"Would you advise me to offer you shocks as a sort of vacation from suavity ?" "Suavity" was yet another sketch of Mildred; a recognizable one, or it would not have been humorous.

In Alice's hands, so dexterous in this work, her statuesque friend was becoming as ridiculous as a fine figure of wax left to the mercies of a satirist.
But the lively young sculptress knew better than to overdo: what she did must appear to spring all from mirth; so she laughed as if unwillingly, and said, "I MUSTN'T laugh at Mildred! In the first place, she's your--your cousin.

And in the second place, she's not meant to be funny; it isn't right to laugh at really splendid people who take themselves seriously.

In the third place, you won't come again if I do." "Don't be sure of that," Russell said, "whatever you do." "'Whatever I do ?'" she echoed.

"That sounds as if you thought I COULD be terrific! Be careful; there's one thing I could do that would keep you away." "What's that ?" "I could tell you not to come," she said.