woman--an unmarried woman (with a low bow to Mrs. Jack)--that would
produce that effect upon me. So you all like her?"

Aunt Celia: "She is not what I consider a well-informed girl."

Penelope: "Now don't carp, Miss Van Tyck. You love her as much as
we all do. 'Like her,' indeed! I detest the phrase. Werther said
when asked how he liked Charlotte, 'What sort of creature must he
be who merely liked her; whose whole heart and senses were not
entirely absorbed by her! Some one asked me lately how I 'liked'
Ossian."

Atlas: "Don't introduce Ossian, Werther and Charlotte into this
delightful breakfast chat, I beseech you; the most tiresome trio
that ever lived. If they were travelling with us, how they would
jar! Ossian would tear the scenery in tatters with his
apostrophes, Werther would make love to Mrs. Jack, and Charlotte
couldn't cut an English household loaf with a hatchet. Keep to
Egeria,--though if one cannot stop at liking her, she is a
dangerous subject."

Jack: "Don't imagine from these panegyrics that, to the casual
observer, Egeria is anything more than a nice girl. The deadly
qualities that were mentioned only appeal to the sympathetic eye
(which you have not), and the susceptible heart (which is not
yours), and after long acquaintance (which you can't have, for she
stays only a week). Tommy, you can meet the charmer at the
station; your sister will pack up, and I'll pay the bills and make
arrangements for the journey."