Lucius Davoren, Volume II by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

The luncheon party was gay enough, in spite of Mr. and Mrs. Wimple's infatuation for each other, which rendered them, as it were, non-existing for the rest of the party. They gazed upon each other with rapt admiring eyes, and handed each other creams and jellies, and smiled at each other upon the smallest provocation. But to-day Lady Baker suffered them to amuse themselves after their own fashion, and gave all her attention to Geoffrey. If he was not distinguished in the realms of art, he was at least an agreeable young man, who knew how to flatter a lady of fashion on the wrong side of forty without indulging in that florid colouring which awakens doubts of the flatterer's good faith. He improved his opportunities at luncheon to such good purpose, that when that meal was over, and the devoted Mr. Wimple had been carried off by his wife and the other two ladies to play croquet, Lady Baker volunteered to show Geoffrey the Mardenholme picture-gallery-a very fair collection of modern art, which had been acquired by her ladyship's father, a great Manchester man; for it was commerce in soft goods which had created the wealth wherewith this lady had endowed Sir Horatio Veering Baker, and whence had arisen all the splendours of Mardenholme. This was the very thing Geoffrey desired, and for which he had been scheming, with the _finesse_ of a Jesuit, during the hospitable meal. He had affected an enthusiast's love of art, declaring how, from his earliest youth, he had languished to behold the treasures of the Mardenholme gallery.

Lady Baker was delighted.