Alice Duer Miller

“ She was not and never had been a vain woman, but she was always astonished at men caring for a type of femininity different from her own. She liked Eleanor, but she thought her dry and unattractive, and she didn't see what a brilliant, handsome creature like O'Bannon could see in her. "Is he, really?"
"Yes, he is," said Eleanor coolly. Experience had taught her an excellent manner in this situation.
"I wish you had waited, Lydia," Miss Bennett went on. "It was very impressive the way he managed Evans, almost like a hypnotic influence. She told him everything. ”

“ He found her sunk in an enormous chair, looking very pathetic and more like an unhappy child than a middle-aged woman.
"It isn't bearable," she said. "Life under these conditions is too disagreeable. I don't complain of her never noticing all the little sacrifices one makes—all the trouble one takes for her sake. But when she's absolutely rude—just vulgarly, grossly rude as she was this evening——"
"Miss Bennett," said Bobby seriously, "when things go wrong with women they cry, and when things go wrong with men they swear. Lydia takes a little from both sexes. ”

“ She can't afford to alienate the few people who really care for her—you and Eleanor and—well, of course, she won't alienate me, whatever she does."
"But she takes advantage of our affection," said Miss Bennett.
Bobby stood up.
"You bet she does!" he said. "She'll have something bitter waiting for me now when I go down, something she'll have forgotten by to-morrow and I'll remember as long as I live."
He smiled perfectly gayly and left the room. He found Lydia strolling about the drawing-room, softly whistling to herself. ”

“ I could have had a perfectly pleasant evening at home—and to come out for a row like this!"
"She doesn't do it often."
"Often! No, there wouldn't be any question then."
"She's been perfectly charming at the Emmonses'—gay and friendly, and everyone crazy about her. ”