“Well?' Jasper said when Mairelon did not reply. 'Who are you?''No, no,' Mairelon said. 'I asked you first. I also, if you recall, asked how you found this place and what you intend to do here, and you haven't told me that, either.''We might ask you the same thing,' Jasper retorted.'You might, but I don't recommend it,' Mairelon said. 'You'll get a reputation as a poor conversationalist if you all can do is repeat what other people say to you.”

“Really, Agatha, you might have told me.”"Told you what?” Mairelon said. “That my ward was once a street thief? I didn’t think it was a secret.”“A street thief?” Letitia wrinkled her nose and looked at Kim with disfavor. “How horrid.”“I think it is the most romantic story I have ever heard”, Miss Matthews said with conviction.”

“The Marquis of Harsfield Lord Franton, arrived after you left." Lady Endall said with some satisfaction. "He said he wished to be presented to Kim, and was quite dissapointed to find she was not there.""Harsfield? He must be nearly eighty." Mairelon said, frowning. "What does he want with Kim?""No, no, Richard, you're thinking of the fourth Marquis of Harsfield," Lady Wendall said. "He died last year; it is the fifth Marquis who was asking after Kim. He is quite a young gentleman--not much above twenty, I think. He was the grandson of the previous marquis.""Oh. I expect that's all right, then." Mairelon said, but he continued to frown.”

“You mean he thinks I'm going to get MORE offers?" Kim said, appalled."He doesn't seem to be the only one that thinks so." Mairelon said. "Aunt Agatha mentioned it to me yesterday afternoon. Is there anyone, or would you rather I turn the lot of them away?"Kim shook her head. "There isn't anyone."Except you.”

“Master Richard!” Hunch’s voice was not loud, but it expressed volumes of scandalized disapproval.Mairelon paused and looked up. “What is it?”“You ain’t going to just—” Hunch stopped and looked at Kim. “Not with ‘er standing there!”“Oh, is that all that’s bothering you?” Mairelon looked at Kim and grinned. “Turn your back, child; you’re offending Hunch’s proprieties.”Kim flushed, as much from surprise as embarrassment, and turned away. “I ain’t no child,” she muttered under her breath.“Under the circumstances, that’s so much the worse,” Mairelon replied cheerfully.”

“Well,” said the frog, “what are you going to do about it?”“Marrying Therandil? I don’t know. I’ve tried talking to my parents, but they won’t listen, and neither will Therandil.”“I didn’t ask what you’d said about it,” the frog snapped. “I asked what you’re going to do. Nine times out of ten, talking is a way of avoiding doing things.”

“I most certainly can deny it. Of course, if I did, I'd be lying." Mairelon”