What does Mrs Preston want to go abroad for?’ asked Mr Leslie.’I think her doctor wanted her to, Father,’ said Agnes.’Doctors!’ said Mr Leslie, wiping the whole of the Royal College of Physicians off the...

I’m sorry to disturb you, madam,’ said Nurse, ‘but I thought I’d better speak to you. It’s about Miss Delia’s knickers’ she continued, after a glance at the Vicar and a rapid decision that his...

Later in the week Mr Knox’s Annie bicycled over to see Stoker and ask her to waive the lien which she had on her sister’s services, as they would be required for the weekend.’She’s having...

I do not dance,’ said Jean-Claude, who had forsworn that exercise for much the same reasons as Miss Stevenson.But here he spoke too soon, for Lady Dorothy Bingham, merciless to what she called ‘ballroom skulkers’,...

Could I speak to you for a moment, madam?’ said Nannie to Agnes.It was at moments of crisis like this that Mary chiefly envied her Aunt Agnes’s imperturbable disposition. Most mothers feel a hideous sinking...

The subject of money was not mentioned again at the time, but when Miss Todd began going to Mrs Morland as secretary, she insisted on having an account from Dr Ford, much to his annoyance....

People who say Jane or talk about Janeites revolt me. The sort that can walk with kings and not lose that common touch. ‘Miss Austen to you’ is what I feel inclined to say.

The iron has entered my soul,’ announced George Knox impressively. ‘Let me tell you, my dear Laura, that when I lay here weak and ill, unable to raise a hand in my own defence, I...

…And of course they’ll get their milk from us, because Gooch’s milk in the village really can’t be trusted. I do hope, Henry, the vicarage drains are all right if Martin is to go there,...