Cecily: The curtain was about to fall on the second act when Mr. Ranleigh arrived at the theatre - a piece of indifference which Lady Comerford, who had invited him to make one of the party in her box that evening, was inclined to regard not so much with indignation as with despair.

Georgina: A hush of expectancy lay over Lady Mercer's house in Great Pulteney Street on this brightest of March mornings in Bath.

Lydia: Cupitt, opening the front door at Great Hayland on a warm May morning, suffered a shock at sight of the gentleman standing before him - a shock so severe, in fact, that the magisterial calm cultivated over fifty years of service came near to deserting him entirely.