That Beatrice should have allowed this would not have surprised her; but it was to be expected that Augusta would have shown better judgment.
"These things require some tact in their management; some delicacy when high interests are at stake," said she; "I agree with Miss Thorne in thinking that, in ordinary circumstances, with ordinary people, perhaps, the lady should have her way.

Rank, however, has its drawbacks, Miss Thorne, as well as its privileges." "I should not object to the drawbacks," said the doctor's niece, "presuming them to be of some use; but I fear I might fail in getting on so well with the privileges." The Lady Alexandrina looked at her as though not fully aware whether she intended to be pert.

In truth, the Lady Alexandrina was rather in the dark on the subject.

It was almost impossible, it was incredible, that a fatherless, motherless, doctor's niece should be pert to an earl's daughter at Greshamsbury, seeing that that earl's daughter was the cousin of the Miss Greshams.

And yet the Lady Alexandrina hardly knew what other construction to put on the words she had just heard.
It was at any rate clear to her that it was not becoming that she should just then stay any longer in that room.