The paper stated that she had had many invitations to Women's Clubs and had refused.

I don't think she ought because she might be such a help to other women." Margaret said nothing.

She leaned back, and, for once, her face was actually contracted with thought to the possible detriment of its smooth beauty.
A clock in the house struck, and at the same time Maida and Adelaide raced up the steps, followed by gleeful calls from two little boys on the sidewalk.
"Where have you been ?" asked Margaret.

Then she said without waiting for a reply, "If Martha Wallingford would come, I should prefer that to Lydia Greenway." Maida and Adelaide, flushed and panting, and both with mouths full of candy, glanced at their mother, then Maida chased Adelaide into the house, their blue skirts flitting out of sight like blue butterfly wings.
Annie Eustace rose.

She had noticed that neither Maida nor Adelaide had greeted her, and thought them rude.