'But, Papa, we weren't going to have coffee any more. Didn't you agree that we would give up stimulants?'
Papa looked at me defiantly. 'I did,' he said.
'Well, coffee is one.'
'It is our only one.'
'You said you would give it up.'
'I said gradually. To do so today would not be doing so gradually. Nothing is good that is not done gradually.'
'But one must begin.'
'One must begin gradually.'
'You were delighted with Shelley.'
'It was after dinner.'