CHAPTER III.
THE ARCHDEACON'S THREAT.
The dinner-party at the rectory comprised none but the Grantly family.

The marchioness had written to say that she preferred to have it so.

The father had suggested that the Thornes of Ullathorne, very old friends, might be asked, and the Greshams from Boxall Hill, and had even promised to endeavour to get old Lady Lufton over to the rectory, Lady Lufton having in former years been Griselda's warm friend.

But Lady Hartletop had preferred to see her dear father and mother in privacy.

Her brother Henry she would be glad to meet, and hoped to make some arrangement with him for a short visit to Hartlebury, her husband's place in Shropshire,--as to which latter hint, it may, however, be at once said, that nothing further was spoken after the Crawley alliance had been suggested.