Of course that taint, that reverence for rank and
title, had been in our American blood, too -- I know that; but when I left America it had disap- peared -- at least to all intents and purposes.
The
title suggests all kinds of mysteries; a glance at the chapter-headings quickly confirms the suspicions already aroused, and the sub-title: "A Book for All and None", generally succeeds in dissipating the last doubts the prospective purchaser may entertain concerning his fitness for the book or its fitness for him.
"This more reverent
title had previously been forced upon him by the religious scruples of the last newspaper in which a part of the work had appeared, with the natural consequence that when it came out in covers the country already had been flooded by its imitators with a score of 'cynic' books -- The Cynic's This , The Cynic's That , and
For one reason; Farag, the kennel huntsman, in khaki and puttees, would obey nothing under the rank of an Excellency, and the hounds would obey no one but Farag; for another, the best way of estimating crop returns and revenue was by riding straight to hounds; for a third, though Judges down the river issued signed and sealed land-titles to all lawful owners, yet public opinion along the river never held any such
title valid till it had been confirmed, according to precedent, by the Governor's hunting crop in the hunting field, above the wilfully neglected earth.
You refused them all, and, I am convinced, one coronet at least among them." "You say true, dear Sophy," answered she; "I had once the offer of a
title." "Why, then," said Sophia, "will you not suffer me to refuse this once?" "It is true, child," said she, "I have refused the offer of a
title; but it was not so good an offer; that is, not so very, very good an offer."--"Yes, madam," said Sophia; "but you have had very great proposals from men of vast fortunes.
"Well, my friend, I am come to give you this very
title which you wish for so much."
The window contained photographs of more or less undressed dancing girls; nondescript packages in wrappers like patent medicines; closed yellow paper envelopes, very flimsy, and marked two-and-six in heavy black figures; a few numbers of ancient French comic publications hung across a string as if to dry; a dingy blue china bowl, a casket of black wood, bottles of marking ink, and rubber stamps; a few books, with
titles hinting at impropriety; a few apparently old copies of obscure newspapers, badly printed, with
titles like THE TORCH, THE GONG - rousing
titles.
He might, then, hazard with safety, in proportion to the proofs he had given of his wisdom and integrity, and to the
title he had acquired to the respect and attachment of his fellow-citizens.
"Certainly," replied Albert, "seeing that without my
title I should be nothing; while you, sacrificing the baron, would still remain the millionaire."
Even less is known of the poem called the "Great Works": the
title implies that it was similar in subject to the second section of the "Works and Days", but longer.
Northanger Abbey was written in 1797-98 under a different
title. The manuscript was revised around 1803 and sold to a London publisher, Crosbie & Co., who sold it back in 1816.
"Many men of rank and
title?" There was an unmistakable tone of suspicion in the strange question.