She couldn't understand the girl, and she gave up trying.

As a matter of fact, she began to fear that she would never be able to understand either one of her children.

She could not even imagine how they could have come by the extraordinary stubbornness with which they appeared to be afflicted.
As for George Tresslyn, he was going to the dogs as rapidly and as accurately as possible.

He took to drink, and drink took him to cards.

The efforts of Simmy Dodge and other friends, including the despised Percy Wintermill, were of no avail.