A bell rang.
"There now, Ishmael, there is that diabolical dinner-bell! You may look, but it is true: a dinner-bell that peals out at seven o'clock in the evening is a diabolical dinner-bell. At college we dine at twelve meridian, sharp, and sup at six. It is dreadful to sit at table a whole hour, and be bored by seeing other people eat, and pretending to eat yourself, when you are not hungry. Well, there's no help for it. Come down and be bored, Ishmael."
They went down into the drawing room, where quite a large circle of near family connections were assembled.
Walter Middleton was presented to the Viscount Vincent, who was the only stranger, to him, present.
Claudia was there, looking as calm, as self-possessed and queenly, as if she had not passed through a storm of passion two hours before.
Ishmael glanced at her and saw the change with amazement, but he dared not trust himself to look again.
The dinner party, with all this trouble under the surface, passed off in superficial gayety. The guests separated early, because the following morning would usher in the wedding day.