Over and done with

For all his appealing writing, Edward Eager has several readily parodied mannerisms. janni and I wrote this back on GEnie:

          It was then that Eliza realized Jack was right and there was something to teenage girls after all. And if you have ever liked a teenage girl yourself, you know exactly how she felt.
          It was but the work of a moment to undo Lady Samantha's bodice, but the corset presented more of a challenge.
          "Oh, I wish the beastly things had never been invented," Eliza cried.
          And since this was a good deed, the magic relented.
                                    -- from Magic or Else

ETA: Something I only noticed last night, however, is that some things are but the work of a moment, while some are the work of but a moment. Hmph.

( Final answers to twenty lines )

Over and done with

For all his appealing writing, Edward Eager has several readily parodied mannerisms. janni and I wrote this back on GEnie:

          It was then that Eliza realized Jack was right and there was something to teenage girls after all. And if you have ever liked a teenage girl yourself, you know exactly how she felt.
          It was but the work of a moment to undo Lady Samantha's bodice, but the corset presented more of a challenge.
          "Oh, I wish the beastly things had never been invented," Eliza cried.
          And since this was a good deed, the magic relented.
                                    -- from Magic or Else

ETA: Something I only noticed last night, however, is that some things are but the work of a moment, while some are the work of but a moment. Hmph.

( Final answers to twenty lines )