Her parents have a large family: they occupy such a station and possess such connections as, in their opinion, demand display; stringent necessity of circumstances and inherent thoughtlessness of disposition combined, have engendered reckless unscrupulousness as to how they obtain the means of sustaining a good appearance.

This is the state of things, and the only state of things, she has seen from childhood upwards." "I believe it--and I thought to mould her to something better: but, Lucy, to speak the plain truth, I have felt a new thing to-night, in looking at her and de Hamal.

I felt it before noticing the impertinence directed at my mother.

I saw a look interchanged between them immediately after their entrance, which threw a most unwelcome light on my mind." "How do you mean?
You have been long aware of the flirtation they keep up ?" "Ay, flirtation! That might be an innocent girlish wile to lure on the true lover; but what I refer to was not flirtation: it was a look marking mutual and secret understanding--it was neither girlish nor innocent.

No woman, were she as beautiful as Aphrodite, who could give or receive such a glance, shall ever be sought in marriage by me: I would rather wed a paysanne in a short petticoat and high cap--and be sure that she was honest." I could not help smiling.