"And the goodest, too," she presently added, as if not satisfied with her first tribute to him.
Valentine, who was seldom out of countenance on any occasion, received the congratulations of all the party with a certain rather becoming pride and complacency.

He seemed, however, to be taking things very easily?
but he presently became rather silent, and John, who felt keenly that Brandon was not so indifferent to the bride-elect as he wished to be, turned the conversation as soon as he could to other matters.

There was some talk about Valentine's land which had been bought for him in New Zealand, after which Brandon said suddenly,-- "John, when this fellow is gone, or perhaps before, I mean to have something to do--some regular work--and I think of taking to literature in good earnest." "All right," answered John, "and as you evidently intend me to question you, I will ask first whether you, Giles Brandon, mean to write on some subject that you understand, or on one that you know nothing about ?" Brandon laughed.

"There is more to be said in favour of that last than you think," he answered.
"It may be that there is everything to be said; but if you practise it, don't put your name to your work, that's all." "I shall not do so in any case.

How do I know whether the only use people may make of it (and that a metaphorical one) may not be to throw it at me ever after." "I don't like that," said Miss Christie.