Excerpts from the Book 'The Ladybird':

... famous politicians in England, but a man with no money. And Earl Beveridge had wasted most of the large fortune that had come to him, so that the ...
... feel better, dear?' said the little, unquenched mother. 'Rather better,' came the resentful answer. 'And your night?' 'No better.' There ...
... know the Italian word. The way dark people look. There is something so distressing in it.' 'Does he look very small now-uncanny?' asked the daughter. 'No, ...
... I remember you were so bright a maiden.' 'More or less,' she said, answering his question. 'Ach! We should all have new names now. I thought of a name ...
... shame and anguish and disgust crossed his face. 'It is because I can't help it,' he said. 'I have lost my soul, and I can't stop talking to you. I can't ...
... wife. So when I married I had sixty shirts, and many other things-sewn by my mother and my aunt, all with my initial, and the ladybird, which is our crest.' 'And ...
... from him. Since she had begun the second shirt, she went on with it. And then she hurried to finish it, because she was starting a round of visits ...
... and can hope to know it again. I am a miserable brute to look at now. But I have faith in you. You will forgive my appearance, and that alone will ...
... darling? No, I don't remember a thimble. I remember a dear little needle-lady, whom I thought such a precious satire on us women. I didn't notice ...
... hits, it hits! And it hears the thin sound of cracking. The thin sound of cracking. Hark!' He stood still and made her listen. It was late afternoon. ...
... touch him. White death was still upon him. She could tell that he shrank with a kind of agony from contact. 'Touch me not, I am not yet ascended unto ...
... very good! I'll come along as well. I should like very much to see him. I suppose he'll be getting sent back before long.' It was a fortnight before ...
... a fairish mess out in Austria,' said Basil. 'Yes, probably. It is what we had to expect,' replied the Count. 'Well, I don't know. Sometimes things ...
... is just a vicious circle?' 'Not at all. An ever-widening circle, as you say. Always more wonderful.' 'Well, it's all frightfully interesting and amusing-don't ...
... the Count. The Earl went black, and felt a fool. He turned his back on the Count. And then he turned round again, offering his cigar-case. 'Will ...
... replied quickly. 'This war is over. The armies will go home. Their cannon will not sound any more. Never again like this.' 'Ah, I hope so,' she sighed. 'I ...
... by stitch went on with a big embroidered bedspread, which she might finish if she lived long enough. But they always went to bed early. They were nearly ...
... An answer, near to him, and invisible. But he did not know what to do. He sat still and silent as she was still and silent. The darkness inside the ...
... him. He was puzzled. His own ecstatic, deadly love for her had received a check. He was out of the reckoning. He watched her when she was with the Count. ...
... something of me died in the war. I feel it will take me an eternity to sit and think about it all.' 'I hope you may think it out to your satisfaction, ...