It is simply in shocking bad taste." "I sometimes fear so," said Annie.

She did not state that her Aunt Jane never allowed her to be seen in public without that dismal adornment.
"You are a queer girl," said Margaret, and she summed up all her mood of petty cruelty and vicarious revenge in that one word "queer." However, little Annie Eustace only smiled as if she had been given a peculiarly acceptable present.

She was so used to being underrated, that she had become in a measure immune to criticism, and besides criticism from her adored Mrs.Edes was even a favour.

She took another bungling stitch in the petal of a white floss daisy.
Margaret felt suddenly irritated.

All this was too much like raining fierce blows upon a down pillow.
"Do, for goodness sake, Annie Eustace, stop doing that awful embroidery if you don't want to drive me crazy," said she.
Then Annie looked at Margaret, and she was obviously distressed and puzzled.