I expect a good solid paper, with plenty of quotations from the classics." Ralph warmed his hands at the fire, which was flapping bravely in the grate, while Mary took up her stocking again.
"I suppose you are the only woman in London who darns her own stockings," he observed.
"I'm only one of a great many thousands really," she replied, "though I must admit that I was thinking myself very remarkable when you came in.
And now that you're here I don't think myself remarkable at all.

How horrid of you! But I'm afraid you're much more remarkable than I am.
You've done much more than I've done." "If that's your standard, you've nothing to be proud of," said Ralph grimly.
"Well, I must reflect with Emerson that it's being and not doing that matters," she continued.
"Emerson ?" Ralph exclaimed, with derision.

"You don't mean to say you read Emerson ?" "Perhaps it wasn't Emerson; but why shouldn't I read Emerson ?" she asked, with a tinge of anxiety.
"There's no reason that I know of.

It's the combination that's odd--books and stockings.

The combination is very odd." But it seemed to recommend itself to him.