Tanglewreck

Regalia Mason frightened her because she was very clever and almost kind sometimes, the way people who didn't care about you at all could be kind.

Leave the past in its permanent home. Do not make that reality so strong that it tears down this one.

Silver shrugged. She knew better than to argue with grown-ups. You had to wait until they forgot about you and then get on with things.

She was the most powerful woman in the world, and not by magic. She was a scientist.

Regalia Mason smiled at him. He had the vague idea that this was frightening, but he didn't know why. She was such a beautiful woman. She began to explain, as though talking to a rather nice child she might eat afterwards.

Regalia Mason liked to be early to meetings; it was an interesting way of making others feel uncomfortable. If the most important person in the room is early, even those who are on time feel as though they are late.

Grown-ups were always worrying about money, she knew that, but what did you need if you could eat and sit in front of the fire and read books?

Children are the most ridiculous things ever invented....

All questions have an answer." Silver wondered if that was true, but there was no point asking Mrs Rokabye. Privately, Silver thought that the answer to some questions was another question.