“God knew she was a troublesome wench, with a tongue that could strip the barnacles off a ship's hull.”

“In my experience, whatever happens clings to us like barnacles on the hull of a ship, slowing us slightly, both uglifying and giving us texture. You can scrape all you want, you can, if you have money, hire someone else to scrape, but the barnacles will come back or at least leave a blemish on the steel.”

“Barnacles on the container ship of consciousness.”

“Really, Alexia, what could have possessed you to attach yourself to the side of the ship in such a juvenile fashion? It is positively barnacle-like.”

“Aye. And I can do without a viper-tongued wench.""Wench? Wench? Lass is one thing, but did you just call me a wench? I'll have you know I'm a doctor. No one calls me a wench. I passed my boards with flying colors. I could take you apart and put you back together with my eyes closed.”

“Professors of literature collect books the way a ship collects barnacles, without seeming effort.”