When the wind is right and the cloud is gone, you can see down this road as far as Darjeeling," I told her. "But it is a long and difficult road, full of perils, and if a traveller on foot were to look at the length of it, his spirit would be overcome and he would sit down and refuse to go any further. You must not look to the end of the road, Portia. Look only to the step in front of you. That you can do. Just one step. And you will not make the journey alone.

You are curious and quick, you have a deft mind, and for some unaccountable reason, people tell you things -- useful things.

If you were a man, your ladyship, I would cordially horsewhip you for that remark.

Life is too uncertain... You must seize happiness where you find it.

Now I was more certain than ever of my decision. I could not love a man who did not love Jane Austen.

She didn't look at me and I didn't look at her. Some questions are so direct the only way to ask them is sideways.

I matched my heated tone with one of pure ice. "I believe I did attempt to relate to you the facts of my calls and you interrupted me with a rather magnificent display of temper much as you are doing now. If you do not have all the facts of the case perhaps you have no one but yourself to blame." Brisbane opened his mouth and shut it with a snap. His mouth remained closed but I could hear him muttering under his breath. "What are you saying?" "I am counting. To one hundred. In Cantonese.