But possibly that is not altogether to be regretted," and he gave his thin smile again.

"It may be that the time has come when we should make some concession to novelty.

There had been no novelties in our house for a great many years.

I made the observation to my mother, and she did me the honor to admit that it was worthy of attention." "My dear brother," interrupted Valentin, "is not your memory just here leading you the least bit astray?
Our mother is, I may say, distinguished for her small respect of abstract reasoning.

Are you very sure that she replied to your striking proposition in the gracious manner you describe?
You know how terribly incisive she is sometimes.
Didn't she, rather, do you the honor to say, 'A fiddlestick for your phrases! There are better reasons than that' ?" "Other reasons were discussed," said the marquis, without looking at Valentin, but with an audible tremor in his voice; "some of them possibly were better.