Then he specified, as the guests invited, Lady Augustus and her daughter and Mr.Gotobed,--omitting the honourable Mrs.Morton of whose sojourn in the county he might have been ignorant.

His Lordship went on to say that he trusted the abruptness of the invitation might be excused on account of the nearness of their neighbourhood and the old friendship which had existed between their families.

He had had, he said, the pleasure of being acquainted with Lady Augustus and her daughter in London and would be proud to see Mr.Gotobed at his house during his sojourn in the county.

Then he added in a postscript that the hounds met at Rufford Hall on Tuesday and that he had a horse that carried a lady well if Miss Trefoil would like to ride him.

He could also put up a horse for Mr.
Morton.
This was all very civil, but there was something in it that was almost too civil.