'I'm longing to know what you two were talking about,' says Mabel.
Paul laughs and replies, 'We were settling a very weighty matter, weren't we, Lippa?'
Philippa merely says 'Yes,' and longs to turn the conversation, for what may not Jimmy think.
In truth he feels an unaccountable overwhelming desire to know what the weighty matter was, but he is not to know, and therefore is kept on tenter hooks for some time.
'She came to ask us all to a cattle show and ball,' Mrs Seaton is saying.
'Who?' asks her brother.
'Lady Dadford; she particularly wants you.'
'I feel highly honoured, I'm sure—'
'Are you going?' says Lippa, turning to Dalrymple.
'I was asked, but I don't know whether I shall be able to get away,' he replies, still pondering over the 'weighty matter.'