Whether she intended to be pert or not, Miss Mary Thorne was, to say the least, very free.
The de Courcy ladies knew what was due to them--no ladies better; and, therefore, the Lady Alexandrina made up her mind at once to go to her own bedroom.
"Augusta," she said, rising slowly from her chair with much stately composure, "it is nearly time to dress; will you come with me?
We have a great deal to settle, you know." So she swam out of the room, and Augusta, telling Mary that she would see her again at dinner, swam--no, tried to swim--after her.

Miss Gresham had had great advantages; but she had not been absolutely brought up at Courcy Castle, and could not as yet quite assume the Courcy style of swimming.
"There," said Mary, as the door closed behind the rustling muslins of the ladies.

"There, I have made an enemy for ever, perhaps two; that's satisfactory." "And why have you done it, Mary?
When I am fighting your battles behind your back, why do you come and upset it all by making the whole family of the de Courcys dislike you?
In such a matter as that, they'll all go together." "I am sure they will," said Mary; "whether they would be equally unanimous in a case of love and charity, that, indeed, is another question." "But why should you try to make my cousin angry; you that ought to have so much sense?
Don't you remember what you were saying yourself the other day, of the absurdity of combatting pretences which the world sanctions ?" "I do, Trichy, I do; don't scold me now.

It is so much easier to preach than to practise.

I do so wish I was a clergyman." "But you have done so much harm, Mary." "Have I ?" said Mary, kneeling down on the ground at her friend's feet.