“You're perfect just the way you are.”

“There you go! That's better! You look good smiling! You know, you really shouldn't be gloomy all the time. I've met a good amount of gloomy people and they were just that--gloomy. Mopin' around like the end of the world had happened. Thinkin' that if they crack a grin they'll be carried away by goblins and such...”

“I always get my way.”

“You know what I know, Mally. Now you must decide what to believe.”

“I looked at the faces around me, wondering what was going to happen to me ... wondering when I would see Father again."I will help you.”

“I'll keep my head down," Mally assured him. "I'll be careful.""If anything happens---""If anything happens I'll tell you immediately."Ivan seemed pleased at that and relaxed against a tree trunk."Good. I don't want your mother chasing me around Lenzar with a carving knife.”

“For the first time in some years, I didn't care what Father said to me, even though I knew that by the end of the day my conscience would probably win out and I would end up apologizing to him as well.”