Ruth tried to believe herself the cleverer and the more beautiful, at times with a certain success.

But as she happened to be a shrewd young person--an inheritance from the Warhams--she was haunted by misgivings--and worse.

Those whose vanity never suffers from these torments will, of course, condemn her; but whoever has known the pain of having to concede superiority to someone with whom she or he--is constantly contrasted will not be altogether without sympathy for Ruth in her struggles, often vain struggles, against the mortal sin of jealousy.
The truth is, Susan was beyond question the beauty of Sutherland.

Her eyes, very dark at birth, had changed to a soft, dreamy violet-gray.

Hair and coloring, lashes and eyebrows remained dark; thus her eyes and the intense red of her lips had that vicinage of contrast which is necessary to distinction.