'There, I shall hold it there,' said she, 'so that you shan't look at it again.' "'Will you stay till I bid you go ?' said Crinoline.
"Macassar declared that he did not care a straw for the senior clerk, or for Sir Gregory either.

He would stay there for ever, he said.
"'What! for ever in mamma's drawing-room ?' said Crinoline, opening wide her lovely eyes with surprise.
"'For ever near to you,' said Macassar.
"'Oh, Mr.Macassar,' said Crinoline, dropping her hand from his waistcoat, and looking bashfully towards the ground, 'what can you mean ?' "Down went Macassar on his knees, and down went Crinoline into her chair.

There was perhaps rather too much distance between them, but that did not much matter now.

There he was on both knees, with his hands clasped together as they were wont to be when he said his prayers, with his umbrella beside him on one side, and his hat on the other, making his declaration in full and unmistakable terms.

A yard or two of floor, more or less, between them, was neither here nor there.