k

Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2009

littp://www.arcliive.org/details/putnamsliandbookoOOcarr

Putnam's Handbook

OF

Expression

For the Enrichment of Conversation, Writing, and Public Speaking

Compiled by

Edwin Hamlin Garr

G. P. Putnam's Sons

Nbw York London

Zbc tmfcfterbocfter press

COFYRIGHT, IQIS BY

EDWIN HAMLIN CARR Under th* title " The Happy Phrase '

fSbe fttticfeecbocbec I>cefi«« t\cw Cock

Zo

Any Person Who Recognizes Herein One of His Own Original Phrases

Foreword

FOREWORD

So far as I know, there is no book which is distinctively a phrase book. Because of this fact, I have for years been collecting phrases from all sources. Whenever and wherever I have found in any volume, magazine, newspaper, or during conversation, a distinctive phrase I have made a note of it.

This volume is the result of an endeavor to classify these phrases so that the reader may secure a synonymous phrase as, in a book of synonyms, he secures a synonymous word.

It would be difficult for me to give credit for every phrase found in this book. In fact, it would be impossible to determine who are the authors of the larger number of our English phrases. I have, however, found in certain books a number of phrases so distinctive and characteristic that it is only proper to give due credit to the authors.

The novels of Dumas have supplied a great number of phrases for conversation, and I have found good material also in the correspondence of Mrs. Hannah More.

V

Foreword

Many general phrases have been derived from the writings of Thackeray, and the Essays of Samuel McCord Crothers.

For sermonic phrases I have found the writings of the Rev. Thomas Guthrie, D.D., and the Rev. J. H. Jowett, D.D., particularly helpful.

Men who have ability to make new phrases may be pleased to have at hand a book of this kind.

The clergyman who begins his every observa- tion with "It seems to me" and continues "Along that line," will find here a variety of prefatory and introductory phrases.

Teachers who make a habit of adding new words and new phrases to their speech will doubtless find good browsing here.

There is perhaps no more difficult letter to write than one of condolence. A number of phrases are given under this designation, in order to assist in this most difficult and yet most blessed task.

Since we talk in phrases as well as in words, every home needs a phrase book as well as a dictionary.

I wish to make grateful acknowledgment to

James Baldwin, author of The Book Lover, and

to Miss Isobel Stevenson, of the New York City

Public Library, for valuable suggestions con-

vi

Foreword

ceming the arrangement of the book, and to Prof. Charles Knapp, of Barnard College, New York City, for assistance concerning the Foreign Phrases.

E. H. C.

vu

Using the Phrases

USING THE PHRASES

The entire volume should be perused for phrases which appeal to one's taste. These should be marked and memorized, and it will be noticed that they will spring spontaneously to the lips or pen.

A suggestion for a determined effort to use the phrases may be found in R. L. Stevenson's practice of inventing a conversation. He says in his Vailima Letters, vol. i., p. 105:

"Though I write so little, I pass all my hours of field-work in continual converse and imaginary correspondence. I scarce pull up a weed, but I invent a sentence on the matter to yourself; it does not get written; but the intent is there, and for me (in some sort) the companionship. To-day, for instance, we had a great talk. I was toiling, the sweat dripping from my nose, in the hot fit after a squall of rain: methought you asked me frankly, was I happy. Happy (said I); I was only happy once; that was at Hydras."

Contents

CONTENTS

*

PAGE

I.— PHRASES FOR CONVERSATION

I

Complimentary of Things

3

Cordiality

4

Courtesy ....

5

Conventional

7

At Weddings .

7

Apologetic

7

Condolence

8

On Leaving a Host .

8

On Being Introduced

9

Congratulatory

lO

Commendatory of Persons

lO

Critical of Persons

14

Dissent

. i8

Inquiry

20

Prefatory ....

21

Response ....

. 28

Tactflx Response .

. 36

{See General Phrases)

XI

Contents

II.— GENERAL PHRASES FOR SPEECH WRITING

Conversation .

Commendatory of Things

Critical of Things .

Descriptive of Persons

Descriptive of Things

Determination

Energy .

Egotistic

Figurative

Foreign .

Latin

French Irritation Manly . Militaristic Opposition Optimistic Patriotic Pessimistic Political Prudential Ridicule

xu

AND

Contents

Satisfaction

Suspicion

Terse

III.— PHRASES FOR CLERGYMEN RELIGIOUS WORKERS

Bible Phrases .

Blessings .

Hope

Redemption

Work

Warning .

Unclassified Devotional Hallowed Sermon Phrases

Arraignment .

Consecration .

Hope

Insight

Invitation

Joy .

Kindness .

Love .

Manliness xiii

Contents

PAGB

Redemption

114

Salvation

114

Sorrow ....

116

Sacred ....

117

Victory ....

118

Unclassified

. 118

{See General Phrases)

IV.— PHRASES FOR LETTER WRITERS

121

For Letters of Condolence .

123

For Letters of Thanks .

131

Concluding Clauses

. 133

For Christmas Letters

. 133

For New Year Letters

134

{See Phrases for Conversation)

v.— PHRASES FOR WRITERS AND PUBLIC

SPEAKERS ....

. 135

Introductory Clauses

. 137

{See General Phrases)

VI.— HAPPY COMBINATIONS . . .147 (Unclassified)

VII. Sample Letters 163

Word Index 167

XIV

I

Phrases for Conversation

Complimentary of Things

COMPLIMENTARY OF THINGS

How delightfully cozy This is the sort of thing' I enjoy I like the idea very much That's simply splendid There is an unfailing charm in it A delightful idea truly I like it prodigiously Is n't that jolly

It bears the stamp of excellence It is worthy of high praise Of first-rate merit I was highly pleased with it It was in the best taste It is worthy of a world of praise It is a beautiful piece of industrial accomplish- ment I call it a delightful spectacle A capital idea Altogether a fine thing A sentiment worthy of emulation A source of constant pleasure A very real asset

With none of the slight faults of immaturity 3

Conversation

It is an uplifting habit

The sight filled me with admiration

Of no ordinary cleverness

It was perfectly splendid

It is a fine instance of

It called forth unqualified admiration

It was strikingly impressive

The result exceeded my most sanguine expecta- tions

The finest flower that ever blossomed

It is an amiable habit by no means to be dis- couraged

CORDIALITY

I am delighted to make your acquaintance, though indeed I seem to know a great deal about you through

I am looking forward to having a good talk with you

It is a great pleasure to me to welcome you

I am very impatient to learn how you are pro- gressing

You are most welcome, I was expecting you

How happy we are to see you, you have become almost a stranger to us

I must have a chat with you soon 4

Courtesy

I am delighted to see you here It is a great pleasure to have met you I would be delighted to talk with you but un- fortunately I am very hurried I trust we shall soon meet again I warmly regret being unable to oblige you 1 am mightily glad to see you

COURTESY

Kindly convey my warmest regards to

I beg your acceptance of my very hearty thanks

for Be so good as to present my most respectful

compliments to You are most kind

Please do not give yourself that trouble I am delighted to have your approbation Tell him that we will do ourselves the pleasure

of calling on him You anticipate my wishes I thank you very much I have great pleasure in being useful to you You are very obliging Permit me to thank you I wish you a pleasant journey On the contrary, I ought to thank you very

heartily

5

Conversation

Please accept this as a slight token of my gratitude

I hope my coming will not put you to any incon- venience

I wish you a safe and pleasant journey

I trust I shall have an opportunity of returning your kindness

I beg you to excuse me

I am sorry it is not in my power

I am very sorry I cannot assist you

I offer my most sincere apology

I wish you good morning

I want to thank you for all your kindness

I am much improved in health, I thank you

Pardon my indiscretion

I do not know how to respond to such kindness

The only recompense I can make you is good will

I thank you for the compliment

I hope you enjoy your usual health

How did he bear his misfortune

I hope you will favor us with a call

Tell me some more particulars

May I give you some assistance

Does the game of please your fancy

May I have the honor of your company

May I ask whether

Will you do me the kindness to

Will you do me the favor to tell me 6

Conventional Apologetic

Is not this a characteristic of How do you understand it

What has procured me so flattering a distinction To whom is he indebted for the place Aren't 3'ou going Did you say that you were there I thank you for 3'our kind inquiries Don't let me detain 3'ou for doubtless you have engagements

CONVENTIONAL— At Weddings

I wish you much joy

Let me wish you even' happiness

I wish to offer you my heartiest congratulations

I congratulate you heartily on the good fortune

that is yours to-da}' Kindly accept my sincerest good wishes It is impossible to vrish you any greater good

fortune than 3-ou have had to-day Please accept my congratulations Hearty congratulations

CONVENTIONAL— Apologetic

I must apologize for my stupidity This is quite unforgivable, I fear I am very awk^^ard, pray forgive me 7

Conversation

I beg you will excuse me

I regret that I cannot assist you

It is with no small regret that

I am exceedingly sorry that your request comes to me at a time when I am so pressed by my own affairs, that I cannot, with any conven- ience, comply with it

I offer my most sincere apology

Pardon my indiscretion

CONVENTIONAL— Condolence

Kindly accept my sincere esteem and sympathy

I beg to offer my profound sympathy

We all share in your loss, and you have my

deepest sympathy I sympathize with you in your great affliction I wish to assure you of my heartfelt sympathy I could not refrain from assuring you in person

of my sincerest sympathy We can all splendidly trust God in life, no matter

what its vicissitudes, if we but feel that we

are drawn nearer to Him Please accept my sincere condolences

CONVENTIONAL— On Leaving a Host

This has been a delightful occasion This has been a most enjoyable evening 8

Conventional Being Introduced

I am under the greatest obligation to you for a

charming evening I have enjoyed this Httle glimpse of you very

much This has been a most agreeable experience It has been deHghtful to have you with us I hope you may be persuaded to come again I vdsh. you were not going quite so soon Come to see us again before you leave town I trust you will repeat this experience at some

future date I want to make my parting compliments

CONVENTIONAL— Ox Being Introduced

I am very happy to meet you

It is a great pleasure to meet you

I am deHghted to know you

I am sure the pleasure is mine also

I was not clever enough to catch j^otir name

Thank you, I appreciate your kindly thought of

me It has been a great pleasure to have met you I am delighted to make your acquaintance,

though indeed I seem to know a great deal

about you through You are most kind It is a great pleasure It is good of you to say so 9

Conversation

CONGRATULATORY

I cannot refrain from expressing my admiring

appreciation of You are to be congratulated upon the I wish to congraulate you, and express my ap- preciation of Will you permit me to make an acknowledg- ment of appreciation to you for Permit me to make appreciative acknowledg- ments of Please accept my congratulations upon your ' Since the news of the joy that has happened to you reached me, I have been anxious to write you a word of congratulation I congratulate you on the very fortunate oppor- tunity which presents itself I had the great pleasure of hearing that I take this opportunity of assuring you that It is with great pleasure I hear of your safe arrival

COMMENDATORY OF PERSONS

He is a perpetual surprise even to those who

know him best She is a charming person to set people at their

ease He is a noble character

10

Commendatory of Persons

She talked beautifiilly

He is a man of many fascinations

He has a fine face full of vigor

He is very patient . nd very brave

We have beautiful neighbors

I never have seen you looking in better health

You are looking as lovely as usual

They form a delightful group

How lovely these are

With him there is little seeking after effect

I ^ways thought the hour struck sooner in your

home than any^^here else It is an evidence of good breeding He possesses the rare faculty of She is without a shadow of affectation He is incapable of hurting any one's feelings He possesses a masterly understanding of the

subject You have a very helpful suggestion He is irresistibly funny He is imcommonly quick He has a genuine aptitude for business A man whose merit equals his reputation He acquitted himself admirably He possesses a good deal of homely dignity He has the talent of dispensing pleasure He is finely qualified by exceptional educational

advantages

II

Conversation

She is a very tender and indulgent mother

He is full of generous sympathies

He has considerable colloquial talents

He has a sunny temperament

He is quite an adroit flatterer

He seems to have an inexhaustible supply of

affection His modesty is worthy of wide imitation He is brimming over with new ideas He gives you a jolly shake of the hand He has a wonderfiil gift of making friends He has a circle of interesting friends There is something very likable about him He is truly regardful of the interests of

others He cultivates the amenities and civilities He understands the art of making allowances He would shun to break the bounds of courtesy His polite best

He is above the meanness of tale-bearing He spoke in language clear and expressive in the

highest degree He spoke with his accustomed felicity of lan- guage It was a very neat and appropriate expression He labored in a simple and straightforward

manner to He possesses nerves that seem to be of iron

12

Commendatory of Persons

He is one who can do the thinking for a common- wealth

He has a character of sterling excellence

He is of consequence in the world

She is a model of propriety

There is an indefinable charm about her

He has an air of businesslike decisiveness

He is a facile talker

He is a plain frugal man

He is untinged by prejudice

He has a taste for polite conversation

He discharged his difficult task admirably

He was actuated by the most laudable motives

He never fimibles

He is always in such perfect good humor

He behaved ver}^ handsomely

He has calm good sense

He did it with good grace

He fitted his environment perfectly

You could not apply to any one better able than he

He made a most delightful impression

He is chock-full of fine sentiment

My fieart warms toward him

He is a person whom I always recall with plea- sure

His letters are full of heartiness

He has such a kindly and sympathetic spirit 13

Conversation

He is every whit a man's man

He has fine manners

He acted as one to the manor bom

May his tribe increase

He impressed me prodigiously

He has the highest ideals of fine, clean, strong manhood

She is possessed with the most delicate intui- tions

He possesses a certain suavity of manner

She is of exceptional personal beauty

He is above the average in point of conver- sation

He took the hugest pains to accommodate us

There is no more noble and beautiful character than she

There was something captivating in his man- ner

He was eloquent without being declamatory

You will go a long way before you find a better man

CRITICAL OF PERSONS

He is a rather crabbed specimen of humanity He gives me qualms He is insufferably tiresome 14

Critical of Persons

I would as soon take Beelzebub himself into my

plans I can nowise explain what sort of whim, prank,

or perv^ersity it was that induced him to

act thus Unhappily one is so fettered by What utter bosh it all is for him to He is bereft of his senses He is a selfish, graceless thankless person He is insufferably mean He is an odious old reprobate He makes such idiotic excuses His appearance is peculiarly forbidding You will receive the passport to disfavor if you He is in constant danger of becoming mean

and sordid We are not all of that ilk The suspicion arises in at least some minds, that

the reprehensible art of h'ing has several

practitioners in this country IMen who scold and whine, and prophesy ill He is not able to get the right perspective We are quite reluctant to follow his lead He has no ground of complaint He will have about his ears a unanimous chorus

of derision and bitterness He presented a series of lame apologies He is in no small degree responsible for 15

Conversation

He is exceedingly dull He cuts a sorry figure His manner lacks sincerity without which no

one can be truly agreeable He is the prey of every passing circumstance He is positively without a spark of humor He is ponderously dull He lapsed into arrant triviality He emphasizes the defects

He has a great propensity for running into debt He fails to see the need of making plentiful

provision His message might have been more fitly worded He has no sense of the fitness of things More foolish words were never spoken in reply

to a serious argument His conclusions are hopelessly detached from

his premises He is quite incapable of generous sentiments The real difficulty against which he has butted

head down is I am in a critical spirit The theory has gone into bankruptcy- It is cheap and ignorant talk He is stupidly over-confident I asked him how he could vindicate such an

enormity He is a derelict of mankind i6

Critical of Persons

He is an acrimonious critic

He has the baneful habit of

He is a mere bungler

He has a desert in his mind

He is apt to be malicious

He has a sullen and uncommunicable disposition

A man who never had a taste or emotion but what was sordid

He is over-quick in reproof

He richly deserves his fate

A village pest /

More nice than wise

An insufferable bore

A wearisome grumbler ^- -

A devilish insinuating way of

A most inadequate notion of

Altog^her discreditable

I will not use terms of endearment

He takes himself and his cause always with equal seriousness

Equally bad

He is handling the affair with a mixture of su- pineness and imbecility

He follows the line of least resistance

He unwittingly plays into the hands of the enemy

He is full of moral cowardice and dissimu- lation

17

Conversation

He lives in his little provincial world

He has never given a hint of practical value

He is always whimpering for help

His thoughts are always vague and ill-defined

He is a lazy, lolling sort of human

That was a sensible admonition directed against

his silly talk He is charged with exaggeration if not willful

distortion of the facts of the case

DISSENT

I protested in vain

It would simply freeze my blood if

I was awakened for the first time to its full sig- nificance when

In which case I should remonstrate

It is enough to turn one's brain

That's the very thing I complain of

What hurt my feelings was that nothing I could say would do any good

It is monstrous

It is shocking

The very heart and soul of justice have been plucked out of her unresisting carcass

It is a stupid thing to do, to my mind, and I don't see the point

It is preposterous

i8

Dissent

It's absurd

I remonstrated at the time

It is certainly not a very pleasant thing to

think that I cannot refrain from expressing my regret

that I am distracted with the cares of It is really heartbreaking to see It is very annoying to me I can scarcely credit it The uncertainty is irritating It puts me in a decidedly awkward position He gave no very gracious consent I fervently hope not Decidedly not Figures don't lie, but often they do not speak

plain enough to be understood at the

first hearing You can ill afford to I loathe it

I was exceedingly mortified that He might have sat for a picture of insensibility I assure you such is not the case It is scarcely worth raising our heads to look at I was nervous at the thought of it There is danger of an embarrassing rupture He was not slow in expressing his disgust at the

conduct of

19

Conversation

I care not a fig who knows it

It is a sore thing for me to have to do this

Heaven forbid that such a thing should come

to pass I know precisely what it signifies I think it would be quite inadvisable to do so He cotdd out-slang the boldest bargeman The pitiful thing about it all is It is a manifest absurdity- It is in a bad way

The statement is the merest nonsense The latest and most absurd theory is I hate, abhor, sicken at it

I want most emphatically to disclaim any in- tention of

INQUIRY

What course shall you take to get your money?

What do you know of his history?

Where shall I be likely to find him?

What has he there?

Have 5^ou any news?

What kind of man is he?

When do you leave?

Where do you intend to settle?

Have you had luncheon?

May I have an apple?

20

Prefatory

Will you obey me?

Have you had any tidings of your brother?

What did you observe?

In what part of the country do you live?

Where are you staying?

We spent an agreeable evening together.

PREFATORY

As luck would have it, I

To be candid, I

It seems a positive calamity that

Do you seriously imagine that

No one could be so rash as to assert that

I am satisfied that

I strongly suspect that

I fancy that

Further than this

Paradoxical as it may seem

I dare say that

It is with great pleasure that

It would ill become me to remark that

For instance

The redeeming feature of it all is

Quite by chance, I

I have been wondering whether

In all probability we

It is not likely that

21

Conversation

Luckily I

It is a singular coincidence that

I took particular pains to notice whether

It is with problems such as these that

How very fortunate it is that

It is a particular piece of good fortune that

he As a matter of fact None the less, I It can be admitted too that Certain it is that

In some quarters it is believed that If that be the case, I I confess I look with some alarm at I have the great good fortune to have heard

that I realize afresh that The art of arts is I flatter myself that

It is from the heart that I can request that I am perfectly convinced that The full gravity of the situation is seen in the

fact that Regardless of any thing I said I am painfully conscious that I wasn't by any means sure I It dawned upon him gradually that It is seldom that

22

Prefatory

We may be quite sure that I have repeatedly said that It cannot but carry with it instant conviction

that By some mischance, I Prior to this, we I was greatly elated to find that I am heartily glad that I know the nicest little secret I had a happy thought to-day I cannot but realize that It is scarcely conceivable that Frankly, I

It is intellectually unthinkable that On the other hand I appreciate most deeply the I am devoutly thankful for At all events None the less Hitherto Furthermore Further than that Nevertheless Notwithstanding In the meantime Frequently the In all candor I rather apprehend that 23

Conversation

I have sometimes thought that

It must be owned too, that

I scarcely feel as if I

I rather imagine that

To this day I hardly know whether I

A very striking proof of the fact is

I will hazard the observation that

On the other hand

You have made me curious. Tell me of it

I have news for you

May I give you an instance

It is quite indifferent to me whether I

He used frequently to observe that

What is the explanation? It is simplicity

itself Now that I am a little seasoned I I have heard him often lament that You may guess what luck I regret extremely that It would have been quite out of the question

for us to Recently I came across this I was about to inquire what you thought of I have the deepest veneration for He has conceived the happy idea of I suppose the inference we are expected to draw

is I am confident of one thing that 24

Prefatory

My principal motive for acting thus was I am fully aware that I perceive, moreover, that It is surely true that I marvel that I sometimes fancy that I humbly conceive that I apprehend that

Of course, I am perfectly aware that I presume that

There are pretty certain indications that It often amazes me that It seems hardly probable that I afiSrm that

I have the consolation to hope that It is still permitted us to hope that It would be futile to deny that It is reasonable to assume that There is no prospect that In these circumstances it I suppose that I warrant that

I confess I am not indifferent to I shrink instinctively from I confess a less and less relish for I am impatient and querulous under It is a sort of presumption to expect that I cannot imagine to mj^self 25

Conversation

I have a kindly yearning toward

I heartily approve of

I do not advert to

I have long believed that

It has long been the fashion to

I have been falsely assuring everybody that

One cannot help noticing that

There are plenty of evidences that

The difference, I take it, is this

The fact of the matter is

If I rightly remember

It is a just cause for praise that

It was a happy circumstance for me that

I wish with all my heart that

I am grateful to find that

I devoutly wish it may prove to be that he

It is not to be supposed that

My attention has been directed to the

I have a mental reservation with regard to

A very affecting circumstance happened yester- day

I have a story worth telling

I had the rare distinction of

I had a very civil note from

If I may hazard a conjecture, I should rathei think

It was unusual for me to

He seems to be obsessed with the idea that 26

Prefatory

There is but a thousand-to-one chance that

It is an open secret that

I have an impression that

I informed you wrongly when I said that

If I mistake not, I beheve that

If I may use the expression I think that

Quite regardless of m}^ remark, you

I had the inexpressible comfort of knowing

that He made a touching proof of his regard by I flatter myself that

Is it not a great mercy to have such a helper? Again and again, I Inadvertently, I

I felt like uttering a mild disclaimer when I have little predilection for I had the rare satisfaction of I was strangely moved when I heard that There is a certain distinctive advantage in I was amazed to find that In my poor judgment, I I hold in all seriousness that Has the tide of victor}' set in your favor? By what magic have you found out the secrets

of We have plumed ourselves upon our ability

to

27

Conversation

RESPONSE

It is good of you to say so

He is to be most warmly felicitated

I have fallen into splendid hands

How nicely you put that

How lovely of you

Those friends of yours are delightful people

He is able to extract comfort and pleasure out of

hard experiences You decide rightly

I was received with the utmost kindness I am quite delighted Permit me to compliment you How consoling you are I was never more entertained You got out of that rather neatly It is like talking the art of war before Hannibal I quite agree with you Very luckily for me You have not guessed rightly With all my heart We acquiesce

That tends to confirm my opinion I will make ample allowance Don't give way to such a fancy How unfortunate

I am glad to hear such good tidings of 28

Response

I am a sort of amateur Father-Confessor, you

know I am not as strong as I fancied myself A very extraordinary measure I confess A day that I still recall with pleasure We haggled about the price I fear I cannot go

Surely none of us would relish such treatment He deems it well worth while I can make a guess as to the probable results I think it is about time to tincture our ideals

with common sense It is most refreshing You have rightly judged She was strangely diffident He responded so good-naturedly He should be highly thankful Our effort was futile enough Very rarely Quite likely Unquestionably We have ample time Quite frequently

It is all the most ardent supporter could wish Fortimately there is still a more excellent way I'm afraid he started the day in a contradictory

mood He is never very closely confined to the facts 29

Conversation

It is a sore trial to his temper

The paper gives a beggarly account of the affair

I think I can do it without danger of repro- bation

I am trying to help him compose his difficulties

He did it in all good faith

I had the simple satisfaction of knowing that

He is suffering from a confusion of ideas

The exceptions are so few as to be negligible

It is not expedient for us to do otherwise

It was too sore a subject for levity

I reciprocate your good wishes

The matter was brought to a satisfactory termination

It was real stupid of me

It completely surpasses my comprehension

It caused me a thousand apprehensions

The odds seem overwhelmingly against them

I think she is a wee bit jealous

He is a miserable victim of anxiety

I am afraid he will be taught by many a sore and scalding lesson

It is decidedly htimorous

I am open to suggestion

It would neither remove nor confirm my doubts

I hate all ostentation

Upon subsequent occasions he was very affable 30

Response

Heaven knows how or when

If they could be convinced it would be a godsend

Much to our profit and delight

It is the only possible course

Not that I know

I do not wish for any

It is a matter of no importance

He is sick but not in danger

He is in feeble health

We suffered great hardships

Had I known it, I

[ do not remember

[ will summon him

I should have liked very much to have seen him

I have seen him

I admit you've provocation for it

I cannot recollect

I have finished

I asstire you he was very much astonished

Thank you for your cheering words

You give me more credit than I deserve

Forgive me all my delinquencies

I cannot find words to express the intense

pleasure I have always in I appreciate keenly the favor you have shown

me It was delightful I assure you It is really a pleasure to assist you 31

Conversation

You have great reason to congratulate yourself

on I supposed that it was he whom you meant I supposed it to be me whom you meant I do not know that I can. I wish I were able to I should not have intruded on you at this hour You would do me such a service I could scarce

repay With pleasure I am quite delighted I am ardently wishing for it I imagine it must have been he I am not sure I rightly understand I am happy to think so Yes, I quite understand how it happened Fortunately so

We were fortunate enough to find one I wish it were true I was taken aback for the moment Receive my sincere congratulations I am delighted to hear you say so I am most grateful to you Most assuredly It was very thoughtful of you I feel indebted for your kindness I will rejoin you directly It would be the culmination of my fondest hopes

to see

32

Response

I should think it to be ver}' much to one's

advantage to A pleasant coincidence happened recently of

which I must tell you Be that as it may, I If the truth must be told, I It is nothing less than marv^elous that I exerted myself much to make him cheerfti) He was inflexible to all entreaty I am not at all solicitous about it It is not very conspicuous I acquiesce Certain tmforeseen emergencies arose to hinder

me In spite of statements to the contrary I think

that In the long run, I One can be thankful enough for I hope your anticipations will be realized I had gratifying success In no manner of way Of the finest sort Its plausibility cannot be denied I intend to gratify my curiosity some day He has the unhappy knack of saying things

that are not so I can give no adequate explanation of it I feel amply repaid for my effort 3 33

Conversation

We consider it a huge joke

It was a matter of no consequence

That is really interesting

The news is decidedly reassuring

It is most extraordinary

It was altogether delightful

It is exceptionally good

The result exceeded my fondest expectations

We were delighted beyond measure

Bless your heart, yes

I am entirely callous

I feel that I have no more backbone than a

jellyfish That is far from being the whole truth This merits reflection Indeed, to a refreshing degree I will endeavor to be strictly impartial I am luckily disengaged to-day I confess that there is something very sensible

about that view What you tell me is simply astounding At present there is no indication of such a

millennium I have been inexorable to all invitations Certain unforeseen emergencies arose to hinder

me I suspect you know all about it I think his course is very unjustifiable 54

Response

I do not doubt that he will be here

He expects to get off to-morrow

I regard him as being the cleverest man of my

acquaintance He has given them no pecuniary assistance for

some time His affairs are in a bad condition He fled the city It is nothing else than agreed We happened to be present on the occasion He is a man of small means I purpose leaving for home in the morning He would not believe but that I did it She is a widowed woman It was a long discussion I will go no farther I have nothing further to say I met a rather agreeable woman at dinner A lady, a friend of mine, told me I have asked two or three ladies and several mem I expect two or three gentlemen It has been a delightfully agreeable day This is a fine morning

I have neither eaten nor drunk anything to-day It looks as if it would rain This is the largest of all I have seen That kind of apples is best We are likely to have a fine day 35

Conversation

<