We had a real Sunday at home on Christmas Eve, Mr.Denzil.Whist and weak tea at eight, negus and prayers and bed at ten.

Poppa wanted to teach them poker, and they kicked like mad at the very idea; but that was when he visited them before, I guess." "Not the kind of family likely to suit you, I should think," said Lucian, regarding the little free-lance with a puzzled air.
"I guess not.

Lead's a feather to them for weight.

But it's a good thing to have respectable friends, especially in this slow coach of an old country, where you size everybody up by the company they keep." "Ah!" said Lucian pointedly and--it must be confessed--rather rudely, "so you have found the necessity of having respectable friends, however dull ?" "That's a fact," acknowledged Mrs.Vrain candidly.

"I've had a queer sort of life with poppa--ups and downs, and flyings over the moon, I guess." "You are not American ?" said Denzil suddenly.
"Sakes! How do you figure that out ?" "Because you are too pronouncedly Amurrican to be American." "That's an epigram with some truth in it," replied Lydia coolly.