“He was sick of the noise and sight of so many people and determined to go quietly away, but it so happened that just at that moment the crowds about the door were particularly impenetrable; he was caught up in the current of people and carried away to quite another part of the room. Round and round he went like a dry leaf caught up in a drain; in one of these turns around the room he discovered a quiet corner near a window. A tall screen of carved ebony inlaid with mother-of-pearl half-hid - ah! what bliss was this! - a bookcase. Mr Norrell slipped behind the screen, took down John Npier's A Plaine Discouverie of the Whole Revelation of St John and began to read.”

“In that moment of recognition he is not consumed by a rushing sensation of love-quite simply a door opens to a room that has never gone away. The years apart were just years without one another.”

“What a silly thing love is!' said the student as he walked away. 'It is not half as useful as logic, for it does not prove anything, and it is always telling one of things that are not going to happen, and making one believe things that are not true. In fact, it is quite unpractical, and, as in this age to be practical is everything, I shall go back to philosophy and study metaphysics.' So he returned to his room and pulled out a great dusty book, and began to read.”

“Watching St John rock his wife's body was not part of my job description. Honest. I sat down on the stairs where I could see the door, the hallway, and the stairs as far as the landing. St John started singing in a strange, broken voice. It took me a few minutes to figure out what he was singing. It was 'You are so Beautiful”

“He could not go to God with hatred in his heart. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." Even he was surprised that his voice could ring so clearly with no hint of the trembling he felt inside...."Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy," Andrew's voice behind John shouted. The flames caught their garments. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God," John answered. "Blessed are they-" But the heat and smoke stole his breath away and he could answer no more. He felt Andrew's hand go limp in his and he was glad. "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven," a voice in the crowd shouted. But John did not hear.”

“In a quiet voice, he said, "How long's this been going on for you? With her."John took out a small pad he'd brought with him and wrote: Since the moment I first met her.After Rehv read the scribble, he frowned. "She feel the same way?"John did not drop his eyes as he shook his head. No sense hiding shit. Not with a symphath.Rehv nodded once. "That's so like her. Goddamn it...okay, let's do this.”