Normally sittings of the House of Commons begin with prayers and, at intervals along the back of each bench, there are little brass frames for holding prayer cards.

Now for these and other things (whereof I could tell a thousand) was the reckoning come that night; and not a line we missed of it; soon as our bad blood was up. I like not to tell of slaughter, though it might be of wolves and tigers; and that was a night of fire and slaughter, and of very long-harboured revenge. Enough that ere the daylight broke upon that wan March morning, the only Doones still left alive were the Counsellor and Carver.

At first it seemed a good idea, but now it's getting close I'm having second thoughts.

Now, I'm cream-crackered! I'm for the Budew Drop Inn and some sleep.