emily: ...we were feeling rather sorry for you.

mrs p: sorry for me? whatever for?

major: your childless hearth and all that, you know. no little pattering feet.

mrs p: major! how dare you? i've got my little girl, i suppose you know. her feet can patter as well as other children's.

major: only one pair of feet

mrs p: certainly, my child isn't a centipede.

from saki's "the baker's dozen."