He knew, for instance, that the trousseau was being made at home, and that during the last few weeks the lady for whom it was destined had shown an indifference to the progress of it which seemed to excite a dumb annoyance in her mother.

Curious woman, Mrs.
Boyce! He found himself listening to every opening door, and already, as it were, gazing at Marcella in her white array.

He was not asked to this ball.

As he had early explained to Miss Boyce, he and Miss Raeburn had been "cuts" for years, for what reason he had of course left Marcella to guess.

As if Marcella found any difficulty in guessing--as if the preposterous bigotries and intolerances of the Ladies' League were not enough to account for any similar behaviour on the part of any similar high-bred spinster! As for this occasion, she was far too proud both on her own behalf and Wharton's to say anything either to Lord Maxwell or his sister on the subject of an invitation for her father's guest.
It so happened, however, that Wharton was aware of certain other reasons for his social exclusion from Maxwell Court.