Rumour said Sir Nigel lived high in London and foreign parts, but there was no high living at the Court.

Her ladyship's family had never been near her, and belief in them and their wealth almost ceased to exist.

If they were rich, Stornham felt that it was their business to mend roofs and windows and not allow chimneys and kitchen boilers to fall into ruin, the simple, leading article of faith being that even American money belonged properly to England.
As Miss Vanderpoel walked at a light, swinging pace through the one village street the gazers felt with Kedgers that something new was passing and stirring the atmosphere.

She looked straight, and with a friendliness somehow dominating, at the curious women; her handsome eyes met those of the men in a human questioning; she smiled and nodded to the bobbing children.

One of these, young enough to be uncertain on its feet, in running to join some others stumbled and fell on the path before her.