Hester was thrown from the first into a society which her clergyman brother, who had never seen it, pronounced to be frivolous, worldly, profane, but which no one has called dull.

There were many facets in Hester's character, and Lady Susan had managed to place her where they caught the light.

Was she witty?
Was she attractive?
Who shall say?
Man is wisely averse to "cleverness" in a woman, but if he possesses any armor wherewith to steel himself against wit it is certain that he seldom puts it on.

She refused several offers, one so brilliant that no woman ever believed that it was really made.
Lady Susan saw that her niece, without a fortune, with little beauty save that of high breeding, with weak health, was becoming a personage.
"What will she become ?" people said.

And in the meanwhile Hester did nothing beyond dressing extremely well.