"May I correct you?
'Procrastination,' not 'punctuality.'" "Thanks," I said.

I could not help observing that for quite five minutes Mr.Mafferton had made no effort to overhear the conversation between Mr.Dod and Miss Portheris.

It was a trifle, but life is made up of little things.
"I don't believe we adorn our conversation with proverbs in America as much as we did," I continued.

"I guess it takes too long.

If you make use of a proverb you see, you've got to allow for reflection first, and reflection afterwards, and a sigh, and very few of us have time for that.