The similarity in the minds of men must sometimes come across them
with a shock, unless indeed it appeals to their sense of humour.
Himself in America, and the Rev. Mr. Macdonald in the north of
Scotland, both answered, in course of time, that a lady's-maid
should be engaged because is a lady's-maid and for no other reason.

Was ever anything duller than this, more conventional, more
commonplace or didactic, less imaginative? Himself added, "You are
a romantic idiot, and I love you more than tongue can tell."
Francesca did not say what Ronald added; probably a part of this
same sentence (owing to the aforesaid similarity of men's minds),
reserving the rest for the frank intimacy of the connubial state.

Everything looked beautiful in the uncertain glory of the April day.
The thistle-down clouds opened now and then to shake out a delicate,
brilliant little shower that ceased in a trice, and the sun smiled
through the light veil of rain, turning every falling drop to a
jewel. It was as if the fairies were busy at aerial watering-pots,
without any more serious purpose than to amuse themselves and make
the earth beautiful; and we realised that Irish rain is as warm as
an Irish welcome, and soft as an Irish smile.

Everything was bursting into new life, everything but the primroses,
and their glory was departing. The yellow carpet seemed as bright
as ever on the sunny hedgerow banks and on the fringe of the woods,
but when we plucked some at a wayside station we saw that they were
just past their golden prime. There was a grey-green hint of
verdure in the sallows that stood against a dark background of firs,
and the branches of the fruit-trees were tipped with pink, rosy-hued