“Such poopitations of the heart as you would not believe.”

“I believe there is a considerable range in the bang of most guns.”

“Very well, Lord Maccon. If we are going to play this particular hand, would you be interested in becoming my...” “Mistress?”

“Alexia, did you know there is an entire regiment decamping on your front lawn?Laddy Maccon sighed. "Really, Ivy, I would never have noticed.”

“Lyall understood a broken heart, but it could not be allowed to rumple perfectly good shirtwaists.”

“Ah, Lady Maccon, how lovely. I did wonder when you would track us down.” “I was unavoidably delayed by husbands and Ivys,” explained Alexia. “These things, regrettably, are bound to occur when one is married and befriended.”

“Lord Maccon believed that if his trousers were on his legs, and something else was on his torso, he was dressed. The less done after that, the better. His wife had been startled to find that in the summertime, he actually went around their room barefoot! Once -- and only once, mind you -- he even attempted to join her for tea in such a state. Impossible man. Alexia put a stop to that posthaste.”