The girl had become surpassingly handsome.

Despite her fury Mrs.Fenton had eyes for this.
Her own daughter had attracted the notice of _her_ man! The offence was unpardonable.
Lavinia knew nothing about this.

All she wanted was to escape observation and she darted into the kitchen, Betty the cook receiving her with open mouth.
A narrow, ricketty staircase in a corner of the kitchen shut in by a door which a stranger would take for that of a cupboard led to the upper part of the house.

Lavinia guessed as much.

She darted to this door, flung it open and ran up the creaking stairs just as her mother, shaking with passion, entered and caught sight of her flying skirt.
"Good laux, mistress," Betty was beginning, but she could get no further.