Please, God,' Ruth would pray, 'don't let me be competitive. Let me realize what a privilege it is to study. Let me remember that knowledge must be pursued for its own sake and please, please stop me wanting to beat Verena Plackett in the exams.' She prayed hard and she meant what she said. But God was busy that autumn as the International Brigade came back, defeated, from Spain, Hitler's bestialities increased, and sparrows everywhere continued to fall.

Just because we've never done it doesn't mean we can't do it.

Loneliness had taught Harriet that there was always someone who understood - it was just so often that they were dead, and in a book.

But she had to know words. She had to know everything.

For an instant she felt his touch on her cheek then he stepped back. There that was my ration for all eternity. People have died for less I dare say.

To show too much joy in a place such as this would be unseemly but, as he padded toward her, his tail was extended in a manner which would make wagging possible should all go as expected.

What are you afraid of then? Not Being able to see, I think not seeing because your obsessed by something that blots out the world.