As for him, he never could see the fun of old Bibles.

If he wanted a Bible he would get a new one.
Each man had his shot, until the conversation fell from the general to the particular, and at last Mr.Belcher found himself engaged in the most delightful conversation of his life with the facile woman at his side.

He could make no approach to her from any quarter without being promptly met.

She was quite as much at home, and quite as graceful, in bandying badinage as in expatiating upon the loveliness of country life and the ritual of her church.
Mr.Talbot did not urge wine upon his principal, for he saw that he was excited and off his guard; and when, at length, the banquet came to its conclusion, the proprietor declined to remain with the gentlemen and the supplementary wine and cigars, but took coffee in the drawing-room with the ladies.

Mrs.Dillingham's eye was on Mrs.Talbot, and when she saw her start toward them from her seat, she took Mr.Belcher's arm for a tour among the artistic treasures of the house.
"My dear Kate," said Mrs.Dillingham, "give me the privilege of showing Mr.Belcher some of your beautiful things." "Oh, certainly," responded Mrs.Talbot, her face flushing, "and don't forget yourself, my child, among the rest." Mrs.Dillingham pressed Mr.Belcher's arm, an action which said: "Oh, the jealous creature!" They went from painting to painting, and sculpture to sculpture, and then, over a cabinet of bric-a-brac, she quietly led the conversation to Mr.Belcher's prospective occupation of the Palgrave mansion.