Misfortune had made Lily supple instead of hardening her, and a pliable substance is less easy to break than a stiff one.

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.

Archer reddened to the temples but dared not move or speak: it was as if her words had been some rare butterfly that the least motion might drive off on startled wings, but that might gather a flock if it were left undisturbed.

traditions that have lost their meaning are the hardest of all to destroy.

I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens in such cases, each time it was a different story.

There's nothing grimmer than the tragedy that wears a comic mask.

To have you here, you mean-in reach and yet out of reach? To meet you in this way, on the sly? It's the very reverse of what I want.