You would really wonder where the engagements come from in this quiet neighbourhood." She gave a little unbelieving laugh.

"I had evidently chosen an unfortunate evening for the County." It was trying for everyone: for Mr.Elliot, who was left with the impression that people were apt to be engaged when asked to meet him; for the Jowetts, who now knew that they had received a "fiddler's bidding," and for Mr.Jackson, who felt that he was only there because nobody else could be got.
There was a blank silence, which Lewis Elliot broke by laughing cheerfully.

"That absurd rhyme came into my head," he explained.

"You know: "'Miss Smarty gave a party, No one came.
Her brother gave another, Just the same.'" Then, feeling suddenly that he had not improved matters, he fell silent.
"Oh," said Mrs.Duff-Whalley, rearing her head like an affronted hen, "the difficulty, I assure you, is not to find guests but to decide which to select." "Quite so, quite so, naturally," murmured Mr.Jackson soothingly; he had laughed at the rhyme and felt apologetic.

Then, losing his head completely under the cold glance his hostess turned on him, he added, "Go ye into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in." Mrs.Jowett took a bit of toast and broke it nervously.