"My niece is smart and quick, and could do this thing for you just as well as not.

But she has her quips and her cranks, like the rest of us.

I called her out of the room last night to know why she didn't back me up better about the whist party, and she said she couldn't see why a gentleman, who hadn't been confined to the house for quite a whole day, should be so desperately lonely that people must go to his room to play whist with him.

It seemed to me exactly as if she thought that Mr Null wouldn't like it.

Mr Null indeed! As if his wishes and desires were to be considered in my house! I never mention that man now, and Annie does not speak of him either.
What I want is that he shall stay away just as long as he will; and if he will only stay away long enough to make his absence what the law calls desertion, I'll have those two divorced before they know it.