Jean shot one vindictive glance around the table.
"You have more wit and breeding than any of them!" she said.

"And as for me, this lace I wear would buy any of their rickety old palaces." "They have something which we cannot buy," said Miss Vance gravely.

"I never understood before how actual a thing rank is here." "Cannot it be bought?
I am going to look into that when this huge feed is over," Miss Hassard said to herself.
Late in the evening she danced with Count Odo, and prattled to him in a childish, frank fashion which he found very charming.
"Your rules of precedence are very disagreeable!" she pouted.
"Especially when one sits at the foot of the table and is served last." "They must seem queer to you," he said, laughing, "but they are inflexible as iron." "But they will bend for Miss Dunbar, if she makes up her mind to marry your cousin ?" she asked, looking up into his face like an innocent child.
"No.

Hugo makes a serious sacrifice in marrying a woman of no birth," he said.

"He must give up his place and title as head of the family.
She will not be received at court nor in certain houses; she must always remain outside of much of his social life." He led her back to Miss Vance.