Theresa was just as well pleased to have him away, as it gave her absolute freedom to plan and to superintend her triumph.

For the wedding was to be her individual and exclusive triumph, with even Ross as part of the background--the most conspicuous part, but still simply background for her personal splendor.
Old Howland--called Bill until his early career as a pedlar and keeper of a Cheap Jack bazaar was forgotten and who, after the great fire, which wiped out so many pasts and purified and pedigreed Chicago's present aristocracy, called himself William G.Howland, merchant prince, had, in his ideal character for a wealth-chaser, one weakness--a doting fondness for his daughter.

When she came into the world, the doctors told him his wife would have no more children; thereafter his manner was always insulting, and usually his tone and words, whenever and of whatever he spoke to her.

Women were made by the Almighty solely to bear children to men; his woman had been made to bear him a son.

Now that she would never have a son, she was of no use, and it galled him that he could find no plausibly respectable excuse for casting her off, as he cast off worn-out servants in his business.