Queer creatures, females,” mused Mr. Standen, shaking his head. “Fellow’s only got to be a rake to have ’em all dangling after him. Silly, really, because it stands to reason – - Well never mind that!
My dearest goose, why didn’t you trust me, when I assured you that you might?′ he countered. ‘I have cherished throughout the believe that you would confide in me, and you see I was quite right.
Miss Grantham gave a shriek. ‘You have trifled with me!’ she said, into the folds of her handkerchief. ‘You promised me marriage, and now you mean to cast me off for Another!
O God, Mama, I’ve made such a mull of it! What am I to do?
If you had not done such a shabby thing to me I would not have had you kidnapped.
I am not quite sober you know. In fact, I am drunk, but I cannot help feeling this is all a trifle, shall we say, irregular?
Sophia, with real nobility of character, then asked Papa to explain something she had read in Sir John Malcolm’s History of Persia, which the Vicar, whose only personal extravagance was his purchase of books, had lately added to his library.
Simplicity was abhorrent to his lordship; he revelled in a net-work of intrigue; he loved to accomplish the impossible.
You need have no fear. But were I to meet you, sir, you would lie dead at my feet within the space of five minutes. Possibly less. I do not know.” He appeared to give the matter his consideration.
I have never met the man who had vision large enough to appreciate my genius,” he said simply. “Perhaps it was not to be expected.
Lady Winwood being denied, the morning caller inquired with some anxiety for Miss Winwood, or, in fact, for any of the young ladies.
Mrs Patch was all that she had hoped. She was an improbable blonde of uncertain years, with a very much painted face, a singularly penetrating voice, and a laugh which made Mablethorpe wince.
When I think of all the pretty and lovely girls who have done their best to attach him, and he tells me that he has offered for an insipid female who has neither fortune nor any extraordinary degree of beauty, besides being stupidly shy and dowdy, I – oh, I could go into strong hysterics!
No one could have called Mr. Standen quick-witted, but the possession of three sisters had considerably sharpened his instinct of self-preservation.
Only trust me! You have fallen into a fit of despondency and there is not the least need! In fact, nothing could be more fatal, in any predicament! It encourages one to suppose that there is nothing to be done, when a little resolution is all that is wanted to bring matters to a happy conclusion.
There is nothing so mortifying as to fall in love with someone who does not share one’s sentiments.
You may have married her, but she is mine. Do you think I shall let you take her? She may be ten times your wife, but, by God, you shall never have her.
But it is only in epic tragedies that gloom is unrelieved. In real life tragedy and comedy are so intermingled that when one is most wretched ridiculous things happen to make one laugh in spite of oneself.
Is it not unsupportable to be held down to a canter when you long to gallop for miles?
When fate is got it in for you, there is no limit to what you may have to put up with.