In Martha Wallingford's character there was an element partaking of the nature of whalebone, yielding, but practically unbreakable, and sometimes wholly unyielding.

Martha proceeded to array herself for dinner.

She had not a doubt that it would be a grand affair.

She therefore did not hesitate about the white silk, which was a robe of such splendour that it might not have disgraced a court.

It showed a great deal of her thin, yet pretty girlish neck, and it had a very long train.