Madame Melmotte had now thrown herself into a chair and was sighing. Sir Felix stood on the rug with his arm round Marie's waist, listening to her protestations, but saying little in answer to them,--when, suddenly, a heavy step was heard ascending the stairs. "C'est lui," screamed Madame Melmotte, bustling up from her seat and hurrying out of the room by a side door. The two lovers were alone for one moment, during which Marie lifted up her face, and Sir Felix kissed her lips. "Now be brave," she said, escaping from his arm, "and I'll be brave." Mr. Melmotte looked round the room as he entered. "Where are the others?" he asked.
"Mamma has gone away, and Miss Longestaffe went before mamma."
"Sir Felix, it is well that I should tell you that my daughter is engaged to marry Lord Nidderdale."

Madame Melmotte had thrown herself into a chair, sighing. Sir Felix stood with his arm round Marie's waist, listening - when a heavy step was heard ascending the stairs.
"C'est lui," screamed Madame Melmotte, bustling up and hurrying out of the room by a side door. The two lovers were alone for one moment, during which Marie lifted up her face, and Sir Felix kissed her lips.
"Now be brave," she said, escaping from his arm, "and I'll be brave."
Mr. Melmotte looked round the room as he entered. "Where are the others?" he asked.
"They have gone away."
"Sir Felix, I must tell you that my daughter is engaged to marry Lord Nidderdale."
