I think we ought to live happily ever after," and she thought he meant it. Sophie knew that living happily ever after with Howl would be a good deal more hair-raising than any storybook made it sound, though she was determined to try. "It should be hair-raising," added Howl. "And you'll exploit me," Sophie said. "And then you'll cut up all my suits to teach me.
Diana Wynne JonesOh confound that gray-and-scarlet suit!" Sophie said. "I refuse to believe that I was the one that got caught with it!
Diana Wynne JonesDonโt interrupt,โ one of the boys said. โHeโll lose his life.โ Seeing it was a matter of life and death, Sophie and Michael backed toward the door. But Howl, quite unperturbed at killing his nephew, strode over to the wall and pulled the boxes up by the roots.
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 JonesThere were horrendous, dramatic, violent quantities of green slimeโoodles of it. It covered Howl completely. It draped his head and shoulders in sticky dollops, heaping on his knees and hands, trickling in glops down his legs, and dripping off the stool in sticky strands. It was in oozing ponds and crawling pools over most of the floor. Long fingers of it had crept into the hearth. It smelled vile.
Diana Wynne Jones