She tried to act as though it were nothing to go to the library alone. But her happiness betrayed her. Her smile could not be restrained, and it spread from her tightly pressed mouth, to her round cheeks, almost to the hair ribbons tied in perky bows over her ears.

You have two numbers in your age when you are ten. It's the beginning of growing up.

I'm finished with something, but I'm not beginning anything. That's wrong. When you finish something, you ought always to begin something new.

We'll just have to find more flowers in the spring. That's when they bloom, tra la.

It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.

Do you girls have hope chests?' Lloyd asked. We certainly do.' I don't,' said Betsy. 'My husband and I are going to use paper plates and napkins.' Poor Joe!' Lucky Larry!

Then he kissed her. Betsy didn't believe in letting boys kiss you. She thought it was silly to be letting first this boy and then that one kiss you, when it didn't mean a thing. But it was wonderful when Joe Willard kissed her. And it did mean a thing.