They came to her direct from a world, her sister's world, which she now vaguely felt to be cheap, shallow, disillusioning.

And she needed her illusions.

By nature frank to bluntness, she was not good at hiding dislikes; and her uneasy visitors soon realized with relief that they were not wanted here.
Fanny Carr still came for a time.

For some reason that Ethel could not understand, this shrewd person seemed reluctant to let go her hold as a friend.

She was most solicitous about Joe and tried to come when he was at home.