She had always been gracious to him in a cold, disagreeable, glassy manner,--in a manner that irked his spirit but still did not justify him in expressing anger.

Lady Augustus was almost uncivil to him, and from time to time said little things which were hard to bear; but he was not going to marry Lady Augustus, and could revenge himself against her by resolving in his own breast that he would have as little as possible to do with her after his marriage.

That was the condition of his mind towards them, and in that condition he did not want to take them to Lord Rufford's house.

Their visit to him would be over on Monday, and it would he thought be better for him that they should then go on their way to the Gores as they had proposed.
But he did not like to answer the letter by a refusal without saying a word to his guests on the subject.

He would not object to ignore the Senator, but he was afraid that if nothing were to be said to Arabella she would hear of it hereafter and would complain of such treatment.