Each believed the other matched with a bold bad man, who was always scheming something--they never quite understood what--against her own peerless lord; each on seeing the other, hoping that Heaven would defend the right and change the hearts of her enemies, or, at all events confound their politics; and each, with a sort of awful second-sight, when they viewed one another across the street, beholding her neighbour draped in a dark film of thunder-cloud, and with a sheaf of pale lightning, instead of a fan flickering in her hand.
When they came down to dinner, the gallant Captain Cluffe contrived to seat himself beside Aunt Becky, to whom the rogue commended himself by making a corner on his chair, next hers, for that odious greedy little brute 'Fancy,' and by a hundred other adroit and amiable attentions.

And having a perfect acquaintance with all her weak points--as everybody had who lived long in Chapelizod--he had no difficulty in finding topics to interest her, and in conversing acceptably thereupon.

And, indeed, whenever he was mentioned for some time after, she used to remark, that Captain Cluffe was a very conversable and worthy young (!) man.
In truth, that dinner went swiftly and pleasantly over for many of the guests.

Gertrude Chattesworth was placed between the enamoured Puddock and the large-eyed, handsome, mysterious Mervyn.

Of course, the hour flew with light and roseate wings for him.