She had hands, moreover, of correspondingly extraordinary leanness, embellished, why I cannot tell, by monstrously big swanskin muffs, and as she was unable to move her arms without saying something at the same time, and as she could never speak without laughing, and as whenever she laughed she displayed not only the whole of her upper row of teeth (the best procurable at Dr.Legrieux's, No.

11, Rue Vivienne, Paris), but the whole of her gums as well, she continually kept the attention of whatever company she happened to be in riveted with a horrible fascination on her elbows, her gums, and her breast-bone.
She had come with her niece as a sort of guard of honour, and Flora had sent her on in front while she lingered behind to rally Squire John a little.
Karpathy hastened to make the ladies known to each other: "Dame Marion Countess Szentirmay--Countess Rudolf Szentirmay--my wife." Dame Marion Szentirmay made the lady of the house the most perfect and unexceptionable curtsy, regarding her all the time with an air that seemed to say, "I wonder if she knows how to return it, poor little ignoramus ?" And, in fact, so confused and taken back was Fanny that she scarce knew what to say; moreover, she was so lost in the contemplation of Dame Marion's gums that she hardly had had time to observe Flora.

But, indeed, there was no need for her or anybody else to try and find words; on the contrary, if anybody had had any to spare, he would have had to keep them to himself, for Dame Marion always brought with her sufficient conversation to keep a whole assembly going.
"Pray be seated, ladies! You, Lady Flora, sit down here, by my wife.
Dame Marion, a hundred thousand pardons!" A glance at the lady's face had suddenly convinced Squire John that she was quite well aware where she ought and meant to sit, without his telling her; and down she sat accordingly, in an armchair on the other side of the room.
"I must ask your pardon, my dear neighbour," began Dame Marion, in an artificial sort of style, belonging to none of the recognized categories of rhetoric, and which continually suggested the suspicion that the speaker was rolling something about in her mouth which she was too lazy to spit out--"I must ask your pardon, _chere voisine_--we live, you know, close to the Karpathy estate in these parts" (_i.e._ It belongs neither to you nor to your husband, but to the Karpathy family)--"for making so bold as to interrupt you in your occupations" (_i.e._ I should like to know what _you_ can find to occupy yourself with, forsooth!), "for although, of course, we ought to have waited for Squire John Karpathy to have introduced us, in the first instance, to the wife so worthy of his love, which is the regular course" (_i.e._ Perhaps you don't know that: how could you ?), "nevertheless, as we happened to be passing this way" (_i.e._ Don't imagine we came here on purpose!), "and I have a long-standing legal suit with Squire John Karpathy" (_i.e._ So, you see, you have to thank me and our suit, for our visit; not Countess Rudolf's kindness, as you may perhaps suppose)--"and a pretty old suit it is by this time! for I was young, a mere child, in fact, when it began, ha, ha!--By the way," she continued, flying off at a tangent, "they advised us to put an end to the suit by arranging a match between me and Karpathy.

I was young then, as I have said--a mere child, ha, ha!--but I would not entertain the idea, ha, ha! I made a mistake, no doubt; for how rich should I not have been now, a good _partie_, eh!" (_i.e._ Squire John was already an old man when I was your age; but I did not sell myself for his wealth, as you have done!) "Well, you are a lucky fellow, Karpathy, _you_, at any rate, have nothing to complain of.
A wife so worthy of your love as yours is, is a treasure you really do not deserve" (_i.e._ Don't give yourself airs, you little fool! Don't fancy people praise you for your beauty as if it were a merit! You ought to be ashamed that it is only your beauty that has made a lady of you!).
Here Dame Marion lost for a moment the thread of her discourse, which gave Flora an opportunity of bending over Fanny and whispering in her ear, in a gentle, confidential voice-- "I have long wished to meet you, and have been on the point of coming over every day." Fanny gratefully pressed her hand.
A beneficent attack of coughing here prevented Dame Marion from resuming her conversation.

Karpathy inquired after his friend Rudolf, Lady Flora's husband, expressing the hope that he would not forget his promise to honour Karpatfalva with his presence on the occasion of the entertainment that was coming off there in honour of the young bride.
"Oh, he must be here by then," replied Flora; "he gave me his word that he would be back home in time for it." Then turning towards Fanny, Flora continued, "I have been expecting to meet you everywhere.