Anne Brontë

“ We managed very well without them, however. With a single set of quadrilles, and several country dances, we carried it on to a pretty late hour; and at length, having called upon our musician to strike up a waltz, I was just about to whirl Eliza round in that delightful dance, accompanied by Lawrence and Jane Wilson, and Fergus and Rose, when Mr. Millward interposed with:- 'No, no; I don't allow that! Come, it's time to be going now.'
'Oh, no, papa!' pleaded Eliza.
'High time, my girl - high time! Moderation in all things, remember! ”

“ Rose informed me that he never would have favoured us with his company but for the importunities of his sister Jane, who was most anxious to show Mr. Lawrence that she had at least one brother more gentlemanly and refined than Robert. That worthy individual she had been equally solicitous to keep away ”

“ Markham, extraordinary as it may be, is not without its advantages; for here you see the child is delivered at once from temptation; he has no secret curiosity, no hankering desire; he is as well acquainted with the tempting liquors as he ever wishes to be ”

“ Lawrence's father had shortened his days by intemperance.)
'Some precautions, it may be; but temperance, sir, is one thing, and abstinence another.'
'But I have heard that, with some persons, temperance - that is, moderation - is almost impossible; and if abstinence be an evil (which some have doubted) , no one will deny that excess is a greater. Some parents have entirely prohibited their children from tasting intoxicating liquors; but a parent's authority cannot last for ever; children are naturally prone to hanker after forbidden things ”

“ That's the plan - "Let your moderation be known unto all men!"'
But in revenge I followed Eliza into the dimly-lighted passage, where, under pretence of helping her on with her shawl, I fear I must plead guilty to snatching a kiss behind her father's back, while he was enveloping his throat and chin in the folds of a mighty comforter. But alas! ”