Sullen silence was taken for rapt attention, and gave him greater room to talk; sharp answers were received as smart sallies of girlish vivacity, that only required an indulgent rebuke; and flat contradictions were but as oil to the flames, calling forth new strains of argument to support his dogmas, and bringing down upon me endless floods of reasoning to overwhelm me with conviction.

Anne, dearest, you know how fond I am of you, and if I had a giant robot army you might have half, but, for Heaven's sake, joy, why such metaphors?