I love to poke you up,--that's all,--just to see you get earnest.

I do think you are desperately, distressingly good; it tires me to death to think of it." "But this is a serious subject, my boy, Auguste," said Miss Ophelia, laying her hand on his forehead.
"Dismally so," said he; "and I--well, I never want to talk seriously in hot weather.

What with mosquitos and all, a fellow can't get himself up to any very sublime moral flights; and I believe," said St.Clare, suddenly rousing himself up, "there's a theory, now! I understand now why northern nations are always more virtuous than southern ones,--I see into that whole subject." "O, Augustine, you are a sad rattle-brain!" "Am I?
Well, so I am, I suppose; but for once I will be serious, now; but you must hand me that basket of oranges;--you see, you'll have to 'stay me with flagons and comfort me with apples,' if I'm going to make this effort.

Now," said Augustine, drawing the basket up, "I'll begin: When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for a fellow to hold two or three dozen of his fellow-worms in captivity, a decent regard to the opinions of society requires--" "I don't see that you are growing more serious," said Miss Ophelia.
"Wait,--I'm coming on,--you'll hear.

The short of the matter is, cousin," said he, his handsome face suddenly settling into an earnest and serious expression, "on this abstract question of slavery there can, as I think, be but one opinion.