The household party was in the gayest spirits.

Lady Maria was in her most amusing mood.

She had planned a drive to some interesting ruins for the afternoon of the next day, and a dinner-party for the evening.

Her favourite neighbours had just returned to their country-seat five miles away, and they were coming to the dinner, to her great satisfaction.
Most of her neighbours bored her, and she took them in doses at her dinners, as she would have taken medicine.

But the Lockyers were young and good-looking and clever, and she was always glad when they came to Loche during her stay at Mallowe.
"There is not a frump or a bore among them," she said.