And our grandmothers were very good women.

I don't know why we, who give ourselves so much more trouble than they did, should carry these thorns about with us, while they went free." She drew herself up, a cloud over her fine eyes.

Miss Raeburn, looking round, was glad to see the servants had left the room.
"Miss Boyce thinks we are all in a very bad way, I'm sure.

I have heard tales of Miss Boyce's opinions!" said Lord Maxwell, smiling at her, with an old man's indulgence, as though provoking her to talk.
Her slim fingers were nervously crumbling some bread beside her; her head was drooped a little.

At his challenge she looked up with a start.
She was perfectly conscious of him, as both the great magnate on his native heath, and as the trained man of affairs condescending to a girl's fancies.