And until a thing is proved to be tragic, the best way to deal with it is to treat it like a comedy which is going to end well.

It's only the second act now, you see, when everything gets into a mess.

By the merciful decrees of Providence, you see, girls on the whole want us as much as we want them.

That's what makes it all so jolly." Michael went down next day to Ashbridge, where Aunt Barbara and Francis were to follow the day after, and found, after the freedom and interests of the last six months, that the pompous formal life was more intolerable than ever.

He was clearly in disgrace still, as was made quite clear to him by his father's icy and awful politeness when it was necessary to speak to him, and by his utter unconsciousness of his presence when it was not.