“Harriet, what is this nonsense?” demanded her ladyship irately. “I will allow it to be a most inconvenient time for Sale to be declaring himself, but so it is always! Men have not the least common-sense! But if you mean to tell me that you hold him in aversion—”
“Oh, no; no!”
“Precisely so! You should be grateful to your papa and to me for having permitted you to become pretty well acquainted with Sale, instead of presenting him to you a complete stranger, as might very often happen in my young days, let me assure you! I did not look for this missishness in you, and I can tell you that it is not at all becoming. You have been a little taken by surprise, and that is forgiveable: I was quite thunderstruck myself. But you will have time to compose your mind while you change your dress, and I am confident you will conduct yourself just as you should. Now, do not be dawdling here any longer, my dear! Bustle about a little, if you please! I shall come up to your bedchamber to fetch you myself in half an hour, and I hope you do not mean to keep me waiting. Miss Abinger, be so good as to accompany my daughter, and to make sure that she is dressed just as she should be! Her maid has no head, not the least in the world!”
“Certainly, Lady Ampleforth,” said Miss Abinger, in her colourless way. “Come, Lady Harriet!”
She laid her hand on Harriet’s trembling arm, and almost propelled her to the door. When she had firmly closed this behind them, she said in a warmer tone: “My dear, try to compose yourself! What is the matter?”
“Oh, Abby, I don’t know!” Harriet replied, in some agitation. “Only I did not look for this, and I do not wish—I do not think—”
“Forgive me, but I had not supposed that you were indifferent to the Duke.”
“Not indifferent, no!” Harriet said, averting her face. “But he—!”
They had reached the half-landing before Miss Abinger replied. She said then: “I believe the Duke entertains feelings of the warmest regard for you, my love. He is a very amiable young man, and one who will not fail to treat you with all the courtesy and consideration one could wish for you. Indeed, I think you are to be envied! I know your mind to be of too nice a tone to care for such things, but you will occupy a position of the first consequence, and you will enjoy great wealth. Reflect that in addition to this you will have a husband who partakes of many of your sentiments, and is, I am persuaded, the model of compliance and good nature.”
“He does not love me,” Harriet said. “It is his uncle’s doing, and Mama’s. I know it, Abby!”