His secretary had hitherto drawn a handsome salary for doing little more than refuse such.
It was in Etta's nature to be somewhat carried away by glitter.

A great ball-room, brilliant illumination, music, flowers, and diamonds had an effect upon her which she enjoyed in anticipation.

Her eyes gleamed brightly on reading the mere card of invitation.

Some dull and self-contained men are only to be roused by the clatter and whirl of a battle-field, and this stirs them into brilliancy, changing them to new men.

Etta, always brilliant, always bright, exceeded herself on her battle-field--a great social function.
Since their marriage she had never been so beautiful, her eyes had never been so sparkling, her color so brilliant as at this moment when she asked her husband to let her use her title.