His perishing individuality prompted the inexplicable invitation, and the form of it.
After Mr.Barrett had departed, the ladies ventured to remonstrate with their papa.

He at once replied by asking whether the letter to Mrs.
Chump had been written; and hearing that it had not, he desired that Arabella should go into the house and compose it straightway.

The ladies coloured.

To Adela's astonishment, she found that Arabella had turned.
Joining her, she said, "Dearest, what a moment you have lost! We could have stood firm, continually changing the theme from Chump to Barrett, Barrett to Chump, till papa's head would have twirled.

He would have begun to think Mr.Barrett the Irish widow, and Mrs.Chump the organist." Arabella rejoined: "Your wit misleads you, darling.