"I shall be happy, Mrs.
Roylake, to take you to the mill." My stepmother's knowledge of the world implied considerable acquaintance--how obtained I do not pretend to know--with the characters of men.

Discovering that she was in danger of overstepping the limits of my patience, she drew back with a skill which performed the retrograde movement without permitting it to betray itself.
"We have carried our little joke, my dear Gerard, far enough," she said.
"I fancy your residence in Germany has rather blunted your native English sense of humor.

You don't suppose, I hope and trust, that I am so insensible to our relative positions as to think of interfering in your choice of friends or associates.

If you are not aware of it already, let me remind you that this house is now yours; not mine.

I live here--gladly live here, my dear boy--by your indulgence; fortified (I am sure) by your regard for your excellent father's wishes as expressed in his will--" I stopped her there.