The gallery about any nursery window is probably the proudest assemblage to be found anywhere. Poppas, grandpoppas, grandmammas, sisters, brothers, pizons and gumbods. We used to delight in our anonymity and enjoy their comments on our daughter.

You surely would have abandoned it as chicken-heartedly as you refused to stand up to him in the field.

The temptation of the hometowner is therefore the classic temptation of insularity, which equates (or confuses) interest with self-absorption.

Aren't you just mad for that red dress?