“You can't eat [literature], that's the problem," he said. "I've tried, it's very dry, and not at all nutritious.”

“I try to cry, and can't, but even with dry eyes it's all so confusing.”

“We all have urgent matters pending," one of the members growled. "What the hell is Nick's problem that he can't be here?""He said it's a labor relations problem.""That's no excuse!" another member exploded. "We all have labor relations problems.""I reminded Nick of that," the chairman replied."What did he say?""He said that nobody has a labor relations problem like his.”

“You're not eating anything," said Marilla sharply, eying her as if it were a serious shortcoming. Anne sighed. I can't. I'm in the depths of despair. Can you eat whenyou are in the depths of despair?"I've never been in the depths of despair, so I can't say," responded Marilla. Weren't you? Well, did you ever try to IMAGINE you were inthe depths of despair?"No, I didn't."Then I don't think you can understand what it's like. It's very uncomfortable a feeling indeed.”

“That's alright," said Hugo. "I've got some wine"Which was about all he seemed to have. He poured out two mugfuls."Very nice," said Adrian, sipping appreciatively. "I wonder how they got the cat to sit on the bottle.""It's cheap, that's the main thing.”

“My mouth went dry, my heart clattered. "Nick, don't leave. Don't go," I said unevenly. "Look, it's not that I'm not, you know... it's just that this is all really new and sudden, and it's hard—""It's not hard for me!" he barked, causing both the cabbie and me to jump. "Harper, I've loved you all my adult life, but you just can't believe that, and nothing I do will change your mind. You want a guarantee, you want a fucking crystal ball to see the future, and I can't give you one. The only thing I can say is that I love you, I always have. I always will, but somehow that's not good enough for you. And I just can't do this anymore.”