But then an idea came to him that it behoved him as a man and a priest to break through that Framley thraldom under which he felt that he did to a certain extent exist.

Was it not the fact that he was about to decline this invitation from fear of Lady Lufton?
and if so, was that a motive by which he ought to be actuated?
It was incumbent on him to rid himself of that feeling.

And in this spirit he got up and dressed.
There was hunting again on that day; and as the hounds were to meet near Chaldicotes, and to draw some coverts lying on the verge of the chase, the ladies were to go in carriages through the drives of the forest, and Mr.Robarts was to escort them on horseback.

Indeed it was one of those hunting-days got up rather for the ladies than for the sport.

Great nuisances they are to steady, middle-aged hunting men; but the young fellows like them because they have thereby an opportunity of showing off their sporting finery, and of doing a little flirtation on horseback.