“Betsy. The great war is on but I hope ours is over. Please come home. Joe.”

“Do you girls have hope chests?' Lloyd asked.We certainly do.' I don't,' said Betsy. 'My husband and I are going to use paper plates and napkins.'Poor Joe!'Lucky Larry!”

“This was Betsy and Tacy's private corner. Betsy's mother was a great believer in people having private corners, and the piano box was plainly meant to belong to Betsy and Tacy, for it fitted them so snugly.”

“Our great war is a spiritual war. Our great depression is our lives.”

“Our Generation has had no Great war, no Great Depression. Our war is spiritual. Our depression is our lives.”

“I made up my mind to tell Joe about what was going on at home after the funny business about Molly's letter. As I went to sleep I imagined myself telling Joe even about the the funny marble feeling that came over me from time to time. Then I remembered a lot of the whopping lies I had told Joe about my mother and father.”