Most unpleasant things were happening at home, and occasionally Castle Clare loomed up grayly in the distance like a spectre.

Certain tradespeople who ought, in Lady Claraway's opinion, to have kept quiet and waited in patience until things became better, were becoming hideously persistent.

In view of the fact that Alix's next season must be provided for, it was most awkward.

A girl could not be presented and properly launched in the world, in a way which would give her a proper chance, without expenditure.

To the Claraways expenditure meant credit, and there were blots as of tears on the letters in which Lady Claraway reiterated that the tradespeople were behaving horribly.
Sometimes, she said once in desperation, things looked as if they would all be obliged to shut themselves up in Castle Clare to retrench; and then what was to become of Alix and her season?
And there were Millicent and Hilda and Eve.
More than once there was the mist of tears in the flower-blue eyes when Lady Agatha came to talk.