More than a little apprehensive myself, I went out to the kitchen. Cookie, deep in a murder story, rocked peacefully beside the glowing range.

the jaws of a vise; the jaws of a stone-crushing machine.

She is now a blowsey, garrulous, middle-aged widow, jolly to the point of asininity, and so consternation, frenzy, and a crisis are inevitable.

Backed by the Treasurer's bitterest enemies he brought charges against Danby. Impeachment followed. There was fresh uproar in the House.