“It was the word 'late' that did it. Such a stupid word to use of the dead, implying that they would be with us today if they hadn't happened to be delayed in traffic somewhere...”

“In the year 1752 it was announced that the second of September would be followed by the fourteenth. The matter was merely one of wording, of course; time in its substance was not to undergo any change.”

“...sentences swallowed and sung back and swallowed all over again. She was made entirely out of words.”

“I watch his hands, they're lumpy but clever. "Is there a word for adults when they aren't parents?"Steppa laughs. "Folks with other things to do?”

“When Jack just rescued her Ma's, just succeeded doing the Great Escape:"Want to go to Bed.""They'll find us somewhere to sleep in a little while." "No. Bed.""You mean in Room?" Ma's pulled back, she's staring in my eyes."Yeah. I've seen the world and I'm tired now.”

“Daffy bent down suddenly, and picked a small startled white flower. "Anemone," he said, handing it over; he made her repeat the word until she had it right. "Find me a silk to match that.”

“We used to call it her Cinderella complex, because often when she had agreed to go out in the evening she would be seized by panic and announce that she had nothing to wear.”