Flora sighed. It was curious that persons who lived what the novelists called a rich emotional life always seemed to be a bit slow on the uptake.

Like all really strong-minded women, on whom everybody flops, she adored being bossed about. It was so restful.

She liked Victorian novels. They were the only kind of novel you could read while eating an apple.

A straight nose is a great help if one wishes to look serious'.

The education bestowed on Flora Poste by her parents had been expensive, athletic and prolonged; and when they died within a few weeks of one another during the annual epidemic of the influenza or Spanish Plague which occurred in her twentieth year, she was discovered to possess every art and grace save that of earning her own living.

I do not object to the phenomena, but I do object to the parrot.

Well,' said Mrs Smiling, 'it sounds an appalling place, but in a different way from all the others. I mean, it does sound interesting and appalling, while the others just sound appalling.