Sublime

“men are always more interested in a woman if they think other men are interested.”

“And I hope—I hope, Miss Morland, you will not be sorry to see me.” “Oh! dear, not at all. There are very few people I am sorry to see. Company is always cheerful.”

Mrs. Thorpe was a widow, and not a very rich one; she was a good-humoured, well-meaning woman, and a very indulgent mother. Her eldest daughter had great personal beauty, and the younger ones, by pretending to be as handsome as their sister, imitating her air, and dressing in the same style, did very well.

‘My dear Elinor, do let the poor woman alone. Such contrivances are of no use,’ said the easy Rector. ‘No use? How are matches made, except by bringing men and women together?

In the countryside, the genteel class consisted of wealthy landowners and local clergy, possibly supplemented by retired military officers and their families. Any given neighborhood would contain only a few such families, and the slowness and difficulty of travel, especially over rural dirt roads, precluded regular visiting with those farther afiel

“I’ve read novels—” Cassandra began earnestly, and was disgruntled to hear his quiet laugh. “Many of them. You don’t think a person can learn things from reading novels?”