I'm sure no offence was meant." It was a delicious sensation to feel myself master of the situation like this.

I could have bullied Marple if I had liked, but I resolved not to be too hard on him.
"I'm sure I'm much obliged," said he, "for all your trouble.

Have you seen these pretty little pencil-sharpers?
They are quite new.

I shall be pleased if you will accept one, young gentleman." A pencil-sharpener was the very thing I wanted.

All the term I had been wrestling with a blunt penknife, which no sooner uncovered the lead at the end of a pencil than it broke it off.