Quotes About Tradition

In such families as [Nidderdale's], when such results have been achieved, it is generally understood that matters shall be put right by an heiress. [....] Rank squanders money; trade makes it; -- and then trade purchases rank by re-gilding its splendour

The bishop did not whistle. We believe that they lose the power of doing so on being consecrated; and that in these days one might as easily meet a corrupt judge as a whistling bishop; but he looked as though he would have done so, but for his apron.

In such families as his, when such results have been achieved, it is generally understood that matters shall be put right by an heiress. It has become an institution, like primogeniture, and is almost as serviceable for maintaining the proper order of things.

She had been notably religious, but that was gradually wearing off as she advanced in years. The rigid strictness of Sabbatarian practice requires the full energy of middle life.

Of course Lady Arabella could not suckle the young heir herself. Ladies Arabella never can. They are gifted with the powers of being mothers, but not nursing-mothers. Nature gives them bosoms for show, but not for use. So Lady Arabella had a wet-nurse.

I know what it is, my dear, to be jumped upon. We talked with such horror of the French people giving their daughters in marriage, just as they might sell a house or a field, but we do exactly the same thing ourselves. When they all come upon you in earnest how are you to stand against them? How can any girl do it?

But the country is changing." "It's going to the dogs, I think; — about as fast as it can go." "We build churches much faster than we used to do." "Do we say our prayers in them when we have built them?" asked the Squire.

More than once had she expressed a wish to see old Christmas again in the old house among the old faces. But her husband had always pleaded a certain weakness about his throat and chest as a reason for remaining among the delights of Pau.

Why didn't your aunt come here to eat her Christmas dinner?" said the Squire. "Perhaps, sir, because you didn't ask her," said Kate, standing close to her grandfather, — for the old man was somewhat deaf. "And why didn't you ask her; — that is, if she stands upon asking to come to her old home?" "Nay, sir, but I couldn't do that without your bidding. We Vavasors are not always fond of meeting each other.

I shall wait so impatiently for your answer, so do pray write at once. I hear some people say that these sort of things are not so much thought of now as they were once, and that all manner of marriages are considered to be comme il faut. I do not want, you know, to make myself foolish by being too particular. Perhaps all these changes are bad, and I rather think they are; but if the world changes, one must change too; one can't go against the world.

CHAPTER IX THE OLD KENNELS

That battle of the mistletoe had been fought on the morning before Christmas Day, and the Holmeses came on Christmas Eve.

CHAPTER XX THERE ARE CONVENANCES

CHAPTER L 'IN THESE DAYS ONE CAN'T MAKE A MAN MARRY

CHAPTER XXXVI MISTLETOE

he understood well that code of by-laws which was presumed to constitute the character of a gentleman in his circle.

CHAPTER LX AGAIN AT MISTLETOE

You can make a joke of it, when I — . But I don't think, Miss Boncassen, you at all realise what I feel. As to settlements and all that, your father could do what he likes with me." "My father has nothing to do with it, and I don't know what settlements mean. We never think anything of settlements in our country. If two young people love each other they go and get married.

if you wish to represent your county in Parliament, as has been done by your father, your grandfather, and your great-grandfathers; if you wish to keep a house over your head, and to leave Greshamsbury to your son after you, you must marry money.

He was almost inclined to think that marriage was an old-fashioned custom, fitted indeed well enough for the usual dull life of the world at large, — as many men both in heathen and in Christian ages have taught themselves to think of religion, — but which was not adapted to his advanced intelligence.

For obvious reasons the Catholic aristocracy was heavily intermarried.

Prince James was duly christened according to the full Catholic rite, except that the queen refused to let the priest spit in his mouth as the custom then was, saying according to a later story, that she was not going to have 'a pocky priest' spitting in her child's mouth.

much more than by its army, its administration, its institutions, and its police, society is held together with spells.

This passivity was entirely contrary to the Prussian tradition, which regarded inactivity, waiting for orders and failing to think for yourself as unforgivable in a commander.