The walls were as thin as matchwood, and to hide the cracks they had been covered with layer after layer of pink paper, which had come loose and housed innumerable bugs.

[…] there are several examples of forced veilings of noblewomen and queens from the early Middle Ages.

A meatless day or a beerless or tealess day does not suggest moderation so much as immoderation.

[S]he declined his invitation to Come up and see the old woman and set a spell.