Even Bessie, the youngest sister, had noticed Fay's continual restlessness and had commented on it, had advised her sister to embark on a course of reading, and to endeavour to interest herself in work for others.
She had also, with the untempered candour of eighteen, suggested to Fay that she should cease to make a slave of Magdalen.

It is hardly necessary to add that Fay and Bessie did not materially increase the sum of each other's happiness.
As Magdalen and Fay were sitting together in the sun the door into the garden opened, and Bessie stalked slowly towards them across the grass, in a short cycling skirt.
"It surely is not necessary to be quite so badly dressed as Bessie," said Fay with instant irritation.

"If she must wear one of those hideous short skirts, it might at any rate be well cut.

I have told her so often enough." Since Bessie had been guilty of the enormity of suggesting a course of reading, Fay had made many sarcastic comments on Bessie's direful clothes.
"I must advise her to take dress more seriously," said Magdalen absently.

She was depressed by a faint misgiving about Bessie.