At the sound of the old familiar voice he spun around with something of the agility of a cat on hot bricks, and I saw that his dial, usually cheerful, was contorted with anguish, as if he had swallowed a bad oyster.

Green orchards with ripe fruit incarnadine, / Each several member autumn-canopied / So thickly as to bend beneath its freight, …

If chip butties are the king of beige, fish finger sarnies are the queen. Home-made fish fingers are super-easy to make and freeze well, so make a large batch and keep them for a rainy day.

'Do you think, sir,' said Mr Willet, […] 'do you think, sir, that I'm a born fool?' 'No, no, Johnny,' returned Solomon, looking round upon the little circle of which he formed a part: 'We all know better than that.'