I want the congratulations of my dear friend and my dearer sister." Linda held out her hand and smiled as bravely as she could.
"I am very glad you are so pleased, John," she said quietly, "and I hope that you will be as happy as you deserve to be." "Now exactly what do you mean by that ?" he asked.
"Oh, Linda prides herself on being deep and subtle and conveying hidden meanings," said Eileen.

"She means what a thousand people will tell you in the coming months: merely that they hope you will be happy." "Of course," Linda hastened to corroborate, wishing if possible to avoid any unpleasantness.
"You certainly have an attractive workroom here," said John, "much as I hate to see it spoiled for billiards." "It's too bad," said Linda, "that I have spoiled it for you for billiards.

I have also spoiled the outside appearance of the house for Eileen." "Oh, I don't know," said John.

"I looked at it carefully the other day as I came up, and I thought your changes enhanced the value of the property." "I am surely glad to hear that," said Linda.

"Take a look through my skylight and my new window.