"How is your health ?" "Only fools and rakes fall ill, my boy.

You know me: I am busy from morning till night and abstemious, so of course I am well." "Thank God," said his son smiling.
"God has nothing to do with it! Well, go on," he continued, returning to his hobby; "tell me how the Germans have taught you to fight Bonaparte by this new science you call 'strategy.'" Prince Andrew smiled.
"Give me time to collect my wits, Father," said he, with a smile that showed that his father's foibles did not prevent his son from loving and honoring him.

"Why, I have not yet had time to settle down!" "Nonsense, nonsense!" cried the old man, shaking his pigtail to see whether it was firmly plaited, and grasping his by the hand.

"The house for your wife is ready.

Princess Mary will take her there and show her over, and they'll talk nineteen to the dozen.