"The curt maneuver forced hearty laughter from all of the fathers in the ballroom, who were delighted by the illusion of danger and the impotence of Nature." A visit from royalty, p. 12

"My life was not without periods of excessive, unreasoning discipline, usually imposed capriciously by those responsible for laxity in the first place. That combined with my historical studies led me, as many others, to the conclusion that there was little in the previous century worthy of emulation, and that we must look to the nineteenth century instead for stable social models." A visit from royalty, p. 20

"'How 'bout it,' Bud quacked through the hole in the shrink-wrap, 'he said I might have other rights. Do I have any other rights?' The constable looked back over his shoulder, turning his head carefully so he wouldn't lose his balance on that pedomotive. 'Don't be a jerk...