Explore "Married or Single? , Volume III" by B. M. Croker on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Mr. West and his new acquaintance had apparently an inexhaustible capital of conversation, and still kept up the ball, as other people departed one after the other. Madeline knew that Laurence was resolved to sit them all out, for, as he laid his cup and saucer beside her, he said, in a whisper only audible to her, "I'm going to wait, I must have a word with you alone."
After a time, when he was positively the last visitor, and the clock was pointing to half past six, he too rose and took leave of Mr. West -- who expressed a cordial hope that they would see him whenever they came back to town -- and of Madeline, who instead of ringing the bell, crossed the room with the visitor, airily remarking to her father, "I'm just going to show Mr. Wynne that last little picture you bought at Christy's -- he is so fond of paintings. I'll be back immediately" -- effecting her escape at the same moment by opening another door, through which she waved her husband, saying hurriedly, "In here, in here, the picture is there. Come along and stand before it; and now _what_ is it?"