"Something troubling?" Mrs. Cross asked.
"Yes, very much so--the bill for Miss Summers' school.  The fees are far too high to even think of paying--so, in a sense, it's an economy..."

“I’ve no reason to complain of Mr. Vernon’s reception, but I’m not entirely satisfied with his lady’s.  She’s perfectly well-bred—surprisingly so—but her manner doesn’t persuade me she’s disposed in my favour.  As you certainly noticed I sought to be as amiable as possible.  I wanted her to be delighted with me—but didn’t succeed.   It’s true that I’ve always detested her.  Before her marriage, I went to considerable lengths to prevent it.  Yet it shows an illiberal spirit to resent for long a plan which didn’t succeed.  My opposing her marriage—and later preventing her and Charles’ buying Vernon Castle—perhaps gave her an unfavourable impression of me.  But I’ve found that where there’s disposition to dislike, a pretest will soon be found.