to throw myself at Lord Rufford’s head so as to lose my chance here;—­ but we’ll go and see how the land lies.  Of course you’ll go, mamma.”

“If you think it is for your advantage, my dear.”

“My advantage!  It’s part of the work to be done and we may as well do it.  At any rate I’ll tell him to accept.  We shall have this odious American with us, but that can’t be helped.”

“And the old woman?”

“Lord Rufford doesn’t say anything about her.  I don’t suppose he’s such a muff but what he can leave his grandmother behind for a couple of days.”  Then she went back to Morton and told him that her mother was particularly anxious to make the acquaintance of Lady Penwether and that she had decided upon going to Rufford Hall.  “It will be a very nice opportunity,” said she, “for you to become acquainted with Lord Rufford.”

Then he was almost angry.  “I can make plenty of such opportunities for myself, when I want them,” he said.  “Of course if you and Lady Augustus like it, we will go.  But let it stand on its right bottom.”

“It may stand on any bottom you please.”

“Do you mean to ride the man’s horse?”

“Certainly I do.  I never refuse a good offer.  Why shouldn’t I ride the man’s horse?  Did you never hear before of a young lady borrowing a gentleman’s horse?”

“No lady belonging to me will ever do so, unless the gentleman be a very close friend indeed.”

“The lady in this case does not belong to you, Mr. Morton, and therefore, if you have no other objection, she will ride Lord Rufford’s horse.  Perhaps you will not think it too much trouble to signify the lady’s acceptance of the mount in your letter.”  Then she swam out of the room knowing that she left him in anger.  After that he had to find Mr. Gotobed.  The going was now decided on as far as he was concerned, and it would make very little difference whether the American went or not,—­except that his letter would have been easier to him in accepting the invitation for three persons than for four.  But the Senator was of course willing.  It was the Senator’s object to see England, and Lord Rufford’s house would be an additional bit of England.  The Senator would be delighted to have an opportunity of saying what he thought about Goarly at Lord Rufford’s table.  After that, before this weary letter could be written, he was compelled to see his grandmother and explain to her that she had been omitted.

“Of course, ma’am, they did not know that you were at Bragton, as you were not in the carriage at the ‘meet.’”

“That’s nonsense, John.  Did Lord Rufford suppose that you were entertaining ladies here without some one to be mistress of the house?  Of course he knew that I was here.  I shouldn’t have gone;—­ you may be sure of that.  I’m not in the habit of going to the houses of people I don’t know.  Indeed I think it’s an impertinence in them to ask in that way.  I’m surprised that you would go on such an invitation.”