But Oncle Jazon for once held his tongue, being too disgusted for words at not having been permitted to fire a single shot.

What was the use of going to fight and simply meeting and escorting down the river a lot of non-combatants?
There is something inscrutably delightful about a girl's way of thinking one thing and doing another.

Perversity, thy name is maidenhood; and maidenhood, thy name is delicious inconsequence! When Alice heard that Beverley had come back, safe, victorious, to be greeted as one of the heroes of an important adventure, she immediately ran to her room frightened and full of vague, shadowy dread, to hide from him, yet feeling sure that he would not come! Moreover, she busied herself with the preposterous task of putting on her most attractive gown--the buff brocade which she wore that evening at the river house--how long ago it seemed!--when Beverley thought her the queenliest beauty in the world.

And she was putting it on so as to look her prettiest while hiding from him! It is a toss-up where happiness will make its nest.

The palace, the hut, the great lady's garden, the wild lass's bower,--skip here, alight there,--the secret of it may never be told.