It was only natural that he should consider amusing the idea of uniting wisdom and youth and beauty in one person.

It is still a universally accepted law that old people must be wise and young persons only charming.

Some may think that they could point to a wise child born of foolish parents; to a daughter who is well-educated and shrewd, possessing a sense of logic, and a mother who is ignorant and foolish; to a son who has more sense than his father: but of course such observers must be mistaken.

Old theories must be the right ones.

The Marquis had no doubt of this, at all events, and thought it most amusing that Juliette should establish order in the chaos of domestic affairs at Gemosac.
"You are grave," said Juliette to Barebone, one evening soon after his return, when they happened to be alone in the little drawing-room.
Barebone was, in fact, not a lively companion; for he had sat staring at the log-fire for quite three minutes when his eyes might assuredly have been better employed.