I don't know what would be thought of us if we were absent." Then she turned, with a puff and a waddle, to Miss Abbot.

"Dear Lady Tresham was with us." Mrs.Mountjoy murmured something as to her satisfaction at not having delayed the carriage-party, and bethought herself how exactly similar had been the excuse made by Sir Magnus himself.

Then Lady Mountjoy gave another little puff, and assured Florence that she hoped she would find Brussels sufficiently gay,--"not that we pretend at all to equal Paris." "We live at Cheltenham," said Florence, "and that is not at all like Paris.

Indeed, I never slept but two nights at Paris in my life." "Then we shall do very well at Brussels." After this she waddled off again, and was stopped in her waddling by Sir Magnus, who sternly desired her to prepare for the august ceremony of going in to dinner.
The one period of real importance at the English Embassy was, no doubt, the daily dinner-hour.
Florence found herself seated between Mr.Anderson, who had taken her in, and M.Grascour, who had performed the same ceremony for her ladyship.

"I am sure you will like this little capital very much," said M.Grascour.