I have five aunts, seven uncles, and twenty-four first cousins, every one of whom thinks me a lost soul; but I have neither sister nor brother, wife nor child to help or hinder me.

There now! I have gone to confession, and you must give me absolution and an easy penance!" Max laughed.

"Thank you, monsieur!" "Not 'monsieur,' for goodness' sake! Plain Ned, if you don't mind." "Ned ?" The slight uncertainty, coupled with the foreign intonation, lent a charm to the name.
"That's it! But I never heard it sound half so well before.

Personally, it always struck me as being rather like its owner--of no particular significance.

But I must be coming down to earth again, I have an appointment with our friend McCutcheon at three o'clock." He drew out his watch.