“Smother one with alliterations.”
“Tush, miss,” exclaimed the Duchess, “and you talk such pure folly so excessively extreme! Marriage, indeed! At my age!”
“Aye, indeed, aunt! ’Tis high time I had thee safe wedded, for, though so small, thou’rt a monstrous responsibility, my dear soul. So I ha’ found thee a spouse——”
“La, miss, hush and fie! I protest you make me blush.”
“A monster, aunt!”
“Horrors, child!”
“Who could lift thee in one vast fist, thou dainty atomy ... aye, and big me in t’other, for that matter! A giant, aunt!”
“Herminia, you rave! What do I want with your monstrous giants?”
“But he is a kindly monster, aunt, a most gentle giant. And he is, besides, a baronet, a soldier, a gentleman o’ birth and breeding, not ill-looking, nor old ... not very; brave as a lion, vigorous with health, strong as Samson.... Doth not all this make thee to be a little in love with him?”