Something in its calm beauty reacted on the girl and made her thoughtful.

She loved the dale and felt that she might be happy there if it were not for her father's poverty and overbearing temperament.
After all, they were not really poor; they had enough to satisfy their needs.

Their clinging to out-of-date traditions caused the strain.

One gained nothing by pretending to be rich and important; there was no logical reason for trying to live like one's ancestors, and the effort cost the Osborns much.

It meant stern private economy, public ostentation, and many small deceits.