In these go-ahead days their provincialism stared out even more than it used to.

Why, old Nicholas was still a Free Trader, and a member of that antediluvian home of Liberalism, the Remove Club--though, to be sure, the members were pretty well all Conservatives now, or he himself could not have joined; and Timothy, they said, still wore a nightcap.

Aunt Juley spoke again.

Dear Soames was looking so well, hardly a day older than he did when dear Ann died, and they were all there together, dear Jolyon, and dear Swithin, and dear Roger.
She paused and caught the tear which had climbed the pout on her right cheek.

Did he--did he ever hear anything of Irene nowadays?
Aunt Hester visibly interposed her shoulder.