Never had Hendrickson felt her power as he felt it now, while looking into her animated face, and listening to sentiment, description, criticism or anecdote, flowing from her lips in eloquent language, and evincing a degree of taste, discrimination, refinement and observation he could scarcely have imagined in one of her age.
He was leaning towards her, and listening with rapt interest, his countenance and eyes full of admiration, when a quick, impatient _ahem_ caused him to look up.

As he did so, he encountered the severe face and piercing eyes of Mr.Dexter.The sudden change in the expression of his countenance warned Mrs.Dexter of the presence of her husband, who had approached quietly, and was standing a pace or two behind his wife.

But not the slightest consciousness of this presence did her manner exhibit.

She kept on talking as before, and talking to Mr.Hendrickson.
"Will you go with me now, Mrs.Dexter ?" said her husband, coming forward, and making a motion as if about to offer his arm.
"Not yet if you please, Mr.Dexter," was smilingly answered.

"I am too much interested in this good company.