Four years older than Clara, weakly pretty, sentimental, conceited, she had a fancy for patronising the clever child, to the end that she might receive homage in return.

Poor Grace! She left school, spent a year or two at home with parents as foolish as herself, and--disappeared.

Prior to that, Miss Harrop had also passed out of Clara's ken, driven by restlessness to try another school, away from London.
These losses appeared to affect Clara unfavourably.

She began to neglect her books, to be insubordinate, to exhibit arrogance, which brought down upon her plenty of wholesome reproof.

Her father was not without a share in the responsibility for it all.