While Emilia was giving Wilfrid her history in the garden, the ladies of Brookfield were holding consultation over a matter which was well calculated to perplex and irritate them excessively.

Mr.Pole had received a curious short epistle from Mrs.Chump, informing him of the atrocious treatment she had met with at the hands of his daughter; and instead of reviewing the orthography, incoherence, and deliberate vulgarity of the said piece of writing with the contempt it deserved, he had taken the unwonted course of telling Arabella that she had done a thing she must necessarily repent of, or in any case make apology for.
An Eastern Queen, thus addressed by her Minister of the treasury, could not have felt greater indignation.

Arabella had never seen her father show such perturbation of mind.

He spoke violently and imperiously.

The apology was ordered to be despatched by that night's post, after having been submitted to his inspection.