″ I wonder if dinosaurs took P.E. And went on field trip hikes. And learned to add in algebra. By counting on their spikes. Did they practice penmanship and learn to write haiku? Did dinos have to go to school the way we humans do?”
“My head snapped up at the sound of my mother’s voice. Mother came hurtling down the steps, her expression dour and fierce - as always. She’d obviously not had as many glasses of wine today as she normally did, otherwise wouldn’t be in such a bad mood. I turned back where Callum had been, but he was already out of sight -which was just as well. Mother grabbed my arm with bony fingers that bit like pincers.”
“All the long summer evening Babe has followed Fly about the yard and buildings, aimlessly, it seemed to the watching farmer, though of course this was not the case. It was in fact a conducted tour. Fly knew that if this foster-child was to be allowed his freedom and the constant reassurance of her company for which he obviously craved, he must quickly learn (and patently he was a quick learner) his way about the place; and that he must be taught, as her puppies had been taught, how to behave like a good dog.”
“On a small island, Morrowland lived Luke, King Alfred, Mrs. Whaat and Mrs. Sleeve. Mrs. Whaat is the owner of the local store and Mrs. Sleeve supplies the store with souvenirs. ”
“Emily Greengrass was very good at telling stories. Most of her best ones were about the town in Norfolk were she was born and lived until she grew up and married James Greengrass and moved into London.”
“The location and topography of the island are ideally suited as a platform for launching an invasion of the South Coast. Mr. Templeton discusses leaving with the children, prompting Caroline’s horrified response: “We couldn’t leave Dinah”.”
“The Pony Club’s chairman, Peter Beaumarchais, has surprisingly opted for a fancy-dress carnival as their Anniversary Day celebration in mid-September. Caroline decides to go as Elaine the Lily Maid of Astolat.”
“Miranda was a good singer, too, and often sang in the nighttime of these happy days. She lived with a little girl named Claudia, who was seven. Claudia had had Miranda since she was a tiny kitten and had watched her grow..”