She was a woman who needed ornaments: they would have looked lavish on any one else, they suited her admirably.

Once I caught her looking with marked disfavour on my black serge dress: the pearl hoop that had been my mother's keeper was my sole adornment.

I daresay she thought me extremely dowdy.

I once heard her say, in a pointed manner, that 'her cousin Giles liked to see his women-folk well dressed; he was very fastidious on that point, and exceedingly hard to please.' Mr.Hamilton seemed in the best of humours.

I do not think that he remarked how very quiet Max was all tea-time.