Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle Quotes

“Oh, yes, she's unusual!" he said bitterly. "She blurts out whatever may come into her head; she tumbles from one outrageous escapade into another; she's happier grooming horses and hobnobbing with stable-hands than going to parties; she's impertinent; you daren't catch her eye for fear she should start to giggle; she hasn't any accomplishments; I never saw anyone with less dignity; she's abominable, and damnably hot at hand, frank to a fault, and – a darling!”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“The charm of your society, my Sparrow, lies in not knowing what you will say next – though one rapidly learns to expect the worst!”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“[He was aware] of the value of the word of praise dropped at exactly the right moment; and he would have thought himself extremely stupid to withhold what cost him so little and was productive of such desirable results.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“You have a genius for bringing trouble upon yourself”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“Eccentricity may be diverting, Mama, but it is out of place in a wife: certainly in my wife!”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“Don't you dare call me arrogant!If ever I had any at all-which I deny!- how much could I possibly have left after having been ridden over rough-shod by you and Thomas, do you imagine?”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“He was silent. Well! Now she knew how right she had been. He was not in the least in love with her, and very happy she was to know it. All she wanted was a suitable retreat, such as a lumber-room, or a coal-cellar, in which to enjoy her happiness to the full.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“O God, Mama, I’ve made such a mull of it! What am I to do?”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“It was strange how the dullest party could be enjoyed because there was one person present whose eyes could be met for the fraction of a second, in wordless appreciation of a joke unshared by others: almost as strange as the insipidity of parties at which that person was not present.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“He paused and then said, as though the words were wrung out of him: ‘O God, Mama, I’ve made such a mull of it! What am I to do?”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle

“Besides, it was a well-known maxim that maniacs must be humoured.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“He has probably gnawed his nails down to the quick, or murdered poor Mr. Orde.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“He then, with great presence of mind, put a stop to any further recriminations by kissing her; and his indignant betrothed, apparently feeling that he was too deeply sunk in depravity to be reclaimable, abandoned (for the time being, at all events) any further attempt to bring him to a sense of his iniquity.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“[Sir Nugent] wore so many rings on his fingers, and so many fobs and seals dangling at his waist, that he might have been taken for a jeweller advertising his wares.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“Oh, my poor Sparrow!’ he said, mocking her. ‘Never have I encountered so heartrending a sight! A job-horse?’
‘No,’ replied Phoebe. ‘My cousin Anne’s favourite mount. A very safe, comfortable ride for a lady, Duke.’
‘I beg your pardon! I have not seen him show his paces, of course.’
She cast him a glance of lofty scorn. ‘He has none. He has a very elegant shuffle, being just a trifle tied in below the knee.’
‘But such shoulders!’
Gravity deserted her; she burst into laughter, which made Miss Mary Ingham turn her head to look at her in wondering reproof, and said: ‘Oh, dear, did you ever set eyes on such a flat-sided screw?”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“Mama –?’
‘But of course! Outside, in my curricle.’ Then he saw that she had turned perfectly white, and said: ‘Don’t be such a goose-cap! You can’t suppose I would drive your mother-in-law thirty yards, let alone thirty miles!”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“Sir Nugent knew that Sylvester did not like him, but it never crossed his mind that Sylvester, or anyone else, held him in contempt. If he could have been brought to believe it, he would have known that Sylvester was queer in his attic, and he would have been very much shocked.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“Whatever should I do if Mama were to arrive while you are gone?’
‘Hide in the hay-loft!’ he recommended. ‘But if she has a particle of commonsense she won’t make the smallest push to recover you!”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“He is clearly unhinging.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester

“He had a singularly charming smile, and it ensured for him, no matter how exacting might be his demands, the uncomplaining exertions of his servants. He was perfectly well aware of that, just as he was aware of the value of the word of praise dropped at exactly the right moment; and he would have thought himself extremely stupid to withhold what cost him so little and was productive of such desirable results.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester, or The Wicked Uncle

“And I should like to know why you talked of us to Mrs Scaling as though you had been our grandfather!’
‘I feel like your grandfather,’ he replied.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle

“In any event, I could hardly have remained, when his lordship was suddenly called away, could I?’
‘No, your grace. Particularly seeing as how you wasn’t wishful to.”
― Georgette Heyer, Sylvester or The Wicked Uncle