E. F. Benson,
The Alliance of Laughter
(1902)
“ It was about three o'clock of a broiling afternoon, and two young men were lying on the grass, beneath the shade of the shrubbery that bounded the lawn. Two golf-bags were cast on the grass beside them, and beyond the line of shadow lay the croquet-ground, on a piece of perfect turf, set out in no hap-hazard fashion, but with absolute precision of line, while the hoops themselves were of paralyzing narrowness. ”
E. F. Benson,
The Alliance of Laughter
(1902)
“ But on Dick, who for the most part was liable to the disturbances of the heavens, this great heaviness seemed not to weigh at all. At lunch, after Margery's departure and the departure of those guests who had come down for the Sunday, he talked with the most surprising extravagance; afterward he and Jack went out on to the open heath, for the garden, shut in by trees, was stagnant and oppressive, to catch what breeze there might be. Dick threw himself down on the heather. "Whew! It is hot," he said. "I pity Margery in London. ”
E. F. Benson,
The Alliance of Laughter
(1902)
“ Dick started. "Why on earth?" he asked. "Margery knows we shall be alone; in fact she persuaded my mother not to come down till to-morrow, for that very reason. That's the best of Margery; she has no silly little ideas of that kind. Besides I'm her second cousin. Jack was silent a moment. "Oh, if Margery knows, of course it's all right," he said. "I only thought it wouldn't do to spring it on her. You see you are an eligible young man, Dick, and she's an eligible young woman, and I'm—well, I'm the third in the alliance of laughter." ”
