And as to singers, I am certain that one of them goes as high as Catalani: I never heard any thing to equal it except a friend of mine who went into hysterics because she was outscolded by her husband. She, I think, did scream louder.

Most all the bettermost folks in these parts are axed, and the doctor, the lawyer, and the minister is invited; it's no skim-milk story, I do assure-you, but upper crust, real jam.

As Yoda would put it, if you want to 'farsee' into your future needs, first make sure your homework you have done.

But the favourite's power and influence provoke intense ill-feeling among other courtiers, who regard him as a sinister, usurping parvenu with ideas above his station, or perhaps even a sorcerer.