As the softness of the cushions sank into her heart, and mellow nothingnesses from well-trained voices greeted her ears, and the air of wealth and idleness floated about her cheeks, her imagination rose within her and assured her that she could secure something better than Bragton.
The cautions with which she had armed herself faded away.

This,--this was the kind of thing for which she had been striving.

As a girl of spirit was it not worth her while to make another effort even though there might be danger?
Aut Caesar aut nihil.

She knew nothing about Caesar; but before the tardy wheels which brought the Senator and Mr.
Morton had stopped at the door she had declared to herself that she would be Lady Rufford.

The fresh party was of course brought into the drawing-room and tea was offered; but Arabella hardly spoke to them, and Lady Augustus did not speak to them at all, and they were shown up to their bedrooms with very little preliminary conversation.
It was very hard to put Mr.Gotobed down; or it might be more correctly said,--as there was no effort to put him down,--that it was not often that he failed in coming to the surface.