Dinah's charitable nature was rather prone to overestimate her friends and acquaintances--"all her geese were swans." As Elizabeth often said, when she cared for any one she simply could not see their faults.

"If we were all as blind as Dinah," her sister would say, "the world would be a happier place;" but all the same she loved and reverenced the simple goodness and sweetness that by a divine alchemy transmuted base metal into gold.
Elizabeth was quite aware why Dinah shook her head so disapprovingly.
Cedric's hero had found favour in her eyes, and she wished her other self--for so she tenderly termed Elizabeth--to do homage to him likewise; but Elizabeth's gratitude and her wholesome liking were not disposed to hero-worship.

"Mr.Herrick was very nice, and a great acquisition, and she was quite sure they would soon be good friends;" and as Elizabeth always meant what she said, Dinah felt tolerably satisfied with this verdict.
"And now let me hear about Mr.Carlyon, Betty," she observed cheerfully.

"I do hope his holiday was not spoiled by Theo's shiftless ways." "Oh, as to that," returned Elizabeth impatiently, "Theo will be Theo to the end of her days.

It is a mystery to me how good people can be so aggravating.