Bridget had taken up one subject after another, and generally in a spirit of antagonism to her surroundings, who, according to her, were always 'interfering' with what she wanted to do,--with her serious and important occupations.

But these occupations always ended by coming to nothing; so that, as Bridget was irritably aware, even Nelly had ceased to be as much in awe of them as she had once been.
But the elder sister had more solid cause than this for dissatisfaction with the younger.

Nelly had really behaved like a little fool! The one family asset of which a great deal might have been made--should have been made--was Nelly's prettiness.

She was _very_ pretty--absurdly pretty--and had been a great deal run after in Manchester already.

There had been actually two proposals from elderly men with money, who were unaware of the child's engagement, during the past three months; and though these particular suitors were perhaps unattractive, yet a little time and patience, and the right man would have come along, both acceptable in himself, and sufficiently supplied with money to make everything easy for everybody.
But Nelly had just wilfully and stubbornly fallen in love with this young man--and wilfully and stubbornly married him.