Her mother had died at her birth, and for several years afterwards her father had studiously ignored her presence in the house, not without a sense of melancholy satisfaction at this proof of his devotion to her mother.
"No, no.

It may be unreasonable.

It may be foolish," he was wont to say to friends who had not accused him of unreasonableness, "but don't ask me to be fond of that child.

I can't look at her without remembering what her birth cost me." Bessie was a fine, strong young woman, with a perfectly impassive handsome face--no Bellairs could achieve plainness--and the manner of one who moves among fellow creatures who do not come up to the standard of conduct which she has selected as the lowest permissible to herself and others.

Bessie had not so far evinced a preference for anyone in her own family circle, or outside it.