\\\"a...youth with a gorgeous red necktie all awry\\\"
\\\"his wig was, as the British say, skew-whiff\\\"

\\\"the absurd excuse that the dog ate his homework\\\"
\\\"that\\\'s a cockeyed idea\\\"
\\\"ask a nonsensical question and get a nonsensical answer\\\"
\\\"a contribution so small as to be laughable\\\"
\\\"it is ludicrous to call a cottage a mansion\\\"
\\\"a preposterous attempt to turn back the pages of history\\\"
\\\"her conceited assumption of universal interest in her rather dull children was ridiculous\\\"