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Did I ever say an engagement was an elephant, madam?

Elizabeth Gaskell

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Elizabeth Gaskell
Age: 54 †
Born: 1810
Born: September 29
Died: 1865
Died: January 12
Biographer
Novelist
Writer
London
England
Author of Mary Barton
Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell
Elizabeth Cleghorn Stevenson
Mrs. Gaskell
née Stevenson
Madam
Elephant
Elephants
Engagement
Ever

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He had not an ounce of superfluous flesh on his bones, and leanness goes a great way towards gentility.
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That kind of patriotism which consists in hating all other nations.
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Margaret was not a ready lover, but where she loved she loved passionately, and with no small degree of jealousy.
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It seems strange to think, that what gives us most hope for the future should be called Dolores, said Margaret.
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Mrs Forrester ... sat in state, pretending not to know what cakes were sent up, though she knew, and we knew, and she knew that we knew, and we knew that she knew that we knew, she had been busy all the morning making tea-bread and sponge-cakes.
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But the trees were gorgeous in their autumnal leafiness - the warm odours of flowers and herb came sweet upon the sense.
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Nevertheless, his moustachios are splendid.
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Blot your misdeeds out (if you are particularly conscientious), by a good deed, as soon as you can just as we did a correct sum at school on the slate, where an incorrect one was only half rubbed out. It was better than wetting our sponge with our tears both less loss of time where tears had to be waited for, and a better effect at last.
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I value my own independence so highly that I can fancy no degradation greater than that of having another man perpetually directing and advising and lecturing me, or even planning too closely in any way about my actions. He might be the wisest of men, or the most powerful - I should equally rebel and resent his interference.
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The French girls would tell you, to believe that you were pretty would make you so.
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It had been a royal time of luxury to him, with all its stings and contumelies, compared to the poverty that crept round and clipped the anticipation of the future down to sordid fact, and life without an atmosphere of either hope or fear.
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There is nothing like wounded affection for giving poignancy to anger.
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Your husband this morning! Mine tonight! What do you take him for?' 'A man' smiled Cynthia. 'And therefore, if you won't let me call him changeable, I'll coin a word and call him consolable.
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I would far rather have two or three lilies of the valley gathered for me by a person I like, than the most expensive bouquet that could be bought!
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A solitary life cherishes mere fancies until they become manias.
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I am so tired - so tired of being of being whirled on through all these phases of my life, in which nothing abides by me, no creature, no place it is like the circle in which the victims of earthly passion eddy continually.
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He is my first olive: let me make a face while I swallow it.
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Oh, Mr. Thornton, I am not good enough!' 'Not good enough! Don't mock my own deep feeling of unworthiness.
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A wise parent humors the desire for independent action, so as to become the friend and advisor when his absolute rule shall cease.
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As she realized what might have been, she grew to be thankful for what was.
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