Mrs.Lavington used at first to dignify these disagreeables by the name of persecution, and now she was trying to convert the old man by coldness, severity, and long curtain-lectures, utterly unintelligible to their victim, because couched in the peculiar conventional phraseology of a certain school.

She forgot, poor earnest soul, that the same form of religion which had captivated a disappointed girl of twenty, might not be the most attractive one for a jovial old man of sixty.
Argemone, who a fortnight before would have chimed in with all her mother's lamentations, now felt a little nettled and jealous.

She could not bear to hear Lancelot classed with the colonel.
'Indeed,' she said, 'if amusement is bad for my father, he is not likely to get much of it during Lord Vieuxbois's stay.

But, of course, mamma, you will do as you please.' 'Of course I shall, my dear,' answered the good lady, in a tragedy- queen tone.

'I shall only take the liberty of adding, that it is very painful to me to find you adding to the anxiety which your unfortunate opinions give me, by throwing every possible obstacle in the way of my plans for your good.' Argemone burst into proud tears (she often did so after a conversation with her mother).