Andy’s Reviews > A Curious Beginning > Status Update

"'I am quite determined to be mistress of my own fate, Mrs. Clutterthorpe, but I do sympathize with how strange it must sound to you. It is not your fault that you are entirely devoid of imagination. I blame your education.'"

"I tilted my head and regarded her thoughfully as I considered my reply. In the end, I chose unvarnished truth. 'Mrs. Clutterthorpe, I can hardly think of any fate worse than becoming the mother of six. Unless perhaps it were plague, and even then I am persuaded a few disfiguring buboes and possible death would be preferable to motherhood.'"

"I turned to look behind and saw a figure at the lych-gate, tall and beautifully erect, with the sort of posture a gentleman acquires through either gneerations of aristocratic breeding or enthusiastic beatings at excellent schools."