They, who had been gravely considering whether they could possibly shake hands with him, found themselves on a level with, if not beneath him, at once, by mere effrontery.

There is some truth in the saying that, 'Accordingly as you think of yourself, others will think of you;' and impudence and riches combined, together with a certain amount of talent and personal appearance, can overcome vast worldly obstacles.

Besides did he not bring an unmarried baronet with him--one of the very ancient family of Spendalls--and the son and daughter of a man of title, and a captain of the dragoon guards?
to say nothing of that fashionable widow, reputed a fortune.

And were there not plenty of young ladies, poor if proud, in the county, wanting partners, either for dancing or life, or both?
After that evening, people sneered at home perhaps, but they called and invited and made much of the master and mistress of Plas Abertewey, forgetting or ignoring their origin.
Netta, too, obeyed Howel's last injunction to the best of her ability.
Her youth and beauty were greatly in her favour, and her affectation covered the shyness and awkwardness that she felt in being suddenly thrown amongst people upon whom she had formerly looked with awe.

The Nugents were there, but the Gwynnes were absent, and she had the pleasure of feeling that she had as many, if not more, partners than the heiress, Miss Nugent, and was much more grandly dressed.