Since the age of fifteen, when, in truth, she had been a little peaked and terribly tenuous at the waist, her personal appearance had steadily improved.

Her spirits had, by degrees, reached their present point of perpetual effervescence.

But Totty could be grave, and, if occasion were, sad.
She had been both grave and sad many a time since Thyrza had gone away.
She reproached herself in secret for her 'nastiness' to the little one at their last meeting, nastiness for which, as it proved, there was no justification whatever.

Now she was sad for poor old Mr.Boddy's death.
She knew that it was another hard blow to Lydia, and, as you are aware, in her heart she respected Lydia profoundly.

Her sorrow led to that one practical result--no more marmalade and pickles from Mrs.Bower.