It looked like a little agreeable oasis in the middle of a woodland, for the avenue was shaded by forest trees, and the house itself had a background of two or three acres of an old wood.
Mrs.Bertram was tired, and walked slowly.

She did not consider herself a proud woman, but in this she was mistaken.

Every line of her upright figure, each glance of her full, dark eyes, each word that dropped from her lips spoke of pride both of birth and position.

She often said to herself, "I am thankful that I don't belong to the common folk; it would grate on my nerves to witness their vulgarities,--their bad taste would torture me; their want of refinement would act upon my nature like a blister.

But I am not proud, I uphold my dignity, I respect myself and my family, but with sinful, unholy pride I have no part." This was by no means the opinion held of her, however, by the Northbury folk.