When Florence got opposite Sir John she suddenly, as if overpowered by intense emotion, fell on her knees.  She could not have done anything which would more completely bring down the house.  Cheers, acclamations, hurrahs, every sort of congratulation filled the air. When they had subsided for a moment and Mrs. Aylmer the less had released the hand of Mrs. Aylmer the great, which she had clutched frantically in her intense agitation, Sir John took Florence's hand and with a slight motion raised her to her feet.