That's silly, Anna," said the Honorable Olive. "Being afraid is silly, you know it is.

One must not judge other cultures by the standars of one's one,' said Aunt Hilda

When you're sad, my Little Star, go out of doors. It's always better underneath the open sky.

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.

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.

She was so intelligent that she could think herself into beauty. Intelligence...they don't talk about it much, the poets, but when a woman is intelligent and passionate and good.

That's silly, Anna," said the Honorable Olive. "Being afraid is silly, you know it is.