He had all the vanity of the inferior not only to lessen the appearance of his inferiority, but to clothe himself in a mantle of importance; and it was this vanity urged him to acquaint Richard with his plans in the very presence of Ruth.
They had broken their fast, and they still lingered in the dining-room, the largest and most important room in Lupton House.

It was cool and pleasant here in contrast to the heat of the July sun, which, following upon the late wet weather, beat fiercely on the lawn, the window-doors to which stood open.

The cloth had been raised, and Diana and her mother had lately left the room.

Ruth, in the window-seat, at a small oval table, was arranging a cluster of roses in an old bronze bowl.

Sir Rowland, his stiff short figure carefully dressed in a suit of brown camlet, his fair wig very carefully curled, occupied a tall-backed armchair near the empty fireplace.