Charlotte Smith

“ He was one of those fashionable bon-vivants, who know how the most piquant sauces are made; who criticize the tables of their friends, and will throw down two or three guineas with a careless air for any early production at a fruit-shop, wonder how plebeians exist upon beef and pudding, and cannot themselves dine without game gravy*. ”

“ I have been equally wearied by the dullness of some of the parties to which, in our more prosperous days, we used to be admitted, and disgusted with the attempts at wit I have often heard among those, who, when first my mother appeared as an authoress, affected to patronize her. ”

“ B—and Lady D—became every day stronger or things of equal import. Yet people find fault with cards, as if it were possible for those who have not two dozen of ideas to exist without them. And you, D'Alonville, you talk of my regretting the sullen magnificence of Rock-March. Heavens! my dear friend, I am tempted to reproach you for such a suspicion, and to tell you that you thought just then of your Angelina, as you would of a fine lady of Paris, or London, till all taste of nature and simplicity was lost ”

“ Lady Aberdore received about five thousand pounds, which was settled on younger children; a sum which in her present style of living and thinking, hardly paid her for the "horrible bore" of a six months' mourning, when she looked (as she chose to fancy) so very hideous in black, that she hated to show herself.
Mr. Escott, her brother, and a friend of his, of the name of Brymore, kindly came to stay a fortnight or three weeks at Rock-March, to enjoy the close of the shooting season. Some other persons, who were honoured with the notice of the Aberdore family, were also in the house ”

“ Brymore, who had been brought up to the law, but now was also a man in a certain style of life, neither emulated the personal or mental qualities of his friend, but valued himself on having talents which rendered personal attractions of no avail. ”