F. Anstey

“ I can tell you all about it, if you care to hear.'
'No!' shrieked Paradine, 'I won't listen. When you grow up, ask your father to buy you a cheap Society journal. You're cut out for an editor of one. It doesn't interest me.'
'Do you believe my story or not?' asked Paul. ”

“ I shall go out into the world with the glow of self-approval (and rapid motion) warming my system. Take my advice, don't attempt to tackle Master Dick yourself. Leave him to me.'
'If I could only make up my mind to trust you!' muttered Paul.
'The old distrust!' cried Marmaduke; 'you can't forget. You won't believe a poor devil like me can have any gratitude, any disinterestedness left in him. Never mind, I'll go. I'll leave it to you. I'll send Dick in here, and we shall see whether he's such a fool as you think him.'
'No,' said Paul, 'no; I feel you're right ”

“ Sit down then, take a cigar, if you don't think it will make you very unwell. I shouldn't recommend it myself, you know, before supper—but you're a man of the world and know what's good for you. Come along, enjoy yourself till you find yourself getting queer—then drop it.'
Mr. Bultitude had always detested the man—there was an underbred swagger and familiarity in his manner that made him indescribably offensive; just now he seemed doubly detestable, and yet Paul by a strong effort succeeded in controlling his temper. ”

“ Paul, upon this, explained that, as he believed the Stone still retained its power of granting one wish to any other person who happened to get hold of it, his idea was to get possession of it somehow from Dick, who probably would have it about him somewhere, and then pass it on to some one whom he could trust not to misuse it so basely.
'A good idea that, Paul, my boy,' said Paradine, smiling; 'but you don't imagine our young friend would be quite such an idiot as not to see your game! ”

“ Between the wall which separates the main road from the terrace and the street front there were no less than four piano-organs, playing, it is to be feared, by express invitation; and there was the usual crowd of idlers and loungers standing about by the awning stretched over the portico, listening to the music and loud laughter which came from the brilliantly lighted upper rooms.
Paul remembered then, too late, that Barbara in that memorable letter of hers had mentioned a grand children's party as being in contemplation. Dick had held his tongue about it that morning ”

“ Yes, Fullers' earth will make them exquisitely white."'
'There, Eliza!' said cook, with some pride, when she had finished; 'if it had been meant for me it couldn't have been clearer. Ain't it written nice? And on'y to think of my bringing master to my feet! It seems almost too much for a cook to expect!'
'I wouldn't say so, cook; I wouldn't. Have some proper pride. Don't let him think he's only to ask and have! Why, in the "London Journal" last week there was a dook as married a governess; and I should 'ope as a cook ranked above a governess. Nor yet master ain't a dook; he's only in the City! ”

“ Them infallible ones are always the worst.'
'It don't seem to make sense though, Eliza,' objected cook doubtfully. 'Hear how it goes on: "Infallible symptoms. If you have truly inspired him with a genuine and lasting passion" (don't he write beautiful?) "passion, he will continually haunt those places in which you are most likely to be found" (I couldn't tell you the times master's bin down in my kitching this last week) ”

“ It's as good as a play to see the way as master is a unbendin' of himself, and such a out and out stiff-un as he used to be, too! But it ain't what I like to see in a respectable house. I'm glad I give warning. It doesn't do for a man in my position to compromise his character by such goings on. I never see anything like it in any families I lived with before. Just come up and see for yourself. You needn't mind about cleanin' of yourself—they won't see you.'
So the cook allowed herself to be persuaded by Boaler, and the two went up to the hall, and, to Mr. ”

“ But they've answered a lady who's bin in much the same situation as me aperiently. You just 'ark to this a minute.' And she proceeded to read from her paper: '"Lady Bird.—You ask us (1) what are the signs by which you may recognise the first dawnings of your lover's affection. On so delicate a matter we are naturally averse from advising you; your own heart must be your best guide. But perhaps we may mention a few of the most usual and infallible symptoms'—What sort of a thing is a symptim, Eliza?'
'A symptim, cook,' explained Eliza, 'is somethink wrong with the inside. ”

“ I flatter myself I am a man of the world. We're dealing with one another now, as the lawyers have it, at arm's length. Just put yourself in my place (you're so remarkably good at putting yourself in other people's places, you know) . ”

“ I thought you was up seein' to the supper-table.'
'The pastrycook's man is looking after all that, Jane,' said Boaler's voice. 'I've been up outside the droring-room all this time, lookin' at the games goin' on in there. ”