But still there was not much in it.

In such invitations a bachelor or two more or less are always spoken of as nobodies, and there was no reason why Mr.Slope should not drink tea at Dr.
Stanhope's as well as Eleanor herself.

He, however, was very much surprised and not very much gratified at finding that his own embryo spouse made one of the party.

He had come there to gratify himself by gazing on Madame Neroni's beauty and listening to and returning her flattery: and though he had not owned as much to himself, he still felt that if he spent the evening as he had intended to do, he might probably not thereby advance his suit with Mrs.Bold.
The signora, who had no idea of a rival, received Mr.Slope with her usual marks of distinction.

As he took her hand, she made some confidential communication to him in a low voice, declaring that she had a plan to communicate to him after tea, and was evidently prepared to go on with her work of reducing the chaplain to a state of captivity.