She detested bread-sauce, which, as she said, looked like a poultice and tasted like soap; she objected to the consumption of beer by her maid-servants; and she affirmed that the British laundress (Mrs.
Touchett was very particular about the appearance of her linen) was not a mistress of her art.

At fixed intervals she paid a visit to her own country; but this last had been longer than any of its predecessors.
She had taken up her niece--there was little doubt of that.

One wet afternoon, some four months earlier than the occurrence lately narrated, this young lady had been seated alone with a book.

To say she was so occupied is to say that her solitude did not press upon her; for her love of knowledge had a fertilising quality and her imagination was strong.

There was at this time, however, a want of fresh taste in her situation which the arrival of an unexpected visitor did much to correct.