"I think you've gone out of your mind.

A dear kindly old couple like the Cobbledicks! Not very handsome, perhaps, but--murderers! What in the world will you say next ?" "The most sinister-looking old pair of cut-throats in the parish," returned Austin.

"I should be sorry to meet them on a lonely road on a dark night, I know that.

But really, auntie, I do wish you'd think better of all this.

We're quite happy alone; what do we want of all these horrible people coming to bore us for Heaven knows how many hours?
Of course _I_ shall be told off to amuse the MacTavishes; just think of it! Seven red-haired, screaming, giggling monsters----" "Hold your tongue, do, you abominable boy!" cried Aunt Charlotte.