The bright, joyous girl with her loving heart, her abounding vitality, and constant cheerfulness, made him angry.

In none of her excellencies he had any share, consequently he hated her.
He would have quickly returned to London, but Dora and her husband were staying with the Stanhopes, and her letters from Stanhope Castle were lachrymose complaints of the utter weariness and dreariness of life there the preaching and reading aloud, the regular walking and driving--all the innocent method of lives which recognized they were here for some higher purpose than mere physical enjoyment.

And it angered Mostyn that neither Ruth nor Ethel felt any sympathy for Dora's ennui, and proposed no means of releasing her from it.

He considered them both disgustingly selfish and ill-natured, and was certain that all their reluctance at Dora's presence arose from their jealousy of her beauty and her enchanting grace.
On the afternoon of the day preceding the intended entertainment Ruth, Ethel, and the Squire were in the great dining-room superintending its decoration.

They were merrily laughing and chatting, and were not aware of the arrival of any visitors until Mrs.Nicholas Rawdon's rosy, good-natured face appeared at the open door.