In the first place she called them to witness that the room was darker than usual, and had all the lights turned on.
"That's more cheerful," she exclaimed.

"D'you know, Katharine, that ridiculous goose came to tea with me?
Oh, how I wanted you! He tried to make epigrams all the time, and I got so nervous, expecting them, you know, that I spilt the tea--and he made an epigram about that!" "Which ridiculous goose ?" Katharine asked her father.
"Only one of my geese, happily, makes epigrams--Augustus Pelham, of course," said Mrs.Hilbery.
"I'm not sorry that I was out," said Katharine.
"Poor Augustus!" Mrs.Hilbery exclaimed.

"But we're all too hard on him.
Remember how devoted he is to his tiresome old mother." "That's only because she is his mother.

Any one connected with himself--" "No, no, Katharine--that's too bad.

That's--what's the word I mean, Trevor, something long and Latin--the sort of word you and Katharine know--" Mr.Hilbery suggested "cynical." "Well, that'll do.