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21 " Eustacie, finding her tongue, blurted out: ‘But Sarah, do you want to marry Tristram?’ Miss Thane’s eyes twinkled. ‘My love, when a female reaches my advanced years, she cannot be picking and choosing, you know. She must be content with the first respectable offer she receives.’ ‘Oh, now I know that you are laughing at me!’ Eustacie said. ‘But I do not understand it. I find it quite extraordinary!’ ‘The truth is,’ said Miss Thane confidentially, ‘that I cannot any longer bear his odious way of calling me ma’am. There was no other means of putting an end to it. "
― Georgette Heyer , The Talisman Ring
22 " Sally, I swear you’re an angel!’ he declared. ‘Anything less angelic than her conduct during the past half-hour I have yet to see,’ observed Sir Tristram. "
23 " It is a long time now since I have been able to look at you without thinking how very beautiful you are,’ said Sir Tristram simply. ‘Oh!’ said Miss Thane, blushing, ‘you forget yourself! Do pray, recollect that you do not look for romance in marriage! Remember your previous disillusionment! This will never do! "
24 " I have yet to learn that a governess’s life is adventurous!’ he said. ‘I should be grateful to you if you would tell me the truth!’ ‘Come, come, sir!’ said Miss Thane pityingly, ‘it must surely be within your knowledge that the eldest son of the house always falls in love with the governess, and elopes with her in the teeth of all opposition?’ Sir Tristram drew a breath. ‘Does he?’ he said. ‘Yes, but not, of course, until he has rescued her from an oubliette, and a band of masked ruffians set on to her by his mother,’ said Miss Thane matter-of-factly. ‘She has to suffer a good deal of persecution before she elopes.’ ‘I am of the opinion,’ said Sir Tristram with asperity, ‘that a little persecution would do my cousin a world of good! "
25 " I wish you will rid yourself of this nonsensical notion that I disapprove of you.’ ‘But do you not?’ inquired Miss Thane, turning her head. He stopped two stairs below her, and stood looking up at her, something not quite a smile at the back of his eyes. ‘Sometimes,’ he said. "
26 " Miss Thane turned her head to look up at Sir Tristram. ‘I wish you will tell me what you did,’ she said. ‘You were not on the Brighton mail, were you? Is it possible that you rode here ventre à terre?’ ‘No,’ replied Sir Tristram. ‘I came post.’ Miss Thane seemed to abandon interest in his proceedings. "
