Cleopatraskippingoffhercouchwithtolerablebriskness，afterthelastbenediction，Mr。Dombeytookherarminhisandledherceremoniouslydownstairs；oneoftheverytallyoungmenonhire，whoseorganofvenerationwasimperfectlydeveloped，thrustinghistongueintohischeek，fortheentertainmentoftheotherverytallyoungmanonhire，asthecoupleturnedintothedining-room。
FlorenceandEdithwerealreadythere，andsittingsidebyside。
Florencewouldhaverisenwhenherfatherentered，toresignherchairtohim；butEdithopenlyputherhanduponherarm，andMr。Dombeytookanoppositeplaceattheroundtable。
TheconversationwasalmostentirelysustainedbyMrs。Skewton。
Florencehardlydaredtoraisehereyes，lesttheyshouldrevealthetracesoftears；farlessdaredtospeak；andEdithneverutteredoneword，unlessinanswertoaquestion。Verily，Cleopatraworkedhard，fortheestablishmentthatwassonearlyclutched；andverilyitshouldhavebeenarichonetorewardher！