Of course the people of Bragton would talk of the engagement, but she would prefer that they should talk of it with doubt.

Even her own maid had declared to Mrs.Hopkins that she did not know whether there was or was not an engagement,--her own maid being at the time almost in her confidence.
Very few of the comforts of a lover had been vouchsafed to John Morton during this sojourn at Bragton and very little had been done in accordance with his wishes.

Even this visit to Rufford, as she well knew, was being made in opposition to him.

She hoped that her lover would not attempt to ride to hounds on the Tuesday, so that she might be near the lord unseen by him,--and that he would leave Rufford on the Wednesday before herself and her mother.

At the ball of course she could dance with Lord Rufford, and could keep her eye on her lover at the same time.
She hardly saw Morton on the Sunday afternoon, and she was again closeted on the Monday till lunch.