I may leave her now with her sheets and collars and napkins and fronts.

Indeed, she probably orders me to go.

A son is all very well, but suppose he were to tread on that counterpane! My sister is but and I am ben--I mean she is in the east end and I am in the west--tuts, tuts! let us get at the English of this by striving: she is in the kitchen and I am at my desk in the parlour.

I hope I may not be disturbed, for to-night I must make my hero say 'Darling,' and it needs both privacy and concentration.

In a word, let me admit (though I should like to beat about the bush) that I have sat down to a love-chapter.