There came upon Morton a suspicion, which he did not even define to himself, that the invitation was due to Arabella's charms.

There were many reasons why he did not wish to accept it.
His grandmother was left out and he feared that she would be angry.
He did not feel inclined to take the American Senator to the lord's house, knowing as he did that the American Senator was interfering in a ridiculous manner on behalf of Goarly.

And he did not particularly wish to be present at Rufford Hall with the Trefoil ladies.

Hitherto he had received very little satisfaction from their visit to Bragton,--so little that he had been more than once on the verge of asking Arabella whether she wished to be relieved from her engagement.

She had never quite given him the opportunity.