Kathleen Hale Quotes

“The series involves a marmalade cat (most likely a ginger tabby) named Orlando, and his adventures with his family and wife named Grace.”

“The family, especially Orlando, get involved in many adventures together and make friends as they do so.”

“Orlando and his wife Grace prepared for a picnic as it was the kittens’ birthday -“burst-day” as Thikke calle it when his “th”s wouldn’t work.”

“Stopping at Mrs Butterfield’s farm for some milk, they found her in great distress; the barns needed mending and the farmhouse was in a shocking condition. Orlando asked her what had happened.”

“There was Sophie, the sow, lolling on the sofa, with Arnold, the boar, and their daughter brandishing their trotters in the armchairs. The cows were wedged in the windows by their horns.”

“Orlando’s family consist of his wife Grace, and three kittens: Blanche (white), Pansy (tortoiseshell) and Tinkle (black).”

“My son Tod has gone to sea and I can’t do all the work alone. The stables let in the rain, so the animals have moved into my house. I’d like to sell the farm.”

“The hens roosted on the plate-rack and the ducks enjoyed themselves in the sink. Vulcan, the horse, made a disgusting noise munching the thatched roof of the dairy.”

“We must think this out carefully,” said Orlando. ‘It’s no good bullying the animals: we must persuade them to leave. The language a dog really understands is doggerel verse.”

“Orlando gave each animal an alarm-clock and calendar. Early every morning the whole countryside was awakened and heartened by the ringing of clocks and the tearing off of pages.”