Sibyl never ate with hearty appetite, and declined everything not of excellent quality; unlike women in general, she was fastidious about wine, yet took of it sparingly; liqueurs, too, she enjoyed, and very strong coffee.

To a cigarette in the mouth of a woman she utterly objected; it offended her sense of the becoming, her delicate perception of propriety.

When dining alone or with Hugh, she dressed as carefully as for a ceremonious occasion.

Any approach to personal disorder or neglect was inconceivable in Sibyl.

Her husband had, by accident, heard her called 'the best-groomed woman in London'; he thought the praise well merited, and it flattered him.
At table they talked of things as remote as possible from their immediate concerns, and with the usual good humour.