Herbert Octoyne and Mellish Whitloe exchange meaning glances.
The young ladies--Mrs.Plumer is the only matron, except Mrs.Dagon, who sits below--smile pleasantly.

Sligo Moultrie eats grapes.

Grace Plumer waits to hear what Abel says, or to observe what he does.

Mrs.Dagon regards the whole affair with an approving smile, nodding almost imperceptibly a kind of Freemason's sign to Mrs.Plumer, who thinks that the worthy young Van Boozenberg has probably taken too much wine.
Abel Newt quietly turns to Grace Plumer, saying, "Poor Corlaer! There are disadvantages in being the son of a very rich man; one is so strongly inclined to measure every thing by money..

As if money were all!" He looks her straight in the eyes as he says it.