It was impossible to advance much in love-making with one who offered no obstacles, had no concealments and no embarrassments, and whom any approach to sentimentality would be quite likely to set into a fit of laughter.
"Why, Phil," she would say, "what puts you in the dumps to day?
You are as solemn as the upper bench in Meeting.

I shall have to call Alice to raise your spirits; my presence seems to depress you." "It's not your presence, but your absence when you are present," began Philip, dolefully, with the idea that he was saying a rather deep thing.
"But you won't understand me." "No, I confess I cannot.

If you really are so low, as to think I am absent when I am present, it's a frightful case of aberration; I shall ask father to bring out Dr.Jackson.

Does Alice appear to be present when she is absent ?" "Alice has some human feeling, anyway.

She cares for something besides musty books and dry bones.