Keep it impersonal

     "When I'm investigating a murder, I hate to have too much sympathy with the corpse. Personal feelings cramp the style."

(from Busman's Honeymoon, by Dorothy L. Sayers)

Bunter semper paratus

     "Experience has taught me," said Peter, as they moved down the stair, "that no situation finds Bunter unprepared. That he should have procured The Times this morning by the simple expedient of asking the milkman to request the postmistress to telephone to Broxford and have it handed to the 'bus-conductor to be dropped at the post-office and brought up by the little girl who delivers the telegrams is a trifling example of his resourceful energy. But he would probably take it as a compliment if you were to refer the difficulty to him and congratulate him when he tells you that everything is provided for."

(from Busman's Holiday, by Dorothy L. Sayers)

The order of small towns

     He belonged to an ordered society, and this was it. More than any of the friends in her own world, he spoke the familiar language of her childhood. In London, anybody, at any moment, might do or become anything. But in a village - no matter what village - they were all immutably themselves; parson, organist, sweep, duke's son and doctor's daughter, moving like chessmen upon their alloted squares.

(from Busman's Honeymoon, by Dorothy L. Sayers)

Enjoy watching work

     He retired into the scullery, where Mrs. Ruddle, armed with a hand-bowl, was scooping boiling water from the copper into a large bath-can.

    "You had better leave it to me, Mrs. Ruddle, to negotiate the baths around the turn of the stairs. You may follow me with the cans, if you please."

    Returning thus processionally through the sitting-room he was relieved to see only Mr. Pufrett's ample base emerging from under the chimney-breast and to hear him utter loud groans and cries of self-encouragement which boomed hollow in the funnel of the brickwork. It is always pleasant to see a fellow-creature toiling still harder than one's self.

(from Busman's Honeymoon, by Dorothy L. Sayers)

Bunter's toast

     "May I express the hope that the present union may happily exemplify that which we find in a first-class port - strength of body fortified by a first-class spirit and mellowing through many years to a noble maturity. My lord and my lady - your very good health."

(from Busman's Holiday, by Dorothy L. Sayers)

No rotting bodies, please

     "To obey orders in this family has been my privilege for the last twenty years - a privilege which has been an unqualified pleasure, except perhaps when connected with the photography of deceased persons in an imperfect state of preservation."

(from Busman's Holiday, by Dorothy L. Sayers)

She has to look at me

     "Let's keep her on if we can," said Harriet, a little confused at being deferred to (since Bunter, after all, was likely to suffer most from Mrs. Ruddle's peculiarities). "She always worked here and she knows where everything is, and she seems to be doing her best."

    She glanced doubtfully at Peter, who said: "The worst I know of her is that she doesn't like my face, but that will hurt her more than it will me. I mean, you know, she's the one that has to look at it."

(from Busman's Honeymoon, by Dorothy L. Sayers)

Told her off, she did

     In evening, furious trunk-call from Helen at Denver, having had wire from Peter and demanding what we meant by inconsiderate behaviour. Took great pleasure in telling her (at considerable length and her expense) nothing to thank but her own tactlessness.

(from Busman's Honeymoon, by Dorothy L. Sayers)

Wedding ceremony

     Helen obligingly presented us with a copy of the new form of marriage service, with all the vulgar bits left out - which was asking for trouble. Peter very funny about it - said he knew all about the "procreation of children," in theory though not in practice, but that the "increase of mankind" by any other method sounded too advanced for him, and that, if he ever did indulge in such dangerous amusements, he would, with his wife's permission, stick to the old-fashioned procedure. He also said that, as for the "gift of continence," he wouldn't have it as a gift, and had no objection to admitting as much.

(from Busman's Honeymoon, by Dorothy L. Sayers)