"He comes of a low family.

His father was a sort of outcast from the Douglases--they never really counted him in--and his mother was one of those terrible Dillons from the Harbour Head." "I think I have heard, Mrs.Marshall Elliott, that Mary Vance's own parents were not what you could call aristocratic." "Mary Vance has had a good bringing up and she is a smart, clever, capable girl," retorted Miss Cornelia.

"She is not going to throw herself away on Miller Douglas, believe me! She knows my opinion on the matter and Mary has never disobeyed me yet." "Well, I do not think you need worry, Mrs.Marshall Elliott, for Mrs.
Alec Davis is as much against it as you could be, and says no nephew of hers is ever going to marry a nameless nobody like Mary Vance." Susan returned to her mutton, feeling that she had got the best of it in this passage of arms, and read another "note." "'We are pleased to hear that Miss Oliver has been engaged as teacher for another year.

Miss Oliver will spend her well-earned vacation at her home in Lowbridge.'" "I'm so glad Gertrude is going to stay," said Mrs.Blythe.

"We would miss her horribly.