This place, my Dryasdust informs me, had many accidents by floodage and by fire

Incidentally (and digressingly), the word “wreck” has a certain singular significance in mushing circles, if you've been around the game as long as I have.

“Lork, Mrs Richards!” cried Miss Nipper, taking up her words with a jerk. “Don’t. See her dear Papa indeed! I should like to see her do it!” “Won’t she then?” asked Polly. “Lork, Mrs Richards, no, her Pa’s a deal too wrapped up in somebody else, and before there was a somebody else to be wrapped up in she never was a favourite, girls are thrown away in this house, Mrs Richards, I assure you.”

Man, I need a life in the worst way.