Could she tell him, he asked, whether the ferns of Barsetshire were equal to those of Cumberland?
His strongest worldly passion was for ferns--and before she could answer him he left her wedged between the door and the sideboard.
It was fifty minutes before she escaped, and even then unfed.
"You are not leaving us, Mr.Slope," said the watchful lady of the house, seeing her slave escaping towards the door, with stores of provisions held high above the heads of the guests.
Mr.Slope explained that the Signora Neroni was in want of her supper.
"Pray, Mr.Slope, let her brother take it to her," said Mrs.Proudie, quite out loud.

"It is out of the question that you should be so employed.

Pray, Mr.Slope, oblige me; I am sure Mr.Stanhope will wait upon his sister." Ethelbert was most agreeably occupied in the furthest corner of the room, making himself both useful and agreeable to Mrs.Proudie's youngest daughter.
"I couldn't get out, madam, if Madeline were starving for her supper," said he; "I'm physically fixed, unless I could fly." The lady's anger was increased by seeing that her daughter also had gone over to the enemy, and when she saw, that in spite of her remonstrances, in the teeth of her positive orders, Mr.Slope went off to the drawing-room, the cup of her indignation ran over, and she could not restrain herself.

"Such manners I never saw," she said, muttering.

"I cannot and will not permit it;" and then, after fussing and fuming for a few minutes, she pushed her way through the crowd and followed Mr.Slope.
When she reached the room above, she found it absolutely deserted, except by the guilty pair.