And when Friday night came she began to dress for the dance with a brave heart . She was to go to The Springs with her uncle and aunt , who were coming on horseback that afternoon , and would then go on to The Springs in old Hugh 's carriage , which was the only one in Carlyle then . They were to leave in time to reach The Springs before nightfall , for the October nights were dark and the wooded roads rough for travelling . `` When Ursula was ready she looked at herself in the glass with a good deal of satisfaction . Yes , Felicity , she was a vain baggage , that same Ursula , but that kind did n't all die out a hundred years ago . And she had good reason for being vain . She wore the sea-green silk which had been brought out from England a year before and worn but once -- at the Christmas ball at Government House . A fine , stiff , rustling silk it was , and over it shone Ursula 's crimson cheeks and gleaming eyes , and masses of nut brown hair . `` As she turned from the glass she heard her father 's voice below , loud and angry . Growing very pale , she ran out into the hall . Her father was already half way upstairs , his face red with fury . In the hall below Ursula saw her step-mother , looking troubled and vexed . At the door stood Malcolm Ramsay , a homely neighbour youth who had been courting Ursula in his clumsy way ever since she grew up . Ursula had always hated him . '' ` Ursula ! ' shouted old Hugh , ` come here and tell this scoundrel he lies . He says that you met Kenneth MacNair in the beechgrove last Tuesday . Tell him he lies ! Tell him he lies ! ' `` Ursula was no coward .
She looked scornfully at poor XXXXX . ''
Carlyle Hugh Ramsay Springs Ursula afternoon before neighbour night year