plaguing

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of plague

noun

1. annoyance; harassment

   “Every man, Mexican and child on the ranch was the devoted courtier of Miss Jean, for she was a lovable woman; and in spite of her isolated life and the constant plaguings of her brother on being a spinster, she fitted neatly into our pastoral life.”