Your natural paces, as any of my five cousins might say, are far preferable to your complimentary amble.

Endeavour to forget my unlucky sex; call me Tom Vernon, if you have a mind, but speak to me as you would to a friend and companion; you have no idea how much I shall like you." "That would be a bribe indeed," returned I.
"Again!" replied Miss Vernon, holding up her finger; "I told you I would not bear the shadow of a compliment.

And now, when you have pledged my uncle, who threatens you with what he calls a brimmer, I will tell you what you think of me." The bumper being pledged by me, as a dutiful nephew, and some other general intercourse of the table having taken place, the continued and business-like clang of knives and forks, and the devotion of cousin Thorncliff on my right hand, and cousin Dickon, who sate on Miss Vernon's left, to the huge quantities of meat with which they heaped their plates, made them serve as two occasional partitions, separating us from the rest of the company, and leaving us to our _tete-a-tete._ "And now," said I, "give me leave to ask you frankly, Miss Vernon, what you suppose I am thinking of you!--I could tell you what I really _do_ think, but you have interdicted praise." "I do not want your assistance.

I am conjuror enough to tell your thoughts without it.

You need not open the casement of your bosom; I see through it.