It had nothing to do with Mary at all, I assure you." "My dear Sally, don't apologize," said Mary, laughing.

"Men are such pedants--they don't know what things matter, and what things don't." "Now, Denham, speak up for our sex," said Mr.Clacton in a jocular manner, indeed, but like most insignificant men he was very quick to resent being found fault with by a woman, in argument with whom he was fond of calling himself "a mere man." He wished, however, to enter into a literary conservation with Miss Hilbery, and thus let the matter drop.
"Doesn't it seem strange to you, Miss Hilbery," he said, "that the French, with all their wealth of illustrious names, have no poet who can compare with your grandfather?
Let me see.

There's Chenier and Hugo and Alfred de Musset--wonderful men, but, at the same time, there's a richness, a freshness about Alardyce--" Here the telephone bell rang, and he had to absent himself with a smile and a bow which signified that, although literature is delightful, it is not work.

Mrs.Seal rose at the same time, but remained hovering over the table, delivering herself of a tirade against party government.

"For if I were to tell you what I know of back-stairs intrigue, and what can be done by the power of the purse, you wouldn't credit me, Mr.Denham, you wouldn't, indeed.