“Jem spoke with enormous care; talking to Will about anything personal was like trying not to startle away a wild animal.”

“Oh, good. You're starting to talk about yourself in the third person. That's not a sign of impending megalomania or anything.”

“This...this...thing?""A parsnip?" Jem suggested"A parsnip planted in satan's own garden," said Will. He glanced about. "I dont suppose there's a dog I could feed it to?""There dont seem to be any pets about," Jem-who loved animals, even the inglorious and ill-tempered Church-observed."Probably all poisened by parsnips," said Will.”

“Camille brushed by Jem, hardly looking at him, and Will followed, pausing only long enough to mutter "She doesn't smell like anything" to Jem under his breath.Jem looked alarmed. "You've been smelling her?”

“What is this?” he went on now, spearing an unfortunate object on a fork and raising it to eye level. “This… this… thing?” “A parsnip?” Jem suggested.“A parsnip planted in Satan’s own garden.” said Will. He glanced about. “I don’t suppose there’s a dog I could feed it to.”“There don’t seem to be any pets about,” Jem—who loved all animals, even the inglorious and ill-tempered Church—observed.“Probably all poisoned by parsnips,” said Will.”

“Will seemed about to lunge off toward the whisperers to administer rough justice, but Jem had a firm grip on the back of his parabatai’s coat. Being Jem, Tessa reflected, must be a great deal like being the owner of a thoroughbred dog that liked to bite your guests. You had to have a hand on his collar constantly.”

“Oh, leave it,” said Jem, kicking Will, not without affection, lightly on the ankle. “She’s annexed my plan!” “Will,” Tessa said firmly. “Do you care more about the plan being enacted or about getting credit for it?” Will pointed a finger at her. “That,” he said. “The second one.”