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1 " She was up again at that."In love? You? Nonsense! Nonsense! Nonsense! You do not know what the word means. You are like a--like a fish, with no more love in you than a fish, and no more heart than a fish, and--""Spare me the rest, I beg. I am very clammy, I make no doubt, but you will at least accord me more brain than a fish? "
― Georgette Heyer , The Black Moth
2 " Humble myself? 'Fore Gad, you must be mad!""Belike I am; but I tell you Tracy, that if your passion is love, 'tis a strange one that puts yourself first. I would not give a snap of a finger for it! You want this girl, not for her happiness, but for your own pleasure. That is not the love I once told you would save you from yourself. When it comes, you will count yourself as naught; you will realise your own insignificance, and above all, be ready to make any sacrifice for her sake. Yes, even to the point of losing her! "
3 " I do not like your name, sir,” she answered.“There was no thought of pleasing you when I was christened.” he quoted lazily. "
4 " Mr Carr, if the lady... loved you...is it quite fair to her-to say nothing?"There was a long silence and then my lord lied bravely."I hope that she will - in time- forget me," he said.Diana sat very still. No more roses were destroyed; the breeze wafted the fallen petals over her feet, lightly, playfully. Somewhere in the hedge a bird was singing, a full-throated sobbing plaint, and from all around came an incessant chirping and twittering. The sun sent its bright rays all over the garden,bathing it in gold and happiness; but for the two in the pleasaunce the light had gone out , and the world was very black. "
5 " My dear Lavinia, like all Belmanoirs, you care first for yourself and secondly for the man who masters you. That, alas! Richard has not yet succeeded in doing." "But I do love Richard. I do, I do, yet—" "Exactly. 'Yet!' The 'grand passion' has not yet touched you, my dear, and you are quite self-absorbed. "
6 " Richard paused. He drew his hand across his eyes, shuddering. “Milward saw the scratch. He cried out that the cards were marked! Suddenly everyone seemed to be gathered about our table—all talking! Jack had his hand on my shoulder; he and Dare were running through the pack. But all the while I could look at no one but Tracy—Andover. He seemed so sinister, so threatening, in those black clothes of his. "
7 " My lord consigned the doctor and his words of wisdom to a place of great heat "
8 " I am unreasonable! I know it, but don't tell me so, for I cannot bear it! "