All she heard next of the strange conversation behind the sofa was Mrs. Pendragon saying something about sending Twinkle (or was his name Howl?) to bed without supper and Twinkle daring her to 'jutht TRY it.

It was a perfectly normal May Day, but Sophie was scared of that too. And when a young man in a fantastical blue-and-silver costume spotted Sophie and decided to accost her as well, Sophie shrank into a shop doorway and tried to hide. The young man looked at her in surprise. "It's all right, you little gray mouse," he said laughing rather pityingly. "I only want to buy you a drink. Don't look so scared.

She said 'Over my dead body!' so I took her at her word.

Howl’s voice was presently heard shouting weakly, “Help me, someone! I’m dying from neglect up here!

Sophie did not care to think how Howl might react if Fanny woke him by stabbing him with her parasol.

I've often noticed" Fiona said, "that when people say, 'This can't happen in this day and age', they say it because it is happening.

It's amazing the way one can take a step ten and a half miles long and still always land in a cowpat.