Every one wobbled; every one seemed to bow, as she spoke,
and then to stand up different. He could see Sally Seton, like a
child who has been in mischief, leaning forward, rather flushed, wanting to
talk, but afraid, and Clarissa did frighten people. (She was
Clarissa’s greatest friend, always about the place, totally unlike
her, an attractive creature, handsome, dark, with the reputation in
those days of great daring and he used to give her cigars, which she
smoked in her bedroom. She had either been engaged to somebody or
quarrelled with her family and old Parry disliked them both equally,
which was a great bond.) Then Clarissa, still with an air of being
offended with them all, got up, made some excuse, and went off,
alone. As she opened the door, in came that great shaggy dog which
ran after sheep. She flung herself upon him, went into raptures. It
was as if she said to Peter-it was all aimed
at him, he knew-" I know you thought me absurd about that woman
just now; but see how extraordinarily sympathetic I am; see how I
love my Rob!!"