The sisters worked from dawn to dusk. One of them was an idiot; she started shaving her legs and marrying tax inspectors, so she was no good.
Eva IbbotsonLoneliness had taught Harriet that there was always someone who understood - it was just so often that they were dead, and in a book.
Eva IbbotsonIt's true that adventures are good for people even when they are very young. Adventures can get in a person's blood even if he doesn't remember having them.
Eva IbbotsonPlease, 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.
Eva Ibbotson