It was like a bad dream, in which people one knew quite well behaved fantastically, and one was powerless to escape from some dreadful doom.
It was seldom that Mr Standen, a peace-loving young gentleman, was conscious of a wish to come to blows with his fellow-men, but a wistful desire to land his cousin a facer did for an instant flicker in his mind.
The end of the idyll was implicit in the beginning: I at least knew that, though you might not. And also that the more enchanted the idyll the greater must be the pain of its ending. That won’t endure. Hearts don’t really break, you know.
She thought, in touching innocence, that in Miles Calverleigh she had found a friend, and a better one by far than any other, because his mind moved swiftly, because he could make her laugh even when she was out of charity with him, and because of a dozen other attributes which were quite frivolous – hardly attributes at all, in fact – but which added up to a charming total, outweighing the more important faults in his character.
Surprise is the essence of attack!
I contrive,”’ said Prudence softly. ‘Do you know, sir, you puzzle me.’ ‘It has ever been my motto,’ the old gentleman pointed out triumphantly.
Lady Theresa prophesied disaster for all concerned, and hoped that when Serena was dying an old maid she would remember these words, and be sorry. Meanwhile she remained her affectionate aunt.
Lord, if we were all to marry our first loves what a plague of ill-assorted marriages there would be!
Besides, it was a well-known maxim that maniacs must be humoured.
Ten or twelve couples? No, no, Dassett would not be talking of red carpets and awnings for such a paltry affair as that!’ said his lordship. These ominous words struck a chill into his wife’s soul.
It is customary, you know, to exchange polite conversation during the dance. I have now addressed no fewer than three unexceptionable remarks to you without winning one answer!
He took her face between his hands, turning it up, and looking down at her for a moment before he kissed her. “I do love you, Jenny,” he said gently. “Very much indeed – you are part of my life. Julia was never that-only a boy’s impractical dream.
If you mention Bella’s name to me again, Gil, I am likely to do you a mischief!′ Sherry warned him. ‘I never cared the snap of my fingers for that wretched girl, and if you are not assured of that, ask her! Why, God save the mark, she may be a beauty, but give me my Kitten! Bella, with her airs and her graces, and her miffs, and her curst sharp tongue! No, I thank you! What’s more, no man who had lived with Kitten would look twice at the Beauty!
They must have had a great deal of practice, though I don’t think it can be wholly due to practice, do you? I never met a rake before, or thought much about it, but I should suppose that a man could scarcely become one – well, not a very successful one, at all events – if he were not naturally engaging.
The most she could wring from him was a promise that he would say nothing uncivil to Mrs Scorrier unless she offered him provocation, and with this she had to try at least to be satisfied. But as what Aubrey might regard as provocation depended to a large extent upon his mood her expectations were not high;.
Meg, as good-natured as her mother and brother, would have been amiable to anyone for whom her kindness had been solicited. Had she found herself confronted by a dazzling blonde she would not have spurned Kitty; but it could not be denied that the discovery that Miss Charing was a brunette immediately confirmed her in her conviction that she would like her prodigiously.
Entertaining females with accounts of jug-bitten maunderings is one of my favourite pastimes.
Mrs Hendred was a very pretty woman of great good-nature and much less than commonsense.
My lord, when I first encountered you the suspicion crossed my mind that your intellect was disordered. I am now certain that this is so!
Do let me assure you that if ever Endymion should ask me to give a ball in his honour I shall take steps to have him placed under restraint!