--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Taken thus by surprise, it was several…" description: "\"“Taken thus by surprise, it was several moments before she was able to decide whether to make herself known to him, or to await a formal introduction. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/georgette-heyer-1080_time_taken-thus-by-surprise-it-was-several-mo_1256779.jpg" --- # Taken thus by surprise, it was several moments before she… ![“Taken thus by surprise, it was several moments before she was able to decide whether to make herself known to him, or to await a formal introduction. The strict propriety in which she had been reared urged her to adopt the latter course; then she remembered that she was not a young girl any…” quote by Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/georgette-heyer-1080_time_taken-thus-by-surprise-it-was-several-mo_1256779.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/georgette-heyer-1080_time_taken-thus-by-surprise-it-was-several-mo_1256779.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9a3/georgette-heyer-1080_time_taken-thus-by-surprise-it-was-several-mo_1256779.jpg) > ““Taken thus by surprise, it was several moments before she was able to decide whether to make herself known to him, or to await a formal introduction. The strict propriety in which she had been reared urged her to adopt the latter course; then she remembered that she was not a young girl any longer, but a guardian-aunt ... To flinch before what would certainly be an extremely disagreeable interview would be the act, she told herself, of a pudding-heart. Bracing herself resolutely, she got up from the writing-table, and turned, saying, in a cool, pleasant tone: 'Mr Calverleigh?' He had picked up a newspaper from the table in the centre of the room, and was glancing through it, but he lowered it, and looked enquiringly across at her. His eyes, which were deep-set and of a light grey made the more striking by the swarthiness of his complexion, held an expression of faint surprise; he said: 'Yes?”” [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A young woman wrestles with social expectations versus personal desire, choosing to act despite propriety. **In simple terms:** She decides to confront a man directly despite feeling shy. Key Takeaway Act boldly rather than wait for formalities. Themes social pressure self‑assertion gender roles Mood nervous determined Type literary dialogue When to use this quote - formal introductions - romantic encounters - career networking Key Concepts Victorian etiquette personal agency inner conflict Questions to Reflect On - Will you let propriety dictate your choices? - How can you balance respect with self‑expression? A Different Perspective Choosing action may still feel uncomfortable and risky. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Looked Enquiringly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looked-enquiringly-3980925/) [Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) [Surprise Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise-said-1118808/) [Taken Surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taken-surprise-1090124/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Told Pudding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/told-pudding-3980924/) ## Related quotes > [Sometimes we do get taken by surprise. For example, when the Internet came along, we had it as a fifth or sixth priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/sometimes-we-do-get-taken-by-surprise-for-example-when-the-internet/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [Did he say:"Hullo,Pippin!This is a pleasant surprise!"?No,indeed!He said:"Get up,you tom-fool of a Took!Where,in the name of wonder,in all this ruin is Treebeard?I want him.Quick"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien-2/did-he-say-hullo-pippin-this-is-a-pleasant-surprise-no-indeed-he-said-2/) [J. R. R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien-2/) > [“Surprise, she said. Surprise indeed. Sweetness. That was the first surprise. He'd heard so many tart words from these lips... but her kiss was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/surprise-she-said-surprise-indeed-sweetness-that-was-the-first/) [Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/) > [“Did he say:"Hullo,Pippin!This is a pleasant surprise!"?No,indeed!He said:"Get up,you tom-fool of a Took!Where,in the name of wonder,in all this ruin is Treebeard?I want him.Quick”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/did-he-say-hullo-pippin-this-is-a-pleasant-surprise-no-indeed-he-said/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“I always lacked common sense when taken by surprise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/i-always-lacked-common-sense-when-taken-by-surprise/) [Anne Brontë](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [“The citadel of Jones was now taken by surprise. All those considerations of honour and prudence which our heroe had lately with so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/the-citadel-of-jones-was-now-taken-by-surprise-all-those/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [Cowardece is often just another name for being taken by surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/cowardece-is-often-just-another-name-for-being-taken-by-surprise/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [There are no guarantees, but being ready sure beats being taken by surprise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/there-are-no-guarantees-but-being-ready-sure-beats-being-taken-by/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Sometimes we do get taken by surprise. For example, when the Internet came along, we had it as a fifth or sixth priority. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/sometimes-we-do-get-taken-by-surprise-for-example-when-the-internet-2/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [“Expectations are a dangerous thing, Miss Daulton. You’ll be taken by surprise at every turn.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-andre/expectations-are-a-dangerous-thing-miss-daulton-you-ll-be-taken-by/) [Becca Andre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-andre/) > [No, thank you, I don't mind the rain,' I said. I always lacked common sense when taken by surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-bronte/no-thank-you-i-don-t-mind-the-rain-i-said-i-always-lacked-common/) [Anne Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-bronte/) > [Society is always taken by surprise at any new example of common sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/society-is-always-taken-by-surprise-at-any-new-example-of-common-sense/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [She stretched out her hand, saying, “Vernon! My dear, what a delightful surprise!” “What’s surprising about it?” he enquired, lifting his black brows. “Didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/she-stretched-out-her-hand-saying-vernon-my-dear-what-a-delightful/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [I always want to surprise audiences and tell stories that are entertaining and challenging at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-always-want-to-surprise-audiences-and-tell-stories-that-are/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [No Time For Goodbye is a deliciously smart thriller, full of surprises and perfect pacing. I'm jealous I didn't write it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/no-time-for-goodbye-is-a-deliciously-smart-thriller-full-of-surprises/) [Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/) ## More by Georgette Heyer > [“Upon her butler’s announcing the arrival of Mr Ravenscar, Lady Mablethorpe, who had been dozing over a novel from the Circulating Library, sat up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/upon-her-butler-s-announcing-the-arrival-of-mr-ravenscar-lady/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“I may have said that I wanted to have an adventure," replied Miss Thane. "But I never said that I wanted to be murdered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/i-may-have-said-that-i-wanted-to-have-an-adventure-replied-miss-thane/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Will you marry me, vile and abominable girl that you are? Yes, but, mind, it only to save my neck from being wrung!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/will-you-marry-me-vile-and-abominable-girl-that-you-are-yes-but-mind/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Lady Winwood being denied, the morning caller inquired with some anxiety for Miss Winwood, or, in fact, for any of the young ladies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/lady-winwood-being-denied-the-morning-caller-inquired-with-some/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [I have seen what comes of being patient," Amanda said with a boding look. "And I have no opinion of it." "What does come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/i-have-seen-what-comes-of-being-patient-amanda-said-with-a-boding/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Goodbye!" "Oh, not goodbye!" he protested. "I mean to know you better, Miss Lanyon of Undershaw!" "To be sure, it does seem a pity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/goodbye-oh-not-goodbye-he-protested-i-mean-to-know-you-better-miss/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“he disclosed that he had been set upon by two Bedlamites, both of whom had jumped out from behind a bush, roaring at him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/he-disclosed-that-he-had-been-set-upon-by-two-bedlamites-both-of-whom/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Randall laid his hand on Stella's, but only to remove it from his sleeve. "My precious, you really must have some regard for my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/randall-laid-his-hand-on-stella-s-but-only-to-remove-it-from-his/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [She stretched out her hand, saying, “Vernon! My dear, what a delightful surprise!” “What’s surprising about it?” he enquired, lifting his black brows. “Didn’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/she-stretched-out-her-hand-saying-vernon-my-dear-what-a-delightful/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Nothing more likely,"said Hannasyde. "I've got to try and rattle him." "It's him that'll do the rattling,"said the Sergeant darkly. "he's the nearest thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/nothing-more-likely-said-hannasyde-i-ve-got-to-try-and-rattle-him-it/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“Yes, darling, that is quite a nice frock, but the hankerchief is not only the wrong shade of grey, but quite damnably tied. Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/yes-darling-that-is-quite-a-nice-frock-but-the-hankerchief-is-not/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“The Viscount stepped into the room. "Came to see if you was dead," he said. "Laid Pom odds you weren't." Lethbridge passed his hand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/the-viscount-stepped-into-the-room-came-to-see-if-you-was-dead-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [“If you imagine that I have the smallest desire to receive your hand as a reward for having performed a difficult task to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/if-you-imagine-that-i-have-the-smallest-desire-to-receive-your-hand/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [ \[...\]my memory is reasonably good—unlike yours, dear sir!” “Mine is erratic,” he said imperturbably. “I remember only what interests me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/my-memory-is-reasonably-good-unlike-yours-dear-sir-mine-is-erratic-he/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) > [Do you recall Fred Merriville?” She stared at him. “Fred Merriville? Pray, what has he to say to anything?” “The poor fellow has nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgette-heyer/do-you-recall-fred-merriville-she-stared-at-him-fred-merriville-pray/) [Georgette Heyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) [Explore all 296 Georgette Heyer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgette-heyer/) ## More Surprise quotes > [God reveals Himself through surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-reveals-himself-through-surprises/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Every coach in the league does an unbelievable job, and they're prepared and think you're going to outcoach people, or you think that you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d-antoni/every-coach-in-the-league-does-an-unbelievable-job-and-they-re/) [Mike D'Antoni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d-antoni/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [The surprise of an army is now next to an impossibility. ... Prearranged surprises are rare and difficult because in order to plan one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-henri-jomini/the-surprise-of-an-army-is-now-next-to-an-impossibility-prearranged/) [Antoine-Henri Jomini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-henri-jomini/) > [No Time For Goodbye is a deliciously smart thriller, full of surprises and perfect pacing. I'm jealous I didn't write it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alafair-burke/no-time-for-goodbye-is-a-deliciously-smart-thriller-full-of-surprises/) [Alafair Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alafair-burke/) > [I love Derrick Brown for the surprise of one word waking up next to another. One moment tender, funny or romantic, the next, visceral,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/i-love-derrick-brown-for-the-surprise-of-one-word-waking-up-next-to/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [I always want to surprise audiences and tell stories that are entertaining and challenging at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-hechinger/i-always-want-to-surprise-audiences-and-tell-stories-that-are/) [Fred Hechinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-hechinger/) > [Don't let your imagination take you by surprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimi-hendrix/don-t-let-your-imagination-take-you-by-surprise/) [Jimi Hendrix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimi-hendrix/) > [History is full of surprises.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/history-is-full-of-surprises/) [Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-m-schlesinger-jr/) > [I can't imagine, I can't get in the mind of a wrestling fan who wants to break news that spoils a surprise for somebody.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-ambrose/i-can-t-imagine-i-can-t-get-in-the-mind-of-a-wrestling-fan-who-wants/) [Dean Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-ambrose/) > [It doesn't matter to me if it has a surprise ending or not. I usually go for the material or the project.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-wahlberg/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-if-it-has-a-surprise-ending-or-not-i-usually/) [Donnie Wahlberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-wahlberg/) > [I think there's something funny about people who laugh in the face of convention or surprise us morally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/i-think-there-s-something-funny-about-people-who-laugh-in-the-face-of/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [The thing that I like about magazines, paper magazines, and papers in any kind of tangible format is the surprise factor of turning the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-millman/the-thing-that-i-like-about-magazines-paper-magazines-and-papers-in/) [Debbie Millman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-millman/) > [And the commitment that I've been giving to the Australian people is that there'll be no surprises and no excuses under a Coalition government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/and-the-commitment-that-i-ve-been-giving-to-the-australian-people-is/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [What a wonderfully exciting cough,' said the little man, quite startled by it, 'do you mind if I join you?' And with that he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/what-a-wonderfully-exciting-cough-said-the-little-man-quite-startled/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) [Browse all 3,219 Surprise quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surprise/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Taken thus by surprise, it was several moments before she was able to decide whether to make herself known to him, or to await a formal introduction. The strict propriety in which she had been reared urged her to adopt the latter course; then she remembered that she was not a young girl any longer, but a guardian-aunt ... To flinch before what would certainly be an extremely disagreeable interview would be the act, she told herself, of a pudding-heart. Bracing herself resolutely, she got up from the writing-table, and turned, saying, in a cool, pleasant tone: 'Mr Calverleigh?' He had picked up a newspaper from the table in the centre of the room, and was glancing through it, but he lowered it, and looked enquiringly across at her. 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