United States or Niue ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
At Gravier's where they ate, and in the evening at the Versailles or at the Closerie des Lilas Clutton was inclined to taciturnity. He sat quietly, with a sardonic expression on his gaunt face, and spoke only when the opportunity occurred to throw in a witticism. He liked a butt and was most cheerful when someone was there on whom he could exercise his sarcasm.
"Easy enough, sir, 'The Scripter moveth us in sun'ry places'! Hor! hor!-hor! "and Bainton burst into a hoarse chuckle of mirth, entirely delighted with his own witticism, and walked off, not waiting to see whether its effect on his master was one of offence or appreciation.
These, of all sizes, from the "piccaninny" to the "good-sized chunk of a boy," and of every shade of slave-colour, from the fair-skinned quadroon to the black Bambarra, on whom, by an American witticism of doubtful truthfulness; "charcoal would make a white mark!" Divesting them of dust, you would have no difficulty in determining their complexion.
Not a single witticism came to his assistance, and the calm, smooth face of the ecclesiastic seemed to operate upon the fierce resolves of the facetious knight in the same manner as the human eye is supposed to awe into impotence the malignant intentions of the ignobler animals.
Laughing only with his eyes, he told anecdotes, made epigrams, asked ridiculous riddles and answered them himself, talking the whole time in his extraordinary language, evolved in the course of prolonged practice in witticism and evidently now become a habit: "Badsome," "Hugeous," "Thank you most dumbly," and so on. But that was not all.
I am afraid, however, that he waited for me a very long time. I like to shed blood, but only when I run no risk myself." All three laughed heartily at this witticism. "But listen to the sequel of my story. My father has an amiable whim of his own he always prefers to have deserters from the army as his assistants. He is well aware that men of that kidney have practically renounced the world.
The Terror, serene, impassive, showed no sign of hearing him; his mind was hard at work on this very serious problem with which he had been so suddenly confronted. More than once Erebus countered a witticism with a sharp retort, but with none sharp enough to pierce the rhinocerine hide of the gallant officer.
The enthusiasm of a mind so influenced is confined to itself. Distinction is the consequence, never the object, of a great mind. The love of gain never made a Painter; but it has marred many. The most common disguise of Envy is in the praise of what is subordinate. Selfishness in Art, as in other things, is sensibility kept at home. The Devil's heartiest laugh is at a detracting witticism.
Salomy Jane smiled over her last witticism regarding him and enjoyed, it, like your true humorist, and then, catching sight of her own handsome face in the little mirror, smiled again. But wasn't it funny about that horse-thief getting off after all? Good Lordy! Fancy Reuben hearing he was alive and going round with that kiss of hers set on his lips! She laughed again, a little more abstractedly.
"That lady over yonder by the door of the refreshment-room. Don't you see? That must be Melissa." For we knew her only as Melissa already among ourselves; it had been raised to the mild rank of a family witticism. I looked in the direction he suggested, and paused for certainty.
Word Of The Day