“I was thinking that Lady Augustus might consent to travel with Mr. Gotobed and that you and I might have the phaeton.”

“Of course it would be very pleasant,” she answered smiling.

“Then why not let it be so?”

“There are convenances.”

“How would it be if you and I were going without anybody else?  Do you mean to say that in that case we might not sit in the same carriage?”

“I mean to say that in that case I should not go at all.  It isn’t done in England.  You have beer in the States so long that you forget all our old-fashioned ways.”

“I do think that is nonsense.”  She only smiled and shook her head.  “Then the Senator shall go in the phaeton, and I will go with you and your mother.”

“Yes,—­and quarrel with mamma all the time as you always do.  Let me have it my own way this time.”

“Upon my word I believe you are ashamed of me,” he said leaning back upon the hall table.  He had shut the dining-room door and she was standing close to him.

“What nonsense!”

“You have only got to say so, Arabella, and let there be an end of it all.”

“If you wish it, Mr. Morton.”

“You know I don’t wish it.  You know I am ready to marry you to-morrow.”

“You have made ever so many difficulties as far as I can understand.”

“You have unreasonable people acting for you, Arabella, and of course I don’t mean to give way to them.”

“Pray don’t talk to me about money.  I know nothing about it and have taken no part in the matter.  I suppose there must be settlements?”

“Of course there must”

“And I can only do what other people tell me.  You at any rate have something to do with it all, and I have absolutely nothing.”

“That is no reason you shouldn’t go in the same carriage with me to Rufford.”

“Are you coming back to that, just like a big child?  Do let us consider that as settled.  I’m sure you’ll let mamma and me have the use of the phaeton.”  Of course the little contest was ended in the manner proposed by Arabella.

“I do think,” said Arabella, when she and her mother were seated in the carriage, “that we have treated him very badly.”

“Quite as well as he deserves!  What a house to bring us to; and what people!  Did you ever come across such an old woman before!  And she has him completely under her thumb.  Are you prepared to live with that harridan?”

“You may let me alone, mamma, for all that.  She won’t be in my way after I’m married, I can tell you.”

“You’ll have something to do then.”

“I ain’t a bit afraid of her.”

“And to ask us to meet such people as this American!”

“He’s going back to Washington and it suited him to have him.  I don’t quarrel with him for that.  I wish I were married to him and back in the States.”

“You do?”

“I do.”