Their dry, powdered faces could not live by the side of her glowing skin, with nature's delicate gloss upon it, and the rich blood mantling below it.

The got-up beauties, i.e., the majority, seemed literally to fade and wither as she passed.
Mrs.Lucas got to her, suppressed a slight maternal pang, having daughters to marry, and took her line in a moment; here was a decoy duck.

Mrs.Lucas was all graciousness, made acquaintance, and took a little turn with her, introducing her to one or two persons; among the rest, to the malignant woman, Mrs.Barr.

Mrs.Barr, on this, ceased to look daggers and substituted icicles; but on the hateful beauty moving away, dropped the icicles, and resumed the poniards.
The rooms filled; the heat became oppressive, and the mixed odors of flowers, scents, and perspiring humanity, sickening.

Some, unable to bear it, trickled out of the room, and sat all down the stairs.
Rosa began to feel faint.