She knew, too, how difficult it was to attend to her studies (due regard for which her parents required amidst every recreation) on the Wednesday, with every air she had so delighted in the previous night ringing in her ears.

Those who were eager to condemn Mrs.Hamilton whenever they could, declared it was the greatest inconsistency to take Emmeline to the Opera, and permit her to appear so often in company at home, and yet in other matters he so strict; why could she not bring her out at once, instead of only tantalizing her?
but Mrs.Hamilton could never do anything like anybody else.

Her daughters were much to be pitied; and as for her niece, she must pass a miserable life, for she was scarcely ever seen.

They had no doubt, with all Mrs.Hamilton's pretensions to goodness, that her poor niece was utterly neglected, and kept quite in the background; because she was so beautiful, Mrs.Hamilton was jealous of the notice she might obtain.
So thought, and so very often spoke, the ill-natured half of the world, who, in reality, jealous and displeased at being excluded from Mr.
Hamilton's visiting list, did everything in their power to lessen the estimation in which the family was held.

In this, however, they could not succeed, nor in causing pain to those whom they wished to wound.
Such petty malice demanded not a second thought from minds so well-regulated as those of Mr.and Mrs.Hamilton.