“You're from where?""Lay'en. It's near Salt Lake City.""Spell that for me.""Um, that would be S-A-L-T-""No, the other one. The city you're from.""Oh. L-A-Y-T-O-N.""Ah-Lay-ton."That's what I said.""No you didn't. You just said, 'Lay'en.'""So I did. But just go ahead and pronounce 'aluminum' for me, Mr. British Man. How are you going to defend that piece of insanity? Why don't you spell it and count syllables and see if your al-um-in-ium makes sense whatsoever?"He bowed his head. "Touché...”

“What are you doing?" "Ya!" said Jane, whirling around, her hands held up menacingly. It was Mr. Nobley with coat, hat, and cane, watching her with wide eyes. Jane took several quick (but oh so casual) steps away from Martin's window. "Um, did I just say, 'Ya'?" "You just said 'Ya,'" he confirmed. "If I am not mistaken, it was a battle cry, warning that you were about to attack me.I, uh..." She stopped to laugh. "I wasn't aware until this precise and awkward moment that when startled in a startled in a strange place, my instincts would have me pretend to be a ninja.”

“Katar," said Britta, "I thought you would want to stay with your friends from home while they were here, so I had your things moved from your room in the delegates' wing." "You can have my things brought in too," said Peder, throwing himself onto the nearest bed. He sighed as he sank into the soft mattress and rolled onto his side. "Um... I don't think boys are-" Britta began. "Don't you mind me!" Peder pulled a blanket over his head. Miri didn't know how he could even pretend to fall asleep. She could barely keep from pacing. "Don't worry, Britta," said Esa. "We'll kick him out before night. Off to your fancy apprenticeship, big brother." She nudged Peder's shape under the blanket. Peder made an exaggerated snoring noise.”

“Mr. Nobley: "Then I must stay?"Miss Erstwhile: "Unless you want to risk me accusing you of ungentleman-like behavior at dinner, yes, I think you should stay. If I spend too much time alone today, I'm in real danger of doing a convincing impersonation of the madwoman in the attic." Mr. Nobley: He raised an eyebrow. "And how would that be different from-"Miss Esrtwhile: "Sit down Mr. Nobely", she said.”

“What are you doing?”Ya!” said Jane, whirling around, her hands held up menacingly.It was Mr. Nobley with coat, hat, and cane, watching her with wide eyes. Jane took several quick (but oh so casual) steps away from Martin’s window.Um, did I just say, ‘Ya’?”You just said ‘Ya,”’ he confirmed. “If I am not mistaken, it was a battle cry, warning that you were about to attack me.”I, uh. . .“ She stopped to laugh. “I wasn’t aware until this precise and awkward moment that when startled in a strange place, my instincts would have me pretend to be a ninja.”***Surely a young beauty like yourself is lonely, too. It can be part of the game, if you like.”Get off,” she said, thoroughly done with this.His answer was to lean in closer. So she kneed him in groin. As hard as she could.Aw, ow, dammit!” He doubled over and thudded onto knees.Jane brushed off her knee, feeling like it had touched son thing dirty. “Aw, ow, dammit indeed! What’re you thinking?”Jane heard hurried footsteps coming down the stairs. It Mr. Nobley.Miss Erstwhile!” He was barefoot in his breeches, his shirt untucked. He glanced down at the groaning man. “Sir Templeton!”Ow, she kicked me,” said Sir Templeton.Kneed him, I kneed him,” Jane said. “I don’t kick. Not even when 1m a ninja.”Mr. Nobley stood a moment in silence, looking over the scene. “I hope youremembered to shout ‘Ya’ when taking him down. I hear that is very effective.”I’m afraid I neglected that bit, but I’ll certainly ‘ya’ from here to London if he ever touches me again.”

“You saw my leg?""How can a man help what he sees?" he said. "And, if I could add, you possess a very fine leg.”

“I'm sorry about these two," Mike told the waitress. "Just so you know, I'll be embarrassed with you.""It's just that we haven't seen each other since summmer camp," Becky said."And we'd formed such a bond playing wily tricks on our camp counselors," Felix said."Remember how you replaced Miss Pepper's shampoo with liquid Jell-O and turned her hair green?""It was sheer genius when you stretched cling film over all the toilet seats.""Oh." The waitress turned to Mike, as if to address the only sane member of the group. "So, are ya'll ready to eat now, or are you waiting for your date to arrive?"Mike played with the menu. "Actually, she's my date." "These are my two husbands," Becky said. "We're from Utah. You know, Mormom.”