I would have stood up in defence of my darling against a hundred mammas, all cased in society's best satire-proof steel.

I determined to "carry the war into Egypt," and opened fire accordingly.
"Pardon me, Mrs Clyde," said I, quite as frigidly as herself--"but the fault, if error there be on either side, lies on my shoulders.

I am sure I meant no harm.

I only brought the little bird as a remembrance of your daughter's birthday, having forgotten to present it yesterday, when her other friends made _their_ offerings." My speech, however, produced no impression; she quickly parried my weak thrust, returning me tierce en carte.
"But they were all _old_ friends, Mr Lorton:--_that_ made it quite a different thing," she said, very coldly, although with the sweetest expression.

I daresay Jael smiled very pleasantly when she drove that nail into Sisera's temple! I thought I perceived a slight loophole for attack.