There are various ways of mending a broken heart, but perhaps going to a learned conference is one of the more unusual.

She had always been an unashamed reader of novels.

Novel writing is a kind of private pleasure, even if nothing comes of it in worldly terms.

My thoughts went round and round and it occurred to me that if I ever wrote a novel it would be of the 'stream of consciousness' type and deal with an hour in the life of a woman at the sink.

Perhaps there can be too much making of cups of tea, I thought, as I watched Miss Statham filling the heavy teapot. Did we really need a cup of tea? I even said as much to Miss Statham and she looked at me with a hurt, almost angry look, 'Do we need tea? she echoed. 'But Miss Lathbury...' She sounded puzzled and distressed and I began to realise that my question had struck at something deep and fundamental. It was the kind of question that starts a landslide in the mind. I mumbled something about making a joke and that of course one needed tea always, at every hour of the day or night.

How absurd and delicious it is to be in love with somebody younger than yourself. Everybody should try it.

What a good thing there is no marriage or giving in marriage in the after-life; it will certainly help to smooth things out.