“You’re a sort of a five-barred gate,”
said Arabella laughing. “Of course there
is a little danger, but who is going to be stopped
by that?”
He could make no reply to this because the Duchess
called him away to give some account to Lady Chiltern
about Goarly and the U.R.U., Lady Chiltern’s
husband being a master of hounds and a great authority
on all matters relating to hunting. “Nasty
old dragon!” Arabella said to herself when she
was thus left alone.
The Saturday was the day of the great shooting and
at two o’clock the ladies went out to lunch
with the gentlemen by the side of the wood. Lord
Rufford had at last consented to be one of the party.
With logs of trees, a few hurdles, and other field
appliances, a rustic banqueting hall was prepared
and everything was very nice. Tons of game had
been killed, and tons more were to be killed after
luncheon. The Duchess was not there and Arabella
contrived so to place herself that she could be waited
upon by Lord Rufford, or could wait upon him.
Of course a great many eyes were upon her, but she
knew how to sustain that. Nobody was present who
could dare to interfere with her. When the eating
and drinking were over she walked with him to his
corner by the next covert, not heeding the other ladies;
and she stood with him for some minutes after the
slaughter had begun. She had come to feel that
the time was slipping between her fingers and that
she must say something effective. The fatal word
upon which everything would depend must be spoken
at the very latest on their return home on Monday,
and she was aware that much must probably be said
before that. “Do we hunt or shoot tomorrow?”
she said.
“To-morrow is Sunday.”
“I am quite aware of that, but I didn’t
know whether you could live a day without sport.”
“The country is so full of prejudice that I
am driven to Sabbatical quiescence.”
“Take a walk with me to-morrow,” said
Arabella.
“But the Duchess,” exclaimed Lord Rufford
in a stage whisper. One of the beaters was so
near that he could not but have heard;—but
what does a beater signify?
“H’mh’m the Duchess! You be
at the path behind the great conservatory at half-past
three and we won’t mind the Duchess.”
Lord Rufford was forced to ask for many other particulars
as to the locality and then promised that he would
be there at the time named.
“You are so severe”
On the next morning Arabella went to church as did
of course a great many of the party. By remaining
at home she could only have excited suspicion.
The church was close to the house, and the family
pew consisted of a large room screened off from the
rest of the church, with a fire-place of its own,—so
that the labour of attending divine service was reduced
to a minimum. At two o’clock they lunched,
and that amusement lasted nearly an hour. There
