"The house was never more flourishing." The ruling principle which decreed that Gabriella should keep her temper had disciplined her not less thoroughly in the habit of holding her tongue.

The house was in a flourishing condition; but she remembered how fragile and thinly rooted had been its showy prosperity, when she had entered it; and had she cared to confound Madame utterly, she might have reminded her of that unwritten history of the past ten years in which the secret episode of Mrs.Pletheridge occurred.

For Gabriella was not inclined to underrate her own efficiency, and her confidence was supported by the knowledge that if she left Dinard's the most fashionable of Madame's clientele would follow her.
"You'll never have such another opportunity--not if you live to be a hundred.

At your age I should have jumped at the idea," persisted Madame.
"So should I," responded Gabriella merrily, "if I were sure of landing on my feet." "You'll always land on your feet--you're that sort.

You've got push, and it's push that counts most in business.