He was as touchy about his blessed principles as an old maid about her age.

I was feeling rather extra buckish myself and that didn't improve matters.
His face was like a gargoyle as we went down to the beach to bathe, so I held my tongue.

He was chewing the cud of his wounded pride.
But the salt water cleared out the dregs of his distemper.

You couldn't be peevish swimming in that jolly, shining sea.

We raced each other away beyond the inlet to the outer water, which a brisk morning breeze was curling.