But there was a faded look about her now, and she had a weakness for loud talking and overdressing.

She was evidently a woman of doubtful blood, and "no family," as society would say in these days.

Indeed, first-rate society, such as Bowling Green boasted of in those days, considered itself very select, and dealt out its favors to new-comers with a cautious reserve.
As little or nothing was known of Mrs.Topman's antecedents, first-rate society cut her--did'nt even condescend to drop her a sidewalk recognition.

But, as pushing one's self into society was quite as much practised then as now, and as Mrs.Topman was a pushing, vigorous woman, she resolved that if she could not carry the outworks and compel a surrender on the part of first-rate society, she would at least have a circle of her own.

And she had just as good a right, she said, to call her circle of society first-rate, as her neighbors who kept their doors shut had to "consider" themselves such.