"But, then, a great many people do that who don't believe anything.

Anyway, she has always been quite charming to your father and me.

And I think, besides, the Vicar might have been satisfied with your father's opinion--_he_ made no complaint about the books.

Oh, now the Miss Bertrams are going to stop us! They'll of course know all about it!" If Captain Roughsedge growled ugly words into his mustache, his mother was able to pretend not to hear them, in the gentle excitement of shaking hands with the Miss Bertrams.

These middle-aged ladies, the daughters of a deceased doctor from the neighboring county town of Dunscombe, were, if possible, more plainly dressed than usual, and their manners more forbidding.
"You will have heard of this disagreeable incident which has occurred," said Miss Maria to Mrs.Roughsedge, with a pinched mouth.