“Will: I say we sell her to the Gypsies on Hampstead Heath. I hear they puchase spare women as well as hoses.Charlotte: Will, stop it. That's ridivulous.Will:You're right. They'd never buy her. Too scrawny.”

“We were just talking about you," Jessamine said as Tessa found a seat. She pushed a sliver toast rack across the table towards Tessa. "Toast?" Tessa, picking up her fork, looked around the table anxiously. "What about me?" "What to do with you, of course Downworlders can't live in the Institute forever," said Will. "I say we sell her to the Gypsies on Hampstead Heath," He added, turning to Charlotte. "I hear they purchase spare women as well as horses." "Will, stop it." Charlotte glanced up from her breakfast. "That's ridiculous." Will leaned back in his chair. "You're right. They'd never buy her. Too scrawny.”

“I had to stop selling stick-figure portraits of women at the beach, after too many customers complained I was making them look “too fat.”

“I want to hear you say it,” I say, pushing her hair from her eyes. She sighs and I can’t hold back any longer. I stroke her cheek with my hand and lean in to kiss her soft lips. I half expect her to push me back, but I can’t stop myself right now. I have to do it. I have to kiss her. I need to kiss her.”

“I looked over at her; if women knew how good they looked in the dash light of oversized pickup trucks, they'd never get out of them.”

“He shakes his head with a slow smile. You'd better be right. If the phone rings, I'm unpluggining it, I swear to God-“You'd do that to your five-year-old sister?“ I gasp in mock outrage.For one whole night alone? Jesus, Maya, I'd sell her to the gypsies!”