Mrs.Chapman, however, was not a little disappointed at the way things had turned.

They were flashy and rather fast people who came to her reception; people whom nobody of established respectability knew or cared to know--thoughtless young men, overdressed young women with matrimonial expectations, and a few needy foreigners with small titles.
To make the matter worse, some of the lady's guests wore eye-glasses, through which they persisted in gazing at her, and conducted themselves very unbecomingly.

Indeed, they eat up all her supper, spoiled her carpet, insulted her servants, and paid her certain left-handed compliments because she had neither coffee nor wine on her side-board.
The foreigners, too, were inclined to be merry at the lady's circumference, and at the awkwardness of her movements, as well as to be severe on the style of her dress and the way she wore her hair.
"Who are these people ?" enquired a young man, adjusting his eye-glass.
"Very new people," whispered another in reply.
"Vulgar, evidently--just set up to be somebody--don't understand it," rejoined a third, shrugging his shoulders.
Mr.Gusher, who had assisted the lady in beating up her recruits, had assured them that the Chapmans were very distinguished people.
Mrs.Chapman was not more successful in setting up a carriage of her own.

She had done a great deal of pushing without affecting a lodgment in the society she had set her heart on.

With a carriage of her own she felt that she would be just as good as any of those high old Bowling Green people.