Oh Julie, wouldn’t I know if you were dead? Wouldn’t I feel it happening, like a jolt of electricity to my heart?

Maddie took the top of her egg off. The hot bright yolk was like summer sun breaking through cloud. The first daffodil in the snow. A gold sovereign wrapped in a white silk handkerchief. She dipped her spoon in it and licked it.

It's impossible to stall a Lizzie.

It is so hard trying to say what you mean.

Von Loewe really should know me well enough by now to realize that I am not going to face my execution without a fight. Or with anything remotely resembling dignity.

If you show this devious little liar one atom's worth of compassion I will have you shot.

God knows what I thought! Your brain does amazing acrobatics when it doesn't want to believe something.