Miss Peters' exalted tones reached her ears.

She shuddered, turned pale, and also turned her back on the eager little spinster.
Nobody quite knew how it was managed, but Mrs.Bertram was introduced to very few of the Northbury folk.

They all wanted to know her; they talked about her, and came in her way, and stared at her whenever they could.
There was an expectant hush when she and the Rector were seen approaching any special group.
"I do declare it's the Grays she's going to patronize," one jealous matron said.
But the Grays were passed over just as sedulously as the Joneses and the Smiths.

Excitement, again and again on the tenter-hooks, invariably came to nothing.

Even Mrs.Gorman Stanley, who had sat on Mrs.Bertram's sofa, and condemned her felt carpet was only acknowledged by the most passing and stately recognition.