He picked up the skull and knocked an onion ring out of its eye socket. "I see Sophie has been busy again. Couldn't you have restrained her, my friend?" The skull yattered its teeth at him. Howl put it down rather hastily.
Diana Wynne JonesAs often happened, Charmain began to despair of getting her mother to understand. She's not stupid, she just never lets her mind out, she thought.
Diana Wynne JonesNothing is safe from you. If I were to court a girl who lived on an iceberg in the middle of the ocean, sooner or laterโ probably soonerโ Iโd look up to see you swooping overhead on a broomstick. In fact, by now Iโd be disappointed in you if I didnโt see you.โ โAre you off to the iceberg today?โ Sophie retorted.
Diana Wynne JonesIt's amazing the way one can take a step ten and a half miles long and still always land in a cowpat.
Diana Wynne JonesHowl has been very kind to me." And this was true, Sophie realized. Howl showed his kindness rather strangely, but, considering all Sophie did to annoy him, he had been very good to her indeed. "Do listen. He's not wicked at all!" There was a bit of a fizz from the grate at this, where Calcifer was watching with some interest. " He isn't!" Sophie said, to Calcifer as much as to Fanny.
Diana Wynne Jones