She found herself in low spirits, and tried very hard to shake off this silly fit of the dismals... She thought that even if she didn't succeed in carrying out this admirable resolution she had at least succeeded in hiding her depression from Lady Wychwood, but soon discovered that she was mistaken. 'I wish you will tell me, dearest, what is making you so down pin,' said her ladyship coaxingly.
'Why, nothing! So I seem to be down pin? I wasn't aware of it -- except wet streets, dripping trees, and nothing else to be seen but umbrellas and puddles always does put me into the hips. I hate being shut up in the house, you know!' ...
'The truth is, I expect, that I need occupation ... I think I shall embark on a course of serious reading,' said Annis, bent on leading Lady Wychwood down a less dangerous conversational avenue.
from Lady of Quality, by Georgette Heyer
{painting, Twilight after Rain, by Frederick Childe Hassam}
4 comments:
I love that quote. Down pin indeed! Maybe I should start my Georgette Heyer reading with this novel, I'd been thinking of Venetia ...
Hi, Nicola! I haven't read that many GHs -four or five. This one was a little less swashbuckling and campy than the others I read - so it might not be representative. But I liked her portrait of a woman refusing to be put on the shelf and I find I love the regency slang, in any event!
It also has one of my favorite lines, lifted from Jane Austen, when Mr Carlton calls her a "poor Honey," and she tells him, "Yes, but it is very unhandsome of you to call me a poor Honey!" Some people think this one is too quiet, but I've always liked it - and it's special because it was her last Regency.
Hi, Lisa May!
Or when he calls her 'my sweet hornet'! I didn't know this was her last Regency, but I do agree with your last sentence.
Post a Comment