Until that moment, and especially after the little conversation between Hope and Gabriel, in which Abel Newt's name had been mentioned, Arthur had thought it, upon the whole, the pleasantest little dinner he had ever known.

He was not of the same opinion now.
Edward Wynne and Ellen Bennet showed entire satisfaction with the dinner, and especially with Lawrence Newt's toast.

And when the first hum of applause and pleasure had ceased, Edward cried out lustily, "A speech from the junior partner! A speech! a speech!" There was a general call.

Gabriel could not help rising, and blushing, and bowing, and stuttering, and sitting down again, amidst tempestuous applause, without the slightest coherent idea of what he had said, except that he was very happy, and very glad, and very sure, and very, etc., etc.
But he did not care a song for what he had said, nor for the applause that greeted it, when he saw certain blue eyes glistening, and a soft shyness upon certain cheeks and lips, as if they had themselves been speaking, and had been saying--what was palpably, undeniably, conspicuously true--that they were very happy, and very glad, and very sure, and very, etc., etc.

Very, indeed!.