Sublime

blasé

Having done several Seasons without, so to speak, a matrimonial nibble, Lady Plackett had accepted the son of an undistinguished chartered accountant and set herself to advancing his career. It had not been easy. Desmond, when she met him, did not even know that Cholmondely was pronounced Chumley, but she had persevered and now, after twenty-five y

She had a proprietary way of admiring other people’s possessions, as if all good taste were in some measure a tribute to herself.

The letters which ‘continually came to me’ yesterday were of the kind which are sent out alphabetically. Some from the deathly sweet centres of charity printed on shiny paper, gold-edged — a ball was to be given in aid of this or that, So-and-so’s well-known band would blare out, and some of the balance from the evening’s high boredom would finally

The ticket hall was teeming, there were wide walkers everywhere, the name he gave to people who wade rather than walk, or have bags on either side of them, or have some other kind of inconsiderately expansive gait.

must support two or three caterpillars if I want to know the butterflies.

She remembered her dancing days in Somerset, Hunt Balls, and County Balls in the draughty Assembly Rooms. With the best intentions she had never managed to enjoy them. The first hour was well enough, but after that came increasing listlessness and boredom; the effort, when one danced again with the same partner, not to say the same things, combined