It was certain she did not spend much money upon her own attire; and how she procured the costly dresses for Maude the latter appeared in was ever a mystery.

You can hardly fancy the bedecked old figure that she made.

The O'Moore nearly laughed out, as he civilly turned to answer her question.
"We were looking at this portrait, Lady Kirton." "And saying how much he was like Val," put in young Carteret, between whom and the dowager warfare also existed.

"Val, which was the elder ?" "George was." "Then his death made you heir-presumptive," cried the thoughtless young man, speaking impulsively.
"Heir-presumptive to what ?" asked the dowager snapping at the words.
"To Hartledon." "_He_ heir to Hartledon! Don't trouble yourself, young man, to imagine that Val Elster's ever likely to come into Hartledon.

Do you want to shoot his lordship, as _he_ was shot ?" The uncalled-for retort, the strangely intemperate tones, the quick passionate fling of the hand towards the portrait astonished young Carteret not a little.