Leo Tolstoy

“ Taking my hand, she raised her own to my lips for me to kiss it--which otherwise, not supposing it to be necessary, I should not have done.
"How pleased I am to see you!" she said with her usual clearness of articulation as she gazed at her daughters. "And how like your mother you look! Does he not, Lise?"
Lise assented, though I knew for a fact that I did not resemble my mother in the least.
"And what a grown-up you have become! My Etienne, you will remember, is your second cousin. ”

“ I know that you young fellows of the present day think nothing of relationships and are not fond of old men, yet do you listen to me, your old aunt, for I am fond of you, and was fond of your mother, and had a great--a very great-liking and respect for your grandmother. ”

“ No, not second cousin--what is it, Lise? My mother was Barbara Dimitrievna, daughter of Dimitri Nicolaevitch, and your grandmother was Natalia Nicolaevna."
"Then he is our THIRD cousin, Mamma," said the eldest girl.
"Oh, how you always confuse me!" was her mother`s angry reply. "Not third cousin, but COUSIN GERMAN--that is your relationship to Etienne. He is an officer now. Did you know it? It is not well that he should have his own way too much. You young men need keeping in hand, or--! Well, you are not vexed because your old aunt tells you the plain truth? ”