She was not the kind of girl to love very deeply--her mother had done her utmost to make the poor child fall in love with Captain Bertram, but when all was said he had only managed to tickle her vanity.

Now she considered that he had put her to shame and derision, and she began to dislike him very much.

Her sisters fostered this dislike with the tales they brought in from the outside world.
"You're the laughing-stock of the town," Alice would say.

"Everybody is talking about you, and having a laugh at you.

You needn't suppose that you are pitied, for you are not." "Oh," groaned Matty.