"Bellairs are always late for breakfast.

It is no kind of use finding fault with Bessie about it.

I was just the same at her age." Aunt Aggie went through life under the belief that she was a peacemaker, which delicate task she fulfilled by making in an impassioned manner small statements which seldom contained a new or healing view of existing difficulties.

She often spoke of herself as a "buffer" between contending forces.

Sir John Blore had been known to remark that he could not fathom what Aggie meant by that expression, as it certainly was not appropriate to the domestic circle at The Towers, consisting, as it did, of one rheumatic Anglo-Indian worm, and one able-bodied blackbird.
"I intend to see your father after tea," repeated Aunt Mary, taking no notice of her sister's remark.
"Father is much worried about the right of way," continued Magdalen.