For slowly there came into Lali's mind the element of comparison.

She became conscious of it one day when some neighbouring people called at Greyhope.

Mrs.Armour, in her sense of duty, which she had rigidly set before her, introduced Lali into the drawing-room.

The visitors veiled their curiosity and said some pleasant casual things to the young wife, but she saw the half-curious, half-furtive glances, she caught a sidelong glance and smile, and when they were gone she took to looking at herself in a mirror, a thing she could scarcely be persuaded to do before.

She saw the difference between her carriage and theirs, her manner of wearing her clothes and theirs, her complexion and theirs.