Mrs.Lennox regarded "snubbing" in the light of a moral duty devolving on people of condition, when the foundations of things were in danger of being removed by the inroads of the vulgar commonalty.

On the present occasion, Mrs.Lennox was of opinion that quiet, respectable people, of good family, ought to ignore this kind of proceeding, and not think of encouraging such things by their presence.
Mrs.Wilcox generally shaped her course by Mrs.Lennox: still she had promised Letitia Ferguson to be gracious to the Seymours in their exigency, and to call on the Follingsbees; so there was a confusion all round.

The young people of both families declared that _they_ were going, just to see the fun.

Bob Lennox, with the usual vivacity of Young America, said he didn't "care a hang who set a ball rolling, if only something was kept stirring." The subject was discussed when Mrs.
Lennox and Mrs.Wilcox were making a morning call upon the Fergusons.
"For my part," said Mrs.Lennox, "I'm principled on this subject.
Those Follingsbees are not proper people.

They are of just that vulgar, pushing class, against which I feel it my duty to set my face like a flint; and I'm astonished that a man like John Seymour should go into relations with them.