“I had thought in those years, I suppose, having learned the lesson from my mother well, that it was foolish to ask for too much out of life, afterwards only to live in the wake of that expectation, an irreducible disappointment. But what pain, I thought now, could be greater than to realize that even the practical reality for which you had assumed to settle upon, did not hold – that even that was illusory? Would it not be better, then, to set your sights on some more fantastic and rare dream from which even in failing you might take some comfort in having once aspired?”

“...the most-the best-we can do: answer the questions that pose themselves to us, and describe, if only to ourselves, the things that we have loved, and believed in, and the actions that we have or would have liked to have taken, and will take now, and do take, over and over again, in the quiet part of our minds.”

“It didn't even help that I had a man watching the house.I suppose he can be forgiven for not thinking Mary Pearson could be a threat.""I knew about him," Rebecca replied. "I found him hiding in the garden this morning. I took him some cookies."Rupert laughed. "Did you? How embarrassing for him, but that was probably my mother's spy.Mine would have been better hidden!”

“They had a nice,if not private, reunion before Rupert joined them. He didn't exactly ruin it, but if he insisted on enacting their pretense tonight, even for her mother,it surely would. Unfortunately, he entered the room wearing a horribly bright lime-green dinner jacket that had his mother immediately scowling at him. So even after that kiss upstairs, he'd decided on an evening of humorously baiting his mother again. Bad timing, with her own mother there, or maybe not.At least it kept Rebecca's own mood light for the moment, since she knew why he did it.Nor did Julie hold her tongue, remarking in disgust, "I see your taste is still beyond flamboyant. You're a bloody peacock, Rue."He actually looked behind him as he replied, "I thought I had my feathers tucked away nicely.”

“For my own part, I have never had a thought which I could not set down in words, with even more distinctness than that with which I conceived it.”

“Warren,still staring at the splendid black eye and several cuts on his face, remarked, "Hate to see what the other fellow looks like," which James supposed was a compliment of sorts, since Warren had personal experience of his fists from numerous occasions himself. "Like to congratulate the other fellow myself," Nicholas said with a smirk, which got him a kick under the table from his wife.James nodded to Reggie. "Appreciate it, m'dear. My feet wouldn't reach."To which she blushed that her kick had been noticed. And Nicholas, still wincing, managed a scowl,which turned out rather comical looking, considering the two expressions didn't mix all that well."Is Uncle Toony still among the living?" Amy asked, probably because neither James nor his brother had returned back downstairs last night."Give me a few more days to figure that out,puss, 'cause I bloody well ain't sure just now," Anthony said as he came slowly into the room,an arm tucked to his side as if he were protecting some broken ribs.A melodramatic groan escaped as he took the seat across from his brother. James rolled his eyes hearing it."Give over,you ass," he sneered. "Your ife ain't here to witness your theatrics.""She's not?" Anthony glanced down the table, then made a moue and sat back in his chair-minus groaning this time. However, he did complain to James, "You did break my ribs,you know.""Devil I did, though I'll admit I considered it. And by the by, the option is still open."Anthony glared at him. "We're too bloody old to be beating on each other.""Speak for yourself, old man. One is never too old for a spot of exercise.""Ah,so that's what we were doing?" Anthony shot back dryly, as he gently fingered his own black eye. "Exercising, was it?"James raised a brow. "And that's not what you do weekly at Knighton's Hall? But I understand your confusion in the matter, since you're used to doling out the damage, rather than receiving any. Tends to give one a skewed perspective. Glad to have cleared that up for you."It was at that point that Jason walked in, took one look at his two younger brothers' battered faces, and remarked, "Good God, and at this time of the year,no less? I'll see you both in my study.”

“Lilly Marshall's girl?" Julie cut in."Yes,and presently-your daughter-in-law."The older woman should have been bowled over, but Julie St. John did no more than set down her fork to ask in a somewhat aggrieved tone, "Which one married you?""Your eldest. It was a brief ceremony performed at sea just last week."A big smile formed on her mother-in-law's face, shocking Rebecca. "I must say, girl, you have succeeded where all others have failed.I commend you!”