the whole house was overgrown with honeysuckle and virginia creeper and walls of small rambler roses grew round the veranda. inside these walls grandmother sat in a pale-grey silk dress and brought up her children. there were so many bees and bumble bees flying around her that it sounded like soft organ music, and in the daytime it was sunny and at night it rained and in the rock-garden there lived an angel who wasn't to be disturbed.

you can close your mind to things if something is important enough. it works very well. you make yourself very small, shut your eyes tight and say a big word over and over again util you're safe.

perhaps we were out at sea or up in the mountains and i heard them shouting to each other through the cloud and things kept falling over and behind the violent noises came loud and soft waves of balalaika and guitar music.

(...) the sound of a charger was heard in the hall and harpist and fiddler and wedding guests all were filled with such horror for yea it is told lord henry rode in clad as warrior bold. lo! vengeance be mine and in blood for this day oh hilda so fair you our love do betray pale ghost of a bride on your penitent knee the wrath of my upraised arm you shall see. it makes you shiver it's so beautiful. it's the same for annie when she says: you must go out for a while because i want to cry it's so beautiful.